WWE Superstars With the Most SummerSlam Main Events

In 1988, SummerSlam became the third pay-per-view added to the yearly WWE event calendar. While it was technically created third, it didn’t take SummerSlam long to become WWE’s second biggest yearly event. For nearly 40 years, SummerSlam has been the setting for some of the most memorable moments in WWE history.

From the in-ring debut of The Mega Powers to Seth Rollins’ unforgettable Money In The Bank cash-in, SummerSlam has always been a star-studded affair. While not quite as prestigious as a WrestleMania main event, main eventing SummerSlam is nothing to scoff at. Here are a handful of performers who made a habit of closing the show at “The Biggest Party of the Summer.”

7

Triple H

This one is a bit surprising considering Triple H’s reputation. For someone who was supposed to be a political mastermind backstage, you’d think he would’ve main evented more than 4 SummerSlams. Maybe Triple H’s “Reign of Terror” was a bit exaggerated? Either way, “The Game” only found himself in the main event of SummerSlam a handful of times.

Also surprising is that out of those four main events, Triple H only walked out as the winner one time. And the one time is only because he hurt his groin and his originally planned one-on-one match with Goldberg had to be pushed back, turning their SummerSlam match into a multi-man Elimination Chamber Match. Apparently, even the best backstage politicians can’t win them all.

6

Hulk Hogan

This one is also a bit surprising given Hulk Hogan’s star power, but a bit more believable given Hogan’s many years away from WWE. Interestingly enough, out of Hogan’s 4 SummerSlam main events, only one was a singles match. The first SummerSlam was essentially created to showcase Hulk Hogan and his Mega Powers comrade, Randy Savage. After The Mega Powers split up, they each picked a partner and clashed in the second-ever SummerSlam ​​​​​​main event.

The final SummerSlam main event of Hogan’s original WWE run was also a tag-team match, as he and The Ultimate Warrior faced Sgt. Slaughter, General Adnan, and Colonel Mustafa. Hogan’s final SummerSlam main event would take place 14 years later in 2005, when he and Shawn Michaels clashed in a memorable match that saw HBK comically oversell all of Hogan’s offense. Had Hogan not left WWE, it’s likely that he would’ve main evented one or two more SummerSlams.

5

The Undertaker

For years, The Undertaker was the heart and soul of the WWE roster. He was the unquestioned locker room leader and was often called upon to main event huge shows. During the 90s, Undertaker main evented 3 total SummerSlams, including two back-to-back​​​​. At SummerSlam 1994, Undertaker would clash with an imposter Undertaker for supernatural superiority. At SummerSlam 1997, Undertaker would drop the WWE Championship to Bret Hart after taking a chair shot to the head from the guest referee, Shawn Michaels.

In 1998, ‘Taker and Steve Austin would hop on “The Highway to Hell” but deliver an underwhelming SummerSlam main event. Edge would fall victim to The Undertaker at SummerSlam 2008. Finally, in 2015, The Undertaker would defeat Brock Lesnar in a grudge match dating back to WrestleMania 30 when Lesnar snapped “The Streak.” Three decades, five SummerSlam main events, and one all-time great performer.

4

Randy Orton

Speaking of longevity, in modern-day wrestling, Randy Orton is about as close as we’ll see anyone get to matching The Undertaker’s impressive longevity. Like ‘Taker, Orton has main evented 5 SummerSlams. The first one in 2003 was a bit forgettable given it was a multi-man match. Orton’s second main event in 2004 is mostly glossed over given his opponent. In 2007, Orton and John Cena had a solid yet unspectacular main event.

Orton’s next two main events would be a lot more memorable, albeit for completely different reasons. In 2013, Orton crashed Daniel Bryan’s championship celebration and cashed in his Money In The Bank contract to win the WWE Championship. In 2016, Orton closed the show with Brock Lesnar and took a gnarly elbow strike to the head, which busted him open and left a gruesome lasting image. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Orton’s SummerSlam legacy is that it’s technically not over. He might sneak another main event in before it’s all said and done

3

Roman Reigns

At this exact moment, Roman Reigns is tied with Randy Orton and The Undertaker at 5 SummerSlam main events each. That will change very soon as Roman and Seth Rollins are poised to close the show at SummerSlam 2026. After that happens, Roman will sit alone at the number 3 spot with his sights set on catching the two performers in front of him on the list. For now, Roman has given us 5 fairly solid SummerSlam main events.

His first two happened as “The Big Dog,” and are mostly overlooked when reviewing Roman’s legacy. His next three came as “The Tribal Chief,” and those are likely going to be remembered a lot more than his first two. With memorable clashes against the likes of Jey Uso, John Cena, and Brock Lesnar, Reigns has helped cement his legacy as one of SummerSlam’s heaviest hitters ever.

2

John Cena

This one makes total sense. When you’re the franchise player, you get put in high-profile matches year in and year out. It took John Cena a couple of years to break into the SummerSlam main event scene, but once he broke in, he made himself at home. His first SummerSlam main event was a classic bout against his bitter rival, Edge. Cena would face Randy Orton the following year at SummerSlam 2007. In 2010, he’d successfully bury Wade Barrett and The Nexus, helping him earn the “Super Cena” moniker.

In 2011 and 2013, Cena was technically in the main event match. First against CM Punk and then against Daniel Bryan. On both occasions, though, Cena lost the match, and a Money In The Bank cash-in ensued. In 2021, Cena put over Roman Reigns strongly and did the same for Cody Rhodes in 2025 in what would be Cena’s SummerSlam swan song.

1

Brock Lesnar

John Cena came oh so close to catching Brock Lesnar in terms of SummerSlam main events but ultimately fell short. If Shawn Michaels is “Mr. WrestleMania,” then Lesnar has to be strongly considered to be “Mr. SummerSlam.” Lesnar has main evented a whopping 9 SummerSlam events. Say what you will about his part-time status and his passion, or lack thereof, for the wrestling business, Lesnar was and still is a monster draw.

Not only does Lesnar have the most SummerSlam main events ever, but he also has the record for most consecutive SummerSlam main events. From 2014-2019, Lesnar main evented six consecutive SummerSlam events. With how cyclical the wrestling business can be at times, main eventing six straight yearly events is almost unheard of and something that should be greatly admired. Over the years, fans have seen countless superstars perform on the grand stage of SummerSlam, but only one “Beast Incarnate.”