Ranking of SummerSlam Events

SummerSlam 2002 is often regarded as one of WWE’s best pay-per-views. The event showcased iconic matches, including a thrilling unsanctioned street fight between Shawn Michaels and Triple H, marking Michaels’ return after four years. Brock Lesnar defeated The Rock in the main event to become the youngest WWE Champion. The card also featured standout performances from Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Chris Benoit. With a blend of star power, intense storytelling, and memorable moments, the event solidified its place in wrestling history.

SummerSlam 2013 was headlined by two unforgettable matches. Daniel Bryan defeated John Cena in a classic for the WWE Championship, only for Randy Orton to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase after Triple H's shocking betrayal of Bryan. Brock Lesnar faced CM Punk in a brutal "No Disqualification" match, delivering one of the year’s best bouts. The event balanced hard-hitting action with major storyline twists, making it one of best PPVs in WWE’s history.

SummerSlam 1992 is iconic for being held at Wembley Stadium in London, drawing over 80,000 fans. The main event featured a classic Intercontinental Championship match where British Bulldog defeated Bret Hart in front of his home crowd. Randy Savage defended the WWF Championship against Ultimate Warrior in a dramatic match with outside interference from Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect. The event's atmosphere, memorable matches made it one of WWE’s most celebrated shows.

SummerSlam 2000 was a chaotic and memorable event featuring several standout matches. The first-ever TLC match stole the show, with Edge & Christian retaining the Tag Team Championship against The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz in a brutal, high-flying contest. The main event saw The Rock defend the WWE Championship in a triple threat match against Triple H and Kurt Angle. The event also featured Kane vs. Undertaker and Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit. Its mix of innovation and intense rivalries made it a defining show of the Attitude Era.

SummerSlam 1998 was headlined by a fierce showdown between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker for the WWF Championship, with Austin retaining in a solid match. The undercard featured a memorable ladder match between The Rock and Triple H for the Intercontinental Championship, solidifying both as future main event stars. Other highlights included Ken Shamrock vs. Owen Hart in a Lion’s Den match. The event captured the height of the Attitude Era with intense rivalries and electric crowd energy.

SummerSlam 2008 featured intense rivalries and memorable matches. The main event saw The Undertaker return to defeat Edge in a brutal Hell in a Cell match, closing their long-standing feud. John Cena faced Batista for the first time, with Batista emerging victorious. CM Punk defended the World Heavyweight Championship against JBL, while Triple H retained the WWE Championship against The Great Khali. The event showcased star power, dramatic storytelling, and hard-hitting action, solidifying its place as a strong installment in the SummerSlam series.

SummerSlam 2015 was headlined by The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar in a controversial rematch, ending with Undertaker winning via a disputed low blow and referee confusion. Seth Rollins defeated John Cena in a Winner-Takes-All match for both the WWE and United States Championships, thanks to interference from Jon Stewart. The event also featured the debut of the three-team Divas Revolution match, with Team PCB emerging victorious. With surprises, drama, and big matchups, SummerSlam 2015 delivered memorable moments and storyline shifts.

SummerSlam 2011 was highlighted by the WWE Championship match between CM Punk and John Cena, both claiming to be the rightful champion. Punk won, but Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase after Kevin Nash shockingly attacked Punk. The show also featured Randy Orton defeating Christian in a brutal No Holds Barred match for the World Heavyweight Championship. With major twists, betrayals, and intense matches, SummerSlam 2011 played a crucial role in shaping WWE’s landscape during the "Summer of Punk" era.

SummerSlam 2022 featured Roman Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match, highlighted by Lesnar using a tractor to lift the ring. Reigns retained after interference from The Usos. Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch to retain the Raw Women’s Championship, followed by the surprise returns of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY. The event blended wild action, surprises, and solid storytelling, making it a standout in WWE’s recent history.

SummerSlam 2014 featured a dramatic and emotional main event where John Cena faced Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Lesnar dominated Cena in a one-sided match and won the WWE championship. Another highlight was Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns, with Reigns securing the victory in an impressive match. The event also included Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose in a high-energy Lumberjack match, and Stephanie McMahon defending her authority in a match against Brie Bella. SummerSlam 2014 was marked by shocking moments and a dominant performance by Lesnar.

SummerSlam 2001 was a pivotal event in WWE's Invasion storyline. The main event featured a highly anticipated match between The Rock and Booker T, with The Rock defeated Booker T to win the WCW Championship. Another major bout saw Steve Austin and Kurt Angle clash in a hard-hitting contest, with Angle defeating Austin to retain the WWF Championship. The show also included a Tag Team Championship match between The Brothers of Destruction (Undertaker and Kane) and D-Generation X (Road Dogg and X-Pac). With the Invasion storyline at the forefront, SummerSlam 2001 had a unique mix of rivalries and intrigue

SummerSlam 2009 was headlined by a thrilling match between CM Punk and Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Championship. The two engaged in a brutal, high-stakes contest, with Punk retaining the title after a controversial finish involving Hardy being disqualified for striking the referee. Another notable match saw Randy Orton defending the WWE Championship against John Cena, with Orton securing the win. DX (Shawn Michaels & Triple H) faced The Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase), continuing their feud. The event delivered exciting action and significant storyline developments.

SummerSlam 2024 featured major moments, including Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa with Roman Reigns’ return. Gunther won the World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Damian Priest. Drew McIntyre triumphed over CM Punk with Seth Rollins as the special referee. Liv Morgan retained her Women's Championship against Rhea Ripley with help of Dominik Mysterio who betrayed Ripley, while LA Knight defeated Logan Paul for the United States Championship and Bron Breakker beat Sami Zayn to win the Intercontinental title. The event set the stage for key future storylines.

SummerSlam 2016 featured a star-studded card with memorable moments. The main event saw Brock Lesnar defeat Randy Orton in a brutal match, which ended controversially with Lesnar opening Orton’s head wide open, leading to a TKO stoppage. The show also featured a classic match between AJ Styles and John Cena with Styles successfully securing the victory, while Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor faced off for the inaugural Universal Championship, with Bálor emerging victorious. The event showcased incredible matches and storyline advancements, making it a standout in WWE history.

SummerSlam 2003 was a memorable event featuring several high-profile matches. Show was headlined by 2nd Elimination Chamber match in history where Triple H successfully retained his title. But it WWE championship match between Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle steal the show. Overall, the event was packed with intense action and major developments in ongoing storylines.

SummerSlam 1997 featured some strong moments, though it was uneven overall. The main event, Bret Hart vs. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship, which was really great match and had drama with Shawn Michaels as referee. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart for the Intercontinental Championship was going solid, though Austin’s injury limited its impact. The event had memorable moments but wasn’t as consistently strong as others.

SummerSlam 1994 was a solid event with some notable moments, though it had its flaws. The highlight of the event was Bret Hart defending the WWF Championship against his brother Owen Hart in a Steel Cage match, which was a classic contest, showcasing their chemistry and storytelling. However main event was The Undertaker vs The Undertaker (a storyline involving the "Fake Undertaker"), which, while memorable, but a lackluster contest. Show also featured Diesel vs Razor Ramon for Intercontinental title and Alundra Blayze vs Bull Nakano for WWF World Women's Title which was probably the best WWE Women's match at that point of time. While there were solid moments, most of lackluster matches left something to be desired.

SummerSlam 2023 featured high-stakes matches and major story developments. Roman Reigns retained his Undisputed Universal Championship against Jey Uso in a Tribal Combat match, with interference from Jimmy Uso. Seth Rollins defeated Finn Bálor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Cody Rhodes triumphed over Brock Lesnar, and Asuka successfully defended her Women's Championship in a triple-threat match. Logan Paul won a thrilling match against Ricochet, while LA Knight won the Slim Jim Battle Royal. Overall, the event had a great mix of high drama, intense matches, and memorable moments.

SummerSlam 1991 is remembered for the on-screen wedding of Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth, dubbed "A Match Made in Heaven". Event also featured Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior team up to defeat Sergeant Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa, and General Adnan in a handicapped match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Other notable matches included Bret Hart defending his Intercontinental Championship against Mr. Perfect in a classic bout, and The Legion of Doom defeating The Nasty Boys to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. Overall event had only one great match with other matches were mostly lackluster.