WWE Vintage Collection Report: November 20th 2011
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund & Rowdy Roddy Piper

Greetings! This week, it’s all about the magic of Madison Square Garden.

Following a vignette showcasing classic MSG moments, Okerlund refers to his seemingly permanent co-host as “one of the founding fathers of WWE.” Piper asks why there isn’t a picture of him up in the studio. Okerlund retorts there isn’t one of him either. Touche! On that note, let’s get to some matches from the hallowed halls of the world’s most famous arena!

November 24th 1990:
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs The Barbarian
This match seems familiar. That’s because it’s a repeat from the July 11th 2010 episode of this very show. Lazy production team! We pick things up with Barbarian missing an elbow from the second rope. Bret turns aggressor, delivering an inverted atomic drop, mounted punch assault, side Russian legsweep and flying elbow. A Hart Attack clothesline finds the mark, before Bret runs into a powerslam. Barbarian foils a piledriver attempt with a backbodydrop. Or does he? Bret tries to hang on for a sunset flip, but Barbarian drops to his knees, and opts to flex, allowing Bret to flip him over and hook the leg for the 1-2-3. That’s what Excellence of Execution does for you. Winner: BRET “HITMAN” HART.

During a historic episode of Raw on September 22nd 1997, fans inside MSG were treated to the return of Cactus Jack in a Falls Count Anywhere match with Hunter Hearst Helmsley, along with the first iconic Stone Cold Stunner delivered to Vince McMahon. You know the one I mean. The one that makes Vince start shaking like a fish on the mat.

March 17th 1985:
Andre The Giant, Superfly Jimmy Snuka & The Junkyard Dog vs Big John Studd, Jesse “The Body” Ventura & Ken Patera
The inaugural WrestleMania is fast approaching. We join the action with all six men brawling. Andre bangs Studd and Patera’s heads together, while Ventura cheapshots JYD. The heels work over Snuka, using chokes in the ropes and several bearhugs. Andre breaks up one with a hard kick to the back of Studd. Andre gets the hot tag and grabs hold of arch rival Studd by the throat, working him over with chops and headbutts. Patera stops Andre from slamming Studd, knocking the Giant down with a knee to the back. Andre boots Ventura to the mat, tags in Snuka, and Jimmy finishes off the Body with the Superfly splash. Andre stands guard during the pin to stop any of Ventura’s partners from breaking it up. After the bell, Studd and Patera suffer a three man battering ram in the corner, while Ventura loudly disputes the decision on the floor. This was quite a historic six man match and one of its kind. Andre would finally become the first man to slam Studd on TV at WrestleMania I. Meanwhile, the semi-retired Ventura would go into full time commentary not long after this, due to blood clots on the lungs. Snuka was unfortunately fired shortly after WrestleMania at the peak of his career and Patera would spend two years in jail after facing up to assaulting a McDonalds restaurant and arresting officer in 1984. Winners: ANDRE THE GIANT, SUPERFLY JIMMY SNUKA & JUNKYARD DOG.

Monday Night Raw – October 4th 2004:
Shawn Michaels vs Christian w/Tyson Tomko
In a pre-match interview, Christian calls New Yorkers ignorant, reminding them that HBK lost a ladder match at WrestleMania X, while he won his match at WrestleMania XX in the same building. After questioning why people still hold a torch for Michaels, Christian promises he’s taking the torch and states it’s time to steal the show. Christian had pinned Michaels in a tag match on the previous Raw.

Michaels slaps the taste out of Christian’s mouth, before grounding him with a side headlock. Christian throws HBK off, only for Michaels to come back with a thesz press. Christian lands an elbow smash, reminds Michaels that he’s “Captain Charisma” then misses a running spike, crotching himself in the corner. Michaels knocks Tomko off the apron, tunes up the band, but Tomko pulls Christian to the floor. Michaels slides out to give Christian a swinging neckbreaker and Tomko Sweet Chin Music. That’s one problem solved for Michaels.

Back in the ring, Christian thumbs an eye, delivers a reverse tornado DDT and goes to work with a couple of backbreakers. Michaels prevents a third by twirling round and landing on his feet. Both collide mid-ring. Christian gets up first, but Michaels lands a flying forearm, followed by several inverted atomic drops and a mounted punch assault. Michaels counters an Unprettier into a rollup for two. Christian blocks a hiptoss, ducks under a clothesline and hits the Unprettier. 1-2-no. Christian elbows Michaels down. Michaels catches Christian going high risk and backbodydrops him to the mat. Michaels connects with a flying elbow then Sweet Chin Music to turn out Christian’s lights. 1-2-3. Great matchup! Winner: SHAWN MICHAELS.

March 16th 1997 – Intercontinental Title:
Rocky Maivia vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley w/Chyna
Rookie Rocky made his debut at the 1996 Survivor Series, outlasting Goldust and Crush to survive. Maivia then upset Helmsley for the Intercontinental title during a special Thursday Night Raw held a month prior to this rematch. Piper tells a funny story of when he and Don Muraco first saw Helmsley, he was wearing a “Paul Revere hat and a lit candle.” Piper said Helmsley would go nowhere and “now he owns the damn company.” Whoops! Back to the match in hand and Vladimir the superfan is spotted in the front row. Helmsley gets the better of some mat wrestling, paintbrushing Rocky’s head and doing his curtsey bow. Rocky pops back up from a tackle to land a hiptoss and dropkick. Rocky mocks the curtsey to sucker Helmsley in for an armdrag. Rocky receipts Helmsley for the earlier paintbrushing and works over an arm. Helmsley hotshots Rocky across the top rope to turn the tide.

The referee warns Chyna from getting involved after Helmsley kicks Rocky to the floor. Helmsley grabs hold of the ropes to block Rocky’s sunset flip attempt. Helmsley slams and heads up top. Rocky pops up once more to armdrag Helmsley off the top rope. Rocky flips Helmsley upside down in the corner and picks up nearfalls following a variation of suplexes (back, fisherman and belly-to-belly.) Helmsley pokes the eyes, but Rocky spins over him to deliver a DDT. A top rope cross body finds the mark, only for Chyna to pull Rocky off of a cover. Rocky makes a rookie mistake by getting distracted allowing Helmsley to nail the Pedigree. Goldust saves Rocky’s bacon by running in to get him some of Helmsley ahead of their WrestleMania bout. Goldust clears the ring, then backs into a face-to-face with Chyna, whom he can’t bring himself to strike. Goldust’s manager Marlena leaps onto Chyna’s back as revenge for Chyna shaking her like a rag doll at the previous In Your House PPV. Several referees get involved before Helmsley pulls Chyna out of the ring. Rocky oozed confidence even at this early stage, despite the initial fan indifference. Winner via DQ: HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY.

Piper reminds us that he’s been kissed by Goldust, but has also wrestled a bear, giant and a midget. He pulls out an action figure and promotional picture and Okerlund asks for an autograph. Piper tells him to take a hike and walks off.

Piper’s quips and reactions to Okerlund and the matches are absolutely hilarious. He’s definitely a welcome addition to the show. See you next week.

Any comments or discussion points drop me a line at shaunmb1@hotmail.com.

Follow me on Twitter @Shaun_Best.