While Orton is a name associated with SummerSlams more recent history, Hulk Hogan was a pioneering figure during the PPVs infancy. The Hulkster headlined the three of the first four shows with a variety of blockbuster tag matches. In 1988 he formed the Mega Powers with Randy Macho Man Savage, facing off against the team of André the Giant and Ted DiBiase, before teaming with Brutus Beefcake the following summer to face his fellow Hollywood star Zeus and former ally Savage. Tag action then became handicap action in 1991, when Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior faced the team of Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa (the Iron Sheik) and General Adnan as part of Slaughters lengthy Iraqi-sympathiser storyline. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz8HBzLAYHs Then after a 14-year exile, further success in singles competition arrivedmost notably in 2005 when he beat Shawn Micheals in one of WWEs much loved first time ever matches. Ultimately, he finished his career with a 6-0 record at the August showcase. But it was his earlier success in main eventing the first couple of PPVs that made him something of a SummerSlam icon. It was a period of growth for the WWE and without Hogans Mega main events, who knows if SummerSlam would have achieved the success that it since has. Of course, much like Orton, Hogans actual performances were rarely the most accomplished of the show. For that reason, its difficult to place the legend much higher than ninth.
