From body slams to broken hearts, SummerSlam has always been WWE’s midsummer proving ground. Since 1988, this annual event has delivered unforgettable moments, classic matches, and storyline shifts that have redefined careers. At Back Sports Page, we’re diving deep into every SummerSlam in history—breaking down the main events, spotlighting the must-watch bouts, skipping the filler, and analyzing the aftermath that shaped the future. Whether it’s legends colliding, titles changing hands, or unexpected swerves, this series captures it all. Welcome to the ultimate retrospective on The Biggest Party of the Summer.
Venue: Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: August 26, 2007
Attendance: 17,441
Promoted by: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
MAIN EVENT:
John Cena (WWE Champion) vs. Randy Orton (WWE Championship)
This was the first pay-per-view main event between John Cena and Randy Orton—two men whose careers would be forever intertwined. With Orton finally elevated back into a full-fledged main event spot, he challenged a red-hot but polarizing Cena in a pure one-on-one match with no gimmicks.
The two delivered a well-structured match that showcased their chemistry and set the tone for a rivalry that would span over a decade. Cena retained after hitting a surprise FU (now known as the Attitude Adjustment), but Orton’s aura remained intact. This was just the beginning.
Why it Mattered:
This match kicked off the most enduring rivalry of the modern era. While Cena retained, Orton’s performance confirmed he belonged in the title picture for good. Their saga would stretch through multiple championships and eras.
WHAT TO WATCH:
1. Triple H vs. King Booker
Triple H returned from injury with a vengeance, steamrolling Booker T in a glorified squash. The match itself was short, but the pop for Triple H was deafening, and the post-match crowd reaction solidified him as a top player once again.
2. Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
Mysterio returned from a near year-long injury layoff to face Chavo—his longtime friend and enemy. The storytelling focused on Rey’s rebuilt knee, and the crowd was behind him every step of the way. A solid match that leaned heavily on emotion and a feel-good comeback.
3. CM Punk vs. John Morrison (ECW Championship)
While the crowd wasn’t as invested in ECW’s version of sports entertainment by this point, these two had great chemistry. Morrison retained via cheap tactics, but the match was a clear preview of CM Punk’s breakout potential.
WHAT TO SKIP:
The Great Khali vs. Batista (World Heavyweight Championship)
A painfully slow, disjointed affair. Khali’s limitations were glaring, and Batista couldn’t carry the match. The double DQ finish only made things worse. A low point for a World Championship bout at a major PPV.
Kane vs. Finlay
Physically stiff but emotionally flat. The match dragged and felt more like a SmackDown midcard contest than a SummerSlam-caliber match. Solid workers, but nothing memorable came out of it.
AFTERMATH:
SummerSlam 2007 ushered in the long-awaited Orton-Cena rivalry, reignited Triple H’s dominance, and welcomed back both Rey Mysterio and CM Punk into major spotlight roles. But it also underscored the World Heavyweight Championship’s decline in prestige, at least while Khali held it.
The seeds were planted for a full-blown youth movement—led by Punk, Orton, Morrison, and others—while Cena remained the company’s rock. SummerSlam was now clearly the WWE’s second-biggest annual event, and the 2007 edition proved it with returns, rivalries, and reshaped momentum.
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