5 times in this millennium when SummerSlam was better than WrestleMania

#1 2002

SummerSlam 2002

2002 was a complete transitional year for WWE. This was between the Attitude Era and the Ruthless Aggression era. Coming out of WrestleMania X8, the company was on the verge of a complete, top-to-bottom overhaul which even included a change to the company's name.

WrestleMania X8 was not a poor show at all, but outside of the over-achieving Icon vs Icon match between Hollywood Hogan and The Rock, the event had several matches that failed to live up to expectations, particularly the main-event involving Triple H and Chris Jericho.

By the time SummerSlam came around, most of the stars from WrestleMania X8 had vanished. The nWo was no more, and none of the three members even appeared on the SummerSlam card. The Rock was one day away from a full-time return to Hollywood, and Steve Austin was no longer a part of the company.

It really was a period of change, but what a change it was. In addition to The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar main event, SummerSlam 2002 saw the in-ring return of Shawn Michaels after a 4-year absence. He battled Triple H in a brutal, but brilliant Unsanctioned Match. We were also treated with possibly the greatest opening match in WWE history as Kurt Angle took on Rey Mysterio in a minor classic.

In many ways, WrestleMania X8 was the end of an era, the Invasion era if you may, while SummerSlam 2002 brought us the foundation for the future. The show ushered in a new age of talent and youth that focused on stars like Lesnar, Angle, Edge, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit.

If only WWE could build stars the way they did back then.

Even though 2002 featured a solid WrestleMania, SummerSlam that year was unbelievable. It is hard to find a non-WrestleMania event that tops this one, as the card was well-rounded with good-to-great-to-excellent matches. Truly one of the greatest pay-per-views of all time.