Along with Wrestlemania, SummerSlam is one of the biggest pro wrestling events in the world. Under a scorching sun, the finest athletes gather round to challenge each other for titles, settle some feuds and show the audiences just what they can do. There have been a number of great SummerSlam matches since the event’s inception in 1988, but we’ve gone on a mission to find the 7 best SummerSlam matches of all time and nothing is going to stop us. So, take a look.
1994 Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart
The seventh SummerSlam event that was held in the summer of 1994 gave us an amazing match where two members of the famous Hart wrestling family, Bret and Owen, fought each other in a steel cage match. Although on a much larger scale, the feud between the two presented that sibling rivalry anyone can relate to in the best light. Owen was jealous of his brother’s title and managed to beat him in the Wrestlemania X, so this was a great chance to show his superiority. Bret, however, the coolest of wrestlers wouldn’t let that happen and in a technically stunning match of about a half an hour managed to put him down and exacerbate their feud.
1991 Bret Hart vs. Curt Hennig
Another Bret Hart SummerSlam match worth mentioning that happened 3 years prior to his confrontation with his brother, was the one against the late Curt Hennig. What makes this match so significant is the fact that it was basically Bret Hart’s introduction as an individual fighter, since he was at that point known only as a member of the Hart Foundation. Hart took on Curt Hennig, a wrestling legend who helped him display all of his wrestling abilities and, in a way, propelled him to stardom. This amazing match made people notice Bret who would go on to become a fan-favorite.
1999 Mankind vs. Steve Austin vs. Triple H – Triple Threat
When you have three amazing stars with distinct on-screen personalities (although Mick Foley had a couple of them) fighting in one of the biggest wrestling events on the planet, you know it will be a match to remember. Steve Austin, who was a champion at the time faced Triple H and Mankind during the 1999 SummerSlam in what was dubbed – Triple Threat. Thanks to Chyna’s intervention, the deranged Mankind managed to defeat both men and snatch the title from the guest referee Jesse Ventura’s hands.
1999 Shane McMahon vs. Test
The 1999 SummerSlam wasn’t famous just for the Triple Threat match. The Greenwich Street Fight was the name of a match where Test had to fight Shane McMahon in order to be allowed to marry his sister Stephanie McMahon. The audience didn’t expect too much from this poor storyline, but ended up with an extraordinary match worthy of some of the best wrestlers at the time. There was always something happening in the ring, with a lot of great scripted interference, but Test managed to come out victorious and deserve his right to marry Stephanie. It was a modern wrestling version of Romeo and Juliet, in a way. Maybe not.
1988 The Honky Tonk Man vs. The Ultimate Warrior
The first ever SummerSlam that was held in 1988 promised a great main card tag team match between The Mega Powers (consisting of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage), and The Mega Bucks (made up of Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant). Now, although it was an epic match that put together some of the most famous wrestling stars of the time, it was in a way still overshadowed by the fantastic title defense match between the Honky Tonk Man and a mystery replacement challenger. When the Ultimate Warrior revealed himself as the challenger, the crowd was ecstatic. What followed many people called the match of the year since the Warrior ran up and tackled Honky Tonk Man immediately, winning the match in only 30 seconds.
2002 Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
Four years later, in a 2002 SummerSlam event, we got the chance to see a return of a famous face – the beloved Shawn Michaels. Due to an injury, Michaels had been away for a long time and wasn’t so optimistic about his future. Because of that, he decided to go out with a bang and make a memorable show that would stand the test of time. On the other side, Triple H also had the desire to do his best and put himself back on the map since his previous matches were, to say the least, bland. Because of all this, the two managed to make quite a spectacle and, considering it was an Unsanctioned Street Fight, really didn’t hold back. It just so happened that it wasn’t Shawn Michaels’ last match, but just an introduction to a new phase of their wrestling careers.
2008: Hell in a Cell The Undertaker vs. Edge
Many wrestling fans consider the 2008 Hell in a Cell match to be the best SummerSlam fight ever. Inside this cage The Undertaker took on Edge to settle a feud and get back at the WWE who tried to banish him. With this bone-chilling fight, The Undertaker made his comeback and secured a place both in WWE and in fans’ hearts. The final epic move saw the Undertaker drop Edge into a hole on the mat, while the fire slowly rose. It was a memorable match that welcomed back a legend, the immortal wrestling legend – The Undertaker.
Those are, we feel, the best SummerSlam matches ever, but if you think something is missing, let us know. We are eager to hear what you have to say.
