Welcome back once more to “Throwing in the Towel”! It’s an exciting time at the moment in the world of wrestling. Not just because the Dead-man is erm, alive once more, and not just because Chris Jericho is wearing pants that reveal his shiny thighs, but because Summerslam, is just around the corner!

Now I’ve long been a fan of this super-show, often enjoying it much more than Wrestlemania. As a kid, I just always expected this one to be the show that would have the best matches, and as an adult, it seems free from some of the constraints that can restrict as pressurised a show as Mania. In recent times, the big event has lost a little of it’s lustre, however, with a good bit of freshness, Summerslam 2008 appears to be a solid bet for a heck of an entertaining card.

With that said, I’m going to look back at some of the action from the years past, beginning with a run-down of my favourite matches.

So here we go with the Top 20, numbers 20-11… Enjoy!

20. Mr Perfect vs. Kerry Von Erich (1990)
Anytime Kerry Von Erich and Curt Hennig locked up, it was sure to be a treat, and this fine bout was no exception. Von Erich had just recently entered the Fed, as the Texas Tornado, and was an immediate hit with the fans. Like Ricky Steamboat, he had the presence, star-power, and familiarity, that he did not by any means, need to be lumbered with such a gimmick.

However, for both of those guys, they were fortunate in that their gimmicks were not far detached from reality, and rather merely simplified their own personas to a more recognizable mould for the WWE’s younger fans. Thus here, Kerry uhh, Tornadoed his way through a brief, but enjoyable challenge for the Intercontinental Championship. And what an upset it would be!

They had better encounters of course (their Tokyo Dome effort, the rematch that saw Perfect regain his title), but this was a big event at the time, and had a huge impact.

A real high point for Von Erich.

19.Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy (2001)
A much underrated hardcore slice of bumbling invasion action. Summer 2001 promised so much for us rasslin’ followers, however it delivered much less than required. The Invasion storyline rightfully tanked, but one guy emerged with his reputation intact- Rob Van Dam. Contesting fine battles with Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and his opponent here, the paint-splashed one himself, Jeff Hardy, Van Dam was an immediate hit in McMahon Land.

At the Invasion PPV, he tussled with Jeff in a wild, but exciting match-up. But this effort was arguably better yet. Full of reckless, zany stunts, and at times sloppy, this was nonetheless, invigorating, exciting stuff. Not a match you want to see every week, but still a damn fine one.

18.Kurt Angle vs. Eddy Guerrero (2004)
Looking back through 2004, is a shocking, bewildering experience. At the beginning of the year, two of the biggest stars In the company, were Bill Goldberg, and Brock Lesnar. At Summerslam, the world title was defended by Chris Benoit, and Smackdown’s most anticipated bout was this one. Look at those guys now…

Brock (left to go the NFL, failed, tried to come back, asked for too much money, now is a huge prospect in the UFC), Benoit (deceased), Eddy (deceased), Angle (released before he ended up killing himself, now threatens to do the same in TNA), and Goldberg (Enjoying his cash…). Depressing, eh? It’s true of course, that Eddy and Kurt had a whole clutch of superb encounters throughout this year though, and this one was no exception.

17.The Hart Foundation vs. Demolition (1990)
Back in the day, the Hart Foundation were the coolest. They just ruled. But Demolition were the big, untouchable bad guys. Both teams were in the twilight of their tag careers, and about to run their course. But the Harts would get one last run with the belts, which they would actually hold all the way up to Wrestlemania. This was special, because whereas before, they had been heels, this time, their title reign would see them as fan favourites. And what a reign that would be.

This was fought under 2/3 falls rules. Demolition had the huge advantage, as they had a third member in their team, Crush, who was here teaming with Smash. However, the vile Axe would switch places with the newcomer, Crush, behind the back of the clearly incompetent referee. That only was enough to draw them enormous heat. I remember, when I first saw this one, it seemed entirely impossible for the Foundation to come away with the belts…the odds were just stacked too high. But heroically, and in a hugely memorable moment, they won, two-falls to one. It was indeed drama all the way.

More importantly, it was yet another showcase for Bret Hart, who while hardly working with a bunch of broomsticks, was clearly elevating everyone around him.

This would also be one of the highlights of the late Brian Adams’, AKA, Crush’s career.

16.Kurt Angle vs. Steve Austin (2001)
Angle’s mid-2001 feud with Steve Austin was a turbulent one, overshadowed by the weak Invasion storyline, and the difficulty in having two guys, both essentially mis-cast, facing each other. But, they succeeded in making each of their clashes compelling, through sheer hard work, and their wide range of in-ring capabilities. This was the hottest of their battles.

The WWE’s equivalent of a certain ECW original had only just successfully lived up to his heel turn (from the prior Wrestlemania), following a faux babyface tease, which led to him joining the Alliance. Meanwhile, Kurt Angle was embarking upon a short-lived, but timely (he eventually won the strap just after September 11th in an audience-reassuring switch) face run. It was a necessary, and invigorating reversal of roles.

Here, Angle was especially brilliant at selling the sheer volume of punishment he endured, while Austin was truly a heinous villain. Stiff, violent, unpredictable, and thrilling.

15.Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon (1995)
An overlooked gem of a ladder match of course, that many people actually believe is better than their original (the historic bout from Wrestlemania X). I tend not to agree, but at the same time- it’s very, very good indeed. Both guys were on top of their game, and delivered an even more exhilarating effort, that still holds up well today. It lacks the surprise element it once had, and isn’t as smooth, with a ropey ending (that belt just doesn’t want to come down!). But it’s still a crucial, superior offering, and one of the highlights of Scott Hall’s spotty career.

14.John Cena vs. Randy Orton (2007)
This is another “on-paper-it-stinks” match that was helped immeasurably by a crowd that behaved like rabid, caged beasts. The crowd were more pro-Orton than I imagined they’d be. Like, they were vicious towards Mr. Chain Gang. This, like Rock/Hogan at Wrestlemania 18, helped make the match. It was also very much a match of two halves. The first was very disappointing, a repetitive ensemble of Orton headlocks, which was even occasionally countered by Cena headlocks. It was pretty dull in places. Logical, yes, but not always convincing, even though it was well sold.

I completely transformed, and picked up crazily towards the end, and was littered with some really fine action, including a little brawling, some good top-rope stuff (Cena’s leg drop was a standout), and a few nice changes to the order in which the signature spots appeared. It all combined to make a match that really surpassed most people’s expectations, and plays better upon repeat viewings. An important effort from two guys who you’ll be seeing headline for years to come.

13.Triple H vs. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle (2000)
This was the peak of one of the finest rivalries of the year 2000 , a high accolade indeed, given the incomparable quality of then-WWE television. The champion, The Rock, was almost a bystander here, in a triple threat for the WWE Championship. But his run was gaining momentum (unusual for a babyface you may think), following a fabulous feud with Chris Benoit. Angle and HHH meanwhile, were both engaged in a bitter rivalry over Stephanie McMahon, Hunter’s wife, and the object of Kurt’s affections.

This had led to a wonderfully delirious soap-opera storyline, which sadly petered out in the end, thanks to some well-documented issues with Hunter and the direction of creative. But at this point, proceedings were reaching their searing crescendo. Sleazy “Kirk Angel”, as Chris Jericho would say, had not just insulted Trips, and perved around the hot young wench he was married to, but on the Smackdown prior to the PPV, he planted her with a big slobbery kiss.

Clearly, HHH was not pleased. Hence, the beginning of this match is a wild brawl, between the two challengers, that famously saw the announce table collapse accidentally, knocking Kurt out (the planned spot would have seen HHH Pedigree Angle through the table, but Kurt would return later. However, the table broke of it’s own accord, before the move could properly be set up, and subsequently, the Olympic Gold Medallists’ noggin’ bounced off the floor).

Kurt was still able to come back into the match (amazingly), but it was with a lot of help, and prompting, that saw him complete the finish as planned. And it’s a wacky, interference filled, doozy of a climax. That isn’t to say the (clearly difficult, and largely improvised) body of the match isn’t good- it’s a treasure from beginning to end, showcasing Trips and the Rock, and how both were genuinely on top of their games.

12.The Hardy Boys vs. The Dudley Boys vs. Edge & Christian (2000)
So this is where it all started (okay sort of, following the first ever tag-team ladder match, and the famous, Triangle Ladder match)… but this, this was the first ever Tables, ladders, and Chairs encounter presented by Vinnie Mac. And it was, and still is, a blinder.

By now, we all know what to expect from these outings…. Stiff chairs shots, falls off ladders, finishers off ladders, multiple incidents of tables being demolished by man-flesh, and Joey Mercury’s face imploding… But these three teams together, had unmistakeable chemistry, gelling together spectacularly every time they stepped foot in the ring together. This one was particularly excellent, and indeed, is still regarded as the best TLC bout, by many fans.

11.Brock Lesnar vs. The Rock (2002)
Ahh, we return to 2002, the greatest Summerslam of them all. Yes.. I’ve said it. And here lies it’s main event. So HBK/HHH’s eulogy to Degeneration X may have topped this quality-wise, but this was still a helluva spectacle. And it was a classic moment were the fans rebelled, or as Jerry Lawler would say, the WWE was in “Bizarro Land”.

Brock headed into this like a steam train. He’d only been introduced to fans in April, and had a series of dull matches mostly, but It was clear he had been earmarked as the future of the promotion. Defeating RVD at the King of the Ring, to attain that accolade was a step in the right direction, as was his cruel slaughter of Hollywood Hulk Hogan (hugely enjoyable that one..). But there was still a lot of doubt. When he looked impressive, it was transparently the booking that made him so. He couldn’t talk (hence Heyman being his manager), and he was incredibly green (He was dumping guys on their heads, and most notably put Bob Holly on the shelf- a bonus that one if you ask me….). Would he arrive at this show looking, and feeling like a star? Or would he slouch his way into proceedings like the remnants of the titanic?

It was fortunately the former.

The Rock meanwhile, had been busy making movies. He waltzed back into the fed in the late spring, and picked up the Undisputed title (why not, eh?), and was about to bugger off again, to make another festering, steaming pile of Hollywood turd. That’s fine. But what was especially irritating was that prior to his “return”, he made a one night only appearance, to slate Steve Austin for walking out on the WWE. That the Rock’s appearance was a one-off, should underline his hypocrisy. Still, the Rock was a valuable, entertaining performer, and an accepted main eventer, and his role here was pivotal to Lesnar’s career.

Lesnar walked through that curtain, and was treated like a genuine superstar. He wasn’t yet of course (that moment came at No Mercy in October, when he scaled the Hell in a Cell, having just cleanly annihilated the Undertaker), it was all smoke and mirrors. But what was clear was that the fans were sending a message to the WWE, they wanted someone new on top, someone who wouldn’t spend half the year on a film set.

The Rock, the baby face, was booed increasingly as the match progressed. Some have said that it wasn’t a particular good encounter, when you remove the crowd heat from the equation, but I beg to differ. These two clearly had tangible chemistry, and worked superbly with each other. It was an absolute classic, but it had just enough to be memorable, and considering Brock’s inexperience, was something of a revelation. Rocky meanwhile, excelled in manipulating the fans, and playing up to the fact that they had positioned him as the heel. He was superb. And afterwards all doubt was erased. Brock would be the new guy on top.

What a start it was.

This was a memorable, fascinating moment, and one that began a new era that was ultimately undermined and eclipsed by Brock’s greed and ambition.

That’s it for part one! Part two, including matches 10-1, will be up in a few days, along with some more pre-Summerslam hype.

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback and I can be contacted at www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at michael@wwepreview.com. look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!

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