Ranking Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam Matches

Even though Lesnar has been described as lazy in his latest run, SummerSlam seems to be where Lesnar shines. With that being said, with SummerSlam right around the corner now would be the best time to take a look at each of Lesnar’s outings at the Greatest Party of the Summer.

8. Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

While not the worst match ever, Lesnar vs. Orton was a contest with little to no stakes to it.  Aside from the ending where Orton was bleeding profusely from the head, the match is forgettable. With the second version of the brand split in effect, this match served as the first cross-promotional match of the New Era. Each competitor would appear on the other’s respective shows and cause chaos, making for some entertaining segments. Even the match itself isn’t bad, but compared to everything else on this list, it’s clear which match brings up the rear.

7. vs. Triple H

A decent match, but when compared to other matches on this list there isn’t much to shout home about. After Lesnar’s loss to John Cena at that year’s extreme rules, he needed a win over a big name. Triple H would become that man, as he and Lesnar would be put into a feud, where the two would fight three times, the first being at SummerSlam. Ever since Lesnar broke the Undertaker’s Undefeated Streak, these three matches have become mute, and this isn’t even the best of the bunch. Nonetheless, the match coined as the Perfect Storm is a fine match you can sit back and enjoy. But if you’re looking fore something with a little more substance, I suggest you look elsewhere.

6. vs. The Rock

When I came up with the idea for this list, I figured I would be putting this match higher on the list than this. As Lesnar’s first World Championship win, this match has gone down in history. However, that is the only truly memorable thing about it. Well, that and it main event what is considered to be the greatest SummerSlam of all time. Anyway, Rock was on his way out, and Brock was on his way up, so there was really only one outcome here. An outcome that turned Lesnar into a star, kicking off a dominating career and a run that made Lesnar a highlight of the early stages of the Ruthless Aggression Era.

5. vs. John Cena

One of the best squash matches we will ever lay witness to. The destruction of John Cena at the hands of Brock Lesnar was spectacular. Coming out of WrestleMania 30, there was no way Lesnar was walking out of the Staples Center without the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It was the way Lesnar ripped the belts from Cena’s hands, however, that makes the match such a spectacle. You won’t find any technical wizardry or awe-inspiring athleticism on display. Rather, you’ll find a slow paced beat don of one of WWE’s top figures. While it was no conquering of the Streak, it was still an impressive feat, laying the groundwork for Suplex City

4. vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman

As the only multi-man match on the list, it has the most variety. That being said, most of the match was big hits and big spots. Even so, it was very entertaining. While Lesnar retaining wasn’t a shock at all, having him battle the three biggest threats to his reign was not a bad idea. Sure WWE may have overdid multi-person matches last year, but this was one of the better ones of 2017. Four power houses battering each other lead to some creative spots. It was also somewhat of a launching pad for Braun Strowman as he decimated Brock and nearly took home the belt. The only downside is that had we known Lesnar’s reign would last as long as it is, the majority of fans would clamor for another victor. One can only hope his next SummerSlam match is as good as this one. Maybe then we can forget about his title reign, even if it is for a moment.

3. vs. Undertaker

There is no doubt in my mind that if this match had a different finish, it would be number one on this list. This brutal encounter was a return to form for the Undertaker after the Streak was broken at WrestleMania 30. Before that, The Undertaker was not stranger to having match of the night in every one of his appearances. It was clear from the start that the feud would be brutal, but little did we know we would be treated to a clinic in hard-hitting brutality. The best part going in was the unpredictability,  While the ending is screwy, what lead up to it was a great back and forth between the most dominant characters of the time.

2. vs. CM Punk

For many, this match is number one, and it is tough to argue. The Best vs. The Beast was nothing short of a dream match, and the two delivered and then some. Not only was there a nice in ring story flowing, but Punk’s relationship with Paul Heyman helped it loads. Because of this, the interference from Heyman were that much more impactful. Looking back, there was no doubt the Beast would take the victory, as this was a continuation of Lesnar’s momentum that would lead him to break the Streak. But at the time, there was no telling would would win. The aforementioned interference from Paul Hayman would tip the scales in Lesnar’s favor, but it would be the last time Heyman would get involved physically in a Lesnar match.

1. vs. Kurt Angle

As I stated in the previous entry, number one and two can be interchangeable. And while that may be true, I’ll go with Lesnar’s match with Angle as his best SummerSlam match. The rivalry of Lesnar and Angel is well documented, with generation defining matches being fought every time they went toe to toe. In the midst of their historic feud, Angle and Brock would meet at that years SummerSlam, where Angle would successfully defend the WWE Championship. Lesnar would win the title a few weeks later in their Iron Man Match. That match, alongside their WrestleMania encounter, may have overshadowed this gem. Even so, this is arguably Brock Lesnar’s greatest SummerSlam Match.