Summer 1996 is pretty much wrapped up as we get into WWE SummerSlam 1996. The main event here is WWE World Champion Shawn Michaels taking on Vader!
Low-Tier
I dig both Sycho Sid and British Bulldog but I’m not giving them anything beyond low-tier. The match was clean and everything looked good but I just didn’t care about the match at all.
Actually, this match would’ve probably hit differently if it was between the Owen vs. Savio opener and the Tag Team title match. I will say that I cared more about this match than Lawler vs. Roberts.
Mid-Tier
Owen Hart vs. Savio Vega was a solid match from start to finish. They both had styles that went well together. While Owen outclasses his opponent here, Savio is a hard worker who is far from green.
I thought the four-way elimination match for the Tag Team titles was going to be a crawl but it was actually a pretty decent match. I’m not big on the Godwinns but they looked good against the New Rockers, the Bodydonnas, and the champions—the Smoking Gunns.
Should they do more elimination matches of this scale again? Not really. Will they? Most definitely.
Rolling on with WWE SummerSlam 1996, Goldust had a good match against Marc Mero. It would’ve helped if Mero’s momentum and was rising like Goldust’s.
While the match was even in the ring, Goldust was the star here and probably should’ve taken this match in a shorter time.
Exotic-Tier
The semi-main event and the main event both delivered on WWE SummerSlam 1996. First up was The Undertaker facing Mankind in a boiler room match.
If you’ve never seen this match, do yourself a favor and check it out. It was the kind of match where you first start to notice The Undertaker’s ability to hold down a main event-type match. Especially a physically involved main event contest.
This was a street fight and both men are strong brawlers. Mankind took all of the sickening spills and bumps like the madman he is.
I really enjoyed the twist towards the end of the match with Paul Bearer not giving Taker the urn and turning on him. This is leading to bigger, wilder stuff in the future!
HBK’s title defense against Vader was great. There were moments where it was perfectly-paced, action that went to the outside, Vader looked vicious, Michaels looked like a fighting champion, both finishers were kicked out of—this was a thrill ride of a match!
Even the ending to the match restart was exciting as hell. I recommend this match as well, folks!
WWE SummerSlam 1996 Verdict: Mid-Tier (7/10)
This was a good PPV to close out the summer. It wasn’t great but it was pretty good. Match of the Show honors go to HBK vs. Vader with a strong title defense for Michaels.
While he was more of a stunned beast in the match restart, Vader was an utter beast throughout the match. Mankind and The Undertaker mixed it up well in their boiler room match and came off as mortal enemies.
We need more of that in wrestling. Just mortal enemies who shouldn’t be employed in the same company.
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