We open with a video package showing all three competitors in the main event along with the special guest referee Jesse the Body Ventura. Looking at this card I sure hope it’s better than the previous year’s Summerslam. I’m really surprised that I was down so much on that version however this being the last of the nineties and the height of the attitude era I am hoping we end the nineties with a classic. We open the show with a dual title match with both the european title and intercontinental title on the line. Let’s go to the action and of course the puppies.
Jeff Jarrett vs. D’ Lo Brown (IC & European Title Match): This match opens with Jeff Jarrett sending Debra back to the back after she enters in practically nothing covered with a long trench coat. We see Jarrett in the ring waiting on the champion and backstage D’ Lo has talked Debra into coming out with him. The crowd erupts for the return of Debra. We have a lot of puppy talk on commentary throughout the match. These two guys are really good workers and honestly I think Jarrett could be a star if we get away from the southern domestic dispute gimmick. D’ Lo has some awesome offense and if very underrated for the things he can do in the ring for a man of his size. Finally Jarrett goes for the guitar however Debra is on the apron and Jarrett is threatening to hit her with it. Mark Henry does a run in and he grabs the guitar and blasts D’ Lo in the back and Jarrett is now the eurocontinental champion. Ain’t he great? I don’t remember a group of Jarrett, Henry and Debra but boy could I get behind that.
Tag Team Turmoil Match: We start this match with Edge and Christian against the Hardy Boyz. The Hardyz are currently with Gangrel as the new brood. The crowd is very behind Edge and Christian. Of course these two teams have had chemistry, I think dating sites studied these four guys to study more about chemistry. We get a Jeff Swanton and my goodness he got incredible height. Now everything has broken down outside and we get Jeff running the apron and gets nailed by Edge. Gangrel tries to interfere and catches a second rope cross body from Christian. Edge and Christian get the pin fall and eliminate the Hardyz to a massive ovation. Now they have to take on Mideon and Viscera. They play up the different sizes. We get some offense but this is over pretty quickly we get a double drop kick in Viscera and a spear to Mideon. Edge and Christian move on to the next set of tag teams. Next up we have the forgotten tag team of Droz and Prince Albert. I’m sure this goes very well for these guys right? Pretty similar to the previous match with Mideon and Viscera except Edge hits the downward spiral for the win instead of the spear. Who remembers Edge used the downward spiral as a finish? Next up the Acolytes who are there right as the previous match finishes and man do these two look like monsters? I forgot how big these two guys were as a tag team. They decimate Edge as soon as they enter. Somehow Edge gets the hot tag and Christian hits a tornado DDT until Bradshaw almost kills him with a Clothesline from hell. The Acolytes are now in the finals? I guess it’s the finals… they are in the finals against the Holly Cousins. I remember this gimmick now they always argue and bicker and never win because of it. It’s a massacre and the Acolytes are the number one contenders and will have a tag title match the next night on raw.
We get Road Dogg out to challenge the winner of the hardcore title however on the titantron we see… 5….4…..3……2…..1…. BREAK THE WALLS DOWN! Jericho runs down Road Dogg as well as anything else associated with his spelling or the WWF in general. Jericho gets big heat interrupting possibly the most over mic guy in the business at the time. Road Dogg finishes with the fact he only has two words for Jericho…. Wanna guess?
Bossman vs. Al Snow (Hardcore Title Match): These were so fun for thirteen year old me. However watching this back I’m not as into it. Al Snow literally jumps Bossman as he’s perched on some scaffolding. Road Dogg begins as the traveling commentary guy for this match as they go all over the place. HA! Good stuff there from Road Dogg. They brawl across the street and into a local bar. Hey I wonder if they will run into the Acolytes celebrating. We have Al Snow rubbing a urinal cake in Bossmans face… yep that happened in ’99. Bossman smashes a drink over Road Dogg’s head and catches a nightstick from Al Snow for his troubles. Al Snow pins Bossman on a pool table. Yes ladies and gentlemen 1999 WWF looked like this. Urinal cakes and Pool tables as places to pin your opponent.
Ivory vs. Tori (Women’s Title match): If you want to know exactly the low point of women’s wrestling you may want to start here. This match is just hard to commentate about and it’s over rather quickly. Ivory gets the win because you know she can actually wrestle however Luna stops her from ripping Tori’s top off.
Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Blackmon (Lion’s Den Match): This has been an ongoing feud with Shamrock seemingly always getting the upper hand. WHOA! Blackmon goes full Michelangelo and pulls out nun chucks. These two guys may not be the best “workers” however they both hit with such intensity and stiffness its brutal looking. They are using the cage A LOT in this match and hitting each other with weapons that just happen to be around the ring. The commentators are a little confused on how you actually win whether it’s by KO, Submission or escaping the cage. Blackmon goes OFF on Shamrock with a Kendo stick which OF COURSE leads to Shamrock “Snapping” and going full ham on Blackmon. The bell rings and I guess Shamrock has won the match? Ok then let me just say I hope there is never another lion’s den match ever again.
Test vs. Shane McMahon (Love Her or Leave Her Street Fight): So Test and Stephanie are a thing and Shane isn’t cool with that. Got it. We have the mean street posse make their way to the ring with a couch a champagne waiting for them. Test goes full strong man on Shane to begin this match and actually throws him into the MSP. Of course the MSP have to retaliate and the crowd goes nuts with POSSE SUCKS chants. HA! Shane hits test with a portrait of the MSP. Damn Shane has been a crazy dude for a long time as he goes for a corkscrew senton off the top rope good for him. We get a ref bump and the Posse sets Test up on the Spanish announce table and we see what may be the first Shane O’Mac elbow off the top rope through the table spot. The crowd is going nuts for this match and it may be the most entertaining yet. THE STOOGE’S (Brisco and Patterson) are out to a THUNDEROUS pop wow. They take out the MSP and Test hits the meltdown and flying elbow for the victory. WOW! This match went from 0-60 quick and was a lot of fun to watch. So far this is my leader for match of the night. Stephanie and Test celebrate the victory and this being Test’s first PPV he definitely made it count.
X-Pac & Kane vs. Big Show & Undertaker (WWF Tag Titles): You know how we have Rollins and Ambrose getting back together? How we had Owens and Jericho together last year? This has been a WWF/E staple for a long time pairing up two main eventers for a tag title run or feud. We begin this match with a brawl and X-Pac hits the crotch chops to Undertaker and gets elbowed in his mouth for his troubles. Kane doing the top rope clothesline is still awesome to see especially against a guy like Big Show. X-Pac gets the early hot tag and Big Show throws him WAY over the top rope. We get a chokeslam a hot tag and another brawl erupts. This is a fun match. HA! X-Pac hits Big Show with a broncobuster and Big Show gave zero f’s about it. Undertaker tags himself in to show Big Show how to properly defeat X-Pac and we get a tombstone victory. New tag champs and that means on Raw the next night it’s Undertaker and Big Show vs. The Acololyte’s THAT”S FUN!
The Rock vs. Billy Gunn (Kiss My Ass Match): Billy Gunn is out with a woman who may be on the larger side of other women in the WWF. Apparently if Rock loses he will have to kiss her arse and not Billy Gunn’s. I’ve always loved the Rock’s punches every single time. Also the Rock float over DDT he did for years is also really fun to watch. It’s a shame the Billy Gunn singles run never worked but I see why he’s much better in a tag team. I’m not sure what it is about him his offense just isn’t as awesome in singles matches. I wonder if Big Cass will have the same fate. Rock goes for the Rock Bottom however Billy Gunn catches him with a FameAsser. Instead of going for the cover he invites the lady friend of his in the ring. This of course leads to Billy Gunn face first into her arse and the Rock getting the win. Man this PPV has been kind of a drag, let’s hope the main event wakes me back up.
Mankind vs. HHH vs. Steve Austin (WWF Title Match): Jesse is out first and says this is his state and he’s the boss and tells everyone he’s proud to have been a wrestler. We get nearly fifteen minutes in entrances between everyone and I loved HHH’s theme at this time. We get the two baby faces teaming up on HHH early before sweet Mankind gets hit head knocked off by Austin. Chyna interferes and Jesse says NOPE you leave please thanks. HHH and Mankind begin to work on Austin’s knee and HHH even gets Austin in a figure four and Mankind starts dropping leg drops on Austin. OUCH! Mankind just missed a dive off the apron and that looked like it hurt. Everything Mankind did during this run looks like it hurt. We get Austin and HHH brawling into the crowd and Jesse is like NOPE not in my crowd BACK IN THE RING! I like that Jesse acts as the authority in the ring and not a dope like most officials. HHH introduces a chair after a stunner to Mankind and a pin attempt by Austin. This is the match of the night they are constantly moving and fighting. HHH then nails Mankind with the chair however Jesse won’t count because of the chair shot. Shane comes out to protest and gets a Stunner and thrown over the top by Jesse. WOW the ends of this match is insane…. We have HHH and Austin go for a double KO, Mick gets both guys with the mandible claw, a pedigree and a double-arm DDT on Austin and Mankind is your new champion. This match is really awesome and saved this show from being down there with THOSE OTHER SUMMERSLAMS we know which ones I’m referring too. I definitely recommend going back to watch this match.
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A decent Summerslam with some good action throughout. You also have some duds however the Main event definitely saves the show. It’s the match of the night and is one of the better triple threats around this time. HHH shines in the main event spot and Mankind gets a huge pop even though he pins Austin. So have you watched Summerslam ’99 if so what did you think about it? Let me know and until Summerslam 2000 be awesome.