WWE Vintage Collection TV Report #8 – July 27th, 2008
Shown on Sky Sports 3 in the U.K.
By Stephen Lyon.
Introduction:
Mean Gene Okerlund opened the show, announcing that this week, all five matches would be from the first Summerslam ppv, that occurred on August 28th, 1988, at Madison Square Garden, New York. The announcers for this show were Gorilla Monsoon and Superstar Billy Graham.
1) The British Bulldogs went to a 20 minute time limit draw with the Fabulous Rougeaus. This match was joined in progress and only five minutes of it aired. Both Jacques and Raymond had a chinlocks on Dynamite Kid, but DK kept powering out of them. DK had Jacques in a small package at one point, but the referee was distracted by Davey Boy Smith. DK eventually made the hot tag to Smith, who press-slammed Jacques, and also crotched him on the top rope. Finish came when Smith pressed DK high above his head, and dropped DK into a diving headbutt on to Jacques, only for the bell to ring as the time limit had expired. This was a good match with an unsatisfying finish. The Bulldogs chased the Rougeaus to the back after the match.
2) WWF Tag Team Champions, Demolition (w/Mr Fuji & Jimmy Hart in their corner) defeated the Hart Foundation in 9:49. Most of this match aired. Hart Foundation had recently turned face and had dumped Jimmy Hart, which was the reason for the spurned Jimmy to be in the Demo’s corner alongside Mr Fuji. Ax and Smash worked over Bret to begin with, with Bret posted outside the ring. Bret made the hot tag to Jim Neidhart, and the two combined to slingshot Neidhart over the top rope and to Ax and Smash at ringside. Both Hart and Neidhart had near falls on Ax and Smash, before the finish came. With Neidhart distracted by Mr Fuji (who he punched off the ring apron), Ax threw Jimmy Hart’s megaphone to Smash, who used it on Bret Hart and then picked up the pin. This was a decent match.
3) Ravishing Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan in his corner) defeated the Junk Yard Dog via disqualification in 6:18. This match was joined in progress and the last four minutes aired. Rude wore some awesome wrestling tights, with JYD’s likeness airbrushed on both the back and front. This was a limited match. Rude had JYD in a headlock most of the way, until Rude crotched himself on JYD’s arm. JYD delivered several headbutts, before Heenan distracted him, and Rude was able to given him the Rude Awakening. Rude then climbed to the top rope, and partially pulled down his tights, to reveal a second pair of wrestling tights underneath, with this pair featuring the likeness of Cheryl Roberts (Jake Roberts’ wife) on both the back and front. Jake Roberts ran out and clotheslined Rude from the ring, and the referee called for a D.Q. and awarded the match to Rude. This wasn’t much of a match, but the angle was pretty funny. Rude was a tremendous heel in his day.
4) Jake Roberts pinned Hercules in 10:06 with the DDT. This match was joined in progress and the last five minutes aired. Hercules dominated Roberts, until Roberts delivered a chinbreaker. Roberts then gave Hercules a short clothesline. Hercules escaped from a DDT attempt, and Roberts also missed a running kneelift, but Roberts eventually hit the DDT out of nowhere for the pin.
5) The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage, with Miss Elizabeth in their corner) defeated the Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase & Andre the Giant, with Bobby Heenan & Virgil in their corner) in 13:57. This match was joined in progress, and about ten minutes of it aired. Future Governor, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura was the special guest referee for this match. Hogan and Savage worked over DiBiase at first, throwing him into the turnbuckles, and Savage delivering a double ax handle from the second rope. Hogan and Savage gave DiBiase a double big-boot, before Andre came in and headbutted Hogan from behind. DiBiase and Andre then dominated Hogan. After a commercial break, Savage missed a charge into the corner and DiBiase clotheslined him. DiBiase suplexed Savage and got a two count. DiBiase gave Savage a backbreaker, but then missed a fall away elbow from the second rope. Savage made the hot tag to Hogan, who punched DiBiase and clotheslined Andre, knocking him down. Hogan had DiBiase in a sleeper, but Andre headbutted him from behind and broke it up. Both heels threw Hogan and Savage to the outside. Miss Elizabeth then climbed on to the ring apron, and in a shocking moment for that era (which now looks incredibly tame by today’s standards), she ripped off the bottom half of her gold dress to reveal skimpy red bikini briefs.
The heels and Ventura were stunned, and in an awesome moment, Hogan and Savage did their famous Mega Powers handshake outside the ring, as if to signify their plan had somehow worked. Both faces climbed into the ring, with Savage giving Andre a double ax handle blow from the top rope, and also punching Heenan off the ring apron, and Hogan slamming DiBiase. Savage gave DiBiase the big elbow, and Hogan legdropped DiBiase. Ventura counted to two, and as he hesitated over delivering the three count, Savage brought his arm down to win the match. Afterwards, Hogan celebrated by grabbing Miss Elizabeth and jumping up and down, whilst Savage shot him this quizzical look. This was the start of sowing the seeds for their feud, for the following years’ Wrestlemania 5 main event. This was actually a very entertaining match, with well-planned spots, and in hindsight, a well done subtle tease for the Hogan/Savage split.
Closing thoughts: Good show this week. A couple of good matches, and an entertaining main event.
In other news - there may or may not be an edition of this show aired on Sky next weekend. This is because a re-run of the one hour ‘Saturday Nights Main Event’ show is listed in the Sunday morning timeslot for this show next week. There is a late Sunday night timeslot listed for an edition of ‘Vintage Collection’, but that may be an error. Basically, if a show airs, my report for the show will hopefully be on this website sometime on next Monday afternoon.
Match Results:
1) The British Bulldogs went to a 20 minute time limit draw with the Fabulous Rogeaus (Summerslam ’88, 28/08/88).
2) WWF Tag Team Champions, Demolition (w/Mr Fuji & Jimmy Hart in their corner) defeated the Hart Foundation (Summerslam ’88, 28/08/88).
3) Ravishing Rick Rude (w/Bobby Heenan in his corner) defeated the Junk Yard Dog via disqualification (Summerslam ’88, 28/08/88).
4) Jake Roberts pinned Hercules (Summerslam ’88, 28/08/88).
5) The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage, with Miss Elizabeth in their corner) defeated the Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase & Andre the Giant, with Bobby Heenan & Virgil in their corner) (Summerslam ’88, 28/08/88).
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.{plug}
Send us a news tip: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news from this site or from our newsletters, please include a link to www.wrestlingobserver.com
For the most in-depth and detailed news and analysis on pro-wrestling and MMA, always turn to Wrestlingobserver.com/Figure Four Weekly Online, the #1 website of its kind on the Internet. Members receive online access to both the Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Weekly newsletters and growing archives, Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer three times per week, the popular Bryan and Vinny Show twice per week, additional radio shows including Figure Four Daily with Alvarez, Mike Coughlin's Five Star Radio, the Dr. Keith Lipinski Show, The Adam and Mike Big Audio Nightmare, Tough Talk and the Karl Stern Wrestling History Show, the infamous BOARD, and more! Members also have full access to the thousands of hours of audio in our radio show archives which date back to 2005. For your convenience, we offer secure online payments using your VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover card or PayPal account. Don't miss out on the fun, sign up now! Don\'t miss out on the fun, sign up now!
Want full access? QUICK AND EASY $10.99 SIGNUP!
