WWE Vintage Collection Report (05/08/11)

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WWE Vintage Collection Report: May 8th 2011
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund

This week, we start to relive some of the best (and worst) from “WCW Saturday Night.” Once the flagship for WCW programming, the show enjoyed a 15 year history (1985-2000) and ran under various incarnations. Where better to start than with the very first episode promoted by Jim Crockett Promotions, held at Atlanta’s WTBS studios.

April 6th 1985: Tully Blanchard w/Baby Doll vs Sam Houston
The two shake hands to begin. Veteran Blanchard controls rookie Houston for the most part, but gets frustrated when he’s unable to put him away, as Houston keeps coming at him. Blanchard takes Houston to the mat with a side headlock, but Houston counters into a headscissors. Blanchard gets angry and slaps Houston a few times. Blanchard finally cuts Houston off for good when he catapults him into the bottom rope, then hits a slingshot suplex for the 1-2-3. Winner: TULLY BLANCHARD. Reigning NWA TV champion Dusty Rhodes assisted with commentary for this match, scouting Blanchard (whom he was feuding with) while noting the threat of Baby Doll (a blonde female valet).

January 11th 1992: Cactus Jack & Abdullah The Butcher vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman & The Z-Man (Tom Zenk)
Z-Man takes the fight to Cactus early on giving him a backbodydrop, clothesline and missile dropkick. Butcher uses his bulk to slow Z-Man down, choking him in the ropes and applying a nerve hold. Z-Man elbows free, hits an enziguiri and tags out. Pillman manages to slam the massive Butcher. Cactus eats a dropkick, but Butcher catches Pillman coming off the top rope with a gut shot. Pillman avoids a corner charge from Cactus, but slips off the ropes attempting some sort of springboard. Cactus tosses Pillman to the outside where Butcher hits him with his stick which contains a shrunken head.

The heels keep Pillman on the floor, repeatedly sending him into the guardrail. Pillman ducks under a clothesline to hit Cactus with a spin kick. Z-Man staggers Butcher with a pair of dropkicks and superkicks, then applies a sleeper. Seeing Butcher starting to fade, Cactus runs in. Pillman takes Cactus out with a dropkick, but gets tied up with the referee allowing Cactus to knock Z-Man silly with the stick. Butcher covers for the simple 1-2-3. After the bell, Cactus wipes Pillman out with the stick, but inadvertently hits Butcher as well after Z-Man moves. Cactus laughs it off before brawling with Butcher all the way to the back. Winners: CACTUS JACK & ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER. This was a fun, enjoyable match. Pillman was lucky not to blow out his knee after slipping off the ropes.

April 1st 2000: Hugh Morrus vs Steve Armstrong
This match is lifted from the final episode of “Saturday Night.” Current Tough Enough trainer Bill DeMott is the man behind the maniacal Morrus, while Armstrong can list Brian, Scott, Brad and “Bullet” Bob as family members. Armstrong is decked out in blue jeans and a tye dye shirt. Morrus works over Armstrong in the corner. Armstrong comes back with armdrags. Morrus catches a cross body attempt, turning it into a slam. Morrus marches around the ring before dropping a series of elbows and a headbutt. Morrus withstands a flying forearm and sunset flip, before hitting three avalanche splashes in the corner. Morrus hits the No Laughing Matter (top rope moonsault), then places Armstrong on top as the referee begins to count. Morrus pulls Armstrong up at two then pins him. This was more boring than it was humorous. Winner: HUGH MORRUS.

May 30th 1998: Eddie Guerrero w/Chavo Guerrero Jnr vs Evan Karagias
Eddie and Chavo are teasing dissension, with Eddie constantly berating his nephew. Chavo accompanies Eddie wearing a shirt saying “Eddie Guerrero is my favourite wrestler” on the front with “Cheat to win” plastered on the back. Chavo holds the ropes open for his uncle. Karagias gets the better of some early mat wrestling. Eddie dropkicks the knee to turn the tide. Eddie uses the ropes to his advantage on an abdominal stretch. Eddie tosses Karagias outside and gets mad when Chavo doesn’t pick him up. Eddie slaps his nephew a few times until Chavo squares up to him. Eddie backs off. Karagias hits a bunch of moves including a facebuster and reverse throw. Eddie catches Karagias going high risk. Eddie gives Karagias a suplex from the middle rope then hits the frog splash for the win. Chavo holds the ropes open once more for a distrustful Eddie, who piefaces his nephew on his way to the back. Winner: EDDIE GUERRERO. This was a filler match done to just further the Eddie/Chavo split.

July 12th 1986: NWA Tag Team Titles:
Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette & Big Bubba Rogers vs The Road Warriors w/Paul Ellering
We go back to the NWA for today’s Main Event. Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton make up the Express. Cornette consults with his team on the floor, who are reluctant to step inside. The Express stall and spend most of the opening portion of the match on the floor. Animal uses his power to tackle and dropkick Condrey out of the ring. Cornette has to stop Condrey from leaving. After some flexing makes him feel better, Condrey gives Hawk a piledriver. While Condrey high fives Eaton, Hawk pops back up to headbutt him. Eaton tries bailing, but Animal press slams him into a waiting Hawk, who clotheslines Eaton to the floor.

Hawk blocks a double armbar attempt and hits a double clothesline. Hawk press slams Eaton, but misses a flying clothesline and rolls out of the ring. Condrey attacks Hawk with Cornette’s tennis racket behind the referee’s back. The Express briefly work Hawk over, until he tackles Eaton and tags out. Animal comes in with dropkicks, followed by a powerslam and flying tackle to Eaton. Condrey breaks up a pin to cue a four man brawl. Cornette drills Animal with a racket shot as he has Eaton in a press slam position for the DQ. Cornette outruns Ellering, only to get hit from behind by Baby Doll who leaves through the crowd. The Express retain their titles in a disappointing bout. Winners via DQ: THE ROAD WARRIORS.

The Saturday night theme continues next week. Shaun.

Any comments or discussion points drop me a line at [email protected]