Top 10 SummerSlams : Number 5 – SummerSlam 1998

SummerSlam 1998 X-Pac shaves off Jeff Jarrett’s hair

As we count down the hours for this year’s edition of SummerSlam, we go back in time to 1998 on our way to find the top 10 SummerSlams in WWE history.

Today we get down to number 5, and what an event the WWF rolled out with! It had one of the best build ups to any main event, as I can still remember watching it as a kid, and being mesmerized by just the buildup to the Austin – Undertaker match up! It also included a phenomenal ladder match that arguably catapulted two youngsters as the future of the business. The event took place at the mecca of sports entertainment, Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Without further ado, let us look at the events which unfolded that night.

Under card:

D’ Lo Brown defeated Van Venis by DQ to retain the WWF European championship

This was at a point when the WWF were looking to push D’ Lo and Venis as the future of the company. Looking back at it now, it is almost hard to believe. Venis was way over with the fans, and so was D’ Lo.

D’ Lo took control of the match in the early going, but Val came back when D’ Lo missed a senton. A good powerslam by Venis got him only two count, as the crowd was buzzing. D’ Lo got back into the match by countering the money shot, as crowd chanted for D’ Lo. I love NY fans, anyway, Val ripped off the chest protector of D’ Lo and put it on himself to hit his finisher, but got crotched to the top turnbuckle because of the referee.

Venis took his frustrations out on the ref and threw him out to get disqualified. He hit the money shot on the ref post match. That was a solid opener, and the crowd was really into it. Two years later, none of the two mattered in the WWF. Sad.

Rating: ** ½

The Oddities (Kurrgan, Golga and Giant Silva with Luna Vachon and The Insane Clown Posse) defeated Kaientai (Taka Michinoku, Dick Togo, Mens Teioh and Sho Funaki with Yamaguchi-san)

I will always remember the theme song of the Oddities; wonder who came up with this idea. Anyway, this was basically a comedy match between the two factions. Kurrgan and Golga dominated their opponents and Golga finished it off with a huge splash for the three count. That wasn’t a classic by any means, but it was fun while it lasted.

Rating: ¼ *

X-Pac (with Howard Finkel) defeated Jeff Jarrett (with Southern Justice (Mark Canterbury and Dennis Knight)) in a Hair vs Hair match

This was a Hair vs Hair match between X – Pac and Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett shaved Finkel’s hair during Heat, so The Fink was on X – Pac’s side. Good back and forth action between the two competitors, with Pac dominating for the most part.

The end came when Pac hit Double J with his guitar after failing to pin him with a Facebuster, picking up the victory. Post match, The Headbangers came down to help Pac and The Fink shave Double J. That was a solid PPV match between two good performers. It’s a shame that Double J was out of the WWF soon and Pac didn’t go anywhere.

Rating: *** ¼

Triple H vs The Rock Summerslam 1998

Mid card:

Edge and Sable defeated Marc Mero and Jacqueline in a mixed tag team match

Edge was the “Lone wolf” at this point, and he joined Sable to face the team of Marc Mero and Jacqueline. It was a pretty standard tag team match, and Edge and Mero started things off.

Sable showed her skills against Jacqueline and almost hit the Sable bomb on Mero! The match ended when Sable took Mero down with Sablecurana while Edge hit the Downward spiral on Mero, and splashed Sable on top of him for the pinfall victory. That was a fun match, and it was after this that Edge got into a feud with Gangrel and Christian. Good times.

Rating: ** ¼

Ken Shamrock defeated Owen Hart (With Dan Severn) in a Lion’s Den match

I don’t like it when WWF tries to look ‘legitimate’, but this was an amazing match between Ken and Owen Hart. Ken looked like a legitimate bad – a** while Owen Hart showed why people consider him to be a phenomenal athlete.Owen applied the Sharpshooter and Ken reached the cage, using his strength to climb the “Octagon” and break the hold. Lots of great spots, and Shamrock applied the arm bar and then the ankle lock to finish things off as Owen tapped out. That was an outstanding bout.

Rating: ****

The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) defeated Mankind in a No DQ Handicap match to win the WWF Tag Team championships

The story of this match was that Mankind couldn’t find his partner Kane, and the match was made into a No DQ Handicap match. NAO took control over the match early, but Mankind came back by putting Billy through a table on the outside. A con – chair – to to Mankind while he was on his knees.

Ouch! NAO then power bombed Mankind over two chairs, and finished him off with a spike piledriver over the tag team title. Post match, they dumped him into the trash and closed the lid. Kane then came out and nailed Mankind with a sledge hammer and closed the lid. He then rolled him out of the arena. That was confusing.

Rating: *

Triple H (With Chyna) defeated The Rock (With Mark Henry) in a Ladder match to win the WWF Intercontinental championship

The match that arguably made Triple H and Rock, proving they can hang around the big guys. The MSG crowd loved both of them, and Chyna interfered in the match to give the advantage to Triple H. A really good bout that saw both the competitors use the ladder as a weapon.

They both connected with their finishers but couldn’t get the belt down in time. Both did the ‘Climb the ladder at the same time’ spot, while Chyna pulled Rocky down enabling Triple H to get the title for the victory. A great ladder match that went a long way in establishing these two as the future of the business.

Rating: **** ½

SummerSlam 1998 Stone Cold vs The Undertaker for the WWF Championship

Main event:

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Undertaker to retain the WWF championship

Arguably the best build up to a title match in WWF history! The match itself was very good, with both the superstars throwing everything they had. Kane tried to interrupt but Taker told him to go back. Austin worked on Taker’s leg but Taker chokeslammed him.

The brawl spilled into the crowd, but they brought it back into the ring as Taker took control. There was an amazing spot when Taker placed Austin on the Spanish announce table, and came down with a huge leg drop from the top turnbuckle! The crowd went wild, and back in the ring, Austin tried to go for the Stunner, but Taker blocked it.

Taker then went for ‘Old school’ but Austin low blow’d Taker and stunned him to pick up the victory. The show closed with Taker and Kane staring down Austin as he celebrated inside the ring. That was a great match to close the show.

Rating: *** ½

Over – all PPV rating: *** ¾ (Out of 5 stars)

That was a great PPV. Two 4+ star matches and a solid main event to close the show. This was at a point when WWF was producing great shows. The focus of the PPV was the ladder match and the main event, as this changed the landscape in the WWF in the long run. Anyway, that does it for the review of SummerSlam ’98. Join us next time as we look at the top 10 SummerSlams, while we count down the clock for this year’s edition.