WWE SUMMERSLAM PPV FLASHBACK REPORT
AUGUST 22, 1999
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the program as fireworks shot off to start the event... Jesse Ventura told Chyna she could be at ringside, but if she interfered, she'd have to return to the back. Triple H told Ventura he'd break any rules he wanted to... They showed Chris Jericho backstage dealing with Howard Finkle, who is playing a Ralphus type role. Jericho told "Edward" to be on time. In the arena, the crowd popped huge for Jericho. He is absolutely perceived as a superstar already.

(1) Jeff Jarrett (w/Debra) pinned D–Lo Brown to capture the European Title and Intercontinental Title. Jarrett sent Debra to the back before the match. Backstage Debra suggested to D–Lo that she accompany him to the ring. It would turn out to be her way of luring him into a false sense of security. D–Lo came to the ring with Debra. Jarrett attacked D–Lo at the start of the match. D–Lo came back and got an early nearfall on Jarrett. At ringside Jarrett took over offense. D–Lo took some very good bumps. D–Lo came back and hit a powerbomb and got a big crowd pop. The crowd was really into the early action. D–Lo missed a flip splash when Jarrett moved out of his range. Debra jumped onto the ring apron. Mark Henry then came out. As Jarrett had his back turned to yell at Debra, Henry entered the ring. Henry, though, shifted behind an unsuspecting D–Lo and nailed him with a guitar. Jarrett then covered D–Lo for the win. Debra entered the ring and celebrated with Jarrett and the newly heel turned Henry. Debra pointed to her head, as if to say they outsmarted everyone. They left together. Good opener. (**1/2)

(2a) Edge & Christian beat The Hardy Boyz (w/Gangrel) at 5:00. At the start of the match, the crowd had settled down, but the rapid–fire highspots and fast bumps reignited them... (2b) Edge & Christian beat Midian & Viscera at 3:30 after Viscera accidentally splashed Midian in the corner... (2c) Edge & Christian beat Prince Albert & Droz when Edge pinned Albert at 1:30... (2d) The Acolytes beat Edge & Christian when Bradshaw pinned an exhausted Christian... (2e) The Acolytes beat Hardcore Holly & Crash Holly when Faarooq pinned Crash at 3:30. The Hollys argued, then brawled early in the match which led to their demise... The fast–paced series of matches had only a few dull moments, but it lacked credibility that so many pinfalls would take place in such rapid–fire fashion. (**)

Road Dogg came out and said pencils have erasers and he had been taken out of the Hardcore Title match. There was a huge explosion and Chris Jericho's music began. He walked onto the top edge of the Lion's Den and began scolding Dogg and the WWF for being boring. He called SummerSlam, "SummerSham." He said the fans were conned into watching boring matches and useless performers. Road Dogg finally said, "Why don't you shut up, bitch?" The crowd, on cue, said, "Suck it!"

(3) Al Snow pinned Big Bossman at 8:30 to capture the WWF Hardcore Title. Snow attacked Bossman at the start. They brawled to the back of the arena. The crowd in the arena immediately chanted "boring," upset that the action was only visible on the big screens. They also began a "Packers Suck" chant (in reference to the Minnesota Viking's top rival, the Green Bay Packers). Hundreds of fans filed to the concourse. They brawled out onto 7th Street and into the Blues Alley pub across from Target Center. They destroyed some furniture. Snow found time to make a pass at a woman at the bar. They brawled into the bathroom. Road Dogg did roaming commentary on the match and eventually hit Bossman. Snow then hit Bossman with pool balls in the balls and scored the pin. When Snow returned to Target Center, Blue Meanie and Stevie Richards attacked him. An entertaining spectacle. (*3/4)

Jesse Ventura talked to Mankind backstage. Mankind asked Ventura if he thought Geraldine Ferraro was overrated. Ventura said she was okay, but too liberal. Classic nonsequitor moment from Mick Foley.

(4) Ivory pinned Tori to retain the WWF Women's Title at 4:00. Just a terrible match. Both women looked like giant wet noodles in that none of the moves had any impact. Fans didn't care about the match until they began chanting "Take it off" to Ivory. Ivory unfastened Tori's top. Luna, making her WWF return, ran to the ring and ran off Ivory. Tori stood up and held her unfastened top in place with her hands. (neg. **)

(5) Ken Shamrock beat Steve Blackman at 10:00 in a Lion's Den Match. The match went on too long. The Lion's Den cage was positioned off to the side of the arena. Most of the fans lost focus on the match, although the fans seated near the cage were vocal at various points. The match was really flat. The format inside the small cage doesn't allow for much in the way of highspots, but Shamrock and Blackman didn't exactly innovate, either. They used some weapons, but the match never had the feeling of anything intense or dangerous. Shamrock won after he KO'd Blackman with a kendo stick. (1/2*)

(6) Test pinned Shane McMahon at 11:30. McMahon brought the Greenwich Street Posse to the ring with him. They sat in a makeshift living room conspicuously set up at ringside. Test attacked Shane at ringside. Shane came back right away and tackled Test in the ring in a good looking move, then threw him into the stairs at ringside. Test made his comeback and fought briefly with Shane among the fans. Test clotheslined Shane over the barrier back into the ringside area. He then powerslammed Shane, then stole some of Posse's champaign (which was brought out to them when they sat on the couch). He then picked up Shane and threw him into the Posse, knocking everyone over. . The Posse came back and shattered a glass framed picture over Test's head. Shane then rolled Test into the ring and scored a near fall on him. Shane then went to the top rope. When he came off with a moonsault, Test moved and Shane crashed hard. The Posse distracted the ref as Test covered Shane. Shane ducked Test's attempt to smash him in the face with his boot. Test's boot instead nailed the referee. With the ref down, Test clotheslined Shane over the top rope. Test hit Shane with a "Do Not Enter" sign. The Posse jumped into the ring and began teaming up on Test. The Posse threw Test onto the Spanish announcer's table. Shane then climbed the top rope. In a Mick Foley–like moment, Shane flew through the air and landed on Test with an elbow. They crushed the table as the crowd gasped. The The ref finally came to and began to count both men out of the ring. At the seven count, The Posse stopped the count. As one Posse member talked to the ref, the other Posse members rolled Test into the ring, then placed Shane on top of him. They splashed Shane with water to revive him. It appeared to be the finish, but Test kicked out. The crowd popped huge. The Posse's next attempt to hit Test with a metal sign backfired; it hit Shane instead. Test went for the cover, but Shane kicked out. Another convincing, dramatic near fall. As one of the Posse hit Test with the cast on his arm, Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco ran out. They received—and this is no exaggeration—a pop that rivaled what Rock and Austin received. It might have been the biggest of the night since this match completely captivated the crowd. Test kicked a chair into the Posse, then gave Shane his powerslam and scored the pin. Good match that the crowd ate up, but it came across as meticulously orchestrated. After the match Stephanie ran out to celebrate with Test. (***)

(7) Undertaker & Big Show beat X–Pac & Kane when Undertaker pinned X–Pac at 11:00 to capture the WWF Tag Team Titles. Kane wrestled more of the match early than you'd expect. The hot–tag to X–Pac got a big pop. X–Pac used low-blows to gain advantages on Undertaker and Big Show during the match. In the end, X-Pac kicked out after a Big Show chokeslam, but a minute later Undertaker tombstoned him for the win. Solid action. (**1/2)

(8) The Rock pinned Mr. Ass at 10:00. Gunn brought a person covered in a sheet to the ring. He revealed it to be the proverbial "fat lady" whose ass Rock would have to kiss if he lost. They brawled up to the staging area early in the match. They returned to the ring at 5:00 where Gunn took over offense. Eventually Rock hit a DDT out of nowhere. As both men lay on the mat, the ref began to count them down. Rock got up first and scored two near falls. Eventually Gunn had Rock where he wanted him so The Fat Lady entered the ring. Rock reversed Gunn and shoved his face into the Fat Lady's exposed butt (which was covered with underwear with a hole in it). Rock then gave the stunned Gunn the Rock Bottom and People's Elbow for the win. The match wasn't especially crisp or dramatic and lacked any heart or soul. It was just a solid, going-through-the–motions match. (**1/2)

(9) Mankind pinned Steve Austin to capture the WWF Title in a three–way including Triple H (w/Chyna) at 16:20. Jesse Ventura was introduced first. He got a solid crowd pop, but strangely nothing close to that of Patterson and Brisco or Austin. He grabbed the house mic and said the media have given him a hard time about being involved in the match, but he is proud to be a wrestler." Triple H came out and got in Ventura's face. At the start of the match, Mankind tripped Triple H coming off the ropes. Mankind whipped Hunter into Austin. After their early teamwork seemed to click, Mankind offered a handshake to Austin. Austin paused, then punched Mankind. They brawled at ringside at 2:00. Austin choked Triple H at ringside as Ventura scolded Chyna at ringside. Mankind, meanwhile, was selling inside the ring. Chyna yanked Mankind's legs so he crotched the ringpost. Ventura ordered Chyna return to the back. As Mankind nursed his privates, Austin and Triple H brawled at ringside. Triple H began working over Austin's knee. Triple H and Mankind began double–teaming Austin. When Austin attempted a comeback, he limped badly. At 11:00 Austin escaped Triple H's Pedigree attempt and catapulted him into Mankind in the corner. Austin gave Mankind a stunner and covered him. Hunter nailed Austin with a chair during the pin attempt. Triple H also nailed Mankind, then covered him for a pin attempt. Ventura stepped back, leaned into the corner, and refused to count. Hunter threw a fit. Shane McMahon ran out to protest Ventura's refusal to count the pin. Shane trash–talked Ventura. Ventura threw Shane over the top rope, then said, "That's for your old man, you little bastard." As Shane left, Austin stood on the second rope to yell something. He slipped and flipped over, with his leg getting badly caught in the ropes. Austin was either blushing in embarrassment or laughter. Triple H had to help Austin's leg get free from the ropes. The director on PPV cut away from the ring to show the situation at ringside. Ross didn't acknowledge Austin's slip during his commentary. Back in the ring, Mankind put on Mr. Socko and applied the Mandible Claw to both Austin and Triple H with separate hands. Both managed to escape. As Triple H went for a Pedigree on Mankind, Austin stopped it by clotheslining Triple H. Austin rammed their heads together. Austin then gave Triple H a Pedigree, stealing his finisher. Mankind stopped the count. Triple H then gave Austin the Pedigree. Mankind stole the cover and Ventura counted to three. Ventura stood up and held three fingers in the air. It actually confused just about everyone in the building including the time keeper. He rang the bell once, but then saw Ventura holding his fingers in the air and stopped ringing the bell. When a match is over, a wrestling ref is supposed to wave his hand toward the time keeper to ring the bell. Instead, Ventura held up his fingers. No one at first could tell if Ventura was actually signalling he only counted to two. Referees always hold up two fingers when a count is close, but not quite a three count. It really hurt the crowd pop and it led to commentators on radio the next day saying the main event ended with a sputter rather than a bang. Mankind left the ring and returned to the back with the WWF Title. Ventura followed him to the back. Triple H, so upset with having his title win slip away, attacked Austin. He viciously worked over Austin's knee with a chair. The crowd was waiting for Mr. Law and Order, Jesse Ventura, to return to the ring to stop the attack. He didn't return (hey, he had to cash his check). Triple H left Austin lying in the ring. Austin needed help to get to the back. Austin didn't move throughout the match. Mankind also didn't seem to be anywhere near 100 percent after two months of inactivity after double knee surgery. Hunter carried his end, but his presence alone doesn't make a match four stars. Ventura managed to avoid getting in the way in part because so much action took place outside of the ring. A letdown of a main event with a finish that didn't ignite any emotions. (**1/2)

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