WWE Summerslam: Top 10 matches from the pay-per-view (since 2000)

The thirty-first edition of SummerSlam is scheduled to take place this year at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Each year, this is the biggest PPV to happen after WrestleMania, and WWE leaves no stone unturned to make this event a memorable one for its fans.

Over the years, the “Biggest Party of the Summer” has featured a couple of great matches which burns down permanently in the memories of the wrestling fans. Considering the legacy of this event, WWE Universe expects nothing less from this year’s event.

The rise of the talents, intense rivalries, icon vs. icon matches; SummerSlam has seen it all. And by its side, the fans have witnessed it all.

Honouring the rich history of this mega event, here are the top 10 matches of this century which took place at SummerSlam.

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#10 The Rock (c) vs. Brock Lesnar (2002)

The "Next Big Thing" became the "Next Champion".

Sixteen years ago, the man who is going to main-event this year’s event competed in his first ever SummerSlam match. The man who is presently known as the “Beast Incarnate” was then famous as the “Next Big Thing”.

The young rookie, Brock Lesnar, won the King of the Ring tournament (2002) and earned himself the right to compete for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam. A month later, the Rock won the WWE Championship for the record seventh time at Vengeance when he defeated the Undertaker and Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat match.

The main event was a slobber knocker from the get-go. The crowd erupted as the reigning champion sprinted from the entrance to the ring and started the match with heavy blows. However, in a matter of seconds, Lesnar countered it with a belly-to-belly suplex and let the world know that he wasn’t an underdog in the match.

The intense match went over fifteen minutes and ended when the challenger countered the Rock Bottom with a thunderous F-5 to become the (then) youngest WWE Champion.

#9 The Undertaker vs. Edge (2008)

Edge was sent down the depths of Hell

A couple of months prior to this match, the Undertaker was forced to leave WWE following his loss against Edge at One Night Stand (2008). The storyline ran its course and the Undertaker was reinstated to face the Edge, not to mention, inside Hell in a Cell.

The adversaries were hell-bent on tearing each other apart, and they took the fight outside the cell to do the same. The “Ultimate Opportunist” speared the “Deadman” through the broadcast table, who in turn choke-slammed him through two tables.

The match went on for about half an hour and ended when the “Phenom” picked up the victory after he delivered his signature Tombstone Piledriver. However, he further choke-slammed Edge through the ring and the flames from hell engulfed the body of the Rated-R Superstar, which marked the end of this epic rivalry.

#8 Team WWE vs. the Nexus (2010)

John Cena was the first target of the Nexus.

In 2010, WWE materialized the concept of NXT to nurture the future Superstars. The season 1 starred with the likes of Daniel Bryan, Wade Barrett, Skip Sheffield (Ryback), and many more.

However, things went south after the conclusion of the inaugural season. The entire pack of NXT Superstars executed a hostile takeover on Raw under the leadership of the season’s winner, Wade Barrett. They attacked the Superstars, support staff, security and torn down the entire ring.

After two months, the Nexus faced the team WWE in a seven-on-seven elimination tag team match. Bryan took an exception to the core values of Nexus and joined team WWE instead. Team WWE featured the likes of John Cena, Edge, Chris Jericho, Bret Hart, and they went on to win the match.

#7 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (2014)

The night when John Cena was inducted into the Suplex City

It was the night which put the “Suplex City” on the wrestling map. Brock Lesnar defeated the reigning Champion John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the most one-sided championship match in the history of SummerSlam.

John Cena took a total of 16 German Suplexes and could barely bring the fight to the challenger. On the other hand, Brock Lesnar literally dominated the entire match and mocked the champion on numerous occasions.

The match went over 16 minutes and went down as one of the worst beatings which the “Leader of the Cenation” took in his entire career. The “Beast Incarnate” executed two F-5s and won the championship.

#6 Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins (2016)

The "Demon King" won the match despite having a broken shoulder.

Before SummerSlam 2016, Raw was left without a championship. Hence, Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley created a new championship, the Universal Championship, to be contested at SummerSlam.

Seth Rollins was named to one of the two participants and a series of matches were scheduled to determine his opponent.

Finn Balor defeated Cesaro, Kevin Owens, and Rusev in Fatal-Four way match and then defeated Roman Reigns to grab the championship opportunity.

Both young Superstars contested in a hard-fought battle where Finn Balor dislocated his shoulder.

However, the “Demon King” managed to pop-back his shoulder in the socket and went on to win the match. Unfortunately, he had to relinquish the championship the following night due to his shoulder injury.

#5 Kurt Angle vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (2001)

A battle of Champions

WWE saw its darkest hours in 2001 when it faced the fear of extinction against the joint forces of WCW and ECW. To make things worse, its top performer, Stone Cold Steve Austin, had joined their opponents while holding the WWF Championship.

The “Rattlesnake” accused Vince McMahon of choosing the Olympic Gold medalist over him and hence set himself with the Alliance. The two wrestlers went back and forth which led to Kurt Angle winning and losing the WCW Championship (from Booker T) in a matter of weeks.

These two confronted in a classic match which featured several Stone Cold Stunners along with Ankle Locks. Although Kurt Angle looked to win the championship at the closing moments, a crooked referee disqualified Stone Cold which allowed him to keep the championship.

#4 Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena (2013)

The rise and fall of Daniel Bryan.

Bryan consistent performances over months in a row had made him the fans’ favourite during that time. Every arena around the globe echoed with “YES” chants as he competed twice on Raw for multiple weeks.

Cena was allowed to pick his opponent for SummerSlam and Mr. HLR rightfully chose the “Leader of the YES movement”. The stage was set for the “Goat” to leave a lasting impression on WWE.

The two icons faced each other in the main event with Triple H as the guest referee. The match went on over 26 minutes and the underdog defeated the Champion in a fair fight.

However, moments later Triple H attacked the newly crowned champion and helped Randy Orton to cash in his MITB contract to become the new champion.

#3 Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (2003)

The "Beast" was trapped in a lock.

These two Superstars had faced each other earlier at WrestleMania earlier that year as the bitter rivals.

On a personal (scripted) level, they became best of friends after their match at WM XIX until Brock Lesnar decided to turn on their friendship in pursuit of regaining the WWE Championship.

During the match, Vince McMahon was at the ringside in Brock Lesnar’s corner and tried everything in this power to ensure that the Olympian lose the championship. He also interfered in the match with a steel chair to break the Ankle Lock.

The match ended when the challenger was caught in Angle’s signature submission move for the second time. The “Beast Incarnate” tapped out as the Chairman of WWE watched him helplessly.

#2 CM Punk vs. John Cena (2011)

Punk won the match as Triple H missed to notice Cena's foot on the rope.

This was one of the most built-up matches in the history of WWE. In fact, it was a unique match where both opponents were the WWE Champion, and the winner would become the sole champion.

A couple of months before this match, CM Punk had defeated John Cena for the championship and walked out of WWE while being their champion. As a result, the company was forced to have a tournament where Cena defeated Rey Mysterio in the final to become the new WWE Champion.

However, Punk returned that same night and thus the company had two legitimate champions.

Once again, Triple H was the guest referee in this high profile match. However, he missed that Cena’s foot was on the rope and counted the mat for a three count which resulted in the “Voice of the Voiceless” becoming the sole champion.

#1 Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (2002)

One of the most brutal endings in the history of SummerSlam.

These two Superstars were the best of friends until Triple H brutally attacked Shawn Michaels in the parking lot in 2002. The “Game” considered his former friend to be “weak” and mentioned him to be the reason which held him down.

The “Heart Break Kid” made his in-ring return after five long years against his best friend in a Non-Sanctioned match. The emotions which were carried by both the Superstars were second only to the intensity with which the match was contested.

These two used literally used everything to hurt each other. Ladders, steel chair, garbage cans, leather belts, leather shoes, nothing was left unused. The match ended when the returning Superstar was able to gain a pinfall victory thanks to a quick roll-up.

However, the “Cerebral Assassin” was livid at the outcome of the match and hit his opponents twice with a sledgehammer. As a result, the victim was carried out on a stretcher despite winning the match.

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