12 Best WWE Title Changes At SummerSlam
Which crowning of new champs at WWE's Midsummer Classic tops the list?
When SummerSlam burst onto the scene 29 years ago, wrestling PPVs were still in their toddler phase. WrestleMania IV had just taken place a few months earlier, and the first Survivor Series occurred the previous Thanksgiving. But the (then) WWF knew even back then that one of the biggest draws for a major PPV was to give fans a significant title change, as the first SummerSlam produced one of the most memorable title changes (more on that later).
SummerSlam is often billed as “The Biggest Party of the Summer,” and Sunday night’s installment will probably be no exception. And with eight title matches on the 13-match card, it’s likely we’ll have a couple new champions to add to the more than 30 new champs crowned at SummerSlam. Throughout SummerSlam’s history, some of these matches have been truly memorable affairs – the sight of the new champ hoisting the title high a visual that sticks with fans for years afterward.
These selections are not based solely (or even mainly) on match quality, but also important the title change was going forward. Did it create a new star? Did it cause a major shift in storylines going forward? These are the title changes that matter – the ones whose reverberations are felt well after the match ended.
Let’s take a look at some of the most significant title changes in SummerSlam history…
12. WWE United States Championship (2015): John Cena (c) Vs. Seth Rollins
When John Cena and Seth Rollins squared off at
SummerSlam in 2015, both men were title-holders, but that was where the
similarities ended.
Cena was the United States Champion, defending his title on a weekly basis in what often was the best match on Raw. Rollins, by contrast, was a chickens*** WWE World Heavyweight Champion who held onto his title by hook or by crook.
Both titles were up for grabs at SummerSlam in a match that was destined to make history: no man had ever held both titles simultaneously. But in addition to that first-ever moment, the Cena/Rollins match was notable for another reason: It featured the physical prowess of a chair-wielding Jon Stewart, who dropped Cena with a shot, helping Rollins become the first World/U.S. champ.
In the end, Rollins’ reign as a dual champ would only last a month, but he still made WWE history and got a sweet bronze statue out of the deal… that is, until Sting stole and destroyed it.