WWE Vintage Collection Report: 11th October 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. This week we continue our journey to Halloween with a look back at some of the legendary superheroes in sports entertainment history. Let’s begin.
WCW Thunder: February 12th 1998
Glacier vs Bill Goldberg
Before the bout, Okerlund remarks on Goldberg being WCW’s answer to the Incredible Hulk. Here, Goldberg was in the midst of his legendary streak and was still known by his first name. Tony Schiavone, is joined by Bobby Heenan and Lee Marshall (yeah I don’t know who he is either) on commentary. Glacier attacks Goldberg as soon as he enters the ring. Goldberg uses a neat standing backflip to dodge some high/low kicks then counters a suplex with a spinning neckbreaker. Glacier comes back with more body shots, but Goldberg rebounds off the ropes with a spear. One Jackhammer later and Glacier has melted. The streak continues. This was a fun one minute opener. I’m a sucker for a good squash match. Winner: BILL GOLDBERG.
Before we get to Bret Hart vs The Patriot from 1997’s In Your House – Ground Zero we hear from both combatants.
Michael Cole predicts this as being Bret’s toughest title defence since reclaiming the belt at SummerSlam. Patriot already holds a victory over Bret, he’s on enemy ground and without a friend. Bret states it’s the World Wrestling Federation not the American Federation. He mightn’t have any fans in America anymore, but they don’t know what a hero is. He’s going in against a guy everyone loves, but that’s fine. Bret adds that everything he does in the match is directed towards the American wrestling fans that turned their backs on him a long time ago. Bret advises not to bet on a title change, as he’s going to kick the crap out of ‘this guy’ and enjoy it.
The Patriot tells Sunny that he’s beaten Bret once and can beat him again. After speculating on whether Bret has his family stashed away somewhere, Patriot vows to flatten anyone who sticks their nose in his match. Patriot finishes by saying with the title on the line, he has to win again.
WWF In Your House: Ground Zero: September 7th 1997
WWF Title: Bret “Hitman” Hart vs The Patriot
Okerlund builds the match up by noting it’s national pride on the line as well as the title. It’s the American superhero vs a Canadian icon. Del Wilkes was playing the masked Patriot and was using Kurt Angle’s future theme music. Joined in progress. Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler are at the announce table. Bret works over Patriot’s leg, as Lawler puts over Patriot’s victories in a Battle Royal on Shotgun Saturday Night then against Bret in a non title match. Vince stops Lawler from promoting Patriot’s Japanese accolades by saying it doesn’t matter because it’s not the WWF. Bret applies a spinning toehold and figure four around the ringpost. (The latter was a common move that Bret utilised brilliantly several times in key moments during this heel run.) After Bret posts Patriot’s leg and talks smack to Vince, fellow Hart Foundation member British Bulldog makes his way to ringside. Bret stays in control using his trusty offense of a side Russian legsweep and backbreaker. Patriot manages to reverse a suplex, plant Bret with a DDT, then shakes off his injured leg. Sensing Bret in trouble, Bulldog trips Patriot, then climbs onto the apron. Patriot sends Bret into the Bulldog and nearly sneaks it with a rollup. Patriot delivers his full nelson slam finisher (aptly named ‘Uncle Slam’) but Bulldog pulls Bret away from being pinned. Vader enters to start a four man brawl and send Bret into the ringsteps. Rather than award a DQ, the referee opts to throw Bulldog and Vader out and restart the match. The crowd chant USA as Patriot has the momentum with a big boot, slam, top rope flying tackle and atomic drop into a back suplex. Bret stays alive by hotshotting Patriot into the middle rope then delivering a running bulldog out of the corner and elbow from the second rope. Patriot manages to turn the table on Bret in the corner, but a wayward elbow catches the referee. Patriot reverses Bret’s Uncle Slam attempt, covers, but Bret gets a foot on the rope. Both go close with small packages, before Patriot sends Bret front first to the corner. Patriot manages to put Bret in the Sharpshooter. Bret manages to grab a leg to reverse the hold. Refusing to tap out, Patriot passes out and Bret is awarded the bout. Winner: BRET “HITMAN” HART. Bret kisses the WWF Title, then motions for the fans to kiss his ass. This was a very good match and the best one I’ve seen the Patriot have. Patriot’s push was short lived, as after the following month’s tag match of him and Vader vs Bret and Bulldog, he tore his biceps and didn’t return.
Just weeks before The Rock faced Stone Cold at WrestleMania 19, Rocky was involved in a mini feud with The Hurricane. Before their showdown on Raw, both came face to face in Rock’s private lockerroom. Rock asks if he’s ready to go one-on-one with the Great One, while Hurricane asks if Rock is ready to go toe-to-toe with the Superhero. Rock talks the match up as the biggest in Raw history, Superhero vs Superhero, Scorpion King vs Hurricane. No DQ, all super powers go. Rock runs through all his super powers; X-Ray vision, night vision, heat vision, cable vision, even pearl vision. What does the Hamburgler have? Rock wonders if Hamburgler will throw a Chicken McNugget at him or hit him in the head with a Cheeseburger. Hurricane says he has his Hurri-powers bitch! Rock notes Hurricane’s low class, then tells him it’s the biggest night of his life. After telling Hurricane to bring it, Rock extends his hand, wishes Hurricane good luck then decks him with a punch. Damn I miss the Rock. This was truly Vintage stuff.
Monday Night Raw: March 10th 2003
The Rock vs The Hurricane
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are on commentary, hyping Rock and Austin at Mania. Rock slaps Hurricane around until Hurricane fires back with punches. Rock bails to the floor. Hurricane goes out to put Rock back in and take the fight to him. Rock stops Hurricane’s offense with a samoan drop. Rock dons the Hurricane’s cape as he works over him, mocking various flying motions. Rock discards the cape, delivers a suplex, chokes Hurricane in the ropes, clotheslines him to the mat and sinks in a lengthy chinlock. Ross notes Rock’s failure to beat Austin at a WrestleMania has gotten to the Great One. Hurricane counters a back suplex with a leaping neckbreaker, then gets his second wind, hitting two clotheslines and a shining wizard. Hurricane goes airborne with a top rope cross body and blockbuster. Rock regains the upper hand with a DDT, then nips up mocking a Hurri-pose. Hurricane elbows free from a Rock Bottom attempt. Both block chokeslam attempts, until Hurricane kicks Rock low and executes the move. Hurricane crawls into a cover. 1-2-kickout. Rock sends Hurricane into a spinebuster then sets up for the people’s elbow. Rock freezes when Stone Cold’s music hits and Austin makes his way to the ring. Hurricane rolls up Rock during the commotion for the shock 1-2-3. Winner: THE HURRICANE. Hurricane quickly disappears while Austin’s music is still playing and just like that the win is forgotten as Ross and Lawler move to build up Rock and Austin. Austin flips Rock the bird as he backs up the entrance ramp.
A short highlight piece airs on Hulk Hogan. Vince McMahon calls ‘Hulkamania’ an endearing term as it means so many different things to so many different people. Eric Bischoff believes ‘Hulkamania’ represents some of the greatest moments in the history of sports entertainment. Even Hogan puts himself over, by saying he’ll be remembered for a long time when he gets too old and grey, has to sit down and let one of the little Hulksters take over, as there’s only one Hulk Hogan who will step in the ring and meet any challenge. Vince has the final word, comparing Hogan to Baseball’s Babe Ruth and saying he will always be a part of WWE legacy, and he should be as he deserves it. Fair enough. It’s hard to argue the legacy of the Hulkster…….Brother!
WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs One Man Gang w/Slick
This match is included on the forthcoming ‘Hulk Hogan Unreleased Collectors Series’ DVD set. The match took place on December 5th 1987 at a House show held at the Philadelphia Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dick Graham and Craig DeGeorge are on commentary The future Akeem is billed at 400lbs. This was a typical Hogan vs big man by-the-numbers match, which proved to be a successful formula in the 80s. Gang stalls to begin, shying away from a test of strength and a lockup. Gang shoves Hogan to the corner. Hogan cranks on a side headlock. Hogan tackles Gang to the mat on his third attempt. Hogan tries a slam, Gang falls on top then clubs Hogan to the floor. Back inside, Hogan elbows out of a bearhug, but runs into a clothesline. Gang hits a big splash. 1-2-kickout. Hogan hulks up, wags the finger, sends Gang into the corner three times, then plants him with a corner clothesline. Hogan finally manages to slam the ‘Giant’, drops the legdrop of doom and unsurprisingly picks up the 1-2-3. Winner: HULK HOGAN. After the bell, Hogan attacks Slick, puts on his leather hat, then discards it after throwing the Doctor of Style over the top rope.
Okerlund signs off to end the show. Match of the week goes to Bret Hart vs The Patriot, but Goldberg and Rock provided some good entertainment, so the show’s well worth a look. The Halloween countdown continues next week with the theme being ‘prolific monsters and oddities.’ Monster! See you next week. Shaun.
P.S. If anyone would like to contribute a ‘Vintage’ banner to accompany this column at the top of the page, then do get in touch. Full name credit will be given.
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