WWE Summerslam: Top 5 Non-Main Events in SummerSlam History

As a part of my ongoing Summerslam series, today we are going to look at the best  matches to take place that were not the final match of the evening. Very simple rules - if your match was last, it will not be allowed for the rankings today.

There are a ton to choose from as Summerslam as a ton of history and will make tons more (including next week). Some are of my picks will be laughed at, some will be applauded, some will be agreed upon, others will be torn apart. Let's just all dive right into my list and keep the discussion fun...

5. Angle vs. Austin: WWF Championship 2001

We all know about the Invasion story line by now. A great story line, by the way. Anyways, if not, the video provided for this slide will refresh your memory. What it came down to was Angle thought he was better than Stone Cold, so he challenged him to a match at SummerSlam.

Of course, the whole WCW/ECW Alliance was battling the WWF, so the lines were drawn. Angle for the WWF. Austin on the other side. To say the crowd that night was amped to see Austin lose his title would be an understatement. The fans wanted Angle to win, no doubt.

What we got was a great back and forth match, where Angle ended up kicking out of three Stone Cold Stunners. It was bloody, intense, and sadly, the ending brought this match down. I am all for a few DQ endings on pay-per-view every now and then, but this was very disheartening.

I can only give it a No. 5 ranking. If not for the ending, it would be higher. Great match, not amazing.

4. Cena vs. Batista: 2008

I have mentioned this match before and how big a fan I am. Well, I still feel that way. To set yourself back in 2008, what one dream match would you want to see with two current full time performers?

The answer should be easy—Batista and Cena. Two guys at the top for many years before and having never locked horns before.

As the match began, the crowd was more than ready for these two to tear each apart. And they did. Big moves. Suspenseful moments. Finishers everywhere.

What makes this match stand the test of time and one I look back on fondly? A clean winner and a clean loser. No BS. No run-ins. No garbage. No cheap wins. Two top guys go at it—one lost. One won. Great job all around.

3. Triple H vs. the Rock: IC Title 1998

One of the many reasons WWE was starting to defeat WCW (and ECW) in the late 90s was matches like this. No doubt about it folks.

While Hogan and Warrior were moving in slow motion around the ring, Triple H and Rock were putting on great matches for the Intercontinental title live on pay-per-view.

The match itself is more than worth it to go back and watch, for young or old fans alike. Two future Hall of Famers going at it to prove their worth to the company. Great match—one of SummerSlam's best.

2. HBK vs. HHH: 2002

Wow! Another Triple H match? I thought he sucked. I thought he was overrated. I thought he only gets his way because of his wife. Yeah, get outta here with that garbage.

Triple H is one of the best performers in the history of the business (top 10) and he proved it once again here. HBK had just come back and had a ton to prove as well.

What we got was a classic match that supposedly "never even happened," per the rules of their 2002 contest. For the few who have not seen this match, I will not ruin the ending, but I just watched this match again recently and the ending more than makes this No. 2 ranking worth it.

Now to my number one, which many may have already figured out by process of elimination.

1. Edge and Christian/Hardys/Dudleys: TLC Match for the Tag Team Titles 2000

Could it have been anything else? I mentioned it before, but it is matches like this as to why the WWF slowly passed WCW and ECW in terms of the 90s (and 2000/2001) war for wrestling's top spot.

Three great tag teams. Two tag team belts. One crazy all out brawl. Throw in tables, ladders and chairs and you get a classic.

The video I posted is part one of a two part video of this match. If you have never seen this match—WATCH IT NOW! Please. Nothing I try to describe will do the match justice.

I still sit back and watch this battle with amazement and that is why it deserves the top spot for NON main events in SummerSlam history.