A Guide to Sunday's Matches

This Sunday, WWE throws out the rulebook and goes extreme when Extreme Rules 2012 emanates from the Allstate Arena in Illinois. April 29 promises to be a night of shocking action as John Cena meets the destructive force of nature known as Brock Lesnar, and the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship are on the line in a Chicago Street Fight and a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, respectively. (HOW TO WATCH)

With so many stipulations and so few regulations at this explosive event, WWE.com presents a handy cheat sheet that outlines the rules - such as they are - for each of Sunday’s brutal contests. Read on to learn more about the various match types you will be seeing Sunday and watch classic videos of each.

Extreme Rules Match

When John Cena clashes with Brock Lesnar, the WWE Universe can expect the Extreme Rules Match to live up to its daunting appellation. ( MATCH PREVIEW)

Unlike standard WWE-sanctioned bouts, Extreme Rules Matches are no-disqualification and no-countout, making victory achievable only by pinfall or submission. To state it simply: anything goes.

As Undertaker and Jeff Hardy exhibited in a classic match from 2008, these contests are not for the faint of heart. Injuries are not only possible, but likely, as Superstars lay it all on the line in one of WWE’s most ruthless pay-per-view events.

As if the situation wasn't dangerous enough, the use of weapons is allowed. Punishing armaments – metal garbage cans, ladders, kendo sticks and fire extinguishers – have increased the brutality of past Extreme Rules Matches and figure to factor in Sunday.

No matter what happens in the contest between Brock Lesnar and John Cena, the only thing the WWE Universe can be sure of is that both men are going to go to hell and back. ( JOHN CENA VS. BROCK LESNAR PLAYLIST)

2-out-of-3 Falls Match

After winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Daniel Bryan in 18 seconds at WrestleMania XXVIII, Sheamus defends his title against the pesky submission specialist in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match at Extreme Rules. ( MATCH PREVIEW)

This match stipulation is similar to a traditional WWE match, in which a competitor achieves victory based on getting a pinfall, submission, count-out or disqualification. The twist is that one win is not enough; it is a best 2-out-of-3 contest, making the match an intimidating test of endurance and willpower, as The Rock and Triple H exemplified in their epic clash at Fully Loaded 1998.

Will the marathon nature of this match play into the hands of bruising World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus or his challenger, WWE's resident "YES!"-man, Daniel Bryan? ( 2-OUT-OF-3 FALLS MATCH PLAYLIST)

Chicago Street Fight

The Legion of Doom and Ahmed Johnson use everything from a 2x4 wooden plank to a fire extinguisher in a Chicago Street Fight with the Nation of Domination at WrestleMania 13 on March 23, 1997.

In his hometown of Chicago, CM Punk puts his WWE Championship on the line against Chris Jericho. Fittingly, the two “Best in the World” claimants will lock horns in a Chicago Street Fight. ( MATCH PREVIEW)

The only way to win is by pinfall or submission. With no disqualifications and no count-outs, a Chicago Street Fight breaks down to which Superstar is able to incapacitate his opponent first. The first and only other match of this type took place at WrestleMania 13 and laid a foundation of brutality, as Ahmed Johnson and Legion of Doom battled The Nation of Domination in The Windy City.

Since the rivalry between Punk and Jericho has become so personal, ( WATCH) this match will likely see both competitors take full advantage of the lack of rules and restrictions and turn it into a true Chicago Street Fight.

Falls Count Anywhere Match

Cody Rhodes and Rey Mysterio battle around the arena in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Extreme Rules 2011.

After weeks of psychological and physical assaults, Randy Orton and Kane will raise the stakes when they compete in a Falls Count Anywhere Match at Extreme Rules. ( MATCH PREVIEW)

In the uncontainable Falls Count Anywhere Match, pinfalls can take place anywhere in or around the arena. With no-countouts and no limitations on where to clash, Superstars can take the fight anywhere they like, as Cody Rhodes and Rey Mysterio did in their memorable encounter at Extreme Rules 2011.

Anything goes in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, and that will result in fireworks when two of WWE’s most vicious Superstars - The Viper and The Big Red Monster - meet at Extreme Rules in what is sure to be a ferocious confrontation. ( FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MATCH PLAYLIST)

This quartet of dangerous match stipulations is not the only reason to watch on Sunday. United States Champion Santino Marella will defend his title against The Miz in a pre-show match on YouTube.com/WWE and Facebook, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, and Intercontinental Champion Big Show and Cody Rhodes will collide in a match type to be determined. It all goes down at Extreme Rules 2012, this Sunday, April 29 on pay-per-view. (HOW TO WATCH)