10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 1991 Facts
8. It Was The First IC Title Change To Occur Via Submission
Bret Hart has certainly crafted some unique match endings in his wrestling-wired brain, and the finish to his Intercontinental title win over Mr. Perfect ranks among the more inventive. With Hart writhing on the canvas, Perfect took to dropping his boot across Hart's abdomen in something of a spread-eagle leg-drop. Hart sees one legdrop coming, catches the foot, and grapevines Perfect's legs before flipping him into the Sharpshooter for the win.
Hart's win marked the 18th time in 12 years that the Intercontinental belt changed hands inside the ring, and it was the first time ever by submission. In that era, it was quite rare for a top-shelf talent to submit on WWE programming, making Hart's victory in that fashion even more special.
The next time that the IC belt changed hands via a submission hold was in early 1992, when The Mountie passed out in Roddy Piper's sleeper at the Royal Rumble. It wouldn't be until 1998 that a wrestler would physically indicate surrender in an IC title change, when X-Pac tapped to Ken Shamrock's ankle lock in a tournament final for the belt.