5 best opening matches in WWE SummerSlam history

#3 Chris Jericho vs Dolph Ziggler (SummerSlam 2012)

Jericho and Ziggler had the best match of the night.

Barely three years after debuting at SummerSlam in 2009, Ziggler was at the peak of his career during the Summer of 2012. He was challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship on pay per views, and also had the Money in the Bank briefcase for the same championship in his hands. With Vickie Guerrero by his side, he was easily one of the most hated superstars on the roster.

However, it was his rivalry against Chris Jericho during that same period that gave him the necessary push that catapulted him to stardom a year later. Built around the proven old formula of the younger talent berating the seasoned veteran for his lack of recent success, the storyline and the chemistry between the two in the weeks leading to SummerSlam was so impeccable during the build that it turned Jericho, a hated heel, into a super over performer within weeks.

Opening the show in Los Angeles, the two had exactly the match that was expected from the two. Despite having his ribs injured, Jericho had an answer to every move from Ziggler, even going as far as hitting a top rope hurrincanrana midway in the match. The Showoff focused his attack on his challenger's ribs, and it worked well for him for over 12 minutes. However, it wasn't enough for him to topple the legend at SummerSlam as Y2J forced the heel to submit to the Walls of Jericho to win this amazing contest.