WWE Vintage Collection TV Report
July 19, 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 Canada. 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.

-Host Gene Okerlund welcomes us to the show. This week we continue to look back at classic cruiserweight action. Okerlund hypes matches later in the show including Chris Jericho defending the WCW Cruiserweight Title against a battle royal winner and The Blue Blazer in action. However, we kick things off with the charismatic enigma Jeff Hardy as he takes on Essa Rios.

1 – ESSA RIOS (w/Lita) vs. JEFF HARDY (w/Matt Hardy) – WWE Light Heavyweight Championship

This match is from the March 2, 2000 edition of Smackdown from Trenton, NJ. You might be more familiar with Rios' other names including Papi Chulo and Mr. Aguila. Both men criss-cross the ropes before Hardy connects with a flying clothesline. Rios ducks to the outside to escape a moonsault attempt by Hardy. Hardy immediately recovers and takes out Rios at ringside with a tope. Rios puts Hardy in the tree of woe, but misses a running dropkick and slides to the floor. Hardy leaps off the top and catches nothing but the ringside barrier. Rios gets back in the ring and performs a running sentaun over the corner post onto Hardy at ringside. Back in the ring, Rios with a missile dropkick for a nearfall. Rios sends Hardy to the floor following a flying huracanrana. With the referee distracted by Rios, Lita gets in a flying huracanrana off the ring steps on Hardy and tosses him back in the ring. As the referee argues with Lita, Matt jumps in the ring and hits Rios with the Twist of Fate. Hardy connects with the Swanton Bomb. Before he can make the cover, Lita leaps off the top with a standing moonsault to prompt the DQ. Afterwards, Rios yelled at Lita. He said something in Spanish and Lita slapped him.

WINNER: Jeff Hardy by DQ in 4:11. A ton of action for such a short match.

-A video aired hyping the Night of Champions PPV.

[Commercial Break]

-Okerlund talked about how great cruiserweight action was one of the reasons for Nitro's success. Footage aired of Billy Kidman leaving Raven's Flock after Saturn set them all free. Later that night, Kidman had a shot at the cruiserweight title.

2 – JUVENTUD GUERRERA vs. BILLY KIDMAN – WCW Cruiserweight Championship

This match is from the September 14, 1998 edition of Nitro from Greenville, SC. Kidman was subbing for an injured Kaz Hayashi. We join the match in progress. Juvi with a lightning fast head scissors takeover. Juvi hits Kidman with a running crossbody and both men spill dangerously to the floor. "Sweet Surrender" is written on the back of Juvi's tights. What? Kidman attempts a knee to the gut, but Juvi turns it into a roll up for a nearfall. Kidman regains control with a dropkick. From the apron, Kidman connects with a springboard legdrop. During the match, the announcers talked about pretty much everything except the action in the ring. Kidman with a German suplex, but Juvi flips in midair and lands on his feet. Kidman goes for a series of nearfalls that gets the crowd going. Juvi hits a release German suplex for a nearfall. Juvi with a flying huracanrana off the top for another nearfall. Kidman slips out of a Juvi-Driver attempt and executes a reverse suplex for a dramatic nearfall. Kidman climbs up top, but Juvi crotches him. Juvi with a frankensteiner off the top. Moments later, Kidman leaps off the top with the shooting star press for the victory. Afterwards, Saturn applauded at ringside.

WINNER: Billy Kidman in 7:32 of what aired to capture the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Great, non-stop action. This was one of the rare occasions where WCW actually followed up on a storyline in terms of Kidman leaving The Flock.

[Commercial Break]

-John Cena hosted a "Please, Don't try this" segment

-Okerlund said that high flying action was the exception rather than the rule during the 1980's in WWE. One such exception was the Blue Blazer.

3 – THE BLUE BLAZER vs. TED DIBIASE (w/Virgil)

This match is from the March 11, 1989 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event from Hershey, Pa. Blazer is Owen Hart under a mask. Blazer enters the ring with a moonsault off the top. DiBiase nails him with a clothesline to start the match. DiBiase follows a scoop slam with a series of elbow drops. Blazer surprises DiBiase with a few nearfall attempts. DiBiase hits a double axe handle off the second rope. The Million Dollar Man executes a textbook overhead suplex. Blazer flips around in a back body drop attempt and lands on his feet. Blazer sends a shocked DiBiase to the floor with a dropkick. Blazer hits DiBiase with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Blazer connects with a crossbody off the top for a nearfall. DiBiase tries to beg off. Blazer with a series of dropkicks and uppercuts. DiBiase catches Blazer in midair and turns it into a powerslam for the win.

WINNER: Ted DiBiase in 4:58. Fun match. Both men looked great.

[Commercial Break]

-A video package aired on Legacy

4 – Cruiserweight Battle Royal

This match is from the WCW Slamboree PPV held on May 17, 1998 in Worcester, Mass. The winner of the battle royal will challenge Chris Jericho immediately afterwards for the Cruiserweight Championship. Jericho introduced the participants. Jericho introduced Super Calo and said he had maybe a 1 in 10 chance of winning. Jericho said Chavo Guerrero Jr. was from El Paso, Mexico and his bartending skills haven't translated to wrestling. Out next was Ciclope who went from selling chimichangas on the street to the big time. Jericho said Damien was wearing face paint since he couldn't afford a mask. The winner of the Lou Ferrigno look-alike contest – El Dandy. The ugliest man in the sport today – Quasi Juice Guerrera. Kidman, still a member of The Flock, came out scratching himself. Jericho said he had some calamine lotion for him. Lenny Lane came out and Jericho asked for his Loverboy tape back. If Silver King wins 12 more matches, he will be upgraded to Golden King. Jericho said he never heard of Johnny Swinger and gave him a 0 out of 10 chance of winning. Lastly, representing Villanos #1-62, Villano IV! Before the match started, Jericho said he was going backstage to have a coffee.

The announcers explain you can be eliminated by being pinned or tossed to the floor. Evan Kourageous was eliminated early. Johnny Swinger gets back body dropped out of the ring by someone. Jericho sipped coffee and watched on a monitor backstage. Juvi eliminates Super Calo with a dropkick.

[Commercial Break]

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

Back from commercial, we've missed a ton of eliminations. Marty Jannetty and Villano IV are eliminated quickly. Kidman eliminates Lenny Lane. Damien tries to walk the top rope and gets himself eliminated. Lou Ferrigno look-alike El Dandy is gone. Kidman tugs the top rope down and sends a charging Chavo to the floor. Final four are Ciclope, Kidman, Juvi, and Psychosis. Psychosis misses a move in the corner and eliminates himself. Juvi tosses out Kidman. Juvi and Ciclope stare each other down. They shake hands and Juvi jumps over the top to forfeit the match. Afterwards, Ciclope unmasks to reveal himself to be none other than Dean Malenko. The crowd pops big time.

Winner: Dean Malenko in 6:51 of what aired. Typical battle royal clustermess.

[Commercial Break]

-A video package aired on Chris Jericho

-Okerlund explained that the battle royal was Malenko's return after a two month absence. Before the absence, Jericho had berated Malenko and his father Boris (Bore Us Malenko as Jericho would put it).

5 – CHRIS JERICHO vs. DEAN MALENKO – WCW Cruiserweight Championship

The crowd is going absolutely nuts as Malenko attacks Jericho. Malenko stomps a mudhole on Jericho in the corner. Malenko is showing the most charisma and fire of his career. Malenko with a back body drop and a dropkick. Juvi is cheering on at ringside. Malenko with a dive to the outside. The Man of 1000 Holds tosses Jericho into the guardrail. Back in the ring, Jericho catches a running Malenko and hotshots him across the top rope. Jericho shouted that this was a conspiracy.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired hyping the Night of Champions PPV

Jericho with a stalling overhead suplex. Jericho attempts a cover by placing one foot on Malenko and flexing. The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla hits a Lionsault for a nearfall. Jericho lifts up Malenko with a double underhook and drops him across his knee. Malenko counters out of Liontamer attempt. Jericho with a back elbow from the top for a nearfall. The crowd begins to chant "Jericho sucks." Both men battle on the top rope. Malenko hits a gutbuster off the top rope. Malenko locks in the Texas cloverleaf. Jericho can't make the ropes and is forced to tap.

WINNER: Dean Malenko in 6:50 of what aired to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Nice babyface redemption match that the crowd was really into.

-Okerlund closed the show by informing viewers that next week would be the final look back at classic cruiserweight action.

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