10 Good WWE Matches From The Worst SummerSlams

SummerSlam has been in operation since August 1988, However, for the first time in 2022, it will move from its original standalone August slot to July, leaving WWE without a pay-per-view in August for the first time since 1987. Unquestionably, SummerSlam is a big deal, and it is starting to get the WrestleMania treatment by hosting events in stadiums.

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Whilst SummerSlam may be a marquee event, it isn't exempt from throwing up some stinkers of a show. Sometimes, the wrong match has headlined SummerSlam which has been detrimental to the whole outcome of the show. Nevertheless, some matches at SummerSlam were exceptional, and they were unfortunate to take place on bad shows.

10 The Steiner Brothers Vs. The Heavenly Brothers - 1993

SummerSlam 1993 was disastrous with Lex Luger and Yokozuna closing out the show for the WWE Championship, and The Undertaker battling Giant Gonzalez in a Rest in Peace match. However, the WWE Tag Team Championship match between the Steiner Brothers and the Heavenly Brothers was unquestionably the best match on the card.

Both teams gave it their all in an excellent championship match. Fans were heavily invested in this contest, but the Steiners went on to retain their titles after Rick covered Jimmy Del Ray, after his brother Scott executed a picture-perfect Frankensteiner.

9 Alundra Blayze Vs. Bull Nakano - 1994

The Undertaker fighting his doppelganger was a poor choice to headline SummerSlam 1994. Nonetheless, Alundra Blayze and Bull Nakano made history as the first pair of women to contest a WWE Women's Championship match at SummerSlam. Blayze and Nakano were deserving of their spot on the card, and they knocked it out of the park in one heck of a competitive championship match.

This was the perfect advert for women's wrestling in the New Generation Era. Blayze and Nakano had many battles over the years, and this was one where Blayze got the better of Nakano en route to successfully defending her title.

8 Rick Rude Vs. The Ultimate Warrior - 1989

For the second year in succession, The Ultimate Warrior was a challenger in an Intercontinental Championship match at SummerSlam. Warrior was hoping that lightning would strike twice in his title bout with Rick Rude, which was a rematch from their WrestleMania 5 encounter.

Warrior isn't an in-ring general by any stretch of the imagination but the Ravishing One managed to bring out the best in Warrior. Rude had a lot of offense in his title defense, and his Rude Awakening has put many opponents away, but Warrior survived it. Rude gave it his all, but Warrior recaptured the Intercontinental Championship.

7 Demolition Vs. The Hart Foundation - 1990

There were a lot of marquee matches at SummerSlam 1990 including a WWE Championship match between The Ultimate Warrior and Rick Rude inside a steel cage, and Hulk Hogan battling Earthquake. Unfortunately, a lot of the significant matches failed to deliver. However, the two-out-of-three falls match for Demolition's WWE Tag Team Championship with the Hart Foundation as the challengers, was brilliant.

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Crush and Smash represented Demolition, and they picked up the first fall after executing the Demolition Decapitation on Hart. The Hart Foundation responded to level the scores, and they reclaimed the WWE Tag Team Championship in a hard-fought battle.

6 John Cena Vs. Randy Orton - 2007

SummerSlam 2007 had the potential to be so much better than what it was with the returns of Triple H and Rey Mysterio. However, the event fell flat. John Cena and Randy Orton's WWE Championship match went on last, and they justified their spot as they knocked it out of the park in one of their finest encounters together.

Cena was at the top of his game, and he had a vice grip on the WWE Championship. Orton was seeking his first World Championship in three years, and he came close, but Big Match John retained the WWE Championship with his trademark FU.

5 Shawn Michaels Vs. Vader - 1996

The 1996 iteration of SummerSlam was full of underwhelming matches which included Jerry Lawler facing off with Jake Roberts, and a dreadful fatal-4-way elimination match for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Ultimately, Shawn Michaels and Vader's WWE Championship bout went on last, and it was head and shoulders above the rest of the card.

HBK works well against larger opponents, and this was his sternest challenge. The match got restarted a couple of times, but the Heartbreak Kid continued to reign supreme as WWE Champion.

4 Mr. Perfect Vs. Bret Hart - 1991

SummerSlam 1991's main attraction was the wedding between Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth. The main event was awful with Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior triumphant. Nonetheless, Mr. Perfect and Bret Hart's Intercontinental Championship match was an instant classic, and they should have gone on last.

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This was the Hitman's first pay-per-view match as a singles competitor, and it was one to remember. Perfect had a back injury, but he managed to battle through the pain barrier. This night was all about Hart's ascension as a major singles star, and he clinched the Intercontinental Championship for the first time.

3 Shawn Michaels Vs. Razor Ramon - 1995

Diesel and King Mabel closing out SummerSlam 1995 for the WWE Championship is one of the worst main events in the history of the event. Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon did themselves no disgrace in their epic Ladder match for HBK's Intercontinental Championship. Their WrestleMania 10 match was always going to be hard to top, but this was a very good sequel.

Michaels and Ramon's chemistry together was second to none, and HBK's back almost hit the railing. He reversed the Razor's Edge with Ramon falling onto the outside, and Michaels retrieved the Intercontinental Championship. Afterward, both men showed their respect for each other.

2 Edge Vs. Seth Rollins - 2021

Considering a stacked lineup at SummerSlam 2021, the show ultimately failed to deliver, which was disappointing. Nevertheless, the trilogy between Edge and Seth Rollins was simply sensational, and they tore the house down in the match of the night at SummerSlam. It's not surprising considering the brilliance of both men.

Edge went back to his Brood roots as he came out to his Brood music before Metalingus blared through the speakers at Allegiant Stadium. The WWE Hall of Famer Speared Rollins through the ropes, and both men crashed onto the outside. The Visionary didn't go down easily, but the Rated-R Superstar put Rollins away with a sleeper hold.

1 Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart - 1994

Everyone knows that the true main event of SummerSlam 1994 was Bret Hart's WWE Championship title defense against his younger brother Owen. The brothers were rivals, and their Steel Cage match was a five-star epic. This was technical wrestling at its finest, and the Hart Family took a front-row seat to witness the drama unfold.

Owen was full of confidence after winning the King of the Ring tournament, and he beat his brother in the best curtain-raiser at WrestleMania 10. They hit a home run, but this time the bragging rights belonged to the Excellence of Execution, who walked out with the WWE Championship.