Ranking 31 Years of WWE Summerslam Main Events (1988-2018)

Summerslam is WWE's third oldest pay per view event having debuted in August of 1988. The most recent instalment in 2018, was the 30th anniversary of the "biggest party of the Summer."

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This list ranks all of the Summerslam main events in descending order from all 31 instalments until we reach the greatest Summerslam main event of all time.

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#31-26

#31 1995 - Diesel vs King Mabel

Only one possibility for the worst Summerslam main event of all time. Matching the least financially successful WWF/E Champion of all time in Diesel vs the worst challenger of all time in King Mabel meant the WWF did not send the fans home happy at Summerslam 1995.

Mabel was virtually immobile and Diesel who could excel with superior workers such as Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels could not carry him. This was a mess from start to finish.

#30 1994 - Undertaker vs Undertaker

Ah, the mid-nineties! Someone had the bright idea that the best opponent for The Undertaker was The Undertaker!

If this was 2007, then it may have been an enticing possibility when Mark Calloway was able to wrestle long, thrilling, energetic matches with a range of opponents. However, in 1994, he was playing the "zombie" version of Undertaker, who would (very) slowly stalk around the ring, doing little of interest.

Amazingly, this could have been worse. The original plan was for both Undertakers to engage in a test of strength when the lights were supposed to go out. When they came back on, there would be only one, as both Undertakers would have merged to become one super Undertaker!

Thankfully, the excellent Bret Hart vs Owen Hart match earlier on the card had run long meaning all the supernatural nonsense planned for the main event had to be scrapped due to time constraints. Phew!

#29 1991 - Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior vs Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa & Gen. Adnan

This match is more famous for what happened backstage rather than in the ring. Prior to the bout, Warrior allegedly demanded money up front from WWF boss, Vince McMahon or he would not wrestle in the match. McMahon apparently acquiesced to save his main event, then following the show fired Warrior.

Warrior would not appear for the company again until Wrestlemania the following year.

As for the match, it was abysmal. Exploiting the Gulf War, months after it had finished, the American heroes squashed the Iraqi sympathisers.

#28 1989 - Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake vs Randy Savage & Zeus

No Holds Barred! That was the title of the movie that was the story of the match and unfortunately not the stipulation.

In (yet) another bid to prove to the world that he was more than a wrestling promoter, Vince McMahon decided to enter the film business in 1989. He produced a film that was an embarrassment to the industry and a massive money loser for himself personally.

However, the savvy McMahon, made his losses back, when he invited actor Tom Lister, who had portrayed the movie's villain, Zeus to the WWF to transfer the movie's conflict between Hulk Hogan and Zeus to the wrestling ring.

As silly as the storyline was, it did monster business for the company. However, as Lister was an actor and not a wrestler, the match left a lot to be desired.

#27 1993 - Yokozuna vs Lex Luger

The enormous Yokozuna had surprisingly won the WWF Championship from Bret Hart at Wrestlemania IX and then again from Hulk Hogan at the inaugural King of the Ring 1993 event.

However, Yoko' was never presented as a serious champion and most expected his reign to be transitional.

After Bret Hart had failed to light the box office on fire as champion, Vince McMahon decided to return to the Hulk Hogan blueprint which had made his company so much money in the 1980's.

So, McMahon turned Lex Luger face and set about making him the American hero for the 1990's.

Unfortunately, by 1994, the American hero who said his prayers and took his vitamins had become passe. Also, Luger did not possess the charisma of Hogan to attract the fans to his cause.

As a result, the feud was a failure as was the match.

#26 1988 - Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage vs Ted Dibiase & Andre The Giant

The Mega Powers team of Hulk Hogan and WWF Champion Macho Man Randy Savage defeated The Mega Bucks in the inaugural Summerslam main event. As a match it was serviceable but the virtually immobile Andre significantly slowed the action down. Savage and Dibiase kept the match moving when they were in the ring.

The famous finish occurred when Savage's valet, Miss Elizabeth distracted the heels by tearing off her skirt revealing her panties leaving them sitting ducks for Hogan's pinfall.

#25-21

#25 1990 - Ultimate Warrior vs Rick Rude

WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior put his title on the line against his greatest in-ring opponent, Rick Rude.

However, the match lacked heat as no-one believed that Rude could win. Devoid of any drama, the match, therefore, was not a patch on the pair's previous classic encounters at Wrestlemania V and Summerslam 1989.

#24 1999 - Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Triple H vs Mankind

A match more famous for the backstage wrangling that took place before it. Stone Cold point blank refused to lose to Triple H as was the plan. Therefore, Mankind who was still recovering from injury was added to the match.

A barely mobile, Mankind and Austin unwilling to sell for Triple H made for an oddity of a match that wasn't good or memorable at all. Mankind inexplicably won, before losing to Triple H, the next night on Raw.

#23 2005 - Shawn Michaels vs Hulk Hogan

In 2005, one dream match that had never occurred was made a reality when Shawn Michaels went one on one with Hulk Hogan.

The match is good, no doubt. But again, it is an encounter ruined by backstage politics. The original idea was for Hogan to win the Summerslam match then lose a re-match at the subsequent pay-per-view, Unforgiven.

However, Hogan point blank refused to lose to Michaels. He was offered a cage match at Unforgiven wherein Michaels would win by escape, meaning Hogan wouldn't even need to lose by pinfall or submission. Much to Michaels chagrin, Hogan refused to lose to him under any circumstances.

Hogan also refused to play heel which meant Michaels had to, which went against his religious beliefs. So, infuriated was Michaels with Hogan that he embraced his 1997 non-religious self and cut scathing promo's on his opponent and oversold to a comical degree, Hogan's offence in the match. A missed opportunity.

#22 2018 - Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns

The latest Summerslam main event, in truth, was a calamity. Designed as a vehicle to ensure the WWE universe cheered for Roman Reigns, WWE pulled a blatant bait and switch before the match even began, teasing that Money in the Bank briefcase holder, Braun Strowman would make the match a triple threat.

That didn't happen. Instead, Strowman explained he would cash in after the match. Therefore the crowd didn't boo the encounter as they did at Wrestlemania, eagerly anticipating the Strowman cash-in.

However, that didn't occur either, as Lesnar beat up Strowman on the outside before succumbing to a Reign's spear. At just five minutes duration, it was also an insult of a main event attraction.

#21 2016 - Brock Lesnar vs Randy Orton

Another Lesnar main event, another disappointment. In a much-anticipated bout, the first time encounter before Lesnar and Orton was all too brief at 11 minutes in duration. It was decent enough but lacked crowd investment and the finish was unnecessarily brutal and in hindsight pointless as Lesnar elbowed Orton in the head for real in order to elicit hard way blood.

Lesnar won via TKO. But the finish meant nothing as it was never followed up on.

#20-16

#20 1997 - The Undertaker vs Bret 'Hitman' Hart

The best match of Undertaker's 1997 Championship reign was the one in which he dropped the belt to Bret Hart. The match was entertaining but at 28 minutes in length was at least five minutes too long.

However, the match is best remembered for the finish in which Bret Hart spat in the special referee, Shawn Michaels's face. Michaels attempted to hit Hart with a steel chair but Hart ducked and Michaels clocked Undertaker instead. Three seconds later, Hart was the new champion.

#19 2006 - Edge vs John Cena

Although Edge and John Cena were a terrific in-ring combination, this encounter with Edge's WWE Championship on the line is one of their least remembered clashes.

It also finished in a screwjob when Edge smacked Cena in the back of the head with brass knuckles for the win. Their TLC rematch a month later was far superior to this one.

#18 2004 - Chris Benoit vs Randy Orton

Randy Orton's first World Championship reign is seldom mentioned on WWE television due to the fact he won it from double-murderer, Chris Benoit. Orton, the heel, was predominantly cheered in the match as fans were keen to see him make history as the youngest World Champion ever in WWE.

The match was decent due to the high calibre of the participants but it was far from a classic.

#17 2007 - John Cena vs Randy Orton

Back in 2007, a clash between John Cena and Randy Orton was a much-anticipated one. Orton's one and only World title reign occurred exactly three years earlier in the match with Benoit. It had lasted a month.

Cena had been champion for almost a full year at this point and fans were anticipating a title change. It didn't happen. Cena won the match and defended the title. Orton would be made to wait another two months before tasting another World Championship. It was a good match but the two would have many better.

#16 1998 - Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Undertaker

In the summer of 1998, the WWF was the hottest ticket in town and Stone Cold and Undertaker were it's biggest stars. Although, the two had clashed before, never had the hype been so great.

Unfortunately, the match while it had his moments, was a disappointment, namely due to Austin suffering a concussion early in the match which caused his timing to be off for the remainder of the clash. Stone Cold earned the win with the Stunner, defending his WWF Championship.

#15-11

#15 2010 - Team WWE vs Team Nexus

In summer 2010, the rookies from NXT season 1, calling themselves Nexus ran roughshod over the WWE roster looking to make a name for themselves and take over.

They memorably interrupted a Raw main event between John Cena and CM Punk and destroyed the ring and ringside area and assaulted the wrestlers, announcers and other officials.

Cena pulled together a team consisting of WWE Hall of Famer, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Edge, John Morrison, R-Truth and former Nexus member, Daniel Bryan to clash with Wade Barrett, Skip Sheffield (the future Ryback), Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel and Michael Tarver, David Otunga and Darren Young.

What should have been Nexus's coming out party turned into a nightmare as Cena led Team WWE to victory which destroyed Nexus's momentum.

The match had some thrilling moments but some underwhelming ones too. The finish in which Cena sustained a DDT on the unprotected concrete floor, then two minutes later defeated Gabriel and Barrett in quick succession was ridiculous and spoiled the match.

#14 2001 - Booker T vs The Rock

The 2001 main event of Summerslam was the first WWF pay-per-view to be headlined by a WCW title match.

In the midst of a hostile invasion from WCW and ECW forces, the WWF fought back and The Rock returned from a storyline suspension to lead the charge.

The Rock carried Booker T to the best match of his career and pinned him to become WCW World Champion. A memorable match with a very popular result.

#13 1996 - Shawn Michaels vs Vader

WWF Champion Shawn Michaels and former WCW champion Vader worked a fantastic big man-little match together.

With an energetic Jim Cornette at ringside antagonising Michaels and inspiring his charge, Vader to win the belt, the heat in the arena was electric.

There were some minor flaws, most notably as Michaels missed an elbow drop then had a mini tantrum in the ring at Vader whom he claimed was out of position.

After first being counted out and then disqualified, Michaels finally pinned Vader after the match was twice re-started.

#12 2015 - The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar

The long-running feud between Undertaker and Brock Lesnar reached escalation point once more, with the "Phenom" seeking vengeance for Lesnar ending his vaunted 21-0 Wrestlemania winning streak.

It was a well-crafted match, though not a patch on their earlier efforts. The finish was confusing as Lesnar locked Undertaker in a submission hold and the timekeeper rang the bell, indicating after Undertaker had submitted.

However, the referee hadn't seen it and re-started the match. Amongst the confusion, Undertaker low-blowed Lesnar to earn a cheap win. It was an unsatisfying end to what had been an entertaining match.

#11 2003 - Elimination Chamber (Triple H vs Goldberg vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho vs Randy Orton vs Kevin Nash)

The second Elimination Chamber was a thrilling match from start to finish. The star of the show unquestionably was former WCW Champion, Bill Goldberg.

Goldberg eliminated Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and Chris Jericho in short order but was felled when Champion Triple H hit him in the head with a sledgehammer as "Da Man" attempted a spear. Triple H was still the champion and Goldberg's crowning moment would have to wait a further month.

#10-6

#10 2011 - CM Punk vs John Cena

In a match that couldn't hold a candle to their instant classic at Money in the Bank 2011, a month earlier, CM Punk vs John Cena at Summerslam 2011 nevertheless was a stunning match.

Punk had left the company with the WWE Championship after that show and Cena defeated tournament winner Rey Mysterio to crown a new champion in Punk's absence.

When Punk returned he said Cena was a sham champion which culminated in a Champion vs Champion match to determine the undisputed WWE Champion.

With Triple H installed as referee, the Cerebral assassin failed to notice that Cena had his foot on the rope when he counted down Cena's shoulders for Punk's winning three count. Punk's reign ended moments later when an attack by Kevin Nash allowed Alberto Del Rio to cash in his Money in the Bank contract.

#9 2012 - Brock Lesnar vs Triple H

In a match that should have been more heated than it was considering the deeply personal feud that preceded it, Triple H and Brock Lesnar was an excellent match, deep in psychology. Lesnar who had broken Triple H's arm and the arm of his buddy, Shawn Michaels continually tried to do the same again and Triple H did all he could to avoid it.

However, Lesnar reversed a pedigree to lock in the kimura submission. Fearing another broken arm, "The Game" had no choice but to tap out.

#8 2002 - The Rock vs Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar's meteoric rise in the WWE culminated with a WWE Championship win, just five months after his debut.

His Summerslam encounter with Champion, The Rock was the best match of his young career at that point.

Rock carried Lesnar to a stunning performance in a fast-paced encounter. The New York crowd who were miffed at Rock for leaving after the match for Hollywood booed the babyface legend out of the Nassau Coliseum.

Embracing the crowd reaction, Rock played heel for the night and did everything in his power to put the young "Beast" over as a monster. It worked.

#7 2017 - Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns vs Samoa Joe vs Braun Strowman

Last year's Summerslam main event was an absolute barnstormer. Heavy hitters Lesnar, Reigns, Joe and Strowman all pounded each other senseless. The inventive finish came when Lesnar countered Reigns' spear into an F-5 for the win. 21 minutes of non-stop action.

#6 2014 - John Cena vs Brock Lesnar

John Cena and Brock Lesnar contested what amounted to an extended squash as Cena bounced around for Lesnar's suplex based offence. It was a crisp performance from Lesnar and Cena played his part too. An excellent match that gave Lesnar his first World title in WWE for a decade.

#5-1

#5 2008 Edge vs The Undertaker

The long-running Edge vs Undertaker rivalry that had been ongoing since Wrestlemania XXIV when Undertaker defeated Edge to win the World Championship reached it's final chapter at Summerslam.

Edge and Undertaker contested a superb Hell in a Cell matchup, which was highlighted by Edge spearing Undertaker through the cage mesh to the outside.

After Undertaker defeated Edge, he chokeslammed him off a ladder through the ring as fire engulfed Edge. The implication being that Undertaker had sent him straight to hell.

#4 2009 - CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy

Tables, Ladders, Chairs. That was the stipulation for CM Punk and Jeff Hardy as they contested the World Heavyweight Championship.

It was an environment in which both men excelled. Both combatants battered each other with furniture until Punk was successful in retrieving the title atop the ladder. This thrilling encounter marked Hardy's last WWE pay-per-view appearance for almost a decade.

#3 2013 - John Cena vs Daniel Bryan

Quite possibly John Cena's finest ever non-stipulation match came against the superlative Daniel Bryan in a stunningly intense, heated and exciting match-up that had the WWE universe engrossed from start to finish.

The upset finish came when Bryan hit the defending WWE Champion with a running knee to the head to become the new Champion. Unfortunately, for the leader of the "Yes movement" it was a short-lived reign as Money in the Bank briefcase holder, Randy Orton cashed in moments later after the special referee, Triple H turned on Bryan.

#2 2000 - The Rock vs Triple H vs Kurt Angle

The Rock was the defending WWF Champion heading into this match but the real story was the escalating feud between Triple H and Kurt Angle over Triple H's wife, Stephanie McMahon.

Stephanie and Angle had become "good friends" but prior to this show Angle had kissed Stephanie and she hadn't pushed him away. Angle took great delight in winding Triple H up, which proved to be his downfall before the bell even sounded when an irate Triple H stormed the ring and attempted to put Angle through the announce desk.

However, the table prematurely gave way causing Angle to hit the concrete head first which turned out to be a nastier fall.

Angle later returned when the match was officially underway and The Rock took advantage of the pair's animosity for each other to pin Triple H and win the match.

The Attitude Era at it's very finest.

#1 1992 - Bret 'Hitman' Hart vs The British Bulldog

Still one of the greatest matches in company history, over a quarter of a decade on, The British Bulldog's career peak came when he defeated his brother in law, Bret Hart to win the Intercontinental Championship at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

In front of a massive crowd of 80,000 adoring fans, hometown hero Bulldog thrilled them all as he and Hart contested a stunning technical masterclass, boasting counter after counter. It was fitting then that the finish came when Bulldog countered a roll up attempt to pin Hart's shoulders down for the match winning three count.

Unquestionably the greatest main event in Summerslam history.

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