6 Times SummerSlam was better than WrestleMania 

#4 SummerSlam 2002

One of the best return matches in wrestling history.

WrestleMania X-8 was 'good'. Yes, that's the best can describe that mega show in Toronto. Even though the show featured the critically acclaimed dream match between Hulk Hogan and The Rock, the rest of the show was average at best. Despite the plethora of talent that was involved in the show, it could not live up to the hype around it.

Apart from the Icon v Icon clash between Hogan and Rock, the only other match which was actually good was the No DQ match between The Undertaker and Ric Flair. The main event was a big bust, Austin-Hall match was surprisingly short and all the other matches were just not worthy of being on a pay per view like 'Mania. It was clearly a big fall from Mania X-Seven.

Fast Forward 5 months and the whole scenario of the WWE had changed big time. Stone Cold left the WWE on a sour note. The NWO was now a thing from the past as well as Raw and SmackDown now had separate rosters. The biggest changes, however, were the in-ring return of Shawn Michaels and The rise of Brock Lesnar, and these are what played a big hand in making SummerSlam 2002 a memorable show.

With The Rock taking a sabbatical, his reign as the WWE Champion was ended by Brock Lesnar in a stunning main event. In the penultimate match, Shawn Michaels had a dream return match with the recently turned heel in Triple H that was as brutal as it could have been. Add to that the best opening match in SummerSlam history along with a ladder match, and you had a show that easily bettered Mania X-8 on all parameters.