SummerSlam 98: Highway to Hell
This is my review of what, in my opinion, is the best WWF PPV since WrestleMania.(King of the Ring had a good double main event, but it didn't have a high caliber undercard). I'll rate the matches from best to worst.
Triple H vs. The Rock- IC Ladder Match
This was the match of the night, folks! You had Triple H claim what was rightfully his since he lost the European title. The ladder, of course, was used as a weapon. Triple H got a slingshot right into it. HHH hit a baseball slide which shoved the ladder into the Rock's face, busting him open. The Peoples' Elbow was executed on the ladder. Plenty of interference, as Mark Henry threw powder in Helmsley's face, and Chyna low blowed The Rock, allowing Hunter to climb the ladder and get the belt.
Rating:****
Ken Shamrock vs. Owen Hart- Lion's Den Match
This was almost a UFC type fight, with the cage that looked like The Octagon. Shamrock and Owen took a lot of punishment, and numerous rides into the mesh and supports. Shamrock escaped the Sharpshooter by climbing the cage with his hands, and got almost vertical and Owen was forced to break the hold. Shamrock got Owen into the ankle lock, and Hart tapped out.
Rating:***1/2
Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker- WWF Title Match
The reason I rated the main event third is because this was not a classic in any sense of the word. This was high impact all the way. Austin blocked UT's attempt to walk the ropes by pulling him off the turnbuckles. The Undertaker did that flying clothesline he does so well. He also leg dropped Austin onto the Spanish announcers' table. When he attempted to walk the ropes again, Austin pulled him off, low blowed him, and hit the Stunner for the pin.
Rating:***/2
The Oddities vs. Kaientai- handicap match
This match was hilarious! I was laughing all the way through this one. Kaentai were no match for Silva, Kurrgan, and Golga. They managed to mount a brief offense on Golga, but Silva and Kurrgan gave a double chokeslam of all the members of Kaientai, and Golga covered all four for the pin.
Rating:***
X-pac vs. Jeff Jarrett- Hair match
This was a good match. X-pac came out with Howard Finkel, who Jarrett had shaved earlier on Sunday Night Heat. Howard told Double J those two famous words, and the match began. Jarrett got the Figure Four on X-pac, but he reversed it, and managed to secure his finishing hold for the duke. After the match, The Headbangers, Darren Drosdov, and others came to the ring and started to shave Jarrett's head. The NAO kept Southern Justice at bay, but when they attempted to lift Double J backstage to finish up, Southern Justice pulled him to safety.
Rating:***
Sable & Edge vs. Jacquolyn & Marc Mero
The only reason I rated this match lower than the hair match was because this was almost a repeat of WrestleMania XIV, as far as Sable and Jackie went. Edge executed the move of the night, an out-of-the-ring flying bodypress onto Mero. Sable huracanranna-ed Mero into the center of the ring, where Edge executed the Downward Spiral, and slammed Sable on top of Mero for the pin.
Rating:**3/4
New Age Outlaws vs. Mankind- Tag title handicap falls count anywhere match
It was announced earlier that Kane was not in the arena, but McMahon convinced Mankind to wrestle a handicap match. The Outlaws came with a dumpster and had a short, but brutal match against Mankind. Mankind got the early offensive, as he pummeled James and Gunn, and even managed to put one of them through a table. But The Outlaws were too tough for one man to beat, and they piledrived Mankind onto one of the belts to win. After the match, they put Mankind in the dumpster, and Kane popped out with the sledgehammer that seemed to be present throughout the night and smashed it into Mankind.
Rating:**1/2
Val Venis vs. D-Lo Brown- European Title Match
The disappointment for the night, although it wasn't a bad match, was the Euro title match. D-Lo was from Helsinki, Finland this time around. A lot of missed high risk maneuvers, as D-Lo turned a dive by Val Venis into a powerbomb. When Val went up to the top rope to execute the Money Shot, the referee tried to get him down by shaking the ropes, crotching Venis. When Venis got to his feet, he shove referee Jim Corderis down, which DQed him. After the decision was announced, Val slammed Corderis and gave him the Money Shot.
Rating:**
Top 10 Moves of the Night
10. D-Lo turns a flying Val Venis into a powerbomb.
9. The Rock's slingshot of Triple H onto the ladder.
8. Shamrock scales the mesh fence with only his hands to break the Sharpshooter.
7. Shamrock's leap off the mesh fence in the lion's den into a spinning heel kick on Owen Hart.
6. The Undertaker's legdrop onto Steve Austin on top of a table.
5. Kurrgan and Silva's simultaneous double chokeslam on all four members of Kaientai.
4. Sable's top rope huracanranna on Marc Mero.
3. Triple H's baseball slide onto the ladder, right into the Rock's face.
2. Golga's two arm clothesline on all four members of Kaientai simultaneuously.
1. Edge's out-of-the-ring flying bodypress onto Marc Mero.
Overall PPV rating: ****
Email: nykk1@aol.com