Since its inception, WWE has been defined by its major annual events, and few carry the prestige and history of SummerSlam. The inaugural event took place on August 29, 1988, live from a sold-out Madison Square Garden. It was an immediate success, quickly establishing itself alongside WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series as one of the company’s cornerstone “Big Four” pay-per-views.

Dubbed “The Biggest Party of the Summer,” the event became a beloved August tradition for WWE fans. For over three decades, SummerSlam has been the stage for some of wrestling’s most unforgettable moments, from shocking title changes and epic returns to the culmination of bitter rivalries. Its place in the calendar makes it almost a halfway point on the road to WrestleMania, often setting the course for the rest of the year.

To celebrate its rich history, WWE recently undertook the monumental task of officially ranking the greatest encounters to ever take place at the summer spectacle. A team of WWE‘s own experts and producers sifted through decades of classics to curate a definitive list of the top 25 matches.

Here is a look at what WWE has officially ranked as the 25 greatest matches in the history of SummerSlam, in descending order.

25. Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2023

This was the rubber match in a trilogy of bouts between the two superstars.

24. Seth Rollins vs. John Cena – SummerSlam 2015

In a title-for-title match, Seth Rollins defeated John Cena to hold both the WWE World Heavyweight and United States Championships.

23. The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart – SummerSlam 1997

With his rival Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee, The Undertaker defended his WWE Championship against Bret Hart.

22. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins – SummerSlam 2019

Brock Lesnar defended the Universal Championship against Seth Rollins in a highly anticipated match.

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21. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch – SummerSlam 2022

This match was for the Raw Women’s Championship, and saw Bianca Belair get a big win over Becky Lynch.

20. Randy Orton vs. Christian – SummerSlam 2011

In a No Holds Barred match, Randy Orton challenged Christian for the World Heavyweight Championship.

19. Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker – SummerSlam 2015

In a rematch from their legendary WrestleMania bout, The Undertaker sought revenge against Brock Lesnar.

18. Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk – SummerSlam 2009

This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship.

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17. Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle – SummerSlam 2001

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin defended his WWE Championship against the Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle.

16. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero – SummerSlam 2005

In a unique ladder match, the custody of Dominik was on the line between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero.

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15. Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman – SummerSlam 2017

This was a chaotic Fatal 4-Way match for the Universal Championship.

14. The Rock vs. Triple H – SummerSlam 1998

A ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship between the leaders of the Nation of Domination and D-Generation X.

13. John Cena vs. CM Punk – SummerSlam 2011

A match to determine the undisputed WWE Champion, with Triple H as the special guest referee.

12. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2022

A Last Man Standing match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

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11. John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan – SummerSlam 2013

Daniel Bryan challenged John Cena for the WWE Championship in a classic encounter.

10. The Undertaker vs. Edge – SummerSlam 2008

This Hell in a Cell match was the culmination of a year-long rivalry.

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9. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon – SummerSlam 1995

A ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship that is still talked about today.

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8. The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2002

The Rock defended his WWE Undisputed Championship against the “Next Big Thing” Brock Lesnar.

7. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H – SummerSlam 2002

An unsanctioned street fight that marked the return of Shawn Michaels to the ring after a four-year absence.

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6. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge & Christian – SummerSlam 2000

The first-ever Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, for the WWE Tag Team Championship.

5. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart – SummerSlam 1994

A steel cage match between two brothers for the WWE Championship.

4. CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2013

A No Disqualification match billed as “The Best vs. The Beast.”

3. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect – SummerSlam 1991

Bret Hart won his first Intercontinental Championship in this technical masterpiece.

2. John Cena vs. AJ Styles – SummerSlam 2016

A dream match that lived up to the hype, with AJ Styles getting a huge victory.

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1. Bret Hart vs. The British Bulldog – SummerSlam 1992

In front of a massive crowd at Wembley Stadium, The British Bulldog challenged his brother-in-law Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship.

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