The event took place on August 25, 2002, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

SummerSlam is an annual pay-per-view (PPV) produced every August by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) since 1988.

[6][7] The 2002 event was the 15th SummerSlam and was scheduled to be held on August 25, 2002, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.

[8][9][10][11] It was the first SummerSlam to occur under the first brand extension introduced in March, which split the roster between the Raw and SmackDown!

[14][15] Storylines between the characters were produced on WWE's weekly television shows Raw and SmackDown!

On the June 24 episode of Raw, it was announced that Lesnar would face off against the WWE Undisputed Champion at SummerSlam, as a result of winning the King of the Ring tournament.

[18][19] On the July 25 episode of SmackDown!, during The Rock's WWE Tag Team Championship match against The Un-Americans (Lance Storm and Christian), Lesnar interfered by nailing The Rock's tag team partner Hollywood Hulk Hogan with an F-5.

Due to Lesnar's interference, The Rock and Hogan won the match by disqualification, but not the titles.

On the August 8 episode of SmackDown!, Lesnar put his SummerSlam title shot on the line against Hogan with the stipulation added that if Hogan were to defeat Lesnar, he would face The Rock in a WrestleMania X8 rematch at SummerSlam for the WWE Undisputed Championship.

On the July 25 episode of SmackDown!, Rey Mysterio made his WWE debut by defeating Chavo Guerrero.

On the July 29 episode of Raw, Michaels was found in the parking lot, laying motionless following an ambush.

On the August 5 episode of Raw, a security camera revealed to be Triple H that had attacked Michaels from behind.

[20] Shortly after this match, Benoit took advantage of what was referred to as "open season" on wrestler contracts and took his title with him to the SmackDown!

The event unofficially began with a Sunday Night Heat match between Spike Dudley and Steven Richards.

[21][22] The next match was for the WWE Tag Team Championship between The Un-Americans (Lance Storm and Christian) and Booker T and Goldust.

[21][22] The fifth match on the card was for the Intercontinental Championship between Chris Benoit and Rob Van Dam.

Van Dam won the title by pinning Benoit after a Five Star Frog Splash.

Michaels executed a splash on Triple H from the top rope through a table on the floor and a diving elbow drop off a ladder.

General Manager Stephanie McMahon appeared to announce that Lesnar's contract only required him to defend the title on SmackDown!

[25][26] The Undertaker went on to challenge Lesnar for the now-renamed WWE Championship at Unforgiven, and again at No Mercy in a Hell in a Cell match.

Shawn Michaels would return full-time to the ring at Survivor Series and win the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first ever Elimination Chamber match.

The Rock did not return until late January 2003, where he turned heel on Hulk Hogan, leading to a WrestleMania X8 rematch at No Way Out where special guest referee Sylvain Grenier and Mr. McMahon both interfered and helped The Rock defeat Hogan.