WWE Vintage Collection Report: 8th June 2008
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome to the first in a brand new series. On a take from WWE 24/7's MSG Classics, all the matches on this week's show emanated from NYC's infamous Madison Square Garden Arena. Before most of the matches, Okerlund gave us a quick backstory as to what was happening, and how the matches came about. Four matches on cue this week. We start with a matchup which we join in progress.
Demolition w/Mr Fuji vs The Rockers (October 1988)
The commentary team for this match are Lord Alfred Hayes, Rod Trongard and Superstar Billy Graham. It was never mentioned whether this was a Tag Title match or not. We pick it up with Shawn Michaels getting worked over by Smash's boston crab then Ax's slam and nonchalant cover. Smash cuts off a Michaels fightback with a drop toehold, before Michaels finds himself in two subsequent bearhugs. Michaels gets out and is able to thwart a backbodydrop attempt before getting the hot tag to Marty Jannetty. Jannetty comes in with punches to both Demos. Smash reverses an Irish whip, but Jannetty gets a cross body from the second rope for a one count. All four go at it, as the Rockers whip the Demos into one another. The Rockers score with two double dropkicks and a double flying shoulder tackle on Ax. Smash receives a double suplex. The Rockers knock Mr Fuji off the apron for good measure. Smash eats a double clothesline. Jannetty comes off of Michaels' shoulders from the top rope, with a splash onto Smash. 1-2-broken up by Ax. The referee keeps Michaels out as Smash hoists up Jannetty and Ax clotheslines him from the apron. Smash covers for the 1-2-3. Here Are Your Winners: DEMOLITION: Good match. Shame we didn't get to see it in its entirety. Literally a month after this, Demolition pulled their infamous double turn with the Powers of Pain at Survivor Series.
Superfly Jimmy Snuka vs The Undertaker w/Brother Love (January 1991)
Your commentators here are Bobby Heenan and Sean Mooney. All match, Brother Love tells Snuka that Undertaker will bury him. For some reason, Heenan can't get over Undertaker wearing grey rubber gloves to wrestle. Undertaker steps outside to stop Snuka stalking Love to begin. Back inside, Snuka foolishly turns his back, allowing Undertaker to take control with a choke in the ropes and a claw. Undertaker catches a cross body attempt off the ropes, turning it into a slam. Undertaker misses an elbow attempt. Snuka sends Undertaker to the outside with a diving headbutt. Snuka fails to budge Undertaker with a shoulder tackle. Undertaker counters a hiptoss with a clothesline. Snuka gets worked over with another claw. Snuka fights back with chops and a headbutt. Snuka gets whipped into a knee to the gut. Undertaker gets a nearfall from a legdrop as we break away for a commercial. When we return, Snuka tries and fails to get Undertaker off his feet with a headbutt from the second rope. Snuka gets Undertaker down for a nearfall, after a dive attack off the ropes. Undertaker reverses an Irish whip, Snuka comes off the second rope, but Undertaker catches him with the Tombstone piledriver. 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: THE UNDERTAKER. Slow, but Undertaker was starting to catch fire with the fans. Not long after this, the miscast Brother Love was quickly replaced by Paul Bearer. Undertaker creamed Snuka again a few months later at WrestleMania VII. Snuka quietly disappeared from WWE over the next year.
Macho Man Randy Savage w/Miss Elizabeth vs Andre The Giant w/Bobby Heenan (October 1988) WWF Title
The commentators are as they were from the first match, as it's the same date and card. Savage comes out first for the 'psychological advantage' (according to the commentators) followed by an immobile Andre. He really was struggling at this point of his career, which is still sad to see. Andre holds a count out victory over Savage from a prior bout. This is the rematch and if Savage is counted out again, then he will lose his title. Also, if Elizabeth or Heenan leave their respective corners then their protege will be instantly DQed. Pat Patterson was the ringside official who relayed these rulings to ring announcer Howard Finkel. Andre gets the early advantage with chokes and headbutts before a commercial rudely interrupts us. Back with the action and Andre has Savage in a double arm hook. Andre pulls off a turnbuckle pad. Savage uses a flurry of shots to stagger Andre, before dropping him down into a seated position in the corner. A double axehandle from the top rope drops Andre, but Savage misses his top rope elbow, as Andre rolls to the outside. Savage hits a second double axehandle from the top rope to Andre on the outside. As the referee tends to Andre, Heenan leaves his corner to try and pull Savage to the outside. The referee sees this and DQs Andre. After the bell, Savage just manages to get free of Heenan, as Andre gets in and misses an elbow drop. Savage punches Heenan then leaves with his belt and Elizabeth, while Andre screams at the announcers. Not pretty. Here is Your Winner via DQ: MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE.
Hulk Hogan vs 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Orndorff w/Rowdy Roddy Piper (February 1984) WWF Title
Gorilla Monsoon and Pat Patterson are calling the action. Hulkamania was born one month before, when Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik for his first title. On that same night, Orndorff debuted. Less than a month later, Orndorff has earned a title shot. Piper gets ejected at the start to make it a level playing field. Hogan has nearly a full head of hair here. A feeling out process leads to a couple of stalemates. Orndorff starts with two side headlocks. Hogan escapes by first dumping Orndorff to the floor, then hitting him with a shoulder tackle. Hogan tries to work the arm but ends up getting worked over in the ropes. Hogan turns the tide with lots of head rams in the corner. Hogan levels Orndorff with a clothesline and Orndorff goes outside. Yet another commercial interrupts the action. Upon returning, Hogan grounds Orndorff with a long side headlock. Hogan hits a shoulder tackle, before Orndorff recovers to hit Hogan with a high knee. Orndorff works over Hogan with kneedrops, stomps, a dropkick and backbreaker. Orndorff drives Hogan's head into the mat several times. Hogan reverses an Irish whip, but Orndorff immediately rebounds with a clothesline, to regain the advantage. Orndorff hits a kneedrop from the second rope to the back of Hogan's head. Orndorff signals for his patented piledriver and hits it at the third attempt. Orndorff plays to the crowd before covering. 1-2-no, Hogan powers out and Hulks up. Hogan lands punches, an Irish whip, backelbow and face rake. Orndorff rakes Hogan's face to prevent a backbodydrop. Orndorff goes for the piledriver again, but Hogan backdrops him out of the ring for a countout victory. This was surprisingly good. Orndorff brought the best out of Hogan. This was the start of Hulkamania, as Hogan was just about to break out and go on his infamous run. Here is Your Winner via Countout: HULK HOGAN.
Okerlund wraps things up to end the show.
Best match: Hulk Hogan vs Paul Orndorff.
Worst match: Macho Man vs Andre The Giant.
Show verdict: Thumbs in the middle. A nice throwback show, but matches two and three were a bit flat. However, the opener and main event delivered. My TV guide promised Bad News Brown vs Bret Hart, Randy Savage vs Ted DiBiase and Demolition vs Strike Force. Maybe that'll be on next week's show? I hope so. The constant interruptions during the matches were annoying and ruined the flow.
Due to a heavy workload, the promised Heat awards and columns have been pushed back for a couple of days. I should have the nominations for the Heat awards out tomorrow night, with the column about the end of Heat done by the end of the week. Apologies for the delays. I've just not had a chance to get them done yet.
In addition, I'll return with the next Vintage Collection report next Sunday/Monday. 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.
