MondayNightWarriors

MondayNightWarriors'
Top 50 Matches

Since its inception in 1988, SummerSlam has grown to become arguably WWE's second largest annual event. Naturally then, it has also played host to some of the most celebrated matches of the past generation. The following is our attempt at putting the in-ring contributions of the WWE performers in perspective -- holding them next to each other in our hands like two puppies and saying, "Uh, this one."

That's science. Disagree here,
or leave a comment below.

MondayNightWarriors

#1. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart

1994

WWE Championship Steel Cage Match

The thrilling culmination of a near year-long sibling rivalry, 1994's masterpiece between Hart brothers Bret and Owen is also probably the best steel cage match in WWE history.

MondayNightWarriors

#2. CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy

2009

World Heavyweight Championship TLC Match

For Jeff Hardy, his WWE swan song. For CM Punk the final brush stroke in one of the most masterfully executed heel turns ever.

MondayNightWarriors

#3. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H

2002

Street Fight

The Heartbreak Kid returned to the ring after a more than four year absence and annihilates any question of whether or not he still had "it."

MondayNightWarriors

#4. British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart

1992

Intercontinental Championship Match

WWE bookers make a savvy call and allow an IC Title match to close the night. U.K.-native Davey Boy Smith treats Wembly Stadium to an emotional victory over his brother-in-law Bret Hart.

MondayNightWarriors

#5. Undertaker vs. Edge

2008

Hell in a Cell Match

The highlight of a series of great 2008 matches between Edge and Undertaker. The build to the bout featured the darkest version of the Rated R Superstar, before or since.

MondayNightWarriors

#6. Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle

2001

WWE Championship Match

Perhaps the most redeeming moment in Steve Austin's 2001 heel run and the solidification of Kurt Angle as an athletically unequaled main event talent. An underrated masterpiece.

MondayNightWarriors

#7. Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz
vs. The Dudley Boyz

2000

World Tag Team Championship TLC Match

The first official TLC match in company history continued the rise to stardom of its individual performers and provided further proof that the early 2000s were the most electric period for tag team wrestling in recent years.

MondayNightWarriors

#8. Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar

2003

WWE Championship Match

The sheer athleticism exhibited in the 2003 series of bouts between Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar has rarely been matched with this contest being no exception.

MondayNightWarriors

#9. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect

1991

Intercontinental Championship Match

A wrestling clinic and a precursor to the style of wrestling that would eventually usurp the type predominantly showcased in the WWE's '80s main events.

MondayNightWarriors

#10. Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage

1992

WWE Championship Match

Randy Savage's final great WWE match was also, likely, the in ring highlight of the Ultimate Warrior's entire career.

MondayNightWarriors

#11. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon

1995

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon competed in a rematch to their groundbreaking Wrestlemania X contest. This time out, the right man came out on top.

MondayNightWarriors

#12. The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Kurt Angle

2000

WWE Championship Triple Threat Match

The love triangle between Stephanie McMahon, Triple H and Kurt Angle added palpable drama to SummerSlam's second consecutive triple threat main event.

MondayNightWarriors

#13. Randy Orton vs. Chris Benoit

2004

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Randy Orton picked up an upset win over Chris Benoit to become the youngest ever world champion. Fans were treated to an emotional post match torch passing with the elder champion imploring his fledgling competitor to, "Be a man."

MondayNightWarriors

#14. Brock Lesnar vs. The Rock

2002

WWE Championship Match

The Rock's final WWE Championship reign came to an end at the hands of Brock Lesnar—one of the fastest rising stars in the history of the sport.

MondayNightWarriors

#15. Batista vs. John Cena

2008

The first ever one-on-one meeting between Wrestlemania 21's main event winners exceeded expectations and affirmed how much the two had matured in the ring.

MondayNightWarriors

#16. Bret Hart vs. Undertaker

1997

WWE Championship Match

The rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart added another layer with Michaels acting as guest referee. HBK's botched interferencence -- which led to Hart's victory -- ignited a feud with the Undertaker that would eventually lead the two into the first ever Hell in a Cell match.

MondayNightWarriors

#17. Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero

2004

One of several high profile matches between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero that took place during 2004. Like the others, this bout -- featuring two of the purest wrestler wrestlers in recent history -- was a roller coaster.

MondayNightWarriors

#18. Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart

1997

Intercontinental Championship Match

The legend of Stone Cold continued to grow as he has able to complete his bout against Owen Hart despite sustaining a broken neck during the match as the result of a botched piledriver.

MondayNightWarriors

#19. Triple H vs. The Rock

1998

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

They would go on to have more higher stakes battles, but The Rock and Triple H stole the show at 1998's SummerSlam by expanding the physical vocabulary what a ladder match could be.

MondayNightWarriors

#20. Triple H vs. Goldberg vs. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Nash

2003

World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber Match

After assaulting Goldberg with a sledgehammer, Triple H emerged victorious in only the second Elimination Chamber in WWE history.

MondayNightWarriors

#21. Team WWE vs. Nexus

2010

7-on-7 Elimination Match

The WWE rolled the dice, putting seven untested talents in a main event match in one of their biggest shows of the year. This could have been a trainwreck. It wasn't. In the end, the bookers were vindicated... this time.

MondayNightWarriors

#22. Shawn Michaels vs. Vader

1996

WWE Championship Match

Perhaps just another moment in the Heart Break Kid's magical late '90s run, this was likely Vader's highest-profile/most memorable match during his WWE tenure.

MondayNightWarriors

#23. Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley

2006

"I Quit" Match

A verbal war that began in their respective literary works erupted in the ring between Flair and Foley in a bout that surprisingly saw Melina's presence decide the outcome.

MondayNightWarriors

#24. Steve Austin vs. Undertaker

1998

WWE Championship Match

MondayNightWarriors

#25. The Rock vs. Booker T

2001

WCW Championship Match

MondayNightWarriors

#26. John Cena vs. Randy Orton

2007

WWE Championship Match

MondayNightWarriors

#27. Mankind vs. Steve Austin vs. Triple H

1999

WWE Championship Triple Threat Match

He may have lost some political points for participating, but sitting Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura declared he was "proud to be a wrestler" before acting as guest referee in a bout that saw Mick Foley capture his third WWE Championship.

MondayNightWarriors

#28. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero

2005

Ladder Match

The custody stipulation may have been a bit over the top, but -- just as they had done at Wrestlemania earlier in the year -- Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero's in-ring chemistry provided a fast-paced, expertly choreographed bit of eye candy for WWE fans.