10 Best WWE SummerSlams Ever - According To Dave Meltzer
6. SummerSlam 2011 (3.19)
SummerSlam 2011 was a show that first looked like the complete dousing of his white hot momentum that year, but CM Punk may have revolutionised more than he'd originally thought when reviewing the show in hindsight.
The event infamously concluded with Kevin Nash returning from relative obscurity to deck the newly-crowned WWE Champion, leaving him prone for Alberto Del Rio to cash in his 'Money In The Bank' briefcase and steal 'The Straight Edge Superstar's title 28 days after Punk historically dethroned John Cena in Chicago.
The finish was disappointing and the follow-up was disastrous, but away from the tumultuous time period, the card actually hangs together in a manner 'The Voice Of The Voiceless' would presumably be very proud of.
Each other's career best opponent, Cena and Punk had another phenomenal match before the discouraging conclusion, and they had plenty to follow after back-to-back barnstormers between Wade Barrett and Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton and Christian underneath.
Against the odds, Beth Phoenix and Kelly Kelly had one of the more creditable 'Divas' era title matches, with both coincidentally having formerly been in real-life relationships with the downtrodden Chicagoan. And bus-mate Kofi Kingston lit up the opener alongside fellow fliers John Morrison and Rey Mysterio in an enjoyable defeat of The Miz, R-Truth and Alberto Del Rio. Though not in his own programme, Punk's influence had perhaps already permeated through elsewhere after all.