Roundtable: History Of SummerSlam

Do you consider SummerSlam to still be WWE’s second biggest event of the year?

Jack Goodwillie: I do. I think WWE’s insistence to make it WrestleMania in the summer has hurt its appeal for me. I always preferred it as a strongly booked pay-per-view to cap off the hot summer angle. Reality is, there is no hot summer angle anymore, only hot-shot booking. But it’s still SummerSlam — the WWE’s second biggest PPV of the year (though the Saudis might have something to say about that.)

On a completely unrelated note, I think it’s totally ridiculous that WWE doesn’t run MSG for these big shows anymore. They’d rather run MetLife or Barclays…which is fine! But then I hear the stories about WWE’s lawyers trying to get RoH out of the building and I think they’re completely off their rocker. If you want to claim a building, claim it, but don’t claim it if you’re not going to use it. They teach us this with toys when we’re very young and it’s total lunacy on WWE’s part.

Chad Gelfand: SummerSlam has always felt like “Summer WrestleMania” to me. Ideally, it should be where the biggest storylines of the summer come to a conclusion, or there is a new twist that adds to the story.

David Gibb: No. In fact, I’ve always thought that reputation was a little dubious. Hogan and Beefcake tangle with Zeus…Luger over Yoko by countout…Undertaker vs. Undertaker…the legend of SummerSlam is overstated, methinks.

Juan Bautista: SummerSlam as an attraction is still the second biggest event on the WWE calendar. Survivor Series being the battleground for brand supremacy has overshadowed what the intent of the event was. The Royal Rumble brings the excitement of the annual marquee match, but mostly it concludes feuds from the prior year and starts the road to WrestleMania. Whereas SummerSlam, although in previous years has not delivered on expectations, still offers high-quality matches and key storyline moments. For better or worse, The Authority was born, which led to Daniel Bryan’s WrestleMania XXX moment. Plus, the Universal Championship debuted at SummerSlam.

Anthony Mahalis: I would say yes, but only because the Royal Rumbles of the past few years haven’t been all that good.

Jenna Leigh: I’ve actually NEVER considered SummerSlam to be the #2 biggest show behind WrestleMania. The Royal Rumble, with its only-happens-once-a-year rarity, coupled with the fact that its outcome directly affects the main event of that year’s Mania, has always felt like the obvious runner up to the Showcase of the Immortals. Before monthly pay-per-views altered the complexion of the event schedule, SummerSlam was the clear number 3 show. Now? I’m not sure it’s top 4… But that’s just me!

John Corrigan: Absolutely, SummerSlam is still #2. It was the first PPV besides WrestleMania to go four hours, and continued the tradition of four nights in a host city for the Big 4. While recent editions have lacked the big buildup and dream matches of yesteryear, the same could be said for WrestleMania as well.

Steven Jackson: I used to consider SummerSlam the second biggest show in WWE’s PPV calendar, but due to its significance in recent years, I think the Royal Rumble has overtaken SummerSlam as the second biggest show to avid and casual pro wrestling fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iVcmdWR8Kw

What’s your favorite SummerSlam theme song?

Goodwillie: “Cool for the SUMMMAAAAAAAAA…” No, LOL JK. Seriously, what happened to WWE theme songs? NXT gets it – they ride with hard, modern rock. Meanwhile, WWE PPVs insist on sticking to these EDM/Pop/Dance anthems that are very “un-wrestling” to me. As for my true favorite, it’s Rush. “Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues…” That’s SummerSlam 2004: Benoit vs. Orton.

Gelfand: I like how SummerSlam 1998 was pretty much based around the theme song, so I’m going to go with “Highway to Hell” by ACDC.

Gibb: The classic Titan trumpet and synth one.

Bautista: Remedy by Seether.

Mahalis: I honestly have never thought of the SummerSlam theme songs enough to pick a favorite.

Leigh: “Remedy” by Seether, from 2005.

Corrigan: Let the bodies hit the floor!

Jackson: “St. Anger” by Metallica. It fit the video package hyping the event perfectly, and is just a really good tune!

What’s the greatest SummerSlam ever?

Goodwillie: SummerSlam 2002 is not only the best SummerSlam ever, but it also contends for top billing as the WWE’s best show ever. The card is stacked: Chris Benoit and RVD tore the house down, Eddie Guerrero and Edge tore the house down, Rey Mysterio and Kurt Angle gave us a red hot opener, and Chris Jericho even worked Ric Flair! That said, the main event matches were true main events: Shawn Michaels made a successful return to the ring when he and Triple H had an awesome street fight just at the turn of the Evolution Era, then Brock Lesnar and The Rock had an unforgettable passing of the torch where the fans really had it in for Dwayne, completely shifting the dynamics. It’s a must-watch if you haven’t seen it.

Gelfand: I love Summerslam 2002. There are so many good to great matches on that show. This PPV encapsulates everything I loved about my favorite period in wrestling, The Ruthless Aggression Era.

Gibb: Probably 2002. Lesnar and Rock’s match is a key intersection in WWF/E narrative, and the Triple H-Shawn Michaels street fight is historic in its own right. The undercard was stacked to the ceiling, too.

Bautista: It’s a tough one, but I have to go with SummerSlam 2013. In spite of the Ring of Fire match between Kane and Bray Wyatt being a dud, it was a great night of action. The Beast (Brock Lesnar) vs. The Best (CM Punk), Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Title and John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Title. The night was capped off with the shocking cash-in from Randy Orton, leading to what to some would say was the best WrestleMania in a few years, but that’s a discussion for another time.

Mahalis: Gotta go with SummerSlam 2002, all around terrific card.

Leigh: For me is 1992. A close runner up is 2001.

Corrigan: A passing of the torch and a miraculous comeback cement SummerSlam 2002 as the greatest. The star power is stacked with Hall of Famers and former world champions in every single match.

Jackson: This is such a tough question as there have been so many great SummerSlam events in its history (even more so than WrestleMania). While 2002 is often seen as the greatest SummerSlam, something about the whole event didn’t do it for me. Certain matches were exceptional, but others fell a bit flat. For me, Summerslam 1998 is my favorite. I was not really into the “Attitude Era” marketing stuff, but that is a fantastic “Attitude Era” show from top to bottom, with something for everyone.

What’s your favorite SummerSlam moment?

Goodwillie: I hate the word “moment” in wrestling because it’s such a WWE creation. They make it seem like fame, money and legacy in their world takes a back seat to “having a moment.” Talk about living in a bubble…but as far as my favorite SummerSlam moment goes, I have to give it up to the end result of my first SummerSlam. The Age of Orton kicked off as Randy Orton beat Chris Benoit in a pretty good match to become the youngest world champion in WWE history. This just holds some sentimental value to me. As a kid, I wanted Benoit to win, but ended up feeling good for Orton capturing the moment, thus it making all the more sense when WWE turned him babyface the very next night. They really had a pulse on the dramatic at the time.

Gelfand: Shawn Michaels’ return at SummerSlam 2002. One of the greatest wrestlers of all time showing the world that he’s still got “it” while exacting revenge on his former best friend.

Gibb: That time Brock Lesnar F5’d that shark.

Bautista: Brock Lesnar’s 25-minute beat down of John Cena. It was the best WWE promo in years to hype that match, and then the excitement and buzz in the building slowly turned to utter shock and disbelief. After an F-5 in under a minute, fans were sure Super Cena would rear his head, but he didn’t. Suplex repeat suplex repeat suplex repeat, take-down, fists, elbows and hard knees…although these Brock Lesnar-type matches have worn thin, nothing has topped the construction of Suplex City Bitch. John Cena was knocked out of the title picture after years of running over talent and for better or worse, Lesnar’s path of destruction continued.

Mahalis: Despite how much I hate Brock Lesnar, I think the greatest moment may be him beating The Rock in 02. Rock was sort of on his way out and Lesnar cemented his status as The Next Big Thing.

Leigh: My all-time favorite SummerSlam moment was “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth’s wedding and celebration on August 26, 1991. We fans thought this was the culmination of one of the best love stories ever told… sadly, in real life, Randy and Elizabeth Poffo were barely hanging on, having been really married since around 1984. They would separate fairly soon after this.

Corrigan: SummerSlam became a night to remember right away as Ultimate Warrior answered Honkytonk Man’s open challenge, bursting into Madison Square Garden and mauling Elvis’ doppelganger within 30 seconds. After months and months of retaining the title by hook and crook, the longest Intercontinental Champion met his match and his historic reign ended with a thunderous ovation.

What’s the greatest match in SummerSlam history?

Goodwillie: It’s quite possible that there are more candidates for greatest SummerSlam match than greatest WrestleMania match. I loved Shawn vs Razor, Bret vs. Bulldog, that big ladder match at SummerSlam 2000 and even Styles vs. Cena. Hell, I think Styles vs. Joe is going to enter the conversation very soon. But I have to give it up for Michaels vs. The Game in 2002. When you realize the circumstances around Shawn’s coming back (remember, this was supposed to be a one-off), it is probably the crowning performance of Triple H’s career. Michaels lacked the confidence that he would ever be the same, but Triple H believed in him and together they were able to build a compelling story that delivered in an A+ wrestling match that gave the career of the Heartbreak Kid a second wind.

Gelfand: I sound like a broken record here, but I loved the unsanctioned match between Shawn Michaels and Triple H at Summerslam 2002. It’s such an emotional match to watch as you see one the greatest wrestlers of all time realize that he still has “it” after being sidelined for four years due to a back injury and substance abuse issues. That match felt like it was Shawn Michael’s own personal redemption and in a way meant much more to him than it just being a wrestling match.

Gibb: For the live crowd, Bret vs. Bulldog. For the entirety of the viewing audience, probably the street fight from 2002 or if you’re looking for a modern era pick, Punk vs. Cena.

Bautista: Davey Boy Smith vs. Bret Hart. It was the perfect situation. The right crowd, the right venue and the best two competitors. On home soil, Davey Boy was going for the Intercontinental Championship against Bret Hart at Wembley Stadium. What makes the match even greater is what Hart revealed years later that Davey Boy was not in the mental state to compete and Bret had to carry him home. Davey, to his credit, answered the call. It was a rowdy technical classic that led to a roll up that delivered a crowd reaction that few can compare to.

Mahalis: I’m sticking with the 02 theme here. Maybe not the best match, but it is my favorite SummerSlam match: Triple H vs HBK in an unsanctioned street fight. My 10-year-old self was so hyped watching that match and I still love it to this day.

Leigh: In selecting my favorite, all-time BEST SummerSlam match, I came to an interesting realization: some of Bret Hart’s very best matches and moments were on the stage that is SummerSlam. I debated awarding this title to the Hitman vs. British Bulldog, but it was the match he fought against his baby brother Owen in a steel cage (the beautiful classic blue steel cage, woot!) in the main event of SummerSlam 1994 that takes the cake. A brilliantly fought match, with the majority of the Hart Family seated at ringside, matriarch Helen just wanted peace between her battling boys….But alas, it was not to be. A classic for sure!

Corrigan: The Best in the World versus The Beast. In Lesnar’s best match since returning and Punk’s last great match, these two dual-sport athletes tore the house down in fantastic big man-little man brawl. With one eye on Heyman as well, Punk told an enthralling story of trying to get his hands on the weasel ex-manager hiding behind the unstoppable monster.

Jackson: My favorite SummerSlam moment ties into what I think is the greatest match in SummerSlam history. Being British, I have always been a huge fan of “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, and to see him in the center of Wembley Stadium against my other favorite wrestler, Bret “Hitman” Hart, in the main event of Summerslam 1992, was truly a moment that will never be replicated. Following on from that, everything that can be said about the Davey Boy Smith vs. Bret Hart match has been said and more. For me, it was a beautiful athletic contest which made both men legends in the pro wrestling industry. I am proud to say that I cried when Davey Boy got the victory. Obviously, I watched the match retrospectively (I was only 4 months old when the match took place), but that feeling of raw emotion, family values and national pride is all there. It was more than a pro wrestling match. It is a piece of history.