Every Wrestler Who Main Evented Both WrestleMania And SummerSlam In The Same Year

WrestleMania and SummerSlam are two of the biggest shows of WWE. As a result, WWE saves its biggest matches for the main event of the two PPVs. The wrestlers who headline the two shows are also top stars, and it is a big deal headlining either show.

RELATED: 11 Wrestlers Who Main Evented SummerSlam Two Years In A Row

While headlining either show is a big deal, headlining both in the same year is an even bigger deal. While it is rare, but there are some wrestlers who main-evented both 'Mania and SummerSlam in the same year. This was indicative of their standing in the company and undeniable star-power that earned them this hard-fought spot.

Note: Chris Benoit also achieved this feat in 2004, but due to his unforgivable acts, he won't be included in the list.

15 Randy Savage (1988 & 1989)

Randy Savage achieved this feat in 2 consecutive years. In 1988, he faced Ted DiBiase in the WWE Title Tournament Finals at WrestleMania. The same year, he teamed up with Hulk Hogan to face Ted DiBiase & Andre The Giant at SummerSlam.

In 1989, he was once again in the main event WWE Title match at 'Mania, where he faced Hulk Hogan. In the main event of SummerSlam, he was once again in a tag team match, teaming up with Zeus to take on the team of Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake.

14 Ted DiBiase (1988)

Ted DiBiase wasn't a regular part of the WWE main event scene, but he did manage to secure the main event spots in the year 1988. At WrestleMania, he took on Randy Savage in the final match of the tournament for the vacant WWE Championship.

He main-evented SummerSlam later the same year as part of a tag team match. He teamed up with Andre The Giant, known as The Mega Bucks to take on the team of Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan, who were known as The Mega Powers.

13 Hulk Hogan (1989 & 1991)

Hulk Hogan was the Face of the WWE in the Golden Era, and thus it's no surprise seeing him on the list. In 1989, he faced his former tag team partner Randy Savage in the main event of 'Mania. Hogan and Savage once again faced each other in the main event of SummerSlam in a tag match, with Hogan's partner being Brutus Beefcake, and Savage's being Zeus.

RELATED: Every Hulk Hogan Match At SummerSlam, Ranked From Worst To Best

Two years later, Hogan managed to headline both shows once again. At WrestleMania 7, he challenged Sgt. Slaughter for the WWE Title. At SummerSlam, he was in a handicap tag team match teaming up with Ultimate Warrior to face Sgt. Slaughter, Gen. Adnan and Col. Mustafa.

12 The Ultimate Warrior (1990)

The Ultimate Warrior's time at the top in WWE was short-lived, but he had a huge impact and dominated the scene in that time. His run at the top actually began in the main event of WrestleMania 6, where he defeated Hulk Hogan to win the WWE Championship, while also holding the Intercontinental Championship.

Before 1990, Warrior and Rick Rude had feuded over the Intercontinental Title. In 1990, they went on to have a Steel Cage match for Warrior's WWE Championship in the main event of SummerSlam, with Warrior obviously prevailing.

11 Sgt. Slaughter (1991)

1991 was a great year for Sgt. Slaughter, as he held the WWE Title, and also main evented both WrestleMania and SummerSlam that year. After winning the WWE Title from Warrior, he defended his title at 'Mania against Hulk Hogan.

After having failed to defend his title, he once again found himself against Hulk Hogan in a 3-on-2 Handicap match. Slaughter teamed up with Gen. Adnan & Col. Mustafa, whereas Hogan's partner was The Ultimate Warrior.

10 Yokozuna (1993)

Yokozuna's tenure in the WWE was short-lived, and his time at the top was limited. However, he absolutely dominated WWE in that short time. He had only debuted in late 1992, but he was at the top already in the year 1993, main eventing all PPVs.

RELATED: Yokozuna's First 10 WWE PPV Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best

The main event of WrestleMania was humiliating for Yokozuna though, as he lost his newly-won WWE Title against Hulk Hogan in just 9 seconds. In the main event of SummerSlam too, he lost the match to Lex Luger, but it was via count-out which meant he retained the WWE Championship.

9 Shawn Michaels (1996)

Shawn Michaels, alongside Bret Hart carried WWE during the New Generation Era. While he was a part of the mid-card scene for the majority of the era, he became a top star in 1996, and main evented most of the shows in the year.

Shawn challenged Bret Hart for the WWE Title in the main event of 'Mania in the first-ever televised Iron Man match, and was successful in winning the match. He then retained the belt in the main event of SummerSlam against the dominant Vader.

8 The Undertaker (1997 & 2008)

The Undertaker's WWE career lasted for a very long time, and he was often part of marquee matches. He achieved the feat of main eventing both the shows twice in his career. First in 1997, he main evented WrestleMania against Sycho Sid, before facing Bret Hart in the main event of SummerSlam.

Fast-forward to 2008, he once again found himself in the main event of 'Mania, facing Edge for the World Heavyweight Title. He main-evented SummerSlam too against Edge, in a Hell in a Cell match.

7 Steve Austin (1998 & 1999)

Steve Austin was a huge name in the Attitude Era, and he headlined both the shows back to back in 1998 and 1999. At WrestleMania 14, he defeated Shawn Michaels to win the WWE Title for the first time. He then went on to successfully retain the belt against Undertaker in the main event of SummerSlam.

In 1999 as well, Steve Austin won the WWE Title in the main event of 'Mania. This time his opponent was The Rock. In the main event of SummerSlam later the year, he faced Mankind and Triple H in a Triple Threat match, where he lost his belt to Mankind.

6 The Rock (2000 & 2001)

Just like Steve Austin, The Rock was also a big name in the Attitude Era, and he also achieved this feat in back to back years in 2000 and 2001. At WrestleMania, he was part of an elimination match also featuring Triple H, Mick Foley & The Big Show.

RELATED: The Rock's 10 Best WWE World Championship Matches, According To Cagematch.net

He main-evented SummerSlam 2000 in a triple threat match where he retained his WWE Title against Triple H and Kurt Angle. In 2001, he had his famous WWE Title match with Steve Austin in the main event of 'Mania. When the time arrived for SummerSlam, he faced Booker T for the WCW Championship.

5 Triple H (2000)

Triple H was a top star in WWE for a long time, so it is a bit surprising that he managed to headline both shows only once. He had a very successful 2000, and he was WWE Champion for a major portion of the year.

In the main event of WrestleMania 2000, he defended his WWE Championship in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match against The Big Show, The Rock and Mick Foley. He was once again part of a multi-man match for the WWE Title in the main event of SummerSlam, challenging The Rock alongside Kurt Angle in a triple threat match.

4 John Cena (2006, 2007, 2011 & 2013)

John Cena was a top star in multiple eras of WWE, and it is not a surprise that he is the one who headlined both WrestleMania and SummerSlam in the same year the most number of times: 4. He did it in 2006, 2007, 2011 & 2013.

Cena main evented WrestleMania against Triple H, Shawn Michaels, The Miz and The Rock, with all matches being for the WWE Title. His SummerSlam main events were against Edge, Randy Orton, CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, again all for the WWE Title.

3 Edge (2008)

Edge main-evented quite a number of PPVs in the Ruthless Aggression Era, but he wasn't really the one who WWE chose for its biggest shows. In 2008 though, Edge found himself in the main event of both WrestleMania and SummerSlam.

In fact, both his main event matches were against the same opponent, The Undertaker. At WrestleMania, Edge defended his World Heavyweight Title against 'Taker. Their SummerSlam encounter wasn't a title match, but it was still a high stakes match which took place inside Hell in a Cell.

2 Brock Lesnar (2015 & 2018)

Brock Lesnar is often the one WWE calls to be in the main event of its biggest shows. In 2015, at WrestleMania 31 Brock Lesnar defended his WWE Title against Roman Reigns, which later turned into a triple threat with Seth Rollins cashing in to win the gold. Meanwhile, at SummerSlam, he faced The Undertaker.

3 years later in 2018, Lesnar found himself in the main event of both shows once again. Just like Edge, his matches were against the same opponent, Roman Reigns. While at WrestleMania, it was Lesnar who was the winner, Reigns managed to defeat Lesnar at SummerSlam.

1 Roman Reigns (2017, 2018 & 2021)

Ever since The Shield split, Roman Reigns has been pushed heavily by the WWE. As a result, he has been a part of multiple WrestleMania and SummerSlam main events. He main-evented both for the first time in 2017, where he faced Undertaker at WrestleMania, and was in a Fatal Four-Way Universal Title match at SummerSlam against Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe.

In 2018, he main-evented both WrestleMania and SummerSlam against Brock Lesnar, both times challenging for the Universal Title. Lastly in 2021, Reigns first defended his Universal Title in a triple threat match against Edge and Daniel Bryan in the main event of WrestleMania 37: Night Two. His SummerSlam main event came against John Cena.