WWE Vintage Collection Report: 23rd November 2008
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
A belated welcome this week. I was away at a show all day Sunday so I caught the repeat last night. This week we have three more matches from Survivor Series' past, as we look at 1992, 1993 & 1994. We start at 1993 in the Boston Garden with an odd choice of matchup. Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are on commentary for 1993 and 1992 with Gorilla Monsoon joining Vince in the booth for 1994.
The Bushwhackers & Men on a Mission vs Bam Bam Bigelow, Bastion Booger & The Headshrinkers
Doink promised there would be four clowns. Instead of Doink, we got Bushwhackers and Men on a Mission in clown makeup. We pick it up with Samu and Booger having already been eliminated. The ring is a mess with turkey, water and bananas all lying about. Mo cycles around the ring on a scooter. Bam Bam dropkicks him out of the ring then deposits the scooter. Fatu splashes Mo from the top rope, but gets distracted by a banana skin. Butch threatens to soak Fatu with a pail of water, but there's nothing in it. Fatu literally falls for the bait, allowing Butch to hook the legs and pin him. Bam Bam clears the ring of everyone bar Mabel. Bam Bam fails to get Mabel off his feet, until Mabel misses a charge in the corner, and Bam Bam hits a flying shoulder tackle. Bam Bam gets distracted after Butch throws something over Luna Vachon on the outside. Men on a Mission squash Bam Bam like a pancake in the corner. Bam Bam falls to the mat and the four clowns pile on top for the win. Here Are Your Survivors: THE BUSHWHACKERS & MEN ON A MISSION. Pure filler. Doink's post match ridicule of Bam Bam and Luna on the video wall is edited out.
We switch gears to November 25th, 1992 and the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio. A short time before the event, Ultimate Warrior was fired and a replacement partner for Macho Man had to be found. On an episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Savage alluded to have found the Perfect partner before choosing Mr Perfect. Heenan tells Perfect to follow Ric Flair's orders. Perfect accepts Savage's offer after tiring of being in Flair's shadow. Heenan slaps Perfect. Perfect grabs Heenan by his tie, as Heenan squirms on his knees, while apologising profusely. Heenan offers Perfect a car, boat and double his money to stay on board. Perfect calls Heenan a disgrace of a man before dousing him with a jug of water and announcing he's back. Great segment.
Ric Flair and Razor Ramon are with Mean Gene. Flair says Perfect had the opportunity of a lifetime, basked in the glory of the Nature Boy and walked in the shadow of greatness, because Flair allowed it. Perfect's made a career decision and for stepping onto the other side of the tracks, he now answers to him and the almighty Razor Ramon, Wooooo! Razor says two things are going to happen. He'll prove nobody is Perfect and that he's the only one man in the WWF oozing machismo. Razor calls Savage a one-legged punk and resolves to carve Perfect up, if there's anything left of him, once Flair is done. Flair notes this is the Survivor Series and you have to survive.
Macho Man and Mr Perfect standby with Sean Mooney. Perfect goads Flair, saying it has to be killing him, to see him standing next to Savage as his partner. In reality Flair's always wanted to be just like Perfect. It's too bad there's only one Mr Perfect and that's him. Perfect says whatever Razor's oozing, stinks, before accusing Heenan of keeping him on the backburner for a year and a half, for fear of beating Flair or Razor hands down. Savage notes the key to survival is doing anything to survive, after not having a partner ten days ago. People are saying he's sunk to the lowest depth to pick Mr Perfect. Savage doesn't like or trust Perfect, but no-one knows Flair and Razor like Perfect, who is a superior athlete. Despite never meeting in the ring, Savage thinks they could be the Perfect tag team. Perfect agrees hands down and busts out a Wooooo!
Ric Flair & Razor Ramon vs Macho Man Randy Savage & Mr Perfect
Perfect had served as Flair's Executive Consultant for over a year, while Razor cost Savage the WWF title against Flair, a few months back. Flair had given notice and would leave for WCW within a few months. Surprisingly no trust issues were played up during the bout between Savage and Perfect. Perfect attacks Flair with an Irish whip, backbodydrop, dropkick and several clotheslines to begin. Flair flips upside down in the corner and runs into Savage's fist. Savage attacks Flair and Razor with clotheslines. Savage gets caught in the wrong corner, but fends off Razor's attempts to work the leg. Razor catches Savage in a tree slam. Savage gets worked over and Razor applies an abdominal stretch. Fresh off a break, Flair clotheslines Savage and taunts Perfect. Savage catches Flair on top and tosses him to the mat. Perfect biels Razor across the ring and hits a neck snap, atomic drop and kneelift. Flair receives a kneelift as mayhem ensues. Flair puts Savage out of contention with a chair shot outside the ring. Back inside, Perfect fends off Flair and Razor. Perfect clotheslines Flair to the outside. Perfect accidentally knocks the referee to the outside. Perfect counters the Razor's Edge with a backbodydrop. Perfect traps Razor then Flair in the Perfect Plex, but the heels save each other, as they start double teaming Perfect. With two referees now in the ring, they call for the bell. Flair slaps the figure four on Perfect. Savage blocks a Razor chair swing, before hanging him up on the top rope. Perfect clears the ring with chair shots to Razor and Flair. Here Are Your Winners Via DQ: MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE & MR PERFECT. Good heated match. Perfect would go on to defeat Flair in a loser leaves WWF match in January 1993 on an episode of Raw.
Submission Match-WWF Title
Bret "Hitman" Hart vs Bob Backlund
Backlund lost the WWF title to the Iron Sheik on December 26th, 1983 when then-manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel. Backlund returned in 1993 seeking his former glory. After losing a title match to Bret, Backlund snapped and started his psycho persona, trapping everyone in sight in the Crossface Chickenwing submission. In this match, a trusted ally was in each man's corner, carrying the responsibility of throwing in the towel to signal a submission. Bret had the British Bulldog while Backlund had Owen Hart in his corner. Bret and Owen were still in a major feud and Stu and Helen Hart were seated in the front row. Joined in progress, Backlund works the arm for several minutes, trying to soften Bret up. Bret dishes out an inverted atomic drop and tries to grab Backlund's legs, but Backlund clutches at the ropes. Bret cinches in a figure four with Owen refusing to throw in the towel. Back from a commercial, Bret delivers a backbreaker and elbow from the second rope. Bret pulls Backlund away from the ropes and locks in the Sharpshooter. Bulldog prevents Owen from interfering by chasing him around the outside. Owen slips inside and, as the referee blocks Bulldog's entrance, Owen delivers a bulldog to Bret. Bulldog runs towards Owen who trips him. Bulldog's head hits the ringsteps and Bulldog is out cold. Owen tries to revive Bulldog as Bret curses Owen. From behind, Backlund applies the Chickenwing and pulls Bret away from the ropes. Owen goes into concern mode for Bulldog and Bret. For several minutes, the drama builds, as Owen starts crying and begs his parents for forgiveness and help. Owen begs Helen to throw the towel in for Bret, but Stu prevents her from doing so. Helen finally throws the towel in to signal the end of the bout. Owen gets in the ring, picks up the towel and runs to the back, laughing at the ruse he's just pulled. As Backlund is crowned the champion, Pat Patterson and other officials help Bret from the ring, with Bret heavily favouring his shoulder. Here is Your Winner & New WWF CHAMPION: "MR" BOB BACKLUND. Good story and drama that built to an exciting finish. As we all know, Backlund lost the title just days later to Diesel in a match that lasted mere seconds.
Owen Hart is backstage gloating to Todd Pettengill (remember him.) It was a setup and the greatest thanksgiving of Owen's life. Owen laughs at his parents. They fell into his trap and threw the towel in. Bret is no longer the WWF champion. Owen could have beat Bret before, but Bret cheated. Now Bret is nothing and is below Owen in the gutter. Bret's a loser while Owen is a king. Bret's a nobody. Owen's going to be a WWF Tag Team, Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Champion. Owen will never quit and surrender, unlike Bret. Bret's a quitter. Mum and Dad threw in the towel and Bret's history. Owen is the best there is, was and ever will be, telling Bret to never forget it.......brother. Wooooo!
Bob Backlund says he beat the man that represents our society. Backlund promises to scrutinise, pasteurise, homogenise and synchronise us back into morality. It's sports education and he's our champion. Hmmm Norman Bates anyone? Backlund was very convincing as a raving lunatic.
Okerlund wraps things up to end the show.
This week's retrospective was quite enjoyable and I loved watching these classic promos/moments again. It's always going to be a good show when you get to see the Harts, Randy Savage, Mr Perfect and Ric Flair work. An easy thumbs up. See you Sunday, when we'll conclude our lookback at Survivor Series. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.