WWE Vintage Collection Report: 12th July 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. Three more excellent matches from the Cruiserweight archives await us this week. WCW is heavily featured once more. In addition to one of the best Light Heavyweight matches ever, the Hitman is also in the house. So, let’s not waste any more time and get things started.
Superbrawl 1992 (February 29th 1992)
WCW Light Heavyweight Title
Jushin Thunder Liger vs Flyin’ Brian Pillman
Jim Ross and the recently debuted Jesse Ventura are on commentary. Ventura in particular is happy to see a light heavyweight division back in wrestling. Pillman had previously won the title from Richard Morton at Halloween Havoc before losing it to Liger over Christmas. Pillman was pre-loose cannon and sporting the classic Cincinnati Bengal print trunks. Ross informs us of Pillman’s strategy change, favouring mat wrestling over his normal aerial tactics. Both telegraph dropkick attempts and exchange holds at the beginning, with Pillman holding a hammerlock on the mat. Pillman takes the role of aggressor, causing the crowd to slightly favour Liger. Pillman comes out of the corner with a headscissors then delivers a standing dropkick. Ventura isn’t impressed with Pillman’s two footed mule kick through the ropes, calling it a cheap shot. Liger retaliates with a single leg takedown into a leglock. Pillman kicks free resulting in Ventura saying he’s wrestling pretty cheap. Liger wows the crowd with a top rope moonsault, before sending Pillman out of the ring with a dropkick. Liger halts an aerial assault by doing a handspring backflip off the ropes into the centre of the ring. Ventura mentions Liger going from an unknown to being accepted by the crowd. Pillman works a stretch and bodyscissors on the mat. Liger tries to counter, so Pillman grabs the ropes to escape two surfboard attempts. Following commercials, the aerial fun begins. Pillman milks the crowd after nailing a springboard clothesline. Liger is suplexed to the floor, where Pillman nails a top rope cross body, but misses a dive off the apron, smashing himself against the guardrail. Both cancel each other out, countering high risk moves with dropkicks and spin kicks. Pillman nails a powerslam, while Liger delivers a bridging german suplex. Pillman counters a superplex with a cross body. Liger lands a powerbomb, but Pillman blocks a second by reversing into a rollup for two. Liger is planted with a DDT, instinctively draping a foot on the bottom rope to save himself. Both men dive into the other and crash to the mat. Liger crotches Pillman up top, then superplexes him for a nearfall. Liger misses a top rope splash allowing Pillman to hook a rollup, while bridging back, for the 1-2-3. New champion in a great opening match from the PPV. America was getting a taste of what Japan already had, in great high flying action. One of the matches of the year. The crowd pop for the title change, as Pillman and Liger embrace. These two would engage again, opening the first epiosde of Nitro in 1995. It’s a shame that when Bill Watts came into power shortly after this bout, he banned all top rope maneuvers, in an asinine rule that killed the Cruiserweight division for a while. Pillman turned heel in the fall, after Brad Armstrong surrendered the Light Heavyweight Title due to injury. The title became inactive for several years. On a positive note, Flyin’ Brian’s WCW music was pretty cool. Even if it was just a drum beat. I’m sure it’s online somewhere. Winner: FLYIN’ BRIAN PILLMAN.
WCW Sin (January 14th 2001)
WCW Cruiserweight Title
Chavo Guerrero Jr vs “Sugar” Shane Helms
These were the dying days of WCW. Tony Schiavone and Scott Hudson are calling the action. Helms was still a member of the “Three Count” stable with Shannon Moore. Chavo had beaten Moore on Nitro leading up to this match. Helms is alluded to developing an attitude. Helms, in a prelude to his Hurricane days is wearing lime green pants. Announcers refer to Chavo as a ten-year veteran, while Helms is a two-year rookie. Most of the match airs. Chain wrestling to start. Helms escapes a full nelson to go after Chavo’s arm with several armdrags, leading Hudson to compare him to Ricky Steamboat, due to his deep armdrags. Helms delivers a headscissors, leading to Hudson speculating on Chavo losing an ear (shut up already), then a modified go to sleep – bringing Chavo’s face down across the knee from his shoulders. Chavo recovers to clothesline Helms to the floor. Helms pulls Chavo out and sends him into the guardrail. Back inside, Helms fails to put Chavo away with several rollup attempts. Chavo escapes a powerbomb attempt before dumping Helms to the floor. Helms fails to beat Chavo with a bridging german suplex and Sugar Smack, aka Sweet Chin Music, as Chavo gets a foot on the bottom rope. Chavo counters a monkey flip by dumping Helms to the floor once more, following up with a top rope dive. Helms then hiptosses Chavo out of the ring, and not to be outdone, hits Chavo off the top rope himself. Helms turns a high risk dive into a sunset flip for two. Chavo kicks out from a samoan drop, then blocks a vertebreaker attempt, so Helms turns it into the Nightmare on Helms Street (an inverted DDT). 1-2-no. Chavo fights off attempts at a second nightmare, until he’s able to hit a brainbuster. 1-2-3. Chavo retains, after making Helms look a serious threat. Good match and outing from both. It reminded me how good Chavo was. He’s not the same today. Winner: CHAVO GUERRERO JR.
Monday Night Raw (July 11th 1994)
WWF Title: Bret “Hitman” Hart vs 1-2-3 Kid
Announcers are Jim Ross and Randy Savage. Okerlund states that the new generation meant that larger than life personalities were taking a back seat to pure talent and ability at this point in the 90s. I wonder who he was talking about there? Brother? Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart (who were in a feud with Bret) come out protesting at Kid’s title shot. They are eventually sent to the back. Both shake hands. Kid shocks Bret with an armdrag from a lockup. Savage urges Bret to forget Owen and Neidhart and focus on the Kid. A test of strength leads to Kid going after Bret’s arm. Bret slams, but Kid nips right up. Kid applies a hammerlock and wristlock, before getting drilled with a hard elbow. Following a chinlock and tackle, Bret runs into a monkey flip. Kid sends Bret out of the ring following a series of reverse kicks. Crowd are favouring Bret with ‘let’s go Bret chants.’ Bret escapes an armbar, slams, drops a leg, then works over Kid with measured shots to the head and back. Bret delivers a swinging neckbreaker then goes back to the chinlock. Bret uses the corners to punish Kid. Bret counters a sunset flip, by sitting on top. Bret resists cheating by not grabbing the ropes to get the pin. Bret counters a crucifix with a samoan drop. 1-2-3, but wait Kid had his foot on the rope. Bret’s music plays and he’s handed his title, but the match is continued on Bret’s request. Savage calls Bret nuts. Kid fights back with a spin kick, several kicks, and dropkick in the corner. Kid delivers a moonsault, powerbomb and guillotine legdrop, but can’t put Bret away. Kid clotheslines Bret to the floor. Kid just about connects with a somersault dive, but misses a second attempt when back inside. Kid prevents a Sharpshooter attempt by grabbing the ropes. Kid then falls on top of a superplex attempt for a close call. Kid misses a high leap in the corner. Bret capitalises with a running bulldog. Kid catches Bret going for a rare voyage up top, throwing him to the mat. Kid signals for one more high risk move, but it proves costly, as Bret steps back, Kid crashes and Bret applies the Sharpshooter. Kid immediately taps out to end a tremendous bout. Savage and Ross give both a standing ovation. This was a great face vs face match, where the underdog nearly upset the veteran, with his trusted aerial offense. Everything from the false finish leading into the restart to the finish was well worked. Another one of Bret’s best in a catalogue of many. After the match, Bret helps Kid up, applauds his effort and the two embrace. Winner: BRET “HITMAN” HART.
Okerlund promises more Cruiserweight action next week, which has no complaints from me. Hopefully they run with this format for many weeks, as this was another great show from top to bottom. See you next week. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.