SummerSlam Rewind

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SummerSlam is considered one of WWE's biggest pay-per-views on the wrestling calendar, and last year's was no exception, as the superstars of the WWE delivered yet another exciting night of high drama.

Ahead of WWE's biggest event of the summer, skysports.com's James Coyle takes a look back at last year's epic showpiece where Jeff Hardy and CM Punk delivered one of the most memorable wrestling matches of 2009.

In a bitter rivalry that had sparked an aggression only a TLC match could showcase, both men crashed through tables, endured the brutality of steel chairs and committed career-threatening falls from ladders all for the sake of becoming World Heavyweight Champion.

Most notably was Jeff Hardy's jaw-dropping swanton bomb off a 20-foot ladder that sent Punk crashing through the announce table at ringside. This was not only Hardy's personal best, but one of the best high risk moves I have ever seen.

Punk might have been victorious on the night, but his celebration was short lived as a familiar gong sounded and The Undertaker made a surprise return from underneath the ring!

Quite simply, this match may very well be the best of its kind.

The Viper Randy Orton successfully defended his WWE Championship against John Cena in what can only be described as a match engulfed in controversy.

Cena faced one of his toughest challenges to date and nothing short of an epic performance would be required were he to be successful in his quest for gold.

And were it not for an overzealous fan who charged the ring and attacked the referee, the result could very well have been different.

As security swarmed, The Viper took advantage of the distraction, quickly confronting Cena and administering a devastating RKO to pin his long-time rival for the win.

Orton may have retained his WWE Championship under controversial circumstances but this was an intriguing encounter, although confusing at times, which featured an array of twists and turns that had you on the edge of your seat!

Fed up with The Legacy interfering in his matches, Triple H went on the search for one man that he knew could help him defeat the duo of Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes - "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.

One of the most controversial tag teams in WWE history reunited at last year's SummerSlam as D-Generation X made an explosive and memorable entrance, one that that saw Triple H & Michaels ride out to the ring on a vintage tank.

Despite Legacy's aggression and willingness to utilize every underhanded tactic at their disposal, the less-experienced team were ultimately defeated when Michaels delivered some devastating Sweet Chin Music to Rhodes.

Rhodes and DiBiase may have been defeated but the duo still had reason to celebrate as they accomplished a feat few pairings can boast of: Taking D-Generation X to the limit, one of the premier tag teams in WWE history.

WWE SummerSlam will be broadcast live and in high definition from the Staples Center, Los Angeles on the night of Sunday August 15 at 1am on Sky Box Office.