10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 1991 Facts
The real matches made in hell were the various headaches plaguing WWE at the time.
SummerSlam 1991 is a curious dichotomy. On the one hand, it's an immensely fun show where babyfaces reigned supreme to presumably blow off long-simmering rivalries. Additionally, fresh faces like Ric Flair and Sid Justice were waiting in the wings to give one of WWE's most star-studded rosters ever an incredible boost.
Conversely, WWE was in something of a quagmire. Drug-dispensing doctor George Zahorian was convicted on charges of illegal steroid distribution in July of 1991, which begat one of WWE's all-time public relations nightmares. Weeks after Zahorian was found guilty, WWE Champion Hulk Hogan went on The Arsenio Hall Show to address the steroid issue (particularly, his own involvement) and lied so transparently that he and WWE alike were marked with woeful black eyes. It was a crushing blow to the image of man who had been a Teflon-coated superhero for more than seven years.
As WWE dealt with that uncontained grease fire, The Ultimate Warrior made unambiguous demands regarding compensation and his work schedule, documenting such in a missive sent to Vince McMahon. What the boss ultimately decided to do plays into the lore of SummerSlam 1991.
As summer turned to fall, WWE found itself treading onto uncertain terrain, with plenty more dark days ahead.
Here are ten facts about SummerSlam 1991 you may not have known.
10. Ric Flair Had Not Officially Signed With WWE At The Time Of SummerSlam
Thanks to some genuine WCW stupidity, Ric Flair was fired from the company in July 1991 while still reigning as their champion. Because Flair possessed the physical belt, he was able to provide it as a prop to be seen on WWE programming, a prelude to his eventual arrival. Fans were bewildered when Bobby Heenan closed out an episode of WWE Challenge while holding the strap, making it clear that previously-unspoken-of Flair was targeting WWE Champion Hogan.
Despite the angle continuing at SummerSlam (where Heenan apparently confronted Hogan with the belt in hand), Flair had not officially signed with the company by that time. It wasn't much of a leap of faith for WWE to mention Flair on camera; it would have taken some serious groveling by Jim Herd and the WCW office to get Flair back after having incinerated those bridges. Flair finally put the pen to paper some time in the first week of September 1991, shortly before making his on-camera debut on Prime Time Wrestling.