WWE Vintage Collection Report: March 18th 2012
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
This week, three more of the Hall of Fame’s finest grace our screens.
We begin with a video package on the Road Warriors aka the Legion of Doom.
An edited version of Animal and Paul Ellering’s acceptance speech airs from April 2nd last year. Animal opens with Hawk’s customary “welllll” growl in which he used to start interviews with. Animal would give up all the tag titles he won for this night and thanks the boys who paved the road, as LOD were only as good as the guys they were performing with. Talk turns to Hawk (who passed away in 2003.) Not a day goes by when Animal doesn’t think of him. He calls Hawk a man’s man, a little rough around the edges, but someone who loved and respected everybody he came into contact with. Animal speaks of the unique connection he and his partner shared as one mind, team and body. Animal places a replica action figure of Hawk onto the podium. Ellering says he loves and misses Hawk, before stating the Legion of Doom were the greatest team of their time and all time. Ellering describes Animal as the exclamation point, himself as the jockey that rode the horse and Hawk the whistle of the train. Ellering isn’t an angel, but he knows an angel and Animal informs us that angel says Ohhhh What A Rush!!!!
WCW Power Hour: February 23rd 1990
The Road Warriors w/Paul Ellering vs Doom
Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed) had been forced to de-mask following a loss to the Steiners, two weeks prior at Clash of the Champions X. The Road Warriors dominate the early going with power moves. Hawk clotheslines Simmons through the ropes, while Animal press slams Reed. Doom regroup on the floor. Animal elevates Reed back in from the apron and the Warriors work over Reed’s arm. The tide turns when Simmons pulls the top rope down on Animal, moments after being shoved from the apron.
Doom work over Animal on the floor. Back inside, Reed drops an elbow from the second rope, before Simmons holds a chinlock, while resting his feet on the ropes. Simmons throttles Animal then gets caught with his feet on the ropes. Doom deliver a double suplex. Animal counters a Reed backbodydrop, only to run into a powerslam. Animal gets his knees up to thwart a Reed splash. Hawk attacks Reed with a backbodydrop, neckbreaker and flying tackle. Simmons breaks up a pin and tosses Hawk. Reed holds Animal in a bearhug position as Simmons climbs up top. Hawk throws Simmons to the floor, while Animal claps Reed around the head to break free. Hawk connects with a top rope clothesline on Reed for the 1-2-3. Winners: THE ROAD WARRIORS.
A video package for Dusty Rhodes airs. The American Dream was inducted on March 31st 2007 by sons Dustin and Cody. During his acceptance speech, Dusty pulls out a polka dot handkerchief to stop himself from crying and poke fun at his late 80s/early 90s WWF gimmick. After coaxing Ric Flair and Arn Anderson to (tongue-in-cheek) induct him and Harley Race into the Four Horsemen, Dusty states that on this night, he has truly wined and dined with Kings and Queens.
Saturday Night’s Main Event: November 25th 1989
Dusty Rhodes vs Big Boss Man w/Slick
These two were in the midst of a feud. Dusty had just pinned Boss Man at Survivor Series, but the law enforcer had the last laugh, handcuffing the Dream to the ropes and beating the crap out of him with his nightstick. We join the match in progress. Rhodes gets distracted with Slick on the outside, allowing Boss Man to sneak up from behind and run the Dream into the ringpost. Inside, Boss Man attacks an arm. Rhodes gets taken down by a kneelift and Boss Man applies an armlock, while holding onto the top rope. Boss Man backelbows Rhodes down and goes back to the arm. Rhodes fights back so Boss Man goes to the eyes. Boss Man irish whips, but misses an avalanche splash. Rhodes knocks Boss Man down and signals for an elbow drop. Rhodes takes too long pandering to the crowd and misses. Boss Man spikes Rhodes in the ropes and calls for his nightstick, but Slick is busy arguing with Sapphire (identified as just a fan) in the front row. Rhodes rolls up Boss Man for the 1-2-3. Winner: DUSTY RHODES. Boss Man argues with Slick, then Sapphire, while Rhodes fetches his own nightstick. Rhodes invites Sapphire into the ring and the two dance/wiggle to the crowd’s delight.
Edge’s Hall of Fame video package is the prelude for today’s finale. The man who helped redefine the ladder match and ultimate opportunist will become the youngest inductee when he goes in on March 31st. Christian has to be the one who inducts him.
WWE Monday Night Raw: July 3rd 2006
WWE Title: Rob Van Dam vs John Cena vs Edge w/Lita
RVD had beaten Cena for the title at One Night Stand and taken it over to ECW, where he also reigned as their titleholder. The crowd is pro ECW as we’re in Philadelphia and it’s no DQ to boot! Both Cena and RVD take it in turns to pummel Edge in the corner, before tossing him over the top rope.
Edge re-enters to stop a superplex, as he pushes Cena off the ropes. Edge and RVD trade rollups, before RVD kicks him down and lands a cartwheel into a backflip. Edge ducks under an RVD clothesline, only to be pulled outside by Cena and sent into the steps. RVD clears the top rope with a plancha on Cena. Inside, RVD escapes an FU attempt, but walks into an Edge clothesline. Cena lifts Edge for a suplex, with RVD catching the Rated R superstar in mid-air from behind with a cross body from the top rope.
RVD gives Cena a windmill kick. Edge catches a float over attempt in the corner, elevating RVD to the floor. Cena attacks Edge with several flying tackles, a spinning side slam and the five knuckle shuffle. Edge grabs the top rope to block an FU, so Cena FU’s him out of the ring. Cena intercepts Lita with a steel chair and dumps her with an FU. Cena turns around and eats a Van Daminator. Cena avoids the Five Star frog splash as RVD crashes and burns. Edge crawls around on the outside with the WWE title in his hands. Cena drops RVD with an FU before Edge wipes Cena out with a belt shot. Edge quickly covers RVD for the 1-2-3 to begin his second world title reign. Winner: EDGE. The title change was necessitated after RVD had been busted for drug possession with Sabu and landed him a 30 day suspension. He would lose the ECW title to the Big Show the following night. Nevertheless, this was a really enjoyable match.
We bring the curtain down on the Hall of Fame next week, with matches pitting Hall of Famers against each other.
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