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KEEPING THE MEMORIES ALIVE: THE FIRST SUMMERSLAM PPV

By Jim Bryan on 3/21/2009 11:25 AM

Hello readers and welcome to the eighth edition of “Keeping The Memories Alive“. In today’s edition, I will be reviewing the first ever WWF Summer Slam. It was shown live on Pay Per View from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on August 29, 1988. Keep your requests coming. 

Note from Jim: I am reviewing the home video version of this event. It may contain edits from the original broadcast. 

The show starts off with Gene Okerlund in a limo somewhere in New York City. Gene gets on a large 1980s car phone and calls Gorilla Monsoon. He tells Gorilla he is trying to get to the building and also asks Monsoon if Arnold Skaaland is there. 

We hear the voice of Gorilla Monsoon welcoming us and see a view of New York City, followed by a nice video package featuring wrestlers in tonight’s main event. 

Gorilla Monsoon and Billy Graham officially welcome us. 

Match #1: The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques Rougeau & Raymond Rougeau) vs. the British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid, with Matilda). 

Tale Of The Tape: Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (474 pounds, from Montreal, Quebec. Jacques is 28 years old, 2 time AWA Southern Champion. Raymond is 33 years old, 6 time IWA Tag Team Champion). British Bulldogs (460 pounds, from England, former WWF Tag Team Champions. Smith is 25 years old, Dynamite is 29 years old). 

During the introduction, Howard Finkel says that the Rougeau’s soon plan on moving to the US. This match is interesting because the Dynamite Kid “supposedly” disliked the Rougeau’s very much. Rumor has it he was always stiff with them and even chased them out of the building at Survivor Series 88 (3 months after this match occurred). Matilda (who was the Bulldog’s pet bulldog) is on top of some kind of platform that reaches from the floor to the ring apron. A man is standing beside her (probably her trainer). Lots of back and forth action in this match with constant tags. About 7 minutes into the match, the Rougeau’s have Dynamite hurt, putting him in several submission holds. This of course follows with Dynamite making tags that the referee cannot see and the Rougeau’s double teaming while the ref is talking to Davey Boy. Finally, Davey Boy is tagged in and he cleans house with his trademark press slams. All 4 men then start going at it and the referee has called for the bell. At first it looked like it was a double disqualification but then Howard Finkel says it’s a time limit draw. The Rougeau’s sucker punch the Bulldogs and then run backstage with the Bulldogs right behind them. 

Gorilla Monsoon informs us that Brutus Beefcake will be unable to compete in tonight’s Intercontinental Title Match with the Honky Tonk Man. We see a video from Superstars over the weekend explaining why. The video shows Ron Bass attacking Beefcake with a pair of sheers. Monsoon says that Honky will still defend the title against someone. 

Match #2: Bad News Brown vs. “Olympic Great” Ken Patera. 

Tale Of The Tape: Bad News Brown (255 pounds, from Harlem, New York, 44 years old, former NWA Florida Champion). Ken Patera (257 pounds, from Portland, Oregon, 45 years old, former WWF Intercontinental Champion). 

Brown attacks Patera right away, not allowing him to get in any offense. Patera finally turns things around with a couple clotheslines and elbow drops but is coming up short with the pin falls. Patera would get the full nelson on but Brown makes it to the ropes, forcing referee Earl Hebner to break the hold. Patera ends up running into the ring post shoulder first. Brown adds on to that with the ghetto blaster to get the victory. 

Match #3: “Ravishing” Rick Rude (with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan) vs. the Junkyard Dog. 

Tale Of The Tape: Rick Rude (252 pounds, from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, 29 years old, former WCCW Champion). Junkyard Dog (282 pounds, from Charlotte, North Carolina, 35 years old, 4 time NWA Mid South Champion). 

Rude does his usual pre-match mic work. He calls the New York City fans “inner city sweat hogs”. A picture of the JYD are on the tights of Rude. JYD takes early control with a nice belly to belly suplex and a series of head butts. Rude goes outside to talk strategy with Heenan. The crowd is totally behind the dog, chanting “JYD”. Heenan distracts JYD and Rude comes from behind with a Russian leg sweep. Rude pulls down his tights to reveal a second set, this one with a picture of Cheryl Roberts (Jake Roberts wife) on the front of them. Jake Roberts then comes in and attacks Rude, getting the Junkyard Dog disqualified. 

Match #4: The Bolsheviks (Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov, with “the Doctor Of Style“ Slick) vs. the Powers Of Pain (the Warlord & the Barbarian, with the Baron). 

Tale Of The Tape: Bolsheviks (575 pounds, from Russia. Volkoff is 37 years old, 3 time WWF Tag Team Champion. Zhukov is 28 years old, former AWA Tag Team Champion). Powers Of Pain (618 pounds, from parts unknown, former NWA Six Man Tag Team Champions. Warlord is 26 years old. Barbarian is 29 years old). 

“the Baron” is actually Baron Von Raschke from the AWA. This was part of his short stay in the WWF. The POP totally dominate. The match ends when Warlord power slam’s Zhukov, followed by a head butt off the top rope from the Barbarian, who gets the 1, 2, 3 in a very short match. 

Brother Love hosts “the Brother Love Show” with special guest “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. These 2 are no strangers to each other. Bruce Prichard (Brother Love) ring announced in the old Mid South territory (later renamed the UWF) and Duggan was put on the map by the same organization. Duggan calls Brother Love a phony. Love refers to Hacksaw as “Brother Dugan”. Brother Love says that if Duggan wants to be patriotic with his country, he should get advice from Dino Bravo. Duggan says the people of Canada hate Bravo. The interview ends when Duggan tries to hit Love with the 2x4 and Love runs backstage. Total filler. 

Match #5: The Honky Tonk Man (with “the Mouth Of The South” Jimmy Hart) defends the WWF Intercontinental Title against the Ultimate Warrior. 

Tale Of The Tape: Honky Tonk Man (248 pounds, from Memphis, Tennessee, 35 years old, on first reign as WWF Intercontinental Champion). Ultimate Warrior (275 pounds, from parts unknown, 29 years old, former WCCW Tag Team Champion). 

Honky gets on the mic and says “get me somebody out here to wrestle, I don’t care who it is”. The Warrior’s music then hits and all hell breaks lose. In a matter of seconds, Warrior does a scoop slam, flying tackle, a clothesline and a big splash to become the new Intercontinental Champion. 

Bobby Heenan stops by the announce booth to inform us what is going on in the locker room right now…… Andre The Giant is reading the Wallstreet Journal, Ted Dibiase is counting his money and the Mega Powers have their door locked. 

Match #6: “The Rock” Don Muraco vs. “Canada’s Strongest Man” Dino Bravo (with Frenchy Martin). 

Tale Of The Tape: Don Muraco (275 pounds, from Sunset Beach, Hawaii, 38 years old, 2 time WWF Intercontinental Champion). Dino Bravo (254 pounds, from Montreal, Quebec, 40 years old, former WWF Tag Team Champion).

Bobby Heenan will be joining Monsoon and Graham on commentary for this match. Frenchy Martin says something in French on the mic. This match lasts just a little longer then the IC Title Match. Martin distracts Muraco and Bravo nails the side slam for the win. 

Match #7: Demolition (Ax & Smash, with Mr. Fuji and “the Mouth Of The South” Jimmy Hart) defend the WWF Tag Team Titles against the Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart & Jim “the Anvil” Neidhart). 

Tale Of The Tape: Hart Foundation (505 pounds, from Calgary, Alberta, former WWF Tag Team Champions. Hart is 31 years old, Neidhart is 32 years old). Demolition (582 pounds, from parts unknown, on first reign as WWF Tag Team Champions. Smash is 28 years old, Ax is 40 years old). 

Jimmy Hart is out here to “advise” because he used to manage the Hart Foundation. Demolition look so jacked up here, especially compared to Bret Hart. Fuji and Jimmy Hart are taunting Neidhart while Demolition pound Bret in the ring. Neidhart is eventually tagged in and cleans house. He power slams Smash but only gets a 2 count. Fuji gets on the apron and Neidhart socks him. Meanwhile, Jimmy Hart tosses the megaphone to Ax who hits Bret with it, allowing Smash to get the pin. Demolition retain the Tag Team Titles.. 

Match #7: The Big Boss Man (with “the Doctor Of Style” Slick) vs. “the Birdman” Koko B. Ware (with Frankie). 

Tale Of The Tape: Big Boss Man (357 pounds, from Cobb County, Georgia, 26 years old, former UWF Champion). Koko B. Ware (228 pounds, from Union City, Tennessee, 31 years old, 6 time NWA Mid America Champion). 

Koko is so much smaller than the Boss Man, he almost has no chance. This was the Boss Man’s younger days when he was probably at his peak in size. Boss Man hit’s a big clothesline and could had gotten the win but pulled Ware up to do some more punishing. Boss Man goes to the top rope and misses a big splash. This allows Koko to nail an excellent missile dropkick but only gets a count of 2. Then BBM gets up and nails the Boss Man Slam for the win. Post match, Boss Man beats Koko with his nightstick. 

Match #8: “The Mighty” Hercules vs. Jake “the Snake” Roberts (with Damien). 

Tale Of The Tape: Hercules (275 pounds, from Tampa, Florida, 32 years old, former NWA Florida Champion). Jake Roberts (249 pounds, from Stone Mountain, Georgia, 33 years old, 2 time NWA Television Champion). 

The announcers speculate why Bobby Heenan is not out here with Hercules. Roberts went for the DDT early but Hercules quickly got out of the ring. Hercules is now dominating, mostly due to long Russian chin locks and sleeper holds. Roberts eventually fights back and hit’s the short clothesline, you know what’s next. Jake goes for the DDT but Hercules fights out of it with a back body drop. Hercules turns his back and when he turns back around, bam the DDT! Jake Roberts is your winner. Of course Hercules gets some Damien after the match. 

We go to the Mega Powers vs. the Mega Bucks video package. This was back before the WWF had music with the video packages. I noticed something. During the entire package (which may have been 3 or 4 minutes) we can hear Howard Finkel talking in the arena. Can’t really make out what he is saying but it sounds like he is introducing a number of wrestlers, almost like a Battle Royal.

Match #9: The Mega Bucks (“the Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase & “the Eighth Wonder Of The World” Andre The Giant, with Bobby “the Brain” Heenan and Virgil) vs. the Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan & “Macho Man” Randy Savage, with Miss Elizabeth). 

Tale Of The Tape: Mega Bucks (780 pounds. Dibiase hails from Hianasberg, Massachusetts, 34 years old, 4 time NWA Mid South Champion. Andre hails from Grenoble, France, 42 years old, former WWF Champion). Mega Powers (541 pounds. Hogan hails from Venice Beach, California, 35 years old, former WWF Champion. Savage hails from Sarasota, Florida, 35 years old, on first reign as WWF Champion). 

Jesse Ventura is the special referee for this match. Mega Powers have the early lead. Double axe handles from Savage, big boots from Hogan, all applied to Dibiase. Andre gets in the ring and head butts Savage. Ventura is having all kind of problems with Heenan, Virgil and even Elizabeth getting on the apron. Andre tags out to Dibiase. The Million Dollar Man is just not having a good night as Hogan and Savage are trading tags and knocking him around. Andre gets tagged back in and the power shifts to the Mega Bucks. Hogan and Savage are dumped to the outside. Liz gets everyone’s attention by taking her skirt off and showing her panties. The Mega Powers then attack from behind. Dibiase goes down, Savage drops the elbow, Hogan drops the leg. Ventura counts 1, 2, Jesse hesitates to count 3 but Savage plants his hand down. The Mega Powers are the winners. 

The show ends with Hogan, Savage and Liz posing in the ring. 

This show was definitely cut up a little bit for the home video release. No backstage segments at all, some entrances were cut and new matches seemed to begin instantly after the previous one had ended. I enjoyed it though, it was the first time I had watched this show in its entirety. I seemed to enjoy the end of the show the most, especially the final 3 matches. I actually thought Jake and Hercules had a decent match, as did Koko and Boss Man. And of course the main event. Randy Savage in his prime, the best year of his career and Hulk Hogan looked better than ever. And damn was Liz hot. See ya’ll next time. 

I hope you enjoyed reading the eighth edition of “Keeping The Memories Alive”. In the next edition, I will be reviewing the last WCW Nitro. Now I ask, what would you like to see reviewed? My complete collection can be found at www.freewebs.com/jbryan1984/. Email me your feedback and requests at jbryan21408@yahoo.com.