WWE Vintage Collection Report (12/13/09)

WWE Vintage Collection Report: 13th December 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund

Welcome aboard. This week, four full matches from the 1980s, with Ricky Steamboat, Fabulous Moolah and Randy Savage all in action. Let’s begin.

March 5th 1988: Boston, Massachusetts
“King” Harley Race vs The Ultimate Warrior
Gorilla Monsoon is joined by Lord Alfred Hayes on commentary in the legendary Boston Garden. Warrior is on the cusp of superstardom after debuting in late 1987. Warrior wins a popularity contest after he and Race mount the corners looking for support. Monsoon and Hayes hype the upcoming WrestleMania IV event (held March 27th at Trump Plaza, which included Warrior’s first PPV showing against the mighty Hercules). Warrior stands firm on a clothesline attempt, before Race takes a tumble over the top rope from an Irish whip. Warrior punches Race off the apron, sending the King slithering slowly down the rickety wooden ringsteps. Race dazes himself after tackling Warrior, but fortuitously falls head first into Warrior’s groin. Warrior sends Race back to the floor with two standing clotheslines. Race drives his head into Warrior’s chest and delivers a piledriver. Race sends a charging Warrior through the ropes. Warrior counters a suplex from the apron by slipping behind Race and pinning him with a rollup. Whoever said that Ultimate Warrior knew no wrestling holds was just proved wrong. Race made him look good here. Winner: THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR.

July 20th 1985: Landover, Maryland
“Cowboy” Bob Orton vs Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Okerlund joins Gorilla Monsoon in calling this battle between “two Hall of Famers in their prime.” Orton is sporting the infamous cast on his left wrist. Steamboat was a few months into his first WWF tenure after defeating Matt Borne at the inaugural WrestleMania. The announcers put over Steamboat’s martial arts skills as an equaliser with Monsoon saying he’ll only use them when absolutely necessary. Steamboat’s martial arts stances put Orton off, who stalls on the floor to begin. Steamboat spends several minutes working over Orton’s left arm, using his quickness to keep “Ace” grounded. Orton escapes after a headbutt and hiptoss out of the corner, before connecting with a flying headscissors. Orton misses a second scissors and tumbles to the outside, so he grabs a fan’s drink to toss it into Steamboat’s eyes. Orton wears Steamboat down with a neck wrench and chinlock. Steamboat fails with a slam attempt, Orton drives the cast into Steamboat’s throat then drops him to the mat. Orton cusses out loud at his failure to put Steamboat away. The Dragon fights back, countering a piledriver with a backbodydrop, before nearly winning it with a top rope cross body. Orton kills Steamboat’s momentum with an inverted atomic drop. Orton throws Steamboat over the top rope, but he skins the cat back in, before sending Orton out with an enziguiri kick. Steamboat reverses a suplex to bring Orton back in, but Orton gets his knees up to prevent a splash. Orton re-adjusts his cast and the referee disqualifies him after Orton strikes Steamboat cast first from the top rope. Steamboat avoids several post match cast shots and sends Orton packing after several karate chops and a well placed kick to the head. Okerlund praises the referee’s guts for standing up to Orton. Steamboat calls for Orton to come back and fight, but he declines. After a slow start, the match picked up the pace in the closing minutes. Winner by DQ: RICKY “THE DRAGON” STEAMBOAT.

July 24th 1987: Houston, Texas
Women’s Title: Fabulous Moolah vs Sherri Martel
Okerlund rightly states both women were “trailblazers that inspired today’s Divas” in his pre-match notes, before calling the match “pioneer vs pioneer.” This was Sherri’s debut match in the WWF, after crossing over from the AWA, where she was the reigning Women’s champion. (She lost the belt three days after this match). Sherri trained at Moolah’s school for a while in 1979 before being kicked out after Moolah took a dislike to Sherri’s love of the nightlife. Sherri finished her training, worked the territories and found her way to the WWF. Gorilla Monsoon and Jimmy Hart commentate. Moolah is channelling the Million Dollar Man with $ signs on her ring singlet and boots. Both exchange throws and holds on the mat. Moolah bites at Sherri during a wristlock and doesn’t like the taste. Sherri snapmares out of a hold to apply a chinlock. Both exchange chokes in the corner. Sherri stays in control with a front facelock. Moolah escapes a side headlock to land a backdrop and armbar. Sherri messes up a cross body attempt in the corner by losing her footing as she tries to climb the ropes so Moolah tosses her to the floor. Both slam each other on the concrete floor. Moolah grabs the hair to pull Sherri back in over the top rope only to toss Sherri back outside on the other side of the ring. Moolah tries to slam her back in from the apron, but Sherri rolls through and hooks the leg. 1-2-3. New champion! Moolah attacks referee (the late) Joey Morella (Monsoon’s son) after the bell, before Sherri knocks her out of the ring with a belt shot to the back. This was a true passing of the guard moment between two ladies sadly no longer with us. Hart and Monsoon put over a “history making match.” Sherri would adopt the “Sensational” moniker after this and enjoy a 15 month reign before dropping the title to Rockin’ Robin on October 8th 1988. This was enjoyable, watching both women match each other in terms of holds and tactics. Winner: SHERRI MARTEL.

March 5th 1988: Boston, Massachusetts
Six Man Cage Match
The Honky Tonk Man & The Hart Foundation w/Jimmy Hart vs
Macho Man Randy Savage w/Elizabeth & Strike Force (Tito Santana & Rick Martel)
It’s back to the Boston Garden we go for today’s Main Event. Honky was the reigning Intercontinental Champion feuding with Savage, while Strike Force had won the Tag Titles from the Harts in 1987. The first team to have all three members escape the cage are the winners. Once you leave though, you can’t re-enter. Elizabeth leaves as soon as the action begins. The heels use Strike Force’s t-shirts as weapons to choke their opponents. Santana and Savage stop Honky from climbing out. Bret gives Martel a backbreaker, but Martel recovers to stop Bret from climbing out. Santana stops Anvil from crawling out the door. Martel strikes Anvil allowing Santana to be the first man out of the cage. Bret attacks Martel to allow Anvil to escape unopposed. Martel sends Bret into the cage then starts to climb out. Martel shakes Bret loose once, but can’t a second time. Honky and Bret resort to chokes in the corner, before inadvertently being sent into one another. Martel and Savage start to climb, but only Martel scrambles free as Honky pulls Savage down for an inevitable double team. Bret climbs to the top of the cage, but Honky convinces him to come down and inflict more punishment. Bret and Honky high five before giving Savage a double backelbow. Satisfied with his night’s work, Bret rubs his hands in delight as he walks out of the cage. Honky gloats as he goes to follow Bret only for Savage to grab him and throw him into the cage. A desperate Honky goes to the eyes and climbs up top. Savage pulls Honky back to the top of the cage by the hair and, with Honky in a lying position, Savage delivers kicks to the gut. An elbow to the head is enough to send Honky falling into the ring for a straddle on the top rope. Ouch! Savage clambers free and heads to the back with Strike Force. The Harts and Honky get pelted with garbage on their way to the lockerroom. Winners: MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE & STRIKE FORCE. This match served as a blowoff to the respective feuds. Savage ended his pursuit of Honky and went on to win the WWF Title at WrestleMania IV, while on the same show Strike Force lost the Tag Titles to Demolition and the Harts, in particular Bret made an overdue face turn after Bad News Brown double crossed him at the end of a Battle Royal.

See you next week for another trip down memory lane. Shaun.

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