SummerSlam (1993)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=SummerSlam (1993)


tagline=Fat Chance!"
"Somebody Has to Stop Him!
promotion=World Wrestling Federation
date=August 30 1993
venue=The Palace of Auburn Hills
city=Auburn Hills, Michigan
attendance=23,954
lastevent=King of the Ring (1993)
nextevent=Survivor Series (1993)
event=SummerSlam
lastevent2=SummerSlam (1992)
nextevent2=SummerSlam (1994)

SummerSlam (1993) was the sixth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on August 30 1993 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan.cite book |last=Feigenbaum|first=Aaron| coauthors=Kevin Kelly, Seth Mates, Brian Solomon, Phil Speer|title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|pages=pp. 86]

All three championships were defended at SummerSlam. The Steiner Brothers defended the WWF Tag Team Championship against The Heavenly Bodies, and Shawn Michaels defended the Intercontinental Championship against Mr. Perfect. The main event saw Lex Luger challenge Yokozuna for the WWF Championship. In addition to the title matches, Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler were scheduled to wrestle to settle their feud and determine who would be named "Undisputed King of the World Wrestling Federation."citeweb|title=World Wrestling Federation 1993|work=Softwolves|url= http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wwf/1993|accessdate=2007-10-04]

Background

Two of the matches at SummerSlam 1993 were a result of Razor Ramon's loss to The Kid (later the 1-2-3 Kid) on the May 17 1993 edition of "RAW".citeweb|title=Wrestler Profiles: Scott Hall|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/scott-hall.html| accessdate=2007-09-25] Following Ramon's loss to the newcomer, Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster) teased Ramon about the match. DiBiase offered Ramon a job as a servant, which Ramon angrily refused. [citeweb|title=Perfect Perception 3/10/03|work=The Outside Influence|url= http://theoutsideinfluence.tripod.com/perfect31103.htm|accessdate=2007-09-29] [citeweb|title=SummerSlam 1993|work= The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/sslam93review.htm|accessdate=2007-10-03] Ramon began teaming with the 1-2-3 Kid for a series of matches against Money Inc. DiBiase asked for a singles match against the Kid, and the Kid accepted the challenge. Ramon helped the Kid win the match by distracting DiBiase.cite web| title=The Write Off: WWF SummerSlam 1993|work=Pulse Wrestling|url= http://wrestling.insidepulse.com/2005/02/15/32152/|accessdate=2007-09-29] It was decided that the feuds would be settled in two singles matches at SummerSlam, with Ramon facing DiBiase and Schyster facing the 1-2-3 Kid.

The match between the Steiner Brothers and The Heavenly Bodies received little buildup. The Bodies were a successful tag team in Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling, and an interpromotional agreement allowed them to challenge for the WWF Tag Team Championship. [citeweb|title=A Look Back at Smoky Mountain Wrestling|work=Wrestling Observer|url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=9168| accessdate=2007-09-29]

The rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Mr. Perfect began at WrestleMania IX. During a fight after the match between Lex Luger and Mr. Perfect, Shawn Michaels appeared and attacked Perfect. [cite web|title=WrestleMania 9 |work=WrestleMania-Fans|url=http://wrestlemania-fans.com/wrestlemaniaIX/|accessdate=2007-09-29] Mr. Perfect gained revenge by distracting Michaels at the May 17 1993 edition of "RAW", allowing Marty Jannetty to pin Michaels and win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. [cite web|title=WWWF/WWF/WWE Intercontinental Title History|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/ic_belt.htm| accessdate=2007-09-29] Michaels regained the belt the following month with the help of his new bodyguard, Diesel.cite web|title=The Career of Shawn Michaels, Part 1|work=Power Slam|url= http://www.geocities.com/jfjwrestling/shawn/shawn.htm|accessdate= 2007-09-25]

Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler had a heated feud, stemming from Lawler interrupting Hart's victory ceremony at the 1993 King of the Ring tournament. Lawler insisted that he was the true king of the WWF and attacked Hart. [cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Bret Hart|work=Online World of Wrestling|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/bret-hart.html|accessdate=2007-09-25] The feud intensified as Lawler taunted and attacked Bret's family, including his parents. [cite web|title=SLAM! Sports: Jerry Lawler|work=SLAM! Sports| url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/lawler.html|accessdate=2007-09-29]

Marty Jannetty was originally supposed to face Rick Martel, but Ludvig Borga replaced Martel well before the match.cite web|title=World Wrestling Entertainment Substitutions|work=Softwolves|url= http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wwf/substitutions|accessdate=2007-09-26] The match received little buildup, although Borga appeared in several vignettes leading up to the match. He criticized the United States for such reasons as its pollution. [cite book|last=Reynolds|first=R.D.|coauthors=Randy Baer|title= Wrestlecr
pages=pp. 162] Jannetty vowed to defend America's pride in his match against Borga.

The buildup for the match between Giant Gonzalez and The Undertaker began in the fall of 1992. Manager Harvey Wippleman was feuding with the Undertaker, and he vowed revenge after the Undertaker defeated his wrestler, Kamala, in a Coffin match at Survivor Series 1992. [cite web|title= Wrestler Profiles: Kamala|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kamala.html| accessdate=2007-09-26] He introduced Gonzalez to the WWF at Royal Rumble 1993, with Gonzalez attacking and eliminating the Undertaker.cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: The Undertaker|work= Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/u/undertaker.html|accessdate=2007-09-26] [cite web|title=Royal Rumble 1993|work=World Wrestling Entertainment|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/19881161/mainevent/|accessdate=2007-10-04] Gonzalez and the Undertaker wrestled at WrestleMania IX, and Gonzalez knocked the Undertaker unconscious with a chloroform-soaked rag. The feud intensified when Wippleman, Gonzalez and Mr. Hughes attacked the Undertaker and his manager, Paul Bearer. They stole the urn, the supposed source of the Undertaker's strength, and used it to assault Paul Bearer, who was not seen again until SummerSlam. [citeweb|title=The Undertaker|work=The Wrestling Utopia|url=http://www.angelfire.com/oh/nykk/under.html|accessdate=2007-09-30] The feud came to a head at SummerSlam in a Rest In Peace match.cite book|last=Feigenbaum|first=Aaron|coauthors=Kevin Kelly, Seth Mates, Brian Solomon, Phil Speer|title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|pages=pp. 85 ]

The six-man match at SummerSlam was originally supposed to be a mixed tag-team match between the team of Tatanka and Sherri Martel and the team of Bam Bam Bigelow and Luna Vachon. Sherri left the WWF in July 1993, however, forcing the WWF to change the match. Two reasons have been given for Sherri's departure: her decision to enroll in cosmetology school and failed drug tests. [cite web|title=Biography|work=SensationalSherri.com|url= http://www.sensationalsherri.com/biography.html|accessdate=2007-09-26] [cite web|title=New Details about Sherri Martel's Death|work=Wrestling Epicenter|url= http://www.wrestlingepicenter.com/articles/185185918.shtml|accessdate=2007-10-04] As a result, Tatanka teamed with The Smokin' Gunns and Bigelow teamed with The Headshrinkers. The Gunns and Headshrinkers were rivals in the tag team division but had no real storyline. Bigelow and Tatanka were in the midst of a major feud, as Bigelow had attacked Tatanka and cut the hair that Tatanka dyed red as a tribute to his Lumbee heritage. [citeweb|title=Bio/Stats|work=Native Son Tatanka|url= http://www.nativetatanka.com/bio2.html|accessdate=2007-09-26] [cite web|title=Superstars 5-1-93|work= The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/superstars5-1-93review.htm|accessdate=2007-10-04]

The WWF Championship match was originally supposed to see Hulk Hogan lose the title to Bret Hart. Hogan reportedly refused, however, and was forced to lose the belt to Yokozuna at King of the Ring 1993 instead. Lex Luger's rivalry with Yokozuna began on July 4 at the Yokozuna Bodyslam Challenge on the deck of the USS Intrepid. After several wrestlers and other athletes attempted to body slam Yokozuna, [cite web|title=Other WWE Supercards|work=Wrestling Information Archive| url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwfmisc.htm|accessdate=2007-09-26] Lex Luger arrived in a helicopter. He was able to body slam Yokozuna, which led to a title shot at SummerSlam.cite web|title= Wrestler Profiles: Lex Luger|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/l/lex-luger.html|accessdate=2007-09-26] To build support for Luger, the WWF had him ride across the country in a bus named the "Lex Express".cite book|last=Feigenbaum|first=Aaron|coauthors=Kevin Kelly, Seth Mates, Brian Solomon, Phil Speer|title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|pages=pp. 77] Yokozuna's spokesperson, Jim Cornette, agreed to the match, but he made Lex Luger agree to two conditions. Luger would not receive a rematch if he lost, and he had to wear protective padding over the steel plate in his forearm.cite web|title=August 1993|url=http://www.ndg.lv/lapa/wrestling/WWF%2085-1999/au93.htm|accessdate= 2007-09-27]

Event

The pay-per-view took place in front of a crowd of 23,954 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Vince McMahon and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan were the announcers for the event. Howard Finkel served as ring announcer, [cite web| title=WWF SummerSlam 93|work=Hoffco, Inc.|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/sum93.html|accessdate=2007-09-29] and backstage interviews were conducted by Joe Fowler and Todd Pettengill, as well as "Mean" Gene Okerlund, who was making his final pay-per-view appearance before leaving for World Championship Wrestling. [cite web|title=Announcer Profiles: "Mean" Gene Okerlund|work=Online World of Wrestling|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/mean-gene.html|accessdate=2007-09-29]

Before the event aired on PPV, "The Rocket" Owen Hart defeated longtime jobber Barry Horowitz in a dark match.cite book|last=Feigenbaum| first=Aaron|coauthors=Kevin Kelly, Seth Mates, Brian Solomon, Phil Speer|title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|pages=pp. 73]

The first televised match was Razor Ramon versus Ted DiBiase. DiBiase got off to a quick start by attacking Ramon before the match began.cite web|last=Gutschmidt|first=Adam|title=WWF SummerSlam 1993 Re-Revued|work=Online Onslaught|url=http://www.oowrestling.com/columns/ooldtyme/20040630.shtml|accessdate=2007-09-29] Ramon quickly turned the match around with several clotheslines. DiBiase regained control before untying a turnbuckle cover. Ramon won the match after ramming DiBiase's head into the exposed turnbuckle and using the Razor's Edge to get the pin.cite web| title=WWF SummerSlam 1993|work=p.w.w. Everything Wrestling|url= http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/august/1993.htm|accessdate=2007-09-27]

The Steiner Brothers were the audience favorites in the WWF Tag Team Championship match, as they were defending the belts in their hometown. Before the match began, The Heavenly Bodies attacked them. When the match began, the Bodies executed several double-team maneuvers on Rick Steiner. Scott tagged in and took control of the match.cite web|title=Nickrj’s Rant for Summerslam 1993|Nick Johnson's Homepage|url= http://nickrj0.tripod.com/Rants/summer1993.htm|accessdate=2007-09-27] The Bodies soon regained the advantage, and Jim Cornette got involved by hitting Scott in the throat with a tennis racket. Rick tagged back in and hit several Steiner-Lines before Prichard attacked him with Cornette's tennis racket. Del Ray accidentally hit Prichard with a moonsault, however, allowing Scott to hit a Frankensteiner and Rick to get the pin.

The match between Shawn Michaels and Mr. Perfect began with a series of wrestling holds. The match remained primarily technical until Diesel distracted Perfect, allowing Michaels to superkick him in the face. Michaels worked on Perfect's injured back until Perfect took control of the match. After a series of attacks on Michaels, Perfect used the Perfect Plex. Diesel pulled him out of the ring and threw him into the steel ring steps, however, allowing Michaels to win by countout.cite web|title=WWE PPV Wrestling Results: SummerSlam 1993|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/summerslam93.html|accessdate= 2007-09-29]

Irwin R. Schyster remained in control for the majority of his match against the 1-2-3 Kid. Although the Kid hit several kicks, Schyster regained control every time. Schyster used his usual abdominal stretch while using the ring ropes for leverage before the Kid made a brief comeback by hitting a moonsault. Schyster hit a Write Off, however, and got the pin.

Bret Hart came to the ring for his match with Jerry Lawler. Lawler, however, appeared on crutches and claimed that he had been injured in a car accident. He announced that his court jester, Doink the Clown (portrayed by Matt Osborne), would wrestle Hart in his place. Doink threw a bucket of water on Bret's brother, Bruce Hart, prompting Bret to attack Doink outside of the ring. The match consisted of angry brawling until Doink slowed the pace with a couple of submission holds. After Doink missed a Whoopie Cushion attempt, Bret took full control of the match and made Doink submit to the Sharpshooter. Lawler then attacked Bret with a crutch, revealing that he was not injured. WWF President Jack Tunney came to the ring and had Howard Finkel announce that Lawler would be given a lifetime ban if he refused to compete in the scheduled match. The match between Lawler and Hart consisted almost exclusively of brawling. The two attacked each other with a milk pail and crutches and traded punches and kicks. Bret used Lawler's signature move, the piledriver, before putting him in the Sharpshooter. Lawler submitted, but Bret refused to release him for three and a half minutes. The referee then reversed his decision and gave the victory and title of "Undisputed King of the World Wrestling Federation" to Lawler.

Ludvig Borga dominated the majority of a squash match against Marty Jannetty. He attacked Jannetty immediately with a series of punches and knees. Jannetty managed a couple of brief comebacks but was unable to mount a serious offense. Borga used his strength to control the match and won the match by submission with a backbreaker.

Harvey Wippleman was at ringside with the urn as the Undertaker faced Giant Gonzalez. [citeweb|title=Wrestler Profiles: Giant Gonzales|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/giant-gonzales.html|accessdate=2007-10-03] The two wrestlers brawled, using the ring steps and steel chairs. Halfway through the match, Paul Bearer appeared, carrying a black wreath. He attacked Wippleman and took back the urn. [citeweb|title=Summer Slam|work=The History of WWE|url= http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/sslam.htm| accessdate=2007-09-30] The Undertaker quickly took control of the match, attacking Gonzalez with a flying clothesline to win by pinfall. After the match, Gonzalez turned on Wippleman and attacked him with a chokeslam.

The next match on the card was the Six-Man tag team match. The Headshrinkers' manager Afa interfered by attacking Billy Gunn outside the ring. At one point, Tatanka looked like he was gaining control, as he began his usual war dance. Bigelow kicked him in the back of the head, however, to end his momentum. Near the end of the match, Bigelow and the Headshrinkers each climbed the turnbuckles to attempt simultaneous diving headbutts, but Tatanka rolled out of the way. Tatanka seized the opportunity and pinned Samu for the win.

Before the main event, Kiotika Suzuki sang the Japanese national anthem. Akio Sato, formerly a member of The Orient Express, was the flag bearer for Yokozuna. Randy Savage then introduced Aaron Neville, who sang the American anthem.cite book|last=Feigenbaum|first=Aaron|coauthors=Kevin Kelly, Seth Mates, Brian Solomon, Phil Speer| title=The Ultimate World Wrestling Entertainment Trivia Book|pages=pp. 76]

The main event began with a stare down. Luger gained the early advantage and managed to knock Yokozuna down by kicking the ring ropes into Yokozuna's groin. Luger tried to bodyslam Yokozuna, but the sumo wrestler's weight was too much. Yokozuna knocked him out of the ring and choked him. Yokozuna had his manager, Mr. Fuji, throw him a salt bucket, which he used to attack Luger. Yokozuna wore Luger down, and after a brief comeback by the all-American, hit a leg drop on Luger and pulled him to the corner for a Banzai Drop. After Yokozuna missed,cite web|title=Lex Luger vs. Yokozuna w/Mr. Fuji for the WWE Championship|work=World Wrestling Entertainment|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/1993/mainevent/|accessdate=2007-10-03] Luger succeeded in bodyslamming Yokozuna, and he attacked Mr. Fuji when the manager tried to get involved. Luger knocked Yokozuna out of the ring with a forearm smash, and followed this up by attacking Jim Cornette. Yokozuna was counted out, but he retained the title because championships change hands only by pinfall or submission. [citeweb|title=Diary of a "Hitman": The Story of Bret Hart|work=Solie's Vintage Wrestling|url= http://www.solie.org/articles/hitman.html|accessdate=2007-09-29] Several faces came to the ring to celebrate with Luger as red, white and blue balloons fell from the ceiling to celebrate the victory.

Aftermath

The SummerSlam match was DiBiase's final appearance as a WWF wrestler. He injured his neck and back in early 1994 and was forced to retire from wrestling. [cite web|title=SLAM! Sports: Ted DiBiase|work=SLAM! Sports|url= http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/dibiase.html|accessdate=2007-09-28] Meanwhile, Ramon received a push in Fall 1993 that led to the first of four Intercontinental championships.

The Heavenly Bodies did not become serious contenders to the tag team title, and the Steiners soon began a feud with The Quebecers, a new team in the WWF. [cite web|title=Tag Team Profiles: The Quebecers|work=Online World of Wrestling|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/q/quebecers.html|accessdate=2007-09-28]

Shawn Michaels was suspended in late 1993 and forced to vacate the Intercontinental championship, [cite web|title= Wrestler Profiles: Shawn Michaels|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shawn-michaels.html|accessdate=2007-09-26] while Mr. Perfect began a feud with Diesel. [cite web|title=Mr. Perfect's WWF Biography|work=Mr. Perfect Tribute Page|url=http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/7692/bio.html|accessdate=2007-09-28] The WWF planned to have Perfect and Diesel face each other as part of an elimination match at Survivor Series 1993, but Mr. Perfect was replaced by Randy Savage at the last minute. [cite web|title=WWF Survivor Series 1993|work=p.w.w. Everything Wrestling|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/november/1993.htm|accessdate=2007-10-05] Mr. Perfect would not wrestle another pay per view match for the company until Royal Rumble 2002. [cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Curt Hennig|work=Online World of Wrestling|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/c/curt-hennig.html|accessdate=2007-10-05]

The match between Hart and Doink was significant for a couple of reasons. It marked Doink's final match as a heel, as he turned on Jerry Lawler shortly after the match.cite web|title= 1993|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/93.htm|accessdate=2007-09-29] In addition, Matt Osborne, who had portrayed Doink since the character's creation, was fired that fall because of drug problems. [cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|title=Borne no longer a Maniac or Clown|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|url= http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosB/borne_01apr-can.html|accessdate=2007-09-29]

The feud between Jerry Lawler and Bret Hart remained unsettled and led to several storylines over the next two years. The final pay per view event featuring this feud was SummerSlam 1995, which saw Hart beat Lawler's "dentist" Isaac Yankem, D.D.S. [cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Kane|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kane.html|accessdate=2007-09-29]

Borga received a main event push after his SummerSlam match. After the event, he confronted Luger in the locker room. [cite web|title=WWF Raw 1993|work=K & D's Matchlists|url=http://kandd.shootangle.com/raw93.html|accessdate=2007-09-27] This began a feud that led to a match between the All-Americans and Foreign Fanatics at Survivor Series 1993. [cite web|title=Survivor Series History: 1993|work=World Wrestling Entertainment|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1993/|accessdate=2007-09-29]

Luger continued to work as a main event wrestler, although he never won the WWF Championship. He competed in another match with Yokozuna at WrestleMania X after winning the 1994 Royal Rumble but was again unsuccessful in taking the belt from Yokozuna. [cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: Lex Luger|work=Online World of Wrestling|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/l/lex-luger.html|accessdate=2007-09-29]

Results

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/1993/ Official 1993 SummerSlam site]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/summerslam93.html Results at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/sum93.html SummerSlam '93 review]