WWE Summerslam: Top 5 Moments in SummerSlam History

As a part of my ongoing "SummerSlam Series," I have looked back on many topics pertaining to the summer blockbuster. Today is no different and this list may be the most fun out of the bunch.

Top moments! Not matches. Not all about divas. No predictions for Sunday (yet...). Just the best moments from Summerslam that everyone will remember until the day they die.

There are no qualifications here; just the best moments and my opinions.

5. Jesse as Special Ref

This was for the 1999 SummerSlam, and with the event being held in Minnesota, it made too much sense NOT to happen. Thus, it happened and went off perfectly.

Getting Mr. Ventura involved in the main event of Mankind vs. Triple H vs. Austin for the WWF title was a genius move that ended up paying off in the end, especially when Mankind won.

I do not think many had picked Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy to win here, so it helped "soften the blow" a little bit by having Jesse raise his hand here. Good move and one for the ages!

4. Paul Bearer Turns on 'Taker

This was in 1996 during the dreaded "Boiler Room Brawl" that almost made my "Overrated List" a day or so back. I still get drowsy trying to sit through the whole match. Wow...just wow!

Onto the big heel turn by Paul Bearer—him turning on Taker here was a shock, no doubt. I am not sure i agree with what went down, but nobody can deny how big this was at the time.

To see Paul not help Undertaker during the end of the video and then praise Mankind was a sight to see, especially back in the day. Heel and face turns meant a whole lot more in 1996. Great moment.

3. Brock Becomes Youngest WWE Champ

I pray everybody watches the video I posted here. THAT is how you hype a main event to close SmackDown. THAT is what Michael is capable of right there. What a segment to sell SummerSlam!

Of course, I am talking about the 2002 edition with The Rock defending his undisputed WWE title against the rookie, Brock Lesnar.

Not to shoot from the mouth too much, but the second he won the King of the Ring, I was already telling anybody who would listen, he would win the WWE title at SummerSlam.

He had to, he just had to...and he did. Becoming the youngest to do so meant even more in 2002; it was clear Brock had arrived and was here to dominate (until 2004, hahaha).

Epic moment with a very good match and one that will surely live on in the books...

2. Orton Wins His First World Title

...until Orton came around. There are tons of rumors why this title change happened here, but a report did say this was to stick it to Brock for leaving WWE the way he did earlier in 2004 and to erase his "youngest ever" claim.

Of course, one is the WWE title, while the other is the World title, but it still remains a huge honor for Randy Orton and one I do not see being beat for a long time.

A good match here to close the 2004 edition, followed up by a CLEAN heel win for the World title. Making this a clean finish helped so much in my eyes. Now most of us remember how this title reign went after this, but this moment cannot be taken away from Randy!

That begs the question—what is my No. 1 SummerSlam moment of all time? Well, before clicking to the next slide, let's play a quick game.

When I say "SummerSlam," what is the first image that pops into your mind? THAT is what I did while putting this list together and over a decade later it has not changed for me.

1. Shane McMahon Flies

I am not even sure how to describe the feeling I had when I saw this back in 2000. This was so over the top it was not even funny. The wide shot of him just falling to his back still stands with me here in 2011.

Again, when I say "SummerSlam," alI I can picture is Shane up in the air with Steve Blackman fighting over the Hardcore title, and flying over the staging. Just so memorable, and outside of his Backlash 2001 "high jump," it probably has to be Shane's best WWF/E moment.

Just so crazy that it will be hard for me to forget. Amazing moment!

Thanks for reading, make sure to tell me your thoughts below and your top 5 list as well.