SummerSlam has safely ensconced itself within the top tier of WWE's yearly premium-shows ecosystem since its inception in 1988. It is easily the company's second-biggest show of the year, and in some years, it has even done better performance-wise, both in and out of the ring, than the most prominent event, WrestleMania.

RELATED: 10 Worst Case Booking Scenarios For Summerslam 2022

SummerSlam is referred to as the "Biggest Party of the Summer," with shocks and excitement abound as the WWE Universe regularly sees something different as the road to the next WrestleMania often starts here. Recent iterations have seen quite a lot of controversy, leaving audiences, critics, and performers with emotions ranging from aghast to downright angry.

10 Brock Lesnar Takes "Liberties"

Brock Lesnar Vs Randy Orton SummerSlam 2016

The SummerSlam 2016 build to the much-hyped showdown between two of the four "2002 Class of OVW" success stories, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar, was surreal enough. However, what happened in the ring and after was shocking, genius, and perhaps callous in equal measure.

In a pretty stunning work, Lesnar legitimately busted Orton open and left him a bloody mess, forcing an end to the match via ref stoppage and winning as a result of a TKO. Such was the hush-hush nature of the ending that Chris Jericho later confronted The Beast Incarnate about going into business for himself, almost coming to blows with the former UFC Champion, only to be told it was indeed a planned finish.

9 Entire CM Punk-John Cena Episode

CM Punk Vs John Cena SummerSlam 2011

A red-hot CM Punk came into his SummerSlam 2011 WWE Championship unification bout against John Cena looking to add to the legacy of the "Summer of Punk." After another banger of a match, the "real" WWE Champion beat his eternal rival to unify the titles and continue his ascent to superstardom.

However, the finish was controversial as Triple H, the special guest referee, did not spot Cena's foot on the rope when he got pinned. Even more contentious was a returning Kevin Nash attacking the Chicago native, leaving the gate open for an Alberto Del Rio Money in the Bank cash-in and win.

8 Shawn Michaels Does "Go Into Business"

Hulk Hogan Vs Shawn Michaels

When Shawn Michaels turned heel "temporarily" for his supposedly iconic feud with Hulk Hogan, things looked up for fans. However, when it became clear that the Hulkster would not play ball with the planned three-match series, HBK took matters into his own hands.

RELATED: Shawn Michaels Vs. Hulk Hogan: 10 Things You Need To Know About This SummerSlam Main Event

The SummerSlam 2005 main event, an "icon vs icon" bout between the two leaders of their respective generations, should have been a barnburner. However, Michaels inadvertently turned in one of the most positively comical performances ever by overselling every Hogan move en route to a loss, leaving fans stunned and talking about the bout to this day.

7 Daniel Bryan Is B+ Despite John Cena Win

Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton WWE Champions at SummerSlam 2013

Daniel Bryan's SummerSlam 2013 win over John Cena for the WWE Championship was a sweet victory for him and his fans, especially as he had been chosen by the incumbent as the most deserving contender and proved to everyone that he belonged at the main event level.

However, the post-match segment saw special guest referee Triple H Pedigree him and allow Money in the Bank holder Randy Orton to cash in and win the title. While it was cruel and controversial, this angle did start the entire 'Bryan is a B+ player' storyline that led to his eventual WrestleMania 30 "Miracle on Bourbon Street."

6 Paul Bearer Betrays The Undertaker

Paul Bearer Turns On Undertaker

After seeing so much success together, The Undertaker and his long-time manager, Paul Bearer, seemingly had found their biggest challenge in the form of the equally dastardly and even more twisted Mankind. This led to the infamous SummerSlam 1996 Boiler Room Brawl between the two.

During the bout, Bearer broke everyone's hearts by turning on 'Taker, adopting Mankind as his client. Managers betraying their clients was a big deal in the 1990s, especially between two beloved characters like The Undertaker and Paul Bearer. They had, after all, been associated for about half a decade at that point.

5 Miss Elizabeth Goes NSFW

hogan and savage celebrate their win with miss elizabeth
wwe

WWE had a family-friendly image in the late 1980s that had proved highly lucrative for Vince McMahon & Co, with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage leading the charge. These two legendary performers were amidst a strong run as tag partners, called the Mega Powers, when they seemingly met their match in the form of the Mega Bucks, containing Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant, at the SummerSlam 1988 main event.

With the heel duo looking set for a win, Miss Elizabeth, who had quite the wholesome image till then, distracted them by whipping off her skirt to reveal red underwear. The audience and those watching at home were shocked, especially since it was Liz performing such a risqué act, though it did help her clients bag the W.

4 John Cena's Power Trip

John Cena with the STFU on Wade Barrett

Over his two-decade run, mostly as the face of the company, John Cena has been a divisive figure, though it was mostly unwarranted. However, even the most babyface of faces have egotistical moments, as seen at the SummerSlam 2010 main event.

Team WWE was taking on the Team Nexus, led by the enigmatic Wade Barrett. While everyone expected the latter to go over, apparently, Cena got cold feet at the last minute and changed the result to him submitting the rising group's leader. Nobody could believe what had happened, and this moment may very well have stunted at least a few rising stars' climbs up the ladder in WWE.

3 Becky Lynch's Return Goes Sour

Bianca Belair Vs Becky Lynch SummerSlam 2021

The most recent entry on this list saw Becky Lynch spoil fan-favorite Bianca Belair's SmackDown Women's Championship run. At SummerSlam 2021, Belair was to defend the title against the woman she had beaten for the belt at WrestleMania, Sasha Banks, who was then announced to have not been cleared to compete.

Carmella was declared a replacement, only for the returning Lynch to attack her, challenge the champ for the title, and defeat Belair in 26 seconds for the win. It was a hugely bitter moment for fans happy to see the Irishwoman return but who had to witness their favorite wrestler lose her title so suddenly. However, it was all fixed at the next Showcase of the Immortals.

2 Gene Okerlund's expletives

Mean Gene Okerlund inspects a fallen sign with Rick Rude at SummerSlam 1989

Undoubtedly, the legendary Gene Okerlund remains WWE's best-ever backstage interviewer. His professionalism, smooth delivery, and product knowledge ensured he would never be topped.

RELATED: 10 Funniest Mean Gene Okerlund Moments Ever

However, even he had a moment of controversy at SummerSlam 1989, when he famously mouthed, "F*ck it!" after a part of the SummerSlam set fell behind Okerlund when he was interviewing Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan. In an era of kid-friendly TV, such words coming out of such a beloved figure was shocking, although it lives in memory as an entertaining look back at 'Mean' Gene's career.

1 Steve Austin's Broken Neck

Hart with the botched piledriver on Austin

A big "what if" moment in pro wrestling history occurred at SummerSlam 1997 in a bout between Owen Hart and Steve Austin. The former horribly botched a mid-match Piledriver, leaving his rising opponent temporarily paralyzed.

Austin somehow regained enough feeling in his arms to roll Owen up for the worst three count ever. The mishap left Stone Cold out of action for a while, but he was never the same after this accident, having to retire a few years later due to an accumulation of wear and tear from such injuries.