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Top 50 SummerSlam Superstars

Since SummerSlam began in 1988, there have been 319 wrestlers to compete in matches on the pay-per-view event. We've ranked the Top 50.

 

How? It's all quite scientific, actually. We've put together a database of every match that aired at the summer spectacular, who won, who lost and most importantly, who captured the gold. From there, we assigned scores for each competitor as follows:

 

  • 1 point per (wrestling) appearance

  • 10 points per victory

  • 20 points for winning a championship

 

For example, when The Ultimate Warrior won the Intercontinental Championships at SummerSlam '88, he received 31 points. But when his opponent, The Honky Tonk Man, lost the match, he only received 1 point. Got it?

 

Adding these points up over a period of 30+ years, Wrestling Merchandise and Memories compiled a list of the Top 50 SummerSlam Superstars. Oh, and a few other factors to keep in mind:

 

  • To qualify, the match had to take place on the pay-per-view portion of the show. No dark matches, no kickoff show bouts and no free-for-alls.

  • These are only for wrestling matches; competitions such as "Diva Dodgeball" (SummerSlam 2004) wouldn't count.

 

If you'd like to be a part of this conversation, Tweet us at @canadianbulldog using the hashtag #Top50, or leave a comment below.


Ready? Here we go!

50.

Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens scored 35 points over five consecutive appearances at SummerSlam. KO holds victories over Cesaro, the team of Enzo Amore and Big Cass (with partner Chris Jericho) and Shane McMahon, and has lost to Braun Strowman and AJ Styles.

48.

The Miz

The Miz scored 38 points over eight SummerSlam appearances. Interestingly, four of those matches were him defending or competing for the Intercontinental Championship. He also defeated Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam and lost to the likes of Logan Paul.

46.

Paige

Paige (today known as Saraya) scored 42 points in just two SummerSlam appearances. In 2014, she captured the Divas Championship from AJ Lee and at the 2015 event, she teamed with Charlotte and Becky Lynch to defeat Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Alicia Fox, Naomi, Tamina and Sasha Banks.

44.

Beth Phoenix

WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix  also scored 43 points over the course of three SummerSlams. In 2007, she won an interpromotional battle royal over 11 women. In 2008, she captured the Women's Title in a mixed tag team match (with Santino Marella). And in 2011, she lost to Kelly Kelly.

42.

Jeff Jarrett

WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett also scored 43 points over three SummerSlam matches. In 1994, he defeated Men on a Mission's Mabel. In 1998, Jarrett lost a match (and his hair) to X-Pac. And in 1999, he beat D'Lo Brown to win both the WWF Intercontinental and European titles.

40.

Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio also scored 44 points through four SummerSlam matches. He competed twice in 2011, losing a six-man tag match and then defeating CM Punk for the World Title in a post-main event. In 2012, he lost to Sheamus, and in 2013, he defended the World Championship against Christian.

38.

Stone Cold Steve Austin

WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin also scored 44 points over four matches at SummerSlam. He captured the Intercontinental Title from Owen Hart in 1997; defeated The Undertaker in 1998; lost the WWF Title to Mankind in 1999; and lost to Kurt Angle by DQ in 2001.

36.

Batista

Batista also scored 45 points, spread out over five SummerSlam matches. For three straight years, The Animal was in World Title matches, defending against JBL and winning by DQ against Great Khali and King Booker. He also defeated John Cena in 2008 and lost a Triple Threat match in 2004 to Edge.

30.

Billy Gunn

WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn also has 54 points over four SummerSlams. In 1998, he and Road Dogg defeated Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Titles. He was also successful in tag team matches in 1993 and 1995.

28.

Finn Balor

Finn Balor also scored 55 points over five SummerSlam appearances. The Demon became the first Universal Champion by defeating Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2016 and holds wins over Bray Wyatt and Baron Corbin.

24.

Mick Foley

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley (a/k/a Mankind and Dude Love) also scored 55 points at SummerSlam over five matches. He defeated Steve Austin and Triple H for the WWF Title in 1999, and has wins over The Undertaker in 1996 and HHH in 1997. 

20.

Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler can "show off" that he has scored 59 points over nine SummerSlam appearances. In 2014, Ziggler defeated The Miz to win the Intercontinental Title; he also holds two other wins. Ziggler's losses include Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Seth Rollins and Bill Goldberg.

18.

Chris Jericho

Guess what? Chris Jericho just made The List (well, this list), thanks to 61 points through 11 SummerSlam appearances. Y2J has defeated Rhyno, Cryme Tyme, The Nexus, Dolph Ziggler and Enzo & Cass. He's also lost matches to Chris Benoit, Ric Flair, Triple H, Edge, John Cena and Bray Wyatt.

16.

Hulk Hogan

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has 66 points and was undefeated over six matches at SummerSlam. The Hulkster has wins over the teams of Ted DiBiase & Andre The Giant; Randy Savage & Zeus; Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa & Gen. Adnan; Earthquake, Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton.

14.

The Big Show

The Big Show also scored 67 points, appearing at seven SummerSlam events over a 17-year period. In 1999, he and The Undertaker won the WWF Tag Team Championship from X-Pac and Kane. Show also holds wins over Sabu, Cryme Tyme (with partner Chris Jericho) and against the entire Straight Edge Society.

12.

Shawn Michaels

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels is not only Mr. WrestleMania, but he's a contender for Mr. SummerSlam as well, scoring 71 points over 11 appearances. The Heartbreak Kid's victories were over Mr. Perfect, Razor Ramon, Vader, Triple H and the team of Vince & Shane McMahon.

10.

Kane

WWE Hall of Famer Kane (a/k/a Isaac Yankem DDS) scored 91 points over 11 SummerSlam appearances between 1995 and 2013. He and The Undertaker unified the WWF and WCW Tag Team Titles in 2001. The Big Red Machine also holds victories over Rob Van Dam, Matt Hardy, Finlay and The Great Khali.

8.

Triple H

WWE Hall of Famer Triple H scored 102 points, boosted by 12 appearances at SummerSlam from 1995 to 2012. In 1998, The Game defeated The Rock to win the Intercontinental Title, and in 2003 he won the Elimination Chamber. HHH also has wins over Bob Holly, Eugene, The McMahons, Great Khali and Legacy.

6.

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar scored 112 points over nine SummerSlam appearances. In two of those matches, he captured the WWE Championship, over The Rock and John Cena. The Beast Incarnate also defeated CM Punk and Randy Orton, while losing to Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.

4.

Bret Hart

WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart also  scored 141 points, appearing in 11 SummerSlam matches between 1988 and 2010. He captured the WWF Tag Team Titles from Demolition; the Intercontinental Championship from Mr. Perfect; and in 1997, The Hit Man defeated The Undertaker to win the WWF Title.

2.

Seth Freakin' Rollins

Seth Freakin' Rollins has had one the most impressive ascensions on this list since we began compiling it years ago, scoring 159 points in nine SummerSlam appearances. In four of those instances, he has gained championship gold, and holds victories over the likes of John Cena and Brock Lesnar.

49

AJ Styles

AJ Styles has scored 36 points in our study, the result of six SummerSlam appearances. The Phenomenal One holds victories over John Cena, Kevin Owens and Ricochet at SummerSlam, and has a loss to Samoa Joe on his record. 

47.

The Texas Tornado

WWE Hall of Famer The Texas Tornado (a/k/a Kerry Von Erich) scored 42 points, over two appearances at SummerSlam. In 1990, he was a substitute against Mr. Perfect, capturing the Intercontinental Title. The next year, Tornado teamed up with Davey Boy Smith and Ricky Steamboat. 

45

Razor Ramon

WWE Hall of Famer Razor Ramon also scored 43 points through three SummerSlam appearances. In 1993, he defeated The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. In 1994, he regained the Intercontinental Title over Diesel. And in 1995, The Bad Guy was defeated by Shawn Michaels in a Ladder rematch.

43.

Big E

Big E also scored 43 points over three SummerSlam appearances, always in tag team action. In addition to tagging with Kaitlyn in 2013, Big E captured the WWE Tag Team Championship with Kofi Kingston in 2015 and defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championship with Xavier Woods in 2018.

41.

Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair has scored 44 points in this study, the result of just three SummerSlam appearances to date. The EST of WWE's biggest showing was in 2023, when she defeated Charlotte Flair and Asuka to win the WWE Women's Champion, and then lost it immediately after to Iyo SKY.

39.

Natalya

Natalya also scored 44 points in four SummerSlam appearances. She lost a Women's Battle Royal in 2007; won a six-woman tag team in 2016; defeated Naomi in 2017 to capture the SmackDown Womens Title; and lost to Raw Womens Champion Becky Lynch in 2019.

37.

Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit scored 45 points in five SummerSlam matches. His biggest win was capturing the United States Title from Orlando Jordan, while he also defeated Chris Jericho in a two out of three falls match. He lost matches to Randy Orton, Eddie Guerrero and Rob Van Dam.

35

Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch has scored 46 points, spread out over six SummerSlam appearances. Interestingly, her biggest win came in 2021 when she returned to WWE and defeated Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Womens Title. A year later, Lynch lost the Raw Womens Championship to Belair.

29.

Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt (a/k/a The Fiend) has scored 55 points over five SummerSlam appearances between 2013 and 2020. Most recently, he regained the Universal Championship from Braun Strowman at the 2020 version of the event.

27.

The Rock

The Rock also scored 55 points at SummerSlam, having five matches. Among The Great One's victories, he defeated Billy Gunn in 1999, won a Triple Threat Match in 2000 and pinned Booker T to capture the WCW Title in 2001.

21.

Kurt Angle

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle also scored 56 points over six SummerSlam appearances. The Olympic Gold Medalist's sole loss in that time came at the hands of The Rock in 2000. He holds wins over Steve Austin, Rey Mysterio, Brock Lesnar and Eddie Guerrero.

19.

Rey Mysterio

WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio scored 60 points, the result of competing at ten different SummerSlam events between 2002 and 2021. He defeated Eddie Guerrero, Dolph Ziggler and Chavo Guerrero, while losing to Chavo Guerrero, Kurt Angle, Kane and The Usos.

17.

Rob Van Dam

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam has amassed 63 points over three appearances. In 2001, RVD defeated Jeff Hardy to win the Hardcore Championship; in 2002, he beat Chris Benoit to win the Intercontinental Title. The following year, Vam Dam dropped a No Holds Barred match to Kane.

15.

CM Punk

CM Punk scored 67 points over six SummerSlam appearances. He won the World Championship in 2009, defeated John Cena, John Bradshaw Layfield, and won a Triple Threat against Cena and The Big Show. Punk lost matches to John Morrison, Show, Alberto Del Rio (right after defeating Cena) and Brock Lesnar. 

13.

Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston also scored 67 points over seven SummerSlam appearances. He captured the WWE Tag Team Championship in 2015, and won various tag team matches in 2011 and 2012. Kofi also had tag team losses in 2008 and 2016 tag team matches, and no-contests in both 2010 and 2019.

11.

Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns has scored 88 points, the result of eight SummerSlam appearances. In 2018, The Tribal Chief defeated Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Championship and also holds wins over Randy Orton, Lesnar, Jey Uso, John Cena, and (with partner Dean Ambrose) the duo of Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.

9.

The Ultimate Warrior

WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior is undefeated at SummerSlam with 95 points, winning five consecutive events between 1988 and 1992. He twice won the Intercontinental Title (defeating The Honky Tonk Man and Rick Rude) and also has wins over Randy Savage and a team led by Sgt. Slaughter.

7.

Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair nears the top of this list in extremely impressive fashion, scoring 106 points in her six SummerSlam appearances. She captured championship gold in three of those matches. The Queen also won a three-team elimination match and defeated Trish Stratus, though she lost a Triple Threat Match in 2023.

5.

Edge

WWE Hall of Famer Edge scored 141 points via 11 SummerSlam appearances. In 2000, he and Christian won the WWF Tag Team Titles and in 2001, he captured the Intercontinental Championship. Edge has wins over the likes of Chris Jericho & Batista, Eddie Guerrero, Matt Hardy, Seth Rollins and even John Cena.

3.

The Undertaker

WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has had 16 matches at SummerSlam, scoring 156 points in total. The Dead Man has six losses to his name, but he also captured tag team gold in 1999 and in 2001. The Phenom's victories include Kamala, Giant Gonzales, Fake Undertaker, Kama, Test, Albert and Brock Lesnar.

1.

Randy Orton

Randy Orton tops this list with 165 points, the result of 15 SummerSlam appearances between 2003 and 2021. Orton captured the WWE or World Championship, from Chris Benoit, Christian and Daniel Bryan and the Raw Tag Team Titles (with Riddle) from AJ Styles and Omos. Orton has lost to Hulk Hogan, Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns, Kofi Kingston, an Elimination Chamber Match, and to Brock Lesnar.

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