Summerslam

Coming off one of the worst major PPVs in WWE history (King of the Ring '95), this edition of Summerslam only marginally improves in terms of overall quality. What it does offer, however, are a few glimpses of hope (however scant they may be) for the future.

The first five matches on this card are either terrible or embarrassing. Then Undertaker does a pretty standard Casket Match (that format had run dry) with Kama and Bret Hart has a surprisingly good match despite being paired with the dreadfully-gimmicked Isaac Yankem, DDS.

The best match on the card is easily the Shawn Michaels/Razor Ramon ladder rematch despite it being basically just a carbon copy of the original.

The "big finale" is Diesel vs. Mabel, and I legitimately feel bad for Kevin Nash. He had cultivated a pretty solid Diesel character with a lot of heat behind him, but there was such a limited stable to pair him with. Having Mabel in any main event is a sign of this.

So, very few things to get excited about on this card. What it does provide, however, are a few little hints at what would be to come. 1-2-3 Kid (later X-Pac) is honing his high-flying craft, Hunter Hearst Helmsley (later Triple H) makes his PPV debut, I believe, and the women's division is re-introduced (cringe-worthy here but would later turn into the Divas). These are the very early building blocks of the Attitude Era that would soon present itself.

As it stands at this exact point, however, the company is still fairly talent-bare and way too reliant on gimmicks that worked in the late-80s but not the mid-90s. Nobody cares about a tattooed oriental, a NASCAR-jacketed character (Bob Holly), a couple of cowboys (Smoking Guns), or a deranged dentist (Yankem). Unlike that fat was cut away, these cards would continue to look pretty poor.

At WrestleMania X in March 1994, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon put on one of the most impressive displays of athleticism in WWE history with their incredible ladder match. A year and a half later at SummerSlam 1995, the two fought in another epic ladder match -- and somehow managed to outdo their WrestleMania performance! HBK won the clash at SummerSlam '95. The main event at SummerSlam 1995 pitted WWE Champion Diesel against the 1995 King of the Ring, Mabel. In the end, "Big Daddy Cool" retained his title. Also at SummerSlam 1995, Triple H defeated Hardcore Holly!

Hakushi pinned 1-2-3 Kid Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Bob Holly The Smoking Gunns defeated Jacob & Eli Blu Barry Horowitz pinned Skip Bertha Faye defeated Alundra Blayze for the Women's Championship Undertaker defeated Kama in a Casket Match Bret Hart defeated Isaac Yankem by DQ Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Razor Ramon in a Ladder Match WWE Champion Diesel pinned Mabel

Overall Mark: A-

This was the best SummerSlam ever in my opinion. It had something for everyone.

The main event was the only match that was below average (Diesel faced King Mabel in a WWF Title match). The rest of the matches were fantastic.

The Undertaker put on a good show against Kama the Supreme Fighting Machine. It was one of the more memorable Undertaker matches. The 1-2-3 Kid faced the high flying Japanese superstar Hakushi in a match where the competitors moved faster than light. Bob Holly and Hunter Hearst Helmsley also put on a good match as did Skip and Barry Horowitz.

The highlight of SummerSlam '95 was the ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon. Ramon and Michaels had already fought in a ladder match before at WrestleMania X (and several ladder matches prior to WrestleMania X)and it was a dazzling match. This match however was just amazing. These guys really put their bodies on the line to entertain us. When I watched this in 1995 I though to myself how far the WWF superstars go to entertain us.

Worth buying for the ladder match alone!

Match 1: Hakushi vs 1-2-3 Kid

Good match, which was highlighted by an amazing dive of hakushi. (which is called a "Space Flying Tiger Drop" if i'm not mistaken) 7/10

Match 2: Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Bob Holly

The 2 Royal Rumble 2004 main eventers square off! Well, not that it was something special back in 1995. Boring match with an HHH that looks quite different from today's HHH. 5/10

Match 3: Smoking Gunns vs Blu Brothers

These 2 teams could not interest me for 1 minute. 3/10

Match 4: Barry Horowitz vs Skip

Pretty good wrestling, with some decent heat of the fans in the arena. 6/10

Match 5: Alundra Blayze vs Bertha Faye (Women's Title)

FAST FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!!! 1/10

Match 6: Undertaker vs Kama (Casket Match)

Some slow offence by both and a couple of nice casket spots. Runs a bit too long, but still is decent. 6/10

Match 7: Bret Hart vs Isaac Yankem DDS

Isaac today is more known as Kane. This match did nothing for me, even though Bret Hart is in it. (My fav wrestler of all-time) It's slow and sloppy. 4/10

match 8: Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon (IC Title/Ladder Match)

Off Course the rematch of their WM 10 classic, and again they don't dissapoint. Some sick spots during the match, and a good pace makes it one hell of a ladder match. Not as good as the WM match though, but still rockin. 9.5/10

match 9: Diesel vs Mabel (WWF Title)

Worst title match ever on PPV, nuff said! 2/10

Overall: Good ladder match, some decent wrestling (although never really interesting), and the rest is crap. Ladder match saves it for the most part, but not in a big way so it's 5.5/10

Not really a fan of Diesel or Mabel two slow moving wrestlers. So with this as the main event didn't expect to much. The main event doesn't deliver to much either. A fast start to the night with the 123 kid Hakushi good match .Early appearances by Hunter Hearst Helmsley v Bob Holly average match better working of the crowd than the ring & Isaac Yankem facing Bret Hart the match of the night in this slam . Triple H & Kane they would go on to be in later years . Undertaker v Kama in an ok match. Razor Ramon & Shawn Michaels in what is probably a very good match but following historical Wrestlemania 10 ladder match. One of my 10 ten matches of all time . It was never going to be that. Dean Douglas with a chalk board the worst of the night. But a better slam than I expected.