SummerSlam ’99

(All screen captures are the property of World Wrestling Entertainment)

SummerSlam

August 22, 1999

Target Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota

News & Notes: Vince McMahon made one last appearance the night after Fully Loaded. He wanted to say his goodbyes. So Austin and Jim Ross gave him a formal send-off. They sang “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” as Vince walked away in shame. When Vince reached the backstage area, Howard Finkel stopped him and said he loved Vince. But Vince said, “Get the hell away from me!” He then entered his limo and left to never return—for two months.

Meanwhile, the millennium countdown clock struck zero during a Rock promo. It brought us the WWF debut of Chris Jericho! Chris said the WWF shouldn’t worry about Y2K because Y2J was there to save them from boredom. After a verbal sparring session with Rocky, Jericho also interrupted the Undertaker and Big Show. Jericho stopped a long and rambling story about Taker testing Big Show in the desert. He called them boring, which earned a legitimate angry response from Taker. But Jericho didn’t piss everyone off. He befriended Howard Finkel and made him his new lackey.

Also, I must mention a return and a mysterious debut. First, the British Bulldog reappeared on WWF TV after his WCW run. He did nothing of note, but he will enter some important storylines in the coming months. Plus, Droz and Albert added a new member to their entourage. An unnamed man in white helped them attack people. They drew the ire of Chaz, the Godfather, and Val Venis.

The opening video looks back at special guest referees over the past two years. They compare Tyson, Vince, and Shane. But only one man can provide true law and order! And that man is Jesse Ventura! It’s his way or the highway! Austin, Triple H, and Mankind must live with it. However, Austin and Hunter threatened to kick Jesse’s ass if he gets in their way. Does Ventura hold the power?

As fireworks explode, JR welcomes everyone to the sold out Target Center. He calls tonight an out of-body-experience. The Superstars will defend six titles tonight. Plus, Jesse Ventura will provide law and order. JR also says he is with the mayor king, Jerry Lawler. (Lawler ran for mayor of Memphis, but he failed.) Lawler can’t wait to see Ventura as a referee.

Speaking of Ventura, he meets with Triple H and Chyna. Jesse says anything can happen, but they are in his state now! Hunter must pin his opponent in the middle of the ring. And if Chyna interferes, he will eject her! Triple H has none of that. He promises to break all Jesse’s rules. Ventura says if he does, he won’t win the championship.

Afterward, we see footage from earlier in the day. Jericho waits backstage while Finkel arrives late with his bags. Fink apologizes, but Jericho asks him if he believes Chris is there to save the WWF and Finkel’s job. Howard says yes, so Jericho says, “Then you need to be here on time, Harold!” When Finkel corrects Jericho about his name, Chris doesn’t care. He tells him to get moving.

Then we get the entrances for the opening contest. Lawler loses his mind when he sees Debra with Jeff Jarrett. Because of this, he almost misses them arguing with each other. The fans cheer for her, so Jeff has enough. He tells Debra to head backstage and receives asshole chants for his behavior. When Debra reaches the back, she complains to D’Lo. So D’Lo brings her with him. Lawler loves it, but Jarrett threatens them with a guitar.

European & Intercontinental Title Match: Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra) vs. D’Lo Brown (c)

Storyline: Jarrett and Debra’s relationship became strained after Fully Loaded. He grew tired of her getting the attention. Jeff even attacked Ben Stiller and put him in a Figure Four for proclaiming his love of Debra’s puppies. Then Debra cost Jarrett the Intercontinental Title in a match with D’Lo. This made D’Lo a dual champion, so Jarrett demanded a bout for both belts. However, Jarrett lost two more matches to Val Venis and Meat because he focused on Debra. When Jeff got in Debra’s face, D’Lo saved her from trouble. Meanwhile, D’Lo also worked with Mark Henry on his health. Henry complained about the food and the exercise. On one occasion, Jarrett spotted D’Lo and Henry running in the woods. So Jeff jumped D’Lo while Henry took a bathroom break in the trees.

The Match: After trading strikes, D’Lo scores takedowns and Sky High. Then Jarrett rebounds with a sleeper, but D’Lo turns it into a back suplex. Next, D’Lo dives and eats a back elbow. It leads to fighting on the floor until Jeff crashes on the barricade. However, Jeff shoves D’Lo into the post and hurts Brown’s arm. So Jarrett targets the injury with a diving armbreaker and arm holds. Later, Jeff hits corner punches only for D’Lo to counter into a hotshot. He follows with a running powerbomb, tilt-a-whirl slam, and leg drop. Plus, D’Lo climbs, but he misses a flying cannonball. Since D’Lo is in trouble, Debra climbs on the apron and distracts the ref. Jarrett threatens her with the guitar again, so Mark Henry arrives. He takes the guitar from Jarrett—and smashes it over D’Lo’s back! It allows Jarrett to pin Brown for the win.

Thoughts: It was a solid and fun opener with a hot crowd. Sure, they were more focused on Debra, but they still reacted to D’Lo’s offense. Jeff and D’Lo played to the fans and got their desired reaction. So this was a success all around. It was a good way to begin the PPV.

Winner: Jeff Jarrett (New Champion) (7:27)

Mark Henry’s actions confuse JR and King. They don’t understand why he turned on D’Lo. To make matters worse, Debra celebrates with Jeff and Mark. She points at her temple to say she’s smart. So JR realizes it was a ruse. They colluded to screw over D’Lo. Lawler calls it the Puppy Plan.

Meanwhile, Cole interviews Edge and Christian ahead of the Tag Team Turmoil contest. Michael compares it to the Royal Rumble. Two teams will start. When they eliminate someone, another pair enters the fray. Edge and Christian will begin the bout against the New Brood. So Cole asks for their thoughts. Edge says this is what they wanted. There’s no better team to begin against. Also, Christian claims they grew tired of following Gangrel’s lead. They didn’t want to live his lifestyle. In fact, they outgrew him. Tonight, the Hardys and Gangrel will spew their own blood.

It leads into the entrances, but JR continues complaining about Mark Henry’s behavior. Lawler thinks D’Lo deserved it for shaming Mark about his weight. But JR says D’Lo showed concern for Mark’s health. As they argue, Gangrel and the Hardys do their blood ritual. Afterward, the Hardys rush to the ring and attack.

Participants: Edge & Christian, The New Brood, Mideon & Viscera, Droz & Prince Albert, The Acolytes, and The Holly Cousins.

Tag Team Turmoil #1 Contender Match

Storyline: There are four major stories going into this contest. First, Edge & Christian received a title shot. But Gangrel drew Christian’s attention and left Edge to take a beating. Afterward, Christian convinced Gangrel he was on his side. However, Edge and Christian worked together to give Gangrel a bloodbath. Meanwhile, the Hardys dumped Michael Hayes for costing them the belts. Then they joined with Gangrel to form the New Brood. Also, the Acolytes lost their gold to Kane & X-Pac. When they failed to regain them, the Acolytes attacked Kane & X-Pac. Now they look to earn another championship match. Finally, Hardcore Holly issued an open challenge. His cousin Crash Holly answered it. Despite brawling throughout the show, they agreed to become a tag team.

The Match: They start with high-flying moves. This includes Edge spearing Jeff Hardy off the barricade! Once Gangrel interferes, everyone dives outside. But Edge and Christian eliminate the Hardys. They use an inverted electric chair and a flying elbow. Mideon and Viscera are next. They try power moves until E&C takes them out with dropkicks, shoulder blocks, and a spear. So Droz and Albert arrive. Albert scores a fireman’s neckbreaker and tries a press slam. However, Edge chop blocks him and nails the Downward Spiral for another pin. This brings us the Acolytes. Edge and Christian fight valiantly and score surprise DDTs. But Bradshaw nails the Clothesline from Hell while the Hollys jump the gun. With E&C gone, the Hollys attack the Acolytes. The problem is, the cousins keep arguing. It leads to Bob and Crash fighting, so Faarooq gives Bob a spinebuster for the win.

Thoughts: This was good. I enjoy Tag Team Turmoil. They should use it more often. Edge and Christian had a break-out performance in this bout, and they won over the crowd with it. This is the first of many for them in the coming years. Plus, this bout showcased the growing diversity in the tag division. It’s about to get better.

Winners: The Acolytes (16:13)

Crash complains about the loss and shoves Bob, but Bob tells him to get over it and leaves. Then they show footage of the Undertaker and Big Show arriving at the arena.

Afterward, we see Al Snow backstage with his dog, Pepper. Snow calms him down. He knows Boss Man threatened to get Al and his little dog too. But it’s not like Boss Man will send flying monkeys after them! Also, Snow says quoting Judy Garland isn’t a sign of the apocalypse. They only have to worry if he sings like Ethel Merman. So Snow tells Pepper to get a grip.

Next, Road Dogg arrives to do commentary for the Hardcore Title bout. They left him out of the match, which annoyed Road Dogg. So Dogg challenges the winner to face him on RAW. As Dogg attempts to say more, Jericho’s countdown interrupts him. After lights and pyro, Jericho appears on top of the Lion’s Den. He berates the fans for wasting their money on SummerSham. Plus, Jericho tells Road Dogg spelling his name isn’t impressive. He should spell lugubrious if he wants to impress Jericho! (Dogg looks confused.) With that said, Jericho promises the locker room will never bore the people again. Once Jericho finishes, Road Dogg calls him a bitch and tells him to shut up. Despite worrying about Jericho taking the offer, Dogg also tells him to suck it.

Then Al Snow places Pepper in his kennel and leaves him backstage. During his entrance, Al hides on one of the cherry pickers that line the aisle. He waits for Boss Man and jumps on him when he appears. Since the action never reaches the ring, Road Dogg takes a mic and does roving commentary. He even picks up Boss Man’s nightstick on the way.

Hardcore Title Match: Al Snow vs. Big Boss Man (c)

Storyline: The screaming in Snow’s head stopped, but a new voice appeared. Al met a chihuahua backstage named Pepper. He swore the dog talked to him and told him to regain his Hardcore Title. This pissed off Boss Man, so he threatened to get Al and his little dog too. Therefore, Snow tried to teach Pepper to be hardcore and fetch tables. When the Blue Meanie spotted this, he insulted Pepper, and Snow attacked Meanie. As a result, Meanie recruited Stevie Richards for revenge. To make matters worse, Snow dragged Road Dogg into his drama. Al cost Boss Man a non-title bout against Road Dogg, so Boss Man returned the favor. He also made Snow lose to Road Dogg.

The Match: They brawl backstage with a chalkboard, Pepper’s kennel, and a Pepsi fridge. Boss Man shatters the fridge’s glass door with a propane tank before ramming Al into a garage door. Then they head into the street and fight in front of a cafe. Boss Man breaks a plastic table with Snow’s body. Afterward, the action spills into a bar. They head to the bathroom where Snow uses urinal cakes as weapons. Next, a random Zakk Wylde appears and hands Snow a chain! After choking Boss Man, Snow does a moonsault off the bar. But Boss Man fights back, and they move into the billiard room. At this point, Boss Man grows tired of Road Dogg’s jokes and shoves him. So Dogg clocks Boss with the nightstick. With Boss Man down on a pool table, Snow whacks him in the nuts with billiard balls and pins him.

Thoughts: It was another fun Hardcore brawl. They made good use of the environment. Sure, it was obvious the WWF filled the bar with their people. Everyone wore WWF merchandise. Plus, Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne’s band had a cameo appearance. But that’s fine. Fighting around actual bar patrons would be a liability. The only downside was Road Dogg became a little annoying. However, it fit the storyline, so I didn’t mind it.

Winner: Al Snow (New Champion) (7:27)

Snow runs back to collect his belt. There, he discovers the Blue Meanie and Stevie Richards with Pepper. They attempt to shock the dog with jumper cables, so Snow attacks them. As this happens, Road Dogg complains about having to run to catch up to Snow. Plus, he cracks jokes about the scene in front of him.

Next, Ventura explains his rules to Mankind. He knows Mankind’s style. Mick can take it all over the arena, but he must pin his opponent in the ring. If he uses a chair, Ventura won’t count it. Mick says that’s fine, but he would rather discuss politics. Jesse and Mick share a laugh about Geraldine Ferraro.

Then Ivory arrives for the Women’s Title bout. JR calls her a spitfire, but he says she showed her true colors two weeks ago on Heat. Ivory attacked Tori and wrote slut and skank on her body. Lawler finds it hilarious, so JR admonishes him. When Tori appears, she rushes to the ring and Ivory jumps her.

Women’s Title Match: Ivory (c) vs. Tori

Storyline: Ivory and Nicole Bass’s partnership didn’t last. She dumped Nicole and said she wasn’t good enough to stand beside her. (Bass left the WWF and sued them for harassment, much like Sable. Given what we know about Vince now, it isn’t surprising.) Afterward, Ivory challenged another fan, so Tori confronted her and they brawled. Because of this, the WWF announced Ivory vs. Tori for SummerSlam. Then Ivory had a warm-up bout with Lexie Fyfe. When Ivory tried to beat her up after the match, Tori intervened again. This time, Ivory decked Tori with the belt and wrote insulting names on her with a marker.

The Match: Tori hits forearms and a powerslam, so Ivory regroups and pulls Tori outside. There, she rams Tori into the post and snaps her head on the ropes. But Tori answers with kicks, two rolling suplexes, and a dropkick. Next, Ivory uses punches, chops, a facebuster, and hairmares. She also chokes Tori and scores a leg drop. With Tori down, Ivory asks the fans if they’re ready for the big swing! She gives it to them and earns another two count. However, Tori surprises Ivory with a weak spear and an alley-oop. Afterward, Tori tries a diving crossbody and a sunset flip. They redo the latter because Ivory forgot to sit on her. Once they get the spot right, Ivory pins her for the victory.

Thoughts: This was an awkward mess. They screwed up the finish and redid the spot. Plus, the fans couldn’t care less. The WWF conditioned them to expect titillation instead of wrestling from the women. There was even a small take it off chant. Also, they only built this storyline in the first two weeks and then forgot about it. This didn’t help the heat for the bout. I felt bad for Ivory and Tori.

Winner: Ivory (4:08)

After the bell, Ivory tries to rip off Tori’s clothes, so Luna Vachon runs in to stop her. Her appearance shocks JR and Lawler. They wonder why Luna is going after Ivory.

Meanwhile, Cole is backstage with The Rock. Rocky yells at Cole for interrupting his talk with the Vikings’ John Randle. So Rock says he’s going to interview Cole instead. After making fun of Cole’s tie, The Rock says he sees the way Cole looks at him. Rock asks if Cole is comme ci, comme ca. Cole can’t answer because The Rock yells it doesn’t matter. Then Rock says his millions of fans will chant his name. He even stops to listen to it. Once he has his fill, Rocky makes a prediction about his match with Mr. Ass. He will hit a Rock Bottom and a People’s Elbow to remain the people’s champ and the people’s choice. If you smell what The Rock is cooking.

Speaking of Mr. Ass, he escorts someone into the building under a blanket. Gunn promises a big surprise for everyone.

Afterward, they recap the Shamrock/Blackman feud before their entrances. Ken challenged Steve to a Lion’s Den Match filled with Blackman’s weapons. JR says two men will enter, but one will leave. (Is this the Thunderdome?) Also, Lawler notices Blackman hid a nunchaku in his pants. Ken doesn’t realize it until Steve pulls out the weapon.

Lion’s Den Weapons Match: Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackman

Storyline: On the night after Fully Loaded, Blackman ran over Shamrock with his car. Ken tried to proceed with his bout against Triple H, but the referee stopped it. Since Blackman expected retaliation, he carried a bag full of weapons to all his fights. Later, Steve faced Val Venis, so Shamrock attacked Blackman with a chain. Blackman also aided Shane and the Mean Street Posse against Test, but Ken jumped Steve with a Kendo Stick. Afterward, Ken challenged Blackman to a Lion’s Den Match. He even offered to fill the cage with Blackman’s weapons. Finally, Blackman wrestled Test. Both Shane and Shamrock interfered, so Blackman fended Ken off with a cane attack.

The Match: Blackman targets Ken’s knee and face with the nunchaku. So Shamrock responds with a dragon screw. Once Steve is down, Ken throws the nunchaku out of the cage. Then they ram each other into the walls until Ken grabs a Kendo Stick. However, Steve blocks a shot and takes Shamrock down. Next, Blackman selects his Escrima Sticks. (Lawler calls them ugly sticks.) Steve uses them for strikes and choking. But Ken throws kidney punches and hits a powerslam. It’s not enough because Steve answers with more Kendo Stick shots. Once Ken is down, Steve looks toward the door. The ref says he can’t leave until it’s over, so Steve returns to the attack. He misses a bicycle kick, and Ken rallies. Shamrock scores a belly-to-belly before wailing on Steve with the Kendo Stick. It takes two tries, but Ken knocks Blackman out for the win.

Thoughts: It was a unique fight with some cool visuals and spots. Plus, the crowd reacted well to it. They chanted Shamrock’s name and told Blackman he sucked. So the match worked. Also, they kept it to a good length. If it went any longer, it would become repetitive.

Winner: Ken Shamrock (9:06)

Next, Kevin Kelly recaps what happened on Heat. Shane McMahon attacked Test and targeted his injured ribs. They show a replay before Kevin tries to interview Test. But Test says talking time is over.

Lawler calls this one of the WWF’s most important matches. If Shane beats Test, he will end Test’s relationship with Stephanie. But if Test wins, Shane must leave them alone. Shane wears a special baseball jersey for this occasion. On the back, it says, “I just passed the test!” While Shane approaches the ring, the Mean Street Posse arrives. Each of them has casts, slings, and braces around their injured body parts. Shane acts surprised to see them, but there’s a VIP section waiting for the Posse. It has a couch and champagne. Test complains to the ref about their presence before attacking Shane.

Love Her or Leave Her Greenwich Street Fight: Test vs. Shane McMahon

Storyline: With Vince gone, Shane declared he was in charge. His first order of business was to disband the Corporate Ministry. He let them go their separate ways. After all, Shane had bigger problems. He vowed to end Test’s relationship with Stephanie. Then Shane sent the Mean Street Posse after Test. So Test said he would go through each of them to reach Shane. First, he jumped Pete Gas backstage. Next, Test broke Rodney’s arm with a chair. Later, Test Pillmanized Joey Abs’ ankle. This left only Shane, so Shane challenged Test to a Street Fight. If Shane wins, Test must break up with Stephanie. But if Test wins, Shane will leave them alone.

The Match: They brawl in and out of the ring and over the barricade. Then Test catches Shane with a powerslam on the floor and a big boot. So Joey Abs spits champagne in Test’s eyes to stop him. It doesn’t work. Test press slams Shane onto the Posse as Steph watches and laughs backstage. However, the Posse and Shane attack Test with weapons. They use a mailbox, a framed picture, and a do not enter sign! Shane’s flurry continues until he misses a corkscrew moonsault! Also, Test surprises Shane with a powerbomb. But he wipes out the ref on a missed big boot.

This allows the Posse to swarm Test and put him on the Spanish announce table. With Test prone, Shane does a flying elbow from the ring to the table! Afterward, they roll both men into the ring, and Shane covers. It only gets two! Next, the Posse interferes again, so the Stooges return and take them out! Finally, Test avoids Joey Abs’ and Shane’s attacks. He takes out Joey and gives Shane a pumphandle powerslam and flying elbow for the win.

Thoughts: This was a great blend of storytelling and impressive spots. Shane did an amazing job. It’s only the beginning of his crazy stunts. I’ll always give Shane credit for his willingness to do something insane. Sometimes it goes too far, but we haven’t reached that point yet. Also, Test held up his end fine too. He was an underrated talent.

Winner: Test (12:04)

Stephanie runs to hug the Stooges and Test. JR says Steph is free from her brother’s control. However, Lawler commiserates about Shane’s fate while the Posse helps him to the back.

Then they recap the feud between Kane & X-Pac and the Unholy Alliance. The Undertaker promised Armageddon. This leads to Cole’s interview with the tag champs. He calls the following bout a mismatch on paper. But X-Pac says this isn’t on paper. The fact is, there ain’t an ass-whipping he can’t take without coming back for more. X-Pac says he’s closer with Kane than ever before, and that makes Taker and Show the underdogs.

During Kane and X-Pac’s entrance, Lawler jumps at Kane’s pyro. He also says he can never forgive X-Pac for making Kane more human. But Lawler admires Kane’s new ring attire. Kane isn’t the only one with something fresh. Taker and Big Show use their new Unholy Alliance theme. I know it isn’t popular, but I like it.

Tag Team Title Match: The Undertaker & The Big Show (w/ Paul Bearer) vs. Kane & X-Pac (c)

Storyline: After Fully Loaded, Taker and Big Show joined forces and focused on the tag team titles. JR gave them the unofficial moniker of the Unholy Alliance. The problem was, Hardcore Holly thought he was part of their group. He intervened in their business and got himself in trouble. But Taker told Show not to save him. Once Holly realized the truth, he attacked Show and received a chokeslam. Meanwhile, the Unholy Alliance also butted heads with the Acolytes. This didn’t bode well for Kane & X-Pac, so they turned to Road Dogg for help. It led to Kane & X-Pac winning the tag belts again. Afterward, X-Pac convinced Kane to talk without his electrolarynx. Kane spoke for the first time and said, “Suck it!” Since Kane & X-Pac were the new champs, Taker targeted X-Pac and gave him a Tombstone.

The Match: Kane and X-Pac keep Taker and Show at bay with clotheslines, crossbodies, and strikes. Kane also saves X-Pac from a chokeslam and gives Taker a flying clothesline. But the rally ends when Taker catches a ducking Kane with a DDT. Then Taker and Show use frequent tags, corner offense, and ref distractions. Show even press slams X-Pac on the barricade and into the ring. Pac almost rebounds, but Taker and Show attack his poor crotch. Afterward, Show puts X-Pac in a bear hug until Pac bites his way free. It finally takes a series of low blows before Kane gets a hot tag.

Kane cleans house with clotheslines while X-Pac uses kicks and dives. Plus, Pac shoves Taker into the post and gives Show a Bronco Buster. But Show scores a chokeslam while Taker and Kane brawl outside. The problem is, Show does an arrogant one-foot cover and gets two. It infuriates Taker. He tags himself in and nails a Tombstone for the win.

Thoughts: It was okay. I wouldn’t say it set the world on fire, but I liked the story they told with the finish. Plus, the crowd was hot for the action. This was no technical marvel, but it got the job done. So it’s fine.

Winners: The Undertaker & Big Show (New Champions) (12:01)

Despite winning the belts, Taker and Show look upset. While Show raises his title, Taker glares at him. JR says they will discuss things when they reach the locker room. Then Lawler gives X-Pac credit for hanging in there.

Meanwhile, Ventura gives Austin the same speech he gave the others. But Austin ignores him and walks away from the conversation. So Jesse asks where he is going. Ventura says it’s Austin’s title on the line. He better listen!

Afterward, Billy Gunn brings his surprise to the ring. They are still hiding under the blanket, so Lawler compares them to a lounge chair. Mr. Ass takes the mic and talks about his Kiss My Ass Match with The Rock. Billy says The Rock won’t kiss his ass if he loses. He will kiss hers! With that said, Gunn removes the blanket to reveal a large woman. Gunn says The Rock will smell what her ass is cooking. He also jumps Rocky when he arrives.

Kiss My Ass Match: The Rock vs. Mr. Ass

Storyline: The Rock had enough of Billy Gunn. He threatened to rip Gunn’s lips off and shove them up his ass. This gave Gunn an idea. He challenged Rocky to a Kiss My Ass Match. The loser must kiss the winner’s backside. It led to Rock vs. Gunn & Chyna in a handicap fight. A brawl between Triple H and Austin interrupted it, which allowed Rock to pin Gunn after a People’s Elbow. In retaliation, Gunn mocked Rocky’s ass with a picture of a large posterior. Rock countered by saying it was Gunn’s mama. Then Rock paid a masseuse to rub poison ivy on Gunn’s ass. Gunn’s itchy ass prevented him from costing Rock a win against the Big Show. Once Rocky revealed the prank, Gunn attacked him with a Kendo Stick. Afterward, Gunn shoved Rock’s face against his ass.

The Match: They brawl around the arena and the Lion’s Den. Then the action heads to the announce table where Rock hits Mr. Ass with King’s crown! He also spits water in Gunn’s face, but Billy whacks Rocky with the ring bell. Back in the ring, they trade strikes and clotheslines until Gunn lands a neckbreaker. He continues with a Stinger Splash. But Rocky rebounds with a float-over DDT and swinging neckbreaker. Plus, Rock hits a Samoan Drop. A Rock Bottom attempt is next, but Gunn reverses and does the Fameasser. Instead of covering, he invites the woman into the ring. She lifts her skirt to reveal ripped pantyhose, which makes Lawler laugh. However, Rock fights it and shoves Billy’s face into her ass. Finally, Rock wins with the Rock Bottom and People’s Elbow.

Thoughts: This wasn’t bad and it the antics were amusing. Plus, it got a great reaction. But it didn’t do either man any favors, especially Gunn. Both men deserved something better. The feud killed any chance of Gunn’s push working. Also, I felt bad for the lady. JR and King mocked her throughout the entire contest.

Winner: The Rock (10:12)

After recapping the insanity that led to the main event, we get Jesse Ventura’s entrance. The Fink calls him the most powerful referee in the WWF’s history. Once he arrives, Jesse takes the mic. He says the media called him a disgrace for being at this show. However, he is proud of his wrestling career and proud to be here tonight! This leads to the participants’ entrances. Ventura warns Chyna not to get involved, so Hunter gets in Jesse’s face. Hunter also brawls with Austin when he gets to the ring.

Triple Threat Match for the WWF Title: Mankind vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. Triple H (w/ Chyna)

Storyline: Helmsley swore no one would prevent him from winning the WWF Title. Hunter even threatened JR and brawled with Austin. Because of this, Ventura showed up on RAW to lay down the law. Then HBK appeared and booked Hunter vs. Austin vs. Taker. But someone attacked Austin with a cinder block. Therefore, HBK changed it to Hunter vs. Chyna vs. Taker for Triple H’s title shot! Austin helped Chyna win, so Chyna was now Austin’s SummerSlam opponent! Hunter tried asking nicely before demanding a match with Chyna. However, Mankind returned and ruined it! He also wanted a chance. This led to Chyna vs. Mankind, which Chyna lost. Afterward, Hunter fought Mankind with Shane and HBK as refs. But a controversial finish left uncertainty around the SummerSlam bout. As a result, Linda McMahon made it a Triple Threat.

The Match: Austin and Mick work together until it becomes a brawl around the ring. Jesse can’t follow all the action. A confrontation between Mankind and Chyna allows Hunter to use a chair behind Ventura’s back. Also, Chyna crotches Mankind on the post, so Jesse ejects her. Hunter complains until Austin attacks him. Next, Hunter and Mankind cooperate to attack Austin, but it doesn’t last. After more crowd brawling, Austin gives Mankind a Stunner. So Hunter breaks the pin with a chair and clocks Mankind. But Ventura refuses to count because of the chair. This draws Shane to the ring to complain, and he eats a Stunner for his trouble.

Afterward, Jesse throws Shane outside and says it’s for his old man. Austin even taunts him, but he trips and gets caught in the ropes. Once Hunter frees him, both men go down to a double clothesline. It opens the door for Mankind’s Socko Claw, which he turns into a double claw on Hunter and Austin! But Austin ends it with a low blow and nails the Stunner on Helmsley. When he covers, Mick stops the pin. It lets Hunter recover, and he gives Austin a Pedigree. However, Mankind shoves Hunter away and nails a Double-Arm DDT on Austin for the win!

Thoughts: This was the good kind of chaos. They had to add bells and whistles because Austin is dealing with injuries. It worked. This was entertaining and told a nice story. Also, Jesse did a fine job. He added to the bout as opposed to taking away from it. Now Hunter has a storyline reason to feel slighted. Plus, they went with the unpredictable ending. There are conflicting reports about why Mankind won. Some claim Austin played politics. The rumor was he didn’t think Triple H was ready. But I didn’t buy that. I think they wanted the surprise factor, and they wanted to pop a rating for another match on TV.

Winner: Mankind (New Champion) (16:23)

Ross says Mrs. Foley’s baby boy came in the back door and won the title! (Oh my!) Then Ventura raises Foley’s hand and they leave. JR says they will interview Mick, but that doesn’t happen. Triple H interrupts their plans by attacking Austin with a chair. He goes after Steve’s knee while Chyna returns and keeps the officials at bay. JR begs someone to stop this before Hunter cripples Austin. Once he knocks Austin out of the ring, Hunter shoves the officials and leaves.

The Good:

• The main event was entertaining.

• The opener was solid.

• Tag Team Turmoil was good.

• The Hardcore Match was fun.

• Test/Shane was great.

The Bad:

• Ivory/Tori was bad.

• The treatment of Billy Gunn’s surprise woman hasn’t aged well.

Observations:

• I kept seeing this fan’s sign that advertised a website called Gerweck.net. I looked it up out of curiosity. The page still exists. It’s one of those wrestling news sites.

• They never explained why Chyna stayed with Triple H. He treated her horribly during the build for SummerSlam, but she acted like nothing happened.

• If you’ve never heard Austin tell the story of getting caught in the ropes during the main event, look up the clip. It’s hilarious. I can’t do it justice.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to Shane McMahon. He put on a great performance and showed a taste of the craziness to come.

Final Thoughts:

Other than the women’s title bout, this was an amazing show. SummerSlam was another example of the variety the WWF had at the time. Plus, they gave us glimpses of the future. This PPV doesn’t get the love it deserves. People like this, but they never mention it in the great SummerSlams discussion. This is a slightly underappreciated gem.

Thank you for reading. My next review is WCW’s Fall Brawl ’99. Look for it next Sunday!