WWE WrestleMania and SummerSlam will forever be linked with one another. Outside of being WWE products the two PLEs are the most hyped on the docket. They are the two biggest shows of the year, and the presentation is usually reflective of that. Especially when it comes to the presentation of The Biggest Party of the Summer.
A huge part of the presentation surrounding SummerSlam is celebrities. Bringing in A-Listers is a great way to boost attendance numbers and buy rates and create special moments that don’t happen at other shows.
However, SummerSlam’s history has been suspect when it comes to celebrities. There have been times when the celeb appearance goes as planned, is a big hit, and leaves a lasting impression on the show. Conversely, there have been times when the appearance tanks and leaves the fans scratching their head.
Best: Walter Payton – SummerSlam 1994
Christening the new United Centre was a huge deal. It was a brand-new arena, and the Chicago area was a big WWE stronghold. It was a show they needed to go well and what better way to bring attention to it than having Walter Payton?
Sweetness was a great celebrity appearance. He was a beloved icon of the city and was a legitimate tough guy. His athletic ability gave him immediate credibility when matching up with the men in the locker room. He had no problem getting involved in the Razor Ramon, Diesel, and, HBK feud, and seeing him take out HBK was a highlight of the Intercontinental Championship Match.
Worst: Leslie Nielson – SummerSlam 1994
On the same PLE where Walter Payton shone, we got a terrible cameo by none other than Lt. Frank Drebin. With The Undertaker out of action for months and a teased return, WWE decided to bring in Leslie Nielson to hunt down the real Undertaker. It was thought that the comedy angle would work but it fell flat.
To begin with, Neilson didn’t have the same name recognition as the fans. It was a younger crowd that didn’t follow the comedian’s career which caused a lot of his segments to not get the desired reaction. It was also misguided to have Nielson involved in the angle at all. His comedy took away from the aura of The Undertaker and it made no sense to mesh the comedy and seriousness of the two characters.
Best: Insane Clown Posse – SummerSlam 1998
Look, the clowns might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are entertaining individuals who have become incredibly successful in their own world. They were also a great addition to SummerSlam1998, and their inclusion should be celebrated.
Pairing the duo up with The Oddities was awesome. They added some more numbers to the oddball group and their enthusiasm made the group seem legitimate. They also brought a ton of energy to Madison Square Garden and the crowd was hopping throughout The Oddities entrance. They may not be for everyone, but they nailed their appearance on that night.
Worst: CeeLo Green – SummerSlam 2011
From a great musician’s appearance to a downright terrible one, we have CeeLo Green lending his talents to SummerSlam in 2011.
Green was not one who was associated with wrestling. His connection with the fans was nonexistent and this saw him get a terrible reaction from the live audience. Everyone, obviously, knew who the man was but no one cared that he was there.
It also didn’t help that WWE decided to have him perform during the broadcast. Not a single person was interested in seeing this during a wrestling PLE. It wasn’t a great idea and one that didn’t go over well with the crowd.
Best: Jesse Ventura – SummerSlam 1988
The Body has not had the greatest track record at SummerSlam more on that later, but he can at least hang his hat on this gem.
Ventura had a ton of history in wrestling, yes, but he was a big movie star as well. His successful appearances in Predator and The Running Man made him a household name and a great choice to be the special referee. His heel leanings made for an interesting dynamic during the match with fans questioning as to how down the middle he would call it.
Jesse Ventura was exactly what the main event needed. He added even more star power to the match while being an active participant. The match was not diminished by his involvement and that is what makes his appearance so great.
Worst: Jon Stewart – SummerSlam 2015/2016
Jon Stewart is a generationally talented comedian. Being involved at SummerSlam could have been a great moment but unfortunately, WWE bungled it. Bungled it not once but two years in a row at the Biggest Party of the Summer.
In 2015 Stewart had some funny segments but him costing John Cena that World Championship was ridiculous. It was lazy booking that allowed Cena to take a dirty loss. It added nothing to the match and lessened the importance of the title for the title contest.
Then Stewart came back the next year and ruined his New Day segment. His comedic timing was off with the trio and the segment was lauded by everyone watching. It was two years’ worth of mistakes by Stewart.
Best: Lennox Lewis – SummerSlam 1992
The United Kingdom’s first PLE was a rousing success. The crowd was hot, and WWE put on some great matches to hammer home the importance of the show, and of course, British iconography was everywhere.
The entire night was sprinkled with U.K. flags and other symbols of the culture. It made sense to do this to add a uniqueness to the evening and that carried with Lennox Lewis. A heavyweight boxing champion, Lewis was known the world over and was a massively over individual.
The champ leading the hometown boy to the ring was perfect. It provoked a huge sense of national pride and got the crowd hot for the main event.
Worst: Tiny Lister – SummerSlam 1989
No Holds Barred was a terrible decision for WWE. The movie may have nostalgic value but everything about it was a failure. So naturally WWE would think it a great idea to bring Hulk Hogan’s nemesis from the movie.
Tiny Lister, while an entertaining actor, had no business being in a wrestling match, let alone the main event. He has zero wrestling ability and was lost in the ring against seasoned workers. There were plenty of other monsters on the roster who could have taken his spot and had a better showing.
Best: Stephen Amell – SummerSlam 2015
Stephen Amell started a new trend in WWE. For years celebrities who entered the squared circle have been awful and had no place in a ring. It was an embarrassment to them and the company. Thankfully, Amell bucked that trend at WWE SummerSlam 2015.
Amell had been a special guest, on Raw, for a few weeks before SummerSlam. Each of those weeks he ran afoul of Stardust which led to this tag match being booked at WWE SummerSlam.
Once the tag match started the world was amazed at Amell. He understood how to work a match and was able to pull off some impressive moves. It was a shock to everyone that he was able to bound off the top rope, it was not something any celeb had done in the past. It was a successful appearance for the Green Arrow.
Worst: Jesse Ventura – SummerSlam 1999
WWE SummerSlam 1999 took place in Minnesota. With a big show coming to the state, it would make sense to involve some local celebrities, enter Jesse Ventura. Ventura was a face from the past and would get a nostalgic pop and it probably helped that he just so happened to be the Governor of Minnesota. It was just a shame he was used in the way he was.
Ventura would have been great for an in-ring/backstage segment. What he was not great for was being the special referee in the main event. There was no reason to have him in the match, he didn’t add anything to the triple threat and even took some attention away from Steve Austin, Triple H, and Mankind.
His turn as a referee, at the inaugural WWE SummerSlam was a great example of how to use a celebrity. It was a booking decision that should have been referred to when including him in the main event of SummerSlam 1999.
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