All 27 WWE SummerSlam Opening Matches - Ranked

2. Rey Mysterio Vs. Dolph Ziggler - 2009

kurt angle vs rey mysterio
WWE.com

The two most frequently featured wrestlers in SummerSlam curtain jerkers collide, over the frequently defended Intercontinental strap! This is the most SummerSlam opening match possible. They work a frenetic pace throughout, making the most of a hot crowd. This is a very modern opener, completely different in pacing and style to the opening bouts of the late 80s and early 90s.

This was also the beginning of the Dolph Ziggler movement within sections of the audience. Whilst the Jericho match in 2012 might have been a watershed moment for the movement, this was when the ripples were just beginning. It really adds to the atmosphere of the match. The whole thing is soured by the fact Rey wouldn’t drop the belt to Ziggler (although I don’t know exactly how true that is), but this is as good an opening match as a PPV could ever hope for. Although it isn’t perfect…

Contributor
Contributor

Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.