WWE Vintage Collection Report: March 11th 2012
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
This week, we begin the first of three Hall of Fame calibre editions.
WCW Saturday Night: February 3rd 1990
Mil Mascaras vs Galaxian One
Mascaras is known as the man of 1,000 masks and is Alberto Del Rio’s uncle, but you already knew that. Galaxian One is billed from the outer galaxy and is sporting a half red/half orange mask and bodysuit. Mascaras quickly takes Galaxian down, stretching and stamping on his hands, following a brief test of strength. Mascaras delivers hiptosses, armdrags and a waistlock takedown as he gives his opponent nothing. Galaxian can’t even get a side headlock, as Mascaras instantly drops him with a back suplex. After a short sleeper and another stretch exercise, Mascaras connects with a flying cross chop, then splashes on top of Galaxian for the Uno, Dos, Tres. Los Squasharifico! Winner: MIL MASCARAS. Never one for his selling (just ask Mick Foley or Chris Jericho) Mascaras goes into the Hall of Fame this year.
Ahead of the next bout, Junkyard Dog (inducted in 2004) gets the video package treatment. After starting out in Stampede and Mid-South, JYD became one of the first African-Americans to become a household name in the WWF. JYD never won a singles title in the WWF, but his dog like antics made him a hit with fans.
WWF Prime Time Wrestling: December 23rd 1986
The Junkyard Dog vs “Adorable” Adrian Adonis
Adonis is really fat here and decked out in large pink granny shorts. Adonis runs from JYD’s collar and chain and stalls for several minutes on the floor. JYD irish whips Adonis upside down in the corner. Adonis gets tied up in the ropes so JYD headbutts him free. JYD gets on all fours to deliver more headbutts. The referee intercepts JYD in the corner, giving Adonis the chance to cheapshot. Adonis is knackered already, but manages to apply a sleeper. JYD runs Adonis into the corner to escape. Both brawl outside before getting onto the apron. JYD steps off and gets into the ring as Adonis charges into the ringpost and gets counted out. This was a horrible match to showcase JYD. I know he wasn’t the best in-ring worker, but this was an insult. They should’ve dug out a squash similar to that of Mascaras instead. Anything would’ve been better than this garbage. Winner via countout: THE JUNKYARD DOG.
It’s Sheiky time baby! A former Olympian, the Iron Sheik came to the WWF and played off the hostilities between USA and Iran, by denouncing USA and decalring Iran “Number One.” Known for his spiked wrestling boots, Sheik controversially ended Bob Backlund’s six year world title reign, before losing the title to Hulk Hogan a month later. Sheik was inducted in 2005.
WWF Prime Time Wrestling: September 8th 1986
The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/Slick vs Mike Rotundo & “Golden Boy” Danny Spivey
Rotundo stays a step ahead of Sheik in the early going, countering all of his offense. Spivey (looking like a young Steve Austin in WCW with his blonde mop) punches Sheik when he winds up in the wrong corner and he staggers into a Rotundo slam. Spivey takes over with a side headlock. Spivey catches a boot and spins Sheik round into an atomic drop. Spivey works over a leg until Sheik crawls into a tag. Volkoff uses his power to tackle Spivey to the mat. Volkoff busts out a picture perfect cartwheel which has to be seen to be believed. Random but cool nonetheless. Volkoff eats a few Spivey elbows, but sidesteps a corner charge and catches Spivey with a clothesline. Spivey comes back with a sleeper, only for Sheik to break it up.
We skip ahead to see Rotundo hiptoss free from a Sheik abdominal stretch. Rotundo misses an elbow drop. Sheik delivers a gutwrench suplex and slaps on the dreaded Camel Clutch. Spivey eventually breaks it up. Sheik switches to a front facelock. Rotundo inches into a tag, but the referee doesn’t see it and orders Spivey back out. Volkoff takes advantage to choke Rotundo with the tag rope. Rotundo surprises Volkoff with a sunset flip and has him down for a ten count, but Sheik has the referee distracted. Sheik holds Rotundo, but Volkoff wipes out his own partner with an errant kick. Volkoff recovers quickly to drop Rotundo across the top rope. Rotundo finally reverses a Sheik suplex and makes the hot tag. Spivey bangs the heels’ heads together and works over the Sheik. Spivey clotheslines Sheik in the corner, then hits a running bulldog, only for Volkoff to break up a pin. Rotundo runs in, but is held back by the referee. Volkoff takes advantage to smash Spivey with Slick’s cane as he has Sheik up for a powerslam. Sheik makes the cover and steals a win for his team. Rotundo clears the ring with the cane after the bell. This was a cracking matchup. Winners: THE IRON SHEIK & NIKOLAI VOLKOFF.
Our final inductee for today is Hacksaw Jim Duggan. A standout collegiate football player, Hacksaw won the first Royal Rumble match back in 1988 and has enjoyed an in-ring career spanning three decades.
Hacksaw’s acceptance speech from April 2nd last year airs. Recalling a chance meeting with Fritz Von Erich, Hacksaw initially turned down the chance to wrestle, because he wanted to play ball. A few years and knee operations later, Hacksaw reconsidered, opening the doors to the strange and wonderful world of pro wrestling. Hacksaw notes selling out MSG with Andre the Giant as a career highlight, before saying he’s been to 23 different countries, and has wrestled in every American state and Canadian provence. Hacksaw notes he’s got to wrestle some of his peers’ children, joking that he gave Ted DiBiase Jnr a few receipts for the old man. From Andre to Big John Studd, to Yokozuna, Umaga, Big Show or Great Khali, whenever there’s a monster, they feed Hacksaw to the big guns. Hacksaw has never been part of a group, a clique or a club, as he always did his own thing. There was nothing fancy about him, just a 2x4 and the flag of the USA. As long as there’s air in his lungs, and blood pumping through his heart, he’ll carry the flag of the USA. Hooooooooooooo!
WWF Supertape: December 30th 1988
Flag Match - Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Dino Bravo w/Frenchy Martin
We join the match in the closing stages. Hacksaw elbows out of a chinlock, fighting back with battering rams and a mounted corner assault. Bravo eats a clothesline. Hacksaw readies for the three point stance, so Frenchy grabs his leg. Bravo knees Hacksaw from behind, then delivers his patented sidewalk slam. 1-2- Hacksaw gets his foot on the rope. Bravo thinks he’s won. Referee Dave Hebner informs him otherwise and gets shoved down for his troubles. Bravo holds Hacksaw for a flag shot, but Frenchy wipes out his own protégé after Hacksaw moves. Hacksaw quickly covers for the 1-2-3. I always thought the purpose of a flag match was to hang your flag in the corner? Apparently not. Winner: HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN.
More Hall of Fame next week.
Any comments or discussion points drop me a line at shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
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