10 Incredible Last Minute PPV Changes You Never Saw Coming
7. Texas Tornado (SummerSlam 1990)
Another SummerSlam beneficiary of Brutus Beefcake's misery, Kerry Von Erich kicked off the last three years of his career and life in grand fashion, dethroning Intercontinental Champion Mr Perfect in electric fashion as the August supershow.
Von Erich had debuted just weeks earlier on television, but was shunted into the contest with virtually no notice at the arrogant behest of champion Mr Perfect. Hennig's arrogance was glorious, but immediately misplaced.
Living up to his heavily pushed 'Texas Tornado' moniker, Kerry blew through the Champion, taking full advantage of the opportunity to hand Perfect only his second ever pay-per-view defeat and score his one and only WWE title.
Hindsight presented the arc as Perfect's tale. He'd been ultra-cocky about Tornado's position as a stand-in before the contest and incandescent with rage afterwards. Blown up and blown out in the post-match diatribe, Hennig and manager Bobby Heenan expressed fury previously in short supply before the short sharp shock.
The contest was a perfect launchpad for Von Erich, but his lingering personal problems were already starting to emerge. By December, he'd have returned the strap to Perfect and wouldn't even be afforded a storyline issue between then and his 1992 exit.