Leading into the 28th edition of SummerSlam on August 23rd, Daily DDT recaps and ranks every prior SummerSlam spectacular since its debut in 1988.
SummerSlam is considered the second biggest event in WWE today, and has an emphatic legacy of exceptional matches, moments and memories. Beginning in 1988, the PPV is revered for it’s summertime atmosphere and culminating major feuds, standing in the same exclusive club as WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble and Survivor Series. SummerSlam is also remembered for its wonderful relationship with the Intercontinental Championship, with many of the belt’s most epic encounters taking place within these cards, and the Ladder match, as many of the company’s finest have risked life and limb in these exciting, risk-fueled clashes.
Nevertheless, like any other withstanding event in WWE’s history, SummerSlam has both bathed in the warming glow of epic clashes and famous moments, and has also been kept deep in the shade with some ridiculous decisions and mind-numbing trainwrecks. As the upcoming event in Brooklyn, New York will be the 28th incarnation of this storied spectacle, it seems fitting to look back on all the previous SummerSlams in determining which are worth revisiting for generations to come, and which should be left at the beach to be swept away by the tide.
Check out our power rankings from worst to first by clicking “next.”
1993
This SummerSlam emanating from the Auburn Hills was undoubtedly an event lacking in star power, and a ridiculous, corny conclusion. The first PPV since Hulk Hogan departed the WWE, the main event was a WWE Championship match between Yokozuna and Lex Luger. The monstrous Japanese heavyweight had been a dominant force in the company for months, but Luger, the All-American Hero, was promoted as the man to end his diabolical reign. And Luger did slay the giant… by count out.
This meant fans were treated to this overworked celebration, with Luger hoisted on people’s shoulders with red, white and blue draping the ring, even though he did not win the title. This was a bizarre way to end an event that was already nothing special to begin with. The Undertaker faced Giant Gonzalez in one of the worst matches of his entire career, Bret Hart was saddled with Doink the Clown, and not even Shawn Michaels defending his Intercontinental Championship against Mr. Perfect was not enough to rescue the evening due to its disqualification finish. 4 out the night’s 10 contests ended either by count out or DQ, which should never take place on any PPV, let alone SummerSlam. And the lasting image is that of Luger celebrating not winning the WWE Championship.
2007
This New Jersey based affair was wholly forgettable from top to bottom. It was billed as the exciting return of Triple H, after he suffered a second horrific quadriceps injury back in January. But, this was sullied by being wasted on a weak performance against King Booker, with the background to this encounter being that there could only be one true King in WWE. It really wasn’t a contest with the immense gravitas the Game’s highly-anticipated return merited, and the fact that Booker left the company a short time later lessened its significance even further.
The remainder of the show was equally as undistinguished and mediocre as this bout, dropping it to the lower end of this spectrum of past SummerSlams. The main event of John Cena vs Randy Orton for the WWE Championship was still relatively fresh in 2007, but even that could not add any additional sparkle to the card. With the Great Khali defending his World Heavyweight Championship (never a positive sign for any show), an inter-promotional Divas Battle Royal and only two matches going longer than 10 minutes long, it really did nothing to add to the reputation of the second-biggest WWE event.
1999
It seems odd that right in the heart of the Attitude Era there was such a weak SummerSlam, but 1999 was not an event many remember fondly, if indeed they remember it at all. The main event was a triple threat match for the WWE Championship between Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H and Mankind. Austin was working hurt which in turn damaged the interest of the match, and the decision to have Mankind go over and win the belt has retrospectively been regarded as nonsensical. Indeed, Triple H would capture the belt the very next night on RAW, making this title match of complete irrelevance going forward.
The undercard beneath this unnecessary championship battle were all matches that could have easily been overlooked by the next night. The Rock was wasted in a “Kiss My Ass” match with Billy Gunn, Test beat Shane McMahon to win the right to continue seeing Stephanie McMahon during their drab relationship, and Mark Henry turned on D’Lo Brown in arguably the most significant part of the entire show. It was no better than an episode of RAW, which might not have been a bad thing in the Attitude Era, but in this case it just didn’t live up to the SummerSlam legacy.
1996
SummerSlam 1996 undoubtedly did witness a moment of history during a famed Boiler Room Brawl between the Undertaker and Mankind. After years of allegiance and standing by the side of the Phenom, Paul Bearer did the unthinkable by turning against his protégé, and instead aligning himself with his deranged opponent. It was a shocking turn of events that had the crowd left silent. Not that they had the urge to cheer much for the remainder of the card.
Undertaker/Mankind proved the shining light on a show that was more preoccupied with a Bikini Beach Blast-Off than the actual wrestling that it was promoting. Shawn Michaels against Vader in the main event was not a clash HBK would likely place on his highlight reel. After already suffering defeat twice in the match by count out and disqualification, this contest proved far more convoluted than it needed to be. Surrounded by a weak Tag Team Championship match due to the shoddy state of the division at the time, and a clash between Jerry Lawler and Jake Roberts who were past their prime, this overall was an event worth forgetting.
2006
SummerSlam in 2006 seemed to be trapped in a wrestling time paradox, as numerous generations of superstars competed against one another. However, whilst it would have been entertaining to see Ric Flair against Mick Foley in an I Quit match in the 1990’s, the action wasn’t exactly as compelling in the new millennium. They had felt real personal animosity outside of the ring which added some intensity, but their advanced years plus Foley carrying this lame duck heel character, it was never going to prove a Match of the Year candidate.
But frankly, they weren’t alone in that regard. Hulk Hogan maintained a SummerSlam tradition of defeating upcoming talent when he bested Randy Orton, whilst the recently reformed DX proceeded to overcome half of the male roster in defeating the McMahons in essentially a handicap match. The saving graces of this card came in the form of a technically astute and deeply personal opening contest between Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, and the main event. Edge and John Cena showed the chemistry that would lead to one of the best rivalries of the past decade in their heated bout over the WWE Championship.
2010
If this night had been booked correctly, this night could have gone down in history as one of the most pivotal SummerSlams in history. Instead, it fell into a damp squib which set in motion the destruction of arguably the PG Era’s most memorable debut. In the main event, the Nexus, a collective of rookies from NXT’s first season and had burst onto the scene in a wave of devastation, faced Team WWE, led by John Cena. Although it saw Daniel Bryan re-enter the company with purpose as part of the WWE unit, the conclusion of Cena pinning Wade Barrett was a monumentally stupid creative decision. It ruined their momentum, and was the catalyst for their downfall.
The remainder of the card also contained a number of odd choices from the booking team. Another faction essentially fell to pieces, as the Big Show steamrolled CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society in a three-on-one handicap match. The two World title matches were also lacking in overall star power. Although Kane and Rey Mysterio produced a competitive clash of styles, the WWE Championship bout between Randy Orton and Sheamus simply didn’t have that excitement factor that has crippled many of the Celtic Warrior’s main event feuds.
1994
Another example of a SummerSlam rescued from a lousy overall showing with a couple of standout gems, 1994 was a decidedly mixed event. It was piled with short, forgettable contests with little-to-no consequence, and topped off with another of the Undertaker’s encounters that he would certainly rather forget. He returned from injury to challenge an impostor managed by Ted Dibiase, which was a flop all-around. From the corny vignettes starring Leslie Nielsen trying to “find” the real Undertaker, to the dull, lifeless fight that closed the event on a sour note.
However, in amidst these tedious fixtures, the night was rescued with some championship action. Alundra Blayze and Bull Nakano were two of the best female wrestlers of the 1990’s, producing a solid battle. The popular “Bad Guy” Razor Ramon captured the Intercontinental Championship in a clash with Diesel, but the real treasure came in the WWE title match. In a deeply personal brawl trapped inside of a steel cage, Bret Hart withstood a determined challenge from his jealous brother Owen, which thankfully took up the vast majority of the show’s time.
1989
Following the success of the original SummerSlam event, the sequel was unable to live up to the mantel it set. The main event shared a couple of competitors from the first PPV, Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. However this time they were on opposite sides of the ring, and their partners were the elements that really dragged down this contest. Brutus Beefcake, a performer with no business competing in a main event feud, aligned with Hogan, but at least he was actually a wrestler. Savage had to contend with Zeus, an actor that was roped in due to his role as the villain to Hogan’s character in No Holds Barred.
This weak main event was supported by a mixture of very good matches and utterly hopeless affairs with no significance. All of the eggs were really placed into the main event and Ultimate Warrior besting Rick Rude for the Intercontinental Championship, in a decent contest. However, with the card also containing unremarkable clashes between Greg Valentine and Hercules, Dusty Rhodes against the Honky Tonk Man and Ted Dibiase versus Jimmy Snuka, SummerSlam 1989 was incapable of building upon the excitement generated by the first summertime PPV.
2012
It seems inconceivable that a show headlined by Brock Lesnar would be so low on this selection of events. Yet, following his immediate loss to John Cena at Extreme Rules, the Beast did not hold the same drawing power for his match with Triple H that he holds today. At least Paul Heyman was by his side, and the match proved solid. Nothing spectacular, which was a shame considering the talent of both performers, it at least had an ideal finish, as Lesnar broke the Game’s arm in earning a submission victory.
With that as the main draw, the remainder of the matches on offer did little to attract additional buyers. CM Punk defended his WWE Championship against John Cena and Big Show in a really below par fixture for all three involved, as they really struggled to tell an appealing story in the ring. Sheamus was in the middle of his dull World Heavyweight Championship run, which produced some excellent performances but very little intrigue, and pairing him with Alberto Del Rio had zero chance of improving that situation. Overall, the most compelling contest was the opening bout between Chris Jericho and Dolph Ziggler, and the rest of the card couldn’t keep up from that moment on.
1995
This was a card severely hampered by a number of irrelevant contests and an extremely regrettable main event, but like many other past shows was rescued by Shawn Michaels. First the negatives, because there are plenty to choose from. Starting from the top, Diesel defended the WWE Championship against King Mabel. Yes, Viscera was in a main event title match. Given that these two were nowhere near the most fluid performers in wrestling history, it was a disappointing ending to a night that had already endured its fair share of unmemorable contests.
Bret Hart was thrown into a battle with the “evil dentist” Isaac Yankem, whilst Bertha Faye squashed Alundra Blayze to win the Women’s Championship. Yet, the show was not a complete bust, thanks to a WrestleMania X rematch of epic proportions. Shawn Michaels, recently turned babyface and bursting in popularity, battled Razor Ramon in a Ladder Match for the Intercontinental title. Whilst not held in the same regard as their WrestleMania classic, this was arguably even more spectacular as they built on the experience of their prior clash.
2011
The 2011 edition of SummerSlam was strong on the wrestling quality, but hindered by some less than compelling feuds leading into the show itself and a disappointing ending. Unquestionably, the highlight of the entire card was the conclusion to the Randy Orton/Christian feud that underscored the best of SmackDown in the summer. The pair had fantastic chemistry in all of their bouts, as both added prestige to the world title picture with their quality of performances. This No Holds Barred fight was the pick of the entire rivalry, and became a candidate for Match of the Year.
Nevertheless, in spite of the superb quality of this title change and the overall high level of feats from most on the card, this event was sullied by its unpopular conclusion. CM Punk and John Cena both walked into SummerSlam as the WWE Champion, but yet it was Alberto Del Rio who walked out with that accolade. This was due to the outcome of Punk and Cena’s battle, which was technically sound but lives firmly in the shadow of their Money in the Bank epic from a month earlier. Then, Kevin Nash assaulted Punk, leaving him prone for Del Rio to cash in his briefcase. It was a definitive speedbump on the red hot “Summer of Punk” and leaves a retrospective sour taste due to the failure to capitalize on this convoluted conclusion.
1997
This was a pivotal event for a number of reasons, with one moment in particular very nearly ending the Attitude Era before it even began. The Intercontinental Championship was the prize in an engaging feud with Owen Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin, which was a successful blend of technique and brawling. The match for the most part was very solid, but a botched Tombstone Piledriver by Hart temporarily paralyzed Austin, and left him with years of neck problems. Fortunately he recovered to champion the most profitable era in wrestling history, but the sight of him sloppily roll-up Hart with every ounce of his available capacity was a scary sight.
Two other matches stood out positively at either end of the card. The opening contest witnessed one of the early encounters in the storied rivalry between Triple H and Mick Foley, this time in his Mankind persona. Then the main event was Bret Hart capturing the WWE Championship from the Undertaker, although his antics with special guest referee Shawn Michaels overshadowed the actual action. Yet, the rest of the undercard was particularly weak, with two dull tag team matches and Brian Pillman ending up wearing a gold dress following a loss to Goldust.
1990
This third edition of SummerSlam had one of the most packed cards in the PPV’s history, with ten matches filling the main card with plenty of star power and entertaining feuds. Nevertheless, this hype was in a number of ways was not exploited by the booking of those contests on the actual night. Most of the bouts didn’t go beyond six minutes, and in the case of Queen Sherri vs Sapphire didn’t take place at all (which probably saved this show from falling even lower down the pecking order). From the opening contest onwards, the night was scattered with false finishes and cheap victories.
It had a few strong clashes that redeemed its success to an extent. The two-out-of-three falls Tag Team Championship match between The Hart Foundation and Demolition demonstrated the depth and entertainment value of the tag team division in this era. And the main event Steel Cage battle for the WWE title was also decent, despite its shortness, due to the technique of Rick Rude and the immense popularity of the Ultimate Warrior at the time. If one simply looked at the poster for the show, they could have considered this one of the greatest PPVs of all time. But sadly, when the lights came on and the bells were ringing, it didn’t match up to the undoubted potential.
2005
Overall, this Washington-based event was very good. It had the iconic headline clash sold it to millions of fans, as former friends Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels competed for bragging rights in the main event. The feud was built nicely, had HBK assume the heel role against the recent Hall of Fame inductee, and the fans were understandably electric. Nonetheless, due to Hogan’s refusal to do a job at the following PPV, Michaels intentionally made a mockery of the match by over-selling all of Hogan’s offense. It was comical and the clash was still memorable, but it could have been so much more.
The best match overall was undoubtedly the Ladder match between legendary friends turned bitter rivals Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero with the custody of Mysterio’s son Dominic on the line. It was a personal feud that many would argue overstepped the realms of taste and decency, but at least the contest was excellent. This was kind of the story of most of the card, as it had many elements that were very good, but nothing overall broke the boundary towards outstanding. John Cena vs Chris Jericho, Batista vs JBL and Randy Orton vs Undertaker all fit into this category. To employ a once popular WWE phrase, it was a B+ PPV.
1991
This PPV is best remembered not for its matches and title changes, but the on-screen wedding of “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. It was a delightful and touching scene which isn’t something WWE is famed for, but it moved the audience to see these beloved figures tie the knot after many ups and downs. As for the bouts themselves, two in particular stand out as positives, one for its technical skill and the other for its compelling buildup. Bret Hart captured his first singles title when he defeated Mr Perfect for the Intercontinental Championship in a methodical masterpiece. Then, although not as sound a contest, the sight of Virgil overcome his once tyrannical boss Ted Dibiase for the Million Dollar Championship was another memorable sight.
The final bout of the evening had plenty of star power, with Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior overcoming the odds of Sergeant Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa and General Adnan. However, it has become more infamous due to the actions of Warrior that resulted in him being genuinely fired from the company for demanding what he felt was a deserved payoff from Vince McMahon. As for the remainder of the show, contests such as the Natural Disasters vs The Bushwhackers and IRS vs Greg Valentine weren’t going to set any hearts ablaze. At least the Nasty Boys lost the Tag Team titles against the Legion of Doom, but purists would probably have preferred they weren’t at SummerSlam at all. Or in WWE at all.
2003
The Elimination Chamber made its first and thus far sole appearance at SummerSlam in 2003, which was also only the second time it was ever employed. Triple H defended his World Heavyweight Championship against five hungry competitors, and whilst it didn’t surpass the standard set by the original, it was still an entertaining main event. This was mainly due to the chemistry of Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho as the opening pair, and the wrecking ball that was Goldberg in the closing stages. Yet, it was hurt by Triple H suffering from a thigh injury, limiting his time in the ring, and the finish which saw the red-hot Goldberg pinned by the Game following a sledgehammer strike.
The pick of the matches was Kurt Angle’s defense of the WWE Championship against one of his greatest rivals Brock Lesnar, forcing him to tap out for the first time in his short career at the time. It was a superb technical encounter that was a great follow-up to their WrestleMania 19 clash. But, this SummerSlam also contained numerous forgettable and mediocre clashes in the undercard. Undertaker vs A-Train was boringly predictable, whilst having Shane McMahon take on Eric Bischoff was the diametric opposite of Angle/Lesnar with regards to technique. The other matches weren’t necessarily bad, like Kane defeating Rob Van Dam or the US Championship fatal four-way, but they don’t stick out in the memory.
2008
The 2008 main event is an undoubted contender for the greatest SummerSlam match in history, as the Undertaker battled Edge inside of Hell in a Cell. This was a fantastic feud which carried SmackDown for most of the year, the Phenom beating Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 24, and then the Rated R Superstar banishing Undertaker from WWE at One Night Stand. Despite the recent PG restrictions established, it was a brutal match where both held nothing back in the pursuit of an amazing encounter. And the lasting image of Edge chokeslammed through the ring was a fitting end to their heated rivalry.
This excellent concluding bout was supported well by the penultimate clash, as Batista defeated John Cena in a battle to show who truly “the man” in WWE was. It needed no further build, and did produce an impressive performance by both men. However, what dragged this card down were the two World Championship matches. CM Punk was in his first World Championship run, but a match with JBL was never going to prove greatly exciting. And, for the second consecutive year, Great Khali found himself in a title match, thankfully losing to Triple H, but definitely not earning any positive plaudits for that.
2004
A very good event overall, 2004 promoted the future in its main event. Toronto is well-known for being a crowd that acts however it chooses, no matter the storylines or the status of any superstar leading into the show, and this was evidently no exception. Randy Orton challenged World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit after being victorious in a battle royal, and the Evolution member stunned everyone by winning his first world title in a fantastic changing of the guard moment. The match leading to that moment was also very successful, as Orton was able to keep up with his experienced counterpart.
Other championship matches also produced solid action, if nothing particularly exceptional. JBL and the Undertaker was a physical battle, but sullied by the typical Layfield disqualification finish. John Cena and Booker T produced a good skirmish, and the Intercontinental title triple threat was also solid, in spite of the crowd booing supposed face and Toronto native Edge out of the building. But, the Kurt Angle/Eddie Guerrero bout was probably expected to deliver a lot more than it did, and no matter how hard WWE attempted to push him, nobody was really going to buy into Eugene during his fight with Triple H. And of course, the Divas were too busy playing dodgeball to find their way onto the actual card.
2014
The most recent SummerSlam of this list ended on a visual that nobody ever thought would occur: John Cena on the wrong end of a squash match. Cena was defending his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Brock Lesnar, who had in his last in-ring appearance ended the Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak. With the Conqueror at full steam, not even a fifteen-time world champion could stand up to him. Lesnar threw Cena around the canvas with ease, and became the first true visitor to Suplex City. From bell-to-bell it was a captivating mugging that stunned the fans and produced a memorable ending.
This was fortunate as some of the card left a lot to be desired quality-wise. There were some other notably good contests, including a surprising one between Stephanie McMahon and Brie Bella, and Roman Reigns produced his best individual performance of his career at that point in victory over Randy Orton. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose also produced arguably the most innovative Lumberjack match is history. But, it was let down in a number of aspects. Bray Wyatt and Chris Jericho had another poor outing in their feeble feud, whilst Paige and AJ Lee were overshadowed by McMahon’s performance in their Divas Championship clash.
1998
Another summer spectacular emanating from Madison Square Garden, and inside wrestling’s most famous venue two future World Champions stole the show. Much like Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon years ago, this was a breakout Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. The participants, Triple H and the Rock, would go on to have a remarkable WWE title feud in later years, but this contest undoubtedly showcased the geneses of their chemistry. This match of the night was well supported by the main event clash between Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Undertaker, which was immensely physical.
These were able to supersede the lowest moment on the card, with the Oddities defeating Kaientai in a handicap match in a comedy feud that had nobody laughing. The remainder of the card thankfully sat in between these two spectrums, with a unique Lion’s Den battle between Ken Shamrock and Owen Hart an interesting sight. The New Age Outlaws beat Mankind in a handicap match to become Tag Team Champions once again, and Jeff Jarrett lost his blonde flowing locks in a Hair vs Hair match with X-Pac. An overall solid show highlighted by the final two bouts to ensure the fans left satisfied.
2009
SummerSlam and ladders have a storied relationship, something that will be no surprise for longtime fans of this particular PPV. And 2009 was a clear example of this love affair with the ladder, as the headline act saw CM Punk and Jeff Hardy contest the World Heavyweight Championship. Both had engaged in a heated feud which danced along the lines of reality due to Hardy’s problems with drugs and alcohol, and this spot-filled TLC clash was an ideal peak for their efforts. This was supported by Randy Orton and John Cena partaking in their own vicious rivalry over the WWE Championship in the second-half of this year, with Orton coming out on top in this occasion.
Considering the rest of the contests, it was a mixture of the good and bad, the latter of these mostly being taken up by the performance of the Great Khali against Kane. Luckily that trainwreck only took up a few minutes. Instead, the majority of the time was taken by some solid matches, with DX defeating Legacy at the outset of their feud and Jeri-Show defending their Tag Team titles against Cryme Tyme. However, as per the norm at SummerSlams, most of the undercard was overshadowed by the Intercontinental Championship, with Rey Mysterio and Dolph Ziggler producing an admirable effort in opening the night.
1988
The original SummerSlam set the tone for events going forward, and looked to ensure its legacy going forward with a star-studded main event. This was designed to cement it as the summer’s WrestleMania, and clearly worked as we approach the 28th edition of the PPV. The headline tag team bout placed the Mega Powers of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage against the Mega Bucks, Ted Dibiase and Andre the Giant. Obviously, whilst Savage and Dibiase handled the leg work in the ring, Hogan and Andre brought the greatest attraction. Well, apart from Miss Elizabeth, who by removing her skirt as a distraction tactic helped her team best their entitled opponents.
Whilst this was the major draw that brought the fans to the show, much of the remainder of the card also brought a mixture of shock and excitement that kept them happy throughout. This included the start of SummerSlam’s love of the Intercontinental Championship, with the Ultimate Warrior ending the Honky Tonk Man’s record-setting reign in rapid fashion. Two tag team matches also proved entertaining, with the British Bulldogs and the Fabulous Rougeaus battling to a time limit draw, and Demolition defending their titles against the Hart Foundation. The rest of the contests paled into the background, but the establishment of this spectacle was achieved in style.
2001
Placed right in the center of the WWE vs Alliance storyline, SummerSlam 2001 unsurprisingly took its structure from the war between the two companies. The co-main events embodied this in particular. Booker T defended the WCW Championship against the Rock, the first time the Big Gold belt was contested on WWE PPV. And it found its way into the hands of Team WWE, as the Brahma Bull shook off any threat from Shane McMahon at ringside to defeat Booker with the Rock Bottom. In the WWE Championship clash, Kurt Angle withstood everything Stone Cold Steve Austin could throw at him, so Austin saved his title by attacking referees to lose only by disqualification.
Both of these matches were excellent, especially Austin/Angle prior to its screwy finish. However, the overall card was let down by some bouts that could not live up to these main events. The Tag Team Championship Steel Cage match quickly transitioned to the Brothers of Destruction decimating DDP, whilst X-Pac heat was strong during his victory over Tajiri. The remainder of the card ranged from decent to great, with other highlights including Rob Van Dam winning the Hardcore Championship in a hectic Ladder match with Jeff Hardy, and Chris Jericho continuing his rapid rise to superstardom in 2001 with a solid performance against Rhyno.
1992
The only of the big four PPVs to ever be held outside of North America, SummerSlam 1992 took place in front of some of the world’s most impassioned fans in the United Kingdom. And to get the biggest reaction from that audience, the main event was for the only time in WWE’s history contested for the Intercontinental Championship. Bret Hart had been a fine champion, and built up the legitimacy superbly, but was challenged by his friend, brother-in-law and national hero British Bulldog over the strap. They produced a back-and-forth match of typically wonderful quality, with what seemed to be dozens of false finishes, before Davey Boy finally took home the gold, pinning Hart and in a respectful but hard-fought classic.
The remaining matches could not hope to match this masterpiece, but were buoyed by an insatiable and exhilarated crowd. Shawn Michaels and Rick Martel produced a technical contest, mainly due to the stipulation that neither was allowed to hit the other in the face. Randy Savage and Ultimate Warrior maintained their chemistry in their clash for the WWE Championship, as their respect for one another was evident in this interference-laden battle for the belt. Of course, there were some contests that would not live long in the memory. The Natural Disasters vs the Beverly Brothers or Undertaker vs Kamala did not scream “Match of the Year”. However, this event still holds a special place due to the exceptional main event and the deafening fan reactions.
2013
This recent SummerSlam card started off at a snail’s pace, picked up to create an overall great show, and then a shock twist which was the foundation of a storyline that lasted all the way up to WrestleMania 30. Two contenders for match of the night emerged, and both would feature in most fans’ lists of top ten contests in the event’s long history. Daniel Bryan rode a wave of public support and empathy to push himself into the main event with John Cena, and the pair fashioned a spectacular clash which had the bearded wonder emerge victorious. However, his glory was cut short by a heel turn by Triple H and Money in the Bank cash-in by Randy Orton, starting the Authority which has survived to this very day.
The other standout battle was between Brock Lesnar and CM Punk. With Punk’s sour relationship with former friend and mentor Paul Heyman the driving force in this rivalry, in spite of their massive size difference they produced a realistic, visceral encounter with the Beast coming out on top. These were supported nicely by some solid conflicts between Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow, and Alberto Del Rio vs Chrstian. But, if Bryan/Cena and Lesnar/Punk can claim to be the best match in SummerSlam history, undoubtedly Bray Wyatt and Kane’s Ring of Fire debacle can certainly put in a strong argument for being the worst.
2002
For me personally, the 2002 edition was my first ever SummerSlam since becoming a fan of professional wrestling, and I was clearly fortunate to enter at this time. Every match was at the very least decent, which is rare when most PPVs often contain one or two turkeys. The final two contests on the card were the highlights, with the main event the culmination of arguably the most dominant debut months in wrestling history. Brock Lesnar defeated the Rock to claim the WWE Championship, an excellent bout made memorable by its stunning crowning of a new, young champion. The other outstanding battle produced a moment for the ages, as Shawn Michaels returned after a four-year absence to best Triple H in a phenomenal street fight.
The return of HBK with such style was an untouchable moment of pure emotion, and still stands as one of the greatest moments in the events history. The rest of the card thus had a lot to live up to, and whilst that was an unreachable border, essentially every match had something to enjoy. Five of the famed SmackDown Six brought their rapid, technical brilliance to SummerSlam through Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio, Edge vs Eddie Guerrero and Christ Benoit vs Rob Van Dam for the Intercontinental Championship. These were all great contests that could easily be the standout clash on a different night, and solid performances by Undertaker, Ric Flair and Chris Jericho make this one of the most consistently strong cards in the event’s history.
2000
WWE was at a peak in 2000, as even with Stone Cold Steve Austin on the shelf, the main event scene and tag team division were thriving like never before. And these two elements combined to produce and outstanding show, worthy of being considered the very best SummerSlam to have ever taken place. Yes, it was hampered by an unappealing brawl between Undertaker and Kane which saw the Big Red Machine briefly unmasked and a “Thong Stinkface Match” pitting the Kat against Terri. But sometimes the underwhelming or ridiculousness is washed away by the immense radiance shining from the standout matches on the card.
The main event was personal in every sense of the word, as the Rock defended his WWE Championship against longtime rival Triple H and the Game’s “love rival” Kurt Angle, who had actively been pursuing Stephanie McMahon. All three had wonderful chemistry, with the champion retaining ending the show on an emphatic high. Yet, in terms of performance it was overshadowed by the Tag Team title match. The legendary three-way feud between The Dudleys, The Hardys and Edge & Christian launched them all to superstardom, with the first-ever TLC match propelling the ladder match to new heights. When you also add Chris Benoit facing Chris Jericho over Two out of Three Falls and Shane McMahon taking incredible risks in a Hardcore match with Steve Blackman, it was an unforgettable night and a must-watch for all wrestling fans.
What was your favorite SummerSlam event?
Next: WrestleMania Card Projections 2.0
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