10 Best WWE Title Matches In SummerSlam History

3. Shawn Michaels vs. Vader (1996)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Qg9BOMx5U After winning the WWE Championship from Bret Hart at WrestleMania 12, Shawn Michaels embarked on one of best runs as champion in the mid-90s. Although he had several successful title defenses in the months after 'Mania, he was still trying to prove himself as a credible champion. Then came his first true test in the form of Vader, a former WCW star who was coming into WWE with a head of steam and a lot of buzz. There were a handful of WWE guys fans were anxious to see Vader go up against, but Vader had his eye on the prize and the man holding it: Shawn Michaels. This anticipated encounter took place long before underdogs such as Mankind, Rey Mysterio and Daniel Bryan took center stage in WWE. Michaels was the original underdog and it all started with his title defense against Vader at SummerSlam. Many doubted that Michaels had a chance of coming out on top against the man they called Vader given the massive size difference between the two. Vader had all the momentum on his side, but that didn't stop the Heartbreak Kid from giving Vader the fight of his life. The two created such a great dynamic together that it was hard not to be enthralled by the action in the ring. Better yet, the stellar story they told with Michaels attempting to overcome the odds took the viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotion and excitement. Despite popular belief that Vader was walking away with title, Michaels managed to pull out the victory and maintain possession of the prestigious prize. A rematch between the two seemed to be (and should have been) in the cards, but Vader was never again presented as a threat to the title after this, unfortunately. Even still, this match was easily the best of Vader's WWE run and established HBK as a champion the fans could relate to and believe in.