Ranking all Summerslam main events from worst to best

#21 Edge vs. John Cena - Summerslam 2006

Could have been so much more

On paper, this particular match up doesn't look too bad. Both John Cena and Edge were in their prime back in 2006 after having been chosen to lead the company into the 00s. Maybe this match features so low because of how badly it lived up to its high expectations. The match was just kind of 'there', nothing memorable about it at all.

This was also the start of the John Cena hate campaign, with the Cenation leader being booed in his hometown of Boston.

For two of the PG Era's top stars, we all expected so much more. If you were to go back and remind yourself how good Edge could be in the ring, this probably isn't the match to check out.

---

#20 The Rock vs. Booker T - Summerslam 2001

Disappointing invasion

If you are a fan of the Invasion Angle in 2001, then this match would probably feature much higher on your list of Summerslam main events. But for a large portion of the audience who tuned into the Monday Night Wars on a consistent basis, the Invasion Angle proved to be nothing more than a confused Vince McMahon ego trip.

The main event of Summerslam 2001 between Booker T and The Rock, when taken as a pro wrestling match in its own right, was by no means a bad affair, but sometimes you just cannot take something out of context no matter how hard you try.

No disrespect to Booker T, but if you're building a big four PPV like Summerslam around the Invasion Angle, having these two in the main event would not be your first go-to decision.

Fans had pretty much spent the whole of 1996-2001 dreaming about different main events you could put together from both companies, Stone Cold vs. Hulk Hogan, Undertaker vs. Sting, Triple H vs. Rick Flair - all would have been instant money making bouts.

The Rock vs Booker T never really stood a chance of being one of the better Summerslam main events, especially considering the show could have been so much more.

---

#19 Triple H vs. Mankind vs. Austin - Summerslam 1999

The Attitude Era main event

Securing its rightful spot in the top 20 list is the 1999 Summerslam main event between three of the Attitude Era's greatest stars. The only reason this doesn't appear higher is that while the match was very good, the build up and finish to it were largely off the mark.

Fans will remember the convoluted way in which the company arrived at this main event, with Triple H, Mankind and Chyna all battling it out to face Austin. For a while it really looked like Chyna was going to feature on a big four PPV for the title, and it's still quite baffling as to why they didn't just go there with her.

Shawn Michaels and Shane McMahon were also trying to direct traffic and all in all it was a case of trying to do too much when the situation didn't call for it.

This should also have been Triple H's time to see out a big four PPV. If rumours are to be believed, it was Austin who managed to convince the boss not to pull the trigger on "The Game" as he just didn't feel like passing his torch just yet. Instead, Mankind came away with the victory only for Triple H to win it eventually.

For all the criticism WCW rightfully receives about the way it did business in 2000/2001, the WWE had its fair share of prima donnas getting in the way of doing the right thing as well.