SummerSlam 2K2

Meltzer's star ratings are included:

◾"Olympic Hero" Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio

Winner ~ Kurt Angle by submission in 9:20 = ***3/4

This is the very definition of a "hot" opener. I refuse to call it a "curtain-jerker," even though it was the first match on the PPV broadcast. Both of these guys were world-class caliber workers at this point. Angle and Mysterio put on phenomenal match, especially considering that it was just shy of ten minutes. Angle gets the tapout with the "Ankle Lock."

◾"Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. "Y2J" Chris Jericho

Winner ~ Ric Flair by submission in 10:22 = **3/4

I thoroughly enjoyed this match. Of course, I am a Flair mark. But, that notwithstanding, I thought the story he and Jericho told was tremendous. This was a well-paced ten-minute affair with a pseudo-controversial ending. Jericho had Flair in the "Figure-four Leglock." Just before he began to tap out, Flair grabbed the ropes, which rendered the tapout null and void. Flair eventually slapped on his own patented "Figure-four," which Jericho tapped out to. It gave the angle legs beyond this match, as Jericho "crybabied" that he should have won. Jericho looked good and Flair did as well. I thought it deserved at least ***1/4 stars.

◾Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero

Winner ~ Edge by pinfall in 11:47 = ***1/4

Eddy was in his prime and could have a "show stealer" with almost anyone at that point. Edge was still growing in his craft, but was a very good up-and-comer as a singles star. These two were given twelve minutes to shine, and did. Edge took the victory with a "Spear," but Guerrero looked strong in defeat. This was a good match for the time they got.

◾WWE World Tag Team Championship: "The Un-Americans"--Christian & Lance Storm (c) vs. Booker T & Goldust

Winners ~ "The Un-Americans" by pinfall in 9:37 = ***

Booker & Goldust were over like "Rover" with the live crowd (and in general). New York is a hot audience typically anyway. You could feel the crowd swell as the title change seemed eminent. The heroes were thwarted by interference from "Un-Americans" member Test, who hit a "Yakuza Kick" on Booker. This was a really good tease by WWE creative, as the champs retained. Booker and Goldie would win the belts shortly thereafter. The WWE's "odd couple" stayed hot and the chase continued.

◾WWE Intercontinental Championship: Chris Benoit (c) vs. Rob Van Dam

Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion ~ Rob Van Dam by pinfall in 16:30 = ***1/2

Benoit was at the point of his career where he could engage a broom in a **** match. RVD was phenomenally athletic, but a bit sloppy for my taste. He and Benoit meshed pretty well, all things considered. The storyline drama was layered. The championship being on the line was the lead angle. Secondary was the fact that Benoit was a Smackdown! brand star, while RVD represented Raw. RVD won the match with his signature "Five-Star Frogsplash," taking the title to Raw. They were given seventeen minutes, which was a testament to the confidence Vince had in both men's abilities.

◾The Undertaker vs. "Un-American" Test

Winner ~ The Undertaker by pinfall in 8:18 = **1/4

I was never a huge fan of Test. Even in his heyday, he seemed explosive, but clunky at the same time. The Undertaker was a great worker, but not quite the technician he would be a few years from then. This was a decent match for both guys. It was neither man's finest hour, but it accomplished exactly what it needed to. It was what you would expect from a "big man vs. big man" clash. 'Taker got the win with a "Tombstone" and celebrated by waving "Old Glory" to a good ovation. This was a very passable upper midcard match.

◾Unsanctioned "Street Fight": "The Game" Triple H vs. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels

Winner ~ Shawn Michaels by pinfall in 27:20 = ****1/4

As is well documented, this was HBK's first WWE match in four years. He had wrestled a "Street Fight" in his Texas Wrestling Alliance against Venom (Paul Diamond) earlier in the year, but nothing of the magnitude that he did in NY. This match absolutely stole the show, and it wasn't even close. Michaels literally looked like he never missed a match. Everything was on. He looked to be a good shape. His timing was impeccable. He hit all the spots, including a "Superfly Leap" from the top rope onto Triple H, through a table. The crowd ate up every second. Both men juiced. There was plenty of bumping. Triple H sold like a million bucks. Shawn was Shawn. He won by reversing an attempted "Pedigree" into a "Jackknife Roll-up" for the pin. After the match, Triple H nailed Michaels in the back with his trademark sledgehammer, getting his heat back and putting Shawn in a wheelchair for several weeks. Stellar match. It felt like the main event. Meltzer gave it ****1/4, but I would not have batted an eye had he given it ****3/4. It was THAT good.

◾WWE Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship: The Rock (c) vs. "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman)

Winner and NEW WWE Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion ~ Brock Lesnar by pinfall in 16:01 = ***1/4

Before he was the "Beast Incarnate," Brock Lesnar was the "Next Big Thing." This match became his coming out party. The crowd was nuclear hot for this one, as the "smart" New York fans knew that The Rock was leaving to film a movie. He entered the match as the babyface, but the crowd turned on him and began multiple chants against him. The following for Lesnar grew at the bout wore on. Lesnar dropped The Rock with a "F-5" for the pin to thunderous applause. The Rock did the clean job for Brock and gave him a HUGE rub. For a guy in his rookie year, Brock really could go. He matched The Rock step for step and proved that he deserved the spot.

All in all, I will go on record as saying that this might be the best non-"WrestleMania" PPV the WWE ever produced. From first match to last, there was not a DUD in the bunch. Every contest could have main evented a house show. There wasn't a jobber on the card and all superstars involved accounted well for themselves. From a purely workrate standpoint, I don't think Vince McMahon put out a better card from opener to main event. I'll compare it side-by-side with any "WrestleMania," in fact, and it would more than hold its own (apples to apples). Truth be told, it's better many of them. Obviously, it was not the spectacle that "WrestleMania" is every year, but the stories told in the ring were as good and even surpassed the "show of shows." This event stands the test of time as well. Watch it today and it will be just as good as the star ratings imply. In fact, it thoroughly outdid "WMX8" (from the same year) in the ring. Even Meltzer's ratings agree. If you never saw "SummerSlam 2002," make it a priority to check it out.