LEGION OF DOOM VS. THE GODWINNS

  Vince McMahon, Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross on commentary for this match. The Legion of Doom broke Henry Godwinn's neck not long ago on Shotgun Saturday Night, and The Godwinns have been taking revenge attacking LOD with buckets and hitting a Slop Drop on Hawk on the steel rampway, busting him open. The Hog Farmers enter first before we go to an interview with LOD backstage. Hawk says all the Slop Dropping ends now, and Animal says revenge is sweet before they make their way out. Clearing the ring of the Godwinns and bringing the fans to their feet. Legion of Doom has never lost in their three Summerslam appearances so far. They square off in the middle of the ring as Lawler finally says something, taking a jab at the local Jets sports team. The talking stops and they come to blows. Both Godwinns are sent off the ropes and clotheslined down. Henry rolls out of the ring and is followed by Hawk with a clothesline off the apron. Animal shoulder blocks P. Godwinn down and he goes to the outside also. Hawk is already in his corner.

LEGION OF DOOM VS. THE GODWINNS

WWF Summerslam (3^rd August 1997)

  Animal starts officially with Henry O. Godwinn, attacking and sending Godwinn into the corner, then across the ring. Godwinn tags out but Animal flips out of a back suplex and knocks them both down with clotheslines.

  Phineas Godwinn rolls out of the ring and gets clotheslined by Hawk on the floor. Both Godwinns go back to their corner from the outside as the fans get behind LOD. One Godwinn gets back in the ring but seriously, it's hard for me to know which and they're dressed identically. Godwinn takes it to Hawk and snaps his neck off the top rope. I think it's Henry because they're talking about the neck-breaking again. Henry misses a leg drop and Hawk slides out of the ring, sending Henry into the ring steps. Hawk brings Godwin back into the ring and snapmares him down. Hawk hits a pair of leg drops working on the neck and covers but only gets a nearfall. Henry O. Godwinn fights back and is able to tag out, Phineus I. Godwinn keeps up the attack on Hawk, and turns him over for a neckbreaker but lifts him in the air for a Hangman's hold.

  Hawk elbows out as Vince says this match is about retribution. Hawk catches Godwinn with a boot but can't stop the tag to Henry. Hawk makes a tag out to Animal who hits some shots to the ribs to avoid a collar-elbow tie up and works on Henry Godwinn's arm. Trying to pull the left shoulder out of its socket before clamping down on it. Animal forces Henry against the ropes and has to break, so he hits some shoulder barges to the gut. Henry reverses an irish whip and his partner kicks Animal from the apron. Henry sends Hawk out to the floor with a clothesline and they land right in front of legendary manager Lou Albano. Animal is knocked back off the apron P Godwinn watches the referee, and he can't interfere beside helping Animal back in the ring gently before Henry scoop slams Animal for a nearfall. Henry tags out and the other Godwinn sends Animal into the corner before lifting him for a bear hug.

  Animal fades but shows life on the third drop and tries to fight out with ear claps. Henry Godwinn tags back in but misses a clothesline. Henry Godwinn able to get to Animal quick enough to stop the tag attempt and The Godwinns make another quick tag. P Godwinn takes Animal down and climbs to the second rope but gets caught with a clothesline! Both teams make a tag and Hawk is in like a house on fire! Henry Godwinn runs into a snap powerslam and brought over to his partner in the corner. Hawk taking on both Godwinns with ease as he sends Henry into a corner, sandwiching him with a clothesline. P Godwinn is decapitated with a clothesline and Henry takes a wound up sit-out neckbreaker. Hawk covers but P Godwinn saves the match. Animal clears him from the ring and sends Henry into the corner. Both members of the Legion of Doom squash him with clotheslines.

  Animal lifts him for the Doomsday Device, Phineus Godwinn saves his partner and eats a clothesline from the top. Hawk climbs the turnbuckles again, and Animal has Henry Godwinn up... Spike Piledriver! Hawk covers, 1, 2, 3.

WINNERS: LEGION OF DOOM

This was a fun match, The Godwinns really took it to LOD here and there was a clear story with LOD going after Henry's neck. LOD really should have been the bad guys here but they were at a stage of their careers where they're so respected they get cheered regardless. Besides the flub at the end of the bear hug, it was a sound match, we didn't see the Doomsday Device but the Spike Piledriver is another classic move that worked for the story of the match and the difference really woke me up. WORK RATE: 3.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT: 2.75/5 OVERALL: 6.5/10

The next pair of Summerslam events each has a special gimmick match suited to Ken Shamrock. Last month I reviewed how Shamrock did against Owen Hart in Owen's (literal) habitat. The following month Owen entered Shamrock's world of the Lions Den and cage fighting. The next year they rehashed the idea with Steve Blackman but added weapons in for his martial arts and hand-to-hand combat experience.