WWE: Top 10 SummerSlam matches - Part 1

With only a couple of weeks left for the biggest party of the summer – SummerSlam, we take a look at the top 10 matches in the history of the Pay-Per-View. SummerSlam has always been an exciting time in the WWE, and is considered as the second biggest PPV in a calendar year of the WWE, right after WrestleMania.

With SummerSlam being the beginning of the next edition of WrestleMania, major angles and characters are initiated during this time. This year, we have three top notch matches on the card for SummerSlam, with Daniel Bryan taking on John Cena for the WWE championship, Christian taking on Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship and CM Punk taking on Brock Lesnar. Without further ado, let us now take a look at the top 10 SummerSlam matches of all time.

10. Brock Lesnar vs The Rock at SummerSlam 2002

2002 was a major year in professional wrestling. WWF changed its name to WWE, Brock Lesnar made his impact in the company and was the fastest rising star in company’s history and ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels made his in-ring return.

The main event of the 2002 SummerSlam was the WWE championship match between the champion, The Rock and the challenger, Brock Lesnar. Lesnar was the unstoppable monster in the company, going through anyone and everyone who came in his path. This resulted in Lesnar fighting for the title at SummerSlam in 2002, and after dominating The Rock, he hit an emphatic F-5 and covered the champion to win the title, as the crowd erupted. This was the beginning of the dominance of Lesnar in the WWE.

9. The Rock vs Triple H at SummerSlam 1998

This match was seen as the turning point in both of these performer’s careers. The Rock was one of the most promising youngsters in the WWF, while Triple H was holding his own, climbing the ranks in the organization. Their feud culminated in a ladder match at SummerSlam in 1998 for the prestigious WWF Intercontinental championship.

Both these performers delivered a good match, which cemented their status as main event level players in the eyes of the fans and the management. Needless to say, both of them went on to have legendary careers in the WWF after this.

8. The Undertaker vs Edge at SummerSlam 2008

Regarded as one of the best Hell In A Cell matches of all time, The Undertaker took on Edge at SummerSlam. Their feud culminated after Edge and La Familia screwed Undertaker out of his championship.

After Vickie and Edge broke up, Vickie brought Taker back to face Edge, which turned out to be one of the greatest SummerSlam matches of all time. The Undertaker defeated Edge and drove him through the canvas to end the night, which was one of the most memorable instances in recent memory.

7. Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon at SummerSlam 1995

Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon were involved in another ladder match other than their WrestleMania classic, and although this wasn’t as great as the other one, the ladder match at SummerSlam 1995 delivered yet again.

Razor and Shawn faced each other for the WWF Intercontinental championship, and put on another good match which saw Shawn Michaels defeating Razor Ramon to win the Intercontinental championship. This was also the highlight of an otherwise lackluster PPV of SummerSlam in 1995.

6. Bret Hart vs The Undertaker at SummerSlam 1997

This was just before the whole Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels fiasco happened in Montreal at the Survivor Series, and the seeds were also planted for the birth of D Generation X. This match was about Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, and the story leading up to it was the animosity between the two.

Michaels was the special guest referee in the match, and it was a classic encounter between Bret Hart and The Undertaker. The finish saw HBK knocking Taker out by mistake with a chair, and reluctantly counting to three, giving the win to Bret Hart. This was undoubtedly one of the most dramatic main events in SummerSlam history.