Summerslam ‘97 is taglined with Hart and Soul and it should be as this is headlined by Bret Hart and Undertaker with HBK as the special guest referee. We have the blimp inside the arena for this one and in over one hundred countries and seven different languages is the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment. The opening video package for this is absolutely fantastic all on it’s own and is worth a youtube search if you don’t have time to watch the whole PPV. Stridex is once again the sponsor for Summerslam and we begin with a pryo going off and a cage around the ring.
Mankind vs. HHH: This is such an underrated feud because it spanned over such a long time. For the first time ever we have Jerry Lawler, Vince McMahon and Jim Ross as the announce team. HHH comes out flanked by Chyna and Mankind comes out to a very big ovation. I believe this comes off the heels of the interview with Jim Ross that talked about Dude Love and jumping off his roof. The bell rings and HHH does his best Owen Hart impression by trying to dive directly out of the cage door. These two have great chemistry no matter what kind of match it is, and again I think Mankind helped elevate HHH in his career. I guess if you need a big match have it with Mankind at Summerslam it’ll help you in the long run. These two are using the cage well and not having many wasted moves. HHH hits a big suplex from the top of the cage and has the opportunity to escape but doesn’t. Instead he throws Mankind into ever side of the cage and man is he hitting them hard. Mankind gets the upper hand back and he throws HHH all over the cage. Mankind then escapes the cage however climbs back to the top and drops the big elbow from the top of the cage!!!! The fans go CRAZY! Mankind now climbs to the top and over the cage as Chyna tries pulling HHH out of the cage. Winner Mankind. This is a very good cage match and I would highly recommend checking this one out. We have an early possibility for match of the night. After the match the Dude Love music hits and Mankind is up and he starts dancing around the ring.
Goldust vs. Brian Pillman: This feud I briefly talk about in my Re-Writing the book of Pillman. Before the match begins Pillman attacks Goldust from behind. Pillman looks fantastic right now and is in incredible shape. This match just can’t be bad with the two workers that are in it. We get a spot where Goldust kisses Pillman and then punches him to the outside of the ring. Pillman chases Marlena around the ring as Goldust is on the floor and then Pillman gets caught with a big Goldust clothesline. Very good back and forth match at this point with neither man taking complete control. I guess I should have mentioned that if Pillman loses he would have to wear an evening gown. We get Pillman blocking a sunset flip and Marlena taking her bag and smacking Pillman in the head and Goldust is the winner. Pillman destroys the mannequin that was modeling the dress he would have to wear.
The Godwins vs. Legion of Doom: The Godwins enter this match with a confederate flag in hand. We get a backstage interview with LOD who cuts an old school promo. LOD’s theme music is a thumper even to this day it gets me jacked. Man the Godwins are huge they are both towering over LOD who aren’t small dudes. Hawk hits a pretty cool lariat off the apron onto the floor to start this match. Fans chant LOD loudly right now! A traditional back and forth tag team match and Hawk is able to make the tag to animal who gets double teamed. Henry O Godwin goes over the top with Animal with a clothesline to the floor. Animal gets back to the apron and knocked back off this time into the steel guard rail. Animal makes the hot tag and Hawk cleans house. LOD aren’t able to do the doomsday device instead they hit a spike piledriver onto Henry O’Godwin for the victory.
Sable and Todd Pettengil are calling people to giveaway one million dollars. The gimmick has them pick a number and it aligns with a key and if the key opens the box they get a million dollars. Sunny jumps in front of the camera at one point almost like i’m pretty too. The key to unlock the million dollars was key number three.
Ken Shamrock vs. British Bulldog: During the entrance of Bulldog they promote HBK vs. Bulldog at One Night Only. If Bulldog loses this match he has to EAT A CAN OF DOG FOOD! Yep… I wonder who booked this match. Shamrock comes to the ring with such intensity and this match beings QUICK. Shamrock hits a quick belly to belly and then begins beating Bulldog all around the ring. Shamrock with a cool reversal into a form of the ankle lock. You know sometimes when you aren’t great at something if you do it with intensity it helps hide how imperfect it is and that’s what Shamrock is doing. Bulldog finally gets the upperhand and I believe the fans start to chant USA to rally Shamrock back. Shamrock busts his mouth open and and Bulldog smears dog food on Shamrocks head. This leads Shamrock to SNAPPING and getting disqualified when he HITS BULLDOG WITH A CAN OF DOG FOOD! Shamrock shoves the referee and begins putting the boots to Bulldog. Shamrock then chokes Bulldog out in the middle of the ring.
Los Boriquas vs. Disciples of Apocalypse: The Boriquas are out first and they go and shake the hands of the spanish announce team. Raise your hand if you remember that Savio Vega had his own faction. DOA comes out on motorcycles, and i’ve heard some people say that Corbin should be doing the same thing. We have ourselves a good old fashion eight man tag team match. DOA puts a big beatdown on Jesus (HEY-ZEUS). Savio Vega helps get the upperhand with a pretty cool spin kick that has him end up outside the ring. This match breaks down when the Nation of Domination come out and Chainz punches Ahmed Johnson and catches a really scary looking pearl river plunge on the concrete. Vega rolls Chainz in the ring and the Boriquas win the match. After the match the Boriquas, Nation and DOA all brawl outside the ring.
Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart (IC Title Match): Owen enters the match with not much of reaction however he is wearing the IC title and carrying two slammy’s. Man I remember the Jakk’s Pacific action figures and the Hart Foundation figures were so cool because of the leather jackets. Michael Cole tries to get an interview with Austin asking about what Austin thinks about the stipulation that if he loses he has to kiss Owen’s ass. The glass breaks and the crowd goes bonkers! You can really see it here that despite Austin not being in the main event he’s the guy the fans are here to see. Owen attacks Austin’s knee during Austin’s corner poses. Austin hits the Lou Thez Press and the crowd is on FIRE for Austin right now. Austin and Owen finally start to do some chain wrestling and Austin gives him the old poke in the eye to regain control. Its really insane at how much the crowd is behind Austin right now, not because of talent but because he hasn’t been in the main event yet. Austin throws some of the bset punches in the business. Oh no…. we get the tombstone spot and you can see the worry on Owen’s face. It’s a shame too this match has been very good and the ending is this. Owen is doing what he can knowing Austin is really hurt and Austin gets the worst rollup in the history of pro wrestling and the FANS GO NUTS! You can clearly see something is wrong and of course we know what it is but man this is kind of scary, even Lawler says “He may have a broken neck”. Guess what Jerry, you’re right. Austin is helped to the back by the referee’s and they show a replay of the accident.
Undertaker vs. Bret Hart (WWF Title): Bret is out and the play the canadian national anthem and he is the face of non US fans. Out next is Shawn Michaels to a large and just think ¾ of the faces of the new generation is in the match. Also come this time the next year only one of those faces would be in the WWF moving into the attitude era. Michaels is really hamming up his entrance more than usual here and it’s probably him peacocking a little. Bret looks disgusted at the sight of Shawn Michaels in the ring. Oh up next just may be the most iconic entrance in all of wrestling THE UNDERTAKER. We get an explosion when Undertaker brings the lights back on and the fans go wild. Crazy stat thrown out my JR that Hart and Undertaker have combined only to lose two Summerslam matches between them at this point. If Bret loses this match he will never be able to wrestle in the US again.
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Wow I think I’ve finally seen a Summerslam that I enjoyed more than ‘88. Outside of the eight man tag match being a bit of a let down the rest of this card is solid to good. Three candidates for match of the night. Two matches that have long time consequences from the results. We get the amazing HBK and Undertaker Hell in a Cell because of the main event. The match of the night was very close between the opener and the main event. I’m going to give it to the main event. Until Summerslam ‘98 be awesome.