WWF Summerslam 1991 Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet with more questionable opinions than Jim Cornette on commentary! WWF Summerslam 1991 with A Match Made In Heaven as Randy Macho Man Savages marries Miss Elizabeth while Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior battle the trio of Sgt. Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa and General Adnan. Special referee with Sid Justice as law and order, this will be quite the match. Also, Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect for the WWF Intercontinental Championship and much, much more. I enjoyed Wrestlemania VII so will Summerslam continue to the streak? Let’s find out!

Power & Glory & Warlord W/ Slick vs The British Bulldog/Texas Tornado/Ricky The Dragon Steamboat

An interesting opening match for sure with the pay per view return of Ricky The Dragon Steamboat teaming with Tornado and Bulldog against this trio of heels. Piper on commentary again, we shall see how it goes as the night progresses, I do miss Ventura for sure. Roma and Steamboat begin, Roma takes down Steamboat with a slam and dropkick. Roma taunts the fans, Roma is on the middle rope. Roma’s dive is countered for an arm-drag, Steamboat wrenches the arm. Hook kick to the ribs, arm-wringer again. Roma grabs the hair, elbows and right hands from Roma. Whip to the buckle, Steamboat dodges Roma. Deep arm-drag, massive dropkick.

Snap-mare, Roma tags out to Hercules. Hercules runs into arm-drags before a tag to Tornado. Tornado batters the arm of Hercules, right hand from Hercules. Hercules cannot ram Tornado into the buckle, Tornado rams Hercules into the buckle over and over. Ten punches in the corner, roundhouse right floors Hercules. Hercules tags in Warlord, Tornado tags in Bulldog. Shoulder blocks and clothesline floors Warlord, massive suplex but Warlord kicks out at two. Tag to Steamboat, diving brain chop from Steamboat. Steamboat leapfrogs Warlord before Warlord counters the monkey flip by shoving down Steamboat. Tag to Roma, running clothesline. Hercules nails Steamboat from the apron, Steamboat counters a scoop slam for an O Connor roll before Warlord decapitates Steamboat with a clothesline.

Roma has the front chancery, cutting off Steamboat’s side of the ring. Snap suplex from Roma for two, rib-breaker from Roma. Make it two, make it three. Tag to Hercules, Hercules attacks the spine. Military press slam from Hercules, Steamboat chops back but Hercules lands knees to the head. Warlord is in, scoop slam to the mat. Tag to Roma, Roma drops all his weight on the back of Steamboat. Chops from Steamboat, Roma grabs a headlock and tags in Hercules. Whip from Hercules, Steamboat ducks under with chops. Stun-gun from Hercules, tag to Warlord.

Warlord clubs down on the spine of Steamboat, another big scoop slam. Warlord goes to the middle rope, Steamboat blocks the attack with his boots. Tag to Tornado, right hands from Tornado to everyone. Hercules and Roma are down, Warlord tries a sunset flip but Bulldog is the legal man off a blind tag. Bulldog almost pins Warlord off a crossbody, Roma is caught for The Running Powerslam from Bulldog. Warlord breaks up the pin, Steamboat lands his Diving Crossbody for the win.

Good opening match, fans are into the action for sure and they make the right choices throughout the match such as Tornado coming in for quick flurries and Ricky The Dragon Steamboat getting his sell on for the heels, Steamboat’s facials alone are almost worth the price of admission because Steamboat is phenomenal. Finish was a little sloppy with a little mis-communication but we got there in the end so happy days.

Winners: Team Steamboat over Team Warlord via Diving Crossbody!

(WWF Intercontinental Championship Match) Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect © W/ Coach

To be a champion, you have to be Perfect. Can Bret step up to that level? Let’ see! Hart has the headlock, Perfect has the hair. Shoulder block by Hart, hip-toss onto Perfect. Perfect is on the floor, recovering for now. Side headlock with Perfect holding the hair, crucifix from Hart for two. Another big side headlock takedown, Perfect has a grip of the hair of Hart. Hart returns the favour with the hair-pull, Perfect goes back to holding the hair. Hart returns the favour again, knee from Perfect to escape. Whip with Hart ducking the clothesline for a flying crossbody for two. Hart is on the floor, sunset flip from the apron for two. Side headlock takedown from Hart again, Perfect grabs the hair again.

Perfect slaps the taste out of Hart’s mouth, Perfect tries a boot. Hart catches the boot, leg trip and a stomp to the mid-section. Right hands from Hart, Perfect whips Hart to the corner, scoop slam from Perfect but Hart answers with one of his own. Hart clotheslines Perfect to the floor, Perfect takes a breather. Perfect is taking a walk, Hart gives chase. Perfect’s singlet is ripped, Perfect is begging for mercy. Perfect does not want this fight, Perfect is in the ropes. They lock-up, Perfect lands a cheap right hand to the face. Vicious kick to the ribs from Perfect, Coach is fired up now as Perfect kicks Hart to the floor.

Perfect sends Hart flying into the guardrail, Hart slowly re-enters the ring. Hart retaliates with rights, Hart ducks Perfect off the Irish whip to the corner. O Connor roll for a close two, Perfect smashes Hart with a right hand to the face. Hart is sent into the corner, hard Irish whip from Perfect. Snap neck-breaker with jacknife cover for two, Perfect is irate. Whip with Hart reversing but Hart foolishly ducks his head, kick to the chest and Perfect dropkicks Hart to the floor. Perfect and Hart are on the top rope, Perfect knocks down Hart falling into the cover for two.

Perfect and the referee have words, frustration is setting in for the champion. Slaps from Perfect, Perfect throws Hart by the hair. Big sleeper from Perfect, Hart is in deep trouble. Hart survives though, elbows to the ribs. Crucifix is countered for a Samoan drop, two for Perfect. Chops in the corner from Perfect, whip with Hart doing his sternum-first buckle bump. Two for Perfect, Perfect calls for the end. Perfect-Plex connects, 1..2… Hart kicks out! Shock, Perfect is losing his mind! Hart fights back with an inverted atomic drop, atomic drop for good measure.

Headbutt from Hart, hair-pull with Perfect landing groin-first on the ring-post. Snap suplex for two, small package for two. Russian leg-sweep for two, back-breaker and Bret’s Rope Elbow Drop. 1…2.. Perfect kicks out! Hart is mad now, O Connor roll from Perfect for two, Perfect is shoved out of the ring. Hart sends Perfect into the ring-post, Hart kicks at the leg of Perfect who is doing flips he is being kicked that hard. Perfect is begging for mercy, Sharpshooter attempt but Coach is here. Coach is waffled by Hart, Perfect kicks the rope into the groin of Perfect. Perfect stomps low, Perfect leg drops onto the groin of Hart. Perfect tries it again but Hart blocks it and applies The Sharpshooter for the win.

Fucking awesome, I could leave it at that because it was just that good. You need to see this, Bret’s coming out party with an excellent match. These two are so damn good, Perfect is antagonizing Hart throughout, slapping him, pulling the hair and why? Because Bret is the better man and Perfect knows it, Perfect takes the short-cuts and nails that Perfect-Plex but Bret will not be denied and Perfect’s desire to cheat ends up costing him as Bret blocks the low blow and turns it into The Sharpshooter. Perfect put over Bret big time, fantastic match.

Winner: Bret Hart over Mr. Perfect via Sharpshooter!

The Natural Disasters W/ Jimmy Hart vs The Bushwhackers W/ Andre The Giant

So sad to see Andre like this but the man was dedicated to the business that made him a star, Earthquake attacked Andre which led us to this confrontation at Summerslam. Typhoon is here, no longer Tugboat so we have this massive tag team taking on The Bushwhackers with Andre looking to murder Jimmy Hart.

It starts on the floor with Bushwhackers thumbing The Natural Disasters in the eyes, hit and run guerrilla tactics from The Bushwhackers. Butch and Typhoon begin, Butch ducks a right hand and bites the ass of Typhoon. Earthquake tries to help but ends up hitting his partner, Bushwhackers whip Typhoon into Earthquake. They use Earthquake as a battering ram on Typhoon and Earthquake eats a double clothesline. We reset, Butch is attacked from behind by Earthquake. Earthquake slams Butch into the corner, Butch dodges the elbow drop from Earthquake. Butch is reaching for the tag but Earthquake pulls back Butch, elbow drop and tag to Typhoon.

Rib-breaker from Typhoon, slam to the corner. Argentine back-breaker from Typhoon, Typhoon drops Butch into a bearhug from the now legal Earthquake. Butch tries to escape but Earthquake lands a back-breaker, tag to Typhoon. Elbow to the face for two, Luke saves the match. Typhoon holds Butch, Earthquake clotheslines Typhoon by mistake. Butch tags Luke, rights and lefts to Typhoon. Flying headbutt and now we have all four men in the ring, Battering Ram into Earthquake and Typhoon. Typhoon is whipped into Earthquake, Earthquake is on the floor. Butch is slammed onto the floor, Earthquake smashes Luke from behind and tags in, Earthquake Splash and it is over.

Not bad, crowd is massive into Bushwhackers which helps for their matches as usual. Kind of shocked they did not do more with Andre but then again, Andre The Giant is on crutches and not in great shape at all. We have LOD scare off The Natural Disasters which is cool, I would love to see some big man fights. Anyways, the match served its purpose as a breather and ended before it was bad so no complaints.

Winners: The Natural Disasters over The Bushwhackers via Earthquake Splash!

(Million Dollar Championship Match) Ted Dibiase © W/ Sensational Sherri vs Virgil

Virgil vs Dibiase, the rematch from Wrestlemania. Not wanting to blow the match early, Dibiase would assault Roddy Piper at ringside which made everyone want to see Piper vs Dibiase and Virgil kind of became an afterthought despite that turn at The Royal Rumble. This starts right away with Virgil destroying Dibiase with right hands, back drop and clothesline to the floor. Sherri is helping out Dibiase, Dibiase has been utterly shocked by the assault of Virgil. Jabs and a big right that floors Dibiase, Dibiase is atomic dropped to the floor.

Sherri tends to Dibiase again, a furious Heenan returns to ringside after Hogan slammed a door in his face. Virgil tries a plancha, Dibiase dodges at the last second. Dibiase begins taking it to Virgil on the floor, Virgil is rammed into the steel steps before we return to the ring. Big clothesline from Dibiase, fist drops from Dibiase. Dibiase stomps on the head of Virgil before climbing to the middle rope, axe handle finds the mark right between the eyes. Cover for two, chops from Dibiase. Whip to the buckle and a back body drop from the champion for two, Dibiase is irate. Dibiase calls for the end, Virgil ducks a clothesline and applies The Million Dollar Dream.

Sherri is losing her mind, Dibiase is fading fast. Sherri enters the ring and waffles Virgil with her loaded purse. The referee has decided that Sherri is ejected from ringside and that this match will continue, the fans are loving this decision. Dibiase and Virgil start to stir, both feeling the effects of this brawl. Right hand by Dibiase, Dibiase brings Virgil to the corner but Virgil does not taste the buckle, it’s Dibiase who tastes the buckle. Virgil is fired up, rights and lefts which rock Dibiase. Whip to the buckle, ten punches in the corner from Virgil.

 Dibiase reverses the Irish whip and whips Virgil into the corner, crushing the referee who was standing in the way. Dibiase surveys the scene and decides to trash talk Piper. Suplex from Dibiase, Dibiase points to Piper again. Another suplex, Dibiase continues to taunt the fans and Piper. A third suplex flattens Virgil, Dibiase points at Piper while Dibiase slaps Virgil. Piledriver on Virgil, Dibiase goes to wake the referee before kicking the official. Piper is furious as Dibiase exposes the buckle, Dibiase talks trash to Virgil. Virgil sends Dibiase into the exposed buckle twice, both men are down. Virgil is crawling over to Dibiase, 1….2…..3! Virgil is your new Million Dollar Champion!

A great pay-off to an angle that had a lot of steam in the beginning, I still think the fans were invested but the fans wanted Piper to murder Dibiase so bad, I wanted Piper to murder Dibiase so bad and I cannot help but think what a wasted opportunity with Piper and Dibiase not doing battle at Summerslam. It’s a heart-warming moment for sure and Dibiase was a masterful heel in this match. Riling up the fans, riling up Piper. Gleefully taking apart Virgil and that finish was so fitting, the tease and build-up was great.

Winner: Virgil over Ted Dibiase via Ramming Into Exposed Buckle!

(Jailhouse Match) The Mountie W/ Jimmy Hart vs The Big Bossman

The nightstick vs the cattle prod, Mountie had humiliated Bossman with the prod so we have this match where the loser goes to jail. Bossman slaps Mountie to begin, they trade blows before Bossman elbows and splashes Mountie. Headbutt and uppercut from Bossman, Mountie is choked on the middle rope. Bossman drops his leg across the back, Bossman tries again sliding out after Jimmy Hart and a smack to the face of The Mountie. Eye poke by Mountie, middle rope crossbody does not work as Bossman catches Mountie. Massive spinebuster, Bossman eyes up Jimmy Hart.

Neck-crank from Bossman, Bossman chases Hart before Mountie shoves Bossman into the steps. Whip off the ropes and flying reverse elbow from Mountie, fist drop for good measure. Make it two, whip to the buckle. Bossman collapses down, scoop slam from Mountie. Bossman reverses a whip to the buckle but Mountie dodges the corner splash, elbow drops from Mountie but Bossman stays alive. Mountie is on the floor, Bossman is elbowed from the apron to the floor. Mountie stomps on Bossman who fights back from his knees, massive haymakers being thrown before Mountie bites Bossman. Mountie tries a piledriver, it connects beautifully.

Mountie gives a signal to Jimmy Hart, Jimmy Hart distracts the referee and Mountie has the cattle prod. Massive uppercut from Bossman who dodged the attack, Mountie leapfrogs Bossman but eats a massive uppercut. Whip off the ropes, Big Bossman Slam and it’s a close two. Big confusion there, Mountie sweeps the legs of Bossman. Bossman lands a massive Alabama Slam to reverse a piledriver and Mountie will be going to Jail as Bossman wins this one.

Was not awful, it was entertaining at times. Bossman’s energy is great when he’s allowed to throw people around and run wild, his selling is good too. However, Mountie is not the ideal opponent for Bossman. Mountie does not have the connection or the character to pull this off, have not been impressed since Rougeau came back to the WWF. Wish I was more positive but Mountie was screwed from the second he died a slow death wrestling Koko in his debut match on pay per view.

Winner: The Big Bossman over The Mountie via Alabama Slam!

(WWF Tag Team Championship Match) The Nasty Boys © W/ Jimmy Hart vs The Legion Of Doom

LOD come rushing to the ring, a brawl erupts on the floor. Knobbs and Animal are in the ring, Animal boots Knobbs and we have a powerbomb which Sags breaks up. Hawk pummels Sags, whip off the ropes. Enzuigiri by Hawk, Sags eats a flying shoulder tackle, Knobbs breaks up the pin. Animal kicks Knobbs down, Hawk is fighting both behind the referee’s back, Sags blinds Hawk with some sort of spray to gain control. Sags grabs a drink tray and smashes in on the back of Hawk, Hawk is booted down by Knobbs. Nasty Boys double team Hawk in the corner, Hawk is choked with the tag rope as Knobbs antagonizes Animal. Hawk is bounced off the steel steps as Animal continues to argue with the referee allowing for double teaming on Hawk.

Hawk starts fighting back, chops to Sags. Sags brings Hawk to the corner, tag to Knobbs. Shots to the ribs, whip off the ropes. Elbow takes down Hawk, Knobbs tags Sags. Quick tag to Knobbs, corner splash squishes Hawk. Tag to Sags, Top Rope Elbow Drop. Animal saves the match, Knobbs tries a middle rope splash but Hawk boots Knobbs, Hawk tags Animal. Rights and lefts, clotheslines decapitates both Nasty Boys. Axe handle for Sags, Powerslam on Knobbs. Match breaks down, Sags dumps Hawk to the floor.

The Nasty Boys double team Animal, Hart throws his helmet to Sags who decks Animal for two, Animal presses Knobbs out of the ring to escape the pin. Hawk has Jimmy Hart, helmet to the head of Knobbs. Sags is waffled with the helmet too, Doomsday Device in the middle of the ring and we have new champions as The Legion Of Doom capture the WWF Tag Team Championships!

Winners: Legion Of Doom over The Nasty Boys via Doomsday Device!

I.R.S vs Greg The Hammer Valentine

Here comes the taxman, IRS is here to unleash hell on the world wrestling federation. His opponent is babyface Greg Valentine, arm-wringer from Valentine but IRS is in the ropes quickly. Side headlock from Valentine, shoulder block by Valentine. IRS recovers in the corner, another side headlock. Shoulder block again by Valentine, drop down from IRS but Valentine reverses the hip-toss and lands one of his own. Clothesline and IRS is on the floor, IRS lures in Valentine before Valentine lands a sunset flip for two. Valentine eats some big kicks from IRS who applies an abdominal stretch while using the ropes for leverage.

Valentine hip-tosses IRS before missing a knee drop, flying clothesline from IRS and a reverse chin-lock. Valentine rallies before a rib-breaker from IRS, IRS goes to the top rope.  IRS talks trash to the fans which allows Valentine to get up, Valentine tosses IRS off the top rope. Chops from Valentine, IRS misses a corner knee as Valentine kicks the legs of IRS for his finishing hold. Elbow to the knee, elbow drop on IRS. Figure Four in the middle of the ring, IRS makes it to the bottom rope. Valentine drags IRS to the middle of the ring, Valentine misses his elbow drop. IRS walks into a shin-breaker though, headbutt to the groin. IRS reverses the figure four for a roll-up, using the hair to pull in Valentine.

Well, that cooled off the fans massively. Can’t say it was not the intention but Valentine and IRS give you nothing of merit or substance in this match. You think a pay per view debut for IRS would be a bit more lively but no, this would have been a poor house show match. Time for Valentine to go, I do not think there is a role for him in the WWF during this time. Not impressed with IRS, hopefully there is some stellar work in his future.

Winner: IRS over Greg Valentine via Roll-Up!

Ultimate Warrior & Hulk Hogan vs The Triangle Of Terror (Sid Justice As Special Guest Referee)

Slaughter, Adnan and Mustafa have had issues with both Hogan and Warrior since The Royal Rumble where Slaughter took Warrior’s WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Hogan would win the championship at Wrestlemania but Slaughter would continue to wage war against The Hulkster. However, there are other factors to this match. That being, The Undertaker who has tormented Warrior by placing him in a coffin and marched ominously toward a showdown with Hogan for the WWF Championship. You also have Sid Justice as the referee, another factor which could go either way. Also, Warrior has been bitten by a cobra by Jake Roberts, the faction of Undertaker and Roberts could have quite the effect on this show.

Slaughter is cautious to get in there with Hogan, we finally get going with Sid large and in charge. Slaughter has his belt, Sid takes away the belt. Eye rake and clubbing blows from Slaughter, shots to the chest. Hogan whips Slaughter to the buckle, Slaughter hits the ring-post hard and is pin-balled between Hogan & Warrior. Hogan takes down Mustafa & Adnan too, tag to Warrior. Double clothesline and double boot as Hogan is legal again, Slaughter hits the ring-post hard. Mustafa makes the save, whip and forearm shot from Hogan. Tag to Warrior, arm-wringer from Warrior.

Whip and shot to the ribs by Warrior, Warrior rams Slaughter into Hogan’s boot. Tag to Hogan, middle rope axe handle before Mustafa pulls the hair of Hogan. Slaughter eats a corner clothesline, Hogan chokes Slaughter. Sid gets involved, Slaughter eye pokes Hogan. Headlock and throat punch from Slaughter, tag to Adnan. Eye rake and clubbing blows from Adnan, back rake from Adnan. Make it two, Mustafa holds Hogan as Adnan is on the attack. Tag to Mustafa, gut-wrench suplex from Mustafa. Camel Clutch from Mustafa, Warrior boots Mustafa down. Mustafa tags Slaughter, back-breaker for two. Slaughter whips Hogan into Sid, the two have words before an axe handle from Slaughter.

Tag to Adnan who continues to rake the back, eye rakes from Adnan. Tag to Slaughter, stomps all over Hogan. Slaughter climbs to the top rope, Warrior shoves down Slaughter. Warrior receives the tag, clotheslines to Slaughter before running into Sid. Hogan and Sid have words again as Slaughter takes down Warrior. Triple teaming in the corner, Mustafa tries a suplex but Warrior reverses for a suplex of his own.

Slaughter gets the tag, cutting off Warrior’s tag. Slaughter cheap shots Hogan too, Hogan and Sid have words as Adnan helps Slaughter double team Warrior. Slaughter kicks at Hogan, whip to Warrior. Warrior ducks and nails a flying clothesline, both men are down. Warrior reaches Hogan, Slaughter is backing up big time. Punches, big boot and Adnan is nailed too. Warrior knocks down Mustafa and Adnan, Hogan rams Slaughter into the buckle. Warrior chases Mustafa and Adnan to the back, Hogan blinds Slaughter with powder and lands The Atomic Leg Drop for the win.

Underwhelming is what came to mine when looking at this match, which is odd considering I am watching a Hogan match which usually never fail to deliver but I do not know, I simply was not feeling this match. The three on two handicap was not in the favour of the heels, Hogan and Warrior never looked in danger throughout the match and it was so short no? For a main event match, I thought it was very one-sided. However, this was a criticism I had for Slaughter’s main event run with Slaughter getting annihilated by everyone he worked with and then just narrowly winning. Maybe I was never able to buy into Slaughter, this was just there when all was said and done.

Winners: Ultimate Warrior & Hulk Hogan over The Triangle Of Terror via Atomic Leg Drop!

Macho Man Randy Savage & Miss Elizabeth’s Wedding

My favourite story of the WWF, an angle that has ran from Wrestlemania IV all the way to now. Savage and Miss Elizabeth were meant to be together, Savage had mistreated Elizabeth and abandoned her due to Savage’s jealousy over Elizabeth’s friendship with Hulk Hogan. For two years, Savage had Queen Sherri in his corner, trying to capture the connection and success that was had when Elizabeth was by his side. Savage slipped and fell time after time, The Macho Man was a shadow of his former-self but Elizabeth still cared for The Macho Man. It all came to a head at Wrestlemania where Savage lost everything, Sherri and his career and there was one person to pick him up, the same woman who always loved it and looked after him, Miss Elizabeth. Now, they get married at Summerslam, beautiful moment for sure. That’s all folks!

That was WWF’ Summerslam 1991, a solid pay per view from the WWF. We kick things off with a big six-man tag with Ricky Steamboat stealing the show through his selling which leads to a very satisfying encounter with the babyfaces thwarting the dastardly heels. Things get even better with Mr. Perfect showing why Bret Hart is ready to step up in the WWF, these two absolutely steal the show with a match that delivers ten fold in terms of action and subtle touches, very satisfying as Perfect’s cheating ways ultimately cost him his championship as Hart outwits The Perfect One. We cool off a bit with Natural Disasters vs The Bushwhackers, Bushwhackers work the crowd well and it does not go too long which are both bonuses.

Virgil and Dibiase end their feud in entertaining fashion with Dibiase reaching cartoon villain levels of evil with his attacks on Virgil, taunting of Piper and his demise at the hands of his exposed turnbuckle. Bossman and Mountie was alright, not a fan of Mountie as a performer and this feud did nothing for him but the shots of Mountie being jailed were entertaining. LOD and Nasty Boys was fun with LOD slaughtering Nasty Boys which is what they should do and continue to do while being champions. IRS died a slow death on his pay per view debut, had no interest in him. Our main event was underwhelming for me but you have to think about Warrior walking out/Vince firing him depending on what you believe to be the details. Warrior’s situation easily could have thrown that match into chaos which makes me see it in a different light but still not a great main event. So, Summerslam 1991 had its bright spots that were enjoyable and there were nice breaks between the big matches so the card was laid out well but I think more could have been done with the main event. If you want to watch this, check out Bret Hart vs Perfect! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!