WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT
AUGUST 18, 1996
FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO
LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

- PWTorch Newsletter #403 Coverage for VIP members.

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PWTorch Newsletter Cover Story

SummerSlam '96 will be remembered for three things: (1) A well-booked main event that saw Vader kick out after getting hit with Shawn Michaels's chin music, Michaels lose the match twice only to have it restarted twice, and eventually Michaels beat Vader when Jim Cornette's advice to Vader backfired.

(2) A long, drawn out boiler room match between Mankind and Undertaker that received mixed reviews. There was no announcing, and the match was methodically paced. For some, this was an unhinged, unusual, gimmick-filled battle in a fascinating setting. Others saw it as a drawn out snorefest between two guys with no sense of urgency or sign of adrenaline filling time leading to a couple of nice bumps and the eventual storyline at the end of the match, which alone would make up for the preceding minutes.

(3) Paul Bearer turning on Undertaker by refusing to hand him the urn at the end of the match and then joining Mankind in stomping Undertaker into the ground. Undertaker was carried out of the arena by Druids in what teased the end of Undertaker. Undertaker, though, returned the next night on Raw in an elaborate ceremony, carried into the ring by the same Druids who carried him out the night before.

The rest of SummerSlam was largely unmemorable with the exceptions being the bikini displays before the event and Jerry Lawler's typically biting mic work aimed at Jake Roberts.

Michaels showed his temper again at a questionable time. In the middle of his match against Vader, he came off the top rope and landed on his feet. He apparently adjusted his plans in mid-flight because of a mis-communication or a mistake by Vader. Either way, he stood over Vader and chewed him out in a verbal attack that was not only out of the flow of the match storyline, but very much outside of Michaels's on-air character. When Michaels bumped to the floor a moment later, he sneered at the camera and brushed it out of his way, still showing signs of frustration.

Match Results & Brief Details

1) Owen Hart pinned Savio Vega at 13:25 with a sharpshooter after nailing Savio with a cast.

After the match Justin Hawk Bradshaw (JBL) came to ringside with Zebekiah. Bradshaw yelled at McMahon, although since he wasn't mic'd he couldn't be heard, which hurt the angle. He attacked Savio as Savio was returning to the back. Tod Pettengill then interviewed Mankind in the boiler room.

(2) The Smoking Gunns outlasted The New Rockers, Body Donnas, and Godwinns in a four way tag match when Billy Gunn pinned Phinneous Godwinn at 12:18.

They showed footage of various events WWF wrestlers took part in over the weekend in Cleveland, including Lawler asking a couple of Cleveland Indian pitchers how to throw a spitball. Lawler is a lifelong fan of the Indians and Cleveland Browns.

(3) Sid pinned British Bulldog at 6:16.

(4) Goldust (w/Marlena) pinned Marc Mero (w/Sable) at 10:58.

A replay aired of Ahmed Johnson's kidney injury and surgery and interview. His nurse said if his kidney bleeds again and has to be removed, he won't be able to return to wrestling.

Todd Pettengill interviewed Faarooq Asad and Sunny in mid-ring. Faarooq said he should be given the IC Title.

(5) Jerry Lawler pinned Jake Roberts after hitting him upside the chin with a whisky bottle at 4:03. Lawler did five minutes of mic work before the match which got the crowd into the card. He wore a Baltimore Ravens jersey (the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore this season) and said he gave comp tickets to the owner of the Ravens who moved the team from Cleveland. He did the usual gags regarding Roberts being a drunk. When he pulled a whiskey bottle out of a bag before the match, Roberts pulled a snake out of his and put it on Lawler. Mark Henry did commentary at ringside. He seemed shocked that a pro wrestling referee wouldn't catch an infraction such as Lawler's at the end of the match. He ran off Lawler after Lawler poured beer down Roberts's throat after the match. Henry helped Roberts to the back. Redeeming due to Lawler's comedy.

(6) Mankind defeated Undertaker after Paul Bearer turned heel and handed Mankind the urn at 26:40. The match began as Undertaker lurked in the boiler room looking for Mankind. Mankind nailed Undertaker from behind with CPVC piping. The crowd, which watched on the big screen scoreboard or on monitors set up at ringside, popped although they were mic'd softly so it didn't come across as much of a pop on TV. The announcers for whatever reason didn't do commentary other than an occasional sentence. It was as if all of a sudden they became pro tennis announcers. At 24:20 Undertaker knocked Mankind off the ring apron. Mankind took the Nestea Plunge onto the cement. When Undertaker kneeled before Paul Bearer and awaited the Urn, Paul Bearer hesitated and turned his back. Mankind attacked a shocked Undertaker from behind. Bearer then handed him the urn for the win. Good angle, dragged out match.

(7) Shawn Michaels pinned Vader (mgd. by Jim Cornette) at 22:15 to retain the WWF Title. The Finish: Michaels quickly took his last ounce of energy and climbed to the top rope quickly and hit a moonsault bodyblock for the pinfall win. An exhausted Michaels could barely hoist the belt over his shoulder as the show went off the air. This was close to a great match and the sequence of finishes was very well played out, but the mid-ring tantrum by Michaels and few weak moves by Vader kept it at only a very good bout. But it was good enough to be a memorable show stealer. (****)

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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