10 Seriously Overlooked WWE SummerSlam Matches

Randy Orton and Christian tore the damn house down in the summer of 2011...

Randy Orton Christian SummerSlam 2011 finish
WWE.com

To date, there have been literally hundreds of matches at WWF/WWE SummerSlam. The yearly event has been running since 1988, and has long since been considered one of the biggest pay-per-views on the annual calendar. Hundreds of matches, and yet most of them are criminally overlooked when the event is discussed.

Everyone remembers the first ever TLC Match at SummerSlam 2000, or the infamous Ladder Match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon from the 1995 show. Those are classics, the kind of bouts indelibly etched into the annuls of time forever more. Joining those, the incredible return of Shawn Michaels to battle Triple H in 2002 will never be forgotten, neither will Bret Hart vs. The British Bulldog a decade before that.

These matches deserve the spotlight, but they often remove focus from those that also merit some acclaim. It's unfortunate to think that the matches listed here may have slipped the net for some enthusiasts, because they really should be enjoyed time and time again.

Let's look in-depth at SummerSlam history, scouring the cards to find 10 of the most overlooked and under-rated matches...

10. Jeri-Show Vs. Cryme Tyme (2009)

Randy Orton Christian SummerSlam 2011 finish
WWE.com

When JTG appeared as an interview guest on the Talk Is Jericho podcast, Chris Jericho was quick to point out how much he enjoyed their match at SummerSlam 2009. Then teaming with The Big Show, Jericho was co-holder of the WWE Tag-Team Titles. Meanwhile, JTG teamed with Shad Gaspard (as Cryme Tyme) to challenge for the gold.

The match wasn't a long one, clocking in at just under ten minutes. On the surface, it simply looked like a TV-quality kind of bout, the type with challengers that didn't look like they would upset the apple cart of the champions. Cryme Tyme didn't, but they did help produce an excellent match.

Heightening the action was the fact that Jeri-Show vs. Cryme Tyme followed on from a limp display between MVP and Jack Swagger. Effective as a heel tandem, Jericho and Big Show were aided by fans wishing to see JTG and Shad come away with the titles.

Outside of Chris Jericho himself, few talk about this one, but it was actually a really enjoyable tag-team affair.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.