10 Most Brutal SummerSlam Moments Of All Time
1. Owen Hart Breaks Steve Austin's Neck - 1997
Lesnar and Orton's moment ranks so highly on this list because it looked (and, to some degree, was) real - but nothing can top Steve Austin vs. Owen Hart in terms of very real brutality, fear, and confusion.
The SummerSlam 1997 encounter was built not only around the Intercontinental Championship, but also a 'kiss my ass' stipulation. Austin, WWF's budding badass hero, was obviously going over - but plans were jeopardised when Hart accidentally dropped Stone Cold on his head during a piledriver. Austin's neck legitimately broke, and the Texan was forced to display his legendary toughness in merely finishing the match.
A clumsy roll-up saw crisis averted - at least in terms of booking - but Austin was temporarily paralysed and shelved until Survivor Series. Sadly, he never truly made up with Owen Hart before the Canadian's tragic death in 1999.