On this date in WWE history: The Rock wins the 'Big Gold Belt' at SummerSlam

by Jesse Holland on Aug 19, 2011 10:00 AM EDT in History

Finally ... The Rock ... has come back ... to San Jose!

And he came back in style, winning the WCW Championship on August 19, 2001, by pinning Booker T in the main event of SummerSlam, on this date in WWE history.

The Rock, who dropped the WWF title to Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania X-Seven prior to his departure to film "The Scorpion King," had returned from his Hollywood hiatus just a few weeks prior to the SummerSlam pay-per-view event to work a program with Booker T as part of the "Invasion" angle.

They did not disappoint.

Video of their "SummerSlam Recall" after the jump:

Spinarooni, to kick-up, to Rock Bottom, to pin.

As good as it gets.

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In retrospect...

Booker should have gone over. WWE had a solid group of main eventers (Austin, Angle, Undertaker, Kane) while WCW had a skeletal crew. Imagine if Booker was allowed to go over Rock clean (like Brock, the next year) what that would have meant for WCW and the invasion. Rock/WWE didnt need the win as much as WCW/Booker T. But at least the actual match was good. Love that finish.

by thejasten on Aug 19, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

I scrolled down to the comments section just to see people complain about the booking

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by theroosevelts on Aug 19, 2011 1:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

haha

yea, I couldn’t resist.

by thejasten on Aug 19, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

Vince basically destroyed WCW. It could have been great. But I’m fine with Rock beating Booker here because I never thought Booker was at Rock’s level. I do see what you’re saying, though.

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by Kyle Rancourt on Aug 19, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

There was a brief point towards the end of his WWE run where he dropped the five-time spinarooni shtick and got edgy and agressive, like the Booker we saw clown skid mark on last season’s Tough Enough. Man, I think that style of Booker would have killed but they didn’t get behind him. Shame, he’s a great talent.

It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.

by Jesse Holland on Aug 19, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

He wasn't

but he could have been or at least had the chance, if the booking allowed.

by thejasten on Aug 19, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

WCW was doomed from the start when the contracts of the top guys didn’t come with it. How much success can you really hope for when Buff Bagwell and Booker T are the main attractions?

by The so-called Beautiful on Aug 19, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I loved Buff.

But he’s nowhere near top level talent, I definitely agree with you there

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by Kyle Rancourt on Aug 20, 2011 2:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Booker T and The Rock provided great build-up for that match.

Shane McMahon ate a nasty bump.

by E-ROC on Aug 19, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

Man what is it with the WWE and Summerslam?, it seems that those shows are used for the booking team to destroy a great angle. To me that was the night that I lost all confidence that Vince and company had any idea what they were doing with the Invasion angle.

Sadly what could have been a great feud ended up as a one sided burial for Booker T at the hands of the Rock who didn’t need to be put over at that point. Funny how history keeps repeating itself with The WWE time after time even when the names change the problem remains the same.

by Raker on Aug 19, 2011 10:25 PM EDT reply actions