SummerSlam is the Biggest Party of the Summer for a reason as it's the biggest event that WWE hosts in the summer. Traditionally, SummerSlam takes place in August but for the first time in 2022, it will take place in July. Nevertheless, WWE's tag team division has been strong and poor over the years, but it was at its strongest in the Attitude Era. Tag Team Championship matches featured regularly at SummerSlam during the first few years of the event with some all-time greats heavily involved.
As expected, there were some exceptional Tag Team Championship matches at SummerSlam that will live in infamy. Others proved to be forgettable, but the first set of Tag Team Championship matches at SummerSlam set the tone for future Tag Team Championship matches to follow.
10 The Smoking Gunns Vs. The Godwinns Vs. The New Rockers Vs. The Bodydonnas - 1996
The Smoking Gunns defended the WWE Tag Team Championship in a Fatal-4-Way Elimination match against the Godwinns, the New Rockers, and the Bodydonnas at SummerSlam 1996. This was a boring match, and at one point Billy and Bart were both the legal men, but they were never going to fight each other.
The defending champions and the Godwinns were the final two teams left to slug it out for the titles. The referee was distracted by Sunny and Hillbilly Jim on the outside. That allowed Bart to launch off the top rope onto Phineas, and Billy covered him to retain their titles.
9 The Nasty Boys Vs. The Legion Of Doom - 1991
Surprisingly, the Nasty Boys and Legion of Doom's clash for the WWE Tag Team Championship at the 1991 iteration of SummerSlam was a Street Fight but wasn't a tornado Street Fight. Both teams were capable of producing much better.
Jimmy Hart handed Jerry Sags a helmet and Sags almost hit Brian Knobbs with it. Moreover, Hawk got the helmet and clocked both of the Nasty Boys with it. The Legion of Doom connected with their devastating Doomsday Device on Sags to become WWE Tag Team Champions for the first time in their careers.
8 Mankind Vs. The New Age Outlaws - 1998
Walking into Madison Square Garden was a proud moment for Mankind. However, Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy was dealt a tough hand as he had to defend the WWE Tag Team Championship on his lonesome as Kane no-showed, and his challengers were the New Age Outlaws at SummerSlam 1998.
The Outlaws hammered Mankind in the head with a weapon. The numbers game proved to be too much for Mankind to handle. He managed to toss Billy through a table. Moreover, the Outlaws Powerbombed Mankind through a couple of chairs. He kicked out, but a double spike Piledriver from the Outlaws was enough for them to regain the WWE Tag Team Championship.
7 The Natural Disasters Vs. The Beverly Brothers - 1992
The Natural Disasters and the Beverly Brothers slugged it out for the WWE Tag Team Championship in front of over 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium at SummerSlam 1992. This was a slow-paced match, and the Beverly Brothers attempted to gain the upper hand by attacking the Natural Disasters from behind.
The Beverly Brothers isolated Typhoon, and they did a lot of double-team maneuvers on him. Moreover, Blake hit Typhoon in the back with a metal scroll, but Earthquake broke up the pinfall attempt. The bout was lackluster, and Earthquake squashed Beau en route to retaining the WWE Tag Team Championship.
6 DDP & Kanyon Vs. The Undertaker & Kane - 2001
Spare a thought for WWE Tag Team Champions DDP, and the WCW United States Champion Kanyon who were in action against the WCW Tag Team Champions The Undertaker and Kane at SummerSlam 2001 in a Steel Cage match. The winners would hold both the WWE and WCW Tag Team Championships simultaneously.
This was essentially a squash match as the Brothers of Destruction allowed Kanyon to escape over the top rope. DDP looked powerless against Undertaker and Kane. He had no chance, and Undertaker executed a jaw-dropping Last Ride with authority on DDP to secure both the WWE and WCW Tag Team Championships for the duo.
5 Demolition Vs. The Hart Foundation - 1988
Two of the all-time great tag teams collided for the WWE Tag Team Championship at the inaugural SummerSlam event in 1988. Demolition were the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions with the Hart Foundation determined to end their run with the gold. Bret Hart and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart had to be mindful of Jimmy Hart and Mr. Fuji who were in Demolition's corner.
This was a decent Tag Team Championship match which they would top a couple of years later. Jimmy Hart proved to be the difference-maker as Ax nailed Bret in the back of his head with the Mouth of the South's signature megaphone. Smash covered Hart to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.
4 X-Pac & Kane Vs. The Undertaker & Big Show - 1999
The unlikely but successful alliance between X-Pac and Kane saw them face-off with The Undertaker and Big Show in a quality WWE Tag Team Championship match at SummerSlam 1999. This match was tons of fun, and despite X-Pac being the smallest man involved in the match, he held his own here.
Show was under tons of pressure from The Undertaker to deliver the goods. The Phenom was seething with Show as he failed to put X-Pac away with a Chokeslam as he boasted with a lazy cover. Undertaker tagged himself into the match, and a Tombstone Piledriver was enough for the Unholy Alliance to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship.
3 The Steiner Brothers Vs. The Heavenly Bodies - 1993
Lex Luger and Yokozuna's WWE Championship match at SummerSlam 1993 may have been the marquee match on the card, but it was the WWE Tag Team Championship match that stole the show. The Steiner Brothers and the Heavenly Bodies went head-to-head in an excellent bout.
The Heavenly Bodies took the fight to the Steiner Brothers, and they pulled off a double-team maneuver on Rick. The match went back and forth, and the fans went crazy when Scott managed to tag in Rick. Ultimately, Scott executed a Frankensteiner on Jimmy Del Ray, and Rick pinned Del Ray in a successful title defense.
2 Demolition Vs. The Hart Foundation - 1990
For the second time in three years, Demolition and the Hart Foundation were on the opposing sides in a WWE Tag Team Championship match at SummerSlam 1990. It was a two-out-of-three falls match, and Smash and Crush represented Demolition with the Hart Foundation seeking their second WWE Tag Team Championship reign.
Both teams brought their A-games here, and they provided entertainment for fans in attendance. There was guaranteed drama as a third fall was required with the scores tied at one fall apiece. Despite Ax's efforts to get involved, the Road Warriors stopped him in their tracks, and the Hart Foundation went on to reclaim the WWE Tag Team Championship.
1 Edge & Christian Vs. The Hardy Boyz Vs. The Dudley Boyz - 2000
Arguably, the greatest WWE Tag Team Championship match in the history of SummerSlam came in 2000. Edge and Christian entered as the reigning champions, and they put their titles on the line against the Hardy Boyz, and the Dudley Boyz in the first-ever TLC match.
Their Ladder match at WrestleMania 16 was exceptional, but they took it to another level at SummerSlam. This was an instant classic, and arguably it was the best of their trilogy of matches. Just like WrestleMania 16, Edge and Christian ran out as winners after Matt Hardy took a scary bump through the tables, and they managed to retrieve their titles.