A Slammy Awards retrospective
December 12, 2012
Watch the 2012 Slammy Awards on Monday's Raw
The 2012 Slammy Awards will take place live on the Monday, Dec. 17 episode of Raw at 8/7 CT on USA Network. ( FULL STORY) With WWE’s colorful night of recognition right around the corner, there’s no better time to look back at some of the shocking moments of Slammys ceremonies past. ( WATCH | PHOTOS)
Though the event is meant to honor the WWE’s best, things get out of hand more often than not, leading to some of the wackiest happenings in WWE history — like these unforgettable moments.
"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Harley Race brawl throughout the 1987 Slammy Awards
At the 1987 edition of the Slammys, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan was given the task of presenting the “Best Ring Attire” award. On this formal occasion, the die-hard patriot showed up in his finest tuxedo T-shirt and put a spiffy bowtie on his trademark two-by-four. What happened on this December night was anything but classy, however.
King Harley Race, Duggan’s rival at the time, won the award. He and his manager, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, not satisfied with just the Slammy, tried to make Duggan bow before “The King.” Duggan refused, as his only loyalties are to the Stars and Stripes. This set off a brawl that lasted the rest of the night and went throughout Caesar’s Atlantic City.
The two future WWE Hall of Famers hit each other with everything but the kitchen sink, using stools, makeup and even a fish. The melee ended shortly after “Hacksaw” and Race burst through a video screen and tumbled onto the stage. Hillbilly Jim reunited Duggan with his board, which gave Race enough time to escape and Gorilla Monsoon the opportunity to restrain “Hacksaw,” saving the show from more destruction.
Mr. McMahon sings “Stand Back” at the 1987 Slammy Awards
The Chairman of WWE is quite the jack of all trades. He took WWE from a regional operation to the global force it is today. He’s stepped in between the ropes and captured the WWE Championship. But did you know he could croon and cut a rug with the best?
Mr. McMahon proved he could do just that at the 1987 Slammys, when he hit the stage to sing a warning to all who stood in his way: “Stand Back!” Shaking and shimmying with a bevy of dancing beauties, he was backed by the most unique band in music history. The soulful horn section was comprised of The Junkyard Dog and The Killer Bees on saxophone, along with “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake and Jake “The Snake” Roberts blowing trumpets. George “The Animal” Steele provided percussion on the tambourine, while Hulk Hogan rounded out the band, slapping the bass in a sleeveless tuxedo.
The Chairman showed off his dulcet tones, as well as the deep growl that would later let Superstars know “You’re fired!” While several of Mr. McMahon’s foes would dig the video out of the WWE archives in an attempt to embarrass him, The Boss shouldn’t be ashamed. You won’t see too many billionaires telling their competition to watch out in the form of a song, after all.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin wins Freedom of Speech Slammy in 1997
The Texas Rattlesnake has never held back when it comes to speaking his mind. It was no different on the night before WrestleMania 13, when “Stone Cold” Steve Austin won the “Freedom of Speech” Slammy Award. Taking over the microphone from a crazed Bob Backlund, Austin opted not to go with the traditional acceptance speech and instead issued a warning to the Superstar he would face on The Grandest Stage of Them All: Bret “Hit Man” Hart.
On the night before their now-legendary Submission Match, “Stone Cold” told his foe he would be bringing “blood, sweat and tears” and he expected no less from Hart.
Austin’s grim speech put an end to the jovial mood of the Slammys ceremony, so WWE’s resident clown, Doink, took it upon himself to brighten the spirits of the audience. While The Bionic Redneck made his way back to his seat, Doink unloaded a can of silly string on the future WWE Champion. Austin, in no mood for joking, struck the goof while several Superstars tried to pull him off.
WWE Superstars join forces to sing “If You Only Knew” at the 1987 Slammys
Ever wonder what it would be like if all the WWE Superstars got together and sang about wanting to beat each other up? No? Well, it happened at the 1987 Slammys.
The heroes and villains of WWE took up opposite ends of the stage to belt out a tune about belting each other. On the evil side of the performance, Jimmy Hart ditched his normally airbrushed attire for a hot-pink tuxedo and had his charges, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and The Hart Foundation, don similar suits. It may have been the first and only time WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hit Man” Hart wore something so garish outside the ring. Slick, normally called “The Doctor of Style,” committed a major fashion faux pas in a sparkling gold tuxedo and matching top hat. And just what was Hercules thinking when he raided Julius Caesar’s closet for the ancient Roman getup he wore?
The good guys weren’t dressed much better. Jake “The Snake” Roberts threw a tuxedo jacket over his wrestling tights, while Ultimate Warrior somehow found a bowtie and suspenders that matched his face paint and neon arm tassels. It’s a little sad The British Bulldogs stick out from the pack for wearing normal tuxedos. Strange wardrobe choices aside, WWE is the only place you’ll see bitter rivals join forces in the name of music.
Chris Jericho wins Superstar of the Year in 2008
Normally, a Superstar or Diva might take the time after winning a Slammy Award to thank the people who helped him or her get to where they are, but Chris Jericho has never been one to turn down an opportunity to let the WWE Universe know just how great he is. That’s exactly what he did after he won the prestigious Superstar of the Year Slammy in 2008.
In trademark fashion, Jericho chided the WWE Universe for being mindless sheep before running down a list of his 2008 achievements, including his record-setting eighth Intercontinental Championship reign and two World Heavyweight Titles. He also talked about shedding his happy-go-lucky Y2J persona, which he claimed was the best thing he ever did. His sudden attitude change was disgusting to the WWE Universe, which showered Jericho with boos as he arrogantly held his Slammy high. At that point, the fans would have rather seen Little Boogeyman with the award.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton - 2009 Superstar of the Year Match
Could you imagine Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth in an all-out brawl for the rights to be called Best Actor? WWE turned the traditional awards show on its head in 2009, when the Superstar of the Year award was not determined by a vote, but by a one-night, four-Superstar tournament, featuring John Cena, Randy Orton, The Undertaker and CM Punk.
In the opening round, the Cenation leader overcame The Straight Edge Superstar’s onslaught of strikes to advance to the final, while Randy Orton pulled off a big count-out victory over The Phenom after an RKO on the arena floor.
In the tournament final, Orton and Cena fought a grueling, back-and-forth battle. The Viper kicked out of Cena’s Attitude Adjustment and took the offensive, laying Cena out with a DDT from the ring apron to the floor. Orton put Cena back in the ring and set him up for a vicious punt that would have surely spelled victory. Cena avoided the boot and hit Orton with a thunderous Attitude Adjustment, however, to take home the win and his first of two straight Superstar of the Year awards.
The Miz steals “Angry Miz Girl’s” Slammy in 2010
Many fans head to Raw and SmackDown with big signs and outlandish costumes, hoping to get a few seconds of TV time. One fan, however, ended up forever associated with The Miz’s first WWE Title victory. When The Awesome One shocked the world by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and winning the WWE Championship from Randy Orton on Raw, WWE cameras caught a girl in the arena attempting to stare a hole through the new champion.
Screen captures of the young WWE fan spread like wildfire over the Internet. Just who was this girl and why did she hate The Miz so much? Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long to find out. The “Angry Miz Girl,” whose real name is Cayley, won the “WWE Universe Fan Reaction of the Year” Slammy.
Her shining moment didn’t last long, though, as the The Miz and Alex Riley came out and patronized the little girl, pretending to admire her Slammy before The Awesome One took it right from the girl’s hands, cementing his place then as one of WWE’s most despicable Superstars.
CM Punk wins 'Pipe bomb' of the Year and Superstar of the Year 2011
The year 2011 may very well go down not only as the greatest year of CM Punk’s career, but also one of the greatest all-time years for any WWE Superstar.
Instant-classic matches and inspiring title reigns aside, The Voice of the Voiceless made perhaps his most lasting and memorable impact with a “pipe bomb.” On the June 29 edition of Raw, Punk delivered a scathing speech, criticizing WWE and the WWE Universe, shaking the foundation of the company in the process.
This star-making moment, combined with his incredible in-ring success, made CM Punk the Superstar of the Year for 2011. Outlasting other notable Superstars like The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, John Cena, Mark Henry and Randy Orton, Punk loudly announced he will have a lasting presence on WWE’s biggest stages. “Pipe bomb,” indeed. ( WATCH | PHOTOS)
What will happen at this year’s Slammy Awards? Tune in Monday at 8/7 CT on USA Network.
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