SlyGuy21
1st Match: HHH vs Mankind, Steel Cage match. In order to prevent Chyna from interfering for the 80th time, these two are having this match. I keep forgetting that these matches used to have the thick bars instead of just steel mesh. for some reason, it looks like they actually hurt themselves against the cage, which really adds to the match. The typical spots are all here, the near escapes, the getting pulled back over the cage, all that, but it flows better than most other cage matches. Foley hits Hunter with a piledriver, don't worry, we'll get there. The gimmick is also kind of pointless because Chyna gets involved any way, irksome to me. The big spot in the match is Foley doing a Superfly Elbow off the top of the cage, if you look closely you can see Chyna missing her cue before the spot, which is weird. The match is a pretty good way to start the show, and the best match these 2 have had so far. Rating: 4/52nd Match: Goldust vs Brian Pillman. I believe this is Pillman's first singles match on a WWF PPV since he joined them. His gimmick is fire, unfortunately the match doesn't give him a lot. It's over in 7 minutes, and was more a comedy match than anything. Decent for what it is though, sad that this would be one of his last matches. Rating: 3/53rd Match: The Godwinns vs The Road Warriors. The Godwinns are swearing revenge for LOD accidentally breaking Henry's neck awhile back, don't worry, we'll get there. The Godwinns come out with a Confederate flag, and are apparently full heels now, of course they'd get booed anyway cuz of who they're facing. This has the typical heel/face tag team stuff, but it works well. The real awkward part is that the story revolves around breaking someone's neck as revenge for an accident. Maybe too extreme for my tastes. Decent win for LOD. Rating: 3/54th Match: Ken Shamrock vs The British Bulldog. This only really serves to push Shamrock's unstable gimmick, as he gets beat on for most of the match, yet explodes when hit in the face with dog food. He destroys the can over Davey Boy's skull, then chokes him out for like 3 minutes. It did a lot to further his character, but a decent match at it's core. Rating: 3/55th Match: Los Boricuas vs The Disciples of the Apocalypse. So after getting fired from the Nation of Domination, Crush and Vega created their own teams and started this gang war angle. More than likely an attempt to copy the nWo, but without any real heat, at least yet. Aside from Vega, Crush, Brian Lee, and one dude with a REALLY hairy back, I don't know anyone here. The match is pretty dull, none of these guys have any real connetion to the crowd, or any impressive moves, so it just exists until the Nation show up (with a now-heel Ahmed Johnson) and cause the Disciples to lose. An attempt to build a feud that didn't work. Rating: 2.5/56th Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Owen Hart, WWF Intercontinental Championship. This is THAT match. It had a good story going into it, both guys were good, the match goes really well for 99% of it, then Owen botches a piledriver and almost snaps Austin's neck. It's bad, real bad, it started a history of neck problems for him that led to his retirement in 2003. The match then ends awkwardly, with Austin using a really weak roll-up to beat Owen. Awkward, but understandable. Austin is then rushed to the hospital and would be OOA for a few months. This is the main reason the show is remembered, and while the match is good up until that point, I don't feel comfortable giving a rating to it. I won't give it my usual rating, or hold it against the show as a whole, because it was an unfortunate accident. Rating: None.7th Match: Bret Hart vs The Undertaker, WWF Chmapionship with Shawn Michaels as the referee. Several stories going into this. Bret has said he won't wrestle in the US again if he loses, same goes for Michaels if he favors one guy over the other, and Taker may be a murderer. It works out a lot better than you think, as the crowd is super into this. Bret almost tears Taker's leg off, as Shawn just tries to maintain control of this brawl. We get some appearances from Paul Bearer, Pillman, and a noticeably concerned Owen Hart. The match is very good though, eventually leading to nice ending where Bret spits on Michaels, then Michaels accidentally nails Taker with a chair. Shawn then begrudgingly counts the three and leaves. The crowd pulls a WCW and fills the ring with trash, as the timer starts on Bret's match with Shawn in Montreal. Despite the finish, I liked how this match goes a lot, so I just might consider it being on my "Match of the Year" list. Rating: 4.5/5Final Rating: 7 out of 10. Despite the ticking clock that is Austin's match, and the decent at best mid-card, the show is still pretty entertaining.
callanvass
Live from East Rutherford, NJAttendance 20,213Your commentators are Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler & Jim RossSteel Cage MatchHunter Hearst Helmsley (W/Chyna) Vs MankindMankind wins. This is one of the most underrated cage matches. It had great drama and a lot of exciting action. Chyna's interference made Mankind's improbable win all the more special.Foley and Triple H were beginning to show the great chemistry they would have in the next couple years. I also liked Mankind paying tribute to Jimmy Snuka by dropping an elbow from the top of the cage. If you're a big Mick Foley fan, you know he hitchhiked to MSG to watch Jimmy Snuka face Don Muraco in a Steel Cage Match. ***1/2 out of 5Governor Christie Whitman is presented with the WWF Championship. She got booed pretty loudly. Loser Wears a Dress MatchGoldust (W/Marlena) Vs Brian PillmanThe loser is forced to wear a dress the next night on Raw. Goldust wins after Marlena nails Pillman with her purse. This was a mediocre match. Goldust was in the midst of a failed face run and this feud wasn't very engaging. The crowd wasn't that invested either.*1/2 out of 5The Legion of Doom Vs The GodwinnsLOD wins after delivering a spike piledriver to Henry Godwinn. This was a below average match. As legendary as LOD is, they aren't miracle workers. It was often boring to watch.*1/2 out of 5European ChampionshipThe British Bulldog (C) Vs Ken ShamrockBulldog wins by DQ after Ken Shamrock snaps. He applies a choke hold to The Bulldog and refuses to let go. Officials try to stop Shamrock, but Shamrock takes them all down with belly to belly suplexes. Shamrock snapping was pretty cool, but the match itself is very forgettable. The British Bulldog resorted to a reverse chinlock way too many times in this match. *1/4 out of 5Los Boricuas Vs The DOALos Boricuas wins, thanks to interference from The Nation of Domination. Yikes! This was really bad. It sapped all the energy out of the building and seemed to drag on forever. This gang warfare stuff might have been cool at the time, but it doesn't hold up very well now.3/4* out of 5Intercontinental ChampionshipOwen Hart (C) Vs 'Stone Cold' Steve AustinAustin wins the title. This is a pretty good match between these two. It's mostly famous because Owen Hart broke Austin's neck with a tombstone piledriver. This would affect Austin's career in many ways. His career would be shortened and he would be forced to permanently turn into a brawler. It's amazing that Austin was able to muster up the strength to roll up Owen. He's a gutsy performer. ***1/4 out of 5WWF ChampionshipThe Undertaker (C) Vs Bret HartThe guest referee is Shawn Michaels. Bret Hart wins the title after Shawn Michaels accidentally nails The Undertaker with a chair. This match certainly had its moments, but it's a bit too inconsistent to be anything overly memorable. I thought it started off slowly and picked up after a while. The inconsistency brings it down. Shawn Michaels would turn heel after this. **3/4 out of 5This PPV is a decent one. I definitely enjoyed it to a certain extent. Thankfully, Austin's career wasn't over after this, otherwise the WWE would have been in big trouble. 6/10
amanwhorocks
1. Cage Match: Hunter Hearst Helmsley Vs. Mankind - For me, that was their best match. Mankind uncled HHH and then climbed first. 9/10 2. Goldust Vs. Brian Pillman - Yeah, Pillman, who is class better than Goldust had to job, *sigh* 6/10 3. The Godwinns Vs. Legion of Doom - Totally uninteresting match. 5.5/10 4. WWF European Title Match: Champ-TheBritish Bulldog Vs. Ken Shamrock - Double DQ in an unnecessary match. 5/10 5. 8-man Tag Team Match: Los Boricuas Vs. Disciples of the Apocalypse - Waste of time. A few jobbers... 5/10 6. WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Stone Cold Vs. Champ-Owen Hart - It was good thing, until Stone Cold got Hurt, by inverted Piledriver. 8/10 7. WWF World Heavyweight Title Match: Bret Hart Vs. Champ-The Undertaker - Bret again became World Champion. I like that 8/10
Big Movie Fan
SummerSlam 1997 was one of many great PPV events in 1997 (a fantastic year for the WWF). It had great matches throughout.At the time of this PPV, The Hart Foundation had been feuding with stars such as Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels and there were some strong happenings in this event.One good match pitted the late British Bulldog VS Ken Shamrock in a match where the Bulldog would eat dog food if he lost. An entertaining match-up.The late Owen Hart faced Steve Austin in a match memorable for the fact that Owen nearly ended Austin's career (by accident). Despite what people say, it was not intentional on Owen's part;it was an accident which does happen in wrestling. Worrying about it, especially when Austin made a full recovery, is pointless.Hart Foundation member, the late Brian Pillman faced Goldust in a match where Pillman would have to wear a dress if he lost. He lost-and wore a dress on subsequent WWF PPV events.The best match of the night was Bret Hart VS WWF Champion The Undertaker in a match officiated by special referee Shawn Michaels. The stipulation was that if Bret Hart lost, he would never be allowed to wrestle on American soil again. It was a strong match and the presence of Hart's enemy Shawn Michaels added to the match. In the end, Bret Hart took the WWF Title for a fifth time thanks to inadvertent help from Shawn Michaels. This would be Bret Hart's last SummerSlam appearance.SummerSlam '97 is worth checking out.
