Greatest Title Matches in SummerSlam History

SummerSlam is the second biggest show of the calendar year for WWE. After the spring special of WrestleMania, everyone eagerly awaits the sensation that is the biggest party of the summer. This event injects new life into the WWE, as the post WrestleMania lull of placeholder feuds end in anticipation of this event.

Follow Sportskeeda for the latest WWE news, rumors and all other wrestling news.

Title matches are integral to every WWE show, but SummerSlam has a special penchant for delivering some stellar matches. This year we are bound to see show-stealing bouts, featuring the likes of AJ Styles and Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship, or Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. The future may be bright, but let's take a look at the standard bearers which have given SummerSlam the aura that it currently possesses.

---

#10 Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor: Universal Championship Match (2016)

An unmatched battle of wits.

The first ever is still the best that it has seen. Rollins and Balor went to war in 2016 for the right to be crowned the first ever WWE Universal Champion. Rollins, still backed by Stephanie McMahon was sent straight to the match, while the newcomer Balor won the right to face Rollins for the strap. The pain that Balor went through for qualification was nothing compared to the pain he went through in this match, fighting with a torn bicep, labium and pectoral tendon. The injury proved to be a serious one and kept him out of action for almost 8 months.

Rollins didn't slack either, going out of his way to sell the match by putting over the fortitude of Balor. An intense back and forth match saw these two former NXT Champions go to the ends of their move-set to try and put the other away. That finally happened, as The Demon King hit the Coup de Grace to defeat Rollins and become the inaugural Universal Champion. Unfortunately for him, he had to forfeit the belt the very next night due to the injuries he had suffered during the bout.

You can see Finn Balor relinquish the WWE Universal Title on Raw here:

#9 Randy Orton vs Christian: World Heavyweight Championship (2011)

The RKO that ended Christian's main event run

The 'One More Match' storyline with Christian is arguably one of the finest told stories of the modern era in WWE, and it culminated in a tremendous and violent No Hold Barred match at SummerSlam 2011. This match had Christian embarking on his final main event push in WWE, and a Randy Orton who was at the peak of his powers.

The slowly built story of how the heel Christian was getting under Orton's skin was perfectly told, thus giving motivation for the ungodly punishment that Orton doled out on the former tag champ. DDT on trash cans, kendo stick beatings, RKO's on announce tables all featured in this match, as the champion Christian saw himself slowly slipping into defeat. A final RKO onto the steel steps put away the champion, and saw the culmination of a tremendous story in the second best title match on the 2011 card.

#8 John Cena vs. CM Punk: WWE Championship (2011)

Two champions enter; one champion leaves

The best match on the 2011 SummerSlam card has to be John Cena vs CM. Punk. To adequately judge this match, one must look past the shenanigans that took place, and judge this on work rate alone. While Christian and Orton were telling a story through violence, Punk and Cena were doing the exact same thing with every move they made. The two champions were fighting to declare an undisputed champion, right in the middle of one of the best stories WWE had told in a while.

The near falls and the way both competitors sold, made the fans hang on to the edge of their seats in what was a tremendous encounter. The two actually suspended belief and made people think that this was a legitimate grudge match, not a pre-determined performance. Triple H's presence created further tension and drama throughout the match. Even though the finish left a sour taste in the mouths of the fans, the match on its own was a tremendous exhibition by the two top dogs in WWE at the time.

You can see Punk face Cena at SummerSlam 2011 here:

#7 The Rock vs. Triple H: Intercontinental Championship (1998)

The coming out party for two of the brightest stars in the WWE

The two stars that were considered to be the future of WWE clashed in a slobber-knocker of a ladder match for the secondary strap of WWE at the 1998 edition of SummerSlam. This match had layers of story-telling, as it wasn't just a face-off Rock and Hunter, but one that saw the Nation of Domination compete against D-Generation X.

The two men had wicked chemistry against one another, as the story that they told was evident through their efforts. Rock had attacked Hunter's knee so that the challenger would have a hard time climbing the ladder. Despite all the interference, that match went from strength to strength as we saw the gutsy HHH climb the ladder and retrieve the championship. A match packed with psychology and spots, this was a tremendous coming-out party for the two, who had now proved that they belonged in the main event.

#6 Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk: World Heavyweight Championship (2009)

Leap of faith

Two in-ring legends had a career-defining performance against one another at SummerSlam 2009. The duo met in a TLC match, as Mr Straight Edge CM Punk tried to take the Big Gold Belt from Mr Free Will, the defiant babyface, Jeff Hardy. The two opposite personalities, which were a mish-mash of real life, worked perfectly against each other on this August evening.

The main event from the 2009 show was a brutal affair as both men tried to outdo one another in a bid to become the champion. Hardy used his exciting offence to keep the calculating CM Punk at bay. Despite that, Punk got his fair share of shots in, by using extreme tactics. Both men must have been bruised and battered, especially after Hardy jumped from a 30-foot ladder to Swanton Bomb Punk through the announce table. A battered Punk still managed to retrieve the championship. Hardy would soon leave the company, but after making his mark through the event.

After the bout Punk was in for a surprise:

#5 John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan: WWE Championship (2013)

The beard is here

The perennial underdog, Daniel Bryan finally got his shot at the big-time when he faced off against Mr WWE, John Cena for the WWE Championship in 2013. Cena had issued a challenge to Bryan, which the bearded man happily accepted. Even though Cena was working through an injury, he and Bryan put up a phenomenal encounter that was probably the best match of 2013.

The match was split down the middle, as Cena ensured Bryan was a competent opponent and his equal. Bryan did not look out of place in this encounter either, as he matched the historic Cena for every bit of the match. The torn tricep of Cena wasn't a factor that bothered anyone, as Cena worked through the match despite that and put over Daniel Bryan clean on that day in 2013. Bryan became champion as Cena went on to the shelf to recover from his injury. Daniel Bryan had arrived.

#4 Bret Hart vs. Mr Perfect: Intercontinental Championship

The iconic image of Mr Perfect locked in Bret Hart's Sharpshooter

This was the match that proved Bret Hart was the best wrestler alive at the time. People will remember this match for a multitude of reasons, but this match stands to be best remembered as the bout that saw Bret Hart transform into a mega-star. He beat the arrogant Mr Perfect in a technical classic seldom seen in WWE.

Just like Cena in 2013, Perfect fought through a back injury and took every bump that he could to put Hart over. Even though Perfect was trying to bully the gutsy Hart, he failed in his efforts to subdue him. Bret Hart became the first ever man to kick out of the Perfect-Plex, which created a memorable moment rarely recreated in the manufactured world of the WWE. The lasting image of Perfect trapped in the sharpshooter as Hart is on the precipice of glory is a defining one, which saw one of the most iconic wrestlers ever get redemption for his work.

You can see highlights of their match here:

#3 The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge and Christian: WWE Tag Team Championship (2000)

The epitome of violence

Following their WrestleMania 2000 clash would be no easy feat, but in the first ever Triple Threat Tag Team TLC match, three of the most iconic tag teams of all time absolutely shattered all expectations in their SummerSlam 2000 rematch. A violent and frantic match saw the careers of all 6 men shortened in one night, as they delivered peak Attitude Era action which would make it hard to follow them.

A chaotic and wild bout saw every man take risks that no one would ever dare to in the realms of the real world. Jeff Hardy made a habit out of jumping off tall objects but wasn't let down by any of the competitors. They all took some death-defying high spots which could have possibly killed them. The heart-stopping nature of the match makes it one of the best tag team matches of all time.

#2 Bret Hart vs. The British Bulldog: Intercontinental Championship (1992)

The feel-good moment at the end of the biggest SummerSlam ever

The only SummerSlam to air out of North America saw the show headlined by Intercontinental champion Bret Hart, opposite the hometown hero, The British Bulldog. In a match which saw Bulldog put aside all his personal demons and deliver a classic opposite The Hitman, 80,000 people packed into Wembley to see the two battle it out.

One could argue this is the best match in SummerSlam history, and it is certainly a valid argument because of the sheer scale and wonder this match had. The largest SummerSlam crowd ever and two of the best workers in the history of this sport meant for a perfect combination as the two put out a match that would come to define them forever. A triumphant Bulldog celebrating with his people is an iconic visual and one no one should ever forget. A 5* classic, easily.

You can see highlights from their bout here:

#1 Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart: WWE Championship (1994)

Is blood bigger than glory?

Bulldog and Hart gave us the best Intercontinental Championship match of all time, but it falls just below the battle Owen and Bret had for the top prize in the company. Arguably the best story that WWE has ever told was the battle of dissension between the Hart brothers, and Owen's relentless pursuit of the WWE Championship, which was held by his brother.

Owen had defeated Bret at WrestleMania, just to see his brother become champion later in the evening. Whilst enclosed in a steel cage, Owen looked as fierce and determined as he ever had. Near escape after near escape kept the fans on edge of their seats, as The King of the Ring, Owen, tried everything in his playbook to beat Bret. Bret fought equally hard to avenge his WrestleMania loss and retain his championship, as the entire Hart family watched on from the first row. A psychological battle, this match was much better than what it is remembered as and can be considered one of the greatest wrestling bouts of all time. Bret overcame his brother that night and left an indelible mark in wrestling history.

What do you think is the greatest title match in SummerSlam history? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.