Top 10 SummerSlams : Number 7 – SummerSlam 1997

Mankind

As we get ever so close to this year’s SummerSlam, we go back in time to take a look at the top 10 SummerSlams in WWE history. Today, we come down to number 7, which was the SummerSlam in 1997.

The card only had seven matches, and hence all of them received decent amount of time. SummerSlam ’97 came to us from the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey and saw Bret Hart facing the WWF champion, The Undertaker with Shawn Michaels serving as the special guest referee. The second big feud going into the PPV was for the Intercontinental championship, between the IC champion Owen Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

This PPV was also monumental because of wrong reasons. This was one of Brian Pillman’s last PPVs before he passed away. Also, Stone Cold Steve Austin broke his neck during his match with Owen Hart, and this was the last time Bret held the WWF championship before he was thrown out of the WWF and his eventual retirement. Without further ado, let us get right into the thick of things.

Under card:

Mankind defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (With Chyna) in a Steel cage match

The opening match was inside a steel cage, which didn’t make much sense. This was at a time when Hunter was climbing the ranks in the company before he became Triple H, while Mankind was way over with the crowd. Hunter received no heat going in, and Chyna had a big role during the course of the bout.

Lots of spots which were sold well by both men. Mankind climbed the cage and came down with a huge elbow drop. Chyna tried her best to help Hunter win the bout, but she wasn’t successful as Mankind made his way out of the cage first. A decent opening bout which saw some botched spots, but got the crowd involved, especially with the huge elbow drop from the top of the cage.

Rating: ** ½

Goldust (With Marlena) defeated Brian Pillman

The stipulation of this match was that if Pillman lost, he would wear Marlena’s dress the next night on RAW. This was about two months before Pillman passed away, and his ankle was in a very bad shape. The bout itself was abysmal, given that Pillman could hardly walk. He took control over Goldust until the finish when Marlena whacked Pillman with her purse to give Goldust the opportunity to cover him for the victory. This is one bout I’d like to forget, considering how amazing Pillman really was in the ring.

Rating: ½ *

The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) defeated The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas)

The Godwinns wanted retribution for L.O.D breaking one of their necks, and that was the background of the match. Good back and forth action in what was a passable match. The bout ended when Hawk spike pile drived Henry for the pinfall victory.

Rating: **