This Sunday in Brooklyn, The Undertaker will perform at SummerSlam for the final time when he goes one-on-one with Brock Lesnar in the main event. The contest is a rematch of their much-maligned match fifteen months ago when Lesnar defeated Undertaker to end his undefeated streak at WrestleMania. In stark contrast with his WrestleMania dynasty, The Dead Man’s history at WWE’s summer spectacular has been somewhat unexceptional. The WWE Network gives us the ability to take a closer look at those contests. While his win-loss record in fifteen SummerSlam matches sits at a respectable 9-5-1, many of those matches have been positioned low on the card. To the surprise of many, The Undertaker has main-evented the show just three times. Twice as often (six times, for those of you aren’t math majors), he has seen his matches run for under ten minutes.
Many fans and pundits alike have their doubts that Undertaker-Lesnar II can deliver. This is not a shocking take given the disappointing performance the two put forth in their previous encounter. When you factor in Undertaker’s body of work at SummerSlam and his rapidly declining agility, this view is only strengthened. But I take the opposing view.
Allow me to be perfectly clear. This will not be an epic match in the tradition of Undertaker’s meetings with Chick Magnet Punk, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, or Edge. However, I do believe that it will be a solid performance that outpaces expectations. The Undertaker is eager to redeem his last two outings. Brock Lesnar is in the midst of the one the most impressive runs in WWE history. Barring injury, this should be a match worthy of its placement on the card.
Leading up to SummerSlam, I’ve watched all of the events, with a focus on The Undertaker’s matches. What follows is a definitive ranking of the fifteen matches, from the memorable, to the forgettable, to the downright embarrassing.
Tier 3 – Not Worth Your Time
15. SummerSlam 1992. The Undertaker defeated Kamala by disqualification in 3:27. This packs some sizzle prior to the bell with odd entrances from both participants, but is a zero-out-of-five-star match. Pretty much as bad as it gets. Even the hot Wembley Stadium crowd isn’t interested. (0/5 Stars)
14. SummerSlam 1993. The Undertaker def. Giant Gonzalez in a Rest In Peace Match in 8:04. This was the big rematch of their terrible WrestleMania IX contest. Undertaker picks up the win and finally vanquishes the 7-foot-7, slow as shit Giant In A Caveman Costume. This was the forerunner to the more well-known Casket Match which would become a staple for The Undertaker. (0/5)
13. SummerSlam 2000. The Undertaker and Kane fought to a no-contest. This was billed at the co-main event of the show, but the match didn’t happen. The two brawled outside of the ring for about five minutes. It ended when Undertaker attempted to remove Kane’s mask, causing Kane to scamper out of the arena. Good grief. (0/5)
12. SummerSlam 2003. The Undertaker def. A-Train in 9:19. A rematch of the WrestleMania handicap match that pitted A-Train and The Big Show against The Undertaker. You’re seeing the main issue here. If Undertaker was able to defeat A-Train and a 7-foot, 500 pound Big Show, what’s the hook for this match? There was none. Undertaker with an easy win. Don’t waste your time. (1/5)
11. SummerSlam 2002. The Undertaker def. Test in 8:18. The best of the bad Undertaker SummerSlam matches. This was American Bad Ass Undertaker dominating The “Un-American” Test at the first post 9/11 SummerSlam. That element aside, a thoroughly mediocre and unmemorable contest. (1/5)
Tier 2 – Some Enjoyable Moments
10. SummerSlam 2001. The Undertaker and Kane def. Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon in a Steel Cage Match to unify the WWF and WCW Tag Team Championships in 10:13. A one-star match that only cracks the top ten because of its remarkable hilarity. Despite the poor overall execution, Kanyon and DDP both have a few moments that will produce a laugh. Don’t watch this if you want to forget about the awkward storyline that saw DDP play a creepy stalker who was obsessed with The Undertaker’s wife. (1/5)
9. SummerSlam 1995. The Undertaker def. Kama in a Casket Match in 16:26. Undertaker with a decisive win over Kama to wrap up his sixteen month long feud with Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Corporation. A somewhat entertaining, mediocre contest that probably went five minutes too long due to the nature of the Casket Match. (2/5)
8. SummerSlam 2004. John Bradshaw Layfield def. The Undertaker by disqualification in a WWE Championship match in 17:37. With the referee was knocked out, Orlando Jordan handed JBL the WWE Championship Belt, which JBL used to hit Undertaker. Undertaker returned the favour and struck JBL with the title, but the official was privy to this and disqualified Undertaker. In the aftermath, Undertaker chokeslammed JBL through the roof of JBL’s limousine. (2/5)
7. SummerSlam 1994. The Undertaker def. The Undertaker in 8:57. This was the main event of a SummerSlam that featured a five-star Steel Cage Match between Bret and Owen Hart for the WWF Championship. Difficult to comprehend. The real Undertaker defeated Ted DiBiase’s phony Undertaker (played by Brian Lee, who would later become Chainz) in a slow, prodding, and lacklustre affair. Memorable for Leslie Nielsen’s appearance as a detective who was searching for the true Undertaker. (1.5/5, bonus star for Leslie Nielsen, God Rest His Soul)
6. SummerSlam 1996. Mankind def. The Undertaker in a Boiler Room Brawl in 26:40. A fun segment that bears no semblance to a standard professional wrestling contest. Mankind won after Paul Bearer turned heel on The Undertaker, allowing Mankind to escape the boiler room. A choppy brawl that could have been better executed. Much like the aforementioned Kama match, this was probably five minutes too long. Memorable because it set up a series of much better matches between the two legends. (2.5/5)
Tier 1 – Good, Very Good, Excellent
5. SummerSlam 1999. The Undertaker and Big Show def. Kane and X-Pac for the WWF Tag Team Championship in 12:00. (2.5/5) A rather typical Attitude Era tag match with a lot of star power and some big spots. The Unholy Alliance captured the WWF Tag Team Championships. Not a super memorable match, but certainly enjoyable. I really got a kick out of the Russo-written-all-over-it video hype package.
4. SummerSlam 2005. Randy Orton def. The Undertaker in 17:17. (3/5) Orton picked up the victory after Cowboy Bob Orton, disguised as a fan, ran into the ring and distracted The Undertaker. This was a rematch of a similar WrestleMania 21 contest that was a good wrestling match, but missing a lively pace or inviting flow. Undertaker dominated most of the action with a barrage of strikes and power moves, and looked to be on the verge of victory prior to the interference by Orton Sr. This was an instrumental moment in the building of Randy Orton as a legend killer.
3. SummerSlam 1998. Stone Cold Steve Austin def. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship in 20:50 (3.5/5) The Undertaker does a clean job for Stone Cold at the height of the Austin Era. This was the main event of SummerSlam 1998 and the Madison Square Garden crowd was hot. In the lead up, Undertaker vowed not to allow any outside interference from Vince McMahon or anyone else. He was true to his word and was pinned in the middle of the ring after being hit with a Stone Cold Stunner. Following the match, The Undertaker instantly sat up, grabbed the WWF Championship belt from the official and stared long and hard at Austin. Rather than strike him, he gave the belt to the champion and nodded in respect. Upon exiting the ring, he was met shoulder to shoulder with Kane, both looking on as Austin celebrated in front of a sold out MSG.
2. SummerSlam 1997. Bret Hart def. The Undertaker for the WWF Championship in 28:19. (3.75/5)
The Undertaker drops the title to Bret Hart via pinfall after being struck by referee Shawn Michaels. This, the main event of SummerSlam 1997, was one of my favourite matches as a youngster. It featured both quality in-ring wrestling and a myriad of storyline factors. Bret Hart was now a heel for the first time since becoming a main eventer in 1992. There was a stipulation that he would never wrestle in the United States again if he was unable to recapture the WWF Championship in this match. And, perhaps most intriguing, the role of Hart’s longtime nemesis Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.
1. SummerSlam 2008. The Undertaker def. Edge in a Hell In A Cell match in 27:15. (4.5/5) This was the fifth pay-per-view match in their excellent series of contests. The main event of SummerSlam 2008, and easily the best of Undertaker’s SummerSlam matches. It’s worth a $9.99 subscription to WWE Network if you haven’t seen it. Edge dominated much of the match with the use of numerous weapons, viciously attacking Undertaker with ladders, chairs, and tables. Edge does take a massive bump, going through a chain panel in the cell, falling outside the cell near the announce tables. Undertaker scored the victory following a chokeslam from the top rope through two tables positioned outside the ring and a Tombstone Piledriver. Following the match, Edge was chokeslammed off of a ladder through the canvas The Undertaker would then pose with flames engrossing the collapsed area of the ring.
Where will The Undertaker’s encounter with Brock Lesnar land on this ranking? Check back following SummerSlam for an update. Here’s hoping it’s a fitting send off to one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all-time.
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