It is rare that two main event superstars square off during the primes of their careers. That is exactly what happened at SummerSlam 2002 when The Rock and Brock Lesnar met one another. The Rock was at the height of his popularity at the time, coming off of the highly successful Attitude Era and embarking on a movie career. Brock Lesnar was a former collegiate wrestling champion who was billed as The Next Big Thing. The two squared off at SummerSlam for the WWE Undisputed Championship. Although the match was fairly entertaining, it is the outcome that is of significance. Lesnar would win the title after hitting an F-5, becoming the youngest WWE Champion in company history at the time. He would become a star for the next decade, eventually ending the Undertakers undefeated streak at WrestleMania. In addition, Lesnar has gone on to win the UFC Championship and play in the NFL. SummerSlam 2002 was definitely the night when Lesnar transformed from the Next Big Thing to the Beast Incarnate.
Michael Hicks is a writer originally from Pittsburgh, PA. He has written for a number of websites about subjects ranging from professional wrestling to raw denim.
