WWE Vintage Collection Report: 2nd May 2010
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. Today’s centenary celebration is built around Mean Gene Okerlund hosting 100 shows, with some matches thrown in.
The show opens with “A Moment with Gene Okerlund” inside the old Events Center studio on the July 21st 1985 edition of All American Wrestling. Whilst on the phone to Vince McMahon, Okerlund butters Vince up, calling him a “great commentator,” but quickly changes his tune and puts the phone down, upon learning it’s a collect call from Japan. “Who does he think he is? I can’t believe it.”
The modern day Okerlund watches this unfold from the current studio then asks producer “Brian” if they can do the 100th show from the Events Center. When Brian says no, Okerlund pulls rank. “Not allowed? I’ve had my way for the last 25 years. Let’s march over there. It’s only four blocks away. Let’s get it done. You want to go upwards in this company, listen to me.”
New show credits roll, with a slicker opening montage, which despite only featuring WWF stars has been updated to include Attitude era stalwarts such as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Now in the Events Center, Okerlund is dressed in a retro jacket complete with the old WWF logo in the corner. After revealing he and Vince used to share raw chicken breasts in the studio in-between takes, Gene puts over his golfing prowess, stating that the Woods and Mickelsons learnt from him, as he’s been playing since knee high to a grasshopper and has a 22, 23 handicap. This leads to the following segment.
Okerlund, Bobby Heenan and Sean Mooney play a round of golf at the Stirling Farms Golf course in Stamford, Connecticut. This is from the U.S Rampage 1991 video release. Heenan arrives dressed in red baggy pants and Mooney asks if he’s playing in the “weasel open.” Heenan constantly loses his clubs after holding them too loosely while attempting to tee off, while Okerlund proves to be a dab hand, teeing off and chipping balls onto the green. Okerlund has to swap Heenan’s ball retriever for a club, which ends up hitting Okerlund off-camera. After Okerlund sinks a putt, Heenan overhits his attempt, so when Mooney and Okerlund aren’t looking, Heenan walks to the hole and drops a ball in. A disbelieving Okerlund checks the hole for proof. The segment ends after Okerlund notices the ranger waving and asks if Heenan paid the green fees? Heenan wrongly thinks Mooney paid them. When Gene asks Heenan if he’s a member, Heenan says he said he knew a member. Okerlund says Heenan’s embarrassed him again as Heenan drives off on the golf cart dropping three bags of clubs in the process. Okerlund hitches a lift with the ranger to try and catch him. This was funny stuff.
Rowdy Roddy Piper congratulates his favourite Mean Gene Okerlund on 100 episodes and wishes he has 100 more before saying he loves him.
We see the hatching of the Gobbledy Gooker at the 1990 Survivor Series complete with he and Okerlund doing a series of flips and rolls in the ring. Okerlund calls it “one of the most embarrassing moments of my career” before revealing the Gooker now drives a cab in suburban Des Moines. Okerlund then clearly states: “Please destroy that footage. I don’t ever want to see that again.”
After noting the debut of The Undertaker at the same show, Okerlund links this to the first interview he conducted with the Deadman and his manager Brother Love, a man that Gene calls a “disgusting red faced two bit punk.”
Wrestling Challenge: December 23rd 1990
Okerlund says he’s never seen a man make such an impact as Undertaker. Love brags we haven’t seen anything yet. We’ve seen him deliver a tombstone to some unfortunate souls, but the best is yet to come. Okerlund brings up the concept of the forthcoming Royal Rumble, mentioning it’s foe vs foe and friend vs friend. Love tells us to take a look at Undertaker and says does it look like he has any friends or needs any friends to win? Undertaker finishes the interview by whispering the following statement: “30 men may go in, 29 I’ll bury and, as I look down on their now rotting faces, their blueing flesh firmly ahold, I’ll embalm them, I’ll sow their eyelids shut, I’ll open their insides and I’ll steal the gold from their teeth. There will be no resting in peace. There is no peace in the Undertaker’s mortuary.”
Madison Square Garden: January 21st 1991
The Undertaker w/Brother Love vs Superfly Jimmy Snuka
This match was Undertaker’s first at MSG and was featured on the first episode of Vintage Collection. Joined in progress with Sean Mooney and Bobby Heenan on commentary. Love joins the announcers to put over his protégé as Undertaker withstands a headbutt and sits up after a flying tackle. Undertaker catches a cross body attempt from the second rope and turns it into a tombstone piledriver for the win. As Undertaker leaves, Heenan calls it an “impressive victory” before stating “you do not beat Superfly Jimmy Snuka in the middle of the ring at the Garden unless you’re somebody.” Winner: THE UNDERTAKER.
The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase lets out his trademark laugh, says everybody’s got a price, but there are some things that are simply priceless and one of those things is Gene Okerlund, as he congratulates him on 100 episodes of WWE Vintage Collection.
Backstage at WrestleMania 20, (held on March 14th 2004) Jonathan Coachman rumbles Okerlund and Bobby Heenan getting up to no-good behind a closed backstage garage. When both emerge looking dishevelled, only partially dressed and sporting lipstick marks, they tell Coachman they were playing poker. When Moolah and Mae Young emerge, they quickly jump on them both and pull them back in for more friskyness. In the Events Center, Okerlund reflects on a recent meeting with Mae Young, calling her a “darling” and “real gorgeous tomato.”
We join Okerlund on safari with Lord Alfred Hayes, allegedly in South Africa on July 16th 1990. Hayes constantly calls Gene “Jim” which Okerlund angrily corrects. While on location they encounter Koko B.Ware looking for a mate for his pet macaw Frankie, spot Superfly Jimmy Snuka acting like a savage and receive wrong directions to a river from Akeem and Slick whom Hayes refers to as “natives.” The racial undertones and bad acting ends after Hayes recues “Jim” from the same “piranha infested waters” he pushed him into. This was the polar opposite to the golf skit earlier in the show.
A shot of Okerlund interviewing Stunning Steve Austin on the December 18th 1993 episode of WCW Saturday Night leads us into the following match between Austin and former Hollywood Blondes partner Flyin’ Brian Pillman, just several weeks before a Chicken Suit match between Pillman and Austin’s manager Colonel Robert Parker at Clash of the Champions 26.
WCW Saturday Night: January 8th 1994
Stunning Steve Austin w/Colonel Robert Parker vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman
Joined in progress with Tony Schiavone and Jesse “The Body” Ventura at ringside. Austin was the reigning U.S Champion. Austin has Pillman grounded. Ventura claims Pillman blames Parker’s influence and money for splitting the Hollywood Blondes. I blame short-sighted bookers personally. Both are still wearing Blondes ring attire. Austin chokes Pillman in the ropes, then wraps his arm around the ringpost. Ventura notes that Austin’s “doing stuff that doesn’t allow Brian to fly.” Pillman uses forearms and chops with his good arm to get free. Pillman rams Austin’s head into the corner several times. Austin begs off, baiting Pillman in close enough to yank him by the trunks to the floor. Parker kicks Pillman back onto the apron. Austin goes to slam Pillman back in, but Pillman rolls through hooking the leg for the 1-2-3. Winner: FLYIN’ BRIAN PILLMAN. Schiavone screams Pillman “beat the U.S Champion.” Austin blindsides Pillman as Pillman corners the Colonel, with Dustin Rhodes running in to stop Austin and Parker from putting a Chicken head on Pillman. Flyin’ Brian would end up winning the Chicken Suit match a few weeks later.
Austin is the next one to proudly congratulate Okerlund on reaching 100 episodes.
Sticking with WCW, we move to the January 25th 1999 episode of Nitro and Okerlund’s backstage interview with heel U.S champion Bret Hart. After bemoaning WCW President Ric Flair for having a grudge against him and putting him in the ring with Booker T, Bret asks who Booker is to even have a non title match with him and calls him a loser. Bret asks if Booker’s got the guts to step in the ring with the Excellence of Execution. Booker’s life and career is on the line and all the little kids at home will watch Bret tear him up and break him into little pieces. Okerlund puts over Booker holding numerous titles and having a chance at Bret’s U.S Title. Bret pokes fun at the Cruiserweights saying that El Dandy and Hypnosis (Okerlund corrects as Psicosis) deserve shots as they’re great wrestlers and high flyers. Okerlund tries to reason that they’re only Cruiserweights to end the segment and bury the thought of a Cruiserweight having a credible chance against Bret.
Back in the Events Center, Okerlund sets Bret straight for doubting “Mean Gene,” as his word is “gospel” and he “calls the shots around here.” Okerlund changes his tune to bring up his and Bret’s 2006 Hall of Fame inductions. According to Okerlund, he “stole the show and had some punchlines unlike some of the inductees.”
WCW Monday Nitro: January 25th 1999
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs Booker T
Mike Tenay, Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan cover this match, which is picked up in its closing stages. Booker dominates with a flying forearm, axe kick and suplex. After busting out a spinaroonie, side kick and backbreaker, Booker misses a Harlem hangover (top rope somersault legdrop). Bret grabs his U.S title. Booker thwarts one shot with a boot, but after the action gets clipped, Bret lands a belt shot to the head to pick up the win. Winner: BRET “HITMAN” HART. Bret adds his congratulations in-studio to Okerlund after the match.
Cut to the UK Rampage show, held at the London Docklands Arena on April 24th 1991. This was the first WWF video I ever bought. Okerlund conducts an interview with the eighth wonder of the world Andre The Giant who rests his giant hand on Gene’s shoulder. Andre had just come to the aid of the Rockers in a match against the Orient Express with Mr Fuji. Okerlund calls it a “homecoming of sorts for the biggest man in professional sports,” before welcoming him back to Great Britain. Andre had heard the WWF was in London so he came over and is glad he’s come over, before telling Fuji, if he wants then he’s got him for the rest of the tour. He’ll be in the ring and watching for him. Okerlund notes the Rockers are appreciative of his help, and touring Western Europe gives Andre the chance to see all his friends again. This was a nice feelgood interview from the gentle Giant.
Okerlund wakes up in a cold sweat at times and can still feel that big mitt touching his shoulder. After sharing stories of drinking with Andre and playing card games such as gin rummy and cribbage, Okerlund reveals Andre cleared him out of most that he made for some ten and a half years. “Andre is a classic in every sense of the word and one of the all time greats.” Well said. Okerlund mentions Andre challenging for the WWF Title at WrestleMania III, doesn’t mention Hulk Hogan and moves onto introducing today’s Main Event.
Okerlund dubs the match, despite us seeing it “a hundred times,” as “one of the greatest matches of all time, between Macho Man Randy Savage, “kind of a nutcase from time to time,” and the “very talented Bruce Lee lookalike,” Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
WrestleMania III: March 29th 1987
Intercontinental Title: Macho Man Randy Savage w/Miss Elizabeth vs
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat w/George “The Animal” Steele
Most of this classic match airs, which was previously shown on Vintage Collection episode #38 (which aired February 22nd 2009). During a commercial break, Steamboat thanks Okerlund for choosing this match as his all time favourite, then adds his congratulations for 100 shows. I’ve used the same play-by play notes from the previous viewing as this week’s showing isn’t much different. Savage takes Elizabeth by the hand to lead her away from Steele, who has a crush on her. Steamboat uses armdrags and a tree choke/slam. Savage gains the advantage after getting Steamboat to chase him outside. Savage chokes Steamboat along the top rope. The announcers put Savage over as a fighting champion during his year + reign. Savage misses a charge in the corner so Steamboat works the arm. Savage uses the hair to throw Steamboat off the ropes and into a backelbow. Savage sends Steamboat over the top rope and doesn’t let him back in. From behind, a running knee sends Steamboat over the barricade and into the crowd. Steele assists Steamboat back to the ring apron. Savage pulls him in, only to throw him back over the top rope again.
Savage hits a couple of top rope double axehandles. Savage jumps over the top rope bringing Steamboat’s throat down across it. Savage desperately tries and fails to put Steamboat away with an atomic drop, suplex and gutwrench suplex. Steamboat counters a back suplex, but Savage immediately thwarts a backbodydrop attempt with a boot to the head. Steamboat manages to backdrop a charging Savage out of the ring. Following commercials, Steamboat is in the midst of a comeback. Savage sustains a small package, slam and slingshot into the ringpost. Savage escapes a sunset flip pin attempt. Referee Dave Hebner ducks a wild Savage lunge as the two trade rollup attempts. Savage hooks the tights to send Steamboat into the ringpost. Hebner gets in the way as Savage whips Steamboat into him. Savage hits a clothesline and his patented top rope elbow. Frustrated there’s no-one to count, Savage heads out to get the ring bell. Steele snatches it away so Savage kicks him in the head. With Savage holding the bell and perched on the top rope, Steele throws him off. As Savage tries a slam, Steamboat rolls through, hooks the leg and gets the pin and the Intercontinental Title. Here is Your Winner: RICKY “THE DRAGON” STEAMBOAT. As Elizabeth cries and Savage protests, Steamboat celebrates with Steele. Ventura thinks Steamboat should cut the belt in half and give half to Steele, blaming Steele’s interference for the title switch. Not long after this, Steamboat would take a leave of absence and Honky Tonk Man would usurp him to embark on his own historic Intercontinental reign.
In closing, Okerlund says it’s been a slice of heaven reliving some of the great days in the Events Center. After thanking everyone for their messages and adding his regret at not seeing too much of Roddy Piper anymore, Okerlund promises to be around for “200, 300, 400 episodes of this great show.” End of show.
Despite match quality taking a back seat, this was a fun show, a nice appreciation of Gene Okerlund for his 25 years service and an obvious tip of the hat to us old time fans. There wasn’t one mention of Hulk Hogan which in some ways is and isn’t surprising.
See you next week. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
