Is Summerslam 1997 one of the most historically important shows in WWE history?
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Even though the product on television was mostly good. 1997 was their worst year in terms of profit. And they were close to going out of business.
After a bad WrestleMania 13, they needed to hit a home run with Summerslam.
After a bad WrestleMania 13, they needed to hit a home run with Summerslam.
Comments
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Goatness
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Let's breakdown the card.
Opening match.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Mankind steel cage match.
One of the best SS openers ever if not the best. This feud started at the King of the Ring when HHH beat Mankind in the finals. After their Canadian Stampede match spilled all over the arena and outside. The cage stipulation was put in place to keep them confined to the ring. This was when you started to see a different side of both these guys. Hunter looked like he could be a main eventer and Mankind was evolving into his attitude era persona.
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Goldust vs Brian Pillman
Stipulation if Pillman loses he has to wear Marlena's dress. Decent match after a hot opener.
The Godwinns vs LOD
Okay match which had real heat due to Henry Godwin breaking his neck on a botched dooms day device a few months prior.
British Bulldog vs Ken Shamrock
European title match decent match and Shamrock snaps at the end. Memorial moment btw.
Los Boricuas vs DOA
Filler match although they had a feud going on at the time. -
If HBK is Mr.Wrestlemania than Hitman is MR.SummerSlam
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dalyricalbandit wrote: »If HBK is Mr.Wrestlemania than Hitman is MR.SummerSlam
Bret owned summer slam, even in the 80s he had some great matches there. -
I hadn't really thought about what this event meant but it was indeed a huge turning point, with Bret already heel going in turning Shawn too was a big step.
Austin's nightmarish injury, Mankind beginning the split personality gimmick officially things started to turn around on a dime it seemed. -
Owen Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin
This was the semi main event. Owen pinned Steve at the Canadian Stampede 10 man tag a month prior. From there the ball rolled with this feud. At this point you knew he was going to be champion very soon. So giving him the IC title was a warmup. This match was very good but gets overshadowed by the botched pile driver. Owen being the savvy vet that he was didn't panic they audibled and made the best out of the situation. You could tell Vince was shook by the tone of his voice. -
Bret Hart vs Undertaker with special referee Shawn Michaels
This was for the WWF Championship this was a great match and was a true contrast in styles. Michaels in the mix gave Shawn something to do on this show and it also made sense from a storyline perspective. This along with Mankind/HHH and Austin/Owen. Were the matches that really set the tone for the rest of the year. This match set the tone for what would happen at Survivor Series. -
Answer = no
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1997 period was important. Laid down the foundation for what would make the company successful in the coming years
Raw became Raw is war and went from 1 hour to 2
Replaced longtime intro music with Thorn in your eye
Debut the large titan tron that we see to this day
Got rid of the red, white and blue ropes
Austin (biggest star of the biggest era) became face of company
Debut scratch logo
Content got edgier
Vince (GOAT heel in company history) became a on screen character as appose to just doing commentary
Rocky Maivia became The Rock
Hunter Herst Hemsley became HHH
3 faces of Foley debut
Kane debut
The huge pyrotechnic ? came
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5 best summerslams
02, 92, 97, 98, 08 -
I remember Owen started rocking those OWEN 3:16 I Just Broke Your Neck shirts
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Angeles1son85 wrote: »Answer = no
Why not? -
TRILLip Brooks wrote: »5 best summerslams
02, 92, 97, 98, 08
I'm bout ready to add last year's event to that list over 2008. In fact I think 2011 & 2012 were better.
1992 & 2002 are still the GOATs.
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i wasnt watching wrestling at all in 97. at all. 98-2003 was my years. hit a hiatus, and its been 2012-present. dont judge me. ive been to 4 events since then.
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Shawn Michaels aka HBK is the most swag out person I know
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Chi-Town Bully wrote: »I remember Owen started rocking those OWEN 3:16 I Just Broke Your Neck shirtsShawn Michaels aka HBK is the most swag out person I know
Shawn in 97-98 in his true assholeness was the greatest heel. He was the ultimate troll and it gave birth to DX. Then Jesus had to come and ? it up.
[img]http://cdn.niketalk.com/e/e7/e72c7436_hbk-? -the-flag-o.gif[/img]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIsb7Daf3jo -
Yeah HBK top 5 greatest WWE heels
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yep, and I was there.
no lie, I'm pretty sure Im one of those people in that front row by the summerslam sign. maybe the guy in the black shirt. I've actually never watched the event on broadcast. Maybe I'll torrent it. -
I remember this pay per view. This was back in the day, when you had to order pay per view just to see it
That disgusting feeling when you was watching Sunday Night Heat & at the end of the show, everything start picking up for the pay per view & they cut the cameras because yo ass didn't have pay per view to watch it
I remember when HBK hit Undertaker in the head with that chair. I was like "ohhhhhhhh shss, shss just got real".
I was happy as hell tho because I wanted Bret to win -
T. Sanford wrote: »I remember this pay per view. This was back in the day, when you had to order pay per view just to see it
That disgusting feeling when you was watching Sunday Night Heat & at the end of the show, everything start picking up for the pay per view & they cut the cameras because yo ass didn't have pay per view to watch it
I remember when HBK hit Undertaker in the head with that chair. I was like "ohhhhhhhh shss, shss just got real".
I was happy as hell tho because I wanted Bret to win
There was no Heat back then. -
He probably meant the Free For All that used to be on the preview channel.