Every WWE SummerSlam Triple Threat Match Ranked - From Worst To Best

The first triple threat match in the history of SummerSlam, there are all sorts of rumours as to why this match came about.

Triple H may have been in line to win the WWF Championship but Austin felt that he wasn't quite over enough/ready yet to pick up the win at the second biggest show of the year. Mankind was added to the match to make it a triple threat and, just to make things a little more confusing, Jesse Ventura was the special guest referee.

Part of me thinks we can forget the story of Austin's worries regarding Hunter's popularity, as Helmsley won the title the very next night on RAW. The real reason Mankind may have ended the night as champion was Ventura's presence as referee, as you can't have the Governor raising the hand of a bad guy to end the night, can you?

The match itself is a lot of fun, despite Mankind being relatively rusty (his knees were shot at this point) and Austin's physical state not being the greatest, either. Foley mentioned in his book that he was surprised to win the title but not surprised to lose it the next night, and that sums up his victory really.

The real standout performer here, as strange as it sounds, is Ventura. He plays the guest ref role to perfection, being strict without being domineering. The match is an entertaining brawl, as Triple H continues to be solidified as a top heel in the company.

Even so, it is a more a comment on how forgettable SummerSlam triple threats have been that this ranks so high.