‘WWE Vintage Collection TV Report #77 – November 22nd, 2009

Shown on Sky Sports in the U.K.

By Stephen Lyon.

This week: The look back at Survivor Series history concluded with Bret Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin from 1996, arguably the best match in Survivor Series history. Also on the show were Goldust vs Bam Bam Bigelow (1995) and Ken Shamrock & Ahmed Johnson & the Legion of Doom vs Faarooq & Rocky Maivia & D-Lo Brown & Kama Mustafa (1997).

The Show:

Show opened with a video previewing the Bret Hart vs Steve Austin match from the 1996 Survivor Series.

1) Goldust defeated Bam Bam Bigelow. This match was from the 'WWF Survivor Series 1995' pay-per-view event, held on November 19th, 1995 in Landover, Maryland. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Mr Perfect. This was just a month after Goldust's debut, and he was in the midst of a big push. Bigelow, meanwhile, was on his way out of the company after turning babyface following the LT match at Wrestlemania 11, and having his babyface push sabotaged by the infamous 'clique'. With the match joined in progress, Bigelow and Goldust brawled around the ringside area and back into the ring. Goldust had Bigelow in a chinlock, but Bigelow broke free by powering up with Goldust on his shoulders and dropping him down. Bigelow used several powerslams for nearfalls, but Goldust got the pinfall win out of nowhere, using a running bulldog.

2) Ken Shamrock & Ahmed Johnson & the Legion of Doom defeated Faarooq & Rocky Maivia & D-Lo Brown & Kama Mustafa in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match, when Shamrock pinned Maivia to become the sole survivor. This match was from the 'WWF Survivor Series 1997' pay-per-view event, held on November 9th, 1997 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Announcers for this match (action joined in progress) were Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. D-Lo Brown squared off against Hawk, giving him a piledriver, but he no-sold it. He popped up and gave D-Lo a neckbreaker. Rocky Maivia tagged in and pinned Hawk almost straight away with the Rock Bottom. Next, we had an interminable period of Ahmed Johnson in the ring, punching Rocky, then squaring off with Faarooq. After what seemed like three years, Johnson slipped out of Faarooq's shoulderbreaker attempt and gave Faarooq the Pearl River Plunge to eliminate him. D-Lo took Johnson down and gave him a frogsplash, but the big man recovered to give D-Lo a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Rocky tagged in, and almost immediately, Faarooq tripped Johnson and held on to his leg as Rocky pinned him. Faarooq and Johnson then brawled to the back.

After a commercial break, Animal rolled up Kama for a pinfall elimination. The New Age Outlaws came out, with Road Dogg wearing Hawk's LOD spiked shoulder pads that he'd stolen, and Billy Gunn wearing 'Animal' face paint. The pair, who weren't over a lick at this point, taunted Animal, who climbed out of the ring to confront them. Somebody threw powder in Animal's face (to no crowd reaction and the cameraman missed the actual throw), and Animal was counted out to complete crowd apathy, as he stalked the two heels to the back. This left Shamrock vs Rocky & D-Lo. Shamrock gave D-Lo a belly to belly suplex and applied an ankle lock, resulting in D-Lo's tap out. Rocky came into the ring brandishing a chair, and as the officials helped D-Lo out of the ring, Rocky laid out Shamrock with a chairshot to the back. Rocky gave Shamrock a DDT and the People's Elbow for several nearfalls, but couldn't put him away. Shamrock came back, nailing Rocky with a Northern Lights suplex and a frankensteiner, before finally making Rocky tap out in the ankle lock. This was a hot finish to a largely mediocre and lengthy match. 

Next came pre-match comments from both Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart, ahead of their match against each other at Survivor Series 1996.

3) Bret Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin. This match was from the 'WWF Survivor Series 1996' pay-per-view event, held on November 17th, 1996 in Madison Square Garden, New York. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon and Jim Ross. Austin worked over Hart's neck and throat in the early stages, dropping him throat-first across the top rope, then standing on his neck in the ring. Austin drove his elbow and knees into the neck area of the Hitman, then utilised a chinlock. Hart made a comeback, using a Russian legsweep, but his running bulldog attempt was blocked by Austin, who sent him sternum-first into the turnbuckles. Back from a commercial break, and Austin was perched on the top turnbuckle with Hart, preparing to give him a superplex. Hart blocked the move, knocking down on to his back, and then gave Austin an elbow drop from the top rope. Bret went for a sidewalk slam, but Austin raked his eyes. The two brawled outside the ring and into the crowd, with Bret throwing Austin into the guardrail, knocking it down as Austin fell back into the ringside area. Austin recovered quickly and monkey-flipped Hart on to the Spanish announcers' table, before jumping on him and pounding away with punches.

After another commercial break, Austin was chopping Hart whilst perched on the turnbuckles, before finally giving Hart the superplex he had threatened to execute earlier. Both guys immediately wrapped their legs around each other in a small package pin attempt on the mat, only for Austin kick out at two. Austin then gave Hart the stunner, but the Hitman kicked out. Austin was frustrated by this, and tried for several pin attempts in quick succession without success. Austin placed Hart in the Texas Cloverleaf, but Hart made the ropes and broke the hold. Austin then threw Hart across the ring, towards the turnbuckles, with Hart hitting the bottom of the ring post on his side, ribs-first. Austin tried a bow-and-arrow submission move, but Bret managed to escape and tried for the sharpshooter. Austin made the ropes to break the move. Bret went for a sleeper attempt, countered by Austin dropping into a jawbreaker. The finish came when Austin placed Hart in the Million Dollar Dream, only for Hart to fall back on to Austin and pin him for the three count. This was an absolutely fantastic match.  

Closing thoughts: Show was saved by a fantastic main event. Hart vs Austin matches had superb chemistry and this was a classic match, shown almost in its' near 30 minute entirety. The rest of the show was filler; the first match was a short throwaway match, and the elimination  match was very long and largely boring until the hot finish.

Match Results:

1) Goldust defeated Bam Bam Bigelow ('WWF Survivor Series 1995' pay-per-view event - Landover, Maryland: 19/11/95).

2) Ken Shamrock & Ahmed Johnson & the Legion of Doom defeated Faarooq & Rocky Maivia & D-Lo Brown & Kama Mustafa in a Survivor Series elimination match ('WWF Survivor Series 1997' pay-per-view event - Montreal, Quebec, Canada: 09/11/97).

3) Bret Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin ('WWF Survivor Series 1996' pay-per-view event - MSG, New York: 17/11/96).

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.