SummerSlam
SummerSlam is an annual WWE pay-per-view event that is held in August of every year. The first SummerSlam was held on August 29, 1988 in Madison Square Garden in New York City. SummerSlam is regarded as the second biggest pay per view of the year after WrestleMania. Some fans of the WWE call it one of the 'Big Four', as it was one of the original four annual WWE pay per views, and one of the four that bring together both the Raw and Smackdown! brands onto the same card, something that hasn't been true of the remaining pay per views of the year since 2003.
SummerSlam has seen more Ladder Matches than any other World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Pay-Per-View. 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2005 all featured Ladder Matches. However in April 2006 WrestleMania 22, WrestleMania tied with PPV Ladder matches. (1994, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006.)
Results
1988
August 29, 1988, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
- The British Bulldogs battled the Rougeau Brothers to a 20-minute draw
- Bad News Brown pinned Ken Patera
- Rick Rude defeated Junkyard Dog by Disqualification
- The Powers of Pain defeated the Bolsheviks
- Brother Love Show: Jim Duggan
- The Ultimate Warrior pinned the Honky Tonk Man w/Jimmy Hart to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship in 30 seconds.
- Brutus Beefcake was originally supposed to be the challenger for the Intercontinental Championship
- Dino Bravo w/Frenchie Martin pinned Don Muraco
- WWF World Tag Team Champions Demolition w/Mr Fuji and Jimmy Hart defeated The Hart Foundation to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship
- Big Boss Man w/Slick pinned Koko B. Ware
- Jake "the Snake" Roberts pinned Hercules
- The Mega Powers (WWF Champion Macho Man Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan) w/Miss Elizabeth defeated The Mega Bucks (André the Giant & The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase) w/Bobby Heenan and Virgil
1989
August 28, 1989, Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey One of the most infamous bloopers in pro wrestling history took place at Summerslam '89. Backstage announcer "Mean" Gene Okerlund was set to interview then-WWF Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude and Rude's manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan prior to Rude's title defense against The Ultimate Warrior when the Summerslam backdrop fell backwards. An off-camera Vince McMahon could be heard saying "Nice move", followed by Okerlund yelling "Fuck it". The cameras immediately cut away to a live shot of the crowd, with play-by-play announcer Tony Schiavone and color commentator Jesse "The Body" Ventura immediately attempting to restore order. After a short while, Okerlund's interview with Rude and Heenan proceeded without incident.
- The World Tag Team Champions, The Brain Busters defeated the Hart Foundation in a non-title match (The Brain Busters won the title a week before the event from Demolition. The match was already signed between them and the Hart Foundation before they won the belts, so it was explained in kayfabe that they were not forced to defend the belts because there was no championship to defend when the match was signed.)
- Dusty Rhodes defeated the Honky Tonk Man by pinfall (Honky Tonk got hit by his own guitar)
- Mr. Perfect pinned the Red Rooster
- The Rougeau Brothers & Rick Martel defeated The Rockers & Tito Santana
- The Ultimate Warrior pinned Rick Rude to win the Intercontinental Championship
- Demolition & Jim Duggan defeated Andre the Giant & the Twin Towers (The Big Boss Man and Akeem)
- Hercules defeated Greg "the Hammer" Valentine by Disqualification
- Ted DiBiase defeated "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka by countout
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan & Brutus Beefcake defeated Randy Savage & Zeus
1990
August 27, 1990, The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Power & Glory defeated the Rockers
- Sensational Sherri defeated Sapphire because Sapphire never showed up
- The Warlord pinned Tito Santana
- Jake "the Snake" Roberts defeated Bad News Brown by Disqualification (Big Boss Man was the special guest referee)
- Nikolai Volkoff & Jim Duggan def. the Orient Express
- Randy Savage pinned Dusty Rhodes
- The Texas Tornado pinned Mr. Perfect to win the Intercontinental Championship
- Brutus Beefcake was originally supposed to be the challenger for the Intercontinental Championship
- The Hart Foundation defeated Demolition in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match to win the World Tag-Team Championship
- The Hart Foundation challenges the tag champions for the third straight year at SummerSlam
- Hulk Hogan defeated Earthquake by Countout
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion the Ultimate Warrior defeated Rick Rude in a Steel Cage match
1991
August 26, 1991, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
SummerSlam 1991 was dubbed "A Match Made In Heaven, A Match Made In Hell" for its twin main events, listed at the bottom, this was also the final appearance of The Ulitmate Warrior during his first tenure with the company, as he held the WWF up for money prior to the main event, upon finishing the match, he was released instantaneously, and would not return until WrestleMania VIII. Also this was Hulk Hogan's last Summerslam appearance before his match with Shawn Michaels in 2005.
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, the British Bulldog & the Texas Tornado defeated the Warlord & Power and Glory
- The Natural Disasters defeated The Bushwackers
- Virgil pinned Ted DiBiase to win the Million Dollar Belt
- Big Boss Man pinned The Mountie in a Jailhouse Match. As a result, The Mountie had to spend 24 hours in a New York City jail.
- The Legion of Doom defeated The Nasty Boys for the World Tag-Team Championship
- Bret Hart defeated Mr. Perfect via submission to win the Intercontinental Championship
- Irwin R. Schyster pinned Greg "the Hammer" Valentine
- The Match Made in Hell: WWF Champion Hulk Hogan & the Ultimate Warrior defeated Sgt. Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa & General Adnan in a Handicap Match (with special guest referee Sid Justice)
- The Match Made in Heaven: The on-screen wedding of "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth, who in real life had been married since 1984
WWE SummerSlam 1991 Comprehensive Results
1992
August 29, 1992, Wembley Stadium, London, England SummerSlam 1992 was the only SummerSlam ever to take place in an open air venue. The event attracted 80,355 fans to Wembley Stadium in London, England.
- The Legion of Doom defeated Money Inc.
- Nailz defeated Virgil
- Shawn Michaels and Rick Martel battled to a double countout
- World Tag-Team Champions the Natural Disasters defeated the Beverly Brothers to retain the championsip
- Crush defeated Repo Man
- Ric Flair defeated WWF Champion Randy Savage by countout
- The Undertaker defeated Kamala by Disqualification
- The British Bulldog pinned Bret Hart to win the Intercontinental Championship
WWE SummerSlam 1992 Comprehensive Results
- This event is known for having one of the, if not the, biggest live crowd ever at a WWF/WWE event, over 80 000 people were at the event.
1993
August 30, 1993, Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan
- Razor Ramon pinned Ted DiBiase
- World Tag-Team Champions the Steiner Brothers (Scott & Rick) defeated the Heavenly Bodies to retain the championship
- Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels w/Diesel defeated Mr. Perfect by countout to retain the championship
- Irwin R. Schyster pinned 1-2-3 Kid
- Bret Hart defeated Doink via disqualification
- Jerry Lawler defeated Bret Hart by reverse decision
- Ludvig Borga defeated Marty Jannetty by submission
- The Undertaker pinned Giant Gonzales in a Rest in Peace Match
- Tatanka & The Smokin' Gunns defeated The Headshrinkers & Bam Bam Bigelow
- Lex Luger defeated WWF Champion Yokozuna by countout
WWE SummerSlam 1993 Comprehensive Results
1994
August 29, 1994, United Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Bam Bam Bigelow & I.R.S. defeated the Headshrinkers
- Women's Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Bull Nakano
- Razor Ramon w/Walter Payton pinned Diesel w/Shawn Michaels to win the Intercontinental Championship
- Tatanka pinned Lex Luger
- Jeff Jarrett pinned Mabel
- WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a Steel Cage Match
- The Undertaker pinned the "fake Undertaker".
WWE SummerSlam 1994 Comprehensive Results
1995
August 27, 1995, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Hakushi pinned 1-2-3 Kid
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Sparky Plugg
- The Smoking Gunns defeated Jacob & Eli Blu
- Barry Horowitz pinned Skip
- Bertha Faye defeated Alundra Blayze to win the Women's Championship after pinning her with a Sit Out Powerbomb.
- Undertaker defeated Kama in a Casket Match
- Bret Hart defeated Isaac Yankem by Disqaulification
- Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Razor Ramon in a Ladder Match
- WWF Champion Diesel pinned Mabel
WWE SummerSlam 1995 Comprehensive Results
1996
August 18, 1996, Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin pinned Yokozuna
- Owen Hart pinned Savio Vega
- World Tag-Team Champions the Smoking Gunns defeated the Bodydonnas, the New Rockers and the Godwinns in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Tag-Team match
- Sycho Sid pinned the British Bulldog
- Goldust pinned Marc Mero
- Jerry "the King" Lawler pinned Jake "the Snake" Roberts
- Mankind defeated Undertaker in a Boiler Room Brawl
- WWF Champion Shawn Michaels pinned Vader
- Vader had originally won the match on both a disqualification and a count-out, but his manager Jim Cornette demanded the match restart both times. This match is also slightly infamous for Michaels attitude problems.
WWE SummerSlam 1996 Comprehensive Results
1997
August 3, 1997, Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Mankind defeated Triple H in a Cage Match
- Goldust pinned Brian Pillman
- The Legion of Doom defeated the Godwinns
- European Champion the British Bulldog defeated Ken Shamrock by Disqualification
- Los Boricuas defeated D.O.A.
- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin pinned Owen Hart for the Intercontinental Championship
- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin had his neck broken when Owen Hart botched a piledriver. The injury eventually led to Austin's current retirement from in-ring action.
- Bret Hart pinned Undertaker to win the WWF Championship (Shawn Michaels was the special guest referee)
WWE SummerSlam 1997 Comprehensive Results
1998
August 30, 1998, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
The theme song was "Highway to Hell", by AC/DC.
- European Champion D'Lo Brown defeated Val Venis by Disqualification
- The Oddities defeated Kaientai
- X-Pac pinned Jeff Jarrett in a Hair vs. Hair Match
- Edge & Sable defeated Marc Mero & Jacqueline
- Ken Shamrock defeated Owen Hart in a Lion's Den Match
- New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) defeated Mankind & Kane to win the World Tag-Team Championship
(Note: Kane no showed for this match, which left Mankind without a partner.)
- Triple H defeated The Rock in a Ladder Match to win the Intercontinental Championship
- WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin pinned Undertaker
- During The Undertaker's entrance, fireworks were scheduled to go off in the ring. Referee Earl Hebner was in the ring at the time, and someone could be heard yelling "Get out Earl!" Hebner barely escaped the ring before the fireworks went off.
WWE SummerSlam 1998 Comprehensive Results
1999
August 22, 1999, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Jeff Jarrett pinned D'Lo Brown to win the Intercontinental and European Championships
- The Acolytes (Farooq and Bradshaw) defeated Edge & Christian, Hardy Boyz, Hardcore and Crash Holly, Droz & Prince Albert and Mideon & Viscera
- Al Snow pinned Big Boss Man to win the Hardcore Championship
- Women's Champion Ivory pinned Tori
- Ken Shamrock defeated Steve Blackman in a Lion's Den Weapons Match
- Test pinned Shane McMahon in a Love-Her-or-Leave-Her Greenwich Street Fight
- The Rock pinned Billy Gunn in a Kiss My Ass Match
- Undertaker & Big Show defeated X-Pac and Kane to win the World Tag-Team Championship
- Mankind pinned Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF Championship in a Triple Threat Match also involving Triple H (Jesse "The Body" Ventura was Special Guest Referee)
WWE SummerSlam 1999 Comprehensive Results
2000
August 27, 2000, Entertainment and Sports Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Right to Censor defeated Too Cool & Rikishi in a 6-Man Tag Team Match (4:57)
- X-Pac defeated Road Dogg (4:31)
- Mixed Tag Team WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Chyna & Eddie Guerrero def. Val Venis & Trish Stratus (Chyna pinned Trish to win the Intercontinental Championship) (7:04)
- Jerry Lawler defeated Tazz (4:21)
- Steve Blackman pinned Shane McMahon to win the WWF Hardcore Championship (10:17)
- Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match (13:01)
- TLC Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship: Edge & Christian def. Hardy Boyz & Dudley Boyz to retain the titles (18:38)
- Stink Face Match: The Kat, with Al Snow, def. Terri, with Perry Saturn
- Undertaker vs. Kane ended in a no contest when The Undertaker took of Kane's mask(7:33)
- Triple Threat Match (No Disqualification, No Count Out) for the WWF Championship: The Rock def. Kurt Angle & Triple H when The Rock pinned Triple H (20:11)
WWE SummerSlam 2000 Comprehensive Results
2001
August 19, 2001, Compaq Center, San Jose, California
The theme song was "Bodies", by Drowning Pool.
This is the only SummerSlam to feature both WWF and WCW Championship matches.
- Sunday Night HEAT: Lita, Jacqueline and Molly Holly (WWF) def. Ivory, Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson (Alliance) when Lita pinned Ivory.
- Edge (WWF) pinned Lance Storm (Alliance) to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship (10:21)
- The Dudley Boyz and Test (Alliance) defeated The APA and Spike Dudley (WWF) in a 6-Man Tag Team Match (7:21)
- X-Pac (WWF) defeated Tajiri (WWF) to unify the WWF Light Heavyweight and WCW Cruiserweight Championships (7:38)
- Chris Jericho (WWF) defeated Rhyno (Alliance) via submission (12:34)
- Rob Van Dam (Alliance) defeated Jeff Hardy (WWF) in a Ladder Match to win the WWF Hardcore Championship (16:33)
- WCW Tag Team Champions Undertaker and Kane (WWF) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon (Alliance) in a Steel Cage Match to unify the titles (10:15)
- Kurt Angle (WWF) defeated WWF Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (Alliance) via disqualification (21:00); Austin retains title
- The Rock (WWF) pinned Booker T (Alliance) to win the WCW Championship (15:22)
WWE SummerSlam 2001 Comprehensive Results
2002
August 25, 2002, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
The official theme song was called "Fight", by Jim Johnston.
- Sunday Night HEAT Match: Spike Dudley def. Steven Richards
- Kurt Angle defeated Rey Mysterio via submission (9:25)
- Ric Flair defeated Chris Jericho via submission (10:25)
- Edge pinned Eddie Guerrero (11:44)
- World Tag Team Champions Lance Storm & Christian defeated Booker T & Goldust to retain the titles (9:40)
- Rob Van Dam (RAW) defeated Chris Benoit (Smackdown!) to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship (16:30)
- Undertaker pinned Test (8:10)
- Shawn Michaels pinned Triple H in an Unsanctioned match (27:50)
- Shawn Michaels made his return to the ring in an Unsanctioned match against Triple H.
- Brock Lesnar defeated The Rock to win the WWE Undisputed Championship (15:58)
- Brock Lesnar became WWE's youngest WWE Undisputed Champion.
- Trivia
- Following the main event, The Rock remained in the ring to entertain the crowd. He began with his usual catchphrase, "Finally, the Rock has come back..." but was cut off by massive booing from the crowd. He paused for a moment and tried it again, but met the same results. He then stated that, "It doesn't matter where the Rock has come back to." He then attempted another catchphrase, getting out "If you smell," before he was met with boos once again. He then stated, "The People's Sing-along is over!" and left the ring to chants of "You sold out!"
WWE SummerSlam 2002 Comprehensive Results
2003
August 24, 2003, US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
The official theme song is "St. Anger", by Metallica.
- Rey Mysterio retained his Cruiserweight title against Shannon Moore on Sunday Night HEAT
- Matt Hardy defeated Zach Gowen via forfeit on Sunday Night HEAT
- World Tag Team Champions La Résistance defeated Dudley Boyz to retain the titles (7:51)
- The Undertaker defeated A-Train by pinfall (9:10)
- Shane McMahon defeated Eric Bischoff by pinfall in a match that became a No Disqualification Match halfway through (10:36)
- United States Champion Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit, Rhyno and Tajiri by pinfall to retain the title (10:50)
- This was the first United States Championship match in Summerslam History
- WWE Champion Kurt Angle defeated Brock Lesnar by submission to retain the title (21:19)
- This is the first time Brock Lesnar lost by submission
- Kane defeated Rob Van Dam by pinfall in a No Holds Barred Match
- World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeated Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels in an Elimination Chamber Match (19:16)
| Elimination #: | Wrestler: | Entrance: | Eliminated: | Elimination Move: | Time: |
| 1 | Kevin Nash | 4 | by Chris Jericho | Sweet Chin Music followed by rollup. | 8:09 |
| 2 | Randy Orton | 3 | by Goldberg | Spear | 13:01 |
| 3 | Shawn Michaels | 2 | by Goldberg | Jackhammer | 15:21 |
| 4 | Chris Jericho | 1 | by Goldberg | Jackhammer | 16:05 |
| 5 | Goldberg | 6 | by Triple H | Sledgehammer | 19:15 |
| WINNER | Triple H | 5 |
- Trivia
- After the match the entire WWE roster celebrated Vince McMahon's 58th birthday.
- The main event for SummerSlam 2003 was originally to be Goldberg versus Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, however HHH was suffering from a groin injury thus resulting in the Elimination Chamber.
2004
August 15, 2004, Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
The official theme song is "Summertime Blues", by Rush.
This was the first Summerslam that had both the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship was defended in standard singles matches.
- Sunday Night HEAT: Rob Van Dam defeated Rene Dupree
- Dudley Boyz (Bubba, D-Von & Spike) defeated Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Paul London in a 6-Man Tag Team Match (8:06)
- Kane defeated Matt Hardy via pinfall for the right to marry Lita in a "Till Death Do Us Part" Match (6:05)
- Match One in Best of Five series for WWE United States Championship: John Cena defeated Booker T (c) via pinfall (6:20)
- Triple Threat Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Edge (c) defeated Chris Jericho and Batista to retain the title (8:16)
- Diva Search Contestants def. RAW Divas in Diva Dodge Ball
- Kurt Angle defeated Eddie Guerrero via submission (13:36)
- Triple H defeated Eugene via pinfall (14:07)
- WWE Championship: John "Bradshaw" Layfield (c) defeated Undertaker via disqualification to retain the title (17:38)
- World Heavyweight Championship: Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit (c) via pinfall to become new champion (20:09)
- Randy Orton became the youngest person in WWE history to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Benoit vs. Orton the first Runner-Up for the 2004 Match of the Year.
WWE SummerSlam 2004 Comprehensive Results
2005
August 21, 2005, MCI Center, Washington, D.C.
The two theme songs were "Get it Poppin'", by Fat Joe (featuring Nelly), and "Remedy", by Seether.
- Sunday Night HEAT: Chris Masters defeated The Hurricane via submission
- WWE United States Championship: Chris Benoit defeated Orlando Jordan via submission to become new champion (0:25)
- This was the quickest United States title change to took place in a match, lasting 25 and a half seconds.
- Edge defeated Matt Hardy via technical knock-out (4:00)
- Ladder match for the custody of Dominick: Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero (20:16)
- No Time Limit: Kurt Angle defeated Eugene via submission (3:51)
- This is Angle's fourth consecutive Summerslam victory via submission using his ankle lock
- Randy Orton defeated The Undertaker via pinfall (17:11)
- WWE Championship: John Cena (c) defeated Chris Jericho via pinfall to retain (14:46)
- No Holds Barred World Heavyweight Championship: Batista (c) defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield via pinfall to retain (9:08)
- Icon vs. Legend: Hulk Hogan defeated Shawn Michaels via pinfall (21:26)
WWE SummerSlam 2005 Comprehensive Results
2006
The event will take place on August 20, 2006 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Undertaker has competed at 14 consecutive Summerslam events (1992-2005), a record for both consecutive and overall appearances. His Summerslam win-loss record is 8-5-1.
2007
Template:Future PW The 2007 SummerSlam, the 20th anniversary of the event, will be held on August 26, 2007 at the arena where it all began, Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. This will be the fourth time SummerSlam will take place there, along with SummerSlam 1988, 1991, and 1998.