Summerslam Count-Up – 1990: Hogan Steals The Show, As He Should
Summerslam 1990
Date: August 27, 1990
Location: Philadelphia Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 19,304
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper
We open with a look at the fans coming into the arena and buying merchandise.
Now we get a traditional intro with Vince shouting about the double main event.
Rockers vs. Power and Glory
Post match Shawn finally gets into the ring but Marty covers his injured leg and takes a beating himself. Shawn is taken out on a stretcher.
Intercontinental Title: Mr. Perfect vs. Texas Tornado
Back in and Perfect hits a clothesline of his own and the necksnap has Tornado in trouble. Off to a sleeper on Tornado but he quickly makes the rope. Perfect tries slapping him in the face, but Tornado pulls him into a slingshot, sending Perfect head first into the post. The Claw hold and Tornado Punch are enough for the pin and the title.
Mean Gene is talking about Sapphire being nowhere in sight (remember that as it becomes important later) when Hennig and Brain come in and say Tornado cheated by sending Perfect into the post. Heenan swears, yes SWEARS I SAY, that the shoulder was up at two.
Sapphire vs. Sensational Sherri
Warlord vs. Tito Santana
Ad for Survivor Series. That show SUCKED.
Tag Titles: Hart Foundation vs. Demolition
During the break between falls, Demolition knocks Bret to the floor, allowing Ax to run down and sneak under the ring. The third fall starts with Bret getting two off a sunset flip before taking Smash down by the leg. Neidhart picks Bret up for the reverse powerslam for two on Smash. Now things get tricky as Smash rolls to the floor and rolls under the ring, switching places with Ax.
Demolition wants to get their hands on the LOD.
Jake Roberts vs. Bad News Brown
Demolition yells a lot.
Gene sees Sapphire go into a dressing room and lock the door behind her.
Orient Express vs. Nikolai Volkoff/Jim Duggan
Dusty Rhodes vs. Randy Savage
Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake
Bravo gets in some cheap shots on the floor but Earthquake misses an elbow drop back inside. Hogan finally gets to his feet (sidenote: Roddy Piper should not be allowed to cheer for Hogan. Ever.) but falls back down on a slam attempt. Off to a bearhug by Earthquake as the match slows down. Hulk punches out of it and tries a cross body like a schnook, earning the powerslam he gets as a result. Earthquake drops a pair of Earthquake splashes (seated sentons) but Hogan gets up at two to shock the crowd.
Rating: B-. The match itself was nothing of note but this is exactly what the fans wanted to see other than Hogan getting a pin. These two feuded on the house show circuit for the next four months or so, which really is amazing when you consider how basic the angle was that set it up. This falls into the fun category which is fine for a show like this.
Post match Quake chokes Hogan until Bossman blasts him in the back with a STEPLADDER. Quake finally drops him and looks at Bossman so the cop pulls out the nightstick to chase them off. Lots of posing ensues as you can see the house show rematches with any combination of these four guys being made up.
Vince and Roddy talk about Hogan vs. Earthquake happening again.
WWF World Title: Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude
In a cage where you can win by pin or escape. Rude tries to block Warrior from getting into the cage so Warrior knocks him off the top and down into the ring. The champion finally comes in with a top rope ax handle smash and throws Rude into the cage. Rick goes into the cage a few more times but ducks a charge to send Warrior face first into the bars. Rude kicks Warrior away but jumps off the top to put him down again instead of climbing out.
Rating: D. This match sucked and the ending was exactly what people expected. These two had a match on SNME a month earlier and maybe Rude should have taken the title there to give it back to Warrior here. There was nothing of interest here and Warrior never seemed to be in any real danger due to Rude not going for a cover or trying to escape.
Ratings Comparison
Rockers vs. Power and Glory
Original: B-
Redo: C-
Texas Tornado vs. Mr. Perfect
Original: B
Redo: D+
Sapphire vs. Sensational Sherri
Original: N/A
Redo: N/A
Warlord vs. Tito Santana
Original: C+
Redo: D+
Hart Foundation vs. Demolition
Original: A+
Redo: B
Jake Roberts vs. Bad News Brown
Original: C-
Redo: D+
Nikolai Volkoff/Jim Duggan vs. Orient Express
Original: D+
Redo: N/A
Randy Savage vs. Dusty Rhodes
Original: N/A
Redo: N/A
Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake
Original: B+
Redo: B-
Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude
Original: C-
Redo: D
Overall Rating
Original: A+
Redo: C+
Nostalgia is a powerful drug.
http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2010/12/12/summerslam-1990/
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