WWE Vintage Collection TV Report
August 9, 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., Canada, and Australia. The show 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.

-Clips were shown of the Stars and Stripes Challenge: Yokozuna vs. The USA from July 4, 1993 aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid. The challenge was to bodyslam Yokozuna. Former WWE Champion Bob Backlund failed along with Peter Taglianetti from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mr. Fuji called a timeout so Yoko could refuel with a huge bowl of rice. Randy Savage gave it a valiant effort. Suddenly, a helicopter lands and Lex Luger emerges. Luger manages to slam Yoko and celebrates by swinging Old Glory high.

-Okerlund opens the show from the WWE studios. The vintage Summerslam sign is still there along with new cardboard cutouts of Lex Luger and Yokozuna. Obviously, we're continuing our look back at classic Summerslam action. Okerlund talked about Summerslam from 1992 and the classic Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog IC Title match. We're traveling back to 1992 to take a look at one of the rare pre-PPV matches.

1 – EL MATADOR vs. PAPA SHANGO

This is from the Summerslam PPV held on August 29, 1992 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. We join the match in progress as Matador locks in a sleeper hold. Shango runs into the turnbuckle to break the hold. Shango connects with an elbow drop and stares at Matador oddly pondering what spell he should use. Shango attempts an elbow drop off the second rope, but Matador rolls out of the way. Matador hits the 10-punch series in the corner and scores with a back body drop. Matador with the El Paso de la Muerte for a nearfall which Bobby Heenan calls the flying jalapeño. Matador charges his opponent, but Shango sends him into the corner hard. Shango pulls Matador into the center of the ring and hits his shoulder breaker finisher for the win.

WINNER: Papa Shango in 3:22 of what aired. Boring match outside of Tito Santana's brief flurry.

[Commercial Break]

-Footage aired of Okerlund hosting a "Face To Face" segment sometime before Summerslam 1993. Joining the show via satellite was WWE IC Champion Shawn Michaels (w/Diesel) and Mr. Perfect. Okerlund asked Michaels if he was going to defend the title at Summerslam. Michaels said they couldn't fill the arena without him. Perfect questioned if Michaels could even hold the title up until the PPV. Michaels called Perfect the best wrestler in WWE aside from himself of course. Perfect asked why Michaels needed Diesel as his insurance policy if he's so good. Michaels said Diesel is there to keep all the women off him. Perfect made fun of Diesel's name so Diesel called him a pumpkin head. Both men agreed that they could have the match of a lifetime.

2 – SHAWN MICHAELS (w/Diesel) vs. MR. PERFECT – WWE IC Title Match

This match is from the Summerslam PPV held on August 30, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. We join the match already in progress. Both men exchange counters until Perfect turns Michaels inside out with a clothesline. Michaels attempts a crossbody off the top rope, but Perfect turns it into an armdrag and begins working over the arm. Perfect catches Michaels' feet in midair during a dropkick and slingshots him over the top rope to the floor. On the floor, Diesel distracts Perfect allowing Michaels to connect with a superkick.

[Commercial Break]

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

Back in the ring Perfect surprises Michaels with a running dropkick. Perfect with a kneelift and an inverted atomic drop for a nearfall. Perfect scores with the Perfect Plex and has Michaels beat, but Diesel grabs Perfect's foot and pulls him out of the ring. The referee was in a bad position and didn't see this happen. Michaels and Perfect brawl on the outside a moment. Michaels reenters the ring and distracts the referee. Diesel shoves Perfect into the ringpost so he gets counted out.

WINNER: Shawn Michaels in 7:55 of what aired by Countout to remain WWE IC Champion. Good match between two legends. Perfect wouldn't appear on WWE PPV again until Royal Rumble 2002.

[Commercial Break]

-Okerlund talked about Summerslam 1991 and the "match made in heaven" when Randy Savage and Elizabeth got married. Okerlund also mentioned the "match made in hell" when the team of Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior defeated Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa, and Gen. Adnan. We're heading back to the event to take a look at the six-man tag match that opened the show.

3 – BRITISH BULLDOG & RICKY STEAMBOAT & TEXAS TORNADO vs. WARLORD & POWER AND GLORY (HERCULES & PAUL ROMA w/Slick)

This match is from the Summerslam PPV held on August 26, 1991 from Madison Square Garden. We again join a match in progress. The crowd pops big as Kerry Von Erich enters the ring. Tornado rams Hercules' head into the corner ten times and then punches him ten times for good measure. Both men tag out. Bulldog manages to take Warlord off his feet with a running clothesline. Bulldog with an impressive suplex for a nearfall. Steamboat connects with a chop off the top rope onto Warlord. Steamboat attempts a monkey flip out of the corner, but Warlord holds onto the ropes and Steamboat crashes onto the mat.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired hyping this year's Summerslam PPV.

The heel trio cuts off the ring and works over Steamboat for a period. Steamboat battles back before Hercules drops him throat first across the top rope. Warlord leaps off the second rope, but Steamboat gets the boot up and makes a hot tag to Tornado. Tornado cleans house and then tags in Bulldog. Tornado sinks a claw on Hercules while Bulldog hits his signature running powerslam on Roma. Bulldog tags in Steamboat who connects with a crossbody off the top rope for the victory.

WINNERS: British Bulldog, Ricky Steamboat, and Texas Tornado in 6:40 of what aired. One team looked good. I'm guessing you can determine which one.

[Commercial Break]

-The "I'll Be Your Hero" music video featuring the Lex Express tour aired. We were treated to Luger interacting with children and sleeping on the bus with an American flag pillow.

4 – YOKOZUNA (w/ Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette) vs. LEX LUGER – WWE Championship Match

This match is from the Summerslam PPV held on August 30, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Luger hammers on Yoko until Yoko takes control with a back elbow. Yoko misses a legdrop which prompts Luger to start going after the leg. Yoko catches Luger running and executes a suplex. Yoko misses another legdrop. Luger blocks Mr. Fuji from throwing salt in his eyes. Luger pick Yoko up with a bodyslam. Yoko connects with a superkick. Bobby Heenan claimed that Luger's bodyslam on Yoko from July 4th was actually a hiptoss. Yoko tosses Luger to the outside.

[Commercial Break]

-John Cena hosted a short "Please, Don't Try This" video.

Back in the ring Yoko works over Luger with the deadly nerve hold. Luger manages to stand up and break free after a foot stomp. Luger attempts another bodyslam, but Yoko just falls on him for a nearfall. Yoko with a massive legdrop for another nearfall. Cornette shouted that this was a conspiracy. Luger rolls out of the way of the Banzai Drop. Both men trade blows in desperation. Yoko misses a splash in the corner allowing Luger to finally hit the bodyslam. Luger sends Yoko to the floor with a running forearm that knocks him out and unable to respond to the count of ten. Randy Savage, The Steiner Brothers, and Tatanka came out to celebrate with Luger. Patriotic music played as red, white, and blue balloons dropped from the ceiling.

WINNER: Lex Luger in 9:13 of what aired by Countout. A slow methodical match that didn't exactly build to the climax of the feud as it was built up to be.

-Okerlund recapped the main event by informing viewers that Luger never managed to capture the WWE Championship. Despite the hollow victory, the outcome of 1993's Summerslam event served as the highlight of Luger's WWE career. Tune in next week for more classic Summerslam action!

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