A Counterfactual History of Summer Slam - 5

'97-2000 is here.

Oh, look at what we have here – one final look at the Counterfactual History of Summer Slam to go – and then it is so on – Summer Slam 2005!

Summer Slam 2001 emanated from San Jose – and the main event unified the WWF and the ECW World Titles: Kurt Angle v. Rob Van Dam

Recall, as we left off, Benoit was WWF Champ, keeping over Rock at Summer Slam ’01 – Angle, at the time beat Undertaker to keep his undefeated run going. Meanwhile…in the dying days of ECW, Van Dam had just lost his World Title, to Jerry Lynn at Heatwave – a title Lynn would successfully defend over Steve Corino to end 2000 at November to Remember. Benoit also ended 2000 successfully, keeping over the returning Austin at Survivor Series – and the Angle run continued as now he went after the Alliance, defeating Saturn at Survivor Series and calling Benoit out.

To get that shot against Benoit, Angle had to beat Rock in the number one contender’s match at the Rumble – he did. And Benoit kept the belt that night, going over Jericho – two men who will meet one more time at Summer Slam ’05 in what sort of seems like a definitive matchup between the sole surviving remnants of the Hart legacy.

Lynn lost his title – to Van Dam, at Guilty as Charged in Queens – that was the PPV that wrapped ECW up – making Van Dam that company’s final champion.

And Angle, in the all time classic at XVII, took the strap from Benoit. The night after Mania, in the biggest RAW of all time – Team WWF beat the Alliance in a War Games Match, with Dean submitting to Angle, forcing the Alliance to leave town. Immediately thereafter, with the WWF united, finally running off the invading Alliance – both ECW and the NWA stormed the arena – leading to a full on 3 way brawl which culminated with the ECW Champ, RVD, hitting the Van Terminator on the WWF Champ Angle – setting up a Double Titles main event for Summer Slam ’01.

The other two title matches did a little better than that – unifying all three companies’ belts, the IC/NWA US/ECW TV contested by Austin/ Tajiri/ Lance Storm – and to be named the Worldwide Titles (currently vacant as a result of Edge’s relinquishment of them to meet Matt in the Unsanctioned Main Event at Summer Slam ’05)

When we left off – it was Jericho who held the IC – but that run ended at Survivor Series ’00 when he dropped to Regal. Regal kept over Austin at the Rumble, but then lost to Stone Cold at XVII.

Your US Champ as of Slamboree ’00 was Kidman, who defended successfully that night over Mortis (Kanyon should have kept the mask) but he would lose at Fall Brawl ’00 to Storm, who would end ’00 with the US, going over Jamie Noble at Starrcade – at the last NWA show, Superbrawl ’01, Storm once again kept over Noble.

Tajiri, meanwhile, had been ECW TV Champ since Hardcore Heaven ‘00, when he beat that same Storm for the strap – he kept at Heatwave over Psychosys, and then finished up with wins over his rival Super Crazy at November to Remember and Guilty as Charged. When ECW and NWA hit the ring on RAW after XVII – all the champs find each other in a face off – so, Storm and Tajiri square off with Austin. The 3 companies were all in opposition to each other – except for Storm and Jericho, and their backstory, not just as Thrillseekers, but as fellow Stampeders, was quickly integrated into the story – in fact, Storm had been referenced previously by Jericho, when trying to convince Benoit that the 3 of them should all band together as the Hart Foundation.

Your tag champs – the Dudley Boys. And they go into Summer Slam looking to unify the tag titles (literally, the Unified Titles, I’m crazy clever that way – the titles now held by Orton and Cena, with Bradshaw/Dinsmore as the NeoCons taking them on at Summer Slam ’05) against the NWA Champs – DDP and Mortis – and the ECW champs – Spike and Rhyno.

Edge and Christian, recall, walked out of TLC 2 at Summer Slam ’00 with the straps – straps they kept in the big Clique splitup match over HHH and Waltman at Survivor Series. They lost their straps, however, to Taz and Raven at Rumble ’01, and at XVII, in the elimination tag, the now babyface Dudleys retook over Raven/Taz, E and C, and the Hardys.

The Dudleys, in total opposition to Heyman and his ECW crew (they masterminded the wipeout of Stevie Richards, the Dudleys manager) are all WWF in this program – the ECW tag belts bounced around over the past year, CW Anderson and the Sandman were champs at Heatwave ’00 – but lost to Guido and Mikey at N2R – who in turn dropped to Rhyno and Spike at Guilty as Charged. So, they carry the colors of ECW into Summer Slam.

Back at Slamboree ’00 – it was Mike Awesome and Scott Steiner who were your NWA tag champs – they fell to the young babyface tag team of Shane Helms and Shannon Moore at Fall Brawl – Moore and Helms keeping as ’00 ended, over Yang and Kidman at Starrcade.

Doesn’t Jimmy Yang work for Titan? Where the fuck is he?

At Super Brawl, however, DDP (who had already been tag champ twice with Saturn) and Mortis took the straps – and carry them here into the big interpromotional Summer Slam ’01.

Anything else?

Well, Undertaker, Kane and PAUL formed the giant heel team Dead Men Walking – and they were set for the opening tag. Jeff and Edge, with their brothers in their corners, met in a singles as the Ring Boys feud continued. Jericho met Waltman, as the Harts and Clique continued their war into the new millennium. And Booker T, carrying the NWA banner, took on the Rock.

Results:

Angle taps Van Dam, the match is a No DQ, as has every RVD match been since he entered as Paul E negotiated a deal where RVD can always take it to the extreme, which is how WWF gets the ECW title belts in the Counterfactual. Currently, of course, RVD is out, having turned face during his year long feud with Matt Hardy, leaving Heyman, who then paid off Team Angle to take RVD out.

Tajiri got the Worldwide titles for ECW, getting the fall on Storm, who was distracted when the NWA attacked his buddy Jericho on the outside – that set up both the Austin/Page feud (Austin was taken out with a diamond cutter) and the Storm/Justin/Jericho thing, as Lance had to choose between his two former tag partners.

The Dudleys took the tags for WWF, with Mortis taking 3D and postmatch, as the WWF hit the ring, the Hardys and Dudleys shook hands, ending their long feud.

The NWA got a win too – Booker going over Rock when Regal turned on the WWF, aiding Book to join the NWA and start the Regal/Rock program.

Jericho beat Waltman in his last match with the company and Jeff beat Edge.

So, now, with only one company standing, Counterfactual WWF, Summer Slam ’02 rolled around from Long Island.

And just as Summer Slam ’01 had meant the uniting of the WWF and ECW World Titles – Summer Slam 2002 meant that the final major American belt would come into the WWF fold – as the last ever NWA Champ – Rey Mysterio, debuted over the summer, winning the number one contender’s battle royal, to earn the title shot against Angle.

Angle kept over Booker at Survivor Series – then began a gimmick where he challenged anyone in the world for his double titles. First up was Flair – in the blow off to Team NWA, angle tapped him out at rumble ’02 to end that program. Next was the dramatic return of longtime WWF Champ Mr. Perfect – he tapped to Kurt at XVIII.

Little Rey then is the mystery entrant for the battle royal – he wins – and all 3 belts will be unified at Summer Slam ’02 – creating the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World – which, coincidentally, will be challenged again by Mysterio at Summer Slam 05, against the champion Eddy Guerrero.

Your Worldwide Champ headed to SSlam 02 is RVD.

Tajiri dropped the Worldwide belts at Survivor Series to Taz – who decided that he didn’t like those ECW guys back when there was an ECW – so screw them. Taz then dropped to Van Dam at the Rumble in the final battle for the ECW name – winner carried the torch as Team ECW was dissolved – loser retired, and Taz joined the announce team thereafter.

At XVIII, Van Dam kept over Austin, leading he and Paul E to say that just as was the case back in Philly – even though RVD wasn’t heavyweight champion – his was the real world title. His claim as best wrestler in the world was disputed by the returning Shawn Michaels – gone 3 years – Michaels returned at that same number one contender’s battle royal, and was the last man eliminated by Mysterio. HBK and RVD did a veteran/upstart program rolling into Summer Slam.

The tag champs – the 4th version of the Hart Foundation to hold the straps – as Summer Slam, which was built on the Harts – returns to its roots.

The Dudleys kept the belts at Survivor Series ’01, over Raven and Tommy, in the ECW battle – but then lost at the Rumble in TLC 3, with the newly formed Hart Foundation of Jericho and Storm going over the Duds and E and C.

Jericho/Storm kept in TLC 4 at XVIII over the Hardys and the new Dudley configuration of Bubba and Spike – but at the same battle royal, they were attacked by two masked men – two masked men who then ran over the WWF tag ranks all summer long to earn a shot at Summer Slam.

What else…Edge and Christian in the opening tag against Spike and Stevie, the newly babface Booker T, a legend’s feud between Undertaker and Flair, with Flair seconded by his protégée, Leviathan (Batista) who had been kicked off the reality series Camp Angle (Tough Enough). A return to PPV for Dustin Rhodes, once again against his longtime rival HHH. Kurt’s brutal, monster protégée from Camp Angle, Brock Lesnar, was set to meet the Rock.

Results:

Kurt Angle stakes his claim as the greatest wrestler of all time, becoming Undisputed Champion of the world by getting Mysterio to tap – Angle having to resort to brawling when he couldn’t outwrestle little Rey.

Michaels won his 4th IC title, a record, taking the Worldwide straps from Van Dam – when the cocky RVD went for a five star splash from the top of a ladder and missed.

The masked men won the tag titles – unmasking to reveal themselves as Benoit and Guerrero, gone for over a year since losing the loser leaves town war games match. Since they now had the titles – they got contracts – but more than that – postmatch, they were joined in the ring by Flair and Leviathan (Flair beat the ‘Taker earlier in the evening) who had spent several weeks teasing a new formation of the 4 Horsemen – the Horsemen were then reformed – with Benoit and Guerrero holding up the four fingers postmatch.

Brock not only beat the Rock,, he destroyed him with multiple F5s and a one finger cover. Brock was clearly a heel, an obnoxious bully of a heel, but Angle, the monster babyface champion, apparently was oblivious to his protégées techniques and the negative fan reaction that was beginning to build – so obsessed was Kurt with his role as teacher, trainer, so proud was he of another amateur wrestler’s success.

Hunter, Book, E and C all won.

Summer Slam 2003, from Phoenix, was the culmination of not only the largest tournament in wrestling history, 64 men to crown a new Undisputed Champion of the World, but also concluded one of the Counterfactual’s best angles.

Angle’s unabated support of Lesnar continued to result in the crowd – and the locker room – turning on him. Angle believed they were all jealous of the success of amateur wrestlers in their business. This increasing animosity, encouraged by Lesnar, who reveled in the negative attention, resulted in Kurt’s going over Jericho at Survivor Series – and then Michaels at Rumble ’03.

But finally, at that Rumble – Angle realized his error as Brock destroyed Jericho – and tried to discipline his protégée – that attempt would lead, at night’s end, to a failed reconciliation, when Brock – along with Team Angle, the newly crowned tag champs, Haas and Benjamin, all turning on Kurt.

Getting us to XIX – when Kurt, with neck surgery looming, beat Brock after the botched shooting star press.

Kurt had to relinquish the belt the next night – and then the Titan Trust (Arn, Dean, Fit, serving as the figurehead commissioners) set up a 64 man tourney for the belt.

It’s all on the right side. Go find it. It’s fun to read.

Eddy and Brock came through the tourney – Eddy following Benoit in breaking free of the Horsemen and turning babyface over the course of the tournament – Brock still being Brock – as they went nose to nose – with a rare apperarance by Vince McMahon announcing that one of them would be crowned champ in the finals at Summer Slam – a wheelchair bound, drooling, halo wearing Kurt Angle was helped into the ring – appearing for the first time since giving up his belt – you could see the tears in the fans eyes as Vince lifted the mic to Angle’s lips –

And Angle turned heel. He leapt up – Olympic slammed Vince on the chair – he and Brock battled Eddy and Benoit, shock in the eyes of all 3 men – and maniacal, devious Kurt Angle, SuperHeel, was born.

At Summer Slam ’03, he took on Benoit in a singles. Eddy was not only looking for his first WWF Title – but to win the Triple Crown, held for five years by Cactus Jack.

Hard for the rest of the card to compete.

The Worldwide belt had become home for the juniors.

Van Dam regained the Worldwide at Survivor Series, taking out Michaels in a ladder match at MSG – but then lost to Mysterio at Rumble ’03; Little Rey kept over Chavo, who had gone from half of the SpreeKillers with Shane Helms to a member of the Horsemen after Benoit turned – to an enemy of his Uncle Eddy’s when Eddy turned. That led to XIX – where he lost his Worldwide bid to Mysterio – and at Summer Slam, Rey would be contested by the former Worldwide champ Tajiri – no longer with Heyman, now aligned with Ultimo Dragon, who debuted in the tournament.

Your tag champs – the Clique. Specifically Michaels and Hunter.

Benoit and Eddy, as heel champs, kept over the oil and water tag team of Noble and Kidman at Survivor Series – but then lost to the upstart Team Angle, Haas and Benjamin, at the Rumble. Michaels and HHH, who had never won WWF gold, formed a tag as part of their feud with Kurt and Brock, and took the straps at XIX – at Summer Slam, they were set to take on Dead Men Walking (‘Taker/Kane) – as Hunter had missed a year with a torn quad at the hands of a Triple Chokeslam by DMW (see, like that.)

Hunter was, at this point, already behaving in a shady fashion – Michaels had protégées of his own who had now arrived – London and Spanky – and in the tournament, Hunter’s jealousy of them became apparent after he was defeated by Paul.

What else…well, we had a new Jericho – JerichoDark, Chris was betrayed by his best friend, Lance, hooking up with his girl, Stacy Keibler – Jericho took a loser leaves town over Storm, but began to slip into a shell, growing a beard, becoming morose – seeming to enjoy being punished – he attacked the Horsemen in the tournament – and he would take on Flair at Summer Slam. The culmination of JerichoDark is in his ’05 persona as the Lizard King Chris Jericho, a boozy, strung out heel – who meets Benoit as part of the mini tournament to crown a new Worldwide Champ.

What else…what will be a year long Van Dam/Hardy feud is underway – with Matt managed by Bischoff and RVD by Heyman – the men make a long double turn, with the managers pushing each to more and more violent levels. Nash returned in the tournament, losing to Michaels – and then was turned on by his former NWA tag partner – Bill Goldberg – making his WWF debut. Goldberg/Nash is also set for Summer Slam ’03 – a big, big show.

Results:

Eddy won the straps, going over Brock, winning the triple crown. Postmatch, the babyfaces, Eddy’s family, the other Hispanics in the company, hit the ring to celebrate – while Chavo, who had a good night himself, stood stewing in the aisle as a callback to Counterfactual X with Bret/Owen (as we’ve been making Hart/Guerrero parallels strong at this point) which of course was a callback to actual X.

Tajiri took the Worldwide from Rey with Ultimo’s aid – and then all of them were battered down by Chavo – who held up the 3 belts, hence was I meant by his good night.

Lot of Hispanics in Phoenix – I’m just saying – and it’s 2003 – this is good heat.

Michaels and HHH keep – with Hunter apparently inadvertently leveling Spanky with the sledgehammer.

Angle and Benoit go time limit draw in their first singles match since XVII. Benoit wanted five more minutes – Angle wasn’t interested.

Jericho got the win over Flair – but was beaten down postmatch by Leviathan.

RVD got a cage match win over Matt, avenging his loss at XIX and in the 64 man tournament.

Goldberg went over Big Daddy Cool, then called out Lesnar postmatch.

Finally – just last year – Summer Slam 2004.

Although it was an even numbered year – there was no number one contender’s battle royal after Mania (it happened after Summer Slam) as Angle, after losing his belt at XX to Benoit – refused to allow it to happen, attacking (and ending the reign of) the Titan Trust – which led to the formation of a Strike Team (The Shield) like version of Team Angle – Kurt, Regal, Haas, and Benjamin.

Benoit/Kurt rematch is set for Summer Slam 04 in Toronto, with the final fall being submission only.

Eddy kept the belt in a four way at Survivor Series – but lost to Kurt at Rumble ’04 – leading to Kurt dropping to Benoit at XX.

Speaking of Eddy – he is your Worldwide champion coming into Summer Slam – Chavo took from Tajiri at Survivor Series – then kept in a 3 way over Rey and Tajiri at the Rumble – but lost a ladder match at XX to his Uncle Eddy – Guerrero and Benoit left standing in the MSG ring together at night’s end, holding up all 6 title belts as they embraced, replicating my all time favorite actual wrestling moment.

Good times.

Eddy faced his longtime rival, Jericho, now the Lizard King, with his junkie girlfriend Trish in tow at Summer Slam. Jericho completed a double turn with Christian after their year long feud at XX in the second Hell in the Cell Match, when Trish turned on Christian to join the Lizard King.

But also in that IC match at Summer Slam – young Paul London, a daredevil, earning the chant of “Please Don’t Die” from the fans. London was now full fledged Clique, along with Michaels, Edge, and Christian, as they reformed the group at XX.

Your tag champs coming into Summer Slam ’04 – Flair and Leviathan of the Horsemen.

Michaels and Hunter kept their straps over the now heel Dudleys, with Heyman, at Survivor Series – but then lost to Haas and Benjamin at the Rumble, which led to Hunter’s taking out Spanky, Hunter’s heel turn, and Michaels meeting Hunter at XX.

At XX – Haas and Benjamin lost their belts to Flair/Leviathan – and now, the Horsemen meet the brand new high flying team of Mysterio and the now babyface Van Dam at Summer Slam.

What else…Hunter takes on Edge, who returned from a long neck surgery absence XX to save the Clique…Matt Hardy, now without Bischoff who was taken out by RVD in the XX blowoff to that feud, meets Booker T, to whom Bischoff owed money. Billy Kidman meets Nick Dinsmore, again a babyface, the Undertaker meets Kane – and a babyface comedy tag team, Orton and Cena (who are now the tag champs facing Dinsmore a year later) meet the Dudleys.

Results:

Benoit takes Angle in the world title match, Angle submitting for the first time in his life in the third fall. Jericho wins his 3rd IC, and saving Eddy postmatch is Chavo, who then continues his face turn in the number one contender’s battle royal after the event when he eliminates his Horsemen mate Leviathan, aiding Eddy’s battle royal victory. Chavo would eventually be taken apart by Leviathan and leave in an injury angle.

RVD got the frog splash on Flair – giving the babyfaces the tag titles. Edge, in Toronto, goes over HHH in the No DQ to establish himself as a babyface. A year later, that status is in question. And it’s in question because Matt Hardy, who has not been seen in the year since this event, lost to Booker – told the WWF to fuck off and quit on live PPV.

A year later, in the “You screwed Matt” Lita angle – Edge and Matt meet in the unsanctioned main event at SSlam ’05.

Undertaker went over Kane, Kidman over Dinsmore, Orton/Cena ended the Dudleys WWF run.

Which brings up trippingly to this year’s Summer Slam.

Your main event for the first time ever won’t be for the WWF title – it’s Edge and the returning Matt in the Unsanctioned match. Did Edge sleep with Lita? Or – is he telling the truth? Edge gave us the Worldwide belts he won at Rumble ’05 in order to get this match and win back the trust of the Clique. Edge swore to Christian that he was telling the truth – the locker room is divided – this match is completely unsanctioned – Matt has not appeared on WWF TV since Summer Slam ’04 – it’s your main event.

Your Worldwide Title match is Eddy v. Rey. Benoit kept over Eddy, who won the battle royal, at Survivor Series ’04, then kept over Michaels in the revival of Clique/Harts at Rumble ’05 – but lost the rematch to Eddy, an iron man made by the new WWF figurehead, Ricky Steamboat, at XXI.

Rey won 2 matches, including a legend’s match, at XXI – was named the Ace of the promotion by Steamboat –and spurred on by a challenge from the LWO (Crazy, Psychosys, Juvie) Rey is named number one contender to Guerrero in a 2 of 3 Lucha rules match. Not only does Rey challenge to become undisputed champ – but also win the Triple Crown, currently held, of course, by Guerrero.

The tags – Orton and Cena continue their improbable run, defending against Bradshaw and Dinsmore. Angle and Benjamin won the straps over RVD/Rey at Survivor Series ’04 and then lost to the current version of the SpreeKillers, Helms and Rhyno. The SpreeKillers lost at XXI to Orton and Cena – and here we are, with Bradshaw, the NeoCon, who hates those punk kids Orton and Cena who should be serving their country in Iraq – tries with his 3rd partner to get over on them.

With Edge giving up the IC – 4 men meet in a tournament (made by the new babyface figurehead Flair – he and Steamboat each control 49% of WWF creative, with the McMahon family retaining 2% control) winners go to Survivor Series to face off for the vacant titles.

In that tournament – Benoit takes on Jericho – Trish is now gone, Jericho is drunk constantly, he’s fat, he’s bearded, he’s nothing like the Lionheart who revived the Hart Legacy in ’99 – and it’s another Hart, a man who has now embraced his Hart legacy, Benoit, who he meets.

In the other match – Angle meets Michaels. Team Angle has been locked in battle with the Clique all year – Angle beat Christian at XXI – and their leaders meet in a singles here at Summer Slam. Flair also uses this to make the opening tag match – Angle and Michaels teaming together against Benoit and Jericho.

Leviathan – beginning to get a babyface reaction, now managed by Arn – destroyed Rhyno over the summer, ending his run, and now meets the other half of the SpreeKillers, Helms, at Summer Slam. Hogan turned heel at XXI, attacking the Undertaker, and they meet in Hulk Hogan’s last match at Summer Slam.

Toss in that Jim Ross has announced that he is stepping down after Summer Slam – 13 years into his run as lead WWF announcer – and you have a big, big show – coming up next week – Summer Slam 2005!

In the meantime, feel free to go to www.spoonmillionaires.com to read my vituperative production blog – my play gets produced this weekend – show some love, good people – and I’ll see you next week!

Summer Slam 2005 is here.

Summer Slam 2006 is here.

Summer Slam 2007 is here.

Summer Slam 2008 is here.

A Counterfactual History of Summer Slam - 4

'94-96 is here

Two more Counterfactual Summer Slam recaps to go – Part IV here will get us through 2000 – and then Part V, next week, will get us all the way up to Summer Slam 2005. ETA for that big, big show is August 18. Matt v. Edge, Eddy v. Rey, Benoit v. Jericho, Angle v. Michaels – Hulk Hogan’s last match, Jim Ross’s last show – Summer Slam ’05, just two weeks away!

Part III of this recap left off in 1997 with Summer Slam 10. After his first year ever not wrestling for a title at a Summer Slam, the Hit Man returned at East Rutherford in ’97, this time, challenging Austin for the WWF Title he dropped to him at XIII.

It was Shawn, recall, who left Summer Slam ’96 with the belt – but he dropped to Bret, winning his 3rd WWF Heavyweight Title, a record, at Survivor Series ’96 in a match that saw a full on Harts v. Clique v. Austin brawl.

Bret kept at Rumble ’97, in what I think is my favorite angle in the Counterfactual, he beat Shawn one last time in a lumberjack match (Clique on one side, Harts on the other) that culminated a bloody evening long (months long) battle between the two factions. Pillman, as guest ref., turned on the Harts postmatch, appearing to join the Clique – but then turned on them too – joining Austin, who had been at war with both sides – in demolishing the full group.

That led to the title switch at XIII – and at Summer Slam ’97, Bret, re-turning face in this program with the heel Stone Cold, got his rematch against Austin.

Cactus, who, recall lost an IC shot a year previous in his WWF PPV debut – Vader powerbombing him off the ramp – went into Summer Slam ’97 with that strap. He beat big Leon at Survivor Series ’96, in MSG, in a steel cage to take the title – kept the title at Rumble ’97 in a Death Match over Terry Funk – then beat Vader in the blowoff at XIII with Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee.

And that’s your Summer Slam ’97 match – Shamrock is the shooter, the UFC legend, a no nonsense babyface whose push insults the wrestler Foley. Mick says he can beat Shamrock at his own game, in a UFC style match – in an Octagon (or as close as we could come, depending on the deal Counterfactual Vince cut with Counterfactual UFC).

Your tag champs – the 3rd version of the Hart Foundation to hold the straps – Owen and Davey Boy.

Mero and Bart, recall, left Summer Slam ’96 with the belts – belts they kept, going over Furnas and LaFon (I’m sorry) at Survivor Series ’96. But they fell to Owen and Davey boy at Rumble ’97, a historic win as it made Davey a 3 time tag champ with 3 different partners – and gave Owen the Triple Crown.

The Harts kept at XIII, going over Furnas and Lafon in the tape traders match, following which the champs went nose to nose with the returning legends, the Road Warriors --- and that feud, a big star babyface feud, carries us through the summer –and into Summer Slam ’97, where they met for the titles.

What else is on the big card?

Well, more Owen – he’s gotta wrestle twice, as he’s been locked in mortal battle with the totally insane Pillman all summer – Pillman stalking Owen’s family, attacking Owen in public – restaurants, airports, hotels and so Owen meets him at Summer Slam.

Hunter and Goldust have been feuding all year – Hunter as heel Clique, Goldust now as babyface, with a series of gold painted wrestlers with him (Ron and Don, Sid) as the Golden Girls. They meet in a falls count anywhere at ’97. And there were, presumably, some other matches too.

Results: This is infamously known amongst WWF Counterfactual fans as Screwjob Summer Slam, as we took a lot of shortcuts for the sake of storyline.

Austin and Bret fought to a draw when Michaels, as special guest ref, turned heel and took both of them out. Bret actually temporarily paralyzed Austin with a piledriver (see, like that) and when he went to cover – Michaels superkicked him, then covered both guys for a ten count and a draw. This will lead to the belt getting held up and put on the line in a big four way at Survivor Series ’97.

Foley kept the belt against Shamrock, but lost via DQ when, in the Octagon, he pulled out a corkscrew and then thumbtacks to go all garbage on the shootfighter, turning himself heel.

The Road Warriors took the tags, their second WWF straps, when Pillman attacked Owen, leaving the Bulldog to take the Device. That segued into the Pillman/Owen singles – which Owen won – leading to Pillman’s being attacked by Austin, who couldn’t put up with the loss to a Hart – Pillman was saved by Owen, who carried him from the ring.

RIP, Brian.

Elsewhere, Hunter beat Dustin – and the Nation of Domination (which was now the Rock, DLo, and Mark Henry) which had been doing the heel Rock gimmick, turned face so he could do his face Rock schtick.

Summer Slam returned where it all began, MSG, in 1998, for a whizbang show.

Your WWF Champion…Owen Hart.

In the most emotional moment in Counterfactual history – Survivor Series Montreal was a four way for the vacant belt – one fall to a finish – winner got the belt – the guy who loses left the WWF forever.

It was Bret of course, in the sharpshooter, losing to his little brother – and postmatch, finally, once and for all, putting the bad blood behind them by placing the WWF Title around the teary eyed Owen’s waist.

Owen kept over Austin at Rumble ’98, Steve beat Michaels in a 3 match series on TV to get the shot – and then Shawn got his own shot in the blowoff to their ten year feud – losing to Owen at XIV.

With Bret and Shawn both gone from the company – we needed a new challenger for Owen’s belt at Summer Slam – that challenger was Cactus Jack, who won the every-other-year battle royal, previously won by the Bulldog, Razor, Hakushi, and Owen to be named number one contender.

The previous year, Jack lost his IC to Shamrock in their rematch at Survivor Series Montreal – then hooked up with his friend/rival Terry Funk to win the tag straps at the Rumble over the Nation – they dropped those straps at XIV to the Outlaws – and Cactus then set his sights on Owen, who he called the Canadian golden boy, a boy of privilege, everything handed to him by his harder working relatives while Foley slept in his car.

They’d meet in a No DQ at MSG at Summer Slam – a win for Cactus wouldn’t just give him his first WWF Title – it would also give him the Triple Crown.

Also going for the Triple Crown on that same night – Steve Austin.

Shamrock, as just mentioned, won the IC in Montreal. He kept over Vader at the Rumble – then kept over Austin at XIV, however, he lost in a DQ. Shamrock and Austin had begun to double turn since the Rumble – and in what might have been the most high profile Mania match (in the Octagon with Tyson as guest referee) Shamrock grew frustrated as he couldn’t get Austin to submit – eventually taking a shot at Iron Mike.

The turn completed over the summer – Shamrock insulted that a guy like Austin is in the ring, decides he won’t wrestle against him again in the Octagon – they do Summer Slam MSG as a submission match in a four sided ring.

The tags are a 3 way. Rock and DLo took the straps in Montreal – taking out the Warriors and the Outlaws in a 3 way – then, as mentioned, dropped to Jack and Funk at the Rumble – who, in turn, as mentioned, lost to the Outlaws at XIV.

The long Nation v. Outlaws feud rolled into Summer Slam – but also joining that feud was the other half of the Clique, HHH and Waltman. Tension between those two groups had built all summer, boiling to the point where the Clique lost an 8 man to the Ring Boys (more on them in a moment) and the fracture led to the inclusion of the veterans in this match.

K-DX came over from Japan this year, really helping me out for this show. Funaki and Teioh worked the opening tag. Taka was turned on by his boys this summer – and he and Togo met in a singles. Dustin was no longer Goldust – now, he was one of the Confederate flag waving Southern Men, along with Jeff Jarrett, and in singles matches, they were taking on Mero and the Abolitionist Ulysses Morley (Val Venis).

That left a singles match, the first appearance on PPV for a member of the Ring Boys.

The original ring boys were the Hardys, serving as such for the Clique over the past couple of years – occasionally, they’d get to do a squash job – and sometimes they’d work dark in a spot match to entertain the crowds. The idea, as with the ring boys in Japan, is that they’d do all the grunt work while training to be workers. And with the Clique, there was a lot of grunt work to do, as one could imagine.
In ’98, they were joined by Adam and Christian, who were assigned to the Harts (well, just Owen) and the four became friends, although with a Clique/Hart tension as undercurrent. That Adam and Christian were Canadian helped matters there.

In the big battle royal over the summer – the four men got to work – and in a significant upset – they eliminated Vader. They followed that up with the 8 man win over the Clique – so, finally, with the crowds chanting “Let Them Play” at WWF officials – it was Adam (trying to get his buddies to call him Edge) who got a singles shot at Summer Slam against Vader.

Results: Cactus won the WWF Title – doing so by setting Owen on fire, which hopefully is enough to make him a heel even in New York.

Austin won the IC, choking Shamrock out with the million dollar dream. He and Foley, who were doing a longstanding cold war thing, both winning the Triple Crown.

Rock and DLo regained the tags, Rock getting the Rock Bottom on HHH (those two also in a slow burning feud) when the Clique finally exploded for good – the Outlaws turning on Waltman/HHH.

Taka beat Togo, Jarrett, as did he with Savio, ended Mero’s run in a figure four he refused to break. Morley went over Dustin – and Adam/Edge beat Vader, ending Vader’s run and catapulting the Ring Boys.

A year later we were in Minneapolis for Summer Slam '99.

And the match at the top was years in the making – Cactus v. Austin for the big belt, the Wrestlemania main event that never was comes to Summer Slam 12.

Foley and Austin, recall, left Summer Slam ’98 as Triple Crown winners and singles. belt holders. They both kept at Survivor Series, Cactus beating Shamrock in the first ever Hell in the Cell (Shamrock tossed him off the cell, Foley took that bump, you know, that bump – in what would be the cornerstone of his eventual face turn) while Austin beat Regal in his debut.

Owen came back for Rumble ’99 – vowing revenge for Summer Slam – and beat Foley in the most extreme WWF match of the era – hooking Foley in the sharpshooter while both men were on fire – Cactus submitting – a match so violent it led to a mutual respect between the men, and furthered the Foley turn. Austin kept at the Rumble, over Crazy Al Snow, back from ECW and on a crazy rampage to win the IC.

Cactus retook the big belt at XV in Philly, Owen’s last match in the Counterfactual (RIP, Owen) while Austin lost the IC to Snow in the falls count anywhere. Cactus and Austin feuding without wrestling in a singles match, really since they joined the WWF, boil all summer long – both men wanting the Triple Crown that they have shared for a year – their feud getting to a point where not only was Governor Jesse Ventura to be brought in a special guest referee for their Summer Slam title match – not only would that title match be for undisputed possession of the Triple Crown – but the match would be career for career – the loser’s wrestling career would be owned, would be in possession of his biggest rival – the winner.

You know what happened to the IC, I just told you – so it was Al Snow who went into Minnesota with the belt – a belt he’d put up in a 3 way against Sean Waltman and D Lo Brown.

Crazy Al came back from ECW crazier than ever – immediately challenging the Undertaker who apparently did not pay him the proper respect in the locker room upon his return. Al got the win over the dead man at Survivor Series, at the same show, Waltman got one over 2 Cold, who had joined the Nation – the HHH/Rock feud spilling over to include Waltman and the rest of the NOD. Waltman and DLo hooked up at the Rumble in a tag title match, the Nation keeping over the Clique. At XV, while Waltman was teaming with Hunter to beat the Outlaws, D Lo and Rock were losing the tag titles to the Hardys (where, in the postmatch, Edge and Christian turned on their friends, joining HHH and Waltman as the New Clique, with a turning Trish as their manager).

The IC is set up in a summertime twist – the Nation feuds with HHH and Waltman all summer – but then, the teams are split for one match HHH tagging with the Rock and Waltman with DLo – winning team gets to go to Summer Slam for a 3 way for the IC.

Waltman and D Lo went over – and now, in Waltman’s hometown, they both meet Al.

I’ve just mentioned the tag lineage. Rock and DLo kept the belts they regained at last year’s Summer Slam at Survivor Series over the Outlaws – then kept at the Rumble over HHH/Waltman, but lost to the Hardys at XV. With that shocking, devious turn by E and C at XV, we had our tag title set up for Summer Slam, Hardys against Edge and Christian.

What else…well, Kurt Angle, who debuted at XV, Angle Slamming Jarrett to keep him from burning the American flag – was going to appear to name who would be his first PPV opponent at Survivor Series. A number one contender’s mini tournament would be held (not unlike the one set for Summer Slam ’05, just two weeks away, that one’s for the vacant IC, this one was for a Survivor Series shot at the big belt) Shamrock meeting HHH and Rock taking on Jarrett. PAUL~ the Giant (Big Show) with Skip McMahon as his mouthpiece (Shane) was dominating the undercard and was set to take on the Undertaker.

Results:
Cactus goes over Austin, following which the boys fill the ring as the Triple Crown is renamed the Owen Hart Memorial Triple Crown. Waltman wins the IC, capping a big night for the Clique that also saw HHH beat Shamrock and E and C – well, they still lost the Hardys via DQ – but they beat them down with multiple Con-chair-toes.

Angle made his announcement – saying he would make his PPV debut against the unbeaten PAUL, who went over the ‘Taker in a destructive fashion earlier that night. And the Rock matched HHH, by going over Jarrett.

How about one more Summer Slam in this recap – Summer Slam 2000, from By God North Carolina.

And by the time this show rolled around, the uppercard revolution was in full swing. Your WWF Champion – Chris Benoit. Your IC Champ – Eddy Guerrero.

Cactus kept at Survivor Series ’99, beating HHH and Rock in a 3 way, then held on in the interpromotional match against Taz at the Rumble in MSG. Waltman’s run ended at Survivor Series against Jericho, who promised to return the Hart name to glory. Jericho then disposed of another Cliquester, HHH at the Rumble. But just a few short weeks before XVI, the best PPV in Counterfactual history, the WWF was invaded by 3 NWA World Heavyweight Champions, Benoit, Guerrero, Malenko – along with Saturn – and that shook up the face of the company. Benoit took the WWF Title from Cactus at XVI, while Eddy, continuing their NWA feud, took the IC from Jericho.

Eddy and Jericho rematch at Summer Slam in a 2 of 3 falls – Benoit faces the winner of the battle royal, of course - and in 2000 – that was the Rock.

The Hardys were tag champs coming into Summer Slam, as they had been leaving the previous year. This was their second run, they dropped to the debuting Dudleys, managed by Stevie Richards, at Survivor Series in a tables match. The Dudleys kept at the Rumble over the Fightin’ Holly Brothers, putting them through double flaming
Tables – while the Hardys, now with Lita as their valet, were going over the Outlaws in the opener. XVI was the debut of the TLC collision matchup – it was the Hardys going over the Dudleys and E and C, Matt climbing to gather the belts to regain the straps. The Duds have moved center, maybe even babyface by the end of the summer, as part of an ECW ex-pat feud with the Clique – and that’s where they’re positioned for TLC 2, where they and E and C will challenge the Hardys for the straps at Summer Slam 2000.

What else…Stevie makes his PPV wrestling debut against Waltman…Hunter meets Taz (lots of Clique/ECW, see?) the unbeaten Angle takes on the newly turned Undertaker.

Results: Benoit gets the Rock to tap to the sharpshooter, as the unease he has with his Hart heritage begins to color his character. Jericho regained his title, taking out Eddy when Dean, who had problems with Eddy during the later part of the summer, chose not to intervene to same his stablemate. It was E and C grabbing their first ever tag straps, with some aid from their stablemates, Hunter and Waltman, seeming to quell any unease that had recently popped up between those two factions. Waltman was a winner earlier that night over Richards – not so Hunter, who lost to the Tazmission. And Kurt Angle stayed unbeaten, defeating the Undertaker.

That was Summer Slam 2000 – and that’s part IV of our Counterfactual recap – to read more about these, or any other cards, just go to the right side and scroll through – we’ve got every PPV…ever….one continuous WWF storyline from 1985 all the way through Summer Slam 2005 – which is only two weeks out – Matt Hardy in the Unsanctioned “You Screwed Matt” match against Edge – Eddy Guerrero defending his Undisputed Championship against Rey Mysterio in a 2 of 3 falls match, Rey trying to win the Hart Memorial Triple Crown. Check out all the excitement – Summer Slam 2005, coming in 2 weeks!

A Counterfactual History of Summer Slam - 3

'91-93 is here.

Several of you have found your way here by accident, as a result of visiting the crazy website www.spoonmillionaires.com – I am, yes, the author of the vituperative production blog at that site as we gear up for the first production of our play.

For those of you just arriving – consider leaving, seriously, for down this road lies madness.

If you’re staying – my suggestion is you start from the start, find the earliest post and read straight through – or at least find the earliest post to see the parameters for what we’re doing here.

Actually, in terms of places to jump in, this current run of posts is helpful, as it provides an overview of our Counterfactual Summer Slams (Summerslam?) from the beginning in ’88 through the current card coming in August, Summer Slam 2005.

I know it’s not 2005. That’s how it’s done.

Anyway, we left off this run in 1994, consult Part II for further details.

Your main at Summer Slam '94, for the 3rd consecutive year, was Bret – except the World Title he successfully defended at Summer Slam ’93 was now his brother Owen’s.

The turn really started at Summer Slam ’92, when Bret decided keeping Davey in the sharpshooter was more important than helping Owen. By Summer Slam ’93 – Owen was beginning this weird sadistic mentor/protégée relationship with Savage, needing to fill the space given Bret’s obsession with the world title. Over the past year, Bret kept against Luger (SSeries) got the undefeated Undertaker to submit (Rumble) in a program that saw his disenchantment with WWF fans grow, and then met his brother Owen (who had survived Savage) in the babyface matchup at X.

Owen took him – winning his first WWF Title – Bret refusing to shake his hand postmatch –and standing alone in the aisle while Owen was lifted high in the ring by the babyface locker room.

See? Like that. Counterfactual. You can read all about it in my 1994 archives.

On the road to Summer Slam, the strain in the Hart relationship showed each night – with Bret finally turning by walking out on Owen during a tag against Diesel/Waltman. Bret cut bitter promos on the fans, on the sport, on the entire Hart family -specifically his ungrateful brother Owen who was holding his title. In Chicago, at Summer Slam ’94, they would meet inside a steel cage.

A year ago at Summer Slam, Michaels, with aid of the Clique, kept his belt over Hennig – rolled through Waltman at Survivor Series in a match that led to Razor’s face turn, saving Waltman against the Clique attack. Razor got his shot at the IC at the Rumble – but, ironically, Waltman turned on the man who had protected him, joining the Clique and allowing Michaels to keep.

But of course, at WM X – they rematched, in a ladder match, and Razor took Shawn’s belt to become IC champ. Shawn’s not around in the runup to Summer Slam – but Nash is – and it’s Big Daddy Cool taking on Ramon for the IC.

The tags..well, the Steiners, recall, walked out of Summer Slam ’94 with the straps – they kept those straps over the Rock and Roll Express at Survivor Series – but with the scheming of the man who “owned” the WWF tag ranks, Ted DiBiase, and a young Scott Levy – the Quebecers took the titles at the Rumble – titles they’d lose at X, to the makeshift newly babyface team of Luger and Bigelow. At Summer Slam, they would face off against the Headshrinkers in a low wattage program. Nothing else really worth talking about. Undertaker. Savio. Jarrett. It’s a one match show. But it was a good match.

The results: Owen kept at ’94, of course, escaping the cage with the help of the returning Davey Boy, who fought off the returning Anvil, who was on Bret’s side. Michaels returned via the Titan Tron before the match – saying he would face the winner in San Antonio at the ’94 SSeries for the big belt. The IC was a no DQ, the garbage a good stip for Razor’s keeping over Diesel – and now he had beaten Michaels and Nash in consecutive PPVs. Luger and Bam Bam kept, and the less said about that the better.

The workrate upticked only a little the following year from Pittsburgh at Summer Slam '95

Who’s in the main event? Well, that would be Bret Hart, of course – king of Summer Slam. Summer Slam ’95 was now the 8th ever Slam – and Bret had either wrestled for the World or the IC belt on every show.

He came into this show as Champion once again. Owen lost to Shawn at Survivor Series ’94, giving Michaels not just the WWF Title – but making him the latest holder of the Triple Crown. Diesel turned Michaels face postmatch with multiple jackknifes during the celebration – leading to Shawn’s keeping over Nash at Rumble ’95. That led to the continuation of our neverending saga – Harts v. Clique – except this time, it was heel challenger Bret going after babyface Chammpion Michaels at XI.

Bret took him, regaining the belt – a belt he would defend against the Japanese junior Hakushi at Summer Slam ’95. Why Hakushi? Well, he won the battle royal we hold every other year after Mania that determines who gets the Summer Slam shot. It’s a good reset – Davey won the first in ’91 – Razor in ’93 – and now Hakushi in ’95.

The IC? Well, Razor kept the streak going over the Clique – taking Waltman down at Survivor Series ’94 – and then started a babyface feud against Owen, with the Rocket taking at the Rumble – and then giving back at XI – as XI was all Harts v. Clique – and this run saw Razor realize he couldn’t out babyface Owen the Good – so he re-turned heel – and as we roll around to Summer Slam ’95 – how about Ladder Match II, with heel Razor taking on babyface Michaels for the IC?

The tags? Sigh. The Bigelow/Lex team fell to Bret and the Anvil at Survivor Series – then in a neat turn of events – they lost to The British Empire, Davey Boy and Mr. Backlund – at the Rumble. But the Empire fell to the Smoking Gunns at XI – and your Summer Slam matchup, unpleasantly, is those Gunns defending against the Harris Brothers.

Ron and Don Forever!

Man that sounds like a threat.

What else…Hunter has debuted, becoming Waltman’s running buddy in the Clique (with Sunny as their valet) and he meets Bob Holly. Waltman’s working too – against Candido, from whom, of course, they stole Sunny. And Diesel’s also working as the Clique fills the middle of the card – he’s going big on big against the Dead Man.

The results: Bret kept at Summer Slam ’95 – and his postmatch assault on Hakushi (Bret was doing a thing where he broke guy’s ankles at this point) was broken up by Davey Boy. Michaels regained the IC for the 3rd time, winning the ladder match. The Gunns kept the tag straps – and the younger half of the Clique (Waltman, HHH) won, while the older (Razor, as mentioned – and Diesel) both lost.

We upticked a little more in terms of our traditional worst workrate show of the year – when Summer Slam '96 originated from Cleveland.

For the first time in the 9 year history of the event…no Bret Hart. Not in the main, not in the IC – no Bret Hart.

But there was a Hart in the main – it was Owen, taking on WWF Champion Shawn Michaels.

Bret kept at Survivor Series ’95, going over DBS. And then kept at the Rumble, finally beating his brother Owen. But in the Iron Man match at XII (you saw it) Bret lost to Shawn in overtime, Shawn's first ever singles win over Bret, Michaels winning his second WWF Title.

Owen became number one contender when we decided not to wait until ’97 for the battle royal – but to do it right now – and with the aid of a masked, debuting Brian Pillman – Owen won and got the shot.

Your Intercontinental Championship match – how about Vader defending against Cactus Jack.

Shawn kept the IC over Shane Douglas at Survivor Series ’95, but lost cleanly to the debuting Vader at the Rumble. Vader kept in the big man brawl over the Undertaker at XII – but making his debut at that post mania battle royal – and going right after the man who cost him his ear – was Cactus Jack.

Foley said he was on a quest for revenge – that Vader couldn’t run roughshod over the WWF the way he did over his ear – and in Cleveland Ohio vowed to make the big man pay. Feel free to read the archives for some Counterfactual Foley promos.

Your tag champs – Steve Austin and Dustin Rhodes.

The Gunns fell at Survivor Series to Razor and Diesel – who at that point began to be tweeners as they finished up their WWF run. Razor and Diesel dropped to the debuting Austin/Rhodes team, doing a stereo Stunner move, at the Rumble (and then they lost a Loser Leaves Clique match on RAW to Waltman and HHH). Austin and Dustin ran roughshod over the tag ranks all year – and now at Summer Slam, face the newly formed “boxing team” of Marc Mero and Bart Gunn.

What else… Marty Jannetty came back – and he faced a stalker, Al Snow, who desperately, unbelievably, begged Marty to reform the Rockers with him. Obviously, Marty said no – ‘cause what possible sense could that make?

When Razor and Diesel skipped town – Waltman and HHH needed more friends, so they imported the heel turned Billy and Jarett’s former hype man, the Road Dogg. Billy faced longtime Clique nemesis Candido at Summer Slam. Also – Davey Boy met Lawler, the Undertaker worked, and doing a Deliverance/Pulp Fiction gimmick with Phinneas having a leather hood and ball gag and being called The Gimp are the Godwinns.

Results: Michaels kept in the babyface matchup against his sworn enemy, Owen. They worked dark at the first ever Summer Slam in ’88 – and here they are for the big belt in ’96. Vader also kept – in a brutal war with Jack – powerbombing Foley off the ramp postmatch. And Mero and Bart became your new tag champs when Austin Stunned his partner, leaving Dustin for dead in the middle of the ring, a shocking betrayal that seemed to unhinge young Rhodes.

Al beat Marty, Billy beat Candido, Davey beat Lawler, the ‘Taker beat Jake, but then was lynched by the Nation of Domination. And the Godwinns made Yokozuna and
Savio squeal like a pig.

That’s the Counterfactual History of Summer Slam III – to read the full stories, go to the right side and see the entire 600 page Counterfactual WWF – and to read more of me, go to www.spoonmillionaires.com and check out my caustic production blog.

I’ll be back soon as we roll onto Summer Slam 2005 – headlined by the return of Matt Hardy in the unsanctioned match against Edge and Eddy Guerrero defending his Undisputed Championship against Rey Mysterio, who looks to also gain the Triple Crown!

A Counterfactual History of Summer Slam - 2

1988-90 is here.

Summer Slam returned home to MSG in 1991.

For the first time, the champ the year before was the champ coming into MSG. Curt Hennig, WWF Champion since Survivor Series ’89, was starting to show the physical wear and tear at this point. After the series with Savage came to a seeming end at Summer Slam ’90 with the cage match, Hennig kept over Von Erich at Survivor Series, kept over DiBiase at the Rumble, and then vanquished Savage one last time at VII.

His challenger at Summer Slam ’91 – the British Bulldog.

Recall, at the very first Summer Slam, Davey turned on his longtime partner Bret after losing an IC shot to the champion Hit Man. Bret subsequently ran the Bulldog out of the company – but Davey made his return at Survivor Series ’90 – coming to the aid of his brother in law by fending off an attacking Hennig. Bret didn’t trust Davey, whom he blamed for injuring his younger brother Owen – along with Hennig, prior to the Bulldog’s leaving the company.

Davey returned to the PPV ring at the Rumble, beating Dustin Rhodes – and then beating Martel at VII. The title shot here came from the last NBC Saturday Night’s Main Event (until 2006, that is) when he won the Inaugural Number One Contender’s Battle Royale, our every-other-year 30 man, one entrant at a time, competition where the Summer Slam main event gets made.

Davey and Bret, after combining to eliminate Sid, were the final two entrants – and it was the Bulldog who came out on top. Now, his quest to redeem himself in the eyes of his family and the fans, comes to a head at the place where, 3 years before, he turned on them. Perfect/Davey for the WWF Title.

Not only is the WWF Champ the same as the previous year – so is the IC Champ.

The Hit Man’s long second IC reign continued – after his Summer Slam win over Jake, he again successfully defended the title over young Michaels, then beat Martel at the Rumble, and began to fulfill his promise to make the IC belt the most prestigious in the world by defeating Tenryu at VII.

And at Summer Slam ’91 – he met the legendary Ricky Steamboat.

Steamboat returned after 3 years at the aforementioned SNME and returned to challenge the Hit Man. As the man who started WWF PPV, the two time WWF Champ, he just wanted to see if Bret was as good as he said he was.

The tag champs were the monster face Road Warriors. After their surprise entrance at last year’s Slam, burying the newly crowned Orients – they took the Orients’ straps at Survivor Series, kept over the Nasty Boys at the Rumble, kept over Demolition at VII, and now headed into Summer Slam to defend against Power and Glory (that’s Herc and Roma, for those of you who have forgotten)

What else was there to hold your interest – not much, truthfully. DiBiase against the remnants of Valentine (good name for an indie band – Remnants of Valentine – feel free to take it, just give me credit whenever prompted and direct people to spoonmillionaires.com) Jacques met Koko, Rotundo returned to WWF PPV for the first time since I against the ‘Quake, the Undertaker, whose run began at Survivor Series, was looking to add Von Erich to his collection of souls that thusfar included Snuka, Dusty, and Jake. All stuffed into bodybags following the matches. And the fascist gimmick begun by the Warrior now moved onto the tag team of Slaughter and Boss Man, who worked the opener.

The results:

Well, it ended for Perfect at MSG. The British Bulldog, in a stunner, took the WWF Title. Hennig and Bobby gingerly left the arena – while Bret (who kept his IC belt) offered his hand to his brother in law, the two men, the two Harts, lifting their belts in the air at MSG in a way that would be replicated 13 years later by Benoit and Eddy.

Bret, as mentioned, kept in a classic over Steamboat, it was the end of Ricky’s WWF career – until he returned as Director of Operations at Rumble ’05 (a position he shares with Flair as Summer Slam 05 approaches). And the Warriors continued their seemingly endless reign. Wins for Ted, Jacques, Rotundo, Sarge/Boss Man – and the Undertaker, who, as was he after his Rumble win over Dusty, and his Mania win over Jake, was confronted in the ring post match by Hulk Hogan – their nose to nose at Summer Slam ’91 would have been shown multiple times in clip form as part of the run up to Hulk Hogan’s Retirement Match – Hogan v. Undertaker, Summer Slam ’05.

Summer Slam '92 – that’s Wembley Stadium. And that must mean Bret v. Bulldog, and it does, just as it did in ’88 at our first Summer Slam. ‘Cept this time it’s for the big strap. Has Davey kept all year? No.

At Survivor Series ’91, Davey transitioned the belt over to the debuting Flair; meanwhile, Bret lost the IC that same night in what seemed to be a babyface matchup against Piper – but Roddy, his conscience torn, used the ringbell to level the Hit Man, getting the fall and then burying Bret until stopped by Owen, making his return to the WWF after 2 ½ years away.

On tv, Bret and Davey aligned against Flair and Piper – with Owen and Michaels brought into the angle as well, going into the Rumble. At the Rumble, Flair kept in the rematch against the Bulldog – an injured Hit Man couldn’t make his title rematch, so they rushed in as a replacement – Randy Savage – who had been gone since VII. Savage took Piper’s IC while Shawn took the better of Owen in the middle of the card.

At VIII – Bret finally won his WWF Title, making him the first modern day triple crown winner (joining Pedro) the triple crown, referring to holding all 3 straps, is positioned in the counterfactual as a holy accomplishment, far above even the WWF Title. Also in that main event, tensions between Hennig and Flair reached a head, Curt finally turning face, leaving Ric and the Brain. Davey didn’t work VIII – but Owen did, going over Michaels in the middle.

So, that gets us to Summer Slam ’92 – 4 years after turning heel in their IC match in the first Summer Slam, Davey got another shot at Bret – but this time for the big strap in front of his countrymen.

Savage kept that IC in the rematch with Piper at VIII – and went into Summer Slam defending against Jacques Rougeau, doing a lot of anti-British, pro-French stuff to rile up the home crowd.

The tag champs – no longer the Road Warriors – they kept over Sarge and the Boss Man at Survivor Series ’91, but lost in a stunner to DiBiase and Rotundo at the Rumble. Money Inc kept over a reunited Strike Force at VIII – and now are set for the big rematch, defending against the former champs Animal and Hawk.

The rest of the card – not great. Michaels/Martel, Tito against Smash, the Warrior was on the card, as was Crush, and the Beverly Brothers met the Nastys in the opening tag.

Results:

The big main event had a helluva closing match angle. Bret won, keeping with the sharpshooter – but as he had Davey locked in – he witnessed the first big table spot in WWF history. Owen was special color commentator for the match, and was attacked by Shawn, continuing their feud (Michaels beat Martel earlier), Shawn laid Owen out with the kick, went to the top buckle, and elbowdropped him through the table as Bret, noted by the announce, kept Davey in the sharpshooter while the Bulldog struggled less to win the belt – and more to save Owen.

All hell broke loose then, Davey submitted just after Michaels crashed through the table. Shawn was attacked by an entering Savage. Flair attacked Bret – who was saved by Hennig. Owen remaining in the wreckage. Good times.

Savage was still your IC Champ, keeping over Jacques. Money Inc still had the tag belts, surprising many by retaining over the Road Warriors. Unimportant wins for the obvious suspects in the undercard filled out Summer Slam ’92, a one match show, by and large.

A year later – Summer Slam '93 came from Detroit. The first Slam for the new PPV team of Jim Ross and Jim Cornette.

No change at the top though – a year later it was still the Hit Man. Bret kept in the VIII rematch against Flair at Survivor Series ’91, then renewed his IC rivalry with Tenryu, who aligned himself with the newcomer Yokozuna, at the Rumble. Bret kept – then, and also kept at IX against the hot newcomer Razor Ramon. It would be Razor, aligned not only with longtime Hart nemesis Michaels, but also with Shawn’s new bodyguard Diesel, who would win that number one contender’s battle royal (which Davey Boy took all the way to the title in ’91, we do it every other year, recall) and get the Summer Slam rematch. Razor tossing Michaels to win the thing.

Bret’s running buddy during this stretch was Mr. Perfect. And it would be Hennig challenging for the IC at Summer Slam ’93 – against the champ, Shawn Michaels.

Savage’s IC run ended at Survivor Series ’92, where he lost to Michaels – but then, in a significant twist, and our first format break ever – Michaels lost in an impromptu match to Owen. Shawn regained from Owen in an Iron Man, the ’93 MOTY at the Rumble. Shawn kept over Perfect at IX – Hennig, obviously out of the ring since losing the WWF title in ’91, returned as a face over the Boss Man (paid by the Brain to take him out, after Perfect turned at last year’s Slam) at Survivor Series, then beat Flair in the Loser Leaves Town at Rumble ’93. Flair did leave for a decade – but is now obviously back as we approach Summer Slam ’05, as one half of the creative team.

Hennig to the shot against Shawn at IX, lost, and Summer Slam is their rematch. As we approached Survivor Series, Hennig and Bret stood on the babyface side, the traditional side, while the Clique – Michaels, Razor, Diesel – were the upstarts.

The tag titles were in the midst of a monster run by the Steiners – they took at Survivor Series ’92 from Money Inc, kept over the Beverly Brothers at the Rumble, survived the rematch against DiBiase/Rotundo at IX – and now, with DiBiase retired, purchasing the tag ranks in an effort to get the belts off the Steiners – he enlisted the Headshrinkers for Summer Slam ’93 – in Detroit, you recall, where the hometown Steiners would be kinda big, big babyface favorites. Big.

What else…well, there was an IC tournament over the summer that to culminate in crowning a number 1 contender at Summer Slam. Backlund, Terry Taylor, Waltman, Razor, Yoko, Tito, Owen, and Randy were your participants. Owen and Waltman won their brackets and met, both as babyfaces, at Summer Slam. Both men were in opposition to the Clique – Owen, was, of course, a Hart – and Waltman had been the target of constant Clique abuse since entering the company.

Also working: Lex, Bam Bam, the Undertaker, and the Smoking Gunns. All of them won, so I’ll ignore them in the results section.

Results:

Bret keeps. He fights off the whole Clique and maintained hold on his strap. Michaels kept, in what signaled the end of this run for Hennig. The Steiners kept. The big angle of the night was in the IC Contender’s Final – Waltman upset Owen, and after beating Razor twice over the summer, now was positioned as a player. But postmatch, Savage, who had been training with Owen since both men were taken out by Yoko prior to IX , wiped Waltman out postmatch. When Owen looked to protect Waltman – Savage then leveled Owen for interfering and went back to attacking Waltman.

Waltman was saved by Razor --- who was still a heel, but his respect had been earned by the Kid’s taking the constant Clique beating and continuing to get up. So, while longtime babyface Savage was acting like a heel – the heel in the main event program was acting like a face. And when Razor attacked Savage – Randy was saved by his training buddy Owen – which led to Shawn and Diesel entering to attack Owen…but also attack Waltman, cause that’s what they did – and then Bret and Hennig to hit the ring to try to figure out what the hell was going on.

A cool scene in the middle of the card. One that would set up the next year of programs.

That’s part II. Part III of a Counterfactual History of Summer Slam will come soon – and then, in August – Summer Slam ’05! Matt Hardy makes his return to the WWF in the Unsanctioned “Who Screwed Lita?” match, Eddy defends in the 2 out of 3 falls against Rey, Orton and Cena try to keep the title one more night as they take on Bradshaw and Dinsmore, and like Summer Slam ’93 – we have an IC related tournament, although this time the belt is vacant – and Angle will meet Michaels, Benoit will meet Jericho – with the winners hooking up at Survivor Series. Leviathan, with Arn, meets Spreekiller Helms – Hulk Hogan’s retirement match is against the Undertaker – and those IC participants tag up in the opener! Summer Slam ’05! Call your thing!

A Counterfactual History of Summer Slam - 1

Still 3 weeks ‘till August, and that means 3 weeks until Summer Slam ’05!

But I miss the Counterfactual. It’s my bestest friend. You’ll never leave me, will you Counterfactual? Awwww. Pretty Counterfactual. Pretty.

So, given that many of you, I assume, have not been with me since the beginning and may need a glimpse into our neverending saga, this seems like an excellent time to do a History of Summer Slam.

Maybe I’ll do it in one part…maybe a dozen. I don’t know. I’m makin’ it up as I go along. I just feel like tending to my Counterfactual. Sometimes, late at night, I’ll hear it calling, “Feed me, Jimbo. Feed me.”

So, what the hell.

Counterfactual Summer Slam began in 1988 at a critical time in WWF history – that spring, Wrestlemania IV saw the end of the feud that carried the Federation on its back during the nascent days of PPV – Dynamite Kid v. Ricky Steamboat. That matchup was the main event in every show since WM II and culminated in Dynamite’s recapturing the WWF Title in a Loser Leaves Town.

It would safe to say there was concern in Titan Tower; would we be able to replace the babyface Steamboat, beloved by wrestling fans everywhere, as he had spent 4 years as the standard bearer for the company?

Dynamite would be challenged at Summer Slam by the white hot Randy Savage.

For two years, from WM II to WM IV, Savage was IC champ – he started as the monster heel, the guy in the pink trunks tossing Elizabeth around. Savage took from Piper at II, but by his victory over Jake at III, his act was so over that there was no stopping the face turn. Savage kept over the debuting Rick Rude at the first Survivor Series, in the fall of ’87, but then lost the babyface/babyface matchup against a man nipping at his heels for months, his friend Bret Hart.

Dynamite’s constant taunting and brutal attacks on men to whom he was considered family, Bret and Davey Boy, led to a response from Savage, effectively serving as Bret’s protector. And they met for the big strap at the first Summer Slam.

The IC saw those two aforementioned allies, Bret and Davey Boy, the Hart Foundation (managed, originally, by Neidhart) meet up. The Hart Foundation held the tag belts a year and a half, first as heels, taking from babyface team Santana and Beefcake at WM II, then like Randy, turning over the course of the year, and holding until a loss against the Rougeaus at that inaugural Survivor Series, when the Anvil turned on them.

They went singles at that point; Bret, as mentioned, taking the IC from Savage, and Davey Boy holding an unbeaten streak going into Summer Slam, notably having beaten the also undefeated Bigelow at III.

Bret’s having worked a babyface program against Savage made it easy for Davey Boy to ask him to do a similar favor; additionally, the somewhat fragile Bulldog was preyed upon by the nefarious Dynamite – Billington constantly questioning Davey’s manhood, his ability, if he would fade into obscurity while his superior tag partner started winning belts. Eventually, Davey challenged Bret for the strap, and they hooked it up at Summer Slam ’88.

The tag title was a fairly low wattage affair workrate wise. Demoliton had racked up multiple undercard wins as a heel team, perhaps getting some badass cheers, enough to get the shot against fellow heels, the Rougeaus.

More interesting was the continuation of the big feud between Rude and Jake – the same feud they actually had, as Rude had Cheryl Roberts’s face painted on his tights – enough to drive the tightly wound, now babyface Roberts over the edge. Rude got the win at WM IV – this was the rematch.

The rest of the card was pedestrian. Dibiase v. Muraco, Koko v. Bad News, the debut of the Ultimate Warrior, and two babyface giants teaming up – Hogan and Andre in the opening tag.

The dark match at Summer Slam ’88 was historic – those of you with me since the beginning recall that Bret met Dynamite in the dark match at I – well, at Summer Slam ’88, the dark match pitted two future holders of the triple crown, Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels. Nearly two decades later, as we approach Summer Slam ’05 – Shawn’s still here, meeting Kurt Angle.

The results:

Dynamite kept the title, going over Savage clean, Randy not yet able to climb that ultimate hurdle. Bret kept the IC – but Davey turned following the match, press slamming his longtime partner to the floor. The Rougeaus kept the tags, making it a sweep for champions. Rude got another win, when Cheryl shockingly turned on her husband, and she and Rick groped each other over the fallen Snake. The babyface Warrior won, as did the heel DiBiase. Bad News got a win, and so did the Hogan/Andre team.

A year later, we stayed in the New York metropolitan area, going to the Meadowlands in Jersey.

At Summer Slam '89, it was Randy Savage wearing the (metaphorical) crown. Randy did go over Dynamite, at Survivor Series ’88, then kept over DiBiase at the Rumble. At that point, Bret came calling once again. The Hit Man had run both his brother in law, and the man Davey re-aligned with to challenge Bret, the Anvil, out of the company by staving off their challenge at Survivor Series; but at the Rumble, he fell victim to the dominant force in the WWF – the Heenan Family – in particular Curt Hennig, who took the IC at the Rumble.

Bret said once Randy gave him a chance at the IC – Randy accepted, and Bret showed he was the Best there is, etc…now that Randy had the big belt – with the biggest show of the year coming up, Bret wanted to do it again.

Savage accepted – and beat him at V.

The rematch topped the card at Summer Slam ’89.

In fact, in a rarity, all 3 title matches from Mania were recontested at Summer Slam.

The IC saw the implosion of the Heenan Family, as Rude defended against Hennig

The Heenan Family, fronted, obviously, by Bobby, was four men: Rude, Hennig, Arn, and Tully, doing the Horsemen schtick. They all wore suits, ripping off every element of the gimmick in as shameless a fashion as possible without drawing a lawsuit. The Brainbusters were tag champs, taking at Survivor Series from the Rougeaus, losing at the Rumble in their veteran/upstart kid feud with the Rockers, and then retaking at IV.

Hennig, as mentioned, with Rude in his corner, took from Bret at the Rumble – and then, against the Brain’s wishes, gave his boyhood friend and stablemate Rude a shot at Mania.

Rude took and with tensions within the Family at an all time high – the two rematched at Summer Slam.

We just discussed the tags – Arn and Tully winning their second belts at V – they met the Rockers one more time at Summer Slam – the Busters also showed the fraying over the summer, picking sides in what grew to be a heated Rude/Perfect schism. The Brain did all he could to keep it together – but there were significant concerns as Summer Slam approached.

Rounding out the card…DiBiase met Terry Taylor, the longtime feud between former tag partners Martel and Santana continued, Jimmy Snuka made his PPV debut, meeting the now fascist Ultimate Warrior, Jacques Rougeau, now as a single, met the Hammer, and a year later, Hogan has another legendary tag partner, this time it’s Dusty Rhodes.

The results:

Randy kept the belt, beating Bret clean as did he at V – Bret playing the role of youngster not yet ready for the title. Rude kept the IC, with Heenan, for the first time, taking sides in the feud, taking Curt’s foot away from what would have been a rope break, allowing Rick to get the fall. It would turn out to be a ruse, actually, it was Rude and not Hennig who was getting swerved out of the Family by the Brain – but at the moment, it looked like a Perfect face turn, as he cleaned house.

The Brainbusters also came apart at Summer Slam ’89, losing to Shawn and Marty, then breaking up in the big angle that would soon find both of them leaving the company. Tully never to return – but Arn did come back, as a member of the Titan Trust – and now as the manager for Leviathan, taking on Shane Helms at Summer Slam ’05.

The rest of the show saw wins for Ted, Snuka, Jacques, Martel, and Hogan/Dusty.

The dawn of the 90s meant Summer Slam originated from Philadelphia for Summer Slam '90.

On top of the World Wrestling Federation – Mr. Perfect.

But not a babyface Mr. Perfect – after he left the Heenan Family, he formed what appeared to be a friendship with Randy Savage – enough so that Savage, who had withstood the babyface challenge from Bret – accepted another babyface challenge, this time from Hennig. But Hennig wasn’t a babyface, it was a dastardly swerve – Bobby rejoined him, knocked out Liz, and Hennig took the strap.

Perfect kept at the Rumble over Rude, who now was a babyface, after being sold out by the Brain at Survivor Series, then kept at VI in the big rematch with Savage.

You should be used to this – Summer Slam meant another rematch, Hennig/Savage III. Randy by this point was on the warpath, he had taken to attacking Hennig with a fork, he had been led from arenas in handcuffs, Liz was long gone, Bobby had to hire a special security detail – and the announce had reason, after bloody Savage attacks, to wonder if Randy had totally lost his mind. Because Randy was not just a danger to Hennig – but to the fans – the only way to do this rematch was to put it in a steel cage. Our first cage match for the WWF Title on PPV.

The IC was once again the Hit Man’s belt. He regrouped after failing to overcome Savage, took the IC from DiBiase (who had stolen it from Rude, with Bobby's help) at the Rumble, then kept it at VI in Toronto from a freshly turned Shawn Michaels. “There’s just something about you I don’t like” Shawn said.

His opponent was the once again evil Jake – who had re-turned heel with the influence of the returning Piper, the two men forming a nasty tag team that took the straps from the Rockers at the Rumble – but then lost to an odd tag combination that will be mentioned momentarily, at VI.

Jake went singles then – going after Bret’s title at Summer Slam '90.

The tag team champions – Rick Rude and, for the third time, Marty Jannetty.

You recall the scene – after the Rockers lost to Jake and Piper at the Rumble, a disgruntled Shawn tossed Marty through a plate glass window. But Jannetty had a rematch clause form Mania – and who doesn’t want to fight for the tag belts at Mania? He said he needed a partner – and who better to partner with than the man who previously had feuded with Jake for a year – now babyface Rick Rude.

They took the straps at VI – and at Summer Slam met the undercard heels, the Orient Express.

Elsewhere on the card, the heel Michaels took on Tito, the unbeaten Kerry Von Erich met a young man who would later be acquainted with Philadelphia, Shane Douglas, Dusty turned heel over the course of the year, and he met Hogan, and the Warrior and Demolition also appeared on the card.

The results:

In the bloodiest WWF Title match to date – Savage attacked everyone in sight with the fork – forking Hennig half to death until the champ was able to escape the cage, collapse into unconsciousness, and keep his belt. Savage attacked Bobby, the referee – WWF officials who tried to stop him – Savage forked people until his fans became horrified. The children cried and the women covered their eyes as the Macho Man totally lost his shit at Summer Slam ’90 – blood virtually everywhere from the forking Madness. "Ridin' the madness like a rocketship, to infiniti and beyond, yeah."

Bret kept the IC – and then ate a superkick from Michaels, who earlier defeated Tito with the same move – the kick dropped Bret cold, hopefully working to get the move over – and Shawn and Jake, bloody rivals when the year began, devoured the Hit Man together.

Your new tag champs – Pat Tanaka and the masked Paul Diamond, oddly enough. Rude did the clean job and left the company, never to return. Glory was fleeting for the Orients as, immediately after their victory, the Road Warriors, coming off a 2 year NWA title run, surprised everyone by walking down the aisle and taking them apart with Doomsday Devices.

Von Erich remained unbeaten – and Dusty went over Hogan as their feud continued.

That's The first 3 years of Summer Slam. Note that this is the weakest of the 4 PPVs, the reasons should be clear if you recognize the rules by which I'm playing - I'm limited to the wrestlers who actually worked the show (or who worked dark)meaning that historically the pool of talent working the other 3 shows is much deeper (30 men in the Rumble, the elimination matches in Survivor Series - and while its a more recent phenomenon, the desire to get every worker a Mania payday) but Summer Slam is sometimes a skeleton crew, which is the primary reason why, at Summer Slam '05, you will see Benoit/Jericho v. Michaels/Angle as the opening tag. It's a bit of a cheat, having guys work twice, but faithful Counterfactual readers note that I try to keep a good lid on the format in order to maintain fidelity to my premise.

Anyway - Part Two of a Counterfactual History of Summer Slam will be coming sooner rather than later - Summer Slam '05, a big - big card - Edge and Matt in the Unsanctioned match, Eddy defending against Rey, the mini tournament for the vacant IC: Benoit v. Jericho and Angle v. Michaels -- that's coming in the first week of August.

And until then - hop on over to spoonmillionaires.com to check out my controversial production blog.