‘WWE Vintage Collection TV Report #56 – June 28^th, 2009

Shown on Sky Sports in the U.K.

By Stephen Lyon.

This week: Back to late 1991, for Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels; Macho Man Randy Savage & Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs The Undertaker & Jake Roberts; Hulk Hogan vs Typhoon; Virgil vs Ted DiBiase with Randy Savage as guest referee; and Big Bossman vs Hercules. 

Introduction:

Show opened with ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund announcing that this week, the focus would be on ‘1991 and 1992’. Five matches aired from a variety of tv tapings, all of which were taped in 1991. All five matches were featured on the 1992 Coliseum video release, ‘WWF Invasion 1992’, a release which featured Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes dressed up in Star Trek uniforms for no apparent reason, providing links to the various matches. Sadly those links didn’t appear on this show.

1) Hulk Hogan defeated Typhoon (w/Jimmy Hart in his corner). This was taped on December 2^nd, 1991 at the WWF Wrestling Challenge tv tapings in Corpus Christi, Texas. The announcers were Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes. This was the same Hogan match you’ve seen a million times. Hogan started strongly, punched Typhoon several times and knocked down Jimmy Hart. Typhoon caught Hogan from behind with a splash, then stood on his throat in the corner, building up a little bit of heat. Typhoon had Hogan in a bearhug for a while, before Hogan did his first Hulk-up that didn’t quite work out. Typhoon punched Hogan, splashed him in the corner with a big avalanche, then Hogan kicked out of the pin attempt at the count of two and started his big Superman comeback. A big boot to the face and legdrop seconds later, and Hogan was victorious.

2) Ric Flair (w/Mr Perfect in his corner) defeated Shawn Michaels. Now we’re talking. This was taped at the same set of tapings as the previous Hogan vs Typhoon match. Michaels was still a babyface ‘Rocker’ here, with a bushy blonde mullet and he was wearing custard-yellow tights with bright tassels on them. Michaels was allowed to shine here by Flair and had a ton of offence. He started strongly, armdragging Flair and grounding him in a headlock. He did a flying sunset flip off the top rope on to Flair for a near fall. He showed aggression, not backing down from Flair and slapping the Nature Boy. Michaels gave Flair a standing vertical suplex and Flair begged off, before poking Michaels in the eye. Michaels came back and threw Flair into the corner, causing Flair to flip upside down, over the top rope and landing outside the ring. After a commercial break, Michaels had more offence on Flair, but Perfect tripped Michaels from outside the ring as he ran the ropes. Michaels overcame this to give Flair a superkick, then gave him a flying fistdrop from the top rope for a nearfall. The finish of the match came when Michaels clotheslined Flair over the top rope to the outside and went over with him in the same movement, then ‘skinned the cat’ back into the ring, before attempting a plancha dive on to Flair on the outside. Flair moved, and Michaels hit the guardrail instead. Perfect put the boots to Michaels, which brought out Michaels’ tag team partner, Marty Jannetty (in street clothes) from the back to chase away Perfect. Jannetty picked up the groggy Michaels and threw him back into the ring, and Flair immediately pinned Michaels straight away, with both feet on the middle rope, to grab the win. Strange finish, presumably done so to add heat to the impending Michaels-Jannetty split. This match did air on the December 16^th, 1991 edition of ‘Prime Time Wrestling’ as well, so that’s another reason why they did an angle for the finish.

3) Million Dollar Champion, Virgil defeated Ted DiBiase (w/Sensational Sherri in his corner) in a match with Macho Man Randy Savage as the special guest referee. This was around the time that Savage was still ‘retired’, but actively campaigning for reinstatement so that he could gain revenge on Jake Roberts for spoiling his wedding reception with Elizabeth. Savage was dressed in a black and white striped outfit, including hat. This was taped on September 10^th, 1991 at the WWF Wrestling Challenge tv tapings in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The announcers were Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes. Virgil began the match by brawling with DiBiase outside the ring. Back inside, Virgil charged at DiBiase in the corner, but DiBiase dropped him with an outstretched boot to the face. DiBiase then threw Virgil to the outside and into the ringside steps. From here onwards, DiBiase brought Virgil back into the ring and beat him up, and each time DiBiase only got a two count, he argued with Savage. Finally, DiBiase punched Savage in the face, dropping a few elbows and standing fist drops on him, then threw him to the outside. He locked Virgil into the Million Dollar Dream sleeperhold as Sherri cheered him on. Savage recovered to give DiBiase a double axe hand blow from the top rope, which cause DiBiase to release the hold. Virgil then crawled across the ring and pinned DiBiase for the win, with Savage counting the pin.

4) Big Bossman defeated Hercules (w/Slick in his corner). This was taped on October 1^st, 1991 at the WWF Wrestling Challenge tv tapings in Huntington, West Virginia. The announcers were Gorilla Monsoon & Lord Alfred Hayes. Bossman started the match by punching both Slick and Hercules, then throwing the two into each other. Bossman and Hercules then spent about five minutes engaging in a punch-fest with each other. Finish came when Bossman gave Hercules the Bossman-slam out of nowhere for the pinfall win.

5) Jake Roberts & The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer in their corner) defeated Macho Man Randy Savage & Hacksaw Jim Duggan via D.Q. This was taped on December 4^th, 1991 at the WWF Superstars tv tapings in Austin, Texas. The announcers were Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes. This was the night after Undertaker had lost the WWF title to Hulk Hogan, at the previous nights’ ‘This Tuesday in Texas’ pay-per-view event. Savage’s ring entrance was shown here and he went after Roberts straight away. Roberts had famously slapped Elizabeth in a very heated angle at the previous nights’ aforementioned ppv event. Duggan choked Taker in the corner and clotheslined him over the top rope and to the outside. As he went to bring the ‘Dead Man’ back into the ring, Taker dropped Duggan’s throat across the top rope. Back in the ring, Taker choked Duggan until Savage made the save. Jake squared off with Savage, and Savage was a ball of fury, nailing him with elbows to the face and a double axe handle blow from the top rope. Finish was something of a cluster, as Jake attempted to DDT Duggan, only for Savage to make the save with a chairshot on Roberts. Duggan then retrieved his two-by-four and used it as a weapon on Taker to clear the ring, as the heels won by disqualification.

Closing thoughts: Average show this week. The only really good match was Flair vs Michaels, and that had a cheap finish, even if there was a reason for it. Hogan vs Typhoon and Bossman vs Hercules was standard, by the numbers stuff. Savage as guest ref made the Virgil vs DiBiase match interesting. The main event was okay, but not particular thrilling, and again had a cheap finish.

Match Results:

1) Hulk Hogan defeated Typhoon (w/Jimmy Hart in his corner) (Corpus Christi, Texas: 02/12/91).

2) Ric Flair (w/Mr Perfect in his corner) defeated Shawn Michaels (Corpus Christi, Texas: 02/12/91).

3) Million Dollar Champion, Virgil defeated Ted DiBiase (w/Sensational Sherri in his corner) in a match with Macho Man Randy Savage as the special guest referee (Cornwall, Ontario: 10/09/91).

4) Big Bossman defeated Hercules (w/Slick in his corner) (Huntington, West Virginia: 01/10/91).

5) Jake Roberts & The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer in their corner) defeated Macho Man Randy Savage & Hacksaw Jim Duggan via D.Q. (Austin, Texas: 04/12/91).

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.