Ranking What Was REALLY The Best Wrestling PPV Every Year 1990-2020

19. 2002 - WWE SummerSlam 2002

Brock Lesnar The Rock SummerSlam 2002
WWE.com

In what is a convenient segue, SummerSlam 2002 marked the first time WWE felt vital, and had developed a new identity, since WrestleMania X-Seven's bittersweet euphoria. The show was highlighted by two effectively antithetical developments.

Brock Lesnar's Lovecraftian heel achieved his destiny by beating the Rock clean in the middle after the most audacious monster push Vince McMahon had ever plotted.

In stunning contrast, opening up a new and tonally diverse main event picture, the emotionally charged return of gritty babyface Shawn Michaels reintroduced a level of in-ring craft and depth he and Bret Hart had all but left behind in 1997.

The undercard was fire, too: Kurt Angle Vs. Rey Mysterio was an explosive and stunningly creative clinic, and the various ambitious midcard players - Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam - all laid their credentials on the line ahead of an era that promised transformation, but only sparingly delivered it.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!