Why Summerslam 1991 is My Favorite PPV.
As a professional wrestling fan, I often get asked the question what is you favorite wrestling pay-per-view of all time. Well I’ve seen some many of them on VHS, DVD and ordered them live but one for me always will stand the test of time. That one happens to be Summmerslam of 1991. The one thing that sticks out to more then anything is not even a match. It was the commentary of Bobby Hennan, Gorilla Monsoon, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. It was the best commentary on a single show I’ve heard in my life. Most of it made you laugh, some of it made you angry but it almost felt like Last Comic Standing between Hennan and Piper. I hope someday I can find one or two people to do commentary with and replicate what those three did.
Every match on the card had some value to it. The first match was British Bulldog/Ricky Steamboat/Texas Tornado vs. Paul Roma/Hercules/Warlord. At the time they were all looked at as mid-carders but for being a mid-carder match they put on a good show.
The second match was the legendary match between Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect for the Intercontinental Championship. This is still regard as one of the best IC title matches in the rich history of that title. Mr. Perfect was nearing the end of his first run in the WWE as a wrestler while Bret was starting to climb to the top. It’s a must see for any wrestling fan.
Next you had the mismatch of The Bushwhackers vs The Natural Disasters. It should be noted that this was the last PPV appearance of Andre the Giant who accompanied the Bushwhackers. This match was definitely interesting to say the least. It had some funny and memorable moments.
As any true wrestling fan knows the Million Dollar Championship held by The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase was rarely ever defended. On this night he defended it against his former servant Virgil. It was a classic story which saw Virgil win the gold, the money and the respect. Virgil really never got the push he deserved. I always thought he brought something different to the ring that no one else did. This was a very dramatic match which had a great ending.
Then you had the Jailhouse Match, where the loser had to spend 24 hours in a New York City jail. It was between the Big Boss Man and the Mountie. This match was a brawl in every sense of the word. It was a back and forth match which saw the Mountie going to jail for the night and it had one of the funniest segments that I can remember in pro wrestling history. Watch it and you’ll figure out what I am talking about.
Next up was the most storied tag team in the history of professional wrestling, the Legion of Doom, the Road Warriors, Hawk and Animal. They took on the WWE Tag Team Champions, the Nasty Boys in a NO DQ and No Count out match. It ended with a Doomsday Device that saw L.O.D. tag home the gold. That win made them the first and only team to hold the AWA, NWA, and WWE Tag Team Titles.
The crowd killer match before the main event was IRS vs Greg Valentine. Good solid wrestling match but it had no story. That’s what the use to do back in the old pay-per-views. They would have a mid-card match to calm the crowd down before the main event so the audience had something to get excited about. IRS won but no one really cared.
Then you had the main event which was Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior taking on the Triangle of Terror which consisted of Sgt. Slaughter, Gen. Adnan and Col. Mustafa(Iron Sheik). The special guest referee was Sid Justice(Psycho Sid, Sid Vicious). The match was good but the post match was even better. Hogan and Sid posed the only Hulk Hogan could. I failed to mention that event was at Madison Square Garden which is another reason why it was so special.
After that it was the wedding with Randy Savage and Elizabeth. It was cool I guess. I think in someways it was a waste of PPV time but that’s me, but the way it ended with Taker and Jake Roberts beating up Savage was classic. Then you had Sid come in at the end and make the save. It was an interesting to end a PPV. So there you have it, that’s why Summerslam 1991 was my favorite PPV of all time. It is what it is brother.
