WWE Vintage Collection Report: 8th February 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. This week we go back to September 20th 1997. Four matches are on hand from the "One Night Only" PPV, which was held at the NEC Arena in Birmingham, England. It was the only event to be held in England during 1997, hence the name. Four matches are highlighted. Vince McMahon was flanked by Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler on commentary. Let's dive right in.
A video chronicling the roots, rivalry and athleticism shared between the British Bulldog and Shawn Michaels starts the show. The comment pieces come courtesy of video release "The Fab Four." This was a shoot type documentary released around the same time as One Night Only, featuring the thoughts of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker and British Bulldog. Various snippets were spliced in during today's show. At this point, Bulldog references the global battles he's engaged with Michaels. Bulldog respects Michaels as an athelete and one of the world's best wrestlers. (I'm sure he felt differently at the end of this event. More on that later.) Michaels talks about how his irritating presence causes controversy. You can say that again Shawn. Bulldog finishes by saying he represents Great Britain with pride, wearing the Union Jack wherever he goes.
Owen Hart vs Vader
During this era, the Hart Foundation were hated heels in the U.S, but beloved faces everywhere else. The UK embraced the Hart family. Joined in progress, Vader has a half crab applied, pressing his weight onto Owen. Vince notes Owen's last European appearance, in the European Title final against British Bulldog. Cracker of a match too from Berlin, Germany. If you can find it, watch it. Vader wins a punch exchange. Vader splashes on top of Owen for a nearfall. Owen counters a powerbomb with an enziguiri kick. Owen locks on the Sharpshooter, but Vader gets to the ropes. The crowd are solidly behind Owen. Owen manages to slam Vader for a two count. Owen Irish whips, but Vader bear paws him down. Owen gets his knees up to thwart a Vader Bomb. Owen hits a top rope missile dropkick, nips up then fires up. Owen ducks under a clothesline and hits a spin kick. 1-2-no. Owen goes airborne again, but Vader catches him with a powerslam. 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: VADER. Great back and forth opener, although you could telegraph the final pinning sequence due to Vader's body language when Owen was climbing up top. He had already shaped himself for a powerslam. That being said, it's a shame more of the match wasn't shown. Post match sees Vader brush off the fans.
Dude Love vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley w/Chyna
Before the bout, Okerlund puts over Helmsley's 1997, which included winning King of the Ring and forming DX with Shawn Michaels. As for Foley, Okerlund calls Dude Love 'odd' and a 'questionable' persona. Sounds like sour grapes to me. Guess that's what happens when someone defects to TNA. We pick things up with Love reversing a drop toehold and applying an Indian Deathlock. Helmsley gets sent upside down in the corner. With Helmsley perched, Love mounts to chop at the ankle before dropping an elbow across the face. Helmsley gets freed by the referee. Helmsley has to jump to avoid Love's Sweet Shin Music (not a typo.) A chase ensues on the outside. Chyna interjects herself to clothesline Love. Back from a commercial, both men are down. Love lands numerous punches and head rams to the corner. Love hits a corner clothesline before charging into a boot. Love catches Helmsley going up top and armdrags him to the mat. Sweet Shin Music is followed by a double arm DDT. 1-2-no, Chyna puts Helmsley's foot on the bottom rope. Love gets distracted as he tells the referee what Chyna did. Helmsley takes advantage to boot the gut and hit the Pedigree. 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY. What was shown was quite good. Triple H certainly looked a lot different in 1997 than he does now. Same goes for Chyna.
Clips air from the previous month's SummerSlam where Bret Hart won his fifth WWF title from the Undertaker. Guest referee Shawn Michaels cost Undertaker the match following a wayward chair shot, which isn't shown here. Talk moves to the universal respect that Undertaker garners. Michaels talks about his own ego before admitting he's impressed when he sees someone that has something he doesn't. Bret says that Undertaker wants the title so bad, and you're in for a long fight with him, no matter the size of the town or crowd. Undertaker tells Bret he has one night to prove to everybody that he deserves to be WWF Champion. Shawn Michaels won't be the special referee so Bret will have to look into the eyes of the reaper and deal with him one-on-one. There's not going to be anyone lurking in the shadows waiting to hit him in the head with a chair. Although Bret has fans worldwide convinced he's their saviour, Undertaker says Bret is nothing more than a Demon and he will expose him as that Demon tonight.
WWF Title
Bret "Hitman" Hart vs The Undertaker
Despite Bret's UK fanbase the crowd slightly favour Undertaker at the start. We join the match to see Bret stop Undertaker's offense with a DDT, legdrop and three front elbow drops. Bret drags Undertaker's face along the top rope, before choking him with his boot underneath the bottom rope. Undertaker turns the tide by whipping Bret front first into an exposed corner, which Bret had loosened earlier in the match. Undertaker takes advantage with several heart punches and stomps. Undertaker drops two elbows then stretches out Bret's arms to put pressure on his sternum. Back from commercials, Bret grabs the ringbell from outside. Undertaker kicks Bret down. The referee confiscates the bell from the Deadman. Bret chopblocks Undertaker's leg from behind. As Bret works the leg, he accidentally knocks a cameraman out of commission as he gets too close to the ring apron. The fight spills outside with Undertaker whipping Bret into the ringsteps. Back inside, Undertaker sends Bret backfirst into the ringpost. Bret counters the old school spot by throwing Undertaker off the top rope. Bret counters a slam with a rollup off the ropes for two. Undertaker reverses a slam and gets Bret set up for the tombstone piledriver. As Bret hooks the ropes in desperation, Undertaker dumps him on the apron. Bret gets his head mangled between the top and middle rope. With Bret struggling, Undertaker shows no remorse, continuing his attack with punches and chokes. Referee Mike Chioda can't release Bret so he calls for the bell. Undertaker chokeslams Chioda. Owen Hart and Gerald Brisco run in to release Bret. Brisco takes a chokeslam, as Owen pulls Bret out of harms way. Undertaker stalks the Harts to the back. Good match, with an innovative finish that kept both men strong. The crowd turned in Bret's favour as the match wore on. Here is Your Winner Via DQ: BRET "HITMAN" HART.
Jim Ross narrates a brief biography on the British Bulldog. The highlights showcase Bulldog's reigns as Intercontinental and European Champion. Branded a rogue by America, tonight Davey Boy is home again for "One Night Only" to defend the title, a country and a young boy's dream. Shame there was no mention of the Dynamite Kid, but a nice piece nonetheless.
WWF European Title
The British Bulldog vs Shawn Michaels
Main Event time. Michaels was aiming to become the first Grand Slam Champion, while Bulldog was defending his family's honour. DX had just started. Bulldog holds the Union Jack up to Michaels, who goes out and gestures towards his backside. The constant Bulldog chants finally get to Michaels who starts by getting shoved around three times. Michaels throws a classic temper tantrum. A lockup leads to Michaels stepping onto the top turnbuckle. Bulldog releases by throwing Michaels to the mat. The intensity on show leads to a bout of clumsiness and after fumbling through a bearhug and two backbodydrops, (on Bulldog's part) Michaels takes a clothesline over the top rope. Michaels takes a time out. Bulldog counters head rams in the corner before reverse suplexing Michaels back in. Bulldog catches Michaels in a gorilla press. Earl Hebner prevents Bulldog from tossing Michaels outside, so Bulldog dumps him on the mat. Michaels hiptosses out of an abdominal stretch and begins to stomp. Michaels gestures towards Bulldog's wife Diana and (cancer stricken) sister Tracey in the crowd. Bulldog backbodydrops a charging Michaels out of the ring. Back from commercials, Michaels has backup at ringside in the form of 'Insurance policy' Rick Rude along with Helmsley and Chyna. The crowd chant for Bret as Michaels gets a backbodydrop and is whipped upside down into the corner. Bulldog delivers a clothesline and slingshot into the corner. Michaels avoids a charge resulting in Bulldog meeting the ringpost. Michaels slams and hits two top rope elbows. Michaels misses Sweet Chin Music in the corner. Bulldog readies for the running powerslam, but Rude hooks Bulldog's leg. Bulldog gets Rude on the apron then turns to deck Michaels. As Rude argues with the refeee, Bulldog clotheslines Michaels out of the ring. Bulldog goes out to hammer Helmsley. As Bulldog goes to powerslam Michaels on the floor, his foot gets caught up and trapped between the mats and the guardrail. Cue the worst burial I've ever seen. Michaels delivers Sweet Chin Music before Rude, Helmsley and Chyna repeatedly drive the guardrail into Bulldog's leg. Helmsley pedigrees Bulldog on the floor, then Rude and Chyna throw him back in. Michaels takes off Bulldog's knee brace, then taunts and tosses it to Diana in the front row. Michaels slaps on a figure four, as Bulldog (with a bloody mouth) screams in pain. Helmsley and Chyna give Michaels extra leverage and when Bulldog passes out, Hebner calls for the bell. The crowd immediately boo and pelt the ring with garbage. Michaels takes the mic, telling all the "limeys" to take a look at their Champion before telling them to take a look at the new Grand Slam winner. Michaels tells the Hart Family, especially Diana Smith, his sweetheart, this one is especially for her. Helmsley further goads the Harts while Michaels re-applies the figure four. Helmsley holds the mic to Bulldog, telling him to scream for his country. As Bulldog yells, Diana hops the barricade and tries to choke Michaels with Bulldog's knee brace. Chyna immediately holds Diana back and only now do Owen and Bret Hart run in. DX flee and celebrate on the outside as the camera focuses on them. This was heartbreaking to watch. It was no secret that Michaels and Helmsley were on the booking committee at this point, and what a way to kill UK business and bury someone. It reeked of insecurity and the way the McMahons currently book themselves on TV at the moment, to the detriment of everyone else. The Harts should have been booked to run in earlier. That way, even if Bulldog lost he'd have been protected somewhat. Michaels didn't even need the European belt and did absolutely zilch when he won it. It was just a prop to him. Sadly this was Bulldog's final meaningful match on his home turf and what a way to go out. He had dedicated the match to his sister (who was dying of cancer) and the match got changed a short time before the show began. A sour end to the show for me.
Okerlund remarks on the controversy and humiliation endured by the Bulldog. His closing lines of him being fondly remembered as one of the greatest superstars in WWE history and someone the UK could proudly call one of their own is an insult based on the last match.
Everything bar the Main Event was fine. That being said, this show wasn't particularly good if you were a fan of the Hart Foundation. See you next weekend. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
