WWE SummerSlam: Power Ranking Every Show

1996

SummerSlam 1996 undoubtedly did witness a moment of history during a famed Boiler Room Brawl between the Undertaker and Mankind. After years of allegiance and standing by the side of the Phenom, Paul Bearer did the unthinkable by turning against his protégé, and instead aligning himself with his deranged opponent. It was a shocking turn of events that had the crowd left silent. Not that they had the urge to cheer much for the remainder of the card.

Undertaker/Mankind proved the shining light on a show that was more preoccupied with a Bikini Beach Blast-Off than the actual wrestling that it was promoting. Shawn Michaels against Vader in the main event was not a clash HBK would likely place on his highlight reel. After already suffering defeat twice in the match by count out and disqualification, this contest proved far more convoluted than it needed to be. Surrounded by a weak Tag Team Championship match due to the shoddy state of the division at the time, and a clash between Jerry Lawler and Jake Roberts who were past their prime, this overall was an event worth forgetting.