10 Most Momentous WWE SummerSlam Title Changes In History
7. The Ultimate Warrior Wins The Intercontinental Championship (1988)
From one record-breaking reign beginning to one ending, as we travel back in time to the very first SummerSlam. The Honky Tonk Man was scheduled to defend his Intercontinental Championship against Brutus Beefcake, but Beefers had been taken out prior to the match.
These sorts of tactics were not uncommon during Honky's reign. Through a combination of dirty tricks and a big mouth, The Honky Tonk Man had held the Intercontinental Championship for a record-setting 434 days. However, it was that big mouth that sealed Honky's fate on this night when he grabbed a microphone and issued an open challenge for the belt. Seconds later, out came The Ultimate Warrior.
Warrior charged down and hit the ring so hard he flung poor Howard Finkel about 50 feet off the apron. Warrior then ran through a disoriented Honky before flattening him with The Ultimate Splash to win the championship in just thirty-one seconds.
Not only did the longest Intercontinental Championship reign of all time come to an end in this match, but it also gave SummerSlam its first marquee moment and signalled the rise of The Ultimate Warrior all the way to the top of the company.