WWE Vintage Collection Report: 27th September 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. Five matches from the attitude era (1998-2001) are on hand this week. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler handle the announcing, with Tazz sitting in for Lawler during the Main Event. Let’s begin.
Breakdown: September 27th 1998
Edge vs Owen Hart
Edge is in his early gothic phase. Owen comes out wearing a Toronto Argonauts jersey and the crowd loudly chant “Nugget” at him. Owen works over an arm. Edge lands on his feet from a monkey flip to dropkick and drop toehold Owen. Edge turns a hiptoss into a hurracanrana, before clotheslining Owen to the floor. A baseball slide connects, but Owen catches Edge diving off the apron with a powerslam. After a break, Owen blasts Edge with an enziguiri kick. Edge counters a moonsault with a faceplant, then resumes control with a flapjack, swinging neckbreaker and slam. Owen avoids a high risk attack, but Edge lands on his feet, surprising Owen with a DDT. Edge reverses a german suplex attempt into a northern lights suplex, before Owen manages to hook a bridging german suplex. Owen misses a dive, crotching himself in the corner. Owen blocks a superplex, then tries for the Sharpshooter, but Edge kicks him away. Edge connects with a spinning heel kick and has Owen beat when a “fan” hops the barricade to stare Edge down. (It’s really the debuting Christian). Owen takes advantage of the distraction to roll Edge up for the win. Edge takes off after his future “brother” who’s left through the crowd. Owen made Edge look great here. Good opener. Winner: OWEN HART.
We’re treated to a selection of the best of Edge and Christian’s vignettes (also starring Kurt Angle). Highlights include being thrown out of the McMahon Helmsley dressing room for performing their theme tune with streamers and a kazoo. “Streamers rule.” “Long live the stream.” “Long live the zoo.”
The pick of the classic put downs sees Edge insult Louisville when he speculates that soap was used for the very first time there in 1996.
Several infamous five second poses also air which brings back great memories of the fat Elvis, christened “Edge-vis”
These vignettes proved a great transition between matches one and two.
Royal Rumble: January 21st 2001
WWF Tag Team Titles
Edge & Christian vs The Dudley Boyz
Joined in progress. D'Von counters a spike piledriver by catapulting Edge into Christian. D'Von and Edge clothesline each other. The referee doesn’t see Bubba tag and orders him out. D’Von avoids a double conchairto, hits a double clothesline and tags out. Bubba gives Christian a backbodydrop and Edge a hotshot into the ropes. Christian receives a Bubba Bomb. Edge feels “Whassup” from the Dudleys. “D-Von get the tables”...oh wait, no, Christian interrupts and brawls with D’Von on the floor. Bubba avoids a belt shot then D’Von saves him from a Christian Unprettier. Edge prevents a 3D on Christian by spearing Bubba, while Christian DDTs D’Von. Bubba stays alive. Edge and Christian try the “Whassup” but D’Von pushes Edge into Christian’s groin. A 3D connects on Edge and the Dudleys regain the Tag Titles, with Bubba looking pretty ecstatic. Ross refers to the new champs as “Those Damn Dudleys”, which will never get old. This was another good match. The Tag Titles still meant something back in 2001. Winners: THE DUDLEY BOYZ.
Raw: June 29th 1998
WWF Title
Kane w/Paul Bearer vs Stone Cold Steve Austin
Kane won the title one night earlier at the King of the Ring in a First Blood match. Undertaker helped his brother win, as if Kane lost, he would have set himself on fire. Austin is sporting a band-aid on his head and bandage on his arm. Kane throttles Austin in the corner. Austin comes back with a thesz press and wraps Kane’s leg around the ringpost. Kane sends Austin to the floor where he sends him into the steps, drops him across the guardrail and stands on his throat. Bearer strikes Austin with a shoe. Austin stalks Bearer until Kane attacks him from behind. Undertaker makes his way out to watch, despite being warned not to by Mr McMahon. Austin runs into a Kane boot. Kane hits a top rope clothesline then grounds Austin with a chinlock. Austin escapes but runs into a chokeslam. Kane goes for a tombstone, Austin slips down, and Kane blocks a stunner. Austin hits it at the second attempt and pins Kane to regain the title. Undertaker steps in, but before he can do anything Austin gives him a stunner as a receipt for the night before. Kane and Undertaker sit up simultaneously as Austin looks on from the entrance ramp. Winner: STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN.
Raw: April 3rd 2000
WWF European Title
Chris Jericho w/Chyna vs Eddie Guerrero
Both men had made their WrestleMania debuts the night before. Jericho won the European Title from Kurt Angle, while Eddie lost a six man bout to Too Cool and Chyna. Eddie was trying to woo Chyna who was disgusted with his actions. Eddie had only just returned from a badly dislocated elbow. The closing stages air. Eddie misses a frog splash, but manages to roll through. Jericho comes back with a powerslam and running bulldog. Jericho drop toeholds Eddie into referee Timmy White, who gets sent to the floor. Jericho gives Eddie a double powerbomb and lionsault. Chyna registers the pin. As she holds Jericho’s arms in victory, Chyna turns heel by delivering a boot and a DDT to Jericho. Chyna drags Eddie on top, pulls White back in and Eddie is crowned the new European champion. Chyna has succumbed to Eddie’s Latino Heat and Eddie can’t hide his delight. Chyna looked quite hot here. This was a good angle which led to some good TV between Eddie and Chyna and some classic putdowns by Jericho. Winner: EDDIE GUERRERO.
A short package detailing the Rock’s feud with Kurt Angle airs. Angle had always managed to beat Rock in previous title bouts, citing jealousy on the Rock’s part. Rock says the time is ticking on Angle’s reign. “Tick Tock,” “Tick Tock.”
No Way Out: February 25th 2001
WWF Title
Kurt Angle vs The Rock
Rock lost the title to Angle four months earlier at No Mercy followed bungled interference by Rikishi. Angle had just introduced the ankle lock into his arsenal to make him more dangerous. After a staredown, Angle gets agitated by the Rock’s fan support. Rock avoids a belt shot and clotheslines Angle out of the corner. Rock catches Angle in a side russian legsweep. Angle comes back with a clothesline then works over Rock in the corner. Angle gets distracted by the "Angle sucks" chants allowing Rock to fight back. Angle drop toeholds Rock, applies the ankle lock, but Rock immediately gets to the ropes. Angle attacks Rock in the ropes then catches him in two belly to belly suplexes. Rock comes back with a throw of his own. Both men are down as we skip ahead to the closing stages. Rock, favouring his ankle, delivers a spinebuster and people’s elbow, but Angle kicks out. Referee Earl Hebner sidetracks Rock, allowing Angle to hit a lowblow. Angle removes the top turnbuckle cover. Angle elbows out of a Rock Bottom attempt before sending Rock into the exposed steel. Rock is easy pickings for an Angle slam. 1-2-kickout. Angle kicks at Rock’s ankle. Angle charges, so Rock sends him into the exposed corner. Angle staggers into a Rock Bottom. 1-2-no. Rock pulls Angle up, gives him a second Rock Bottom and this time there’s no escape. 1-2-3. Rock wins the title and goes on to the Main Event at WrestleMania for a classic showdown with Stone Cold. Winner: THE ROCK.
Okerlund signs off to end the show. This was a great show, bringing back some truly memorable moments. They haven’t even scratched the surface with the attitude era yet, so hopefully they give us a few more shows from this boom period in the next few weeks. See you back here next week. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
