SummerSlam 1989 Thoughts.
SummerSlam 1989 was the 2nd annual SummerSlam event produced by the WWF. It took place August 28, 1989 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Attendence was said to be 20,000. The PPV was also a financial success of 620,000. This was also an early start for people to get cable that included PPV buy options.
Main storyline involved Hulk Hogan in a big rivalry with Zeus who was portrayed by the late-Tommy Debo Lister. The storyline was Zeus wanting to get payback after being defeated by Hogan in the movie. So the rivalry transition to real-life with a tag match set of Savage, who was still in an aftermath rivalry with Hogan, as Zeus's partner and Breefcake as Hogan's partner. We also had the Intercontinental Championship match of Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior which would lead to Vince pushing Warrior as a top guy for the next few months to WrestleMania.
The Good - Despite how silly the storyline was, the main event was pretty enjoyable. It closed the show perfectly and the aftermath was memorable of Miss Elizabeth getting a hit out of the annoying Sensational Sherri (I love her) making the crowd go nuts. The best match was The Intercontinental Championship match. Rude vs. Warrior was a really really great match match. I loved the close calls that gave the crowd goosebumps. It was stated in an interview that this match got Warrior to be an option for a rising top face for you know what in the following year of 1990. The opening was also good and I enjoyed the first 6 man tag match which was fast paced and fun.
The Meh - The second 6-man Tag was okay. Watchable and managed to keep the crowd awake after a match of the night candidate. It wasn't anything special though. Also the show had a bit too many tag matches. At the end another WWF title match would have been a more interesting thing to watch.
The Bad - Aside from the IC title match, all the single matches are Lackluster or bad. Perfect vs. Rooster was just something to make Perfect look good. Terry was underutilized. Dusty Rhodes victory over Honky Tonk Man was also really a put-over as Dusty returned earlier to the promotion. The worst match was Hercules vs. Greg Valentine. Awful with just a cheap finish.
Overall - It was a okay show. Not sooo amazing. It was mostly a typical major PPV card on the schedule as SummerSlam didn't quite have the vibe till year 92 that we would see later. It was better than 1988 after looking at it a second time. Really 2 matches did a minor boost for the show.
Score - 5 out of 10: Mediocre
0 = Terrible : 1 = Bad/Lackluster : 2 = Decent : 3 = Good : 4 = Awesome : 5 = One of the Best of all Time :
1. The Hart Foundation vs. The Brian Busters - 3/5
2. Honky Tonk Man vs. Dusty Rhodes - 1.5/5
3. Mr. Perfect vs. Red Rooster - 1/5
4. Tito Santana & The Rockers vs. Rick Martel & The Fabulous Rougeaus - 3.5/5
5. Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior: WWF Intercontinental Championship - 3.5/5
6. Demolition & King Duggan vs Big Bossman, Akeem & Andre the Giant - 2/5
7. Hercules vs. Greg Valentine - 0/5
8. Ted DiBiase vs. Jimmy Snuka - 1/5
9. Hulk Hogan & Brutus Breefcake vs. Zeus & Randy Savage - 3/5
Best Match - Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude
Worst Match - Hercules vs. Greg Valentine
Most Memorable Moment - Aftermath of main event.
Top 5 Performers
1. Ultimate Warrior - Good Performance
2. Rick Rude - Good Performance. Did his part.
3. Shawn Michaels - Sold well in spots
4. Randy Savage - Good Performance
5. Rick Martel - Good Performance.
SummerSlam 1989 was the 2nd annual SummerSlam event produced by the WWF. It took place August 28, 1989 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Attendence was said to be 20,000. The PPV was also a financial success of 620,000. This was also an early start for people to get cable that included PPV buy options.
Main storyline involved Hulk Hogan in a big rivalry with Zeus who was portrayed by the late-Tommy Debo Lister. The storyline was Zeus wanting to get payback after being defeated by Hogan in the movie. So the rivalry transition to real-life with a tag match set of Savage, who was still in an aftermath rivalry with Hogan, as Zeus's partner and Breefcake as Hogan's partner. We also had the Intercontinental Championship match of Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior which would lead to Vince pushing Warrior as a top guy for the next few months to WrestleMania.
The Good - Despite how silly the storyline was, the main event was pretty enjoyable. It closed the show perfectly and the aftermath was memorable of Miss Elizabeth getting a hit out of the annoying Sensational Sherri (I love her) making the crowd go nuts. The best match was The Intercontinental Championship match. Rude vs. Warrior was a really really great match match. I loved the close calls that gave the crowd goosebumps. It was stated in an interview that this match got Warrior to be an option for a rising top face for you know what in the following year of 1990. The opening was also good and I enjoyed the first 6 man tag match which was fast paced and fun.
The Meh - The second 6-man Tag was okay. Watchable and managed to keep the crowd awake after a match of the night candidate. It wasn't anything special though. Also the show had a bit too many tag matches. At the end another WWF title match would have been a more interesting thing to watch.
The Bad - Aside from the IC title match, all the single matches are Lackluster or bad. Perfect vs. Rooster was just something to make Perfect look good. Terry was underutilized. Dusty Rhodes victory over Honky Tonk Man was also really a put-over as Dusty returned earlier to the promotion. The worst match was Hercules vs. Greg Valentine. Awful with just a cheap finish.
Overall - It was a okay show. Not sooo amazing. It was mostly a typical major PPV card on the schedule as SummerSlam didn't quite have the vibe till year 92 that we would see later. It was better than 1988 after looking at it a second time. Really 2 matches did a minor boost for the show.
Score - 5 out of 10: Mediocre
0 = Terrible : 1 = Bad/Lackluster : 2 = Decent : 3 = Good : 4 = Awesome : 5 = One of the Best of all Time :
1. The Hart Foundation vs. The Brian Busters - 3/5
2. Honky Tonk Man vs. Dusty Rhodes - 1.5/5
3. Mr. Perfect vs. Red Rooster - 1/5
4. Tito Santana & The Rockers vs. Rick Martel & The Fabulous Rougeaus - 3.5/5
5. Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior: WWF Intercontinental Championship - 3.5/5
6. Demolition & King Duggan vs Big Bossman, Akeem & Andre the Giant - 2/5
7. Hercules vs. Greg Valentine - 0/5
8. Ted DiBiase vs. Jimmy Snuka - 1/5
9. Hulk Hogan & Brutus Breefcake vs. Zeus & Randy Savage - 3/5
Best Match - Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude
Worst Match - Hercules vs. Greg Valentine
Most Memorable Moment - Aftermath of main event.
Top 5 Performers
1. Ultimate Warrior - Good Performance
2. Rick Rude - Good Performance. Did his part.
3. Shawn Michaels - Sold well in spots
4. Randy Savage - Good Performance
5. Rick Martel - Good Performance.