Despite some people's comments on this event, SummerSlam 2002 was NOT played before a dead crowd and the matches were fantastic. It was probably the best SummerSlam event since 1992 when the WWF were in Wembley Stadium, England.
Kurt Angle VS Rey Mysterio was the opening attraction and anyone who doesn't like this match must be either a zombie or a robot. It was non-stop action.
The rest of the matches were pretty good as well and SummerSlam had something for everyone. None of the matches in my opinion could be described as bad-and I am the harshest critic ever when it comes to the WWE.
The penultimate match pitted Shawn Michaels VS Triple H in a non-sanctioned match (anything goes). Michaels had not wrestled for the WWF/WWE since WrestleMania XIV in March 1998 (he had wrestled one match for his own promotion between WM XIV and this event). Michaels had been forced to retire due to major back problems and subsequent surgery on his back. So I wasn't expecting a great match...but as usual, Shawn Michaels exceeded expectations. He wrestled a fantastic and heated match against Triple H in which ladders, tables, fire extinguishers and the like were used. Shawn eventually beat Triple H. This was a brilliant match and the best of the night. Credit must go to Michaels-it was a great match in it's own right but even more impressive is the fact that Michaels still hasn't properly recovered from back surgery (and probably never will) but still managed to carry Triple H to a great match.
The main event pitted WWE Champion The Rock VS rising star Brock Lesnar. It wasn't the best match in WWWF/WWF/WWE history but fantastic enough. There was certainly enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and another highlight was seeing Brock's manager Paul Heyman being put through a table by The Rock. Interesting also was the "Rocky Sucks" chants from the fans who were clearly behind Brock (no doubt The Rock will return to WWE as a heel).
All in all, a satisfying WWE event. Anyone who doesn't like it must be hard to please.
