It’s time to “Feel the Heat” with the sophomore edition of WWE’s “biggest party of the summer.” The summer of 1989 was all about the feud between Hulk Hogan and “The Human Wrecking Machine” Zeus, aka Tiny Lister, aka Debo, which was used as a vehicle to promote Hogan’s first theatrical starrer, No Holds Barred.
“Macho Man” Randy Savage was still sour over losing the WWE Title to Hogan at WrestleMania 5, aligned with the seemingly indestructible Zeus to finally destroy Hulkamania. Not to fear, the Hulkster has backup in the form of everyone’s favorite barber, Brutus Beefcake.
The broadcast opened with a shot of a red-hot New Jersey crowd inside Meadowlands Arena. Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Tony Schiavone welcome everyone to the show. Ventura’s mad at Schiavone for getting Bobby Heenan run off the air.
Schiavone remained professional and excitedly proclaimed it was time to “Feel the heat,” with a video montage of summertime activities and WWE superstars hitting their finishing maneuvers to the nostalgic sound of the old-school SummerSlam theme song. Jim Johnson
Do you like driving your red Corvette with the top down? How about a Brainbuster (spiked piledriver) instead? Speaking of Brain Busters…
-Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard) w/ Bobby Heenan vs. The Hart Foundation “Bret “Hitman” Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart:
This was a first-time tag team showdown between WWE’s best team and the NWA’s top tandem. Arn and Tully were the tag team champions, but this was a non-title affair, as the match was signed before the Brain Busters won the titles from Demolition on the go-home edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Jesse Ventura’s commentary added depth to the match by stating the match’s non-title implications. A win could earn the Harts a title shot, while a loss would set them back a year (which it did). The future governor also mentioned how the contrasting styles of “The Hitman” and “The Anvil” forced teams to adjust during the match.
Tully Blanchard and Bert Hart start things off. Hart outwrestled both of the Buster early on despite their quick tags. Blanchard made another quick tag, but the referee waived it off since he was standing on the bottom rope for extra reach. Hart and Neidhart made better use of the quick tag strategy, keeping the Busters on the defensive.
Neidhard took Hart’s famous chest bump when Arn pulled Blanchard out of the way after Hart whipped Neidhart into the corner for a splash. “The Anvil” took the heat, which was rare since Hart usually made the hot tag to Neidhart after a prolonged beating. Hart hit Arn, coming into the ropes with a knee to the back and allowing Neidhart to make the big tag.
Neidhart recovered and slingshot Blanchard, then powerslaming Hart onto him for the pin. Heenan distracted the ref as Arn came off the ropes with a double ax handle to the back of Hart’s head. Heenan pulled Blanchard out of the ring as Arn, the illegal man, made the cover and hid his face as the ref counted to three.
Winners: Brain Busters – 16 minutes 23 seconds
Review: 7.5 – Many feel this was the best match of the night and disagree with the low star rating given by the Wrestling Observer. A few minor miscues were covered up quickly, which can be chalked up to the two teams working together for the first time. While the finish with Arn hitting a double axehandle doesn’t hold up to today’s standards, it was great in 1989.
The Busters were great at implementing their shifty tactics, but the Harts countered with a couple of their own tricks; it was refreshing to see former heels who didn’t forget how to cheat when they had to. Overall, it was a great opening contest and a gem of a tag team match.
Mean Gene Okerlund interviewed Dusty Rhodes backstage. Rhodes mentioned doing his thing in “Pudlick” against the Honky Tonk Man and said he would kick his BOOTY!
-Dusty Rhodes vs. The Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart
Rhodes recently debuted when he stopped the Big Boss Man from beating a defenseless wrestler and stole his knife stick. Why was he wrestling the Honky Tonk Man? Rhodes was a cornerstone of the NWA before leaving the territory. Despite wrestling beforehand, WWE treated SummerSlam as his in-ring debut. Ventura talked about Rhodes as if he were a rookie, stating that he needs to prove he can get it done in the ring.
Honky was outworked by Rhodes at every turn until he hit him in the midsection with Jimmy Hart’s megaphone. Honky targeted the injured midsection, which Rhodes sold in screaming agony. Rhodes regained the upper hand and accidentally shoved Honky into the referee. Rhodes dodged a guitar shot from Hart, sending Honky crashing to the canvas. Rhodes hit the Bionic Elbow just in time for the referee to recover and count the pin.
Winner: Dusty Rhodes (9 minutes 36 seconds)
Review: 3 out of 10 – As a kid, I never took the Honky Tonk Man seriously because his offense looked so phony. I felt the same way about Rhodes, as I wasn’t familiar with his NWA pedigree at the time. Looking at it with adult eyes, it was a good first high-profile win against a heat magnet, and the crowd ate it up.
-Mr. Perfect vs. The Red Rooster
Perfect was already in the ring during his introduction, which made sense because iconic entrance music hadn’t debuted yet. Rooster got his full entrance to a lukewarm reaction. Perfect was undefeated, while Rooster was pegged as a long-shot underdog. It was apparent how hard it was for both wrestlers to sell Roster’s head and neck pecking.
Perfect opened with a few hip tosses, and Rooster returned the favor with a slap to the face. Perfect hit a standing dropkick that knocked Rooster out of the ring. Ventura put it over strong. They fought on the floor for a bit. Perfect snatched up Rooster on his way back into the ring with the Perfect Plex for the 1-2-3.
Winner: Mr. Perfect – 3 minutes 21 seconds
Review: 2 /10 – The low rating does not reflect either wrestler. Rooster hurt his knee outside the ring, which caused the match early. Either way, the objective was to give Perfect a strong showing, but it was a nothing match with no build-up.
Survivor Series ad highlighting the Thanksgiving night tradition.
The infamous “F**K IT” promo!
Mean Gene Okerlund cursed angrily when the SummerSlam sign fell from the wall as he interviewed “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan. The broadcast pulled out of the interview and panned on the crowd as Ventura, on commentary, laughingly marveled at Okerlund’s misfortune.
Watching this live as a kid, I couldn’t believe what I had heard. I curiously asked my Dad, “Did he just say the F-word?” He didn’t answer, which usually meant I was right. Legend has it that the interview was pre-taped, and the one with the swear still made it on air.
Take Two: Okerlund interviewed Rude about his match with the Ultimate Warrior. Rude said promises are made to be broken with arms, legs, and hearts. Rude promised he’d prove why he’s the ultimate Intercontinental champion and blew a kiss to end the segment.
-Tito Santana and The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) vs. Rick Martel w/ Slick and The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques & Raymond) w/ Jimmy Hart
The styles of all six men complement each other so well here. Everyone wanted Santana and Martel to start the match. Martel walked out on Santana at WrestleMania 5 during their first match back as a team and also their last match as a team. Martel opts not to square off with his former Strike Force partner, and Jacques starts the match instead. Santana and the Rockers gained control early on and cleared the ring with a bevy of dropkicks.
Santana drilled Raymond with a clothesline. Jacques grabbed Santana’s foot, allowing Raymond to hit Santana in the back with a knee. The heels are now in complete control. The Rougeaus worse down Santana until Martel was brave enough to tag in. Santana fired off a few punches, which the crowd loved. Santana hit a sunset flip for two. Martel quickly choked away on Santana to regain control and dropped Santana neck first (stun gun) on the top rope.
Raymond applied a Boston Crab, allowing Jacques to hit a jumping knee drop to the back of Santana’s head. It looked brutal and stunned the crowd into silence. Santana hit a flying crossbody on Jacques for two, and Jacques hit a nice jumping-back elbow. Santana eventually made the hot tag to Shawn Micheals. Martel tagged in, too, but it didn’t matter. Michaels was on fire, and the crowd went nuts for everything he did, including a back body drop and a fist drop from the top rope.
Michaels press-slammed Jannety onto Martel for a 1-2—BOOM. Janetty moved out of the way as Jacques accidentally dropped an elbow onto Martel. Chaos reigned as all six men were in the ring. Santana cracked Martel with the flying forearm. Jannetty went after a flailing Hart on the apron. Jacques rolled him up with an O’Connor Roll, Jannetty reversed it, and Martel walloped Jannetty with a clothesline for the win.
Winners: Rick Martel & The Fabulous Rougeaus – 14 minutes 58 seconds
Review: 8/10 – Bell to bell, this was the match of the night. Action, drama, suspense, everything you could ask for. Man, no one sells a beating like Tito Santana. All six men worked hard, but Shawn Micheals was on another level. All young wrestlers should watch this match to take note of the intensity Micheals exuded during the hot tag because it allowed him to get the most out of the crowd with every move he delivered.
A video package highlighted the feud between Warrior and Rude, which started with the Super Posedown at the Royal Rumble and continued at WrestleMania 5 when Rude won the title due to an assist from Heenan grabbing the Warrior’s leg. The last clip was from the go-home edition of Superstars, where Andre the Giant choked out the Warrior in a blindside attack. Mean Gene interviewed the Ultimate Warrior, who ranted and raved about getting the IC title back.
-Intercontinental Championship: “Ravishing” Rick Rude w/ Bobby Heenan vs. Ultimate Warrior
Warrior press slammed Rude over the top rope to the floor. Heenan was irate, and Ventura screamed in protest. Warrior delivered a vertical suplex on the floor. Warrior smashed Rude in the back of the head with the title belt. Ventura demanded a disqualification, and Schiavone sold it with a verbal shoulder shrug. Warrior landed a double axehandle off the top rope, delivered an atomic drop, and did Rude’s hip gyration as the champ was riving in pain.
Warrior picked up Rude from behind like he was a child and slammed him down on his derriere. It looked like Donkey Kong slamming a barrel in a rage. Rude crotched Warrior on the top rope and went for the Rude Awakening, but Warrior separated Rude’s hands to power out. Both wrestlers collided, causing the third ref bump of the evening. Everyone is down! Warrior gave Rude a back body drop, three clotheslines, and a powerslam for the cover, but the ref was still down.
Warrior delivered a piledriver, and a slow count from the dazed referee allowed Rude to get his foot on the bottom rope Rude got his knees up for Warrior’s big splash. Rude landed an awkward piledriver. It looked like he was going for a powerbomb, but he changed his mind mid-move. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper came out to ringside. Rude did his hip swivel and flexed his biceps at Piper. Piper responds by mooning him, bare ass and all.
An irate Rude yells at Piper on the second turnbuckle. Warrior grabbed Rude off the ropes for a belly-to-back/german suplex. Wariior was fired up, and the crowd was electric. Warrior hit a flying shoulder tackle, gorilla press slam and splash to the back to score the pinfall.
Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: Ultimate Warrior – 16 minutes 2 seconds
Review: 5/10—Constant mentions of Andre’s assault on the Warrior and the budding Piper/Rude rivalry meant Warrior and Rude were moving on to different feuds after this match. From a ring psychology perspective, this match made no sense. It was a hodgepodge of moves with some drama to sweeten the punch. However, it didn’t matter.
Ultimate Warrior was the most popular wrestler on the show. The crowd went nuts for everything he did. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is when Vince McMahon decided he was going with Warrior over Hogan at WrestleMania 6. Warrior/Rude would headline next year’s SummerSlam, this time for the WWF Championship.
Personal Story: My pay-per-view feed cut out right before the Warrior/Rude match. This was the second time it had happened, the first being the Royal Rumble. Missing out on seeing Rockin’ Robin vs. Judy Martin was bad enough. Now, I was going to miss the IC Title match. My anxiety rose faster than the blink of an eye as each minute passed.
My parents called the cable company, and I hovered over them as they dialed the glowing green buttons on our phone. The operator said everyone in the area experienced the shutout, which was false. My best friend lived across the street and saw Warrior vs. Rude live in all its glory. Of course, the feed returned after the match was over.
Damn you, Continental Cablevision!
Mean Gene conducted a bevy of interviews in sucession. Mr. Perfect called the Red Rooster a stepping stone, and Roddy Piper proudly proclaimed, “OF COURSE IT’S MY FAULT,” costing Rude the title. “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin, suited and booted, told Gene he had a special assignment for the night.
Garvin left before dropping the tea because Heenan could be heard ranting and raving like a lunatic. Rude entered the shot a few seconds later and yelled about Piper showing his…”ASSSSSK BOBBY WHAT HAPPENED?” Heenen demanded to start the match over, and Rude vowed to regain the belt.
Review 8/10—This is one of Bobby Heenan’s best performances. All four interviews were conducted in the same segment with subtle transitions. I wish they would do that more often today. Structuring narrative beats chained together instead of segmenting everything makes the show feel more organic. ECW did this all the time, and it was fantastic.
The broadcast takes a five-minute intermission, which was a regular occurrence.
Mean Gene welcomes the pay-per-view audience back to the show and a video packaging detailing the feud between Hulk Hogan and Zeus. One of the clips showed the turning point in the feud on Saturday Night’s Main Event when a Hogan chair shot had no effect on Zeus. Nothing could hurt Zeus, which begged how Hogan and Beefcake could prevail.
-The Eiffel Tower and The Twin Towers (Andre the Giant, Big Boss Man & Akeem) w/ Slick vs. “King Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Demolition (Ax & Smash)
The three largest wrestlers in WWE faced three of the most popular faces. Duggan said in the pre-match interview that he’s not King Hacksaw tonight; he’s King Demolition, and he revealed American flag face paint. Ventura said it was disrespectful to have the flag on such an ugly face. Akeem was stuck in the ring early on, and Ax knocked him down with a back elbow. Andre tagged in, floored Ax with a big punch, sat on his chest, and choked him against the ropes.
Akeem missed the big splash (his finisher). Smash tagged in and slammed Boss Man and Akeem. However, one chop from Andre stopped him cold. What is a six-man tag team match without a brawl with all six wrestlers? Duggan broke up a pin, and Andre headbutted him in retaliation. Akeem delivered a second rope splash. Ax tossed the 2×4 to Duggan, who hit Akeem in the back with the patriotic lumber, and the ref was too busy with Andre to see it. Smash made the cover for the three count.
Winners: “King Hacksaw” Jim Duggan & Demolition – 7 minutes 23 seconds
Review 7/10 – This match was exactly what it needed to be. Andre was not moving well but did his part well despite his limitations. Heenan joining Andre mid-match was a nice touch because it augmented the fallout of Rude’s Intercontinental Title loss.
Big John Studd was initially booked to team up with Demolition to further his feud with Andre. Studd quit the company, and Duggan filled the role. While the battle of two giants is appealing, Duggan was the better option for this match and was the lynchpin for the audience’s reaction.
Gene Okerlund interviewed the “Million Man” Ted DiBiase with Virgil. DiBiase said he dines on champagne and caviar, while Snuka is a primitive native who eats coconuts and bananas. DiBiase said Snuka would be another victim, just like Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who DiBiase hurt in a blindside attack months earlier by continuously cramping one hundred dollar bills down his throat to the point of injury.
“Rugged” Ronnie Garvin’s special assignment: guest ring announcer for the next match. Garvin was feuding with Greg Valentine, who cheated to beat him in a career-ending match. Garvin properly introduced Hercules but laid into Valentine.
“His so-called opponent, accompanied to the ring by that little pipsqueak poor excuse of a manager. “The Big Mouth of the South Jimmy Hart. Here is a man who says he’s from Seattle, Washington. He claims he weighs 249 lbs. To me, he looks like he’s overweight by 30 pounds.
This individual who can’t take for himself and when he goes to his wimpy manager for advice, Little Jimmy can’t give him any (Don’t let R-Truth hear you say that). “He is the only wrestler I’ve ever seen with two left feet. Wears a robe with cheap rhinestones. Can’t tell if he’s coming or going. Made the biggest mistake of his life when he asked for me to be reinstated. GREG “THE HAMMER” VALENTINE.”
-Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/ Jimmy Hart vs. Hercules
An enraged Valentine gets in Garvin’s face, and Hercules lands a few punches as the bell rings. Valentine couldn’t focus on Hercules because he was too caught up with Garvin. Valentine went for the Figure Four Leg Lock, but Hercules kicked him off. Hercules hit a vertical suplex. Valentine backed into the corner, tripped Hercules, and got the pin with his feet on the ropes.
Garvin refused to announce Valentine as the winner and said Hercules won by disqualification. Valentine knocked Garvin out of the ring. Hercules and Valentine brawled as Garvin took his tuxedo jacket off, got in the ring, and landed a right hand that knocked Valentine into the shadow realm.
Winner: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine – 3 minutes 8 seconds
Review 5/10 – Hercules was a non-factor. It didn’t matter who stood across the ring from Valentine. It was all about Valentine and Garvin. The match itself wasn’t bad, but it was of no consequence. Unlike Perfect/Rooster, this match accomplished its goal.
Mean Gene with a special interview in a dark room with Randy Savage, Sensational Sheri, and Zeus as they surround a smoking cauldron. Sheri looked into the cauldron and saw a vision of Hogan lying flat on his back. Savage sees the same thing and calls Beefcake the weak link, which was a subplot throughout the feud. Savage says Zeus is indestructible, which means it’s the end of the road for Hulkamania. Okerlund can’t believe what he got himself into as everyone screams to end the promo.
Review: Pro wrestling, baby!
-“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil vs. “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka
DiBiase proudly proclaimed himself the man who ended Jake Roberts’ wrestling career. Snuka slowly jogged to the ring, wearing the rarely-seen white leopard couture instead of the typical brown attire. DiBiase failed at two blindside attacks; Snuka went for a double leapfrog but landed on DiBiase’s head. Snuka hit a back body drop and a shoulder tackle.
Sunka gets caught with a hot shot into the ropes. DiBiase misses a falling-back elbow off the second rope. Snuka delivered a flying headbutt but didn’t go for the cover. Snuka goes for the Superfly Splash, but Virgil hops on the apron. DiBiase uses the distraction to throw Snuka into the post. DiBiase gets back in the ring just in time for a countout victory.
After the bell, Snuka knocked DiBiase out of the ring, hit Virgil with a backbreaker, and finished him with a Superfly Splash from halfway across the ring.
Winner: “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase – 6 minutes 27 seconds
Review: 2/10 – This match was booked to keep DiBiase strong, which is a shame. In their prime, both wrestlers would tear the house down. It’s hard to believe this was Snuka’s first pay-per-view match. Snuka returned at WrestleMania 5, but he wasn’t the same Snuka who left, and a hot New Jersey crowd could have cared less.
Mean Gene interviews Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake backstage. Hogan talks about riding Harleys on the George Washington Bridge and his pythons parting the Henry Hudson River like the Red Sea, brother. Beefcake brandished his titanian (not titanium) hedge clippers and responded with a 100% totally original line.
“I love the blades. The blades are a part of me, and I am going to make’em part of you!” Yes, sir, that has never been said before in any movie. Hogan ended the promo by discussing how the package on his back wrapped its long, sexy, curvacious legs around him, making the secret weapon smile like sunshine. (It’s Elizabeth. It’s totally Miss Elizabeth).
Review: Put this promo under things that make you go, huh?
The Genius, full of glory and renown, is in the ring to treat us with a pre-game poem. He says Hogan and Beefcake will be running for their lives because they are totally unqualified to face the royal flush of Macho Man and Zeus. He also says Miss Elizabeth is no ace in the hole and is just a useless pretty face.
-“Macho Man” Randy Savage w/ Sensational Sheri and Zeus vs. WWF Champion: Hulk Hogan and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake
Mega Powers headlined last year’s SummerSlam. This year, do it again but on opposite sides. Hogan called Howard Finkel into the ring before the match began, whispered in his ear, instructing him to announce Miss Elizabeth, who came out to a great ovation.
Ding, Ding, Ding.
Hogan punches Zeus several times but to no effect. Hogan rakes Zeus’ eyes and tries to slam him but receives a clubbing forearm to the back for his trouble. Beefcake tried to make the save by jumping off the middle rope but landed in the clutches of a Zeus bear hug.
Savage body slams Hogan and follows up with a double ax handle off the top. Zeus locked up Hogan in a bear hug and tried to pin him while still applying the hold. Zeus slams Hogan back into his corner, and Savage hits a belly-to-back suplex for two.
Beefcake gets the Sleeper Hold on Zeus, but Savage hits him with Sherri’s loaded purse. Savage goes after Elizabeth and nearly gets his hands on her until Hogan makes the save. Hogan goes to suplex Savage, but Sherri trips him, and Savage falls on top for two.
Savage hit the flying elbow, and Hogan got up immediately.
Hogan and Zeus square off one more time. If Hogan couldn’t hurt him here, he never would. Hogan knocked Zeus down to one knee, which got a massive pop from the crowd. Elizabeth tipped up Sherri on the bottom rope, dropping the purse as she fell in the ring.
Hogan whacked Zeus in the face with the purse, got the big body slam, and hit the big leg drop for the 1-2-3. Sherri tried to hit Hogan with the purse to break up the pin, but she was too late as Hogan caught her in mid-swing.
Winners: Hulk Hogan and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake w/ Miss Elizabeth – 15 minutes 4 seconds
Hogan teased, punching her before he delivered an atomic drop that sent Sherri right into a purse swinging Elizabeth. Beefcake cut Sherri’s extended ponytail and let the party begin as sounds ‘Real American’ take us home.
Review: 6.5/5 – Workrate be damned. The crowd loved every second of this match. Fans were vested in the Hogan/Savage drama and hooked on whether Zeus could be stopped. Beefcake was teased as the weak link throughout the feud. As an eight-year-old fan, I felt the same way when the match was announced.
In the end, it didn’t matter who teamed up with Hogan. He could have been paired with the corpse from Weekend at Bernie’s. Randy Savage was the glue that kept the match together. He put on a main event performance while simultaneously coaching Zeus, who was making his in-ring debut.
Final Thoughts: SummerSlam 1989 is not a show I would recommend. It is a product of its time, from a simpler era when wrestling fans’ knowledge was limited to what they saw on television. The in-ring action would be judged differently today, as the wrestling style of yesteryear may not hold up well to modern lenses. However, the live crowd was the show’s MVP. They were hot for it all.
These days, I analyze wrestling as often as I just sit back and enjoy it. I remember how blissfully ignorant I was to the inside baseball of it all and just had fun with my favorite pastime. if you were a kid who watched the show live, man, it was a fun night. That is how I will remember SummerSlam 89.
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