When WWE.com recently named the top 10 SummerSlam pay-per-view (PPV) events in company history, one of the shows that failed to make the cut was SummerSlam 1999, which took place on this date in history (Aug. 22, 1999).
That's because it was an underwhelming show, save for two damn good matches.
The main event was a triple threat match pitting Stone Cold Steve Austin, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) champion at the time, against Triple H and Mick Foley with Jesse Ventura as special guest referee. Ventura had just been elected Governor of Minnesota and was bringing a few extra eyeballs. He served his purpose in the match, delivering a memorable line to Shane McMahon in the process, and did a fine job.
The real story was the fact that all reports indicate the plan was for Triple H to win his first world title here. He had been repackaged as a badass heel, moving away from long trunks, long hair, and the comedy image that came with his role as the leader of the second version of D-Generation X. He wasn't quite "The Game" but he was a rising star ready for the main event.
The problem was Austin didn't quite feel the same and refused to do the job. He was taking a brief hiatus due to a knee injury and they needed to get the belt off him. But because he wouldn't drop the strap to Triple H, Foley was brought in and won the title just so he could lose it to Trips the next night on Raw.
At least the match was good.
The other awesome match on the card involved -- no surprise here -- Shane McMahon. He was in a feud with Test over his relationship with Shane's sister, Stephanie, and the two had a "Lover Her or Leave Her Greenwich Street Fight." Because it's Shane McMahon, he went all out to get the match over and Test was up to the task in his first major PPV test (no pun intended).
Watch both matches after the jump.
Also on this date in history: Professor Toru Tanaka passes away at age 70