Welcome back to my RawViews of every Summerslam leading up to the 2017 version we will soon be watching, writing and commenting about. This Summerslam is once again headlined by a Hogan and Savage tag match and feature Tony Schiavone as an announcer for WWF. I will say I miss these opening video packages that lead into a PPV you know clipps of people walking on the beach, driving convertibles and eating ice cream spliced in with wrestling clips. If this is the first RawView you are reading please look back at my recap of Summerslam ’88 as well as my weekly Monday Night and Tuesday Night RawViews. Also not to forget my weekly Re-Writing the book that looks back at moments in wrestling history and I Re-Write the what if to those moments. Here we go lets checkout Summerslam ’89.
The Hart Foundation vs. The Brain Busters – Well do I really need to watch any other match after this? I can’t foresee this not being the match of the night. This feels like a match that we all have done in our WWE universe mode in WWE 2k17 as the first tag team feud. The faces are controlling this match a lot more than I’m used to see faces control tag team matches. The WWF at this point isn’t stupid and they know the tag division is the hottest thing they have on the roster which is why tag matches have opened both Summerslams to this point. The Brain Busters do a fantastic job during the match of cutting the ring off and not allowing Anvil make the hot tag to Bret and this is feels even more awesome because of how much the Hart Foundation dominated the match to begin with. Bret Hart at one point hits a knee in the back of Anderson while he hits the ropes and Schiavone screams out and instantly makes me feel like I’m watching WCW. Being able to watch Bret Hart and Tully Blanchard in the ring at the same time makes me wish this was a singles feud over the IC Title. Again Bret has an awesome babyface sequence that shows off exactly what officials saw in him. Brainbusters steal the win from the Hart Foundation in an extremely good match!
Dusty Rhodes Promo/ match vs. Honkeytonk Man – Summerslam ’89 has started with Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard and Dusty Rhodes is this being brought to you by the NWA? Dusty Rhodes cuts a very good promo and refers to himself in the third person multiple times. My wife again says “ugh this guy his sideburns are ridiculous”. Rhodes comes to the ring with a nightstick handcuffs and police hat I guess he shared a room with Bossman that weekend? Again Schiavone screams as Dusty enters and makes me feel like I’m watching WCW Saturday Night. This match starts with a bit of a dance off that gets the crowd fired up. Here it is folks the first GOOD singles match in Summerslam history at this point. Nice back and forth match with good crowd reaction and Dusty overcoming both Honkey tonk and Jimmy Hart after a miscommunication with Hart and Honkey Tonk. Rhodes drops the elbow and picks up the win in another good match for Summerslam ’89.
A Demolition and Duggan promo happened I don’t care to comment on it. Its meh.
Mr. Perfect vs. Red Rooster – My wife just looked at me and said what is he wearing? One of these men looks like an absolute star and the other looks like a man with a fake red Mohawk in the middle of his mullet. Mr. Perfect has such an incredible dropkick and this match is over quick as Perfect hits the Perfect Plex for the win.
The Rockers and Tito Santana vs. Rougeau Brothers and Rick Martel – There is an incredible amount of talent in this six man tag match. The crowd isn’t much into this match as past matches on the card. You wonder when watching old Jannety matches had he been able to overcome his personal demons could he have had a good career post HBK. The heels work over Santana and keep him isolated from his corner. Jesse the body continues to call Santana chico during the entire match. Santana makes the hot tag to Shawn Michaels and comes in to get the crowd going crazy again. Things being to break down as all men start to brawl all over the ring and ringside. Martel pins Jannety for the win although Michaels was the legal man. Ok well that’s a way to end a match I guess.
Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior – They show a very good video package prior to this match and gets you everything you need to be invested in this match. Warrior’s entrance will always get the crowd going crazy won’t it? Great beginning to the match and a very cool spot with Warrior press slamming Rude over the top rope onto the floor. This may be Warriors best match to date as Rude is able to get in quite a bit of offense around Warrior’s high energy spots. Warrior hits a big power slam that should have won him the match however the ref had been knocked down. Rude spike pildrives Warrior and Roddy Piper makes his way down to the ring to distract Rick Rude. This causes Warrior to hit the press slam and the big splash and regain his IC championship. If you want to show someone a good Warrior match notate this one.
We get a series of interviews with Mr. Perfect, Roddy Piper and Rick Rude. Good promo’s just not much to talk about from them. Then a very good video package in regards to the main event of the evening.
Demolition/Duggan vs. Bossman/Akeem/Andre – First off Duggan looks absolutely stupid with that king of the ring crown on. Likely the biggest takeaway from this match is how Andre is clearly hurting and limited in this match. Still a monster of a man and looked pretty good but his mobility made me cringe many times. I wonder how Demolition felt having to work this match as the Hart Foundation, Brain Busters, The Rockers, and the Rougeau Brothers were all on the rsoters as well. Demolition and Duggan pick-up the win in the worst tag match in Summerslam history at this point.
Hercules vs. Greg Valentine – Ronnie Garvin was the special ring announcer and he distracted Greg Valentine before and during the match. Giving Hercules the upper hand. Greg Valentine gets a quick pin-fall victory with his feet on the ropes. However Ronnie Garvin has the power to disregard that altogether and announce Hercules as the winner. Then he apologizes and says he was misunderstood and announces Hercules as the winner again this time by disqualification. Hercules and Valentine then start brawling until Garvin throws one punch and knocks Valentine out of the ring. Yikes!
Jimmy Snuka vs. Ted Dibiase – Very good back and forth match here, as they get Virgil involved early but doesn’t work out the way they hoped. Dibiase knocks Virgil off the apron and Snuka takes control. These two men have some pretty good chemistry in a match that I have not much knowledge of the build and isn’t for a prestigious title I’m hooked. Snuka goes up to the top rope for the big splash and Virgil distracts Snuka. Snuka gets ahold of Virgil and Dibiase is late to break them up as they appear to be slow dancing with each other. Dibiase wins the match via countout as he pushes Snuka into the ring post. Snuka gets the last laugh though as he attacks Virgil and Dibiase after the match.
Hulk Hogan/Brutus Beefcake vs. Savage/Zeus – Before the match Hogan and Beefcake cut a promo. With a traditional Hulkamania promo and Beefcake cutting a promo confessing his love to his shears. Say what you want about Brutus Beefcake the fans are very into this character. Yes I’m skipping the poem by the Genius. Sherri Martel looks great as Sensational Queen Sherri and Zeus looks well he’s there. Hogan looked balder the year prior at Summerslam than here, did they have hair plugs in 1989? I will say this about eighties professional wrestling both of these main events have clearly felt like the biggest match of the night. Lots of no selling and limited moveset by Zeus in this match and Savage having to clearly carry most of the match. At one point we are waiting for a Beefcake hot tag… yep that happened. Beefcake finally gets in and ends up on the losing side of things against Savage and Zeus. Miss Elizabeth comes out yet again to be the secret weapon for team Hogan at Summerslam. Beefcake makes the hot tag and drops the leg on Zeus as Sherri almost hits Hogan while he’s making the pin. Hogan hits an atomic drop on Sherri into a big knockdown by Elizabeth and then Beefcake cuts Sherri’s hair. We close Summerslam with Hulkmania and the big posedown.
Summerslam 1988 Review
While this Summerslam certainly had its high points the low points were much worse than the original version of this PPV. Also the main event did not quite deliver as well as the first main event did. Right now Summerslam ’88 sits atop as the best Summerslam so far. The match of the night for Summerslam ’89 will have to go to The Hart Foundation and The Brain Busters. As I’ve said way to many times at this point in these two reviews I’m watching the golden era of tag team wrestling and it’s certainly delivering. Stay tuned for Summerslam 1990 soon and until next time be awesome.
