Over the years there have been many matches planned for the ‘Biggest Party of the Summer’ that for one reason or another didn’t make it to the final product. We are going to mention some of the most interesting matches that never happened.
Each of these stories, matches and plans have come from a different source, so take them with a pinch of salt.
1992: Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Intercontinental Championship)
I am a huge fan of both Michaels and Hart, but in this case, I am happy we didn’t see this one and miss out on the absolute classic we witnessed instead.
The original SummerSlam 1992 plans were for Michaels to go over Hart for the Intercontinental Championship, this was basically set in stone until WWE (then F) decided to take SummerSlam to the UK. The match was changed to have Hart do the job for The British Bulldog (and boy! Did he) this turned out to be one of the best SummerSlam matches of all time.
1993: Hulk Hogan vs Bret Hart (WWE Championship)
It was at Wrestlemania IX that this was all set in motion, if you remember (although most don’t want to) Hogan came to the ring at the end of the Bret Hart vs Yokozuna match and got an impromptu WWE Championship match, oh and won. The story was meant to set up a huge main event between The Hulkster and Hart at SummerSlam 1993 where Hulk was to ‘pass the torch’ to the new face and head to Hollywood.
Hulk put the blockers on this when he (apparently) didn’t want to lose to someone smaller than him, so subsequently dropped the gold to Yokozuna. Yokozuna when on to face Lex Lugar at SummerSlam and Bret entered a feud with Jerry Lawler over who was the real ‘King of WWF’.
2013: Undertaker & Kane vs The Shield
Remember just after Wrestlemania 29 when The Shield was attacking The Undertaker, ending in him taking a triple powerbomb through the announce table, but no with retribution coming from The Deadman?
Well, the original idea was for Undertaker and Kane to take on The Shield (in some form) at SummerSlam, unfortunately, Undertakers body was in no shape form such a physical match. This was clearly a long-term plan as The Shield didn’t make it to the main event of the summer.
2005: Muhammed Hassan vs Batista (World Heavyweight Championship)
The facts of this story are almost hard to believe, but basically, Hassan was on the road to becoming the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history, and because of real-life events (that Hassan had no control of or involvement in) was subsequently released from the company.
Muhammed Hassan was getting pushed to the moon in 2004-2005, he had an almost perfect run for 7 months, although the gimmick he was portraying was a risky one with the worlds current climate, Hassan was gaining some major heat. He found himself set to face The Undertaker at ‘The Great American Bash’ then go onto SummerSlam to face Batista for the championship, as we know this didn’t happen.
During the taping of Smackdown (before it went live) Hassan began to “pray” on the ramp, summoning five masked men, dressed in black shirts, ski masks, and camo pants. Armed with clubs they beat and choked the Undertaker down. Hours before Smackdown was set to air the London Bombings happened, and WWE scrambled to cut or edit the footage.
It was later revealed that UPN pressured WWE to remove the character, as they were getting heat from mainstream media. Hassan worked the Undertaker match at Great American Bash and wasn’t seen again. He was later released from WWE and retired from wrestling.
2016: Roman Reigns vs John Cena (WWE Championship)
I can just imagine the sea of ‘booing’ fans and the ‘you both suck’ chants that would fill the arena for this one but in 2016 Reigns vs Cena was planned for SummerSlam. Reigns was set to continue his winning ways and be pushed to the moon.
Unfortunately (mainly for Reigns) the champ failed a drugs test and we were treated to the instant classic that was John Cena vs AJ Styles, I’m sure most fans over 13 years old would say we got the win on that one.
2003: The Rock vs Goldberg
Originally, we were set to see a long-storied feud between Goldberg and The Rock beginning at Wrestlemania 19 and heading all the way into SummerSlam. There were numerous factors that stopped this from happening. The first being Goldberg signing later than planned, so the first match was pushed to Backlash.
Then when The Rock decided to head back to Hollywood the feud was cut short, and we got Goldberg in a feud with Triple H and Evolution, this is not all bad as Goldberg got to carry the World Heavyweight Championship (basically what was the WCW Championship) once again.
2015: The Shield & Sting vs The Wyatt Family
The summer of 2015 sees two of the best modern-era factions embroiled in a war, this the Wyatt Family targeting two-thirds of The Shield Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. SummerSlam was set to have a huge six-man tag with The Wyatt’s vs Shield and a mystery partner, none other than Sting.
This was scrapped when Erich Rowan was injured, and they went with a classic tag match. On the bright side this caused the debut of Braun Strowman and at Night of Champions Reigns and Ambrose did have a mystery partner in the form of Chris Jericho.
2002: Vince McMahon vs Shawn Michaels
Back in the Summer of 2002, we saw the return of the Heartbreak Kid after a four-year absence, and he almost immediately entered an ultra-violent feud with Triple H. This was not what Michaels originally wanted to be his returning feud, as he wasn’t sure he could still go.
Michaels pitched the idea of facing Vince McMahon in what would be violent but a lot slower paced. McMahon didn’t like this idea and suggested HBK face his best friend Triple H so he could help him through any troubles in the match. Turns out HBK shouldn’t have been worried as this was, and still is an absolute classic.
2014: John Cena, Big Show and Justin Bieber vs The Wyatt Family
Yes! You read that one right, Justin Bieber! This one came from Kevin Eck himself (former WWE Writer) that they were indeed plans to have John Cena and Big Show team with the one and only Justin Bieber. Why the hell Cena and Show would be teaming together I have no idea, and why they would enlist a teenage pop icon to take on the sick and twisted Wyatt Family, the mind boggles.
Luckily the Bieber deal was never made and the whole idea didn’t leave the writers room.
2012: Mick Foley vs Dean Ambrose (Hardcore Match)
All the way back in 2012, Ambrose was an up and coming Indy wrestler with a chip on his shoulder and decided to take shots on Twitter at the hardcore legend Mick Foley, or so they would make you think.
This was actually a work that was heading towards a potential SummerSlam match between the two that would ‘pass the torch’, literally if Foley and Ambrose have their way. This idea was quickly squashed when doctors told Foley he could never wrestle again.
Ambrose later debuted with The Shield, so it all ended well.
1999: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Chyna (WWE Championship)
With the huge emphasis on the ‘woman’s revolution’ in WWE at the moment, it’s easy to forget just how ground-breaking Chyna was as a character for teenage girls in 1999. Chyna was the first woman to transcend the gender barriers and not only be pencilled in to win the WWE Championship, but she already qualified for the King of the Ring, won the Intercontinental Championship and entered the Royal Rumble.
If rumours are true, in 1999 Austin was getting a little too picky about who he wanted to drop the championship to dismissing many of the suggested names. This is where the idea that Austin drops the Championship to Chyna. This was more than just an idea around the writer’s table as Chyna actually became the number one contender, but plans were ultimately changed replacing her with Mankind.
1999: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Triple H (WWE Championship)
Talking about SummerSlam 1999 one plan was to have a one on one match between Triple H and Austin, this was squashed when Austin refused to put Triple H over as a legitimate WWE Champion. As we mentioned, he was getting a little too big for his boots.
Austin agreed to have Mankind in the match, and for him to take the title. This all seems a little futile on Austin’s part as Mankind would drop the championship to Triple H the next night on Raw.
2002: Kevin Nash (with Shawn Michaels) (as NWO) vs Triple H
We have mentioned that Michaels never wanted the match with Triple H at SummerSlam 2002, but if the original plan was executed things could have been very different. Kevin Nash was meant to face Triple H because Trips wouldn’t join his buddies in the newly re-formed NWO.
In a twist, Triple H was actually meant to join his ‘Kliq’ and him, Michaels and Nash were to lead the new NWO. This didn’t happen because of that damn quad! It’s worth pondering what could have never been, with no Evolution, there would be no Randy Orton and Batista being legitimized so soon, no fantastic run for Michaels and possibly a great run for NWO in the ‘E.
2011: Triple H vs CM Punk
In 2011 CM Punk seemingly left the WWE with the WWE Championship, when he returned John Cena had been crowned the new WWE Champion setting up an Undisputed Championship match for SummerSlam.
The original plan was for Punk to return and lose his Championship to the Money in the Bank briefcase holder, Alberto Del Rio. This would lead to Triple H saying he only brought back Puck to beat him for leaving the fans and the company with the title. This was obviously changed as we got to see a classic between Cena and Punk, instead of Punk having to potentially job to ‘Vince’s dufus son-in-law’ Triple H.
There are some of the matches that almost happened in SummerSlam history. Which match shocked you the most? Do you know of any we have not mentioned? Let us know below or tweet us @SLTDWrestling
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