WWE Summerslam: Top 5 John Cena Moments in Summerslam History

With the biggest show of the summer just eight days away, I have decided to take a look back at the biggest superstar of the century and countdown his top five moments at the event. There was honestly not a whole lot to pick from, but there is certainly more than enough to dive into.

Some will be matches while others will be moments. As always, each slide will provide some video evidence for those of you who did not experience/witness that event. I am not including this year (obviously), but I could easily see this year being at the top of the list because his big rematch with Punk is sure to be memorable.

5. Cena vs Booker T: 2004

This was a part of their "best of five" series for the US title. Cena and Booker had such great matches and this one was no different. I am not going to lie. I expected Booker T to win the opener at Summerslam, but it was not meant to be—Cena won their first match.

What makes this match so memorable is looking back at it now. Two future Hall of Famers going at it at Summerslam over the...US title?!?

Yep! Just like Rock and HHH at Summerslam '98 over the IC title. It just puts things into perspective, like how guys are built up and just what the future "could" hold for the US and IC title holders right now in 2011...

4. Cena vs Orton: 2009

Two legends. Two icons. Summerslam. No, not Hogan vs HBK at Summerslam in 2005! This was Orton and Cena going at it once again for the WWE title. Why is this match at No. 4, though? They have had tons of matches, so how is this any different?

Well, what I liked about it was the absolute overbooked mess that it was. Seriously, watch the match and/or the video clips above. Man alive, did Russo take over for one night only?

The thing is, overbooked messes can work on occasion—and this worked. It set up multiple rematches for their epic 2009 feud—and for the most part they have stayed away from each other since the end of 2009.

3. Team Cena vs Team Nexus

I am going to cheat here, but just a little. Team Cena vs Team Nexus at the actual Summerslam was good, not great. I am going to focus on the entire build up to this one though. That is why it is No. 3 today.

Epic teams were formed. People talking dissension, maybe someone would turn? A swerve at the end? A surprise member of Nexus?

There was just so much hype going into last year's event and it even ended up with Cena joining Nexus months later, as the video above shows (fan made, of course). Great action all around Summerslam, just not actually AT Summerslam.

Thus, I could only rank it at No. 3...so much potential.

2. Cena/Edge @ 2006

Wow! Watch that promo...classic.

The thing about hype is most of the time the actual match does not live up to the hype. As sad as it sounds, that is just the way life is. As my last slide showed, sometimes things do not live up to their expectations.

This Cena vs Edge battle for the WWE title DID live up to hype. It delivered and set forth a series of matches these two would have for years to some. In the end, Edge beat Cena by cheating—like a good heel should do. The viewing audience was left with so much to digest that it would be fondly looked back on.

Great build. Great match. No. 2 moment for Cena at Summerslam.

Honorable Mentions

* 2005 - Cena vs Jericho for the WWE title: I wanted to put this at No. 5, but decided against it. Just too much has changed. Jericho has returned and the crowed turning on Cena in 2005 was great, but it means nothing now. It was good match, but not the classic many like to look back and fantasize over.

* 2007 - Cena vs Orton for the WWE title: This was their first big-time match and it did not deliver. Sadly, Cena won and Orton did not. I just did not feel this match too much. It set forth tons of matches between the two, but it just never clicked that night at Summerslam. Their 2009 match was better...

* 2011 - Cena vs Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship: This one will likely make the list next year, but I cannot put it on just yet. I have no doubts it will come through and become an epic match.

Speaking of epic match, my No. 1 John Cena moment at Summerslam is none other than...

1. John Cena vs Batista: First Time Ever

Epic. Classic. Amazing. Goosebump-inducing. Any fun word you want to use to describe this match is more than welcome. It doesn't change the fact that this match is one to remember forever.

Yes, forever—I said it! The hype promo was one of the best ever (see above). The promos leading up to the match were off the charts. The atmosphere around the battle was great.

All of this for Cena and Batista finally clashing on PPV...man, what a feeling! The match began, and well, it lived up to everything I have described. Cena and Batista tore down the house. Fans will look back at this event as an historic match between two legends meeting for the first time ever.

Batista won clean. Cena lost clean (one of his few). Really, though, the fans won. Each and every one of us who witnessed this won. Kudos go to both men and major props to WWE for giving us this.

Thank you WWE! Thank you Batista and thank you John Cena!