‘WWE Vintage Collection: Wrestlemania Road Trip’ TV Report #94 – March 21st, 2010

Shown on Sky Sports in the U.K.

By Stephen Lyon.

This week: The Road to Wrestlemania continued this week, with a retrospective on Wrestlemanias 13, 14 and 15. Matches featured were Taka Michinoku vs Mr Aguila (WM14), Rocky Maivia vs The Sultan (WM13), and The Undertaker vs Kane (WM14).

The Show:

1) WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, Taka Michinoky defeated Mr Aguila to retain the title. This match took place at the 'WWF Wrestlemania 14’ pay-per-view event, held in Boston, Massachusetts on March 29th, 1998. Announcers for this match were Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler. This was a high-flying spotfest. Amongst the highlights were Aguila (later to become known as Papi Chulo and Essa Rios) using an Asai moonsault off the top rope and on to Michinoku outside the ring; Michinoku doing a running springboard clothesline off the top rope and on to Aguila outside the ring; and Aguila executing a tremendous running corkscrew plancha dive on to Michinoku on the outside. Back in the ring, Taka came back into the match, connecting with a missile dropkick off the ropes and powerbombing Aguila for a nearfall. Finish came when Taka pinned Aguila after a Michinoku driver. This was a good match.

Next came a short recap video on Wrestlemania 15, focusing on Pete Rose being attacked by Kane for the second year running, Butterbean knocking out Bart Gunn in a Brawl For All challenge match, and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeating the Rock to win the WWF title.

This was followed by a Wrestlemania Moment Clip from Wrestlemania 13: the Legion of Doom & Ahmed Johnson defeating the Nation of Domination in a 'Chicago Streetfight'.

2) WWF Intercontinental Champion, Rocky Maivia defeated The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik & Mr Bob Backlund in his corner) to retain the title. This match was from the 'WWF Wrestlemania 13’ pay-per-view event, held in Chicago, Illinois on March 23rd, 1997. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler and Honky Tonk Man. Crowd chanted 'Rocky Sucks' as Rocky punched Sultan, knocking him to the outside. Tables were turned though, when Sultan posted Rocky at ringside, and from that point onwards, dominated him in the ring. For some reason, Honky (although portraying a heel) ripped on Rocky hard on commentary, belittling him, his ring tactics and his ability. Lawler also chipped in, calling him 'Rookie Maivia'. It was what heels do, but given the guy was finding it so hard to get over as it was, it kind of made it cool for fans to reject Maivia's push and thus made it even harder for him. After a commercial break, Maivia came back, using a belly-to-belly suplex on the future Rikishi, and following this with a DDT. Rocky used a crossbody block off the top for a nearfall on Sultan, but Iron Sheik climbed on to the ring apron to distract the referee. Rocky confronted him, but when he turned around, Sultan nailed him with a sidekick, then gave him a piledriver, resulting in a two count. Out of nowhere, Rocky rolled up Sultan for the pinfall win, making it look like he got lucky, rather than earn a win. Afterwards, Jim Ross tried to interview Rocky at ringside, but Sultan jumped him from behind and threw him back inside the ring. Sultan, Sheik and Backlund put the boots to him, before Sultan came off the top with a diving headbutt. Sheik placed Maivia in the camel clutch, which led to Maivia's father, Rocky Johnson making a run- in to save his son. Johnson was beaten down by the heels, and eventually, Maivia himself recovered to clear the ring and save his father. The pair took turns slamming the Iron Sheik, and delivered simultaneous palm thrusts to Sheik, clearing him from the ring   

Next came a lengthy video detailing the several months-long build up to The Undertaker facing Kane at Wrestlemania 14. An awful lot of pyro and special effects were used during this.

3) The Undertaker defeated Kane (w/Paul Bearer in his corner). This match took place at the 'WWF Wrestlemania 14’ pay-per-view event, held in Boston, Massachusetts on March 29th, 1998. Announcers for this match were Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler. Undertaker's full ring entrance aired, as well as his staredown with Kane to start the match. Initially Kane barely sold Taker's offence, before the two began exchanging punches. Kane went for the tombstone, but dropped Taker in the corner and put the boots to him instead. He then dropped the Deadman across the top rope and nailed him with a clothesline to the back, off the top rope. After a commercial break, Taker dumped Kane over the top rope, then spectacularly dove over the top rope and to the outside. Kane dodged out of his way and Taker crashed through the Spanish announcers table, knocking down the Spanish announcers including Tito Santana as well. Kane threw Taker back into the ring, and took him down with a flying clothesline off the top rope. Taker came back and tried for a tombstone, but Kane managed to reverse the move and tombstoned Taker instead. Taker surprisingly kicked out at the count of two. Undertaker recovered and began to dominate Kane. Taker finally beat Kane after three tombstone piledrivers. After the match, Paul Bearer threw a chair into the ring, and put the boots to Taker. Taker recovered to punch Bearer, but Kane then tombstoned Taker on to the steel chair. Kane and Bearer left, and Undertaker sat up in the ring.   

Closing thoughts: Average show this week. Taka vs Aguila was entertaining. Rocky vs Sultan wasn't. Undertaker vs Kane wasn't particularly good either, but with all the bells and whistles of their nonsensical storyline, and presented in this fashion at Wrestlemania, it was bearable.

Match Results:

1) WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, Taka Michinoky defeated Mr Aguila to retain the title ('WWF Wrestlemania 14’ pay-per-view event – Boston, Massachusetts: 29/03/98). 

2) WWF Intercontinental Champion, Rocky Maivia defeated The Sultan (w/The Iron Sheik & Mr Bob Backlund in his corner) to retain the title ('WWF Wrestlemania 13’ pay-per-view event – Chicago, Illinois: 23/03/97). 

3) The Undertaker defeated Kane (w/Paul Bearer in his corner) ('WWF Wrestlemania 14’ pay-per-view event – Boston, Massachusetts: 29/03/98). 

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 . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Until next week, have a good week.

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