Over the Limit (2010)

Matches on the undercard included Randy Orton against Edge, CM Punk facing Rey Mysterio, and Drew McIntyre defending SmackDown's Intercontinental Championship against Kofi Kingston.

Five wrestlers sustained legitimate injuries during the course of the show, being Batista, John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, and Ted DiBiase Jr.. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) had previously ran an annual May pay-per-view (PPV) titled Judgment Day.

[2] The event was held on May 23, 2010, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan and featured wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brands.

[3] Over the Limit involved different wrestlers from scripted feuds, plots, and storylines that played out on WWE's television programs.

[4] The main feud from the Raw brand heading into Over the Limit was between John Cena and Batista over the WWE Championship, and had been going on for several months.

[5] The next night on Raw, Batista defeated Randy Orton and Sheamus to become the number one contender to the championship and earn a rematch against Cena.

During the show, Edge justified his actions by saying he was trying to make an impact, and attempted to convince Orton to reform Rated-RKO, their former tag team.

[12] SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long announced That The Straight Edge Society will be Banned From Ringside during the match at the Pay-per-view Another feud was over the WWE Intercontinental Championship between the defending champion Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston.

SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long stripped McIntyre of the championship and fired him for repeatedly attacking Matt Hardy.

Long set up a tournament to determine the new champion, in which Christian and Kingston qualified for the final by defeating Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler.

[11] As a result, WWE's official website announced that McIntyre would defend the championship against tournament winner Kingston.

During the Draft episode of Raw, The Hart Dynasty defeated ShoMiz to win the championship, which led to Big Show turning on The Miz.

[15] On the April 5 episode of Raw, DiBiase was given possession of the Million Dollar Championship and access to a trust fund by his father.

[8] In the only women's match scheduled on the card, Eve defended the WWE Divas Championship against the former champion, Maryse.

Eve had won the championship on the April 12 episode of Raw, and in the weeks that followed she was attacked by Maryse, who was attempting to get revenge.

[22] In the early stages of the match, Virgil caused a distraction, allowing DiBiase to take the advantage by performing a reverse neckbreaker and throwing R-Truth into the barricade at ringside.

Punk had suffered a cut to the head prior to the exchange, and while Mysterio was on the floor, the match was halted so that the blood could be cleaned up.

While Punk's wound was being attended, he dropkicked Mysterio, who was on the ring apron, and began attacking him on the floor to restart the match.

The Hart Dynasty took the early advantage, but Jericho and The Miz were able to isolate both Smith and Kidd in the ring at different points in the match, wearing them down.

While setting up for his finishing move, the RKO, Orton appeared to injure his arm, and went outside the ring in an attempt to recover.

[19] As a result, Swagger got frustrated and hit Big Show with the World Heavyweight Championship title belt, and was disqualified.

[21] Kevin Eck of The Baltimore Sun also criticized the booking of the finish, remarking that "Swagger came off looking like anything but a credible champion".

[28] Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer also criticized the World Heavyweight Championship match, remarking that it was "almost an insult as a PPV main event".

[29] Bishop stated that the show was "hampered by several stoppages for blood" and a predictable ending to the main event between Cena and Batista.

Randy Orton dislocated his shoulder while Ted DiBiase suffered a concussion, and although they both appeared on Raw the following night, they did not wrestle.

Batista refused to wrestle, citing his injuries, and as a result Hart awarded the match to his opponent Orton by forfeit.

[33] This storyline was put in place as Batista was legitimately leaving WWE to pursue acting and a career in mixed martial arts.

[37] WWE replaced him in the match by devising a storyline in which The Undertaker was found in a "vegetative state" by his on-screen half brother Kane on the following episode of SmackDown.

That same broadcast, a battle royal to decide who would replace The Undertaker at the Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view was won by Rey Mysterio.

Two Caucasian males stand on the corner of a wrestling ring apron with red ropes. The one closest to the camera has shoulder-length blond hair and is wearing long black wrestling tights with the words "Rated R Superstar" detailed upon them in white. The other has short dark hair, is wearing short black wrestling tights, and tattoos are visible on his upper arms.
Former tag team partners Edge (left) and Randy Orton (right) were feuding prior to Over the Limit.
A Caucasian male stands in a wrestling ring with red ropes. He has long dark hair tied back, and is wearing short, black wrestling tights. A championship belt is around his waist, with a black strap and gold center plate.
The Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre , who defended the championship against Kofi Kingston at Over the Limit.
Two Caucasian males and one Caucasian female preparing to enter a wrestling ring with grey ropes. The women in the center is blonde, and is wearing black and pink wrestling tights, black boots, and a black top with "Hart Dynasty" written upon it in pink. The two men stand either side of her, both also wearing black and pink wrestling tights, and are wearing wrestling championships around their waists.
Unified WWE Tag Team Champions The Hart Dynasty faced Chris Jericho and The Miz .
A blonde Caucasian woman wearing a green crop top standing in a wrestling ring. A red ring rope is visible in front of the woman.
Maryse was unsuccessful in regaining the WWE Divas Championship .
A man wearing a red, white, and green wrestling mask and black elbow pads is looking to his right. He is shirtless, and several tattoos are visible on his chest and upper arms.
Rey Mysterio's match with CM Punk was highly praised.
A man with long dark hair, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, black leather jacket, and black wrestling tights.
The Undertaker qualified for the World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4-way match at Fatal 4-Way but was injured and replaced by Rey Mysterio before the event.