‘WWE Vintage Collection TV Report #88 – February 7th, 2010

Shown on Sky Sports in the U.K.

By Stephen Lyon.

This week: The theme of the show was 'Families & Generations'. Matches featured were Ivan & Scott Putski vs Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher (Raw 1997); Rowdy Roddy Piper vs Cowboy Bob Orton Jr (SNME 1986); Randy Orton vs Hardcore Holly (Orton's WWF tv debut match in the U.S., Smackdown 2002); Rocky Maivia vs Davey Boy Smith (featuring Bret Hart & Vince McMahon doing commentary together, Raw 1997); and in the main event, Mr Perfect regaining the Intercontinental title from Kerry Von Erich (Superstars, 1990). Some really good stuff this week.

Occasional Ric Flair-watch (week 5): One big change this week - the huge banner of Ric Flair that had been positioned behind Gene Okerlund on the tv set for the past 87 weeks is gone, replaced with a huge banner of the Undertaker instead. The six 'legend' banners behind Okerlund now include (from left to right): Freddie Blassie, The Undertaker, Dusty Rhodes, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Andre the Giant and Gorilla Monsoon.

I guess they didn't like that Flair/Samoa Joe confrontation on Impact this past week.

The Show:

Show opened with a video tribute to the late Jack Brisco. This was the same video that was featured on other WWE shows this past week.

1) Ivan & Scott Putski defeated Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher. This rarest of matches, a father & son versus father & son tag team match, took place on the July 14th, 1997 edition of 'WWF Raw is War live', held in San Antonio, Texas. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon & Jim Ross. Both announcers speculated over the relationship between Lawler and Christopher, as Lawler always denied Christopher was his son on WWF tv (partly so that people didn't think the King was too old). Scott Putski was getting a big push at the time, as one of the stars of the newly-formed 'Light Heavyweight Division', and was feuding with Christopher. Father Ivan showed up one week to save his son from a beating and got into it with Lawler, setting up this tag team match, Ivan's one-off return match to the WWF after an absence of 10 years. This was a short match. The faces were dominating the heels until Lawler tripped Scott. The younger Putski confronted him, only to be jumped by Christopher. Lawler gave Scott a piledriver in the ring and had him beaten, but Christopher tagged in and wanted to get the pin. Christopher tried for a top rope legdrop, but missed. Christopher then accidentally dropkicked Lawler. Ivan finally got the hot tag and cleaned house, nailing Lawler with the Polish Power hammer to pin him. Ivan was 56 years old at the time and looked great for his age. Fun one off match.      

Next came a short video on the Orton wrestling family, featuring comments from Bob Orton Sr, Bob Orton Jr, Randy Orton, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jim Ross, talking about the successes of the family. They showed a lot of photos of all three Ortons growing up, particularly showing Randy as a child with Andre the Giant. This was a great video feature, and portrayed Randy Orton as a total babyface.

2) Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Cowboy Bob Orton Jr (w/Jimmy Hart & Don Muraco in his corner). This match was held in Los Angeles, California, taped on November 15th, 1986 to air on the November 29th, 1986 broadcast of 'WWF Saturday Nights' Main Event' on NBC. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon & Jesse Ventura. Piper had turned babyface several months earlier, and was now feuding with the trio of Adrian Adonis, Cowboy Bob Orton Jr (his former bodyguard), and Don Muraco. Muraco was wearing an anti-Piper t-shirt and kilt to mock Piper, but after he'd tried to interfere several times in this match, referee Dave Hebner sent him to the back. This match was a short brawl, with Piper in control at the start, before Orton Jr gained the upper hand. Finish of the match came when Jimmy Hart climbed on to the ring apron and held Piper for Orton Jr to punch. Piper moved, then threw Orton Jr into Hart, before rolling him for the pinfall win. 

A short 'Up next' clip aired from 2002, of Vince McMahon with Stacy Keibler and a youthful Randy Orton backstage, with Orton asking McMahon for his 'first match'. McMahon put over Randy, saying, "His old man was a hell of a wrestler and his grandfather was also a hell of a wrestler. You've got your opportunity, good luck kid."

3) Randy Orton defeated Hardcore Holly. This match was held in Peoria, Illinois, taped on April 23rd, 2002 and aired on the April 25th, 2002 edition of 'WWF Smackdown'. This was Orton's first appearance on WWF tv as a full-time character and wrestler, and was billed as his debut match on WWF tv. Technically, his WWF tv debut had occurred nearly a year earlier, when he lost to Billy Gunn on the May 6th, 2001 edition of 'WWF Sunday Night Heat', but that particularly match only aired internationally and was edited off the U.S. version of the show. For this Smackdown match, the announcers were Michael Cole & Tazz. Orton had significantly less tattoos and was wearing shiny blue and yellow shorts, with 'ORTON' written on the back. This was a fast-paced match, with Holly playing the bully, making the rookie Orton 'pay his dues' as he dominated him, kicking him low. "It's all about discipline; pay yer dues Randy!" yelled Tazz on commentary. Orton nailed Holly with a dropkick, then did a cross-body block dive from the top rope on to Holly, which Holly reversed into a pin attempt of his own. Out of nowhere, Orton used a drop-toe hold on Holly, then rolled him up with a side cradle for the shock pinfall win. The crowd popped and this was portrayed as a massive upset, that even Orton was surprised by. "What a tryout match by Randy Orton!" shouted Michael Cole.

Next came another short video feature, this time focusing on Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson and the Rock. Comments aired from Leah Maivia (Rock's grandmother), Ata Maivia (Rock's mother), Afa, Pat Patterson, Vince McMahon, Rocky Johnson, Jerry Lawler, Dory Funk Jr, Steve Austin and Eric Bischoff. Vince talked about how Peter Maivia was tough but a nice guy. Rock talked about his father, and his vivid memory of his father & Tony Atlas winning the WWF tag team titles. Ata Maivia talked about the 'Rocky Sucks' chants in 1997, and how she wanted to protect her son. This was a cool little video.

4) Rocky Maivia defeated Davey Boy Smith (w/Clarence Mason in his corner) via count out. This match was held in Albany, New York, taped on December 30th, 1996 and aired on the January 13th, 1997 edition of 'WWF Monday Night Raw'. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon, Bret Hart and Honky Tonk Man. Surreal to watch Vince and Bret sat next to each other, doing commentary. Bret was guest-commentating just for this match, putting over the Royal Rumble ppv that was six days away. Owen Hart came out, yelling about how Davey Boy was his brother-in-law and that he wanted to stop Bret attacking Davey Boy. Bret said on commentary that he had a bad knee and was injured, and that he didn't want any trouble, that things had been good in the family over Christmas and he didn't want Owen to spoil it. Owen put his Slammy award on the announce table, then stood on guard in front of Bret, staring him out. Vince grilled Bret, asking him questions like 'Why the bad blood between you two?' and 'Aren't you uncomfortable with Owen stood right in front of you?' As for the match, there wasn't much to it. Rocky still had the Chia Pet hairstyle and the blue trunks at this point, and the fans were growing to resent his push.

Rocky had several nearfalls, before the Bulldog began to dominate him. Rocky used the Ali-shuffle (similar to his dad) and clotheslined Bulldog to ringside, going over with him too. Outside the ring, Bulldog threw Rocky into the barricades hard. Suddenly, Stone Cold Steve Austin ran out and took out Davey Boy's knee from behind. Bret stood up at the announce table, and tried to help Smith, but Owen wouldn't let him, until Bret told Owen about Austin's attack. Bret hobbled to the back in pursuit of Austin, as Owen also ran to the back after him as well. Austin mocked Bret's hobbling in the aisle. Meanwhile, Rocky beat the referee's count at nine, to roll into the ring and win the match via count out. Rocky's theme music played, music that had piped-in cheesy chants of 'Rocky, Rocky' at the start of it. No wonder this guy wasn't getting over. Owen and Clarence Mason tended to Smith as Rocky celebrated.

A recap aired from the Summerslam 1990 ppv, featuring Mr Perfect & Bobby Heenan's pre-match promo with Sean Mooney. The heels were asked about taking the title match with the 'Texas Tornado' Kerry Von Erich on short notice, and both heels acted dismissively and cocky, with Heenan whistling like it was nothing, and Perfect taking Tornado lightly. The finish of their Summerslam match aired, with Tornado whipping Perfect into the ringpost, which he struck with his head, then giving him the claw and Tornado punch for the title win. Perfect's angry post-match promo aired: "The lump on my head is from the post, and you Texas Tornado, I will be back for you and to reclaim what rightfully belongs to the family." 

5) Mr Perfect (w/Bobby Heenan in his corner) defeated 'Texas Tornado' Kerry Von Erich to win the WWF Intercontinental title. This match was held in Rochester, New York, taped on November 19th, 1990 and aired on the December 15th, 1990 edition of 'WWF Superstars'. Announcers for this match were Vince McMahon, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Honky Tonk Man. Before the match, Ted DiBiase was in the ring, and paid off Howard Finkel to become the ring announcer for this match. Some back-story here, since this wasn't mentioned on this Vintage Collection show. The previous week on 'WWF Superstars', Dustin Rhodes had been the guest on the 'Brother Love Show' interview segment. DiBiase and Virgil came out, and DiBiase tried to buy Rhodes, saying he could be just like Virgil, then made Virgil clean both his own and Brother Love's shoes (this mistreatment of Virgil was foreshadowing the upcoming Virgil babyface turn). Rhodes, seeing the mistreatment of Virgil, turned the deal down and attacked DiBiase. The heels double-teamed Rhodes, until Kerry Von Erich made the save, and thus became an enemy of Ted DiBiase.

DiBiase did the ring introductions for this match, praising Perfect and Heenan, as Piper repeatedly said he had a bad feeling about this situation and that something wasn't right. DiBiase sat in Finkel's chair at ringside, as Von Erich clotheslined Perfect over the ropes. After a commercial break, Von Erich was in control, using an armbar. Von Erich missed with a clothesline and struck the turnbuckles in the corner. Behind the referee's back, DiBiase punched Von Erich in the face, then sat down again as if nothing had happened. Perfect nailed Von Erich with a great standing dropkick, causing Tornado to fall to the outside, where DiBiase posted him, and again sat down. Finally, the finish. The referee was bumped in the corner. Von Erich nailed Perfect with his Tornado punch and had him pinned, but there was no referee. DiBiase climbed into the ring and nailed him in the back of the head with the IC title belt. Heenan revived the referee, who then saw Perfect give Von Erich the perfectplex to win the match and regain the title. Afterwards, DiBiase announced the winner, and taunted Von Erich with that legendary laugh of his. This was a good tv match.      

Show closed with Gene Okerlund announcing that the theme of next week's show would, appropriately, be 'Valentines Day in WWE'. Hopefully that means Austin vs Vince in the cage, and not the Savage & Elizabeth wedding from Summerslam 1991.

Closing thoughts: Very good show this week, with a wide range of matches and features. I always love these individually themed shows, and you can always tell when some thought has been placed into the content, rather than them just putting anything on the show to fill time. Best match was probably Perfect vs Von Erich. Orton's debut was interesting, probably even more so for newer fans. Hard to believe that was nearly 8 years ago. Rocky vs Bulldog was good, mainly for the surrealness of Bret and Vince together on commentary. The Putskis defeating the Lawlers and Piper beating Orton were both entertaining matches as well.

Match Results:

1) Ivan & Scott Putski defeated Jerry Lawler & Brian Christopher ('WWF Raw is War live' – San Antonio, Texas: 14/07/97). 

2) Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Cowboy Bob Orton Jr (w/Jimmy Hart & Don Muraco in his corner) ('WWF Saturday Nights' Main Event' – Los Angeles, California: taped 15/11/86, aired 29/11/86). 

3) Randy Orton defeated Hardcore Holly ('WWF Smackdown' – Peoria, Illinois: taped 23/04/02, aired 25/04/02). 

4) Rocky Maivia defeated Davey Boy Smith (w/Clarence Mason in his corner) via count out ('WWF Monday Night Raw' – Albany, New York: taped 30/12/96, aired 13/01/97). 

5) Mr Perfect (w/Bobby Heenan in his corner) defeated 'Texas Tornado' Kerry Von Erich to win the WWF Intercontinental title ('WWF Superstars' – Rochester, New York: taped 19/11/90, aired 15/12/90). 

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.

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Until next week, have a good week.

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