‘WWE Vintage Collection TV Report #75 – November 8th, 2009

Shown on Sky Sports in the U.K.

By Stephen Lyon.

This week: Main focus was on the Undertaker this week. His debut match at Survivor Series 1990 was shown, Dusty Rhodes & Koko B. Ware & Hart Foundation vs Ted DiBiase & The Undertaker & Rhythm & Blues; plus Undertaker's first WWF title win vs Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series 1991. Also on the show was Ultimate Warrior & The Rockers & Jim Neidhart vs Andre the Giant & Haku & Arn Anderson & Bobby Heenan from Survivor Series 1989.

The Show:

Show opened with a Ted DiBiase and team pre-match promo at the 1990 Survivor Series, interspersed with clips of Undertaker making his ring entrance for the first time that night as their mystery partner team-mate.

1) Ted DiBiase & The Undertaker & Rhythm & Blues (w/ Virgil & Brother Love & Jimmy Hart in their corner) defeated Dusty Rhodes & Koko B. Ware & Hart Foundation, when DiBiase pinned Hart to  become the sole survivor. This match was from  the 'WWF Survivor Series 1990' pay-per-view event, held in Hartford, Connecticut on November 22nd, 1990. Announcers for this match were Gorilla Monsoon & Rowdy Roddy Piper. Undertaker started the match, and no-sold offence from the get-go. Bret Hart was kicked and chokeslammed. Jim Neidhart was slammed. Koko B. Ware was tagged in for a matter of seconds before Taker gave him a tombstone piledriver to pin and eliminate him. Taker tagged in Greg Valentine for some brief respite, but Jim Neidhart evened things up moments later, powerslamming and pinning Honky Tonk Man. Dusty Rhodes squared off with his arch-nemesis at the time, Ted DiBiase, and the two had a heated showdown; Dusty unloading with elbows and even connecting with a dropkick on the Million Dollar Man. However, DiBiase pinned Neidhart shortly thereafter, using a clothesline after Virgil had tripped the Anvil. After a commercial break, Taker took out Dusty Rhodes with a double axe handle from the top rope, to pin and eliminate the Dream. Brother Love put the boots to the eliminated Rhodes outside the ring, and as Dusty stalked Love down the aisle, Undertaker made the save for his manager, as Dusty and Taker brawled to the back, causing Taker's count out elimination. Back in the ring, Greg Valentine went for a figure four leglock on Bret Hart, but Hart was able to pin Valentine with a small package, leaving Hart vs DiBiase as the final participants. These two had a great match, with numerous nearfalls, ending when DiBiase pinned Hart after reversing a Hart crossbody block and grabbing the pinfall win for his team.

2) Ultimate Warrior & The Rockers & Jim Neidhart defeated Andre the Giant & Haku & Arn Anderson & Bobby Heenan, when Warrior pinned Heenan to become the sole survivor. This match was from the 'WWF Survivor Series 1989' pay-per-view event, held in Chicago, Illinois on November 23rd, 1989. Announcers for this match were Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura. Before this match, back in the Vintage Collection tv studio, Gene Okerlund gave a sort-of kayfabe reason for Tully Blanchard's absence from this match. "Tully Blanchard opted out of this match at the last minute, citing rising tensions within the Heenan family. Hmmmmm...."

As far as the match goes, the Rockers ran to the ring, and were immediately attacked by the Heenan Family team. Ultimate Warrior ran to the ring (strangely, to no music) and made the save, clotheslining Andre over the top rope to ringside, where he was immediately counted out. Haku evened things up shortly thereafter, pinning Jim Neidhart after a punch to the back of his head. The Rockers double-teamed Haku, but the big Tongan recovered to dominate Marty Jannetty, leading to Bobby Heenan tagging in and actually grabbing the pinfall on Jannetty, eliminating him. The unique team of Warrior and Shawn Michaels worked together, with Michaels enjoying an excellent period squaring off against Arn Anderson. Michaels pinned Haku after a crossbody block from the top rope, but Anderson got the better of the future Heartbreak Kid, pinning him after a spinebuster. This left Warrior vs Arn & Heenan, but not for long. Warrior press-slammed and splashed Arn, to eliminate him. Finally, Warrior pinned Heenan, after throwing him into the turnbuckles, causing him to flip upside down, then dragging him back to the ring after Heenan tried to bail, before pinning him after a flying tackle and big splash.

3) The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer in his corner) defeated Hulk Hogan to win the WWF Title. This match was from the 'WWF Survivor Series 1991' pay-per-view event, held in Detroit, Michigan on November 27th, 1991. Announcers for this match were Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan. Taker dominated Hogan for most of this match, choking him from the outset. Bearer got in the action too, freely interfering behind the referee's back. Hogan tried for a slam too early, and was pounded on. Hogan clotheslined the Dead Man to the outside, but Taker posted him almost immediately. After a commercial break, Undertaker gave Hogan the tombstone piledriver, but cartoonishly, Hogan jumped up straight away and did his Superman comeback. Ric Flair made his way to ringside, as Hogan inexplicably grabbed Paul Bearer and began trying to drag him into the ring. Hogan finally saw Flair and punched him, before targeting Bearer again. Finish of the match saw Flair slip a steel chair into the ring, leading to Undertaker giving Hogan a second Tombstone piledriver on to the steel chair, then pinning Hogan to the win the match and title.

In a post-match interview from later in the ppv show, Gene Okerlund interviewed the new champion, the Undertaker, and Paul Bearer, backstage in the bowels of the building. Commenting on the news that WWF President, Jack Tunney had ordered a re-match between Hogan and Undertaker for the following weeks' 'This Tuesday In Texas' ppv show, Bearer said that Hulkamania had died that night, and that at the Tuesday ppv, they would hold the wake for Hogan.

Closing thoughts: This was a fun show. It's easy to see how Undertaker got over so well. One of the greatest gimmicks of all time, and he was protected so well for years at the start of his tenure. Bobby Heenan's antics were great in the second match. Kind of funny to see him pin and eliminate Marty Jannetty, even if Haku did do all the dirty work.

Match Results:

1) Ted DiBiase & The Undertaker & Rhythm & Blues (w/ Virgil & Brother Love & Jimmy Hart in their corner) defeated Dusty Rhodes & Koko B. Ware & Hart Foundation ('WWF Survivor Series 1990' pay-per-view event - Hartford, Connecticut: 22/11/90).

2) Ultimate Warrior & The Rockers & Jim Neidhart defeated Andre the Giant & Haku & Arn Anderson & Bobby Heenan ('WWF Survivor Series 1989' pay-per-view event - Chicago, Illinois: 23/11/89).

3) The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer in his corner) defeated Hulk Hogan to win the WWF Title ('WWF Survivor Series 1991' pay-per-view event - Detroit, Michigan: 27/11/91).

Please note: I DO NOT sell DVDs or tapes of any of these shows. Sorry!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s report. For other reports like this one, be sure to check it out my website archive at http://www.classicwrestlingreports.com .

It’s no longer updated, but this website carries all of my previous WWE Classics tv reports that have been featured on the old WrestlingObserver.com website.

As always your questions, comments and thoughts are always welcomed, and you can contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Until next week, have a good week.

Stephen Lyon,
St Helens, England, U.K.