WWE Vintage Collection TV Report
June 28, 2009
Aired in the U.K. on Sky Sports
Report by Cody Endres, PWTorch contributor

WWE's Vintage Collection show airs in the U.K. and is hosted by Mean Gene Okerlund. They show a varied assortment of older matches every week, similar to WWE's "Classics On Demand" pay subscription service.

*Note: All of the matches on this show are from the "WWF Invasion '92" Coliseum Video release*

-Mean Gene Okerlund informs viewers that on this week's episode we will be traveling back to 1991 and 1992. We never end up seeing any matches from 1992. The main event will feature a tag team encounter between four legends. First, we will see Hulk Hogan taking on Typhoon (Tugboat, Shockmaster). Throughout his career Hogan took on many gargantuan individuals including Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, and Big John Studd.

1 – HULK HOGAN vs. TYPHOON (w/Jimmy Hart)

This match is from December 2, 1991 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Typhoon overpowers Hogan early in the match. Moments later, Hogan takes control and poses in the ring. Hart climbs onto the apron and Hogan punches him off. Hogan attempts a series of clotheslines, but Typhoon won't go down. Hart grabs Hogan's ankle allowing Typhoon to gain the advantage. Typhoon chokes Hogan and clubs him multiple times. Typhoon gets Hogan in a bearhug. Typhoon splashes Hogan in the corner and attempts a cover. Hogan emphatically kicks out and starts to hulk up. Hogan with a big boot and a leg drop for the win.

WINNER: Hulk Hogan in 5:51 of what aired. Standard Hogan match.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired hyping The Bash

-When people ask Okerlund about iconic figures in wrestling, the two people that come to mind are Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. In 1991, Flair was at the top of his game while Michaels was a member of The Rockers.

2 – RIC FLAIR (w/Mr. Perfect) vs. SHAWN MICHAELS

This match is also from December 2, 1991 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Michaels took advantage early with a shoulder block and a headlock takeover. Flair with some chops in the corner. Michaels with a sunset flip off the top rope for a nearfall. Michaels continues to go back to a headlock takeover. Flair pushes Michaels into the corner and slaps him after the break. Michaels responds with a hard slap and Flair takes a crazy bump. Flair rolls to the outside to regain his composure. In some foreshadowing of things to come, announcer Alfred Hayes comments about how he'd like to see Shawn Michaels become a singles wrestler. Back in the ring, both men exchange chops in the corner. Michaels with an overhead suplex. Flair begs off and then pokes Michaels in the eyes. Michaels whips Flair into the corner and then catches him coming out with a back body drop. Michaels whips Flair into the corner again and Flair does his flip bump to the floor. On the floor, Michaels suplexes Flair.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage aired on Shawn Michaels

Michaels attempts a sunset flip, but Flair punches him. Michaels with a dropkick. Michaels hits the ropes, but Mr. Perfect trips him up. Flair quickly takes the advantage with a knee drop. Both men exchange blows in the corner. Flair climbs up to the top rope. Michaels grabs him and slams him to the mat for a nearfall. Michaels connects with a superkick. Michaels with a fist drop off the top rope for another nearfall. Michaels sends Flair to the floor with a clothesline over the top. Flair ducks out of the way of a springboard plancha which sends Michaels into the guardrail. Marty Jannetty runs to ringside. Jannetty helps a nearly unconscious Michaels into the ring. Flair immediately covers Michaels with his feet on the ropes for the win.

WINNER: Ric Flair in 9:56 of what aired. Awesome match. The tension that arose between The Rockers due to the outcome of this match would eventually lead to Michaels tossing Jannetty through the Barber Shop window.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage aired on Legacy

3 -- VIRGIL vs. TED DIBIASE (w/Sensational Sherri) – Million Dollar Championship Match with Special Referee Randy Savage

This match is from September 10, 1991. Virgil with a series of bodyslams. A frustrated DiBiase regroups on the floor. DiBiase throws Virgil into the ringside steps a few times. DiBiase clotheslines Virgil and then stomps his face. DiBiase with a gut wrench suplex. DiBiase attempts a cover, but lets Virgil up at two. Sherri throws a fit at ringside. DiBiase with a suplex and a fistdrop. DiBiase attempts another cover and lets Virgil up again. Savage and DiBiase exchange words. Sherri yells at DiBiase to leave the referee alone. DiBiase attacks Savage and tosses him out of the ring. DiBiase locks in the Million Dollar Dream on Virgil. Savage with a double axe handle off the top rope onto DiBiase. Virgil manages to crawl over and cover DiBiase for the win.

WINNER: Virgil in 6:24 of what aired to remain Million Dollar Champion. DiBiase tried, but this was hard to watch.

[Commercial Break]

-The "Please, Do Not Try This at Home" video aired.

-Okerlund said that the Big Bossman represented everything that was good in 1991. Bossman wasn't afraid to keep peace with his trusty nightstick. One man out to disrupt the peace was the mighty Hercules.

4 -- BIG BOSSMAN vs. HERCULES (w/Slick)

This match is from October 1, 1991. Bossman decks Slick at ringside. Back in the ring, Bossman back body drops Hercules to the floor. Hercules with an inverted atomic drop for a nearfall. Hercules with a big running clothesline. Bossman gets whipped into the turnbuckles a few times. Hercules with an ugly short arm clothesline for another nearfall. Bossman pushes Hercules over, mounts him, and then pummels him with punches. Hercules with a thumb to the eye to regain control. Hercules holds Bossman up by his suspenders while he punches him. Bossman with a big boot and a splash. Bossman rams Hercules' head into the top rope. Out of nowhere, Bossman hits the Bossman Slam for the win.

WINNER: Big Bossman in 5:24 of what aired. Horrific. Hercules looked awful.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage aired on THE Brian Kendrick

-Okerlund hyped up the tag team main event. He said all four performers are arguably some of the most memorable superstars to set foot in a WWE ring.

5 -- THE UNDERTAKER (w/Paul Bearer) & JAKE ROBERTS vs. RANDY SAVAGE & JIM DUGGAN

This match is from December 4, 1991. Undertaker destroys Duggan in the corner and then stares down the referee. Duggan clotheslines Undertaker to the floor, but Undertaker lands on his feet with a scowl. Undertaker pulls Duggan throat first down onto the top rope. Roberts and Savage are now both in the ring. Savage goes crazy with punches and connects with a double axe handle off the top.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage aired on The Undertaker

Undertaker beats down Savage and chokes him. Roberts sneaks in a cheapshot anytime he can. Undertaker misses an elbowdrop allowing Savage to tag in Duggan. Undertaker quickly takes control of Duggan before tagging in Roberts. Roberts with a short arm clothesline. Roberts sets up for the DDT, but Savage breaks it up. Savage grabs a chair and hits Undertaker and Roberts with it to prompt a DQ.

WINNERS: The Undertaker & Jake Roberts in 8:07 of what aired. Mostly a brawl. Undertaker and Roberts worked well together.

-Okerlund said that all four participants have etched their mark in WWE lore.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax