Episode 147 – Summer Slam 1997
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In this episode, I discuss American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Dan McLeod wrestling George Baptiste in St. Paul, Minnesota during 1899. I end the show with a review of Summer Slam 1997.
News and Update
I give an update on the Ad Santel book project.
Dan McLeod, former American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, in 1909 (Public Domain)
Main Content
On February 24, 1899, American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Dan McLeod wrestled George Baptiste in St. Paul, Minnesota. The men wrestled a three-out-of-five falls match under catch-as-catch-can wrestling rules.
During this time, the St. Paul Athletic Association promoted a handful of Dan McLeod’s title matches. George Baptiste was a skilled middleweight Greco-Roman wrestling specialist.
Recommendations and Reviews
The East Palace (2026) on Netflix
A Wrestler’s Bride (1933) on YouTube
Summer Slam 1997 from East Rutherford New Jersey on August 3, 1997
Mankind versus HHH in a Steel Cage
Excellent match to start the show. Mankind is the main eventer versus an up-and-coming HHH. They always had great matches including this match.
Goldust versus Brian Pillman
If Pillman lost, he had to wear a dress on Raw the next night. I thought they botched the finish but it may have been what the planned.
It Was Almost Real podcast art
Legion of Doom versus the Godwins
Looked great on paper but the Road Warriors are not the tag team of the 1980s. Road Warriors win a lackluster match.
British Bulldog versus Ken Shamrock
Good match. Shamrock ends up with a busted lip. Shamrock loses by disqualification when he loses his temper, smashed the Bulldog in the head with a tin can of dog food, and locks in a sleeper hold. Shamrock holds it on long enough to kill the Bulldog.
Los Boricuas defeated DOA
Skipped this match.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin versus Owen Hart
Great match unfortunately overshadowed by the injury to “Stone Cold’s” neck. The impact of the Sit Out Piledriver caused recurring neck issues that cut Austin’s career short.
Bret “Hitman” Hart versus The Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as special referee
Great package leading into the match focused a lot on the feud between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Bret Hart wrestled his best matches from Survivor Series 1996 to Survivor Series 1997. Hart and Undertaker put on a clinic.
Vince chose wrong. Shawn barely made it to Wrestlemania the following year to drop the title to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. If Vince chose Bret, he would have peak Bret for 3-4 more years.
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