Where Were SummerSlam Stars 10 Years Ago?

“Time flies.”

This phrase, commonly used as it is, applies especially to the world of wrestling. In what is one of the more volatile businesses in the world, it seems as if nothing lasts very long and that things are constantly changing. Whether it be main event match-ups or new stars entering the fold, there always appears to be a boatload of moving parts.

With one of the more memorable SummerSlam’s in recent memory about to reach it’s 10-year anniversary (and SummerSlam coming up this weekend), I thought it would be a cool idea to see where this year’s card was at during that historic event. Let’s get to it!

AJ Lee vs. Paige (Diva’s Championship)

Lee : Though Lee is one of the veterans of an up-and-coming Diva’s division, she was just about to begin her senior year in high school during 2004’s edition of SummerSlam. She was young, but her dreams of becoming a WWE superstar were already in motion, as she eventually graduated and worked to save up money for wrestling school.

Paige : She was 11 years old (SummerSlam is her 22nd birthday) and was already occasionally wrestling in her father’s wrestling school. She would eventually make debut later the next year, at 13.

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Jack Swagger vs. Rusev

Swagger : He was a junior at the University of Oklahoma. He lost in the Division 1 wrestling championships that season, and was also a member of the football team.

Rusev : He was living in Bulgaria and going to a sports school, where he would go to two classes as well as train twice per day. He wound up coming to America 2 years later at the age of 20.

Brie Bella vs. Stephanie McMahon

Bella : After appearing in a Fox reality show in 2003, Brie did various acting and modeling gigs, mostly with her sister. She later became one-half of the Budweiser World Cup Twins prior to signing with WWE in 2007.

McMahon : Following a loss to her father in an I Quit match at No Mercy in 2003, she was off TV for two years (including during SummerSlam 2004). She would return one year later.

Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins

Ambrose : He had just recently made his in-ring debut as an 18 year old in Heartland Wrestling Association after spending months setting up rings and selling popcorn at events.

Rollins : Much like Ambrose, he had just began wrestling as an 18 year old, though he was in IWA Mid-South.

The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler (Intercontinental Championship)

Miz : He was wrestling in Ultimate Pro Wrestling and did enough to catch the eye of WWE’s scouts, as he would join Tough Enough in two months.

Ziggler : After graduating in 2003 with the most wins in Kent State University’s wrestling team’s history, he latched on with WWE in 2004, though he didn’t make his first appearance until months after SummerSlam.

Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton

Reigns : He was about to enter his sophomore year at Georgia Tech University, which would also be his first year starting on football team. He was a defensive lineman who racked up 25 tackles (5 for loss).

Orton : SummerSlam 2004 was a huge night for both Orton and the WWE. With his victory over Chris Benoit, he became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in the company’s history and put himself on the fast track for superstardom.

Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho

Wyatt : It’s hard to believe, but he was just going into his senior year of high school. He ended up going on to win a state wrestling championship later in year.

Jericho : One of the veterans on this card, he lost a triple-threat Intercontinental Championship match at SummerSlam 2004. Edge, the man that won the match is now retired and Batista, the other opponent, has broke out as a movie star from his role in Guardians of the Galaxy.

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Cena : While time does fly in the WWE, one thing that has remained the same is John Cena winning. 10 years ago, it was the same, as he defeated Booker T in the third match of a Best of 5 series for the United States Championship.

Lesnar : After leaving the company in early 2004, “The Beast Incarnate” made his way to training camp with Minnesota Vikings rather than participating in SummerSlam.