WWE Vintage Collection Report: February 19th 2012
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Greetings! This week, four more famous sets of foes do battle.
WWE Raw: December 6th 2004
Women’s Title: Trish Stratus vs Lita
Yes there was a time when Divas were Main Eventing telecasts instead of being saddled with lame flatulence gimmicks. We’re coming from Flair country and Lita’s home state of Charlotte, North Carolina. Trish is sporting a face mask to protect a broken nose. Trish chops Lita in the corner. Lita boots Trish in the face, foils a Matrish and legsweeps her rival for a nearfall. Lita elevates Trish over the top rope then nails a scary looking tope through the ropes, nearly snapping her surgically repaired neck on impact. Trish uses her mask as a weapon to score the upper hand and reveal her nose has in fact healed. Trish gives herself a congratulatory pat on the back. Trish chokes Lita while perched on the top rope. Lita snapmares free and applies a sleeper, but Trish backs her to the corner to escape. Lita elbows out of a full nelson, catches a float over attempt and dumps Trish on the apron. Lita hits a top rope superplex, before getting wiped out by a chick kick. 1-2-no. Trish mounts Lita in the corner, but Lita quickly turns it into a powerbomb. Trish cuts Lita off on the top rope. Lita turns an electric chair drop into a sunset flip for two. Trish grabs the top rope to block a DDT, then scores a nearfall with her feet on the ropes. Lita blocks Stratusfaction, Trish rolls onto her feet, only to get caught with a modified Twist of Fate neckbreaker. Lita heads up top and hits an “all or nothing” (according to J.R) moonsault to score the pinfall and bag the belt. Winner: LITA. Unfortunately for the fiery redhead, Trish would win the belt back just one month later at New Year’s Revolution, when Lita tore her ACL during the bout. Upon her return, the Edge affair came to light and you know the rest.
November 24th 1990
Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase & Virgil vs Dusty Rhodes & Dustin Rhodes
DiBiase had bought Dusty’s valet, Sapphire at SummerSlam and then started to pick on Dustin. The younger Rhodes fought DiBiase in a “ten minute challenge” and lasted the distance so we get this tag bout from the hallowed halls of MSG. Dustin gets the best of an opening exchange with Virgil, but the two botch a clothesline over the top rope and Virgil ends up sending himself over. DiBiase beats on Dustin until DiBiase puts his head down too early and Dustin plants him into the mat. The Rhodes family play pinball with DiBiase’s head in their corner.
Dusty unloads with a flurry of bionic elbows. Dusty mistakenly goes after Virgil, leaving him prone to a DiBiase knee to the back. Dusty survives a few chinlocks and tags his son. DiBiase knees Dustin from behind as he runs the ropes to kill his momentum. DiBiase continues to cheap shot Dustin, prompting Dusty to race round and take the fight to DiBiase on the floor. Dusty accidentally backs into the Honky Tonk Man who’s covering the match on commentary. A second referee comes out to get in-between Dusty and Honky, while original referee Joey Marella also switches his attention to the war of words/shovefest ensuing. Meanwhile, Dustin has the match won after giving Virgil a running bulldog. However, the wily DiBiase sneaks back in to give Dustin a powerslam, before placing Virgil on top and stealing a 1-2-3. Winners: MILLION DOLLAR MAN TED DiBIASE & VIRGIL. The Rhodes duo would lose a rematch at the 1991 Royal Rumble in their WWF swansong, before heading back to WCW. At the same event, Virgil finally grew tired of DiBiase and laid him out to kick off the biggest push of his career.
NWA/WCW Worldwide: July 11th 1987
The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express vs The Midnight Express
Rock ‘N’ Roll were the defending NWA Tag Team champions, while the Midnights were the reigning NWA U.S Tag Team titleholders. Rock ‘N’ Roll had recently taken out Express manager Jim Cornette by injuring his knee. Rock ‘N’ Roll spend the opening portion of the match working over the legs of Lane and Eaton. Ricky Morton sends Bobby Eaton to the outside and hits a tope on the floor.
After a commercial break, the Midnights have turned the tide and are working over Robert Gibson. The Midnights constantly bait Morton into the ring to distract the referee enabling them to throw Gibson over the top rope twice – a blatant DQ if caught. The Midnights make frequent tags to shut down Gibson’s comeback attempts. Gibson is finally able to make the tag after avoiding an Eaton flying elbow from the top rope. Morton takes the fight to the Midnight Express before Rock ‘N’ Roll blast Eaton with a double dropkick. However, Eaton wipes out referee Earl Hebner in the process of going down. Express bodyguard Big Bubba Rogers (aka the future Big Boss Man) runs in to plant Morton with a spike slam, then drags Eaton on top of him. Stan Lane and Bubba hold Gibson down while Hebner counts the 1-2-3. The Midnights think they’ve won the titles, but a second referee runs out to set Hebner straight and he reverses the decision and DQs the Midnight Express. Winners via DQ: THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL EXPRESS.
December 1st 1993: Steel Cage Match
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs Shawn Michaels
This is definitely a hidden gem from the archives, which you can find on the Greatest Rivalries DVD. It’s never aired on TV to the best of my knowledge. Using the old school blue cage, Michaels attacks Bret as soon as he enters, working him over and delivering a hard irish whip. Michaels arrogantly walks over Bret on his way out of the door, only for Bret to grab him by the foot. Michaels irish whips Bret once more. Bret catches a dropkick attempt, countering with a slingshot into the cage, then follows up with a backbreaker. Michaels stops Bret from escaping and throws the back of his head into the cage. Both slug it out, until Michaels ducks a punch and pushes Bret front first into the cage. Both take it in turns trying to crawl out and pulling the other back in. Michaels slingshots Bret throat first into the bottom rope.
Bret pulls Michaels back over the cage just when it looks like HBK is home free. Both are perched on the top rope. Michaels prevents Bret from going over then sweeps the Hitman’s leg, causing Bret to crotch himself on the ropes on his way to hitting the mat. Michaels slithers towards the door, so Bret receipts him for the crotching by giving him a wedgie in the ropes. Michaels throttles Bret on the mat, backs up then plants his rival with a superkick. Bret catches Michaels before he can escape once more, swinging his own legs up to knock Michaels off. Unfortunately for the Hitman, he too loses his balance and falls to the canvas. Bret recovers first and climbs over the cage, but Michaels performs a superman leap to pull Bret back into the ring by the hair. Michaels applies a sleeper until Bret runs him face first into the steel. Both straddle the top of the cage then start the descent to victory. Bret sends Michaels into the cage. Michaels traps his foot in-between the steel bars and, as he hangs upside down just inches from the floor, Bret drops down to win the match. Winner: BRET “HITMAN” HART.
We conclude the famous foes flashbacks next week.
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