One MIND-BLOWING Secret From EVERY Month Of The WWE Attitude Era

SummerSlam 1998 was another monster success for the rampant WWF, drawing a staggering 655,000 buys on PPV - an amazing number for what wasn’t a WrestleMania show. 

Possibly the most iconic show under the banner, the ‘Highway To Hell’ marketing was electrifying and unforgettable. While the Steve Austin Vs. Undertaker main event was a massive disappointment rendered a mess by Austin getting knocked loopy, fans of the day barely registered match quality. Also, the Triple H Vs. The Rock Intercontinental title ladder match was so effective that the Rock became bonafide competition to the enormous Steve Austin overnight. The undercard, while not consistently great, was a huge improvement on the deathly dull 1998 standard. It almost looked slightly different. 

According to the August 3 Observer, D’Lo Brown was originally scheduled to defend his European title against X-Pac, which would have deprived fans of the cracking bit of business that was the X-Pac Vs. Jeff Jarrett Hair Vs. Hair match. Actual opponent Val Venis would have been occupied in a six-man tag, teaming with Taka Michinoku and Bradshaw against Kaientai. As bad as Kaientai’s handicap tag match against the woeful Oddities was, the original match wouldn’t have been that much better. 

Edge wasn’t going to partner Sable against Marc Mero and Jacqueline. That spot was reserved for Butterbean, since the WWF had an outstanding, paid-for date on him that was eventually picked up at WrestleMania 15. 

Also planned was a ‘New York Street Fight’ between the Legion of Doom and the Disciples of Apocalypse. That dynamic needed weapons and shortcuts perhaps more than any match of the era.