Ranking the Best Summerslam Matches Ever
 

As mentioned on last week's podcast (which you can find in my sig if you'd like to check it out), we're doing a show on the best Summerslam matches of all time this week and did a panel voting on the top 20 matches. Below is the outcome, based on the mean average score of the votes.

For the podcast, besides a debate on the final outcome below, we'd like your thoughts on which matches you rate higher or lower, or if you think any should be on the list that aren't. As always we'll be reading the best contributions on the show and crediting you accordingly.

1. Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H (2002)
2. Bret Hart Vs. Mr. Perfect (1991)
3. Bret Hart Vs. Davey Boy Smith (1992)
4. Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart (1994)
5. Edge & Christian Vs. Hardy Boyz Vs. Dudley Boyz (2000)
6. The Rock Vs. Triple H (1998)
7. Shawn Michaels Vs. Razor Ramon (1995)
8. Kurt Angle Vs. Rey Mysterio (2002)
9. Steve Austin Vs. Kurt Angle (2001)
10. Brock Lesnar Vs. CM Punk (2013)
11a. Bret Hart Vs. Doink/Jerry Lawler (1993)
11b. Brock Lesnar Vs. John Cena (2014)
13. Hart Foundation Vs. Brain Busters (1989)
14. The Rock Vs. Brock Lesnar (2002)
15. Hart Foundation Vs. Demolition (1990)
16a. Daniel Bryan Vs. John Cena (2013)
16b. The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Rick Rude (1989)
18. Steiner Brothers Vs. Heavenly Bodies (1993)
19. Shane McMahon Vs. Test (1999)
20. Christian Vs. Randy Orton (2011)

EDIT - The show discussing the above list, your comments on it and any notable omissions is now online and available to listen to at the following link: http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean....atchesEver.mp3

No.2 wins easily

Michaels and H was a great match as much as I hate to admit it, but I don't know about it being the best. I have to say, if we take ourselves back to that time period, it was SHOCKING to see that Michaels hadn't lost a step, in fact it seemed like he added more wrinkles to his game since he'd been in the ring last. Wasn't too fond of the angle at the end of it, though. Felt like Michaels should have been able to just have his moment.

Bret v Perfect at Summer Slam is one of my favorite matches ever.

HBK-HHH in '02 is the easy choice for me. HBK is my favorite of all time so there's bias... but I generally think as a stand alone match, it's one of the best I've ever seen. Add to that the build and the drama of HBK's comeback and I don't think anything else comes close.

I'm surprised Lesnar vs Cena is ranked higher than Bryan vs Cena. The story told with Lesnar vs Cena was better but I don't know if I'd say it was a better match overall. I think it comes down to how you judge a wrestling match.

Austin/Angle is top 3 for me.

This.

Warrior vs Rude was equally excellent. Deserves to be much higher on the list. Also, when you say my name in the podcast can you please say it in received pronunciation or scouse. Thanks.

Cena v Bryan was a classic as well. I think Lesnar v Punk has been Lesnar's best singles match to this point since his return.

The emotion behind HBK/HHH was phenomenal. Michaels showing up as good as he ever was, as if he'd never left, and having to make an in match comeback, was some of the finest in ring story telling in company history. It's the ultimate comeback match, imo.

Random thoughts about some of the matches.

Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H (2002)

There was a legitimate fear going into the match that Shawn would literally snap into two pieces if he took a bump. Instead, he put on one of the greatest matches of his already-HOF-worthy career. This match is basically perfect in every way. The fact that this kick-started what amounts to a SECOND HOF run makes it that much better in hindsight.

Bret Hart Vs. Mr. Perfect (1991)

I'm probably not the only one who'll say something like this, but this was the first match that I ever remember afterwards thinking "wow. That was better than the Hogan match." The 8-year-old mark had his workrate cherry popped that night.

Bret Hart Vs. Davey Boy Smith (1992)

When I think of Summerslam, this is the match I think of. One of the most iconic wrestling moments of my childhood. Davey Boy winning the IC belt in the main event at Wembley was spectacular.

Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart (1994)

Best cage match of all time? I might be reaching, but I am having a hard time coming up with one. Perfect storytelling and just an overall tremendous effort by both.

Edge & Christian Vs. Hardy Boyz Vs. Dudley Boyz (2000)

I prefer their first ladder match from... The Rumble that year? But any time you got these six guys together, it was magic.

The Rock Vs. Triple H (1998)

This was one of those rare moments where Vince's "brass ring" bullshit seems feasible. Two midcard guys trying to look like main eventers come out looking like icons.

Shawn Michaels Vs. Razor Ramon (1995)

A year earlier, these two basically "invented" the most iconic match type of the last two decades (at least in the eyes of the mainstream fans). This night, they perfected it.

Steve Austin Vs. Kurt Angle (2001)

Oh, the InVasion (please note that I'm doing the WWE-approved capital V). What could have been. Two guys near the very peak of their powers going at it for something that ultimately didn't matter a bit. Still damn fun to watch.

Bret Hart Vs. Doink/Jerry Lawler (1993)

I don't know why this pissed me off so much as a kid. Lawler was great in his role, as was Borne. But it was still infuriating that I didn't get the match I wanted the way I wanted it. I guess I was destined to be a member of the IWC, wasn't I?

The Rock Vs. Brock Lesnar (2002)

This is what passing the torch looks like. Looking at you, Hogan, Bret, Austin, and Cena.

Steiner Brothers Vs. Heavenly Bodies (1993)

Maybe my favorite tag team match ever. I love love love this match. So happy to see it on the list.

Shane McMahon Vs. Test (1999)

One of those matches that had no business being good. So the fact that it was entertaining as hell puts it way up my list. That elbow drop? Who saw that coming?

Christian Vs. Randy Orton (2011)

Arguably Christian's only truly great singles feud. It's a crying shame, because there was a time when he was the most entertaining wrestler in the world. But for one glorious summer, we got what we all wanted: Christian - almost-main-eventer.




I might also include the Edge/Taker HIAC match, the Cena/Punk rematch, Jericho vs. himself 2/3 falls, Angle nearly dying against Rock and HHH, RVD/Jeff "hardcore ladder match..."

It's weird to think of how many great matches Slam has had over the years. Mania has always been the spectacle show, but in many ways, SS has frequently been the best-wrestled show of the year.

no kurt angle vs eugene? pfft shit list

That's a retarded pick.

yeah? yeah? well fuck off

Edit: I see what you did thar

I believe he meant that literally. lol

oh shit lol, i just caught it

I think HHH vs Brock Lesnar (2012) is very underrated, should be on this list. played up the story of his diverticulitis perfectly.

To this day, Bret Hart vs Mr Perfect is one of my all time favorite matches. I was about 10 when I watched this and while I was a big wrestling fan before that, this match left a huge impression on me.

HHH vs HBK is easily the best IMO, but it is also my favorite wrestling match of all time. Everything about it is perfect. It's the perfect lead up, the perfect story, and it is executed flawlessly.

Out of that list, I liked HBK-Triple H the most with Rock-Triple H and Cena-Bryan in the Top 3.

HBK-Razor and Bret-Owen are also good but prefer their Mania matches more.

I'd say that's a very good list. I would probably rank Bret and Bulldog number one, but it's placement is fine where it is. The only match that popped into my head that's not on the list was Dolph Ziggler v. Rey Mystero in the 2009 opener. Shit hot match, tons of fun. Honorable mention at very least.

Eddie vs. Rey 2005. It didn't need the "Battle for custody of Rey's son" stip on it, but I feel like it was a fun match nonetheless.

Austin vs. Taker from 1998 wasn't the best wrestling match per se, but the hype and build leading up to that match was off the charts. For that reason alone, I think Taker and Austin deserves a mention.

6 out of your top 20 feature bret hart, yet majority of these people who post here say bret matches suck

I wouldn't say majority. Just a loud l minority of ignoramuses

Gonna be honest, I don't know if I've ever seen anyone here say Bret matches suck. I've seen people call him an uncharismatic whiner and call his matches sort of predictable, but I think even his detractors agree that he was great.

Hart and Flair matches are alike. It's usually the same formula with the same transitions and spots, but they're each so fucking good at what they did that it didn't matter because you got a quality match out of them 99% of the time.

I feel that way about Rey Mysterio matches. How formulaic they are, at least.

Yeah, pretty sure that comment was just Norman Smiley reading the thread about Montreal and comprehending it horribly.

It's funny because Bret always complained about how Flair was so repetitive, but I'd 100 per cent agree with this.

Most guys are pretty repetitive though. They have the same flow in their matches.

Fuck everybody. Bret Hart is the best wrestler ever. It didn't get repetitive until the end sequence, but that's what the business is based on.

Completed my thought quite nicely. Flair was the same too. I prefered the way Bret worked though, I thought his intensity was on a higher level. Flair had more charisma though.

Plus, Bret's sternum bump in the turnbuckle was un fucking real.

You should probably sit a few plays out. You are a fuckin disaster of a fucktard as of late

lol This guy.

You should start a thread to call out and debate that shitload of posters who think Bret Hart's matches are awful.

Dumbfuck it had nothing do with anything else. Simply said a guy with hbk in his name put bret hart as alot of best matches. And said alot of you talk mad shit on bret.

When you make that thread, make sure to quote all those guys who said Bret's matches suck so you can counter them properly.