SummerSlam History

SummerSlam is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event held in August by World Wrestling Entertainment. The first SummerSlam was held on August 29, 1988 in Madison Square Garden in New York City. SummerSlam is regarded as the second biggest pay-per-view of the year after WrestleMania. Some fans of WWE call it one of the Big Four, as along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series, it was one of the original four annual WWE pay-per-views. As with the other three, this event also bring together both the RAW and SmackDown! brands onto the same card, something that hasnt been true of the remaining pay-per-views of the year since 2003. The 2006 SummerSlam event will be the first to feature the recently established ECW brand.

SummerSlam has seen more ladder matches than any other WWE pay-per-views. The 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2005 events all featured ladder matches. However, following WrestleMania 22 in 2006, WrestleMania now ties the record with five pay-per-view ladder matches (1994, 2000, 2001, 2005, and 2006).

In 2007, SummerSlam celebrates its 20th anniversary. WWE has decided to create an anthology DVD set for SummerSlam and Royal Rumble similar to the WrestleMania anthology set. A Survivor Series anthology set is still unknown.

SummerSlam Dates & Venue

SummerSlam (1988)
August 29, 1988
New York City, New York City, New York
Madison Square Garden

SummerSlam (1989)
August 28, 1989
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Continental Airlines Arena|Meadowlands Arena

SummerSlam (1990)
August 27, 1990
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Wachovia Spectrum|The Spectrum

SummerSlam (1991)
August 26, 1991
New York City, New York City, New York
Madison Square Garden

SummerSlam (1992)
August 29, 1992
London|London, England
Wembley Stadium

SummerSlam (1993)
August 30, 1993
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Palace of Auburn Hills

SummerSlam (1994)
August 29, 1994
Chicago, Illinois
United Center

SummerSlam (1995)
August 27, 1995
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh Civic Arena

SummerSlam (1996)
August 18, 1996
Cleveland, Ohio
Quicken Loans Arena|Gund Arena

SummerSlam (1997)
August 3, 1997
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Continental Airlines Arena

SummerSlam (1998)
August 30, 1998
New York City, New York
Madison Square Garden

SummerSlam (1999)
August 22, 1999
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Target Center

SummerSlam (2000)
August 27, 2000
Raleigh, North Carolina
RBC Center, Entertainment and Sports Arena

SummerSlam (2001)
August 19, 2001
San Jose, California
HP Pavilion|Compaq Center

SummerSlam (2002)
August 25, 2002
Uniondale, New York
Nassau Coliseum

SummerSlam (2003)
August 24, 2003
Phoenix, Arizona
America West Arena

SummerSlam (2004)
August 15, 2004
Toronto|Toronto, Ontario
Air Canada Centre

SummerSlam (2005)
August 21, 2005
Washington, D.C.
MCI Center
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SummerSlam (2006)
August 20, 2006
Boston, Massachusetts
TD Banknorth Garden
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SummerSlam (2007)
August 19, 2007
New York City|New York City, New York
Madison Square Garden
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