WWE SummerSlam 2012: Ranking the Main Events of the Past 5 Years

SummerSlam has always had a reputation as one of the WWE's biggest events of the year. Thus, it's only natural that they pull out all the stops for the big show.

The main events of the last five installations of SummerSlam have set the bar pretty high. Whatever match closes the show will have some pretty stiff competition just from recent years.

That said, let's take a look back and rank the best SummerSlam main events of the last five years. 

5. John Cena vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship

SummerSlam 2007 saw John Cena and Randy Orton meet in their first marquee match. The build to the match was excellent. Orton really had it out for Cena. Every time Cena made a move, Orton was there to drop him with an RKO.

Their match, while ranked last on this list, wasn't terrible. It seemed like it took a while for the live crowd to really get into the match. After all, Orton's rest holds often slowed the momentum of the match. 

Despite being on the receiving end of numerous RKOs leading up tithe match, Cena managed to retain his title with a pretty decisive win.

Relative to the rest of this list, Cena vs. Orton was pretty forgettable. In addition, the memory of this match is tarnished by how overplayed their feud would become. 

4. The Nexus vs. Team WWE

The Nexus invasion storyline came to a head at SummerSlam 2010. The dominant group of NXT rookies met John Cena's group of seven WWE Superstars in an elimination tag-team match.

Daniel Bryan's return to the WWE, while spoiled on WWE.com, was an exciting moment for this PPV. In his return, Bryan would make two members of his former stable submit to the LeBell lock. Only Miz's interference could stop the American Dragon.

This match was over 40 minutes of very entertaining action. However, this match suffered greatly from the booking decision to have Cena eliminate Justin Gabriel and Wade Barrett within a minute for the victory.

Booking Team WWE to win was questionable, at best. Even so, the story going into the match and the match itself earns it fourth place on this list.

3. Undertaker vs. Edge

SummerSlam 2008 featured the climax of the Undertaker vs. Edge feud. The two clashed in an epic Hell in a Cell battle.

The match was as brutal as a Hell in a Cell match should be, and then some. Edge made use of his signature tables, ladders and chairs. No rookie to incorporating weapons into matches, Undertaker would also make use of those weapons.

One of the most memorable moments of the match came when Edge drove 'Taker through the side of the cell with a Spear.

All in all, this match was spectacular. Undertaker choke-slamming Edge through the ring after the match would conclude their epic feud. While it may only be ranked third, it was only slightly edged out by the others.

2. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Championship

CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy was the best feud of 2009, and their Tables, Ladders and Chairs match at SummerSlam 2009 was easily one of the best matches of the year.

This match was a brilliant, hard-hitting bout. Hardy and Punk certainly thrived in the TLC setting. The weapons added a brutal aspect to the match that fit perfectly with how personal the feud had become. Also, Punk and Hardy took full advantage of the high-flying-friendly environment, making for incredible and memorable spots.

This would be the last big PPV match between Hardy and Punk. After Punk won the title here, he would successfully defend it on Smackdown in a Loser Leaves the WWE Steel Cage match.

CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy will go down as one of the better feuds in WWE history, and this match will be looked at as a highlight of their program. 

1. CM Punk vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship

The Summer of CM Punk was highlighted by Punk's June pipebomb and his electric match with John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011.

After Punk left with the title, Mysterio was crowned the new WWE Champion. Cena would then defeat Mysterio for the title. When Punk returned two weeks after Money in the Bank, he issued a challenge to Cena by simply stepping in the ring and holding his title, the true WWE Championship, over his head.

With COO Triple H serving as the guest referee, Punk and Cena wrestled an incredible match and told an even better story. It can be argued that, from a technical standpoint, this match was even better than their encounter a month earlier at Money in the Bank.

While the crowd wasn't quite as intense as the Chicago crowd at Money in the Bank, they still added a lot to this match. It was obvious that everyone inside Staples Center was on the edge of his or her seat.

This match was easily the best SummerSlam main event of the past five years and probably one of the top five in the PPV's history. It really says a lot that it was ranked first relative to some of the spectacular bouts we've seen since 2007.

Conclusion

SummerSlam has given WWE fans many great memories throughout its extensive history. The past five years are but a glimpse of the amazing matches that have headlined "The Biggest Event of the Summer."

It looks like Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H or the WWE Championship triple threat match will be main-eventing this year's installment of the big PPV. Either way, we're in store for yet another great marquee match for SummerSlam.

Michael Prunka is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist. To stay up to date with his WWE and NHL commentary, you can like his Facebook page, follow him on Twitter and follow him on Tout.