5 greatest SummerSlam matches of all time

SummerSlam has been a staple of World Wrestling Entertainment since its inaugural event back in 1988 at Madison Square Garden, headlined by The Mega Powers taking on The Mega Bucks in front of 20,000 fans.

It's the company's second-biggest show of the year, both in scale and level of importance, right behind "The Showcase of the Immortals." If WrestleMania is considered WWE's season finale, SummerSlam is that barnburner episode that wraps up several storylines, while immediately dictating where the show is headed, and what the audience can expect towards the finish line.

From a hypothetical passing of the torch to a memorable clash between brothers-in-law across the pond, here are five bouts that truly define SummerSlam's history.

Honorable Mentions

• Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk in a No Disqualification match (2013)
• Edge & Christian (c) vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE Tag Team Championship (2000)
• John Cena (c) vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship (2013)
• Mr. Perfect (c) vs. Bret Hart for the WWE Intercontinental Championship (1991)
• John Cena (c) vs. Seth Rollins (c) for the WWE World Heavyweight and United States Championships (2015)

5. The Rock (c) vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Undisputed Championship, 2002

Brock Lesnar had the proverbial rocket strapped to his back upon making his debut in March 2002, annihilating superstars with his inhuman strength, while compiling an impressive undefeated record.

Winning the once-prestigious "King of the Ring" tournament, Lesnar was awarded a one-on-one match with the WWE Undisputed Champion in SummerSlam's main event at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The titleholder at the time was The Rock, who was set to take a leave of absence to continue his pursuit of a Hollywood career.

Prior to his departure, "The People's Champion" ensured WWE was in good hands by putting Lesnar over in a hard-hitting, 16-minute war, culminating with a picture-perfect F5 in the middle of the ring.

The "Next Big Thing" had finally arrived.

4. Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, 1995

A little over a year after the two first engaged in ladder warfare at WrestleMania 10, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon once again fought for the Intercontinental Championship, which hung 15 feet above the ring at Civic Arena.

The roles were reversed on this night, with Michaels playing the beloved babyface and Ramon living up to his moniker as "The Bad Guy." Ramon, who entered as the challenger and pulled down the titles at MSG, sought to break Michaels' heart - no pun intended - by doing the same for a second time.

Ramon's strategy was to immobilize HBK's left knee, making it difficult for him to execute "Sweet Chin Music," and to physically make it up the ladder. Michaels eventually caught a second wind, utilizing high-risk offense and sending Ramon to the outside by reversing his "Razor's Edge" finisher. This bought Michaels enough time to climb the ladder twice - the belt didn't come down on the first attempt - to retain the gold.

The two bitter rivals then embraced in a show of respect, with fireworks blasting off above them to commemorate Michaels' huge victory.

3. Bret Hart (c) vs. Owen Hart for the WWE Championship, 1994

Steel cage matches have lost much of their luster. The structure is rarely seen on PG programming these days due to its barbaric nature, and when it's finally yanked out of storage, it doesn't evoke much emotion because its used randomly and with little merit.

When brothers Bret and Owen Hart stepped inside over 20 years ago, it was the ideal means to settling their blood feud, or at least that was the hope.

Owen was enraged over Bret being champion, despite pinning his brother's shoulders to the mat earlier the same evening Bret won his title at WrestleMania 10. With his first proclamation as "The King of Harts," Owen issued the challenge for a championship bout at SummerSlam to settle, once and for all, the battle of brothers.

Their prowess in the art of technical wrestling was put aside in favor of strikes and throws, each thwarting the other multiple times from escaping the cage, the only way to obtain victory. With the two hanging off the side, Bret grabbed Owen and slammed his head off the steel, before dropping to the mat to retain his gold.

Owen and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart then proceeded to assault the victor, prompting other members of the Hart family to intervene on Bret's behalf.

2. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H in a non-sanctioned match, 2002

Michaels and Triple H were the life force of D-Generation X, a rebellious no-nonsense faction that exemplified WWE's "Attitude Era." HBK soaked in more of the spotlight as world champion, while HHH stood idly by as a loyal comrade, secretly biding his time until the day he'd take that spot.

When Michaels left the business due to a back injury, HHH's stock soared, evolving his persona into "The Cerebral Assassin" we know today. When Michaels returned four years after his supposed final match, Hunter wasn't going to surrender his position to a man he believed to be "weak and vulnerable."

No one knew what Michaels had left in the tank when he battled HHH in what was essentially a no-holds-barred match. He quickly reminded the WWE universe just how formidable he could be, busting open his opponent after kicking a chair directly into his face. HBK stole the show with his deep bag of tricks, even leaping off the top of a ladder to drop a diving elbow on HHH's chest.

While their friendship off-camera has been widely chronicled, their animosity on-screen was captivating. With no disqualifications and a litany of weapons at their disposal, HBK and HHH made the audience believe in their deep-seated hatred, making every sledgehammer and broken table all the more meaningful.

1. Bret Hart (c) vs. Davey Boy Smith for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, 1992

Wembley Stadium, the largest by capacity in the entire United Kingdom, was the backdrop to not only the greatest match in SummerSlam history, but one of the very best of all time.

The "British Bulldog" had 80,000 screaming fans cheering on their native son as he challenged Hart for his Intercontinental Championship, a rare time the mid-card title has closed a major pay-per-view. He also had the support of his wife, Diana Smith - Hart's brother - in his corner.

There wasn't any beef between the two. Little animosity. It was a catch-as-catch-can affair between two gladiators who got their beginnings in the tag team division, only to break off and establish their own destinies as singles competitors.

It was a perfect contrast of styles - between a man who never forgot to remind you that he's the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be, and a physical specimen that could slam a man of any size through the canvas with relative ease. Their chemistry on this night was impeccable, and it made Bulldog, who was never really considered an artisan of the squared circle, get way over in that regard.

Hart admitted in interviews far in the future that he had to walk Bulldog through the match from start to finish. It does take two to tango, though, so regardless of who carried the show or who planned out the spots, the fact remains that they ultimately performed a work of wrestling art.