WWE SummerSlam 2002 Was A Perfect PPV
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The history of SummerSlam features some all-time great WWE cards, but everyone talks about SummerSlam 2002 first for good reason. WWE has a short list of shows that will be discussed fondly for decades and stand the test of time. This event showed the best instance of how fun wrestling can be, with a compelling card from top to bottom.
WWE starting the Ruthless Aggression Era in the summer of 2002 led to this show helping define what fans would want from the product. Quite a few legendary names were in interesting matches on the show. Any wrestling fan is going to find at least one tremendous memory watching this event back. SummerSlam 2002 can be viewed as the perfect PPV where that event peaked.
SummerSlam 2002 Had Two Epic Main Events
Most classic WWE PPVs are remembered for having a great double main event that lived up to the hype. WWE did a tremendous job setting up two main event worthy matches for SummerSlam 2002.
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There are some occasions where WWE will try to have three or four PPV main event quality matches for WrestleMania or select few SummerSlam events. SummerSlam 2002 proved that a double main event is more than enough to deliver an all-time great show. Triple H vs Shawn Michaels and The Rock vs Brock Lesnar were rightfully the final two matches of the night as the main attractions. WWE pushed Brock with arguably the greatest rookie year ever to become a challenger within a few months. The big moment of fans cheering Lesnar beating The Rock to become WWE Champion was a star making moment.
Michaels vs Triple H was somehow an even bigger attraction than a world title match between two future legends. This was the first match for Michaels since he retired over four years prior due to a back injury. Michaels proved he was still as great as ever with a tremendous performance. Triple H’s character work was at its best when he turned heel for this program. Both men gave their all to have one of the greatest matches in SummerSlam history.
The Undercard Stole The Show At SummerSlam 2002
WWE going with two main event worthy matches did not take away from the rest of the card. SummerSlam 2002 had a great balance of star power, storytelling, and in-ring action. Every match on the card featured at least one future WWE Hall of Famer. An argument can be made for every single wrestler on the main card having a Hall of Fame career except for Test.
Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio opening the show with a flawless match is remembered as much as the double main event. WWE gave Mysterio his first chance to show his full potential in a PPV match, and he delivered against arguably the best wrestler of the era. Angle and Mysterio had the crowd rocking to ensure the audience would be hot all night.
WWE even utilized the new brand split warfare story to have Raw’s Rob Van Dam defeat SmackDown’s Chris Benoit for the Intercontinental Championship. Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon watching backstage as the respective General Managers added a lot of fun to that story. Even though the double main event sold the show, two undercard bouts made fans remember their performances.
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Every SummerSlam 2002 Match Had A Story
There are complaints about today’s WWE product not putting as much effort into PPV builds as two decades ago. It is hard to argue against this when realizing every single match at SummerSlam 2002 had a relevant story going into it. The main four matches of Brock Lesnar vs The Rock, Shawn Michaels vs Triple H, Rey Mysterio vs Kurt Angle, and Rob Van Dam vs Chris Benoit showed the perfect balance of great in-ring action and storytelling.
However, it was also every other match having a story that made this night so great. Ric Flair scored a huge win over Chris Jericho to help regain some confidence after leaving the authority figure position for the ring. Edge and Eddie Guerrero had a noteworthy PPV match during their highly underrated feud that continued afterwards.
The Un-Americans were getting huge heat and gained even more by beating Booker T and Goldust for tag team gold on this card. WWE did have The Undertaker defeat Test and wave the American flag afterwards for some revenge on the Un-Americans group. Even with the deep card, the biggest stories played out in the main event. Brock beating Rock to become the new top dog and Michaels coming out of retirement with a victory made fans care about the follow-up beyond this show. SummerSlam 2002 remains a flawless night of WWE at their best.
