WWE Vintage Collection Report: 25th October 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. The Halloween theme concludes this week with a look back at the WCW October tradition that was ‘Halloween Havoc.’
A tribute to the late, great, Captain Lou Albano opens the show. It was the same package played on WWE TV this past week. Captain Lou was one of the most decorated managers and talkers back in the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling days and a ‘Vintage’ show dedicated to him wouldn’t be a bad idea in future weeks.
October 25th 1998: Las Vegas, Nevada
WCW World TV Title: Chris Jericho vs Raven
Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay and Bobby Heenan are on commentary. In typical WCW fashion, this unadvertised match was thrown together at the last minute. Raven was involved in a storyline depression/losing streak following the breakup of his Flock stable. Raven says he’s a victim of circumstance with forces working against him. He doesn’t feel like wrestling and walks off. To quote Schiavone: "He has to do this on the fly. That's the rule of thumb around here." No wonder WCW went out of business with that mentality. Fellow heel Jericho doesn't care as he says he doesn't want to be here either. However, the Jericholics came to see him wrestle, as he equals buyrates, rear ends in the seats, and equals rock ‘n’ roll. Fans are behind Jericho. Jericho sarcastically notes he really wanted to wrestle an icon like Raven, leader of the Flock, the biggest gang of morons and idiots in pro wrestling. Jericho says he could whip Raven’s butt in two minutes and upon calling him a loser, Raven takes the bait and comes running back, with Jericho putting the boots to him. Jericho whips Raven with his own ring jacket. Jericho delivers a clothesline then tries a nonchalant cover mimicking Raven’s pose. Both spill to the floor. Jericho gets suplexed onto the ringsteps. Raven then uses them as a springboard for a dropkick. Jericho hotshots Raven across the top rope then sends him back outside with a springboard dropkick. Raven sidesteps an apron dive and Jericho crashes into the guardrail. Raven sends Jericho's head into the ringsteps. Jericho reverses a whip into the guardrail. Heenan notes Raven's high pain threshold leading Schiavone to question why he's been tapping out so quickly in recent matches. Raven chokes Jericho with a scarf then resorts to biting him. Jericho escapes a sleeper with a back suplex, then hits a rolling senton. Jericho removes a turnbuckle pad before charging into a powerbomb. Raven slingshots Jericho into the exposed steel then hits a big clothesline for two. Raven dodges a spin kick and lands a belly to belly suplex for another nearfall. Jericho counters a german suplex into a Liontamer (Walls of Jericho). Raven absorbs the hold as he inches to the ropes. Raven delivers the Evenflow DDT. 1-2-no. Jericho hooks the tights on a schoolboy for two. Jericho lands a low blow. A bridging german suplex gets Jericho a close two. Kanyon runs down to encourage Raven, as Jericho forearms him off the apron. Raven goes for another Evenflow, but Jericho counters with a second Liontamer and Raven taps out immediately. Winner: CHRIS JERICHO. Jericho jumps up and down in delight at his win. This was a very good match and the best on a card which featured the ill fated Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior rematch as its Main Event.
October 27th 1991: Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Halloween Phantom vs The Z-Man (Tom Zenk)
Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross cover this one. Zenk is already in the ring as generic organ music welcomes the masked Phantom. Sporting a black hat, and cape, which shields a half black/half white mask, Phantom is dressed in a black bodysuit. Phantom quickly discards the cape and jumps Zenk in the corner. Phantom delivers a stiff clothesline, slam, running knee, and gutbuster. A close up shot of the Phantom shows a moustached man. Zenk gets a dropkick in, but Phantom doesn’t leave his feet and wins it with a twisting neckbreaker. You could say that was a ‘Rude Awakening’ for the Z-Man. Winner: THE HALLOWEEN PHANTOM.
Later in the same show, ‘Dracula’ Eric Bischoff interviews Paul E Dangerously, (Paul Heyman) Madusa (Alundra Blayze) and Phantom on the stage. Dangerously is furious after recently being fired as a commentator for being too controversial. Dangerously says Madusa has brought the Phantom to eliminate Sting and bankrupt the company, so he can fire every person that’s stood in his way. Dangerously states the Phantom can end Sting’s career and dubs him the next U.S Heavyweight Champion as Madusa removes the robe, and Phantom peels off the mask to reveal himself as Ravishing Rick Rude. Rude’s new theme music immediately starts to play. Rude states he only cares about himself, his women (looks at Madusa) and his money (looks at Dangerously). A young Robert Roode was no doubt taking notes. Rude calls Dangerously, 'Mr Dangerously' and his 'Moneyman.' Rude says he will dismantle WCW brick by brick starting with the lowlife scumbag Sting. Rude mocks Sting for looking small on TV, says his days are numbered and he’s going to tear apart WCW and take his U.S Title. This was quite an impactful debut and got Rude over straightaway. Also it was pretty unique seeing Heyman and Bischoff so close together and in the same vicinity considering what would go down later in the 90s and 00s between the two.
October 27th 1996: Las Vegas Nevada
WCW Tag Team Titles: Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) w/Colonel Rob Parker & Sister Sherri vs The Outsiders (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash)
The nWo was the hottest thing in wrestling. The Outsiders were looking to end Harlem Heat’s seventh title reign. Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Dusty Rhodes are calling the action. Heat are meant to be the faces, but the cool heel era was beginning and the fans were behind the Outsiders. Hall and Booker work over each other’s arms to begin until Booker reverse kicks Hall. Hall gets on top with punches and a tackle. Both exchange hammerlocks. Booker hiptosses Hall to the floor, where Stevie clotheslines and Sherri talks trash. Nash and Stevie tag in. The crowd chant Diesel, so Nash pumps his fist in the air. Nash works over Stevie with elbows forearms and knees in the corner. Stevie comes back with a clothesline before spitting at Hall. Following commercials, Nash drops Booker in the corner. Hall runs across the apron to clothesline. Hall chokeslams Booker and Stevie breaks up a cover. Booker gets caught in a fallaway slam. Sherri slaps Hall so Hall plants a long kiss on her. Hall turns into a Booker spin kick. Booker reverses a sleeper and the crowd boo. Hall crotches Booker on the ropes then tries a pin with his feet on the ropes. A mid-ring collision enables a tag to Stevie, who goes after both Outsiders, press slamming Hall onto Nash. Booker clotheslines Nash to the floor. Stevie gives Hall a sidewalk slam and Booker nails the Harlem Hangover (a top rope somersault legdrop). Stevie has the match won, but the referee is with Booker. Nash catches Colonel Rob in the ring with a cane. Nash takes the cane, whacks Stevie several times and Hall drapes an arm across Stevie. 1-2-3. Sherri is screaming from the apron as she’s saw what’s happened, but Booker just stands on the apron, not knowing what’s gone down. Meanwhile, Colonel Rob has hightailed it to the back. This was good. The Outsiders had not yet adopted their lazy approach and bad attitude. Winners: THE OUTSIDERS. This show was most noteable for Rey Mysterio and Dean Malenko’s amazing Cruiserweight title match which was featured on this show not so long back. Also Roddy Piper debuted attacking Hulk Hogan after Hogan defeated Randy Savage.
October 28th 1989: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S Title: Lex Luger vs Flyin’ Bran Pillman
Jim Ross and Bob Caudle are covering our Main Event. Luger was a popular heel amongst the WCW crowd at this time, while Pillman was new to the company, having come in from Stampede Wrestling some six months earlier. Pillman made his entrance with cheerleaders. Both tussle in the corner a couple of times. Luger works over Pillman, slams, slaps, then tosses him outside, but Pillman hangs on and furiously tackles Luger to the mat. A backbodydrop and dropkick sends Luger cowering to the floor. Pillman lands a baseball slide. Luger avoids a springboard clothesline (Pillman’s finisher). Pillman puts the brakes on, chases Luger outside the ring, but Luger takes control as Pillman gets back in. Following commercials, Luger delivers two clotheslines, with the last one to the back of Pillman’s head. Luger stands on Pillman's head and throat, then delivers a delayed vertical suplex. Pillman gets a nearfall from a sunset flip, then ducks a clothesline and Luger goes sailing over the top rope to the floor. Pillman pulls Luger in to mount in the corner, but Luger counters with an inverted atomic drop. Pillman shoves Luger off the top rope to prevent Luger’s patented superplex. Pillman dives off the top with a sunset flip for two. Pillman gets his second wind with a flying backelbow, backbodydrop and the springboard clothesline. 1-2-Luger gets his foot on the rope. Pillman delivers a neckbreaker, goes up top once more, but Luger avoids a dropkick as Pillman crashes and burns. Pillman ducks a clothesline, but Luger catches a cross body, turning it into a hotshot across the top rope. Luger covers for the 1-2-3, gets out of dodge, grabs his belt and heads to the back. Winner: LEX LUGER. Despite being heavily clipped due to the show’s time constraints, this was a great spectacle. One too many high risk moves cost Pillman, but he showed great fire while Luger was really comfortable in his role and was in his prime.
Our annual retrospective of Survivor Series will commence from next week. From what year though, I don’t know.
Get well soon J.R. Stay positive in your recovery and we hope to see you back on WWE TV soon. See you next week. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
