Reviewing WWE SummerSlam’s Greatest Matches

WWE.com

WWE SummerSlam 2002

WWE Undisputed Championship Match
The Rock (c) vs. Brock Lesnar

Result: Brock Lesnar defeats The Rock via pinfall to win the WWE Undisputed Championship.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

The Rock entered to a mixed reaction because everyone knew he was leaving for Hollywood again.

Rock sprinted to the ring to collide with Lesnar. He threw multiple punches but got hit with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near-fall.

Lesnar then attacked Rock’s ribs for another near-fall. This was when the crowd quickly turned on the People’s Champ with “Rocky Sucks” chants.

The Rock escaped outside the ring but got kicked by Paul Heyman and slammed into the barricade by Lesnar.

Back in the ring, Lesnar hit another belly-to-belly for another near-fall. Rock would counter with a right hand but get yanked down by Heyman. This led to Lesnar continued to stomp on Rock’s ribs.

Lesnar would get Rock up, who then hit a few right hands and a kick before being hit with a powerslam by the Next Big Thing for a near-fall.

Lesnar would line Rock up in the corner and shoulder his ribs multiple times. The next time around, Rock dodged the attack, making Lesnar go into the post. Rock would hit a suplex to finally get some legitimate offense in.

In the middle of the ring, Rock went for a few should tackles but couldn’t do anything with them. He would connect with a DDT for a near-fall.

Rock would go for the Sharpshooter but the referee got distracted by Heyman. Rock then hit a leg drag on Lesnar and locked in the Sharpshooter. This was answered with “Let’s go Lesnar” chants from the crowd.

Heyman would distract the referee again, leading to Rock breaking the hold. This let Lesnar club Rock to get him down.

With the referee distracted, Lesnar hit Rock in the ribs with a chair and locked in a Bear Hug. As Rock tried breaking out, he was suplexed for a near-fall. Lesnar would then lock in a long hold around Rock’s mid-section.

After awhile, Rock finally fought back and hit a few right hands to hurt Lesnar. Then with the referee distracted by Heyman, Rock hit a low blow on Lesnar.

Lesnar would retaliate and drive his shoulder into the ribs of Rock, who would answer back with a take down and a few hard right hands.

Outside the ring, Rock would clear off an announce table. He clubbed Lesnar down and slingshot him into the steel post. Rock then climbed the announce table with Heyman and Rock Bottomed him!

In the ring, Rock hit a Rock Bottom on Lesnar, who barely kicked out before 3. Lesnar then hit a big Rock Bottom of his own on Rock for a near-fall.

Rock would get momentum back with a huge spinebuster. He then went for the People’s Elbow but Lesnar got up and clubbed Rock. He picked him up and went for an F-5 but Rock countered. Lesnar then picked him up and hit a devastating F-5 for the win.

Rob’s Note: Despite this following arguably the greatest SummerSlam match of all-time, Rock and Lesnar put on an underrated match. It’s odd to call it that but it doesn’t get talked about enough.

This win immediately propelled Lesnar into elite status in WWE for the next few years. Rock would go to Hollywood and make recurring appearances for WWE.