10 Absolute Worst Matches In WWE SummerSlam History
7. Jerry Lawler Vs Jake Roberts (SummerSlam 1996)
An ugly storyline made even worse by the fact it was playing out in real life, Jerry Lawler's abuse of Jake Roberts' alcoholism wouldn't have made fertile content for their SummerSlam 1996 match even if it wasn't true.
'The King's delivery was typically sublime, but gallows humour at the expense of supposedly recovering addict Roberts required 'The Snake' to be on board with the angle and not trapped in the near-fatal grip of his disease. A 1996 return to the company came with a series of promos explaining his renewed relationship with God as a way to help him cope with his past sins. By SummerSlam he had slipped. Heel Lawler pointing that out (as well as forcing actual alcohol down his throat) as part of this clumsy, clunky clusterf*ck was - at it's low bar best - pitiful WWE comedy in the middle of the company's second biggest event of the year.
A nothing match went the way of the bully heel - such is life in the company - to facilitate Mark Henry's introduction into storylines as the one to finally shut Lawler up. Roberts was literally covered in alcohol by the time the 'World's Strongest Man' stepped in.