WWE SummerSlam: 10 best non-title singles matches in the PPV's history

#4 John Cena vs Batista (SummerSlam 2008)

The first-ever 1-on-1 clash between the two post Attitude Era megastars

Two Superstars that achieved a lot of success in WWE post the Attitude Era are John Cena and Batista. Between 2005 and 2008, Big Match John and The Animal were easily the two biggest stars, and WWE successfully managed to keep them apart from each other for a long time. When Batista arrived on Raw in the summer of 2008, and with SummerSlam right around the corner, WWE decided to bring these two legends for a small program.

Even though it was not for a world title, the stakes of this match were pretty high as it was a fight between the two cornerstones of that era. Both Superstars were determined to prove that they were the better Superstar, and were ready to do whatever it took to prove their opponent wrong.

Getting the penultimate spot on the SummerSlam card, this match was a display of power by the two big guys. Both Superstars not only hit big moves to knock each other out, but also relied on submission moves as well.

Cena's reversal of a powerslam into an AA was stunning, and Batista's reversal of a top rope leg drop into a Batista Bomb nearly brought an end to the match. All it took after that was another Batista Bomb from The Animal to win this 14-minute fight of the Behemoths.

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#3 Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio (SummerSlam 2002)

The greatest opening match in SummerSlam History.

In one of my previous articles, we ranked this match as the best opening match in the history of SummerSlam, and there is some pretty solid evidence to support that. Rarely do we see a pay-per-view match, let alone at a big show like SummerSlam, that went for less than 10 minutes but is so revered by fans. Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio from SummerSlam 2002 is the type of match that we see every now and then in the wrestling world in 2020, but it was a rare sight in WWE back in 2002.

Angle was easily the best wrestler on the roster at that time, and there was not better high-flyer in the world than Mysterio. The fact that the two got to open a big show like SummerSlam, which was also Mysterio's first ever pay-per-view match in WWE, speaks volume of the confidence the organisation had in these two legends back then as well.

The action began even before the bell rang, and it didn't stop for the next 9 minutes and 20 seconds. From reversals to submission, and from offensive moves to tackles, the action was non-stop and both Superstars gave it their all to start the show with a bang. Even though it was Angle who emerged with a win after making Mysterio submit to the Ankle Lock, both of them came out with more support and respect from fans than ever before.