mobile app bar

Top Five SummerSlam matches in recent history

Soumyadeep Paul
Published

Its time for the greatest event of the summer! The 30th edition of SummerSlam is just nine days away and is shaping up to be quite an event! The fatal four-way match for the Universal title, Nakamura’s first title opportunity are the main highlights of the event. As a build up, The SportsRush takes a look at the Top 5 SummerSlam matches!

John Cena vs Daniel Bryan – SummerSlam 2013

Daniel Bryan was a very well established wrestler in the independent circuit worldwide before breaking into the WWE. However, his ascent in WWE was gradual and was mostly billed as a B+ player. However, 2013 was the year that elevated Bryan from a midcarder to an absolute fan favorite. It all started from that years’ SummerSlam.

John Cena, the champion had chosen Daniel Bryan, the underdog as his opponent for SummerSlam mostly under pressure from the crowd. The two put on a clinic with high levels of energy displayed by Bryan which enabled the crowd to get behind him. After an enthralling encounter, Bryan pinned the champion clean to win the WWE title.

View on Website

However, the shock was reserved for later when special guest referee Triple H shockingly turned on Bryan. This allowed Mr. Money in the Bank, Randy Orton to cash in his contract and snatch the title from Bryan. This gave birth to one of the best feuds of the decade between The Game and Bryan which culminated in a WM30 match.

CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2013

CM Punk had capped off a brilliant year with an incredible 434 day title reign and a remarkable Wrestlemania effort against The Undertaker. Following a short hiatus, Punk made a triumphant return only to be screwed over by close aide, Paul Heyman. This set up the most awaited Best vs Beast match with The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar.

View on Website

This fight had everything that was needed for a classic. Both wrestlers displayed amazing chemistry inside the ring and kept the WWE Universe invested throughout the match. After deafening chair shots, interference from Paul Heyman and near pinfalls from either side, Lesnar finally pinned The Best in the World for the victory.

Hardys vs Dudleys vs Edge & Christian – SummerSlam 2000

The three way feud between these three legendary teams is arguably the best tag team feud of all time. It all started in the late 90s and reached its boiling point at SummerSlam 2000 and finally Wrestlemania 17. However, this bout at Summerslam was the most infamous of them all.

View on Website

Also Read : The 5 best WWE matches of the decade

The entire match was a total slugfest and produced some amazing spots. This bout was also a perfect advertisement for how good the Attitude Era really was. Edge and Christian finally won the match much to the chagrin of the crowd. However, this was not before we saw a Bubba Bomb and a Swanton Bomb off the top of the ladder.

Undertaker vs Edge – SummerSlam 2008

The Undertaker and Edge rivalry carried Smackdown through the later part of the last decade almost single-handedly. Both Edge and the Undertaker were two veterans at the peak of their careers and they put together a series of amazing matches. However, The Hell in a Cell match of Summerslam definitely finds his name at the top.

View on Website

Edge was at the top of the mountain with the World Heavyweight Championship and about to married to Vicky Guerrero. However, once his infidelity was exposed, Vicky reinstated the Undertaker and put Edge’s title on the line in Hell a Cell as retribution.

Edge went on to dominate the early stages of the match but the Deadman bounced back. A chokeslam into two tables and a Tombstone Piledriver finished off the Rated R Superstar. Following the match, The Undertaker slammed Edge through the ring and flames shot up from underneath the ring.

John Cena vs Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2014

John Cena has dominated WWE ever since he debuted on Smackdown against Kurt Angle with the ‘ruthless agression’ moniker. Hardly have we seen him lose cleanly to a competitor, let alone being demolished. It was precisely because of the same reason that SummerSlam 2014 was a surprise(pleasant for most) for the WWE Universe.

The champ, John Cena faced the rampaging beast Brock Lesnar with the title on the line. While Cena looked like the underdog in this match, no one expected what would transpire that night at Los Angeles. Brock delivered 16 German Suplexes to John Cena and dominated him like no other competitor.

View on Website

Even though this match was not a technical specimen or a great wrestling fight, it was the shock factor that made it special. The Beast had truly dethroned the Champ from his pedestal, or so it seemed!

About the author

Soumyadeep Paul

Soumyadeep Paul

facebook-icon

I am Soumyadeep, a sportsman by birth and a MBA by choice. I love to play, watch, follow and analyze sports. Writing is another passion of mine and that is what excites me to be a part of The SportsRush. Please reach out to me for views, comments, bouquets and brickbats.

Read more from Soumyadeep Paul

Share this article