WWE SummerSlam 2015: Most Exciting Swerves in Event's History
Major pay-per-view shows are built around shocks and swerves, and WWE's SummerSlam show has had plenty of those through the years.
As the mid-year extravaganza to set up the second half of the year, SummerSlam is a show that traditionally offers plenty of surprises for WWE fans.
Whether it's a dramatic return that catches everyone by surprise, or a heel turn that sets up a compelling storyline, swerves at SummerSlam are traditionally big ones to match the intensity and prestige of the show.
With that in mind, here are five of the most exciting and dramatic SummerSlam swerves we've seen since the inaugural event back in 1988.
Ultimate Warrior's Surprise Entrance
1 of 5
At the very first SummerSlam in 1988, The Honky Tonk Man was in the midst of the longest Intercontinental Championship reign in WWE's history (at that time).
And when his opponent Brutus Beefcake was announced to have withdrawn through injury, few people expected the reign to end.
Cue the champ issuing an open challenge to anyone in the back, and when The Ultimate Warrior answered it, the Madison Square Garden crowd was stunned.
The crowd levels went even higher when Warrior ended The Honky Tony Man's reign in just over 30 seconds, becoming the new champion.
It was the win that sent him into the big time and kicked off an iconic career in professional wrestling, and in terms of swerves at SummerSlam, it's right up there with the best. Few expected Warrior to emerge that night, and even fewer expected him to win in such a short space of time.
Paul Bearer Turns on Undertaker (1996)
2 of 5
For their first five years together in WWE, Undertaker and Paul Bearer had become the most formidable manager-wrestler duo in the company.
However, at SummerSlam 1996, that all dramatically changed, as Bearer turned on Undertaker in the most shocking way possible.
Undertaker was competing against the legendary Mankind in that stereotypical 1990s match, a Boiler Room Brawl match.
The rule was that the winner had to make their way to the ring and take that infamous urn from the hands of Bearer, and when Taker got into the ring first, it looked like there was only one winner.
He dropped onto one knee, performed his classic pose and held his hand out for Bearer to hand him the urn. However, Bearer would turn his back, allowing Mankind to come in and take out Undertaker before aligning shockingly with Mankind.
Daniel Bryan Returns to Help Team WWE (2010)
3 of 5
After The Nexus burst onto the scene in WWE with dramatic effect midway through 2010, controversy emerged after it was revealed Daniel Bryan had been let go by the company.
After inappropriate actions during the shocking segment where The Nexus invaded the ring, Bryan was let go by WWE, but he would make a surprise return at SummerSlam a few months later in a great swerve.
John Cena had kept the identity of his team's final member to face Nexus at SummerSlam, and when it was revealed Bryan was the man in question, it prompted a great reaction from the crowd.
As they say, the rest of Bryan's career from that night is history. He played a key role in the win, which was an upset in itself, and he went on to become one of the most iconic stars of the modern era.
Kevin Nash Takes out CM Punk (2011)
4 of 5
Around the time of SummerSlam 2011, CM Punk had gone from midcard stranger into the face of WWE in just a few short months.
Punk's now-infamous "pipebomb" promo, and his shock win at Money in the Bank against John Cena had elevated him to the very top of the card in WWE.
He was scheduled to fight Cena again at SummerSlam to determine the undisputed WWE Champion after both laid claim to being the champion, and after beating Cena in the main event, a shocking swerve followed.
As Punk celebrated his win, special referee Triple H and Cena left the ring before longtime ally of Triple H, Kevin Nash, emerged and took down Punk with a Jackknife Powerbomb. It was all the more shocking given how Nash had been absent from WWE for so long, and it caused plenty of shock from all those watching.
Amidst the chaos, Alberto Del Rio ran down and successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, setting up Punk to feud with both Nash and Triple H in the coming months.
The Beginning of The Authority (2013)
5 of 5
Three years after Daniel Bryan's return at SummerSlam ranked as one of these major swerves, Bryan was again involved in another shocking moment at one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year.
When John Cena picked Bryan as his opponent in the main event at SummerSlam, Triple H decided he would be the special guest referee. It seemed unclear why at first, but after Bryan beat Cena to become the new champion amidst huge pops from the Staples Center, Triple H shocked the wrestling world to set up a faction that is still running to this day.
When Randy Orton emerged and seemed to threaten coming down to the ring to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase, Orton slowly started to turn around and head back into the locker room.
But then, Triple H stunned the world by nailing a Pedigree on Bryan, turning heel in the process and calling Orton down to the ring. Orton cashed in, quickly won and became the WWE Champion: giving birth to The Authority.
.jpg?w=600 "Raw Results and Grades 🔠")
