We are less than a week away from SummerSlam, WWE's touted "Biggest Event of the Summer." SummerSlam is considered to be the second biggest show of the year for WWE second only to WrestleMania. Sure, the past ten years of SummerSlam seems to sort of blur together in a drunken like blackout. Even myself, an encyclopedia of pay per view matches dating back to 1994 cannot even tell you what the main event was at SummerSlam 2003 (just kidding it was the Elimination Chamber match featuring Goldberg). My point is that SummerSlam has not gotten the respect it deserves as of late. Vince McMahon and his writers ignore storyline buildup almost relying heavily on the branded name of SummerSlam to sell the event. Gentlemen, SummerSlam is not the brand that WrestleMania is, so act accordingly. Even with this year's SummerSlam being headlined by Cena/Punk II, WWE would have been screwed if Punk did not re-sign with the company. The under card is being completely ignored, and I for one am very upset about it. The under card sometimes can overshadow the main event. So let's take a look back at the Top Ten Matches in SummerSlam history in no particular order (because ranking matches and ultimately choosing my favorite causes my head to explode).
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
A cop out, yes. Honorable mentions exist for writers who can not settle on a top ten list without mentioning a few extras. Deal with it.
SummerSlam 2002: Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio
SS 2002 was a great event all in itself and is likely the best SummerSlam of the past ten years. It featured four compelling matches including Brock Lesnar defeating The Rock for his first championship, Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels in an emotionally charged street fight, and Chris Jericho facing off against Ric Flair.
Angle and Mysterio was a main event level match that opened the show. It showed how fluid and exciting mixing wrestlers with different styles can be. In less than ten minutes of in ring action, they delivered a classic.
SummerSlam 2005: WWE Championship John Cena (c) vs. Chris Jericho
This is a perfect example of how a crowd can turn a good match into a great match. I saw this match live in person and the arena in Washington D.C. was erupting with half the building chanting for John Cena and the other half chanting for Chris Jericho.
The crowd became an element in the match. The performers fed off of it, even Jericho who was the clear heel. The clip still gives me goosebumps.
SummerSlam 1995: Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Razor Ramon
This is a great match, but it does not make it into the top ten mainly because it relied solely on the fact that it was a rematch from WrestleMania X.
Also, I can think of two SummerSlam matches featuring ladders that are much more memorable.
THE TOP TEN
SummerSlam 1991: Intercontinental Championship: Mr. Perfect (c) vs. Bret Hart
It is always best to start with a classic. Mr. Perfect was one of the few wrestlers in the early 90s that was as talented in the ring as he was on the microphone. He could cut a promo like no other. Bret Hart was still young and trying to make a name for himself in singles competition. The two men had similar styles in the ring and their chemistry worked wonderfully together. The match went back and forth really making audiences believe that either man had a chance to win. That was until Bret Hart kicked out of Mr. Perfect's finishing move called "The Perfect Plex" (aka the fisherman's suplex). Bobby Heenan exclaimed, "I've NEVER seen anybody do that." Bret Hart eventually locked on the Sharpshooter forcing Mr. Perfect to tap out. Hart was the new IC Champ and this match marked the beginning of his Hall of Fame singles career.
SummerSlam 1998: Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship The Rock (c) vs. Triple H
Triple H and The Rock had many classic matches in their career. However, in August of 1998, the two face each other for 26 grueling minutes in a ladder match. The match is exhausting to watch. The two men literally give it their all taking bump after bump bringing the Madison Square Garden crowd to their feet and erupting with cheers. This match was the culmination of several months of build up. This was the match culminating the storyline as Triple H would soon after legitimately injure his knee sidelining him for months.
SummerSlam 1998: WWF Championship Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. The Undertaker
This is the perfect example of how two fan favorites can go into the ring, put on one hell of a show, and leaving the audience happy no matter who wins. In 1998, there was no bigger fan favorite than Stone Cold, so by default, The Undertaker was the heel. However, both men had similar striking styles in the ring and their characters contributed to the "Win by any means necessary" type tactics used in the match. Austin won the match with a low blow, a heel tactic, but Austin's persona blurred every line and broke every rule. He was the bad guy we all loved to cheer.
SummerSlam 1992: WWF Championship Macho Man Randy Savage (c) vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Macho Man Randy Savage was one of the greatest performers of the late 80s early 90s. He was the type of wrestler who made others look better just because he was so good at selling his opponents' maneuvers. When I think of performers who mastered the craft of "selling", Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels come to mind. That is why when Ric Flair and Macho Man faced off at WrestleMania VIII in '92, they put on a hell of a show. Two sellers going head to head almost always guarantees an incredible match. In this match at SummerSlam, Macho Man had his work cut out for him. However, Savage brought agility to the match which mixed two different styles (if you can call what Ultimate Warrior delivered a "style") and delivering a captivating performance. Make no mistake about it, Savage carried the match for all 28 minutes and made the Warrior look better than he actually was. Unfortunately, the match was booked as a face vs. face match and Vince McMahon felt that a clean victory would weaken either character. Thus, a little interference by the dirtiest player in the game, Savage sells a knee injury and thus gets counted out. Warrior wins, but Macho Man wins the title. Good match, bad finish. Thankfully it was not the main event of the evening.
SummerSlam 1992: Intercontinental Championship Bret Hart (c) vs. The British Bulldog
This was the main event of the evening. Sure, it is a bit weird to book an Intercontinental Championship match as the main event over a World Championship. However, this was smart booking by the hands of McMahon. SummerSlam was being held in England in front of 80,000 fans and having the hometown hero British Bulldog headline the event was definitely the way to go. This was a match that had perfect written all over it. Bret Hart and British Bulldog are real life brothers in law. Davey Smith (Bulldog) married Bret's sister. This added a whole new layer to the plot. Who does she support? Does she root for her brother or does she stand by her husband. The two went at it for 25 minutes and delivered what is regarded by many as the greatest match in SummerSlam history. The roar of the crowd at the end will still give you chills.
SummerSlam 2000: TLC Match for the Tag Team Championship Edge & Christian (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boys
These three teams faced off at WrestleMania of the same year in a Triangle Ladder Match. They had to top it, but how. Why not incorporate the weapons each team was known for? Tables, Ladders, and Chairs... OH MY! This match was brilliantly crafted with so many "Holy Shit" moments. I'm a sucker for a traditional wrestling match, but it's hard not to give credit to these six guys for putting their bodies on the line to perform bumps that will make you cringe. In hindsight, it is fun to watch this match knowing that all six guys walked out with minor scrapes and bruises. Watching this live was a whole other story. Enjoy the good old days when the Tag Team Championship actually meant something... but that's a whole other blog post entirely.
SummerSlam 2005: Hulk Hogan vs. Shawn Michaels
I saw this match live from Washington D.C. The buildup was spectacular and a couple months in the making. The build up was so wonderfully booked and perfectly executed. Watch this promo package:
It was a kick heard around the world. Shawn Michaels turned heel for one match and played so masterfully. You see, a good heel does not need to be necessarily bad. He does not need to cheat. He needs to have some sort of edge. An edge that will make him do anything to get to the top and not care about who he tramples on his way. Michaels played the resentful performer, the one who "reinvents himself every night in that ring" whereas Hogan rests on his laurels. The match was billed as "Icon vs. Legend" and it lived up to the hype. Hogan is not the most gifted performer in the ring. He uses 4-5 moves and that's it. Shawn Michaels showed the world that night in D.C at SummerSlam, that he is arguably the greatest entertainer in the history of professional wrestling and that he could make anybody look good in that ring.
SummerSlam 1994: Steel Cage Match for the WWF Championship Bret Hart (c) vs. Owen Hart
Brother vs. brother for the WWF Championship. A grudge match held inside a steel cage. The young bitter brother angry at his older brother for casting a shadow over his career. It does not get much better than this classic match from SS '94. These two faced off in a WrestleMania classic. Owen surprised the world when he beat his brother Bret one on one, but Bret went on to win the WWF Title later that night. Before May of 1995, the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) only had five pay per view events per year instead of 12. This allowed story lines to build slowly but surely for months and making the impending show down one that actually counted. In November of 1993, Owen betrayed his brother Bret by kicking him in his injured leg at the Survivor Series. This led to a match at WrestleMania in March. Owen beat his older brother and went on to become the King of the Ring that year in June and ending with a title shot at SummerSlam in August. This feud was built up for 8 months before they finally had to settle the score inside a steel cage. The good old days.
SummerSlam 2002: Unsanctioned Street Fight Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H
In March of 1998, I thought I had seen Shawn Michael's final match. He had severe back issues and was in an incredible amount of pain but still went out to perform the main event at WrestleMania. He retired from wrestling. Over four years later, he was able to repair his back to the point where he thought he could perform again. This mixed with a little faith (Shawn became a born again Christian during his hiatus) and a new attitude (due to his faith) he came back to wrestle. At the time, we were not quite sure how long he would be around. Would he injure his back again? Nobody knew. If you knew the real Shawn Michaels, you knew he was not going to come back unless he could perform at 100%. His first match was built against Triple H (his real life best friend) who betrayed him. Shawn and Triple H told a great story in the ring that night. Triple H was the performer in his prime and Shawn was the sick old dog that Triple H was going to put down... for good. But Shawn had more fight left in him than Triple H thought was there. It ended up being a brutal brawl with some great technical wrestling interspersed throughout.
SummerSlam 1997: WWF Championship The Undertaker (c) vs. Bret Hart with Shawn Michael as the Special Guest Referee
I was eleven years old watching this match on pay per view. Bret Hart had recently turned heel a few months earlier for the first time in his career. This match was about as good as a main event could get. The finish built up one of the greatest feuds of the late 90s between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels and the formation of DeGeneration X, the debut of Kane, the Hell in a Cell match, and the Montreal Screwjob. It all stemmed from this match. Bret and Undertaker are as good as anybody in the ring but this was the first time we could really appreciate Undertaker's technical abilities and what he is capable of doing if paired with the right person. Bret played the perfect heel. Shawn played the perfect controversial referee. The Undertaker played the perfect victim. This was a perfect SummerSlam match.
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