WWE SummerSlam is just hours away as a huge crowd in Cleveland Ohio braces itself to host the company’s second biggest annual event.
Cleveland Browns Stadium will stage the spectacular Premium Live Event which is set to be headlined by the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Champion Cody Rhodes and challenger Solo Sikoa.
A stacked card also sees Gunther going for glory against World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest, while Rhea Ripley is out for revenge on Women’s world champ Liv Morgan.
SummerSlam is second only to WrestleMania in WWE’s pecking order of events so, while this year’s offering looks set to pack a punch, it’s safe to say that the early years of the summer show have also delivered in spades.
With that in mind, talkSPORT.com has compiled a handy list of five SummerSlam matches that might have flown under the radar, to get you in the mood for the wild action to follow this weekend.
Razor Ramon v Diesel – SummerSlam 1994
Chicago hosted the 1994 instalment of WWE SummerSlam and, while the main event woefully underdelivered, it’s safe say some of the action beforehand was enough to sustain a lively crowd – not least Razor Ramon’s win over Diesel.
Constantly plagued by the interference of Shawn Michaels, challenger Razor enlisted the help of hometown hero Walter Payton, the legendary Chicago Bears star.
‘Sweetness’ did his bit in thwarting Michaels’ attempts to stop Ramon, and watching their game of cat and mouse made for great fun, and the crowd ate it up – as they did Ramon’s eventual win.
The Rock v Triple H – SummerSlam 1998
When many people think of The Rock and SummerSlam, they likely think of his historic showdown with Brock Lesnar or the absolute carnage and chaos of his triple threat with Triple H and Kurt Angle.
Before both of those, however, came Rock’s first ever outing at SummerSlam in 1998 an all-out classic that, likely because it wasn’t at a WrestleMania, isn’t recalled by fans as instantly as it should be.
These two rivals battered each other from pillar to post across Madison Square Garden before Triple H unseated the cocky Rock as Intercontinental champion.
Virgil v Ted DiBiase – SummerSlam 1991
If you aren’t a wrestling fan with decades under your belt, chances are you’ll only have heard of 1991’s SummerSlam because of the awesome match between Mr Perfect and Bret Hart. For good reason – it’s one of the greatest WWE bouts you’ll ever see.
On the same card, however, was the culmination of a long-term storyline that got its payoff in a big way as the evil Million Dollar Man got his comeuppance at the hands of the downtrodden Virgil, his former bodyguard.
For years DiBiase had abused and mocked Virgil, but after finally turning on him, the increasingly popular star left him beaten in the middle of Madison Square Garden, taking his Million Dollar Championship along the way.
The Steiner Brothers v The Heavenley Bodies – SummerSlam 1993
This was a tag team match before its time in WWE, for sure. The Heavenley Bodies rarely graduated above the ranks of lower card wrestlers in the company, so likely seemed like ideal opposition for The Steiner Brothers on their homecoming to Michigan.
The Steiners produced something similar at the prior year’s WrestleMania against The Headshrinkers, using limited match time to produce something memorable. They so here, producing a sub ten-minute classic against the wily veterans that delighted the crowd and their families at ringside.
Rick and Scott Steiner’s athleticism and ability was such that it’s a shame they never truly succeeded or shone in WWE – this match being the perfect glimpse into what they’re capable of.
Stone Cold Steve Austin v Yokozuna – SummerSlam 1996
Okay, we’ll hold our hands up. If you know this match, you’ll probably pulls up on including it here. If you don’t, though, we do so for good reason.
This outing saw Stone Cold Steve Austin before he really was Stone Cold Steve Austin. Taking place just months after the infamous Austin 3:16 promo at King of the Ring and a year before he’d be one of the company’s top stars, it catches the Rattlesnake at a true in-between moment in what became an iconic career.
Up against the sad figure of a 660lbs Yokozuna, Austin’s task looked impossible, so WWE cleverly devised a way for him to win plausibly – Yoko effectively beat himself, thanks to one of the most bizarre spots you’ll see in WWE from that time. Check it out, you’ll thank us.
WWE SummerSlam 2024 takes place on Saturday, 3 August and fans in the UK can watch on TNT Sports Box Office or WWE Network.
News Summary:
- Five hidden SummerSlam gems featuring The Rock, Stone Cold and more to check out before this weekend’s event
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.