Summerslam '88

 - Scott Keith

· Live from New York City, NY.

· Jesse Ventura is a guest ref tonight so your hosts are Gorilla Monsoon and Superstar Billy Graham.  This was the first SummerSlam.

· Opening match: The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers v. The British Bulldogs

Given their self-destruction prior to the modern era beginning, many newer fans don't realize how awesomely talented both teams were. The Rougeaus were longtime babyfaces and were recently turning heel (and drawing huge heat because of it), but Jimmy Hart was not yet the manager. The joke here is that the Rougeaus are constantly cheering the USA, but everyone knows they're lying and boo them. Good double-teams from both sides to start, but Dynamite is quickly caught with a suplex from behind and becomes Face in Peril. Jacques' arrogant heel act is almost unmatched.

This is basically just a hot opener to get the crowd into it, as both teams were involved in other feuds. In fact, just about everyone on this card was involved in other feuds, which is what made it such an odd show at times. To show the awesome heel tactics of the Rougeaus, observe as they turn an abdominal stretch and reverse chinlock -- two restholds -- into intense mindgames with the fans. Either that or it's just a really hot MSG crowd. Hot tag to Davey Boy, who dumps Jacques crotch-first on the top rope and a pier-six erupts. Bulldogs with the press-slam headbutt, but the bell rings at the 11 minute mark, which means it's either a too-long 10 minute draw or a clipped 15 minute one. A good opener. ***

· Footage of Brutus getting Ron Bass' spurs raked across his head, thus explaining why he won't be wrestling Honky Tonk Man for the title tonight.

· Ken Patera v. Bad News Brown

Man, prison didn't agree with Patera. He looks horrible here. He gets some token offense in, but Brown basically beats the crap out of him. *This* is the guy that the Nation needed to get over as bad-asses. He might as well have "BMF" tattooed on his head. He puts his head down and Patera gets some weak offense in (I mean some really loose shots) and the crowd goes apathetic. You know who Bad News reminds me of? Steve Austin. The look is the same, the attitude is the same. Except he was a heel back in 1988.

Anyway, Patera gets the full nelson on a couple of times, but misses the shoulder to the post charge and gets nailed with the Ghetto Blaster (enzuigiri). The WWF did the same finish about a million times with Patera and guys like Dino Bravo and Rick Rude on syndies before and after this. 1/2*  More...