WWE SummerSlam 2016: Most Underrated Matches in Event's History

As the hottest show of the summer, WWE SummerSlam often produces big-time bouts featuring wrestlers and matches anticipated around the world.

The 2016 event looks set to be no different, with Brock Lesnar colliding with Randy Orton and Finn Balor and Seth Rollins battling to become the first-ever winner of the WWE Universal Championship.

Throughout the rich history of the event, however, plenty of matches have slid under the radar. They have faded into the shadow cast by that year's big main events, or they have remained underappreciated for whatever reason.

Here are a handful of the most underrated SummerSlam matches.

Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (2013)

Credit: WWE.com

No true list of underrated WWE matches would be complete without a mention of one of the company's most underrated wrestlers of all time.

Christian was in the hunt for the World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio, and the match was a thriller from start to finish.

It was mat mastery at its finest, with both men constantly trying to get the better of each other throughout a gripping contest.

At a time when Christian's career was nearing the end because of a series of unfortunate injuries, this was one of his last great hurrahs. The Canadian was at the level that won him world titles during the earlier part of his singles run, and it was a joy to watch.

Sadly for Christian, he couldn't see off Del Rio on this occasion, but it shouldn't overshadow what was a brilliant encounter.

Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler (2009)

Credit: WWE.com

Going on first at SummerSlam always opens up the risk of a match being forgotten, but that shouldn't be the case for the 2009 opener.

Dolph Ziggler and Rey Mysterio pushed each other to the limit in the first match of SummerSlam that year. Their WWE Intercontinental Championship match is a real standout in the careers of both men to date.

Technically, both guys were at their bests, with Ziggler in particular excelling against the unpredictable Mysterio.

It didn't run anywhere near as long as the two main event matches of that year, which is a shame—if WWE had two up-and-comers as talented as this pair nowadays, hopes would be high that they would get more time than the 12 minutes Ziggler and Mysterio received to showcase their abilities.

It was an underrated bout in a show that went off with a big bang. 

D'Lo Brown vs. Jeff Jarrett (1999)

When you remember SummerSlam 1999, it's easy to think of the Lion's Den match between Steve Blackman and Ken Shamrock.

Mankind's victory in the main event against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Triple H is an even bigger highlight, and all of that and more make the show's opening bout slip under the radar.

D'Lo Brown was in possession of both the European Championship and Intercontinental Championship heading into the event, with Jeff Jarrett looking to claim them at SummerSlam.

The match was solid enough, but it was backed by sizzling drama outside the ring. It looked like Debra was about to turn her back on Jarrett and support Brown heading into the contest, but as fans would find out, it was a clever piece of trickery from Jarrett and Debra.

Brown's big matches throughout the late 1990s have always been underrated, and this great wrestling match with a shocking twist—Mark Henry cost Brown the victory—is an example of some of his best work.

Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle (2003)

Credit: WWE.com

It's rare to underappreciate a Brock Lesnar match, but his contest against Kurt Angle at the 2003 show went under the radar.

The build to the Elimination Chamber match dominated the night, as big names such as Chris Jericho, Goldberg and Triple H were involved. 

That caused Lesnar vs. Angle—and everything else on the card—to become an afterthought. But when it came to this match, that shouldn't be the case.

The back-and-forth action was tremendous throughout, with both men giving each other a physical test from start to finish.

As it turned out, Angle managed to retain the WWE Championship in a contest that ran longer than the six-man Elimination Chamber match.

And in truth, it didn't run long enough. Both men gave their all, and it remains one of the show's finest bouts despite not being mentioned all that often.

Shawn Michaels vs. Rick Martel (1992)

Credit: WWE.com

This rivalry stemmed from both men's adoration of Sensational Sherri. You don't get any more underrated when it comes to SummerSlam than Shawn Michaels vs. Rick Martel from 1992.

Michaels had grown frustrated with Sherri's infatuation with Martel, leading to the grudge match that settled who was the better man once and for all.

Interestingly, the bout came with a stipulation that neither man could hit the other in the face, but that improved the mat skills and overall flow of what was a great match.

With Sherri causing mayhem at ringside throughout large parts of the match, it was easy to feel engrossed and invested in what all three brought to the party.

WWE went controversial with the finish, too, which was a great move, as it allowed both guys to keep their upward momentum going. The double count-out can often be a mistake if used with the wrong backdrop, but it was perfect in London.

This was one of the standout matches of the whole night—one that is still considered a roaring success to this day.