Ranking the 20 Greatest WWE SummerSlam Main Events of All Time

WWE SummerSlam has been home to some of the most iconic main events ever, with industry giants, champions, and Hall of Famers adding to the legacy of the annual show with their extraordinary performances in marquee bouts.

What are the matches that have helped establish the premium live event as one of the most prestigious events on the WWE calendar?

Here are the 20 greatest SummerSlam main events ever, ranked by Bleacher Report's Erik Beaston and Graham Matthews according to both in-ring quality and historical significance.

Dishonorable Mentions

Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake vs. Zeus and Randy Savage (1989)

EB: A cross-promotional disasterpiece that saw actor Tiny Lister portray the Zeus character from No Holds Barred, the main event in 1989, saw Randy Savage relegated to a background role alongside The Hulkster, The Barber, and an untrained actor-turned-wrestler.

The match was about as good as one would expect, a slow, plodding bout that just barely benefited from a red-hot crowd and the exceptional work at ringside by "Sensational" Queen Sherri.

Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa, and Gen. Adnan (1991)

EB: Not even the uncertainty surrounding Sid Justice's role as special referee could prop up a match that had no business headlining a major WWE pay-per-view.

A plodding tag match that ended predictably, with Hogan and Warrior steamrolling Slaughter and Co, it was a glorified house show match that wrapped up one of the most unsatisfying storylines in company history.

Undertaker vs. Underfaker (1994)

GM: Some matches are so bad that they're actually entertaining in retrospect, but they're still stinkers, nonetheless. That appropriately applies to The Undertaker vs. "The Underfaker" (portrayed by Brian Lee) from SummerSlam 1994.

The storyline of an Undertaker impostor running around and the iconic Leslie Nielsen having to investigate was campy by nature and largely harmless, but it didn't make for an interesting match-up once the bell rang.

It was slow, plodding and extremely uneventful at only nine minutes long. Perhaps the biggest knock is that it headlined over Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart inside a Steel Cage for the then-WWF Championship, one of the greatest SummerSlam clashes of all time.

WWE Championship Match: Diesel vs. King Mabel (1995)

GM: Diesel had a handful of very well-worked matches during his lengthy run as WWF champion, but this was not one of them. Mabel was fresh off winning the King of the Ring tournament in the summer of 1995 but had no business fighting for a world title.

The battle of the big men was boring and not made much better by the interference from Lex Luger and Mo. This suffered from the same issue as Undertaker vs. Underfaker the year prior: it snubbed the far better bout between Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (a Ladder rematch from WrestleMania X) from getting the main event spot.

Falls Count Anywhere for the Universal Championship: The Fiend vs. Braun Strowman (2020)

GM: Everyone who competed at the 2020 installment of SummerSlam was dealt a difficult hand due to the circumstances surrounding the pandemic and the lack of fans in the building.

However, that didn't stop Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton from being a banger, as well as other matches on that show, so there was no excuse for Strowman vs. The Field to be such an underwhelming main event.

The best part of course came afterward when Roman Reigns returned, aggressively laid out both men and cemented his heel turn, but the bout itself was hardly worth writing home about—at least for the right reasons.

20. John Cena vs. Roman Reigns

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

Date: August 21, 2021

Winner: Reigns

GM: One year removed from the formal debut of his Tribal Chief persona and capturing the Universal Championship one week later, Roman Reigns defended his coveted title against his toughest test to date in John Cena at SummerSlam 2021.

Although the two had done battle four years prior, that was a drastically different and arguably underdeveloped version of Reigns. He walked away the winner that night, but the stakes were so much higher this time around, with Cena eyeing his record-setting 17th WWE World Championship.

Reigns raised his game inside the squared circle after turning heel and that was evident during this outing. He had an answer for everything Cena threw at him, including multiple Attitude Adjustments and one off the top rope.

Cena showed he still had enough left in the tank to deliver an entertaining main event, but it wasn't enough to secure him the strap. The match was made more memorable by Brock Lesnar's return to WWE after a year-and-a-half hiatus to confront Reigns, a fellow Paul Heyman Guy.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Reigns and Cena had the best possible bout they could at that stage of Cena's career, and for as exciting an encounter as it was, it simply paled in comparison to other main events throughout SummerSlam history that were a little less predictable and are looked back on more fondly.

19. Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

Date: August 15, 2004

Winner: Orton

EB: Recognizing it was time to look to the future as stagnancy set in across WWE, the company pulled the proverbial trigger on one of its brightest young stars at the 2004 SummerSlam. Live from Toronto, Canada, Randy Orton challenged Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship in the marquee match of the summertime extravaganza.

Fresh off a long run as Intercontinental champion, The Legend Killer took the next step in his journey to becoming one of the greatest Superstars in company history when he battled out of a Crippler Crossface and caught Benoit with an RKO.

Three seconds later, the company had crowned its youngest world champion ever at age 24.

Benoit masterfully guided Orton through the bout, wrestling a gritty and physically tough match that showcased Orton as a top-tier talent before putting him over clean in the middle of the ring. While it had to be a disappointment for the Canadian to drop the title after four months, in his home country, his efforts that night established a star who would be atop the WWE roster for over two decades.

Orton was not ready for that run with the title, which became clear shortly thereafter when WWE inexplicably undid two years of hard work and dedication to his character by turning him babyface and programming him against Triple H. Still, it was a touchstone moment in the third-generation star's iconic career.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Had Orton been the performer that he later evolved into, the odds are that this match is significantly higher on this list. As it was, the match quality was limited as Orton continued to find himself as an in-ring performer, and Benoit did everything in his power to get the absolute best out of his young opponent.

18. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE.com

Date: August 11, 2019

Winner: Rollins

GM: Seth Rollins quickly slaying the beast and besting Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship in a matter of minutes at WrestleMania 35 made for a monumental moment, but it left fans who were hoping for more of a match between the two disappointed.

Lesnar then became Mr. Money in the Bank and cashed in the contract on Rollins the next month to regain the gold, so they had their chance to go all out and have the matchup they were capable of at SummerSlam. No stipulation was added despite the heated nature of their rivalry, but one wasn't needed.

It was just over 13 minutes long and saw Lesnar put in a true effort for a change, selling for Rollins' offense while also laying a brutal beatdown on him throughout. Rollins could do no wrong in the ring during that run, and Lesnar was shockingly game for everything he had in store.

They worked at a fun, fluid pace and countered each other's signature moves in innovative fashion. A third Curb Stomp put down Lesnar for the win, one of Lesnar's elite few decisive defeats in WWE.

Why Isn't It Higher?: For one reason or another, Lesnar and Rollins ripping it up in the SummerSlam main event is largely forgotten about, possibly because it lacks historical significance. This was early on in Lesnar's crusade with the fans, so his returning to the top of the totem pole as the number one babyface wasn't exactly appealing at that point.

17. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle vs. Triple H

WWE.com

Date: August 27, 2000

Winner: Rock

EB: Occurring in the midst of a love triangle storyline involving Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, the main event of the 2000 show was about more than the WWE Championship. The Rock entered the Triple Threat Match as the defending champion and could not care less about the Billion Dollar Princess, but found himself challenged by two men battling their own egos and their desire for a woman, all while chasing the top prize in the business.

The match was already expected to be chaotic as it was when Angle and Triple H battled onto a commentary table, only for it to collapse and for the 1996 Olympic gold medalist's head to bounce off of it.

Faced with a situation in which Angle was no longer available for the meat of the match due to a concussion, The Game and The Great One proceeded to wrestle an impromptu singles match that threw any pre-planned format out the window. Proof of their extraordinary chemistry, they delivered a crowd-pleasing match in the marquee spot on the card, keeping fans in North Carolina invested in the action long enough for a dazed Angle to walk to the ring, do his part to further the storyline with McMahon-Helmsley, and set up the finish.

Triple H inadvertently hit his own wife, then fell prey to the Rock Bottom, as The Most Electrifying Man in Professional Wrestling successfully retained his title.

A great match with high drama, it succeeded despite the hardships it suddenly and unexpectedly faced.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Angle's absence did hurt. While Rock and Triple H drew from experience to deliver a quality main event, there is little reason to believe the match would not have been even better with Angle's involvement. That the story involving McMahon-Helmsley was limited as it was, when so much television had been dedicated to it, also hampered its overall effect.

16. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker

WWE.com

Date: August 30, 1998

Winner: Austin

GM: As two of the biggest stars in all of wrestling in 1998, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin colliding with The Undertaker was heavily touted as a marquee match, complete with the tagline "Highway to Hell".

This marked their first major one-on-one outing, and as a battle of the biggest babyfaces in WWE at the time, it was essentially a case of fans getting to choose who they wanted to win. The dynamic doesn't always work, but here, it was a rare example of the audience being split right down the middle.

It's not a mat classic whatsoever, but it's a spectacle for the energy inside the arena alone, and both men brought the best out of each other. Their 20-minute match put power up against intensity, and other than a quick Kane cameo early on, it was a straightforward singles affair that the crowd was into.

The Texas Rattlesnake capitalized on a failed Old School with a Stunner to secure the three-count. The nod of respect from 'Taker to Austin afterward was the icing on the cake.

Why Isn't It Higher?: This match is more about the star power involved than the actual action. There were better bouts for the WWE's top title during that period (The Rock and Triple H stole that SummerSlam show with a Ladder match right beforehand), but there's no denying it lived up to the hype as a huge SummerSlam attraction.

15. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar

John Giamundo/WWE via Getty Images

Date: August 14, 2014

Winner: Lesnar

EB: John Cena was the undisputed face of WWE and a hero to millions. He did not lose often, and he certainly did not go down without a fight. That is why the outcome of the 2014 main event was so eye-opening. On that night in Staples Center in Los Angeles, Brock Lesnar steamrolled Cena, delivering 16 German suplexes and two F-5s en route to the most one-sided outcome in SummerSlam history.

Some may argue that it should be disqualified from this list, considering it's not a highly competitive bout, but the unprecedented nature of the match in that spot on the card led to high drama regardless.

Recognizing that WWE was looking to further build Lesnar into a "big bad" who Roman Reigns would eventually unseat to kick off his main event run, the babyface proved to be a selfless megastar, going above and beyond to establish Lesnar's aura as the unstoppable force of nature that not even the almighty Super Cena could overcome.

It benefited the WWE product and, more importantly, added to the ever-changing narrative about Cena's willingness to do what was necessary for the product's sake, something others in his position might not have been as eager to do at their own expense.

Why Isn't It Higher?: As unique and fresh as the layout of the match was, there is a ceiling on how good it can be. It belongs on this list because of its historical significance, but in comparison to the other bouts above it, there is a clear ceiling. That ceiling is No. 15.

14. John Cena vs. Randy Orton

WWE.com

Date: August 26, 2007

Winner: Cena

GM: John Cena and Randy Orton defined an entire era of WWE, and of the many matches they had together, their first one-on-one main event at SummerSlam 2007 is among their strongest.

Their rivalry was just getting underway at that point and wasn't remotely as personal as it'd later become, so this was simply a straight-up clash between two young up-and-comers with zero shenanigans.

This was one of the early instances of Cena showing he could hang with anyone on the roster and produce quality wrestling matches. From reversing the running punt kick into an STFU to kicking out of an RKO, The Cenation Leader was in prime "Super Cena" mode.

Everything looked so smooth, right down to Cena nailing Orton with an FU for the victory. WWE had to start featuring fresher faces in their SummerSlam main events and these two were the perfect people for the prestigious spot.

Why Isn't It Higher?: The lack of historical significance hurt this match's legacy ever so slightly. It's not brought up as much as it should be in conversations about Cena vs. Orton matches because it didn't have any bells and whistles, even though that's what made it an enjoyable affair.

13. The Undertaker vs. Bret "Hitman" Hart

WWE.com

Date: August 3, 1997

Winner: Hart

EB: Bret Hart, The Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels were the three biggest stars of WWE's New Generation, and as the company moved toward an era of attitude, those three came together for a combustible main event at the 1997 extravaganza.

The Hitman challenged The Deadman for the WWE Championship, with the stipulation being that if he lost, he would never compete in the United States again. Enhancing the stakes was the Heartbreak Kid as the special guest referee, with the understanding that if he purposely cost Hart the title, he too would be banned from competing.

It was against that backdrop that Hart and Undertaker crafted a dramatic main event, with the prospect of Michaels factoring into the finish hanging overhead like a dark, pregnant cloud.

Late in the match, as tempers flared, that is exactly what happened.

After Hart hawked a loogey and spit it in his rival's face, an infuriated Michaels swung a steel chair, inadvertently catching The Phenom in the head. Faced with the reality of the situation and the stipulation placed on his involvement, Michaels had no choice but to count Undertaker's shoulders down and award the top prize in wrestling to Hart.

A great, story-driven match-up that set the stage for the next three months of WWE's main event scene, it featured one of the great finishes in SummerSlam history and concluded with Hart tying Hulk Hogan for the most WWE Championship wins at five.

Why Isn't It Higher?: The story, as great as it was, does detract from the actual in-ring work. Add to that the fact that Hart and Undertaker would have an even better match a month later at the UK-exclusive One Night Only pay-per-view, and the match itself loses a little bit of luster.

12. Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

JP Yim/Getty Images

Date: August 23, 2015

Winner: Undertaker

GM: The WrestleMania match from 2014 between Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker left such a sour taste in the mouths of fans that there was justifiable skepticism over them running it back the following year.

However, Undertaker immediately showed that his physical state had drastically improved during his year-long absence from WWE TV, and that he was more than capable of holding his own in a high-profile main event against a worthy adversary.

Lesnar was also at the peak of his "Suplex City" reign of dominance at this point in time, so it was the perfect matchup and main event for the first of four SummerSlams to emanate from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

It was non-stop, smash-mouth action from start to finish, filled with a flurry of finishers, including an F-5 through the commentary table from Lesnar to 'Taker. They also exchanged submission holds, with the Hell's Gate and the Kimura Lock nearly securing each of them the victory at various points.

A shocking low blow established The Deadman's desperation to win, resulting in Lesnar passing out from the Hell's Gate.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Although Lesnar flipping the bird to 'Taker before the referee called for the bell on a count of technical submission was a cool visual, it made for a lackluster ending to their all-out brawl. Fans later learned that it was done by design to set them up for a rematch inside Hell in a Cell at the eponymous event two months later.

11. John Cena vs. CM Punk

WWE.com

Date: August 14, 2011

Winner: Punk

EB: In a rematch from their classic encounter a month earlier at Money in the Bank, CM Punk and John Cena squared off in the main event of the 2011 SummerSlam to determine the undisputed WWE champion. Triple H was the special guest referee, because of course he was, and the eyes of the wrestling world were on the match to see if the company would continue to push the suddenly red-hot antihero Punk.

The combatants delivered another superb match that highlighted their undeniable in-ring chemistry, with counters and reversals defining the home stretch, leaving fans guessing which Superstar would leave Los Angeles with the title.

Each competitor survived the other's finishing move, kicking out at two and ensuring the match would continue. Ultimately, Punk delivered a second Go To Sleep and pinned Cena for the win, despite the franchise star's foot on the bottom rope going undetected by The Game.

Even more memorable for all of the shenanigans that followed, including a powerbomb from the returning Kevin Nash and a Money in the Bank cash-in by Alberto Del Rio, the 2011 main event was the first to really incorporate the spectacle stunt booking at the close of the show.

Why Isn't It Higher?: WWE could not leave well enough alone. Punk and Cena did not need controversy or overbooking. All the match needed to be was a blockbuster sequel to their first encounter, which earned rave reviews, with an even cleaner finish. Fans were treated to the exact opposite, which hurt its overall quality instead of propping it up.

10. The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE.com

Date: August 25, 2002

Winner: Lesnar

GM: Had it not been for such a successful rookie year, there's no telling what the remainder of Brock Lesnar's career would have looked like. It was his win over The Rock in particular that cemented him as "The Next Big Thing" in WWE.

Lesnar had already run through Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan in the months preceding the pay-per-view, but Rock posed an entirely different threat. He was at the peak of his popularity and about to break out into Hollywood, but not without making an example out of Lesnar on his way out.

Lesnar looked like an equal to Rock throughout, trading Rock Bottoms with The Great One himself before winning with a single F-5. It was a simple main event packed with excitement and a hot crowd in Long Island's Nassau Coliseum.

Lesnar's stock skyrocketed, while the negative reaction to Rock spawned his heel persona upon his return to WWE the following year

Why Isn't It Higher?: Rock vs. Lesnar is absolutely worthy of cracking the top 10. There really isn't anything that's technically wrong with it, as it's just an overall blast and a massive milestone for Lesnar, though it lacks anything super special (outside of the outcome, atmosphere, and fallout) for it to stand out from everything else above it.

9. Shawn Michaels vs. Vader

WWE.com

Date: August 18, 1996

Winner: Michaels

EB: When Vader was announced as the No. 1 contender to Shawn Michaels' WWE Championship, it felt like a sure thing that the big man would capture the gold. He had arrived in the company with considerable fanfare and, despite a bumpy start creatively, was as hot as he had been under the WWE umbrella.

Coupled with the fact that Michaels had failed to set the business on fire as champion, SummerSlam 1996 felt like the appropriate time for a change at the top of the card. As history tells us, that did not happen. Instead, Vader scored two victories that would not net him the gold (one by count-out, one by disqualification).

Manager Jim Cornette's insistence that the match continue so his client could win the title proved costly. Instead of taking either of the wins and living to fight another day, he gave Michaels one last chance to put the big man down, which he did, courtesy of a top-rope moonsault.

The Heartbreak Kid consistently delivered some of his greatest performances in those David vs. Goliath matches, and this was no different. He bumped around and made Vader look like a million bucks. In the midst of a red-hot in-ring run, in which he was at his peak as an athlete, he seized the spotlight in what was one of only three SummerSlam main event appearances for the two-time Hall of Famer.

Why Isn't It Higher?: The screwy booking and politicking hurt this one. While the referee restarts may have added an iota of drama, they hurt Vader's credibility and ultimately ruined him as a legitimate main-event contender moving forward. Plus, the match simply does not carry the historical significance of the matches above it.

8. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar

Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images

Date: July 30, 2022

Winner: Reigns

GM: Roman Reigns' SummerSlam showdown with Brock Lesnar in 2018 was as basic as could be, and ended with Reigns predictably dethroning the dominant Lesnar for the Universal Championship.

Fans expected something similar in their SummerSlam rematch four years later, but the reversed roles made a massive difference in quality. Lesnar driving a tractor to the ring immediately sent the message that the crowd was in for a treat, and they did not disappoint.

Last Man Standing matches have a tendency to drag or be dull, but this installment in their saga was anything but. They effectively made use of the extreme environment by battering each other with tables, steel steps and stairs.

Lesnar plowing the ring with the tractor and turning it over with Reigns still inside was an unbelievable spot that's still replayed to this day. Everyone from The Bloodline interfered to ensure Reigns retained the title, and ultimately he emerged victorious, but it was the correct outcome to end their feud once and for all.

Why Isn't It Higher?: If this doesn't top their WrestleMania match from 2015 as their best ever, it certainly comes close. Either way, the Lesnar vs. Reigns rivalry had long overstayed its welcome by this point, so the emotional stakes weren't fully there for this match, but it far exceeded expectations and kicked off the Triple H regime of WWE on a high note.

7. Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk

WWE.com

Date: August 23, 2009

Winner: Punk

EB: There had been plenty of Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches in WWE before CM Punk challenged Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of the 2009 event.

Unlike those bouts, though, champion and challenger backed off on the plethora of high-risk dives and death-defying bumps in favor of a more physical, calculating and cerebral match that combined high spots and brutality.

Each spot fed into something more substantive and meaningful, culminating in a Swanton Bomb from The Charismatic Enigma to the Straight Edge Savior off a ladder and through the announce table. While that should have been the end of Punk's championship aspirations, the drug-free Superstar fought back, knocked his opponent off a ladder, and retrieved the big gold belt for the win.

The match served as the unofficial end of Hardy's main‑event run, as he would depart the company shortly thereafter. For Punk, it was evidence that the former indie darling and Ring of Honor export could be a legitimate main-event star in McMahonland.

Add to that a surprise return for The Undertaker shortly after the bell, and you have an emphatic close to the final SummerSlam of the aughts.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Those looking for the high-risk will be disappointed, and the fact that it did not lead to a sustained main event run for either Superstar coming out of SummerSlam almost renders the match, and the months-long rivalry that preceded it, meaningless, through no fault of their own.

6. Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

Date: August 3, 2025

Winner: Rhodes

GM: John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes had the potential to be an all-timer of a WrestleMania main event under the correct circumstances. As has been well documented, however, it was a total dud because Cena legitimately wanted to "ruin wrestling" as a heel and intentionally had tedious matches.

They were thankfully afforded the opportunity to redeem themselves at SummerSlam, this time in a Street Fight. Better yet, Cena turned face just two days before the event, guaranteeing that their match would be what fans wanted out of them all along.

Cena didn't let up in the slightest; he smashed Rhodes on the stage, dished out a slew of Attitude Adjustments, and endured an equal amount of Cross Rhodes. It was almost as if going back babyface allowed him to return to his roots as Super Cena for one night only and recapture the magic his matches had prior to going part-time.

Rhodes was already a made man by SummerSlam 2025, but his triumph over Cena did see the proverbial torch truly passed. That would have been a nice enough ending to the show, but it was nearly overshadowed by Brock Lesnar's controversial return to the company moments later.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Admittedly, the absurd amount of finishers did make the match feel bigger than it may have been otherwise, but it did eliminate some suspense down the stretch when it was clear that it was overkill. Additionally, saving Cena's anticipated face turn for afterward would have made more sense for the story they were trying to tell. 

5. Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe

WWE.com

Date: August 20, 2017

Winner: Lesnar

EB: Brock Lesnar entered the 2017 show as the Universal champion, yet uncharacteristically shaken. Roman Reigns was still chasing his title, but it was the emergence of Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe as challengers who could combat his ferocious onslaught that threatened his run as the top star in WWE.

Faced with the unenviable task of defending against all three, regardless of his status as The Beast Incarnate, Lesnar nearly lost his championship. Reigns and Joe got their shots in on the former NCAA wrestling champion, but it was a running powerslam through the commentary table that threatened to put the Conqueror out of the match entirely.

With Lesnar stretchered out of the arena, the challengers teed off on one another, each inching closer to capturing the gold. Then, The Beast proved his nickname accurate as he made his way back to the squared circle and unloaded on the competition.

Reminding the WWE Universe of his own resilience, Lesnar absorbed three Superman Punches, a third spear, and drove Reigns to the mat with an F-5 for the win.

A battle of hosses, with the top prize in the company on the line, this was an unexpectedly awesome match that properly highlighted Joe and Strowman, and continued the story that The Big Dog could not best his most hated rival.

Why Isn't It Higher?: It is a testament to the matches above it that it is not. That, and the fact that WWE had a chance to crown a new champion and elevate a new star to the top of the card in either Joe or Strowman, yet resisted. By the next year, Reigns and Lesnar would be teeing off in the main event again.

4. CM Punk vs. Gunther

Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images

Date: August 2, 2025

Winner: Punk

GM: Amazingly, there wasn't a ton of bad blood between CM Punk and Gunther going into their SummerSlam main event on Night 1 of the 2025 installment. The match was only made official a few weeks earlier and mostly relied on the talent of the two stars to sell fans on it.

They had never worked one-on-one before, yet their chemistry was exceptional. Gunther was ruthless from the get-go and took pleasure in inflicting pain and punishment on Punk, who refused to succumb to defeat so easily.

It started slow and built to an incredible climax of hard-hitting strikes, submissions and fantastic drama. Punk eked out the win by hitting Gunther twice with the GTS, albeit just barely, to procure the World Heavyweight Championship.

The Second City Saint's heartfelt win was short-lived as Seth Rollins revealed his injury to be a ruse and cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to take the title for himself.

Why Isn't It Higher?: This wasn't the culmination of a long-running rivalry or the kickoff to more matches between them. It was merely a one-off, and although that adds to the allure of it, that also means it was more about getting back to Punk vs. Rollins than highlighting this match for the gem that it was.

3. The Undertaker vs. Edge

WWE.com

Date: August 17, 2008

Winner: Undertaker

EB: After his affair with Alicia Fox was exposed to the wrestling world, Edge found himself on the receiving end of SmackDown general manager (and on-screen wife) Vickie Guerrero's wrath and booked in a Hell in a Cell Match at the 2008 SummerSlam against The Undertaker.

The same Undertaker he had attacked and cost a win inside the same structure a year earlier at the Survivor Series, then made life a living hell for him in the ensuing months.

The culmination of a rivalry that featured a WrestleMania 24 main event and a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at Extreme Rules earlier in the summer, their battle inside the unforgiving confines of the Devil's Playground was an apropos way to put an end to their issues once and for all.

A physical battle that avoided the jaw-dropping bumps, like the ones Mick Foley took in the infamous 1998 match, it was a war that featured several callbacks to their previous matches.

Ultimately, Undertaker delivered a chokeslam through tables on the arena floor, then blasted the Rated R Superstar with a camera in a nod to the aforementioned Survivor Series, added a con-chair-to, and put him down for the count with a Tombstone piledriver. To really put an exclamation point on the entire ordeal, he sent Edge to Hell, complete with flames, after the bell.

A great Hell in a Cell match, with some great attention to detail and the appropriate Superstar going over, this lands at a deserving spot and is probably worth a rewatch.

Why Isn't It Higher?: Exhaustion. As great as the match was, and the feud had been for the most part, it was the end of a LONG feud that had run out of steam by the time SummerSlam rolled around, as evidenced by the marriage drama that set it up.

2. Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena

WWE.com

Date: August 18, 2013

Winner: Bryan

GM: Daniel Bryan's surge in popularity in the second half of 2013, along with fans' demands for him, was too much to ignore.

In storyline, he was handpicked by John Cena to face him for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2013. They generated serious heat in the buildup to the show by playing off how Cena was too corporate and how Bryan aimed to be the champion of the people.

Cena has always excelled over wrestlers of Bryan's caliber, and thus he had a stellar showing of his own here. With the crowd firmly behind him, Bryan pushed Cena to his absolute limit, kicking out of every Attitude Adjustment and escaping from the STF before countering it into the "Yes!" Lock.

Cena was still super protected at this point, so Bryan being able to have such a competitive contest with him on top of beating him clean was seen as a stamp of approval by the audience. That would have sufficed as the SummerSlam conclusion, but Triple H and Randy Orton proceeding to turn heel and help Orton nefariously steal the WWE title from Bryan was a brilliant twist.

Why Isn't It Higher?: This was a wrestling masterclass and an exceptional main event overall. As historic a win as it was for Bryan, it wasn't enough to convince WWE he was worthy of staying at that elite level permanently, leading to him being bumped back down the card until the Yes Movement rolled around the subsequent spring. In other words, this match was almost the complete package, but not quite.

1. Bret "Hitman" Hart vs. British Bulldog

WWE.com

Date: August 29, 1992

Winner: Bulldog

EB: Arguably the match most synonymous with SummerSlam, Bret Hart vs. "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith from 1992 is a perfect wrestling match, with a red-hot crowd inside London's Wembley Stadium, eager to cheer their hometown hero to victory.

Bulldog overcame the excellence of his opponent, shook off the very real nerves that come with competing in front of 80,000-plus fans rooting for him to win, and countered a sunset flip by The Hitman to win the match and his only Intercontinental Championship.

While Smith's win is a defining moment in his career, if not the most memorable, its long-term effect on the pro wrestling industry was greater. The first time the midcard title headlined a pay-per-view event, and a rare instance of a WWE show not featuring Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, or the Ultimate Warrior in the marquee bout, it proved to Vince McMahon that his top stars did not have to be hulking superheroes straight out of comic books to appeal to the masses.

They could instead be a charismatic and believable pro wrestler whose greatness between the ropes forges a connection with audiences that cannot be replicated in marketing and merchandising meetings.

Hart would ride the wave of momentum and the trust it afforded him with McMahon to the WWE Championship within three months, proving that the main event of the one and only overseas SummerSlam was as important to him and his trajectory as it was to Bulldog's Hall of Fame career.