10 Best WWE SummerSlam Main Events Ever - According To Dave Meltzer
4. SummerSlam 2004 - Chris Benoit Vs Randy Orton (****1/4)
Lost to the horrific crimes of his final weekend, Chris Benoit's last pay-per-view World Title defence was the best match of his 2004 tenure as Champion since his first.
Hindsight showed it was way too soon for Randy Orton to be elevated to the company's top spot despite growing support for him as a heel during his Intercontinental Title run earlier in the year, but it was a gracious attempt to get him there from 'The Crippler'.
Passing the title rather than the whole torch, Benoit dealt out the requisite kicking the young upstart was required to endure, but positioned himself as the inferior strategist in the match, falling to a single RKO (outta' nowhere) despite hitting seven german suplexes and locking in the Sharpshooter and Crippler Crossface for a dramatic close calls.
Orton's babyface turn the following night was foreshadowed in the post-match, as Benoit ordered the victor to 'Be A Man' and shake his hand. Celebrating in the aftermath of his coming-of-age triumph, the new World Champion would never look quite so cool. Only one night later, Randy was unceremoniously dumped from Evolution by the malevolent Triple H, before pathetically losing his title to 'The Game' at Hunter's first attempt the following month.