Ahead of the upcoming SummerSlam event in Brooklyn, join Daily DDT as we review the last time the summertime spectacular invaded New York in 2002…
For the first time in thirteen years, WWE SummerSlam returns to New York with the 2015 edition. Following an extended habitation in Los Angeles, the second-biggest event on the wrestling calendar will come to Brooklyn, with an already huge show planned. The Undertaker has risen to reignite his deeply physical feud with Brock Lesnar, a rematch from the night where the Streak was broken. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins laid down an “ultimate challenge” to United States Champion John Cena, with both titles on the line. Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose will battle the Wyatt Family in a hard-hitting tag team bout.
However, it will take something special to top the last time SummerSlam came to the Big Apple, way back in 2002. This was the first SummerSlam I ever watched as a fan, having only gotten into wrestling earlier in the year, and suffice to say this show played a big part in fueling my passion for WWE. By strange coincidence, Brock Lesnar was in the main event that night also, when the Next Big Thing was just a raw, hungry rookie challenging the Rock in an epic contest for the WWE Undisputed Championship. It would prove to be a crucial night in making the Beast Incarnate the dominant conqueror he is considered today.
Joining this veteran vs rookie encounter was a match steeped in personal history and bitter rivalry. Former best friends and DX partners Triple H and Shawn Michaels would go to war in a violent Unsanctioned Match, the first time HBK had stepped inside the ring since the terrible back injury he suffered in 1998. These two main event caliber fights were elevated by a strong undercard to make it one of the best shows of that year, and a contender for the greatest SummerSlam of all time.
Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio
Result: Kurt Angle defeats Rey Mysterio by submission via the Ankle Lock.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The masked luchadore had only recently joined the company, and going after an established veteran like Angle was the ideal way for him to get noticed as more than just your average cruiserweight. From the outset the speed the two competitors worked at was electric, Mysterio flying all around the Olympic Gold Medalist with headscissors and monkey flips. He was a great deal more agile at this point than he was in his later years with WWE, but Angle showed his own rapid speed in bursts throughout the contest.
The distance Angle would get with a suplex or throw on Mysterio was amazing, especially an awesome spot where he transitioned a wheelbarrow hold into an emphatic German suplex.
Angle would methodically slow the pace to his mat-based style, whilst Mysterio would cling on and counter with mind-boggling hurricanranas and dodges. He flew over the top rope at one point, flipping through the air onto Angle, sending the crowd into hysterics.
Angle only barely survived the West Coast Pop, kicking out at the last second, before pulling out one of his typically amazing reversals to avoid a top rope hurricanrana and apply his dreaded Ankle Lock. Mysterio in the end has no choice to submit, but certainly left an impression on one of the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen.
Callum’s Take: Unquestionably, this match was the perfect way to start SummerSlam, with an unbelievable pace set by both Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio. It set a marker that the rest of the card would be nervous of following.
WWE.com
Ric Flair vs Chris Jericho
Result: Ric Flair wins by submission, forcing Chris Jericho to tap to the Figure-Four Leglock.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
From the rapidity of the night’s first match, a more methodical contest followed between two studied veterans of the game. Ric Flair and Chris Jericho had become firm opponents on RAW leading up to this meeting, with Jericho prepared to end the career of the Nature Boy following his interruption of a Fozzy performance on RAW.
Both men being submission specialists, it was surprisingly more of a brawl than you would traditionally expect. They would trade punches and chops constantly, with few wrestling maneuvers actually taking place, as Y2J attempted to out cheat the dirtiest player in the game.
However, Flair made a few uncharacteristic botches, including a mess up of his patented roll up the turnbuckle to the ring apron, and his offense was 80% chops to the chest. A lot was therefore placed on the shoulders of Jericho, who in turn didn’t put in the most solid performance of his career. But it speaks volumes of the entire event that many would state this was the worst match, when on most other cards it would have probably been in the middle of the pack.
At least the fans could enjoy a traditional Flair finish, as with the referee briefly blinded, he dropped Jericho with a low blow, before forcing him to tap out to the Figure-Four.
Callum’s Take: This proved to be the weakest match on this particular SummerSlam card, which was a shame considering the experience and showmanship of the men involved. Jericho and Flair just weren’t on their A-game.
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Edge vs Eddie Guerrero
Result: Edge pins Eddie Guerrero following a Spear.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Like Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio earlier in the night, Edge and Eddie Guerrero produced a great contest which demonstrated why they would become part of the fabled SmackDown Six in 2002. Guerrero, who would become one of the most beloved babyfaces of all time in later years, was the despicable, conniving heel on this occasion, whilst Edge was still in his first years as a singles star.
This clash would demonstrate why both would go on to be World Champions, but at this point they were hungry competitors looking to make a name for themselves, and they certainly went about proving that throughout.
It was again of a methodical pace, with the jackal Guerrero preying on a shoulder injury sustained by Edge early on as he landed hard to the floor following a misplaced spear. But it wasn’t simply rest holds and stretches, as Latino Heat was innovative with his targeted offense, including a diving armbar off the top rope.
Guerrero tore and clawed at the wound, as the crowd’s empathy for Edge grew to an explosion of delight when he finally forced his opponent away. The Canadian star battled back with one arm, soaring off the top turnbuckle and dropping Guerrero with the Edgecution. Guerrero responded by going back the arm, hitting the Frog Splash directly on the extremity. But Edge didn’t surrender, winning another excellent match with his deadly Spear.
Callum’s Take: An exciting sign of things to come for both Edge and Guerrero, as both would continue to produce strong, competitive contests for the remainder of 2002.
WWE.com
The Un-Americans vs Booker T & Goldust (World Tag Team Championship)
Result: Christian pins Booker T following Test interfering with a Big Boot.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Un-Americans is a stable name that was never going to be difficult to dislike, and the combination of Christian and Lance Storm certainly lived up to its inflammatory definition. The World Tag Team Champions and proud Canadians despised America with a vehement passion, and defend their belts against two devoted patriots in the odd couple of Booker T and Goldust.
A strange tandem by any stretch of the imagination, their comedy was as golden as the Bizarre One’s face paint, but in the ring they knew how to get it done. These four excellent wrestling minds came together to produce a match anybody in the tag team division today could learn something from, and elicited one of the best crowd reactions due to this.
Booker T especially was at the peak of his powers and popularity, his presence in a WWE ring reaching a crest among the fans. But he would be stuck on the sidelines for most of this bout, as Christian and Storm singled out Goldust for special treatment. Both wily Canucks would do everything in their power to prevent the tag to a fresh Booker, including referee distraction, pulling him down from the apron and attempting to use a steel chair. All this effort meant that when Goldust eventually reached his partner, the explosion for Booker’s burst of offense was tangible.
“USA” chants filled the arena as they battered their rivals, until the referee was knocked down by a misplaced heel kick from Storm. This allowed fellow Un-American Test to interfere with his Big Boot to save the titles for his teammates.
Callum’s Take: A solid tag team encounter with a few twists and turns, as the heel characters of Christian and Lance Storm shine against the explosiveness of Booker T and fighting spirit of Goldust.
RVD vs Chris Benoit (Intercontinental Championship)
Result: Rob Van Dam wins the title after landing the Five-Star Frogsplash on Chris Benoit.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
With the brand split taking place a few months earlier, the Intercontinental Championship had become exclusive to RAW, driving a wedge between respective General Managers Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon. So, when Chris Benoit won the title from Rob Van Dam, McMahon wasted no time acquiring his services in a coup from RAW. This match was therefore of critical importance for the red brand, as if RVD lost they would lose grasp of the belt for good. With this pressure underlying this championship encounter, it would add to the phenomenal performance that both men would produce.
RVD has always been a superstar that would go the extra mile to make himself and his opponent look amazing, and he definitely showed that in this contest. Every time Benoit sent him flying with a German suplex, he would fold up like an accordion after landing on the back of his neck. The Canadian was one of the most intense and technically outstanding competitors ever to step into a squared circle.
They missed their signature flying moves one after the other, with Benoit going back to his Crossface submission at every opportunity. It is quite likely that RVD spent the most time any superstar sustained in that vicious hold in a single match, but he refused to submit to the pain.
There was also a fantastic spot where Benoit hit three consecutive Northern Lights suplexes, maintaining hold, which I have never witnessed before or since in wrestling. Nobody can deny both men left everything they had in the ring, earning a rave reception from the audience, until RVD finally overcame this obstacle with the Five-Star Frogsplash.
Callum’s Take: This was arguably RVD’s greatest ever WWE match, as it almost felt like the athletes wrestled two matches back-to-back with its various turning points and glorious exchanges.
(Photo Credit: MindOfCarnage.com)
Undertaker vs Test
Result: Undertaker pins Test following a Tombstone Piledriver.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Another contest driven by patriotism, The American Badass Undertaker fought the enforcer of the Un-Americans, Test.
The Canadian was an underrated superstar in WWE, with an explosive, powerful offense that arguably should have reached greater heights than he did during his time with the company. This was one of the few matches he had with the Undertaker, and whilst it will never turn up on one of the Phenom’s highlight DVDs, that doesn’t mean it was particularly bad. After a number of technically sound matches, it was a welcome change of pace to have a pair of physical powerhouses collide instead.
This was a definite brawl, with the anti-American Test showing his dirty side by throwing the referee against the ropes whilst Undertaker prepared to go Old School.
From that point on Test was in control, sending his legendary rival into the steel steps, and winding him repeatedly with high knees to the waist of the Deadman. Undertaker responded with the same physicality, throwing his hard punches and chokeslamming his sizable opponent to the mat with authority. A brief distraction by the Tag Team Champions, paying back for earlier in the night, allowed Test to connect with his massive Big Boot, which came close to earning him the win.
But in the end the Phenom came out victorious, blocking an attempted steel chair strike and finishing Test off with a Tombstone Piledriver.
Callum’s Take: A decent clash between two powerhouses agile on their feet, demonstrating how far Test could have gone given his look and ability.
Shawn Michaels vs Triple H
Result: Shawn Michaels reverses a Pedigree into a jackknife pin for the victory over Triple H.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This was the beginning of a rivalry that would dominate RAW for the next two years, producing numerous incredible battles. But this origin set an incredibly high bar to top. Shawn Michaels, after badly injuring his back in 1998, returned to WWE reborn and renewed, ready to realign with his best friend Triple H in DX.
However, the jealousy of the Game prevented this from happening, as he immediately Pedigreed Michaels to the canvas, defiantly stating that he was now the man, and his former friend was now beneath him. With the bitterness and animosity reaching a boiling point between these once great allies, at SummerSlam HBK stepped into the ring for the first time in four years, and it looked as though he hadn’t missed a day.
HBK strutted out for his entrance, the crowd going absolutely crazy for this historic moment. Few people know how to go out on any given show and give a five-star performance, and Shawn Michaels is one of those elite superstars. No ring rust showing, he and Triple H got straight into the violence, with flying fists, trash cans and steel chairs. Michaels started out on fire, but his rival illustrated why he was the Cerebral Assassin by targeting his old mentor’s lower back with a wicked backbreaker.
HBK writhed in agony as Triple H relentless pinpointed that bulls-eye, intent on breaking him in two, especially with another backbreaker over a folded steel chair. By the time he grabbed his trusted sledgehammer, it appeared as though Michaels was done for good.
But Michaels would not quit, connecting with Sweet Chin Music through a chair into the face of Triple H. He nipped up to a roar from the crowd, and hit the Game with everything he could muster. Utilizing one of his favorite weapons, the ladder, he busted Triple H open, then followed that up with some memorable offense. A superplex, diving through the Game and a table at ringside and an elbow from the top of the ladder, deep into the black heart of his opponent.
But, HBK missed the crucial superkick, giving Triple H the chance to set up the Pedigree. Yet Michaels reversed it into a jackknife pin, earning one of the most emotional wins of his career and causing to crowd to explode in celebration.
That was, until HBK was dropped to his knees by a sledgehammer strike to the lower back, and then another across the shoulder blades knocked him flat out. The Game left more reviled than ever before.
Callum’s Take: This was a perfect contest from start to finish: a great storyline, brilliant action, weapons, high spots, a returning hero conquers the dastardly villain, the heel gets the last laugh, and the impassioned commentary by Jim Ross. A masterpiece.
Brock Lesnar vs The Rock (WWE Undisputed Championship)
Result: Brock Lesnar becomes the new WWE Champion after hitting an F-5 on the Rock.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
The main event of this amazing evening was a changing of the guard for WWE, as a veteran champion was conquered by a young, monstrous challenger. Brock Lesnar was pushed to the moon from the moment he stepped into WWE, his intensity and look unlike any superstar before him. Guided by nefarious and slimy manager Paul Heyman, Lesnar dominated all that stood before him, winning King of the Ring before “retiring” Hulk Hogan.
Now came his toughest test, the Brahma Bull, the Rock. The Rock believed himself to be the best in the business, and holding the coveted belt was a signal of that. So, for the first and so far only time, it was Rock vs Brock.
Rock charged the ring to his young challenger, but was caught immediately in a belly-to-belly throw. It was a statement of intent by Lesnar, as the crowd immediately backed the newcomer and turned on the Great One. Lesnar took this early momentum and dominated with slams and suplexes wearing down his experienced rival.
The goal was destruction, plain and simple, and for a while it seemed as though Rock had no answer to this onslaught. But, when Lesnar went shoulder first into the post, it was the opening the People’s Champion needed to hit a DDT to stun the goliath. But that was when the wildcard Heyman got involved, distracting Rock and the referee when he had Lesnar in the Sharpshooter, before the Next Big Thing then a steel chair to the ribs of the champ.
Lesnar applied a bear hug, squeezing the fight out of Rock. With every second his energy was sapped away, but this would not end the Great One. This time a Heyman distraction backfired, as Rock hit a low blow to separate himself from Lesnar, before turning his attention to the weasel at ringside with a Rock Bottom through the announce table. Another one followed to Lesnar, which was followed by a long two count, and then Lesnar hit his own “Brock Bottom”. Rock then went for the People’s Elbow, only to be leveled by a clothesline, and then Brock reversed another Rock Bottom attempt into the F-5 for the championship victory.
Another great match with an historical moment attached, as Lesnar became the youngest WWE Champion in history, and started over a decade of dominance.
Callum’s Take: Another great match to close this brilliant show, with the added bonus of an historical moment attached, as Lesnar became the youngest WWE Champion in history, beginning over a decade of dominance.
Next: Power Ranking Every SummerSlam
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