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Reviewing WWE SummerSlam’s Greatest Matches

Rob Wolkenbrod
Rob Wolkenbrod

Daily DDT

WWE.com

Follow along with our review of some of WWE SummerSlam’s greatest matches of all-time.

WWE SummerSlam is only a few weeks away and it’s set to be one of the biggest ever. In terms of length, it will be, as this year’s show is four hours long. Matches like Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker and John Cena vs. Seth Rollins will highlight the show. Will either of them turn out to be some of the top SummerSlam matches ever? That’s a question we won’t know the answer for until the respective matches conclude.

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SummerSlam has always been booked as WWE’s second-biggest pay-per-view of the year, meaning we usually see some great matches. Some of them have happened at recent SummerSlams too. How couldn’t you forget the two memorable bouts from 2013? What about from the classic 2002 pay-per-view that many deem the greatest SummerSlam of all-time?

The following is not a ranking of the greatest SummerSlam matches of all-time but only a look back on what happened in the match and giving the overall bout a grade.

With this in mind, click below as we begin reviewing some of SummerSlam’s best matches.

Next: Triple H vs. The Rock

WWE.com

WWF SummerSlam 1998

WWF Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
The Rock (c) vs. Triple H

Result: Triple H defeats The Rock to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship.

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

The Rock began by cursing at Triple H before knocking him down with a shoulder tackle. Triple H then clotheslined him and hit a facebuster.

Rock would go for a Rock Bottom but got countered. He then threw The Game into the corner and began punching him.

After Triple H got up, he went for the Pedigree but got tossed over the ropes.

Rock would go for the first ladder but Triple H met him by it and tossed him into the barricades.

In the ring, Rock began throwing a few punches before getting kneed in the face by Triple H. He would go for a ladder but Rock threw him into it.

Rock would grab the ladder and lean it on the side of the ring as Triple H assaulted him with punches. Rock would counter with an Irish Whip into the ladder and a clothesline.

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Rock brought the ladder into the ring and began setting it up. Triple H would climb to the top rope and knock both Rock and the ladder down.

Triple H then picked up the ladder and smacked it into Rock. He then slammed it into Rocky’s chest.

Triple H set up the ladder and began climbing but Rock threw him off, injuring the former IC Champion’s leg. Rock would continue going to work on it. He then placed HHH’s leg in between the ladder on stomped on it twice.

Rock would leave the ring and bring in a chair. He stomped on Triple H again and smashed the chair onto the ladder-crunched leg. He then wrapped the leg around the post and bashed it.

With a ladder set up across the steps and barricade, Rock would throw Triple H knee-first into it.

Rock went back in the ring and began climbing up the ladder. He was in reach of the belt but HHH shoved him off and tossed him out of the ring. He took the ladder and set it up against the barricade. Rock would block an Irish Whip and slingshot Triple H into the ladder.

Rock then grabbed a ladder and went for Triple H, who kicked him. Triple H then whipped him into the barricade and went for a Pedigree on the ladder. However, Rock would counter it and flip him into the ladder.

Rock went back in the ring and had two ladders in the ring. He put up one of them and started climbing. Triple H started going into the ring but Mark Henry tried stopping him. Chyna would pull him off. HHH would get to the ladder and shove it down.

Triple H hit a baseball slide on Rock to send him down on the outside. He would set up a ladder and begin climbing but Rock got back in and pulled him off.

Rock began throwing right hands and put a ladder on top of the ropes. He threw more right hands and hit a DDT.

Rock began climbing the ladder but Triple H began going up it too. They started throwing right hands at each other until Triple H was thrown face first into the ladder on the ropes. However, he bounced off and pushed Rock’s ladder over.

Chyna handed Triple H in the ring as Rock position the ladder. As Rock went to attack with the ladder, Triple H hit Rock with the chair three times.

Rock then threw Triple H on top of the ladder and hit the People’s Elbow.

Triple H then began going up the ladder but he jumped off and got caught in a Rock Bottom!

Rock would try climbing the ladder again. HHH would pull Rock off and hit a devastating Pedigree on him. However, Henry would throw a ton of powder into his face. Triple H would try climbing the ladder, though, as Rock tried meeting him up there. They began throwing right hands until Chyna came in and hit a low-blow on Rock. Triple H continued the climb and grabbed the belt for the win.

Next: Edge and Christian vs. Dudley Boyz vs. Hardy Boyz

WWE.com

WWF SummerSlam 2000

WWF Tag Team Championship Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match
Edge and Christian (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz

Result: Edge and Christian defeat The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz by climbing the ladder and grabbing the titles to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

The Hardys ran in the ring and got things started immediately. They grabbed chairs and threw them at the Dudley’s.

Christian and Edge then went after the Dudley’s and threw them out of the ring. Edge would bring in the first ladder but go face first into it after Bubba Ray dodged a move.

Bubba Ray began climbing the ladder but got slammed off by Matt and Jeff. Jeff began climbing a ladder while D’von began climbing another one. Edge went up with them but all three came crashing down.

Christian began climbing two ladders at once and Bubba met him up there. He hit a big atomic drop on Christian off the ladder from about 7 feet up.

Jeff went to climb the ladder but Edge pushed him off, crashing onto a ladder that smashed Matt’s face. A referee had to check on him from how brutal it looked.

Edge and Christian grabbed chairs, went to hit someone but ended up smacking themselves. Bubba pushed them down with a ladder.

Bubba hit a scoop slam on Edge and set up D’Von’s flying headbutt! Then this happened “D’Von – get the tables!” D’Von got a table and set it up in the ring. They then hit 3D with Christian through a table.

Bubba and D’Von then stacked two tables on top of two others that were set up at ringside. They went back into the ring and Bubba set up Jeff for a powerbomb. However, Edge came in with two huge chair shots to Edge. Matt came in and hit Twist of Fate on Edge. He then went to the top of the ladder and hit a leg drop. Jeff then leaped over the ladder and hit a leg drop of his own!

Matt would then put Edge in between a ladder and crunch him inside it multiple times. Matt would then take Christian from the top rope and toss him onto Edge!

Outside the ring, Bubba got thrown onto two tables as Jeff set up a ladder. Jeff climbed to the top and hit a huge senton through the tables that missed Bubba!

In the ring, Matt set up a gigantic ladder and began climbing. However, Edge, Christian and D’Von all came in the ring and follow him up the ladder. Matt hit Twist of Fate on Christian as D’Von and Edge both fell too.

Outside the ring, Bubba, with a deranged look, began to position the ladder and began to climb. Just as he got to the top, Edge and Christian pushed him off the ladder and through the four tables set up earlier! Wow!

In the ring, Edge and Christian set up the ladder and began to climb. Lita would run out and push them both off! She rushed to get Matt up so he can climb the ladder. He set it up and began moving. However, D’Von got up and pushed Matt off, making him go through two tables! Edge would come over and hit a devastating spear on Lita.

D’Von and Jeff climbed the ladder and met at the top. They both grabbed a title but the ladder was pushed away. They began swinging until Edge and Christian knocked them off. This gave Edge and Christian the opening to climb the ladder and retain the titles.

Rob’s Note: This match went down as one of the best in SummerSlam history and still is to this date. This is also considered the best TLC match ever. With the action in the ring and all the creative spots, it’s very hard to argue that point.

These three tag teams had many great matches during their careers. WrestleMania 2000’s match is another classic that is recommended to watch.

Next: Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle

WWE.com

WWF SummerSlam 2001

WWF Championship Match
Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. Kurt Angle

Result: Kurt Angle defeats Stone Cold Steve Austin via disqualification. However, Stone Cold Steve Austin retains the WWF Championship.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Angle and Austin began brawling on the ramp to begin this match. Austin threw multiple right hands to get Angle down and threw him into the ring.

Once they got in, Angle took Austin down and clubbed him with plenty of punches and stomps. Austin followed this with chops until Angle came back with a clothesline and cross-body for a near-fall.

Austin came back with a shot to the back of the head and began to work on Angle’s left leg with twisting and stomping on it. Angle would eventually counter with the Ankle Lock before Austin went to the ropes.

Austin and Angle began trading right hands until the latter was tossed out of the ring.

Back in the ring, Austin hit two suplexes and slapped Angle in the head. He hit another suplex for a near-fall.

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Austin would go for another suplex but get hit with seven belly-to-back suplexes by Angle. He went for an Angle Slam but Austin countered and drove Angle into the turnbuckle.

Austin would get Angle on the top rope and chop him. He went for a superplex but got thrown off. Austin would go back up and connect with the superplex this time around to send both men to the mat.

Austin then hit the Stunner out of nowhere but surprisingly did not complete the pin. He complained to the referee and hit another Stunner on Angle but this one led to the Olympic Gold Medalist flying out of the ring. Austin would meet Angle outside the ring and continue to beat him down. He threw him four times into the ring post.

After a fifth shot, Austin began pounding on Angle’s head, busting him open. He leaned Angle on the apron and continued to club him in the face. Austin threw Angle back in the ring and got a near-fall.

Angle got thrown out of the ring by Austin again and was tossed into the ring post for a sixth time. He then slammed Angle’s head into the announcer’s table. As Austin went for another move, Angle countered it and got him over the barricade. This set up a suplex of Angle onto the concrete.

As Austin tried going back to ringside, Angle grabbed Austin’s ankle for the Ankle Lock but got pulled off by the referee. He pulled Austin into the ring and put the submission maneuver on again until Austin climbed to the rope.

The two would go outside the ring again. This time, Angle tossed Austin with a suplex. Austin answered with two punches until Angle suplexed him right on the mat. Angle then took Austin’s head and slammed it into the announcer’s table.

Back in the ring, Angle attempted climbing to the top rope and hit a moonsault for a near-fall.

The two then began countering each other’s moves until Austin put Angle in the Cobra Clutch (going back to his Ringmaster days). This got Angle locked in and onto the ground briefly. Angle got back up and nearly put it into a pinfall.

Austin would lock into Angle again and almost passed out. However, Angle picked up his arm and tossed Austin out of the ring.

Austin would hit third Stunner of the match but Angle kicked out yet again! This infuriated Austin.

Angle tried getting back up and Austin began toying with him. He went for another Stunner but Angle countered it into an Angle Slam! He could only get a near-fall, though.

Austin then released his frustrations and took out out the referee. Angle then hit a DDT on Austin and nearly got the pinfall as a new referee came in to handle this match.

Austin would hit a low blow and hit a Stunner on the new referee. He then ran out of the ring and grabbed his title. He brought it back in the ring but a third referee came out. This one got clubbed in the face by the title.

With Austin distracted, Angle hit another Angle Slam and a fourth referee came out. However, a crooked WCW referee came out and disqualified Austin for abuse to referees. This allowed him to retain the WWF Championship.

Rob’s Note: This is probably one of the more underrated matches of SummerSlam. The messy finish may hurt it in some people’s eyes but it told a great story throughout the 20+ minutes of action.

Next: Brock Lesnar vs. The Rock

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.

WWE.com

WWE SummerSlam 2013

No Disqualification Match
Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk

Result: Brock Lesnar defeats CM Punk via pinfall.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Punk went straight after Lesnar but he got caught and driven into the turnbuckle. Lesnar continued with driving his shoulder and stomping him. Punk would try fighting back but he got tossed and driven into the turnbuckle again.

Punk connected with a kick to Lesnar’s face and got in two high knees to get the Beast out of the ring. He capitalized with a dive through the ropes to take Lesnar down.

Punk would then pick up the steel steps but Lesnar drove his body into them, sending Punk down. Punk would then counter an attempted move, climb to the top rope and take him down. He then climbed into the announce table and took Lesnar down with an elbow.

Paul Heyman would try distracting Punk but Lesnar came up from behind and clubbed him to take control. He then picked up Punk and tossed him over the announce table. Lesnar then placed the top of the table onto Punk and stomped with both feet.

After this, Lesnar threw Punk for a bell-to-belly suplex.

Back in the ring, Punk tried fighting back but Lesnar threw him down with his right hand.

Lesnar would drive his shoulder into Punk’s ribs multiple times. He then locked in a Bear Hug, to which Punk tried fighting back with multiple elbows. When Punk broke free and started charging, he got kneed in the mid-section. Lesnar continued to drive his knee into Punk and locked in another Bear Hug.

Punk would fight out again with a few elbows and a kick to the mid-section. He went to the top rope and jumped but got caught. Lesnar turned it into a devastating fall away slam.

Lesnar then picked up Punk and drove his knee into his ribs again. He attempted three pinfalls but couldn’t capitalize.

When Punk tried breaking out of Lesnar’s hold, he went Mike Tyson and bit his ear! Punk then threw some punches and climbed to the top rope. He connected with a big knee to the face and hit two more running high knees. When he went for a third one, Lesnar caught him but Punk broke out and connected with a roundhouse kick. He climbed to the top rope and hit a flying elbow for a near-fall.

Punk would go for the GTS but Lesnar countered and tried going for the F-5. Punk broke out of this and hit a roundhouse kick. He tried going for the GTS again but Lesnar countered it into the Kimura Lock. Lesnar locked in Punk’s arm but the latter countered it and tried going for Anaconda Vice. Lesnar broke out of this but Punk locked in a triangle around the former’s neck. Lesnar would pick him up and slam but but Punk kept his legs locked around.

Lesnar nearly tapped but he powered out of it and his a wicked powerbomb. He would get a near-fall.

Lesnar then hit three big suplex for a near-fall.

Lesnar went outside the ring and grabbed a chair. Punk would try to sneak up with a move off the top rope but Lesnar picked up the chair and he flew into it. However, Lesnar caught part of the blow and stayed down. Punk picked up the chair and bashed him over the back twice with it.

He went for a third hit but Lesnar caught the chair. However, Punk hit a low-blow to get Lesnar down.

Punk would take the chair and climb to the top rope. He jumped and planted the chair on Lesnar’s face for a near-fall!

Punk picked up the chair and bashed Lesnar with it. When going for a second shot, Heyman grabbed the chair. Punk grabbed Heyman by the tie and yanked him but Lesnar pulled him away. Punk would connect with GTS but Heyman broke up the pinfall.

Heyman would escape the ring but Punk chased after him. Lesnar would pick him up and go for the F-5 but Punk countered into a DDT! He couldn’t complete the pin, though.

Punk would put on Anaconda Vice! Heyman came into the ring with a chair, though, and was stopped by Punk. He grabbed Lesnar’s advocate by the face and punched him. He put AV on Heyman but got smacked with a chair by Lesnar three times.

Lesnar then picked up Punk, hit the F-5 on the chair and picked up the pinfall.

Rob’s Note: This match was one of the more brutal ones (in terms of physicality) in recent memory. The amount of abuse that Punk took from Lesnar was devastating to watch at times, especially the rib shots he took throughout this.

Despite the brutality, this goes down as one of the best SummerSlam matches of all-time. It told a story, it showed some great wrestling and used the half hour to put on a show.

You can follow Rob Wolkenbrod on Twitter @RealRobWolkey. If you would like to send a report from a live event, email us at trebor5227@yahoo.com.

Next: Power Ranking Every SummerSlam

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Rob Wolkenbrod

Rob Wolkenbrod

Robert is an editor, writer, and video editor. He covers the San Antonio Spurs for Forbes and the Toronto Raptors for Hoops Habit.