WWE Vintage Collection Report (08/31/08)

WWE Vintage Collection Report: 31st August 2008
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund

Welcome aboard. This week, the show reverts back to Madison Square Garden. The date is March 1991 and the time is one week before WrestleMania VII. Five matches await us and, joining Gorilla Monsoon on commentary is Lord Alfred Hayes and Bobby Heenan. Let's get started.

The British Bulldog vs The Warlord
A WrestleMania VII preview here. Warlord counters a Bulldog crucifix with a samoan drop, to take control of the matchup. Warlord drops three elbows, sends Bulldog into the corner and catches him in a bearhug. Bulldog fights out, but runs right into a hotshot across the top rope. Warlord continues his slow motion offense, before we get a forearm exchange. Warlord goes to the eyes to keep the advantage. Warlord delivers a backbreaker and fistdrop. Warlord argues a slow count with the referee (who isn't one of the regular referees and is shockingly poor at counting, in the few matches he officiates this week). Snapmare and chinlock by Warlord. Bulldog fights back with elbows, a headbutt and standing dropkick, all of which stagger Warlord. Warlord gets his head rammed into the corner ten times. Bulldog hits a messy forearm from the second rope, before a flying cross body finally takes the big man down. Warlord goes to counter a piledriver, but Bulldog tries a sunset flip. Warlord drops to his knees, but Bulldog finally hooks him for a nearfall. Bulldog Irish whips then charges into a boot. Bulldog hooks the top rope to thwart a running powerslam. Warlord Irish whips, misses a charge and Bulldog rolls him up for the 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: THE BRITISH BULLDOG. Slow and uneventful. Post match sees Warlord attack Bulldog and place him in a full nelson. Two referees come in to break it up, as Warlord leaves Bulldog laying. There was no heat for the post-match beatdown and Bulldog got his revenge by winning a slightly better bout at WrestleMania.

Marty Jannetty vs Pat Tanaka w/Mr Fuji
The Rockers and Orient Express tore it up throughout 1991, with a stellar series of matchups at House shows and on foreign tours. Here we are joined in progress. We get some stall tactics, as Mr Fuji distracts Jannetty from the outside. This allows Tanaka to loosen a turnbuckle pad on the inside. Tanaka talks trash then starts to shove and slap Jannetty. Jannetty takes it for a while, before punching back and hitting a flying backelbow and crescent kick. Tanaka begs off, before pulling Jannetty into the corner and working him over a little. Jannetty reverses an Irish whip, but misses a splash and goes over the top rope to the floor. Fuji teases a cane shot but the referee's onto him. Tanaka delivers a snapmare and diving headbutt into Jannetty's gut. Jannetty comes back with a faceplant from the top rope. Tanaka gets his foot on the rope to break up a pin attempt. Tanaka cradles Jannetty, but the referee spots Tanaka with his feet on the ropes. Jannetty takes advantage with a schoolboy for a nearfall. Tanaka drills Jannetty with a side kick and spinning front forearm off the ropes. Tanaka sends Jannetty to the floor again with a stinging chop. Fuji goads Jannetty back in from the outside. Jannetty slides back in underneath Tanaka, who comes back with a double axehandle across Jannetty's back. The finish comes when Tanaka lifts Jannetty up for a piledriver, Jannetty maneuvers into a reversal and nails Tanaka who's out cold. 1-2-3. Good matchup. Here is Your Winner: MARTY JANNETTY.

The Undertaker w/Paul Bearer vs Tugboat
Tugboat is already in the ring as the Deadman makes his entrance. This was basically a showcase for the Undertaker. During the bout, the announcers tried to get over the presence of Paul Bearer's urn and speculated whose remains were in it. Basically, Bearer held it away from him whenever Undertaker was doing well, but held it close to his chest whenever Undertaker faltered. Remarkably, Undertaker was tattoo free at this stage. As Tugboat plays to the crowd, Undertaker attacks him from behind, with several shots and a choke. Undertaker thwarts a backbodydrop attempt by throwing Tugboat face first into the mat. Undertaker chokes Tugboat on the mat then against the top rope. Undertaker drops an elbow, then misses a second one. Undertaker is quick to recover, as he hits a flying clothesline off the ropes. Tugboat comes back with punches, but even a clothesline over the top rope doesn't take Undertaker off his feet. Tugboat drags Undertaker onto the apron, so Undertaker hangs him up on the top rope. Undertaker drops an elbow from the top rope and gets the 1-2-3. What? No tombstone piledriver? Disappointing. Using the tombstone would have put Undertaker over stronger, as it wasn't as if they were protecting Tugboat. Frustrating match. Here is Your Winner: THE UNDERTAKER.

Shawn Michaels w/Marty Jannetty vs Kato w/Pat Tanaka & Mr Fuji
Time for match two in this week's Rockers vs Orient Express series. Michaels initially comes out alone, but wisely runs to get backup, when he sees the opposing numbers advantage. Michaels matches Kato early on by repeating a hiptoss and monkey flip sequence. Michaels scores with a couple of armdrags and sets in an armbar, as we cut away for a commercial break. When we return, Kato has a nerve hold set in on a worn down Michaels. Michaels gets free and drills an elbow into the back of Kato's head, to put both men down. Kato works over Michaels in the corner then Irish whips. Michaels sidesteps a charge and Kato crotches himself in the corner. Michaels comes back with an inverted atomic drop, clothesline (which sees Kato do a nice 360), flying elbow and crescent kick. Shades of Sweet Chin Music there. Michaels drops an elbow from the top rope, but only gets a two count. Kato whips Michaels, who floats over a charge and rolls up Kato for another nearfall. Kato reverses and hooks the tights, 1-2-no. Fuji trips Michaels coming off the ropes. Fuji gets on the apron to distract the referee. Michaels gets Kato in a sunset flip attempt. Jannetty pulls at Fuji, who drops his cane. Tanaka picks it up and, as Michaels attempts a backslide on Kato, Tanaka drills Michaels in the chest with the cane. As Jannetty and Fuji separate, Kato backslides Michaels and gets the shock 1-2-3. Smooth matchup. I just wish more of it was shown. Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond (Kato) were really underrated workers in my view. It's a shame that the Express quietly split in the Summer of '91 and were jobbed out as singles. Here is Your Winner: KATO. Post match sees a happy Fuji give Heenan a cheeky thumbs up from ringside.

Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase vs Texas Tornado
Main Event time. Before the bout, Okerlund chronicles the recent DiBiase and Virgil history, detailing the duo's bitter split at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Here, DiBiase is already in the ring. Tornado comes out and gets on the mic. Tornado taunts DiBiase, as he tells MSG that moneybags is all alone. Tornado asks where's DiBiase's bodyguard Virgil? Tornado asks if the crowd likes surprises, before calling Virgil down to the ring. DiBiase blows a gasket, as Virgil comes down and gives props to Tornado. A small Virgil chant breaks out. DiBiase gets distracted and goes outside to confront Virgil. Tornado taps DiBiase on the back. DiBiase blows him off a first time, before getting met with punches a second time. Tornado drives DiBiase's head into the ring apron and ring steps. Back inside, DiBiase begs off, suckering Tornado in to take control with some chops. Tornado counters a head ram into the corner with ten rams of his own. Tornado schoolboys DiBiase for a nearfall then hits a clothesline. DiBiase rolls outside, so Virgil throws him back in. Tornado schoolboys DiBiase again for a two count. DiBiase rolls out once again to confront Virgil. Tornado comes out to exchange punches with DiBiase. After sending DiBiase into the ringpost, Tornado connects with his spinning tornado punch. The tide turns after Tornado Irish whips and misses a charge. After hitting the corner, Tornado falls to the outside, holding his face. DiBiase comes out to punch and drive Tornado's head into the ringsteps. Inside, DiBiase delivers chops, an Irish whip, clothesline, forerarm shot and vertical suplex. DiBiase crawls over to where Virgil is based to talk some trash. DiBiase disposes of Tornado through the ropes. As DiBiase scoops Tornado up on the apron, Virgil swipes DiBiase's leg and holds on, as Tornado falls on top of DiBiase and gets the duke.
1-2-3. A good matchup which served its purpose of giving the DiBiase/Virgil matchup some extra sizzle at WrestleMania. The fact that there was minimal physical contact between DiBiase and Virgil also heightened the crowd's anticipation. Here is Your Winner: TEXAS TORNADO. Post match sees Virgil and Tornado leave as DiBiase lets off steam inside the ring and protests to the referee.

Okerlund wraps things up to end the show.

Best match: Shawn Michaels vs Kato.
Worst match: The British Bulldog vs The Warlord.
Show verdict: Thumbs in the middle. The Rockers/Orient Express exchanges and the Ted DiBiase/Virgil feud were the best things highlighted on this week's show.

I may be critical at times, but Vintage Collection is a great throwback to classic nostalgia from back in the day. For every piece of Wrestlecrap shown, there's always a stellar matchup or two on show. As Colt Cabana would say: 'Good times, great memories.' See you next weekend. Shaun.

If anyone wants to sound off, chew the fat or talk wrestling get in touch. Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.