WWE Network Discussion: SummerSlam 1988

I'd put Goldust and IRS up there, too. These gimmicks are truly awful and would've failed within a month if it weren't for the guys who took them on. But, to me, Goldust is the best example of it. Undertaker, HTM, and IRS were well done outside if the ring and with a certain bravado in ring that made it work. Goldust and Doink, though, had entire movesets specifically catered to the characters, especially Goldust. 'Taker, HTM, IRS, these characters could have possibly worked with other guys, though it's a 1/1,000,000 chance. Goldust and Doink literally could not be played by anyone else, and we saw that proved with Doink.

I'm not sure if you're agreeing with me or if you misread what I wrote.

I'm on the fence with 'Taker. I don't think his gimmick really has anything to do with his popularity (outside of possibly children, who don't really read too much into a gimmick, anyway), it's all about his ability. That being said, there are very few wrestlers throughout the history of wrestling that command the same respect that Undertaker does, so you'd be hard pressed to find another guy that'd get everyone to look past the fact that they're supposedly watching a zombie wrestle. That's why I said it's a one-in-a-million chance, while Doink and Goldust could only be played by Bourne and Rhodes.

Now this is a discussion I can get into, I doubt I'll steamroll over the whole show in one sitting, so I suppose we'll just start with the opener and go from there.

This is a first time for me, as I was born a few years earlier and by the time I was old enough to truly get into wrestling and understand it, these years were long gone. Intro gives me chills, I love it just as much as I love today's WWE intro, this global entity and this massive fandom that spans generations, basically I love pro wrestling.

Opening match, Rougeau Brothers vs The British Bulldogs. Despite my age, I am aware of the Bulldogs and how awesome they are, thank you youtube for that. So this outta be a treat. Always great to see a show start off pretty hot and heavy, they know they have to get the fans into things and quick, so no time for any lengthy technical wrestling and that's fine by me. Bulldogs hot outta the gate and they continue onward, beautiful cartwheel to avoid a monkey flip by Davey Boy, showcasing some nice agility. Lots of tag teams during this era of pro wrestling, going back to Survivor Series from in the same time frame, they had two massive 20 man tag team elimination matches, which showcased a strong tag division with Powers of Pain, Demolition, Hart Foundation, and many more teams.

Surprisingly, lots of heelish stuff from both teams, lots of just switching in and out without tags, Bulldogs do some heelish tactics, as if both teams were towing the line of good and bad. Though it quickly goes out the window as we get a clear cut heel vs face dynamic and they work towards the hot tag. Lots of entertaining double team offense from the Rougeau bothers and some solid technical stuff from both sides as the match slows down. As mentioned earlier, we get the time limit draw to close this out and it's a pretty solid opening match. Both teams looked great, entertaining action, couldn't really find many flaws with it.

Then we get the Bass/Beefcake angle and I gotta say, that's pretty hardcore for 88 WWF. He not only attacks Beefcake after he's had a match, but he chokes him and then cuts him open, and maybe I'm just not watching enough from that era, but that seems like something you didn't see all that much in WWF, let alone much of wrestling period in 1988. Crazy stuff.

Strong opening match, I'll pick this up a bit later and post some more thoughts later on.

was FINALLY able to watch this as the Network is working for me now!

this was a great card,a real cracker for its time with all the top guys involved!

I can distinctly remember watching this live when it first aired. it had that "special event" feel, like a special card had to be created just to handle the hugeness of it's main event. it was like the first WrestleMania in that respect,as well as all of us not knowing it would also becoming a yearly,ongoing event. it could just as easily been a one-time special event.

top to bottom,mostly great matches, great feuds being started or ended, the surprise of the IC Match, and the greatness of it's main event. if you weren't around back then - this thing was FRIGGING HUGE! the culmination of Savage vs Dibiase,with hulk and Andre thrown in! LOL, should be noted, though, that in the weeks leading up to announcement of the ME, Savage was teasing who his partner would be, but there was no surprise to it - we ALL knew it would be Hogan. and of course the first subtle hint of the Mega-Powers exploding was planted here as well.

another LOL! my best friend Corey was a HUGE Hart foundation fan,even back to their heel days. I loved Demolition with all my soul. needless to say,one of us was ecstatic and one of us was pissed before the show was over! I can still hear him in my head : "That wasn't right! They had to cheat to win!".... I didn't care, my beloved Ax and Smash still had the Straps,that's all that mattered!