10 Forgotten Classics Of WWE's Ruthless Aggression Era
6. Kurt Angle Vs. Rey Mysterio - SummerSlam 2002
It's not every day you see a main event superstar in the opening match, let alone two legends of the ring. As such, many fans were taken aback when Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio emerged for the opening bout of SummerSlam.
Despite the fact that Angle was competing for the WWE Championship at the previous two SummerSlam events, his positioning in the opening bout was far from a demotion. With Shawn Michaels' first match in over four years and Brock Lesnar challenging The Rock for the Undisputed Championship at the top of the card, the pressure was on for Angle and Rey to set the tone and get the show off to a rolling start.
Needless to say, the Olympian and the luchador rose to the occasion with a blistering pace from the opening bell. Mixing innovative moves with exciting counters and action-packed offence, Angle and Rey proved that you don't have to be in the main event to deliver an absolute classic.
As Rey Mysterio's very first WWE PPV appearance, Angle went above and beyond to showcase his smaller opponent as a legitimate threat. With each man unleashing all of their trademark moves, the bout was edge-of-your-seat viewing.