WWE SummerSlam 2017: Worst Event Cards in PPV's History

As the biggest extravaganza of the summer, WWE SummerSlam is a show that, historically speaking, has always had a significant amount of hype attached to it.

Sadly, not every edition has managed to live up to the buzz.

WWE will go all out to try to make the 2017 edition avoid the same fate as these five shows, which, for a variety of reasons, haven't quite managed to go off with a bang.

Whether it's uninspired booking, disappointing results or just a card with little excitement attached to it, here's a look at the worst SummerSlam cards in WWE history.

5. 1988

Matches Included: Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage vs. Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant, The Ultimate Warrior vs. Honky Tonk Man, Demolition vs. The Hart Foundation

WWE's first instalment of SummerSlam is memorable for little more than being the concept's debut, in truth.

The main event was perhaps most notable for Miss Elizabeth's skirt removal to help distract The Mega Bucks enough to allow The Mega Powers to win. But there wasn't much else to shout about.

That's not to say any of the big matches were absolutely terrible, but they left little impact on the legacy of SummerSlam.

Ultimate Warrior's Intercontinental Championship victory over Honky Tonk Man in just over 30 seconds was a surprise, but this one isn't a show that too many fans should be flocking to WWE Network to watch all over again.

It was forgettable, to say the least.

4. 1995

Matches Included: Diesel vs. Mabel, Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon, The Undertaker vs. Kama

By the time 1995 had arrived, SummerSlam had firmly established itself as one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year.

And that's why that year's edition ranks as one of the most forgettable and uninspiring in recent memory.

There was one incredible match, as Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon tussled with ladders over the Intercontinental Championship, but the fact that bout was so good cast a shadow over everything else.

The rest of the card struggled to live up to that billing. As far as a SummerSlam main event goes, Diesel vs. Mabel certainly doesn't evoke positive, lifelong memories for WWE fans to cherish.

It, like the rest of the card, had little excitement about it. 

Even the bigger names like Bret Hart and The Undertaker were involved in uninspiring bouts. It's impossible to put the 1995 edition any higher.

3. 2007

Matches Included: John Cena vs. Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero, Triple H vs. King Booker

John Cena has had some pretty special moments when it comes to SummerSlam. He's also had some thoroughly disappointing ones, and it's hard not to rank his 2007 bout nearer the bottom end of the scale.

His main event match with Randy Orton certainly wasn't dreadful, but it failed to captivate the imagination like some of his future matches at the event would do.

Aside from that, there was little for fans to get excited about. 

Triple H vs. King Booker should have been better than what it was. Kane's match against Finlay was uninspiring, as was the bout between Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero.

It's certainly not the worst SummerSlam ever, but it's certainly not one of the best, either.

2. 1996

Matches Included: Shawn Michaels vs. Vader, Mankind vs. The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Yokozuna

Around the time of SummerSlam 1996, rivals WCW were beginning to make serious headlines.

The NWO were in full flow and blazing a trail in professional wrestling, and all of that and more left WWE's bash of the summer feeling somewhat underwhelming.

It had such little buzz about it, which is hard to fathom given how much of a show WWE usually intends to put on at SummerSlam each and every year these days.

Shawn Michaels was impressive again, as he was for so much of the mid-1990s. 

But what else is there to say about SummerSlam 1996? Sure, Paul Bearer's heel turn was something, but many fans saw it coming.

It was easily one of the worst SummerSlam shows the company has ever produced.

1. 2010

Matches Included: Kane vs. Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton vs. Sheamus, Team WWE vs. The Nexus

The failure of The Nexus angle and the whole NXT invasion ranks as one of WWE's most colossal booking failures in recent memory.

And it all culminated here, at SummerSlam 2010, with an inevitable John Cena-led victory parade.

At times, The Nexus were so hot they looked capable of anything. Except getting past Cena.

There was so little else happening given WWE's emphasis of highlighting the importance of the 7-on-7 elimination main event that it fell flat on its face.

And while the main event had its brief moments, the inevitable result made it all completely underwhelming and, without doubt, a waste of time.

Was Daniel Bryan's return to WWE nice? Without a doubt. But when it got down to Cena and Barrett, leader vs. leader, there should have only ever been one winner.

Having The Nexus lose their first proper match on pay-per-view set the tone for what would follow. It is without doubt the most disappointing SummerSlam ever, for how it failed to live up to the considerable hype.