25 Greatest WWE SummerSlam Matches EVER

8. Kurt Angle Vs Rey Mysterio (SummerSlam 2002)

CM Punk Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

For those skimming this list, it's worth trying to stop for a second in a way this contest never did. Believe these words or don't, but go and watch it, because this match is as good as your favourite match.

This match might actually be better than your favourite match.

Recent debutant Rey Mysterio and Kurt Angle don't just go at 100mph because they can, but in order to service a story that the new SmackDown addition could well be from another planet and that the Olympian can out-wrestle anybody in the universe. What follows within these parameters is simply sensational pro wrestling, foreshadowing the a transformative period for SmackDown as the pair joined Chris Benoit, Edge, and Los Guerreros in assembling clashes like this every week.

Not just something that defines a style, but one that originates one, this vital firecracker opened up one of the best SummerSlam pay-per-views in company history with the sort of "FOLLOW THAT!" arrogance only a 'Showstopper' further down the card would ever dream of trying to top.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett