This week in WWE history: Hall of Famer passes away, CM Punk's journey begins (July 29-August 4)
It was a big weekend for WWE. The SummerSlam 2024 Premium Live Event took place on Saturday following a major episode of SmackDown on Friday. Between both events, five championships changed hands.
Beyond the on-screen changes, the shows were hugely successful. SmackDown featured a packed house in Cleveland, Ohio, but SummerSlam saw well over 50,000 fans in attendance for one of the best premium live events of the Triple H era.
There is a lot to enjoy with modern World Wrestling Entertainment, but as with anything, it is not necessarily everybody's cup of tea. Some fans prefer the past and Sportskeeda Wrestling has you covered if you are looking for a little bit of nostalgia.
This article will look at four major matches, moments, and incidents in the Stamford-based company's history. This includes the demise of a WWE Hall of Famer, a classic SummerSlam match, and beyond. What went down this week in history?
Below are major matches and moments from this week in WWE history.
#4. WWE Hall of Famer "Rowdy" Roddy Piper sadly passed away on July 31, 2015
The first entry on this list is not a positive story, but it is a major one nonetheless. July 31, 2015, was a sad day in professional wrestling, as it featured the unfortunate demise of WWE Hall of Famer "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
Roddy Piper is one of the all-time greats. He headlined the first-ever WrestleMania and had a legendary feud with Hulk Hogan that spanned for decades, both in WWE and in WCW. He held both the prized Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship during his time with the Stamford-based promotion.
Piper's death was cited as being due to cardiopulmonary arrest caused by hypertension. He died at 61 years of age. Despite his unfortunate passing, however, Piper left a legacy that will never be forgotten. The Hot Rod will forever go down as one of the best talkers and characters ever.
#3. CM Punk debuted on ECW on August 1, 2006
The next entry on this week's list comes from the short-lived ECW brand. WWE launched the brand in 2006 and, very quickly, the show featured an epic debut. This edition of the series was held on August 1, 2006, and it took place at the Hammerstein Ballroom, in New York City, New York.
The big debut was that of CM Punk. While he had success in the indies and had appeared in TNA Wrestling, this was his main roster debut for WWE. Courtesy of being on a show with a population of die-hard fans, the Second City Saint received a great reception from the audience.
Punk's bout was against ECW original Justin Credible. The match was relatively short and The Straight Edge Superstar made Justin tap out rather quickly. Still, this was the start of what was an epic career in World Wrestling Entertainment.
#2. Bret "The Hitman" Hart battled The Undertaker at SummerSlam on August 3, 1997
WWE SummerSlam was held on August 3, 1997. This big show took place live from the Continental Airlines Arena, which is in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Around 20,000 fans were in attendance for the Stamford-based company's major event.
The main event of the show was Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. The Undertaker with the WWF Championship on the line. However, the match had a few stipulations. First and foremost, Shawn Michaels was the Special Guest Referee. Additionally, if Bret lost the bout, he would not be allowed to compete in the United States of America again. Meanwhile, if The Heartbreak Kid showed bias against Hart, the same stipulation would impact him.
Ultimately, The Hitman defeated The Undertaker, albeit under dubious means. Bret spat on Shawn's face and the latter retaliated by trying to hit the former with a steel chair. Bret ducked and Shawn smashed The Phenom. Hart then quickly pinned The Undertaker, much to Michaels' chagrin.
#1. RAW Underground debuted on August 3, 2020
The final entry on this week's list is an episode of Monday Night RAW from the pandemic era. Due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns, RAW did not feature an audience on August 3, 2020. The show, however, was still held and it aired live from the Performance Center.
This show was notable, as it featured the return of Shane McMahon. The son of Vince McMahon's WWE return came alongside the introduction of RAW Underground. This was, in theory, a Fight Club-style offering with off-sight segments.
The "matches" were a blend of what fans can see from Josh Barnett's Bloodsport and warehouse fighting. The gimmick did not work, however, and it would be scrapped fairly quickly. The concept was updated and revived as NXT Underground and this has worked much more in the Stamford-based company's favor.