SummerSlam (1988)

SummerSlam 1988 was the first annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event from the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on August 29, 1988 in Madison Square Garden located in New York City, New York. The tagline was "Where the Mega-Powers Meet the Mega-Bucks".

[edit] Results

The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid) fought The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacque and Raymond) to a time limit draw (20:00)
Bad News Brown defeated Ken Patera (6:33)
- Brown pinned Patera after a Ghetto Blaster.
Rick Rude defeated The Junkyard Dog by disqualification (6:18)
- JYDog was disqualified after Jake Roberts came down to the ring and attacked Rude.
The Powers of Pain (The Barbarian and The Warlord) (w/The Baron) defeated The Bolsheviks (Boris Zhukov and Nikolai Volkoff) (w/Slick) (5:27)
- Barbarian pinned Zhukov after a flying headbutt.
Brother Love Show with guest Jim Duggan
The Ultimate Warrior defeated The Honky Tonk Man (w/Jimmy Hart) to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship (0:31)
- Warrior pinned the Honky Tonk Man after a Warrior Splash.
Dino Bravo (w/Frenchy Martin) defeated Don Muraco (5:28)
- Bravo pinned Muraco after Muraco was distracted by Frenchy holding up a sign.

Hulk Hogan discussing the rules with guest referee Jesse Ventura while André the Giant waits on the other side of the ring

Demolition (Ax and Smash) (w/Mr Fuji and Jimmy Hart) defeated The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship (9:49)
- Smash pinned Bret after Ax hit him with Jimmy Hart's megaphone.
The Big Boss Man (w/Slick) defeated Koko B. Ware (5:57)
- Boss Man pinned Ware after a Boss Man Slam.
Jake Roberts defeated Hercules (10:06)
- Roberts pinned Hercules after a DDT.
The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage) (w/Miss Elizabeth) defeated The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase and André the Giant) (w/Bobby Heenan and Virgil) (w/Jesse Ventura as Special Guest referee) (13:57)
- Savage pinned DiBiase after Savage did a Flying Elbow Drop and Hogan did a leg drop.
- Late in the match, Miss Elizabeth ripped her skirt off to distract the referee and the Mega Bucks, allowing the Mega Powers time to regroup.

Promotional poster of SummerSlam 1988

Brutus Beefcake was originally supposed to be the challenger for the Intercontinental Championship. He was attacked and had his head cut open by Ron Bass's spur after a match on "WWF Superstars of Wrestling." This development came after boxes for the Coliseum Video VHS release were printed, on which Brutus appears as the named challenger to The Honky Tonk Man. A corrective sticker, declaring The Ultimate Warrior as challenger, was placed over Brutus' name.
Jesse "The Body" Ventura served as guest referee for the main event, with "Superstar" Billy Graham replacing him as color commentator alongside Gorilla Monsoon.
The Show also featured an interview with boxer Sugar Ray Leonard on his upcoming fight with Don Lalonde. The fight was promoted by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc, then known as Titan Sports.