Poem: SummerSlam ‘88

A poem that is not entirely (but mostly) about SummerSlam 1988

We met early in ’88, so by the time SummerSlam rolled around
we were mates; I stayed at his – and we stayed up late – waiting
for the fights to start and for his parents to go to bed.

It was all about tag-team matches back then, so we loved seeing
The British Bulldogs against The Fabulous Rougeaus – even if
it ended in a draw, even if it was a bit of a bore. The Powers

of Pain defeated the Bolsheviks, which was more of what we wanted,
after short matches from Rick Rude and Bad News Brown. I loved Rick Rude,
and he loved Bad News Brown – we both loved  The Ultimate Warrior, and

enjoyed seeing him destroy The Honky Tonk Man in 30 seconds.
Neither of us cared that much for Dino Bravo nor Don ‘The Rock’ Muraco –
so that was a chance to creep to the kitchen, to sneak some snacks.

Then back into our sleeping bags, and the volume on the TV had to
stay low. So, we kept our laughter and talking as quiet as possible.
Demolition defeated The Hart Foundation, Jake Roberts beat Hercules,

and The Big Boss Man obviously wasted Koko B. Ware. We didn’t care
for those matches so much – though we both loved Jake The Snake.
And then it was The Mega Powers against The Mega Bucks.

Which meant Hulk Hogan and The Macho Man against Andre The Giant and
Ted DiBiase. Of course the good guys won. And we took it back to school,
declaring ourselves The Mega Powers in all the tag-team matches

during lunchtimes. And that’s what we were. For a year. Or so. And then
there was a school assembly banning wrestling in the playground.
And it would be many years before we’d have our own wrestling-type storyline,

the Mega Powers colliding. Friends no more. A huge story would play out
across the net decade, with me on the ropes most often. Both of us jostling
for position. Eventually, a submission. But it all started with SummerSlam, 1988.