On Sunday Aug. 17, the WWE presents SummerSlam live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The biggest party of the summer has had its fair share of controversy inside and outside the squared circle, and we will take a look at some of the interesting happenings in SummerSlams 1988-99.
SummerSlam 1988: Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake was originally supposed to face The Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental Championship at this event, but was written out of the show by the WWE and The Ultimate Warrior took his place, subsequently winning the title. Beefcake later revealed that The Warrior threatened to leave the WWE if he didn't receive a title shot, so Beefcake stepped aside and the WWE wrote an injury storyline between him and "Outlaw" Ron Bass.
Rumor has it that Vince McMahon originally wanted Ric Flair to join the promotion by jumping ship from the NWA and to take on the "Macho Man" Randy Savage in the main event for the WWE Championship, but Flair got cold feet about leaving the NWA and a tag match pitting Savage and Hulk Hogan against Ted Dibiase and Andre the Giant was made instead.
SummerSlam 1989: During a backstage interview segment, "Mean" Gene Okerlund was set to talk to "Ravishing" Rick Rude, when the SummerSlam sign behind them inexplicably fell, causing Okerlund to curse on the live broadcast by saying, "f--k it."
The Red Rooster legitimately hurt his ankle during his match with Mr. Perfect, causing Perfect to hit the Perfect Plex and get a quick victory, cutting the match short.
SummerSlam 1990: Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake was originally booked to unseat Mr. Perfect as Intercontinental Champion, but he legitimately got injured in a parasailing accident, causing him to have reconstructive facial surgery. "The Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich was brought in as a replacement and booked to beat Perfect for the title.
The opening tag match was between Power and Glory and The Rockers, and Shawn Michaels was attacked by Hercules with his chain prior to the match and never tagged in throughout it. The reason for this was because Michaels had suffered a knee injury prior to the event due to a motorcycle accident and couldn't compete.
SummerSlam 1991: The Ultimate Warrior reportedly held up Vince McMahon for money he felt he owed him from WrestleMania VII in March of that year and threatened to no-show the main event match where he teamed with Hulk Hogan to take on Sgt. Slaughter, General Adnan and Col. Mustafa. McMahon reportedly paid him the money and then fired him right after the event concluded.
Elizabeth and "Macho Man" Randy Savage got "married" at this event, however in real life the couple had been married since 1984, eventually divorcing in 1992.
SummerSlam 1992: This event took place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, but was originally supposed to emanate from Washington, D.C. until the WWE decided to move it to a huge outdoor stadium. Shawn Michaels was also originally supposed to face Bret Hart for the IC title, but the company opted to change the plans and have countryman Davey Boy Smith take on Hart in the main event while Michaels fought Rick Martel.
The Ultimate Warrior was originally slated to turn heel and join forces with Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect in his match against "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the WWE Championship, but he got cold feet over the turn and the WWE changed the booking, causing Savage to get counted out and Flair and Perfect to attack both Superstars.
SummerSlam 1993: Two matches were changed on the card as Tatanka was originally supposed to team up with Sensational Sherri to take on Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon in a mixed tag team match, but Sherri left the company causing the WWE to make a six-man tag featuring Tatanka and The Smokin' Gunns vs. Bam Bam Bigelow and The Headshrinkers. Rick "The Model" Martel was slated to face Marty Jannetty, but Ludvig Borga was substituted for Martel.
SummerSlam 1994: This event has the distinction of being the final pay-per-view that Randy Savage ever appeared at for the WWE. He served as the Master of Ceremonies and ended up jumping over to WCW in October of 1994 to revamp his wrestling career.
SummerSlam 1995: Diesel fought King Mabel in the main event of this show for the WWE Championship, and years later Kevin Nash did a shoot interview blasting Mabel for injuring a bunch of guys and even hurting his back in the main event by performing a move that he had told him not to do to him before the match.
Lex Luger made a run-in during the main event in what would prove to be his final appearance in the WWE as he jumped ship to WCW and appeared on the debut telecast of Monday Nitro a week later.
Shawn Michaels was originally supposed to face Sid for the Intercontinental Championship, but weeks before the show Vince McMahon opted to have him face Razor Ramon in a Ladder Match instead as he felt it would be a better match playing off of the first encounter at WrestleMania X.
SummerSlam 1996: There are multiple rumors that Vader was supposed to defeat Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship in the main event until backstage politics interfered. Michaels ended up getting annoyed at Vader blowing some spots during the match and was legitimately visibly upset with him throughout it.
SummerSlam 1997: Owen Hart legitimately injured "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at this event by using a modified pile driver and accidentally legitimately dropping him on his head. Austin barely mustered up the strength to roll Hart up to win the Intercontinental Championship and had a serious injury that sidelined him until November, causing him to release the IC and Tag Team Championships.
SummerSlam 1998: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has stated that he was legitimately knocked out during his match for the WWE Championship against The Undertaker. Despite getting knocked loopy, Austin continued the match and was able to finish it, standing triumphantly to end the show.
SummerSlam 1999: There are conflicting reports about the reason why Mick Foley won the WWE Championship in the Triple Threat Match pitting him against Triple H and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Most reports say that Triple H was supposed to win the match, but there are very different reasons as to why he didn't. Some believe that Austin didn't see Triple H as in his league and thus didn't want to lose to him while others have said that Jesse "The Body" Ventura -- who was brought in to referee the match -- didn't want to raise the hand of the heel to close out the show in his home state of Minnesota. Either way, Foley won and then quickly lost the belt to Triple H the next night on RAW.
SummerSlam has provided great memories over the last 26 years, but not everything went as planned throughout the event's rich history.
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
