Matthew Roberts takes a look at WWE Home Video’s latest release. WWE Summerslam Classics! A one-disc set with seven matches cannot possibly do full justice to a PPV/PLE that first hit our screens in 1988.
Anyone putting together a list under those parameters would likely come up with different selections. But whilst what is here is far from comprehensive, it does offer up some great entertainment and matches.
We kick off with the main event of the first ever Summerslam as the Mega Powers duo of Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan take on the mega-bucks of Ted DiBiase and Andre The Giant.
These days even with Special Guest Referee Jesse Ventura this would probably be a throwaway main event of Raw to tide us over to something else but back in the days of three or four PPVs a year and TV packed with squash matches, this was a genuinely big PPV main event. Prepare to be shocked by Miss Elizabeth’s actions, mind you.
Bret Hart is synonymous with Summerslam in the early 90s but thankfully for once it’s NOT the Wembley 1992 match showcased here, but his match from the previous year against Mr Perfect. The latter comes in with a bad back injury but fights through the pain to play his full part in a classic.
1996’s Boiler Room Brawl follows this. The concept is hurt ever-so-slightly by the decision to do without commentary for large parts of it but there is no denying the effort of both Mankind and the Undertaker. From there we flip to 2005 and the “Ladder Match for the custody of Dominik” between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. It’s not the absolute best match the two would ever have but it’s an entertaining one with the sort of over-the-top stipulation that only wrestling could bring you.
We round off with three John Cena matches; 2007’s bout with Randy Orton may be one of a thousand between the two but it’s a very good one nonetheless. 2014’s match with Brock Lesnar is little more than an extended squash in some respects, but it’s Cena so it is funny to see Lesnar destroy him. Things conclude with 2021’s Cena/Roman Reigns match which is much more competitive and is a good, though not great, match.
As said this DVD is far from a comprehensive look at Summerslam. It seems odd to have three Cena matches and everyone will have their own thoughts about what to cut. But on its own merits, it is a reasonable lineup of matches.
6 out of 10.
Photographs courtesy of Fetch and WWE. Thank you to WWE Home Video for our review copy of WWE Summerslam Classics which is out Monday 24 July on DVD. You can buy your copy from WWEDVD.co.uk by clicking here.