WWE Vintage Collection Report: 14th June 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. This week's show is lifted from the "Best of WWF Volume 18" video release with action from 1988. An episode of the Brother Love show plus a Steel Cage match between Ted DiBiase and Randy Savage is promised so let's dive straight in.
Jacques Rougeau w/Jimmy Hart vs Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake
This match is from the December 6th 1988 episode of 'Superstars of Wrestling' and is joined in progress. Jacques takes advantage of a Hart distraction to get the advantage. Following a flying backelbow, Jacques focuses on Beefcake's back with a camel clutch, delayed backbodydrop and boston crab. Jacques tosses Beefcake outside so Hart can jam his megaphone into Beefcake's gut. Back inside, Jacques applies a bow and arrow, then an abdominal stretch. The tide turns when Jacques gets cocky, blindly missing a flying bodypress attempt from the second rope. Beefcake delivers a backbodydrop, atomic drop and nine head rams in the corner. Jacques raises his knees to block a running splash. Hart gets on the apron, but Beefcake sends Jacques crashing into him. Beefcake locks on his sleeper until Raymond Rougeau runs in for the DQ. Beefcake crawls to collect his shears and that's enough to clear the ring. Winner by DQ: BRUTUS "THE BARBER" BEEFCAKE.
The Brain Busters vs The Young Stallions
The Busters are acknowledged as former Horsemen by Okerlund. Unsurprisingly, Paul Roma isn't. This match from November 12th 1988 was dubbed as experience vs youth. Both teams were relatively new to the WWF. The Stallions were Paul Roma and Jim Powers, while the Busters were Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. The Busters underestimate the Stallions at the start as Roma starts brightly with dropkicks and slams. The Stallions then pick apart Blanchard's leg. Blanchard goes to hobble up the aisle until Roma hiptosses him back in. Anderson turns the tables by punching Roma as he attempts a flying headscissors on Blanchard. Roma manages to kick out of Anderson's patented spinebuster. Roma is sent to the floor into a hard Anderson clothesline. Back from commercials, the Busters give each other extra leverage during an abdominal stretch on Roma. Anderson gives Roma an inverted atomic drop. Roma rises up from a test of strength to jam his knees into Anderson's gut. Roma manages to reverse a Blanchard suplex, before both tag out. A fired up Powers delivers dropkicks, slams and a double noggin knocker to the Busters. All four men are in, as the Busters get whipped into each other. Roma and Blanchard spill out to the floor. As Powers readies to suplex Anderson, Blanchard dives from the top rope into a sunset flip position on Powers. Anderson quickly clotheslines him over, and illegal man Blanchard steals the win. Pretty good match with an innovative finish. Stallions were the babyface equivalent of the Bolsheviks, who basically jobbed to other teams. Winners: THE BRAIN BUSTERS.
The Brother Love Show w/Hulk Hogan & Slick
This is lifted from an episode of the 'Main Event' on November 16th 1988. At the time, Hogan was in a feud with Slick's protege Big Boss Man, who had handcuffed Hogan to the ropes and beat him with his nightstick. Straight away Love tells Hogan he's in control and isn't afraid of him. Love makes light of Hogan flopping like a jellyfish during the beating, then pulls the mic away from him when he asks how it felt. Love tells Hogan it felt good. Slick says Hogan has the face of a criminal, is guilty and losing control. Love continues to goad Hogan, telling him he knew what he was thinking as Boss Man beat him. Slick boasts Hogan was beaten black and blue. A seething Hogan snatches the mic when Love brings up Hogan's schooling. Hogan resolves that the love the brother gives is equal to the love he receives and so far, the love he's giving isn't what he wants to receive. If that wasn't homoerotic enough, Hogan then calls Love big boy, before promising to show him what hard knox Hulkamania is all about. Hogan calls Love's love phoney and if he was on the witness stand, all the Hulkamaniacs would pass a guilty as charged sentence on him. Judge Hogan would then pass the execution on him. After dressing down Slick, Love snatches the mic back, threatening a phone call to the Boss Man to bring Hogan under control. Hogan throws Slick out of the ring, slams Love, handcuffs him to the rope and clotheslines him to the floor. I think this edition of Wrestler's court has been adjourned.
Women's Title
Sensational Sherri vs Rockin' Robin
Rockin' Robin is the sister of Jake "The Snake" Roberts. This live event in France from October 7th 1988 is joined in progress. The A-Team of Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are on hand to call the action. Both, (Heenan in particular) are on fine form. As Sherri knees Robin off the apron, the two engage in some witty banter.
Monsoon: Right in the kisser.
Heenan: Who would want to?
Monsoon: Who would want to what?
Heenan: Kiss her.
Monsoon: Rockin' Robin is a lovely young lady.
Heenan: I happen to think Sherri's a nine.
Monsoon: A nine. That's German for no thank you.
Heenan: Where are we?
Monsoon: We're in Paris, France.
Heenan: Don't speak German to me then.
Back to the match and Robin comes back with a sunset flip out of the corner. Sherri slams but gets thrown off the top rope. Robin mounts in the corner to punch and Sherri flops to the mat. Robin ducks a cross body from the second rope. Robin clotheslines, but Sherri gets her foot on the rope. Sherri telegraphs a dropkick by hanging onto the ropes. This prompts Heenan to state that the tide's turned more in this match than it has in the Atlantic Ocean. Sherri hits a legsweep then perches Robin on the second rope. Sherri gets distracted with the referee, allowing Robin to plant Sherri with a bulldog. 1-2-3. New Champion. The match was good, but the commentary was better. Winner: ROCKIN' ROBIN.
Steel Cage Match - WWF Title
Macho Man Randy Savage w/Miss Elizabeth vs Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase w/Virgil
June 25th 1988 inside the old school blue cage. 'Golden Boy' Arnold Skaaland is the referee stationed on the floor. DiBiase jumps Savage as soon as he steps into the cage. The two go back-and-forth for a short time. Savage halts a DiBiase climb to drive his head ten times into the turnbuckles. Savage recovers from a backbreaker to yank DiBiase's trunks, turn him around and throw him from the top rope. DiBiase sends Savage into the corner, the cage, then into a clothesline. After the two clothesline each other, DiBiase pulls Savage back from the cage door. As both climb up from opposite sides, Virgil ambushes Savage from the outside by sending him tumbling upside down in the ropes. Instead of climbing out, DiBiase gets down to inflict more punishment. Savage reverses a suplex, then hits an atomic drop to send DiBiase into the cage. Savage scrambles towards the door, but Virgil firmly slams it into his head. DiBiase climbs over Savage to try and get out, but Savage pulls him back in by the trunks. Both men collapse to their knees as they punch the hell out of each other. DiBiase gets thrown into the cage and he bounces backwards onto the mat. Virgil goes to meet Savage once more as he starts to climb. As DiBiase climbs, a fan wearing a bandana hops the barricade and joins in the fun. He gets back down when Virgil starts kicking out. Savage bangs Virgil and DiBiase's heads together, and, as they fall, Savage climbs out to retain his title. Security struggle to hold back the rabid crowd. Great match with a very believable intensity on show between two heated rivals. Winner: MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE.
Okerlund signs off to end the show. Thumbs up from me this week. See you next week. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
