WWE In 1997 | Wrestling Timelines

SummerSlam 1997 is a hugely noteworthy show. 

It’s not necessarily great, at all, and it feels like a disaster at the time. The show however is an impressive commercial success. Drawing in excess of 20,000 fans to the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, the buy number - 235,000 - is the best since WrestleMania 12. WCW is still the runaway #1 in the Nielsens, but this is a sign that the comeback is on. 

The show is headlined by Bret Hart’s WWF title win over the Undertaker. It’s a landmark match; while Shawn Michaels is not the first wrestler to play the Special Guest referee, he is the first to interject and become the third wrestler in the ring. Vince can’t resist the urge to book Shawn and Bret in the same storyline. He expects both men to remain professional and follow his instructions. We’re too far past that. 

In the sensational pre-match video package, the WWF formalises the concept of tweeners. As exciting as this is, it doesn’t last. The lines sharpen again, dulling the effectiveness of Bret Hart. 

The fraught Bret and Shawn interactions are the highlight of a lengthy, absorbing match. The device is contrived - far more forced than the organic genius of the Submissions match - but the ends justify the means. The finish to Bret Vs. ‘Taker is incredible. Bret flies into Shawn after a failed ring post Sharpshooter attempt - the endgame of his methodical submission strategy. Even Bret’s genius has failed him. So he grabs a steel chair and blasts ‘Taker in the head. A recovering Shawn, understandably, takes too long. When ‘Taker kicks out, an infuriated Bret spits in Shawn’s face. He can even execute this perfectly. Shawn rears back, extracting the maximum tension and registering the maximum impact, and smashes ‘Taker with the chair. Shawn counts reluctantly, the spit still dangling from his face. Bret is the new champion. It’s the best wrong finish in history; Shawn is about to scoop Bret’s heat, and Bret holding the title becomes an unsolvable puzzle. 

Steve Austin dethrones Intercontinental champion Owen Hart in the semi-main. That he manages to do this is nothing short of a triumph of the human spirit. After a strong effort that is a bit too wrestling-heavy in the context of the story and Austin’s character, Stone Cold is rendered unable to move as a result of Owen’s botched seated piledriver. Per the stipulation, he’ll have to kiss Owen’s ass if he fails to execute the worst roll-up in recorded history. Austin is so protective of his character and so driven to succeed that he no-sells paralysis. 

Thought to be the end of Austin’s career as a wrestler, in the most bizarre way possible, it’s the beginning of his career as a megastar. Necessity is the mother of invention. It’s a narrative big bang; Austin can’t do anything physical, but the WWF finds ways of getting him over on TV.