The SummerSlam event is one of WWE’s biggest annual showcases, but over the years, it has often become strange, overly complicated, and even confusing due to excessive storylines and surprising twists. Let’s explore some of the most bizarre and unusual main events in SummerSlam history, where matches featured odd circumstances such as physical doppelgängers, convoluted finishes, and unexpected celebrations.
In SummerSlam 1993, Lex Luger faced Yokozuna in a WWE Championship match. Despite Luger’s momentum as the top babyface, Yokozuna retained the title via disqualification. Surprisingly, WWE had a grand celebration for Luger as if he had won, despite the loss, and Luger was allowed to wear protective forearm pads, adding to the oddity.
SummerSlam 2005 hosted a dream match between Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan, but it quickly turned into a farcical display. Michaels exaggerated his reactions to Hogan’s slow moves, resulting in a surreal and uncomfortable experience—although the match itself was not poor in quality.
The 1995 main event between Diesel and King Mabel is often considered the worst SummerSlam main event ever. Mabel, a poorly received heel, was pushed strongly, leading to a slow, interference-filled contest that featured unexpected actions like high-flying moves from Diesel.
At SummerSlam 2016, Brock Lesnar faced Randy Orton in what was billed as a dream match. The match ended abruptly when Lesnar delivered elbows that injured Orton, blurring the lines between scripted and real events. WWE never fully addressed Orton’s injury, leaving fans confused.
One of the strangest storylines occurred at SummerSlam 1989, where Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake battled Zeus and Randy Savage. The event continued a movie storyline involving Zeus, who was not a wrestler, leading to a bizarre and awkward tag team main event.
SummerSlam 2011 featured CM Punk against John Cena for the WWE Championship with Triple H as the special guest referee. The match took a chaotic turn when Kevin Nash appeared and attacked Punk, and Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Punk almost immediately, making the event feel overbooked and confusing.
Finally, in the 1994 main event, Undertaker faced an imposter Undertaker, creating an eerie and visually odd matchup. The real Undertaker ultimately won, and the fake was never seen again, leaving fans with a memorable yet strange encounter.
Fan Take: These peculiar main events highlight WWE’s willingness to take creative risks, even if they sometimes backfire. They serve as fascinating chapters in wrestling history that remind fans how unpredictability and spectacle are integral to the sport’s enduring appeal.
