For years, SummerSlam is the second biggest WWE pay-per-view event of the year, trailing only WrestleMania. While many fans prefer the Royal Rumble, SummerSlam is like the halfway point between WrestleMania and the Road to WrestleMania the next year at the Rumble. SummerSlam is also the place for all notable feuds of the summer to culminate.
One thing that people don't expect is squash matches. There are a couple of squash matches that happened at SummerSlam that fans were more than excited about. Still, other squashes had people scratching their heads concerning why some superstars were destroyed at the second biggest WWE event of the year.
10 Goldberg Vs. Dolph Ziggler (2019)
When Bill Goldberg comes back to WWE, he usually is around to do one thing. Run over and squash people. He did it to Kevin Owens back at Fastlane 2017 for the Universal Championship. He did it again to The Fiend at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia for the Universal Championship. He also destroyed Dolph Ziggler at last year's SummerSlam, and while there was no title on the line, Goldberg pinned him in less than two minutes with a spear.
9 Christian Vs. William Regal (2009)
At SummerSlam 2009, Christian came into the pay-per-view as the ECW Champion, and his match was against William Regal. One would think that a match for the ECW World Championship would get in some considerable time, but that is not what happened.
William Regal came to the ring with two men by his side to help him in the title match. Those men were Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson, but they had nothing to do in the match. Christian hit the Killswitch and pinned Regal in eight seconds. It ended with a beatdown of the champion by all three heels.
8 Nailz Vs. Virgil (1992)
Nailz and Virgil are about the farthest anyone will find when it comes to men considered "superstars" in WWE history. Virgil is the biggest name of the two, the former bodyguard for The Million Dollar Man, who went on to win the Million Dollar Title later as their storyline came to an end.
Nailz has a more notorious reputation. In 1992, Nailz attacked Vince McMahon for a payment dispute and ended up fired, and the two sides exchanged lawsuits. It might have made WWE regret giving him a four-minute squash win over Virgil at SummerSlam, where he dominated the entire match.
7 Randy Savage Vs. Dusty Rhodes (1990)
Dusty Rhodes was the biggest babyface in wrestling for a decade when he was in the NWA. Macho Man Randy Savage was the biggest heel in WWE on two occasions, first during his initial run with the company and then later when he turned on Hulk Hogan. When Rhodes joined WWE, he was booked to wrestle Savage at SummerSlam, and it should have been a great match. What happened was Savage attacking a distracted Rhodes at the start of the match and winning in two minutes.
6 Mr. Perfect Vs. The Red Rooster (1989)
Terry Taylor is known as one of the best producers behind-the-scenes everywhere he worked, helping anyone and everyone to improve on their ring work. Before this, he was at one time considered a man who could be the next Ric Flair when he was working in Mid-South.
He signed with WWE and was buried as the Red Rooster, a man who clucked and danced like a chicken and was subservient to Bobby Heenan. He turned face, but it didn't matter, as he lost in three minutes to Mr. Perfect at SummerSlam 1989.
5 Chris Benoit Vs. Orlando Jordan (2005)
In 2005, WWE wanted to try to make Orlando Jordan into a star. To do this, they put him with JBL and had Jordan beat John Cena for the United States Championship. He feuded with Chris Benoit, who could make anyone look great in a match. Jordan even beat Benoit at the 2005 edition of The Great American Bash. The good/bad news is that Benoit got his win back at SummerSlam when he locked in the Crossface in just 25 seconds to win the U.S. Title.
4 Randy Orton Vs. Rusev (2017)
Everyone loves to talk about how John Cena buried Rusev, who was undefeated until Cena beat him clean at WrestleMania. Then, people point to how Rusev got over huge with the fans only to have WWE bury him in the Lana-Lashley angle. However, Rusev was also working his way up the card in 2017. At SummerSlam, he attacked Randy Orton before the match. Then the bell rang, and Orton hit the RKO and pinned Rusev in 10 seconds.
3 Braun Strowman Vs. Kevin Owens (2018)
Kevin Owens is one of the top wrestlers in WWE. Every time he works, he can turn in a great match against anyone. Owens even got a chance to be the new Stone Cold and was given the Stunner. However, in 2018, WWE booked Owens to wrestle Braun Strowman at SummerSlam, and he had no chance. Owens got in no offense, Strowman ran through him and won with the powerslam in less than two minutes.
2 John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar (2014)
When one thinks of a squash match, it usually doesn't include a 16-minute match. However, when looking at SummerSlam 2014, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Brock Lesnar and John Cena was as much a squash match as any. What makes it even more incredible is that Cena was the champion and Lesnar just rag-dolled him the entire match, throwing him all over the ring and Cena got in almost no offense. Lesnar just slaughtered Cena in this match, left him for dead, and walked out as the world champion.
1 Ultimate Warrior Vs. Honky Tonk Man (1988)
The best squash match in WWE history came at SummerSlam 1988. The Honky Tonk Man was the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all-time, but he never won his matches cleanly. He was mostly disqualified, counted out, or kept his title in nefarious manners. Fans wanted to see anyone beat him, and The Ultimate Warrior was the biggest upcoming star in WWE. Honky made an open challenge, Warrior charged the ring and pinned Honky in 31 seconds for the title.