1-2-3 Kid v Hakushi (SummerSlam 1995)
SummerSlam 1995 was not exactly a PLE that would blow anyone out of the water. The much hyped ladder match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels was the marquee match, but there was one other that flew below everyone’s radar. An opening match between the 1-2-3 Kid and Hakushi that no one remembers but that everyone should rewatch.
This match represented the incredible talent of Hakushi and the Kid. There was a speed and crispness to everything that they did in the ring. Many of the moves that were showcased were not a normal place for that generation. There was still a reliance on big man matches in the main event, and this match showed such a sharp contrast to that. The excitement of the crowd was evident, and both men bumped their butts off, selling every high spot they could. This is a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of hidden gems.
Ric Flair v Mick Foley (I Quit Match; SummerSlam 2006)
Ric Flair and Mick Foley presented an interesting case study for WWE. The two men didn’t cross paths often, and judging from comments made by Ric Flair, there was a reason for that. The Nature Boy had referred to Mick Foley as nothing more than a stuntman, and this sparked a personal feud that blurred the lines between fiction and reality. It was a brief program, but one that got very intense, producing a short but brutal I Quit Match at SummerSlam.
The real-life animosity between these two men was felt with every move. Flair had no issue adapting to Foley’s hardcore style, as thumb tacks and barbed wire bats were used liberally. Both men bladed, dumping tons of blood all over the ring. The wrestling was dispensed with, and this match resembled a car crash that began to get uncomfortable near the end.
Foley’s friendship with Melina was exploited by Flair, even going so far as to threaten her physical harm, causing Mick Foley to quit the match. From bell to bell, this was a hidden gem of a match that featured two WWE legends.
