Venue: The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: August 27, 1990
Attendance: Approx. 19,000
MAIN EVENT:
Ultimate Warrior (WWF Champion) vs. Rick Rude (Steel Cage Match – WWF Championship)
This was Warrior’s first SummerSlam as champion, and the company needed to test his drawing power in a marquee match. Enter Rick Rude, a trusted rival who had previously bested Warrior for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania V. Their steel cage rematch closed the show with a satisfying mix of character storytelling and athleticism.
Warrior overcame Heenan’s interference and Rude’s grit, escaping the cage to retain his title and prove his legitimacy as the face of WWF in the post-Hogan championship era. It was Warrior’s moment to stand on his own—and he delivered.
Why it Mattered:
This was one of Warrior’s better matches during his reign, and closing SummerSlam with him instead of Hogan was a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment (even if short-lived). It also marked the end of Warrior’s feud with Rude, who would leave WWF soon after.
WHAT TO WATCH:
1. Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake
This co-main event had massive heat. Billed as a battle for Hogan’s very survival after Earthquake’s kayfabe “injury” to him earlier in the year, the match had big drama and a red-hot Philly crowd. Hogan’s victory (by count-out) wasn’t clean, but it allowed the feud to continue while keeping both men strong.
2. The Hart Foundation vs. Demolition (2 out of 3 Falls – Tag Team Championship)
A masterclass in tag team psychology. With Demolition rotating their members and Legion of Doom interfering to neutralize the numbers game, the Harts pulled off a feel-good victory. It was Bret Hart’s coming-out party as a singles-caliber star.
3. Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Bad News Brown
This match had an interesting build, but it’s really about the post-match moment: Jake bringing out Damien to chase off Bad News and his “trained sewer rats” (which never appeared). The match is short, but the theatrics are classic Jake.
WHAT TO SKIP:
The Warlord vs. Tito Santana
A by-the-numbers power match with zero stakes and little crowd heat. Tito deserved better than this spot.
Nikolai Volkoff & Jim Duggan vs. The Orient Express
While Duggan’s patriotic act was over, this match was slow, one-dimensional, and mostly forgettable. A bathroom break bout.
AFTERMATH:
SummerSlam 1990 reinforced Ultimate Warrior’s role at the top—at least for now. Meanwhile, Hogan remained a major attraction, and Bret Hart’s star began to rise. The tag team division continued to shine, and the seeds were planted for future rivalries, including Hogan’s eventual showdown with Sgt. Slaughter and the Warrior’s path to Randy Savage.
While the Warrior experiment would begin to wane by WrestleMania VII, this night captured the height of his mystique. It was a night of transition, symbolism, and solid booking—underscoring WWF’s depth even as its creative center shifted.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
