Jesse Ventura tells HHH the rules but he says he'll break them anyway.
European/IC Title - Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra) Vs. D'Lo Brown (c)
Debra leaves pre-match at Jarretts orders but D'Lo brings her back. D'Lo has both belts making him the first Eurocontinental Champion I believe (Jarrett and Angle are the only two I can think of that also did this). Hiptoss, forearm and powerslam as D'Lo is dominant. D'Lo Sky Highs a leaping D'Lo for a 2 count. Jarrett is now getting some offence at least until he is snake eyed when doing corner punches. D'Lo hits a running powerbomb, tilt-a-whirl slam and leg drop for a 2 count. Mark Henry comes out and disarms a guitar wielding Jarrett but swerves on D'Lo hitting him with the guitar and the ref counts 3 whilst conveniently ignoring the debris in the ring. On RAW the next night Jeff gave Mark Henry the European Title for his help here. (And he'd drop it back to D'Lo at Unforgiven)
**1/2 - It was okay, which is to be expected from these two, but could've done with more time.
Tag Team Turmoil - No.1 Contendership
Edge/Christian Vs. Hardyz (w/Gangrel)
Hardyz are known as New Brood, props for imagination. Christian hits a splash poetry in motion on Matt then E&C hit a double hiptoss. Springboard moonsault gets Jeff 2 as Christian is being isolated. Swanton connects but Edge breaks the pin. Double reverse DDT allows Christian to tag Edge. Nice bit as Jeff runs the barricade so Edge runs the opposite one and Spears him mid-air. Christian elbows Matt for 3.
Edge/Christian Vs. Mideon/Viscera
Not much happens then heel miscommunication leads to Edge Spearing Mideon for the 3 count.
Edge/Christian Vs. Droz/Albert
Albert hits a nice torture rack neckbreaker. Downward Spiral gets 3 on Albert.
Edge/Christian Vs. Acolytes
Bradshaw gets 2 off a powerbomb out of the corner. Edge has been isolated and pounded for awhile now. Spinebuster gets 2 with an arrogant cover. Edge hits a DDT and finally tags out. Clothesline From Hell to Christian ends E&Cs night.
Acolytes Vs. Holly's
Crash is dominated. Holly's push each other then Hardcore is double shoulderblocked. Holly's soon fight again then Faarooq hits a Spinebuster for the 3 count and a Tag Title shot, I for some reason neglected to note which Holly got pinned though I assume Crash.
** - I did individual ratings for the matches and got 9 / 25 so I feel **'s fair overall though largely due to Hardyz/Edge & Christian as the rest weren't much cop.
Road Dogg comes out to challenge the winner of Snow/Bossman but he's interrupted by Jericho, thus making his debut appearance on PPV. Y2J rambles on
for what feels like a good half hour, Road Doggs response is simple and to the point 'Shut Up Bitch'
Hardcore Title - Al Snow Vs. Bossman
Al Snow hides atop the entranceway and crossbodys Bossman. Road Dogg takes a mic and does commentary on the move, a novel concept. Usual Hardcore match stuff, Bossman uses a dog carrier as we're meant to believe Als dog Pepper was in there. Snow avoid the vending machine of doo. They go outside, be cool if KG shows up, they fight over the road outside a cafe. A man gets in the way as Teddy Long shouts get out of the way, of course Teddy Long of the 00s would've booked him as a Tag Partner of one of the participants. They're in a bar and get a Head chant. Soap to Bossmans eyes, then Snow smashes a bottle over Bossman. Snow moonsaults off the bar putting Bossman through a table. In a pool hall now where Road Dogg hits Bossman with his nightstick, Snow uses snookerballs into Bossmans own for the 3 count. ** - Generic
WWF Hardcore match though I did love these as a kid now I don't really care for them as much as I did.
Ventura tells Mankind he can do what he wants but the pinfall must happen in the ring then Mankind asks Jesse a politics question.
Womens Title - Ivory (c) Vs. Tori
Tori runs to the ring and a powerslam gets an early 2. Spinning elbow gets Ivory 2. Tori registers another 2 after a couple of suplexes and a dropkick. Powerbomb style german or something by Tori, that was nice whatever it was. Sunset flip by Tori then they do it again but this time Ivory sits on Tori for 3, something doesn't seem right to me.
*1/2 - The move by Tori but that was about it.
Rock decides to interview Michael Cole then himself. Now we see Billy Gunn with someone under a cover.
Lions Den - Steve Blackman Vs. Ken Shamrock
I would call Ken Mr. SummerSlam gimmick after this and last year but I can't remember SummerSlam 1997, was he in the dog food match with Bulldog? Lions Den is akin
to the UFC Octagon but with weapons scattered around the top. Blackman has nunchaku in his pants, not a euphemism, and gets a couple shots on Ken. Blackman is soon thrown into the cage and a kick to the head has him down. Nice as Ken jumps onto the cage and hits a shoulderblock, then a back suplex. Steve does fire back with a DDT but he is powerslammed. Nagasaki assault by Steve, people who don't know older british wrestling may not get that word play to be fair. Ken ducks a kick then hits a belly-to-belly and gets in some kendo shots the last of which KOs Steve allowing Ken to climb out of the cage and get the W. ** - I wonder if Ken would fit into today's wrestling with his MMA style, or at least a younger than today's Ken Ken, I could picture him in say ROH. I read an interview recently where Ken said he'd come back but HHH doesn't want him there. I think I am right in my
thinking that this is Kens last WWF PPV appearance, I can't picture him when I think of Unforgiven and certainly none after that.
No DQ - Love Her Or Leave Her - Shane McMahon Vs. Test
Test was dating Stephanie but Shane didn't dig that so here we are. If Test wins then Shane accepts their relationship and gets over it whilst if Shane wins then Test/Steph must
split up. Shane did have a crew, the Mean Street Posse, but Test took them out one-by-one in the lead up, they're sat in the front row on a sofa tonight, going by Posse attire they
should be christened Greenwich 5-0. Shane is 2-0 on PPV in 99 so far, Test is 1-1?, I've got WrestleMania and I assume he was in Union/Ministry match at OTE unless he had night off.
Test tries to throw Shane into the corner but puts him short. Fighting in the crowd until Shane clotheslines Test back ringside. Shane is thrown into the Posse then Test KOs the three
of them so they attack him. Mailbox to the bonce. A picture of Shane, Posee is smashed over Tests head for a 2 count. Shane misses a corkscrew. Test gets a 2 count off a Powerbomb.
Ref bump as Chioda is booted, his head snaps off the bottom rope I'll be surprised if he's not hurt, why a ref bump in No DQ I cannot fathom. Shane debuts his elbow through announce
table bit. Heel Miscommunication as Pete hits Shane with a sign then The Stooges, Patterson and Brsico, come out to a pop and beat up Pete and Rodney, Joey Abs gets a chair
booted in his face. Pump Handle Slam and Big Elbow get Test the 3 count. ***1/2 - Overbooked to the hilt but that helped with a non-worker and relatively inexperienced Test, at least
in a high card position. They worked their tails off and made this better than it had any right to be. Test's biggest year was 99 but was also wasted by the end as the Test/HHH/Steph was
put aside and Vince placed in Tests place which is fair enough if at least done later, for me Test/HHH should've been the Armageddon match as you could of had the same ending and
the sympathy for Test after Steph turned on him could have put him in a upper-mid card position for 2000 but that's fantasy booking. RIP Test.
WWF Tag Titles - X-Pac/Kane (c) Vs. Undertaker/Big Show (w/ Bearer)
Kane and X-Pac were a fave tag team of mine, their two-pack is one of the first wrestling figures I purchased from Woolworths, RIP Woolys. Undertaker was trying to unlock
Shows killer instinct whist in the other corner X-Pac had made Kane 'human' with feelings. I feel I should note that around this time we were subjected to one of the worst RAW
promos ever when Undertaker goes on about him and Show going to the desert to unlock his killer instinct, was awful. Okay, okay the Kane/X-Pac theme mash up works now let
me remove my producer hat and put my review one back on. X-Pac crossbodys Taker for an early 2. Kane pummels his brother and X-Pac gets some digs in. Ha ha Taker tries to
chokeslam X-Pac on the outside but Kane lifts him out of his hand. Big Show comes in after Kane is DDTd and chokes Kane, aaahhhh KOTR 99 flashbacks quick pour water into
my eyes!!!! Powerslam gets Show 2. X-Pac and Taker are in now and one of them gets 2 off a heel kick, quick guess which one. Show gets shots in on X-Pac at ringside then throws
him back in over the top. In the ring X-Pac bites Show to break a bearhug so Show slams him. Kane beats on the challengers, Bronco Buster to Show but he responds with a
Chokeslam which only gets 2 due to a nonchalant pin attempt which annoys Deadman who tags himself in and Tombstones X-Pac for the 3 count and the belt. *** - I enjoyed it, loud
crowd at times which helps. Surprisingly Undertaker had his working boots on tonight which undoubtedly helped the match. At the next PPV NAO were tag champions but I don't
remember them beating UT/Show so there was I assume a real short reign for someone in between part of me thinks it was Acolytes but part of me thinks Rock & Sock due to the tag
team buried alive or whatever it was, on SMACKDOWN! as Taker would shortly be gone from the WWF till May or 2004 if you ignore the American Badass era.
Kiss My Ass Match - The Rock Vs. Billy Gunn
Billy brings out an overweight lady and says Rock will kiss her ass after he loses tonight. Gunn attacks Rock as he enters, 'Rocky' chant. Rock has the upperhand as they fight by the
entrance way but back ringside he is whipped into the steps. By announce table Rock places Kings crown on Gunns head and hits him but Gunn responds with a ring bell shot and is
in control as they re-enter the ring. Corner splash by Gunn then Rock explodes out of the corner with a clothesline, Floatover DDT. Rock Bottom is avoided and Gunn hits a FameAsser,
Gunn calls the woman into the ring but it backfires as Rock rubs his face in her ass, Rock Bottom and Peoples Elbow get Rock 3 and sends Gunn back to the Tag Division. You know
I can't remember the reason given on TV for the sudden Outlaw reunion. **1/2 - It was okay for what it was and what it was was a Billy Gunn match. This was the end, or mercy killing,
of the attempted heel push of Gunn stemming from the DX/Outlaw split going back at least May as I remember Gunn/Dogg at OTE.
WWF Title - S/Ref Jesse Ventura - Stone Cold (c) Vs. HHH Vs. Mankind
Okay deep breath - Chyna beat HHH and Taker in a triple threat to earn a WWF Title shot here then she successfully defended that shot Vs. HHH however she then lost to Mankind
who was making his return since being out since May. Shane McMahon made HHH/Mankind but that ended in a draw. by double pin. Jesse is special ref as the event is in Minn, he
also reffed at Summerslam 1988. Big pop for Austin, he has that stupid smoking skull belt. Early teamwork by Austin, Mankind but it ends when Mankind hugs then goes for a handshake so Austin punches him. Fighting in the aisle way, Chyna throws Mankind into the ringpost. HHH uses a chair on Austins knee then Jesse asks the crowd if HHH used a chair. Chyna is ejected after she breaks a Mandible Claw on HHH. Unlikely team up now as HHH and Mankind stomp Austin then HHH applies a spinning toe hold as Mankind leg drops him. We get the fighting in the crowd which I think was written into every performers contract in 99 as a requirement. Austin slingshots HHH into Mankind to avoid a Pedigree. Stunner to Mankind but HHH breaks the pin with a chair then hits Mankind with it but Jesse refuses to count the pin as a chair was used, kind of call back to earlier in the show. Shane McMahon comes out but is Stunnered and Ventura throws him out of the ring 'that's for your old man you little bastard'. Sockos here, you know i'm surprised Mick never dressed him in sports gear as Mick loved a cheap pop, double Mandible Claw. Challengers are noggin knockered, Stunner to HHH, Mankind is thrown into turnbuckle. Austin gets Pedigreed but Mankind hits HHH and Double Arm DDTs Austin for the 3, yes people Austin lost clean!!!! Post match HHH attacks Austins knee with a chair and he didn't wrestle again until No Mercy if I remember right. On the RAW following this PPV HHH won the WWF Title, you see Austin refused to put over HHH but didn't mind Mankind getting a caretaker reign of one day, what a guy, this may be a rumour but I firmly believe it. ****- Enjoyed this more than I remembered for the first time around, I think in 2000 on VHS.
23 / 45 - This is actually a pretty solid SummerSlam and one that I think flies under the radar. It's remembered as a one match show generally, the Test/Shane match, but for me the
main event and the tag title match are good rewarding matches as well, the rest ranged from fair to poor but overall I'd say give this shot and like a PPV should it gets better as it
goes up the card and peaks at the finish.
Thumbs Up.
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