WWE Vintage Collection TV Report
May 10, 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.

-Host Gene Okerlund welcomed us to the show. This week's episode will feature WWE matches from the 1980's which were unusual for their time and served as the catalyst for unique matches we see today. The first match from March of 1985 in Madison Square Garden features Intercontinental champion Greg Valentine defending against Tito Santana in a Lumberjack match. Okerlund explained the bitter feud and said Santana was getting his wish as Valentine would have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

1 -- GREG VALENTINE (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. TITO SANTANA – Lumberjack Match for IC Title

Gorilla Monson and Gene Okerlund called the action. They ran down the lumberjacks at ringside which included: Barry O, Matt Borne, Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Snuka, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy, Rocky Johnson, Junkyard Dog, Terry Gibbs, and Charlie Fulton.

Before the opening bell, Valentine jumped Santana. Monsoon immediately called it a "Pearl Harbor job." Vintage Gorilla. Santana battled back with a clothesline and pummeled Valentine in the corner prompting the champion to take a Flair-like flop center ring. Valentine tried to take a break on the outside, but Steamboat tossed him back in. Santana hit an atomic drop followed by a knee lift. Valentine attempted to bail out of the ring again, but JYD forced him back. Santana mounted Valentine in the corner and rained down punches. Valentine counters with an inverted atomic drop. Suddenly, without explanation, the tape jumped ahead in the match. Santana was attempting a figure four, but Valentine ducked to the outside only to be thrown back by Johnson & Snuka. The footage randomly skipped ahead again. Valentine rolled to the outside and struggled with a group of lumberjacks. The bell sounded, yet the match seemed to continue, sending us to the break in confusion.

[Commercial Break]

Both men traded fists with Santana gaining the upper hand. Valentine tried crawling to the outside, but Santana grabbed a hold of his trunks allowing censors to blur Valentine's exposed ass. Santana hit a suplex for a nearfall. Santana attempted the figure four again, but Valentine escaped and tried to run down the aisle before the lumberjacks caught him. Santana connected with a running forearm and then sank in the figure four. Jimmy Hart distracted the ref so Studd could pull Valentine into the ropes for the break. Santana tried to gain revenge on Studd. Valentine connected with a shoulderblock but both men bonk heads and collapse to the mat. Valentine fell with a leg draped over Santana to pick up the fluke victory.

WINNER: Greg Valentine in 7:20 of what aired to retain the IC Title. Best match on the show. Probably not given justice with all of the editing.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage on Randy Orton aired.

-Gene Okerlund welcomed us back from WWE Studios. The next match comes from Madison Square Garden in January 1985 and is a tag team Texas Tornado match. Okerlund explains that all participants can be in the ring at the same time and anyone is vulnerable to a pinfall.

2 -- RODDY PIPER & BOB ORTON, JR. vs. JIMMY SNUKA & JYD – Texas Tornado Match

This match was joined in progress with Gene Okerlund & Gorilla Monsoon calling the action. Early on, Snuka battled Piper at ringside while JYD dominated Orton in the ring. Piper threw Snuka into the ringpost and triggered a two-on-one beat down of JYD. Snuka quickly made the save and hit a double-noggin-knocker on the heel team. Okerlund called it a pier six brawl. Mid-ring, Piper & Orton both applied rear chinlocks on their opponents, followed by simultaneous sleeper holds. Both submission spots were edited for time. Orton did a flip bump into the turnbuckles. Orton attempted a splash off the top rope, but Snuka lifted his knees. Piper went irate and threw Snuka into the ringpost again. From the outside, Piper grabbed JYD's leg and tripped him. Orton made the cover for the cheap win.

WINNERS: Roddy Piper & Bob Orton, Jr. in 6:10 of what aired. Nothing to write home about.

[Commercial Break]

-The "Please do not try this at home" video aired.

-Back in the studio, Okerlund explained the rules of a battle royal. To be eliminated a superstar must be thrown over the top rope and both feet must touch the floor. The following match is from July of 1984 in Madison Square Garden.

3 -- 20-MAN BATTLE ROYAL

Gorilla Monsoon called the action. Participants include: The Iron Sheik, Adrian Adonis, Paul Orndorff, Sgt. Slaughter, Dick Murdoch, Bob Orton Jr., The Wild Samoans, Tito Santana, Terry Daniels, Antonio Inoki (!), Tony Garea, Rene Goulet, Steve Lombardi, Jose Luis Rivera, and Ron Shaw.

Monsoon called this the most dangerous match in pro-wrestling. He explained the wrestlers don't enjoy the match, but they like the prize money at the end. Nice touch for the viewers to understand why these guys are fighting. This was your typical old school battle royal – guys lumbering around and brawling. Before we saw one elimination, we jumped ahead in the match and about half of the participants had been eliminated. Ok then. Adonis, Slaughter, and Murdoch were all eliminated at the same time. With less than 10 guys in the ring now, the camera still manages to miss eliminations. Santana has been thrown out. Monsoon finally mentions that Japanese superstar Antonio Inoki was still in the ring. Inoki back dropped one of the Wild Samoans to the floor. Inoki hit a jumping enziguiri on Orton to send him flying over the top rope. Shaw & Goulet team up to eliminate Garea. Final three are Inoki, Shaw, & Goulet. Goulet accidentally clothelines Shaw and eliminates him. Inoki hits another jumping enziguri on Goulet and tosses him out for the win.

WINNER: Antonio Inoki in 6:28 of what aired. Interesting mix of talent. Refreshing to not see super-heavyweights like Andre the Giant or Big John Studd.

-Okerlund hyped the upcoming Jesse Ventura match by imitating his "win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat" line. And his opponent? Oh boy, more Tony Garea.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage on Jeff Hardy aired.

4 – JESSE VENTURA VS. TONY GAREA

The match was joined in progress with announcers Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes. A graphic pops up letting us know this match is from May 1985 in Madison Square Garden. Garea worked over Ventura's left arm for a bit. By the way, how exactly is this a unique '80s match? Ventura eye raked Garea across the top rope. Mr. Excitement continued to work over Ventura's arm. Ventura attempted to toss Garea to the outside, but Garea flipped over with his head caught between the top and middle ropes. Yes, both ears remain intact. The ref helped him escape. Garea scored consecutive nearfalls with a sunset flip followed by a crossbody. Ventura regained control by ramming Garea chest first into the turnbuckle. Wade Keller's favorite politician pinned Garea following an elbow drop.

WINNER: Jesse Ventura in 6:40 of what aired. Not really sure why this match made the show.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage on Chris Jericho aired.

-Okerlund introduced the main even for this show. He talked about the rivalry between Don Muraco & Jimmy Snuka noting that this contest is a tag team match with their respective managers involved.

5 – JIMMY SNUKA & ARNOLD SKAALAND vs. DON MURACO & LOU ALBANO

This match is from December of 1983 with Gorilla Monsoon and Pat Patterson providing commentary. We join the match in progress with Skaaland surprising Muraco with a small package. Skaaland tagged in Snuka. Snuka hits his signature leapfrogs, chops, and jumping headbutt. Albana tagged in and distracted the ref while Muraco drove a knee into Snuka's throat.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired hyping Judgment Day.

Muraco beat down on Snuka for an extended period. Muraco connected with a beautiful dropkick to the back of Snuka while he was struggling with Albano. Albano accidentally punched Muraco and Skaaland charged into the ring. Snuka hits a cross body off the top rope onto Muraco for the victory.

WINNERS: Jimmy Snuka & Arnold Skaaland in 6:48 of what aired. Good match, especially when Albano stayed out of the ring.

-Okerlund closed the show by mentioning how good Skaaland looked in the ring. No matches were announced for next week.

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