Wrestling enthusiasts are known to appreciate well-designed PPV posters, but WWE occasionally misses the mark. When it comes to SummerSlam, several posters over the years have been considered visual disasters.
At SummerSlam 1991, the poster was chaotic with burning 2D buildings, mismatched lighting, floating graphics, and hard-to-read text, making it look like a beginner’s random collage. The main event that year featured Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior against the Triangle of Terror at Madison Square Garden.
The 2011 SummerSlam poster was criticized for its poor editing, featuring WWE stars scattered illogically across a dusty, dull wasteland background, a stark contrast to the usual vibrant presentation of the event. Held at the Staples Center, the main event was John Cena versus CM Punk.
In 1993, the poster showed Yokozuna dropping a bonsai on an American flag with the phrase “Fat Chance!”—a strange and awkward design complemented by a plain white background. The event took place at the Palace in Auburn Hills, featuring Yokozuna facing Rex Ruger.
The 2015 poster highlighted Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker but was deemed dull, with Lesnar prominently featured and a faint image of Undertaker against the Brooklyn Bridge backdrop, lacking energy compared to the epic matchup itself at Barclays Center.
The 2003 poster was controversial for depicting Sable nearly nude, covered only by the SummerSlam logo, which many considered inappropriate for a professional wrestling event held at American West Arena in Phoenix. The main event was the deadly Elimination Chamber match.
SummerSlam 1994 featured a poster with Undertaker facing off against his reflection, but the misaligned mirror images and clashing colors—blue, yellow, and orange—made it look odd. This event occurred at the United Center in Chicago.
The 2018 poster was uninspired, showing Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Alexa Bliss, and Ronda Rousey awkwardly placed in front of a vague summery background, lacking creativity and appeal, well below expectations for a big event at Barclays Center.
SummerSlam 1995’s poster was heavily criticized for splitting the image of Diesel into red and blue filters with the tagline “Face the Heat,” which obscured the image and resulted in a muddled appearance. This event was hosted at the Civic Arena, featuring Diesel versus King Mabel.
The SummerSlam 2025 promotional posters adopted a surprisingly muted greyscale color scheme for the main event stars Cody Rhodes and John Cena, clashing with SummerSlam’s traditional bright, energetic vibe. The event is planned for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Fan Take: WWE SummerSlam posters play a crucial role in setting the event’s tone and excitement for fans. When the design misses the mark, it can dampen anticipation and does not do justice to the high-energy spectacle that SummerSlam promises, signaling a need for more creative effort in future campaigns.
