SummerSlam 1991 took place on 26 August 1991 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Current Champions

  • WWF Champion: Hulk Hogan
  • Intercontinental Champion: Perfect
  • Tag Team Champions: Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Saggs)

The ‘Match Made in Heaven’ dominates 1991’s edition of SummerSlam as Vince McMahon narrates the opening video package. Sgt. Slaughter and General Adnan have been joined by Colonel Mustafa – the Iron Sheik – they take on Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in the ‘Match Made in Hell’.

Gorilla Monsoon is our lead announcer, he’s joined by both Rowdy Roddy Piper and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan at the commentary booth. Piper is making a big deal about the ‘Match Made in Hell’ and mentions that Hogan hates Warrior, Warrior hates everybody. Sid Justice is the guest referee.

Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat, Texas Tornado & British Bulldog vs. Warlord, Power & Glory w/Slick

The heel team are already in the ring and don’t get a TV entrance, which is usually a bad sign. Steamboat was introduced just as ‘The Dragon’ and breathed fire during his entrance, which has become an iconic image. Piper and Heenan are already arguing as there’s some quality wrestling between Paul Roma and Steamboat. Hercules in, as is Texas Tornado. You can see the difference right away as instead of arm drags and dropkicks, Tornado bashes Hercules’ head into a turnbuckle. Now in comes Warlord and so does British Bulldog, the opponents from WrestleMania. Big pop for a clothesline knockdown on Warlord. Steamboat gets isolated and there’s a mistake from Roma as he runs through Steamboat, then has something to say to Kerry on Erich as Steamboat is waiting on him to follow up. That continues as Steamboat rolls Roma up, Hercules comes in and Steamboat ducks a clothesline but then has to wait an age for Warlord to clothesline him down, he should have been in right behind him. I know it’s only a small thing but it’s timing and causes delays. Monsoon calls Power and Glory ‘Herc and Jerk’, which is legitimately the funniest thing he’s said. Steamboat eventually makes the hot tag to Texas Tornado after Warlord takes an age coming off the ropes. Tornado takes it to Warlord before tagging Bulldog, his crossbody is caught but a Tornado Punch puts Warlord down. Nearfall. I’d have bought that as the finish. Running Powerslam to Roma and Warlord makes a mess of what should have been the save so Roma kicks out. Bulldog tags in Steamboat, who hit a crossbody off the top rope and that gets three with Roma kicking out just after the count. I question the logic of Bulldog doing a crossbody just before that became the winning move and Warlord was very sluggish. As an opener, it fired up the crowd. [**1/2]

Mr. Perfect is with Sean Mooney and I think it’s Coach, who has seemingly replaced Bobby Heenan as Perfect’s manager. That’s quite a downgrade. It’s Perfection versus Excellence of Execution.

Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (c) w/Coach – WWF Intercontinental Championship

I’ve never actually watched this match in its entirety. Stu and Helen Hart are in attendance. Bret has come away from Jim Neidhart and it’s an aggressive tie up to begin. Perfect pulls Hart’s hair, then Bret does it back to the Intercontinental Champion to maintain a headlock. They are so evenly matched. Perfect’s selling is just amazing. Mr. Perfect wants to take a walk but Bret drags him back by his wrestling attire and rips it. Perfect seems to take it personally and takes over with more aggression. Hair biel by Perfect as Bret is rag dolled. The Coach is annoying, he has what would become Bill Alfonso’s gimmick with a whistle. Perfect-Plex and Bret kicks out. Now the ‘Hitman’ starts his comeback. He hits his own hair biel and Perfect slides backwards into the ringpost. Control goes back-and-forth with Bret eventually beginning to work on the legs, kicking Perfect so he spins in the air like Curt Hennig only can. The difference between this match and all the others is how everything looks. There are no delays, nobody out of position, it’s excellently executed by both men. Sharpshooter attempt, Coach is on the apron and takes a shot from Bret. Perfect kicks the rope to cause a low blow. Perfect is so crisp, he drops a leg across Bret’s groin and then handsprings back to his feet. When he attempts a second one, Bret catches the leg and twists him into the Sharpshooter. Very quick submission and we have a new Intercontinental Champion. I’d expect to see a long sequence with Perfect trying to get to the ropes but I seem to remember Perfect’s back was in bits so a quick decision was very sensible. Hart tears off Perfect’s gear as he exits the ring and we get the classic scene of Bret kissing the Intercontinental belt with Perfect’s attire on his shoulder. Stu and Helen hug Bret with Lord Alfred Hayes trying to get a word, then when Stu does talk to sends its back to Gorilla Monsoon. In truth, I’ll always prefer the King of the Ring match but this is only half a star behind. [****1/2]

‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund has the unenviable task of interviewing the Bushwhackers and Andre The Giant. They show footage of Earthquake blindsiding Andre with Jimmy Hart’s megaphone.

Natural Disasters w/Jimmy Hart vs. The Bushwhackers w/Andre The Giant

Since the last pay-per-view, Tugboat turned heel and has become Typhoon. Bushwhackers are still popular with the crowd, Andre is on crutches. This match should be quick and dominant win for the Natural Disasters. Stalling to begin with and Luke bites Typhoon on the backside. They send Typhoon into Earthquake, then Earthquake into Typhoon. Double clothesline knocks down Earthquake. Piper comments that the Bushwhackers are ‘Americana inside’, despite them being from New Zealand. Natural Disasters take over and the pace slows to a crawl. Lots of hitting a move and then shouting at the other Bushwhacker on the apron. Bobby Heenan leaves the announce desk promising to go visit Hogan’s locker room. Typhoon’s selling is comical. Nearfall on Typhoon after a Battering Ram. Earthquake has a face-to-face with Andre before the tremors begin and he gets the pin. Disasters did far too much selling for Luke and Butch. Legion of Doom come to ringside to confront the Natural Disasters. Andre gets a couple of crutch shots in on Earthquake as they head to the back. [*]

We throw it over to Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, who has located Hogan’s dressing room – which is designated with an A4 piece of paper that says ‘Hulk’. Heenan has the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and gets the door slammed in his face.

Over to Randy Savage on the hotline, who is talking about how nervous he is ahead of tonight’s nuptials.

Ted DiBiase and Sensational Sherri are having a good laugh with Sean Mooney about all the abuse Virgil had to endure while in the employ of the ‘Million Dollar Man’. DiBiase cuts another superb promo ahead of his match with his former bodyguard.

Ted DiBiase (c) w/Sensational Sherri vs. Virgil – Million Dollar Championship

Piper is still Virgil’s biggest fan. Virgil drags DiBiase down from the turnbuckle and begins taking it to him. Clothesline and DiBiase lands at ringside beside Sherri. Heenan returns to the announce desk. Virgil tries his boxing fare but DiBiase’s superior wrestling shines through. Virgil slaps on a sleeper but Sherri causes a disqualification by breaking it up with her purse. The referee calls for the bell, only to reveal a list of demands through Howard Finkel including Sensational Sherri returning to her locker room so the match can continue. DiBiase gains control and starts arguing with Hot Rod at ringside. Referee is down. DiBiase is technically sound as he delivers vertical suplexes. Piledriver by DiBiase. He covers but the referee is taking an age to recover. The ‘Million Dollar Man’ removes a turnbuckle pad, exposing the steel bolt. Virgil makes a recovery worthy of Lazarus to send DiBiase into the steel. Both men are down but Virgil edges towards DiBiase and gets an arm over for the three count. Virgil celebrates with Piper going crazy. Under-delivered in truth. [**]

Up next is the Jailhouse Match and the Mountie cuts an interview with ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund. He always gets his man. Boss Man gets Sean Mooney and he’s fired up.

The Mountie w/Jimmy Hart vs. Big Boss Man

Somebody is going to the slammer. Boss Man is over and Mountie is the perfect foil. This is probably most known as the Big Boss Man’s most notable match. Mountie runs his mouth and Boss Man just decks him with a beautiful right hand. Back comes the former Jacques Rougeau but Boss Man catches Mountie with a back elbow followed by a splash. It’s always fun to listen to Heenan talk about Boss Man’s mother. Jimmy Hart is very active after his wardrobe change. I think I mentioned in the Royal Rumble 1991 review that the event was very of its time, this falls into that category but in a positive way. These two gimmicks play off each other well, much like a lot of IRS’s feuds would do in later years. I love the fact they wear similar trousers as two lawmen. Piledriver attempt is blocked initially by Boss Man but then Mountie lands it, albeit a little sloppy with Boss Man looking to have landed on his forehead. Mountie gives Jimmy Hart a signal to distract the referee, then picks up his cattle prod. Boss Man fights back. Uppercut levels Mountie, then Boss Man hits the Boss Man Slam but Mountie gets a shoulder up. As Boss Man is having trouble believing he didn’t get the win, Mountie trips him. Boss Man with an Alabama Slam and gets three. Boss Man then drags Mountie out and he gets cuffed. Mountie is dragged to the paddy wagon. Good fun brawl and a match that many fans remember. [***]

Ted DiBiase and Sensational Sherri are apoplectic that Virgil stole the Million Dollar Championship. By contrast Bret Hart is delighted that he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Jimmy Hart has rejoined the Natural Disasters, Earthquake and Typhoon threaten the Legion of Doom. And we’re back with Sean Mooney as Big Boss Man brings the humour; “What type of bird can’t fly? A jailbird.” Back to Okerlund, who is with ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage. Okerlund wants to go speak to Miss Elizabeth and ‘Macho Man’ stops him. Okerlund throws it to Lord Alfred Hayes in the UK but the Netflix edition omits his contribution.

At ringside, Heenan is speculating about Sid Justice and his mental state. We then see the Mountie arriving in jail. Mountie is now in leg irons. Jimmy Hart is back with Sean Mooney and his WWF Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys. They’re set to defend the titles against Legion of Doom. There’s a lot of shouting. We hopefully end this tour of backstage interviewers with LOD themselves, who haven’t quite realised they’ve upset the Natural Disasters before the title match. DQ through interference coming?

The Mountie is forced to give his fingerprints as Sean Mooney takes over alongside Sgt. Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa and General Adnan. Colonel Mustafa is a new addition to the group, he’s the Iron Sheik in a new gimmick and when he made his debut, they did talk about his past as the Sheik. Sid Justice talks to Okerlund and there’s an accusation that Sid won’t be impartial, he was seen talking to Slaughter and company earlier in the day.

Nasty Boys (c) w/Jimmy Hart vs. Legion of Doom – WWF Tag Team Championship

Finally, we’re back inside the squared circle. LOD get things jump started and get an early two count on Saggs. Enziguri by Hawk. Saggs sprays something in Hawk’s eyes but none of the three commentators spot it. Apparently this is no disqualification and no count out, which I missed up until this point. The Nasty Boys double team Hawk with Animal trying to fire up the crowd. I do have a question, if there’s no DQ… why do they need to tag? What’s the referee going to do? Hawk is very much the Roadwarrior-in-peril but the Nasty Boys offence is too slow to build real heat. Animal in to make the save for Hawk to stop him getting pinned. Now Hawk makes the hot tag. Animal is on fire with clotheslines and right hands. Powerslam to Knobbs but Saggs breaks up the pinfall. Hawk is back in but quickly gets dumped outside. Jimmy Hart throws his helmet in. Saggs does to hit Animal, who ducks, but Saggs stops short from nailing Knobbs and hammers Animal in the back. What a strange sequence. Big kick-out by Animal and Hawk uses the helmet on both Nasty Boys. Doomsday Device to Saggs. New WWF Tag Team Champions. [***]

We’re back with the Mountie, who is thrown into a cell despite his protests. We get an advert for the WWF’s Thanksgiving tradition Survivor Series.

Irwin R. Schyster vs. Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine

IRS looks very young as he chastises the audience for crying about paying taxes. Conventional wisdom says aging star puts over hot newcomer but you never know. Clothesline by Valentine and IRS slides out to ringside. Gorilla Monsoon reveals that the Undertaker and Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts have been seen in the building. A fun fact is that IRS had already teamed with DiBiase just weeks after arriving in the WWF, some two years prior to the Money Inc. tag team. Monsoon is all over Irwin’s tie and suspenders, which will become a running theme for Gorilla over the next few years. Valentine wants the Figure-Four but IRS grabs the bottom rope. IRS drags Valentine down by his hair into a small package and gets the win. [**]

Mean Gene has the difficult task of interviewing Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior. Hogan is all about his title win in 1984 and Warrior is obsessed with ‘Warrior Wildness’ and a cobra.

Sgt. Slaughter, Colonel Mustafa & General Adnan vs. Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior

The ‘Triangle of Terror’ have pretty much run their course so there should be a conclusion to the angle here. Hogan’s pop dwarfs Warrior’s. Warrior was bitten by a cobra at the hands of Undertaker and Jake Roberts, explaining the comments earlier. Heenan brings up the ‘Real’ World Champion Ric Flair. Hogan all over Slaughter before tagging in Warrior. Lots of tags between Hogan and Warrior as Slaughter is stranded from his partners. Adnan finally gets in with Hulk down, both he and Mustafa take their shots. Camel Clutch by Mustafa broken up by Warrior. Slaughter irish whips Hulk into special referee Sid Justice and there’s a standoff. Warrior pushes Slaughter off the top rope. Now Warrior runs into Sid. Hogan gets the hot tag, Warrior runs off Adnan and Mustafa with a chair. For some strange reason Hogan throws powder in Slaughter’s eyes, then pins him after the leg drop. Eh? What an odd finish. [*]

Hogan invites Sid Justice back out and they pose together -with Warrior nowhere in sight – before we see Mountie in his final vignette and he’s approached by a camp inmate. That’s comedy, supposedly.

Match Made in Heaven

I don’t really know how to review a wedding, not least a WWE one… or the original WWE wedding. The ring is decked out, there are elaborate entrances. Miss Elizabeth looks fantastic, Savage seems intense. Piper is far too excited about the wedding. Balloons and streamers come down throughout the area. Piper says; “You did it Macho, I wasn’t sure but you did it.” Wasn’t sure about what? There’s pomp, circumstance, smiles and I do’s. [N/A]

The Verdict: Some quality wrestling matches, especially Bret Hart versus Mr. Perfect, but there are some real duds weaved in there too. I didn’t find the Mountie stuff entertaining beyond him arriving at the jail and the main event had a really strange finish. It’s one of those historic shows that doesn’t quite stand up to the test of time.