WWE Vintage Collection Report: 27th December 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Happy holidays everyone. Apologies for bailing last week. Christmas and work commitments didn’t allow me the time to watch the show, let alone review it. I’m back now so let’s get to it.
Today’s show is the first of several dedicated to the legacy of Starrcade. The NWA/WCW’s flagship alternative to WrestleMania ran between 1983-2000. Originally run by Jim Crockett Promotions on thanksgiving between 1983-1987, WCW took over the mantle in 1988 after the WWF made cable companies choose Survivor Series and WrestleMania over the NWA, with the financial hit prompting Ted Turner to save Starrcade and move it to December.
A video package showcasing the legacy of Starrcade and classic clips narrated by Eric Bischoff, Jim Ross, Dusty Rhodes and Jerry Lawler opens the show.
On a side observation, all images of Hulk Hogan from the show’s opening credits and advert promos have been removed and replaced with shots of the Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage. A large shot of Classie Freddie Blassie has also replaced Hogan behind Okerlund in the studio. Let’s begin.
November 24th 1983: Greensboro, North Carolina
NWA Tag Team Championship
Jack & Jerry Brisco vs Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Gordon Solie and Bob Caudle are announcing at the inaugural event. Angelo Mosca is the special guest referee. Both teams had traded the Tag Titles several times leading up to the event. Steamboat and Jerry have several exchanges in the corner. Youngblood and Steamboat utilise fast tags to work over Jerry's arm. Steamboat runs into a boot and the Briscos turn the tide, as Jack scoops up Steamboat, dropping him throat first across the top rope. After commercials, Steamboat escapes an armlock by lifting Jack up and dropping him to the mat. Jack manages to suplex Youngblood after both cancel out several attempts. The Briscos give Youngblood a double tackle and he drapes a foot on the bottom rope to stop a pinfall. Jerry comes off worst after trying to shove Mosca, enabling Steamboat to get the hot tag. Steamboat utilises martial arts chops, then lifts Youngblood to kick Jerry in the face. Steamboat slams Jerry before press slamming Youngblood on top for the 1-2-3. Jack clears the ring, before the Briscos post Mosca’s shoulder. Jerry applies the figure four to Steamboat as Jack splashes on top. Mosca intercepts Jack coming off the top rope as the two collapse to the mat allowing the new champions to clear the ring. The crowd went nuts for all of this. Tragically Youngblood died two years later after suffering a ruptured spleen in a match with his brother Mark against the Sheepherders (Bushwhackers). Winners: RICKY STEAMBOAT & JAY YOUNGBLOOD.
November 26th 1987: Chicago, Illinois
NWA TV Champion vs UWF TV Champion
Nikita Koloff vs Terry Taylor w/Hotstuff Eddie Gilbert
Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross are covering this unification bout. Koloff was very similar to Goldberg in terms of appearance, ability and crowd reaction during the late 80s. He won his matches with the Russian Sickle (a running clothesline). Taylor was pre-Red Rooster here. Koloff misses an early sickle attempt, smashing his arm into the corner. Taylor uses the ringpost and ropes to work over the arm and shoulder. Gilbert (very DDP like) rams Koloff’s arm into the ring apron. Koloff tries to fight back, but heavily favours the arm after each strike. After reversing a suplex, Koloff mounts Taylor in the corner, who counters with an inverted atomic drop. Koloff counters a piledriver with a backbodydrop, before chasing Taylor on the floor. Taylor knees Koloff on the apron and Gilbert attacks the back of Koloff’s leg with a chair behind the referee’s back. Taylor applies a figure four. Koloff refuses to quit or be pinned as Gilbert provides illegal momentum from the floor. The referee finally catches Gilbert red handed and forces a break. A distracted Taylor argues, misses a charge to knock Gilbert off the apron, allowing Koloff to tear out of the corner and hit the Russian Sickle to a deafening crowd pop. 1-2-3. Koloff unifies the titles and both announcers give Koloff a standing ovation. I really enjoyed this bout. It had great psychology and drama. Winner: NIKITA KOLOFF.
December 26th 1988: Norfolk, Virginia
NWA U.S Heavyweight Title
Barry Windham w/ JJ Dillon vs Bam Bam Bigelow w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink
Jim Ross and Bob Caudle are on commentary for this Boxing Day bruiser between two heavyweights. Bam Bam had left the WWF shortly after WrestleMania IV and shown up in the NWA. Bam Bam dominates with a power display early on, tackling, no-selling punches, and sending Windham to the floor after a military press and standing dropkick. Windham acts scared of Bam Bam’s power. Bam Bam uses a slingshot splash from the apron followed by a second press slam. Bam Bam misses his patented top rope headbutt to allow Windham into the match. Windham pats Bam Bam on the cheek before nearly taking his head off with a vicious clothesline. Windham dominates for several minutes with a back suplex, dropkick to the floor, and a throw to the ringpost. Back inside, Windham applies a claw. Bam Bam makes it to the corner. JJ Dillon urges Windham to finish things. Windham misses a top rope elbow. A cross body from Windham sends both men to the floor. Windham takes a hit on the ringpost from an atomic drop, but avoids a charge, and as Bam Bam hits the steel, Windham rolls back in to beat the referee’s count and hold onto his title. A disappointing finish to what was a tale of two halves, with both men having a 50/50 split of the offense and crowd’s backing. Winner by Countout: BARRY WINDHAM.
November 26th 1987: Chicago, Illinois
NWA World Tag Team Championship
Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard w/JJ Dillon vs The Road Warriors w/Paul Ellering
It’s back to the Road Warriors’ backyard we go to for today’s Main Event. Hawk and Animal both look more beefed up and menacing here than they ever did during any of their WWF runs. Anderson and Blanchard were in the midst of a three month + reign and spend time on the floor early on trying to escape their foes. Hawk shoves Blanchard around. Animal cuts him off outside by press slamming him back in, then catching him coming off the top rope with a powerslam. Anderson fares no better as Animal blocks a piledriver and press slams. Hawk tries one press slam too many, as with Blanchard hoisted up, Anderson dropkicks Hawk’s leg. Hawk is isolated, as the champions stomp his leg and Blanchard takes a chair to it on the outside. Hawk prevents a Blanchard figure four attempt at first, then kicks Anderson into the corner. Blanchard is successful second time around, but Hawk hangs on then refuses to let Anderson pin his shoulders. Anderson tries a leap, but Hawk drives his knees into Anderson’s nether regions and hobbles into a tag. Blanchard trips Animal as he runs the ropes. Hawk limps after him. Blanchard tackles referee Tommy Young out of the ring. Sub Earl Hebner tends to him, as Animal sends Anderson over the top rope beside them both. (This move was banned at the time in the NWA). Blanchard eats a double clothesline then the Doomsday Device as Hebner counts the 1-2-3. Ellering and the Warriors jump up and down as the building erupts. However, Young informs Hebner of the top rope shenanigans and reverses the decision. Anderson and Blanchard retain by DQ, but the Warriors refuse to hand back the belts and leave with them. Ahh the damn Dusty finish. Winners by DQ: ARN ANDERSON & TULLY BLANCHARD.
Okerlund notes he’s thankful that the DQ rule was eventually thrown out before signing off. More Starrcade showcases next week.
This first show was a very good compilation and is well worth a look to see some of the all-time under-appreciated greats in action. I’m looking forward to next week’s helping. Have a Happy New Year and I’ll see you in 2010. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
