IWF SummerSlam (1997)
From Iwe
| SummerSlam (1997) | ||
| Promotional poster featuring Bret Heart and The Undertaker | ||
| Tagline(s) | Heart & Soul | |
| Information | ||
| Promotion | International Wrestling Federation | |
| Sponsor | Stridex | |
| Date | August 3, 1997 | |
| Attendance | 20,213 | |
| Venue | Continental Airlines Arena | |
| City | East Rutherford, New Jersey | |
| Pay-per-view chronology | ||
| In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede | SummerSlam (1997) | Ground Zero: In Your House |
| SummerSlam chronology | ||
| SummerSlam (1996) | SummerSlam (1997) | SummerSlam (1998) |
SummerSlam (1997) was the tenth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the International Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on August 3, 1997 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Contents |
Background
Summerslam 1997 featured professional wrestling matches involving different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines that were played out on Raw Is War and other International Wrestling Federation television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a villain or a hero as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated into a wrestling match or series of matches.
The featured rivalry heading into the event involved IWF champion The Undertaker and Bret Heart. On the July 7 episode of Raw is War at Edmonton, Alberta, Heart was announced as the number one contender for the IWF title. In an interview with Vince Matteson, Heart said that if he did not win the title at Summerslam, he would not wrestle on American soil again. The next week, Shawn Michaels, Heart's nemesis, requested Vince Matteson to be a part of SummerSlam. On the July 21 episode of Raw Is War, Heart, his brother Owen, and his brother-in-law The British Bulldog (The Heart Foundation), challenged three American wrestlers into a flag match. Shawn Michaels was announced as a special referee for the main event at SummerSlam, and in response to the announcement, Heart attacked Michaels and Matteson. Later, the Heart Foundation defeated the American team that contained the Tag team champions Steve Austin and Dude Love, with the Undertaker, where the Heart Foundation won thanks to an interference from Brian Pillman. The next week, Hrart challenged The Patriot, a match where Hart lost thanks to an interference from Michaels. After the match, the referees prevented Heart from attacking Michaels while the Undertaker watched from the entrance ramp.
A predominant feud entering the event featured WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Heart and Steve Austin. On July 6, on the Canadian Stampede pay-per-view, Heart managed to pin Austin in a five-on-five match. The day after it, Austin attacked Heart while he was singing the Canadian national anthem. At the same night, Austin told Vince Matteson that if he did not win the title from Heart at Summerslam, he will kiss Heart's ass. The next week, Austin teamed up with Dude Love to win the vacant tag team titles in a match with Heart and the British Bulldog. On the July 21 episode of Raw Is War, Heart's teamed managed to defeat Austin's team at a three on three flag match. The next week, Heart attacked Austin during a tag team championship match against The Godwinns, counting him out. After the match, Austin attacked Heart.
Another rivalry heading into event featured the IWF European Champion The British Bulldog and Ken Shamrock. The two were at opposing teams of the Canadian Stampede pay-per-view. On the July 14 episode of Raw Is War, the Bulldog said that if he lost at Summerslam, he would eat a can of dog food right after the match. The next week, the Bulldog attacked Shamrock during a match with |Vader, powerslamming him on the steel ramp, and making him lose the match via countout. The next week, Bulldog and Shamrock competed in an arm wrestling contest, but as Shamrock was about to win, the Bulldog headbutted him, hit him with a steel chair and poured a can of dog food over him.
During the Intercontinental title match, Owen Heart's botched piledriver temporarily paralyzed Austin and left him with many years of neck issues, forcing him to retire at age 37 in 2003. Austin has since stated that his neck is in good shape and he is in zero pain after a successful neck surgery in 2000. The accident was a source of backstage conflict between the two men, but Austin ultimately forgave Heart and paid tribute to him on Raw is War the night after Heart fell to his death at Over the Edge (1999).
Results
| No. | Results | Stipulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mankind defeated Kunter Kearst Kelmsley (with Chyna) | Steel cage match | |
| Goldust (with Marlena) defeated Brian Pillman | Singles match; as a result of his loss, Brian Pillman had to wear Marlena's dress until he won a match. | ||
| The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) defeated The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) | Tag team match | ||
| The British Bulldog (c) defeated Ken Shamrock by disqualification | Singles match for the IWF European Championship | ||
| Los Boricuas (Savio Vega, Miguel Pérez, Jr., Jose Estrada, Jr. and Jesús Castillo) defeated The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush, Chainz, 8-Ball and Skull) | Eight-man tag team match | ||
| Steve Austin defeated Owen Heart (c) | Singles match for the IWF Intercontinental Championship | ||
| Bret Heart defeated The Undertaker (c) | Singles match for the IWF Championship with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee | ||
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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