For the first time in 15 years, SummerSlam returns to Toronto. In honour of the return, let’s take a look back at some of the greatest matches in SummerSlam history.
Honourable Mentions…
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar – 2014
John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan – 2013
CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy – 2009
Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog – 1992
5. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon – 1995
In the summer of 1995, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon were asked to follow up a match that led noted wrestling pundit Dave Meltzer to say “Shawn Michaels put on one of the greatest individual performances in the history of the business.”
That’s how Meltzer described the first ladder match between Michaels and Ramon at WrestleMania X in 1994. The two legendary wrestlers were asked to go back out there and do it again at SummerSlam 1995 and, somehow, lived up to the hype, with Meltzer calling the bout “one of the five best WWE matches I’ve ever seen.”
Return matches don’t provide much opportunity for error in their presentation, particularly if the first one is considered as good as Shawn vs. Razor I. That’s part of what makes this match so great. Michaels, the best wrestler in the business at the time, and Razor, one of the hottest acts in the business, took what was good about the first one, twisted it up, and gave a fresh presentation.
4 Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle – 2003
It seems like forever ago that Brock Lesnar was the next big thing. Even before he was a fringe NFL player and UFC champion, Lesnar was recognized as an absolute freak of an athlete. Meanwhile his opponent at SummerSlam in 2003, Kurt Angle, was a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in wrestling.
The athletic accolades of both Superstars, along with news of their shoot wrestling match before a show in 2003, made this matchup something fans salivated over. Their first meeting at WrestleMania XIX earlier in 2003 didn’t leave a lot to be desired, as both wrestlers put on a fantastic main event. However, the story surrounding both athletes’ desire to be the best wrestler on the planet made for a fantastic WWE Championship match in the summer of 2003.
Angle’s wrestling ability sold him as a heavy crowd favourite, while Lesnar’s alliance with Vince McMahon made him as easy target for the WWE Universe’s disdain. This bout may be the best pure pro wrestling match SummerSlam has ever seen.
3 Tables, Ladders & Chairs I – 2000
While their match from WrestleMania X7 in 2001 may be the more remembered of their TLC series of matches, Edge & Christian, the Dudley Boyz, and the Hardy Boyz originated their industry-changing match at SummerSlam in 2000.
The amount of violence incorporated into this match was more than enough to satiate the Raleigh, N.C., crowd, which then spurred the rest of the wrestling universe into wanting more tables, ladders, and chairs. It was the type of match hardcore wrestling fans had seen in ECW but hadn’t been exposed to the masses yet. It was truly a sight to be seen.
As Jim Ross would say, “it looked like a damn car wreck.”
And, “bah gawd”… it was beautiful.
2 Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart – 1994
From a strictly Canadian perspective, this match, along with this entire feud from 1994, should be given its own heritage minute. Bret Hart is undisputedly the greatest and most popular Canadian wrestler of all-time. On the other side, Owen Hart is one of the most respected sports entertainers of all-time, amongst wrestlers and fans alike, nationality be damned.
The fact that this match is so high on the list, while the Bret vs. Owen match from WrestleMania 10 from this same year was the better match, speaks volumes in regards to how great these two were.
The emotion surrounding the breaking up of the Hart family was palpable for Canadian wrestling fans. Adding to the emotion of the match were Stu and Helen Hart, Bret and Owen’s parents, along with several other family members, sitting at ringside. The Hart family is and was a Canadian institution for wrestling fans north of the 49th parallel. To see the family crack and splinter was hard to watch.
Bret and Owen are two of the best ever, and they showcased it, again, at SummerSlam 1994.
1 Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H – 2002
This match represents everything that was and is good in professional wrestling. The story for this one was simple, but so easy to understand and grasp emotionally. Shawn Michaels, one of best, if not the best, of all time in the ring, making his return after four-plus years away due to a back injury, going up against one of the top stars in the business, and his former best friend and D-Generation X stablemate, Triple H.
The excitement inside Nassau Coliseum on August 25, 2002, surrounding the return of Michaels is tough to properly quantify. Picture Mike Bossy returning from four years away from hockey following the New York Islanders’ dynasty years, and leading the Isles back to the Stanley Cup Final to take on the Edmonton Oilers. It was that kind of emotion.
Michaels and Triple H were put together in a street fight, as stipulated by Monday Night Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff, meaning anything goes. And did those two superstars ever take advantage of that stipulation. Tables, ladders, chairs, and more were used to tell a deeply personal story of two former best friends trying to prove they were the better man.
Triple H was on top of his Game (pun intended), while Michaels returned to show the world that he hadn’t lost a step. Meanwhile, Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler once again reminded fans just how great they were as commentators in a big match scenario. Good Ol’ J.R. was as good as ever that night, playing off the emotion of the wrestlers and the crowd.
Two of the greatest wrestlers to ever lace ‘em up, one of the hottest crowds you’ll find, a hall-of-fame announce team, blood, sweat, and tears make this the greatest SummerSlam match in WWE history.
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