WWE Vintage Collection TV Report
September 6, 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.

-Okerlund informs us that we're heading across the pond to the London Arena for the first national televised WWE event ever held in the United Kingdom from October 10, 1989. All of the matches featured today are from this event.

1 – BRET HART vs. DINO BRAVO (w/Jimmy Hart)

The interesting duo of Lord Alfred Hayes and Tony Schiavone are the announce team at this event. Bravo attempts to wear down Hart with a camel clutch as the fans try to rally behind the Hitman. Hart with a backslide for a surprise nearfall. Bravo whips Hart hard across the ring, sending him chest-first into the turnbuckle. Bravo continues to work over Hart's back with a bear hug. Hart battles out with some elbows. Hart misses an elbow drop off the second rope. Bravo climbs up to the top and leaps off, but Hart catches him with a punch to the gut. Hart scores with a back body drop and a legdrop for a nearfall. Both men bounce off the ropes and Hart goes for a quick rollup, but Bravo holds the ropes to counter. Hart dropkicks Bravo sending him out to the floor. Hart takes out Bravo with a plancha. Both men struggle on the apron. Bravo suplexes Hart into the ring, but Hart adjusts in midair and turns it into a rollup. Bravo keeps rolling and manages to pin Hart clean without even holding the trunks.

WINNER: Dino Bravo in 6:09 of what aired. Good match with a perplexing finish.

[Commercial Break]

-The "Please Don't Try This" video aired.

-Backstage at the event, Okerlund interviewed Jimmy Hart & The Fabulous Rougeaus. Hart said his team was ready for the Rockers. Jacques said they had gotten a truckload of fan mail since this show in London was announced. Raymond said they had brought grits from Memphis to give themselves energy. Hart admitted the Rockers were no pushovers, but it's not all about music and dancing. Jacques concluded with their new motto: "Early to bed, early to rise makes the Fabulous Rougeaus Brothers healthy, wealthy, and wise."

-Also at the event, Okerlund interviewed The Rockers. Marty Jannetty said something about rocking & rolling and strutting & strolling. Shawn Michaels said they didn't come 3,000 miles to go home empty handed. Michaels said they would defeat the Rougeaus and then get a shot at the tag titles.

[Commercial Break]

2 – THE FABULOUS ROUGEAUS (Jacques & Raymond w/Jimmy Hart) vs. THE ROCKERS (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty)

Raymond hoists up Michaels and tosses him across Jacques' knee. Jacques works over Michaels with an abdominal stretch. The Rougeaus stomp Michaels as Jannetty complains to the referee. The fans clap and really get behind Michaels while he's trapped in a chinlock. Jacques tags in and hits Michaels with a beautiful dropkick for a nearfall. Raymond tags in and executes the rare rolling short arm scissors on Michaels. The Rougeaus cheat again so Michaels cannot make the tag.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired hyping the Breaking Point PPV.

Jacques continues to work on Michaels with a front chancery. Michaels desperately tags Jannetty, but Jacques distracts the referee so he doesn't see it. The Rougeaus go for another double team maneuver, but Jacques accidentally takes out Raymond with a running knee. Michaels dives to make the hot tag to Jannetty as the fans erupt. Jannetty destroys the Rougeaus and even gets a shot in on Jimmy Hart. Jannetty has Jacques pinned with a backslide, but Raymond prevents the referee from noticing. Jacques with a piledriver on Jannetty, but Michaels distracts the referee as well. The Rougeaus try to hit Jannetty with Jimmy Hart's megaphone, but the referee turns around and pulls it away from them. While the referee admonishes Raymond, Michaels grabs the megaphone and smacks Jacques. Jannetty falls on top of Jacques for the win. Fans rush to the guardrails to cheer on The Rockers.

WINNERS: The Rockers in 7:24 of what aired. The Rockers were extremely over, making this a very entertaining match.

[Commercial Break]

3 – PAUL ROMA vs. THE BROOKLYN BRAWLER

Roma grinds Brawler's face with a headlock repeatedly. The crowd is dead. Roma climbs up to the second rope and takes out Brawler with a sledge. Brawler manages to get control and hits a backbreaker for a nearfall. Brawler slams Roma and climbs up to the top rope. Roma gets up and sends him flying down to the mat. Roma hoists up Brawler and hits the running powerslam for a nearfall. Roma with a delayed overhead suplex. Roma leaps off the top rope with a flying crossbody. Brawler rolls through the crossbody and hooks the trunks for the cheap win.

WINNER: The Brooklyn Brawler in 3:49 of what aired. The timing of both men was off in this match. Not worthy of being on a "Vintage Collection" show.

[Commercial Break]

-The "Please Don't Try This at Home" video aired.

-Backstage at the event, Okerlund interviewed Jimmy Hart and The Honky Tonk Man. Hart said HTM was ready to shake, rattle, and roll with King Duggan. HTM alleged that when Sky 1 (the UK channel this event aired on) asked for entertainment, singing, and dancing they didn't want the (Rolling) Stones, Beatles, or (Herman's) Hermits – they wanted HTM. HTM said that all the queen's horses and all the queen's men wouldn't be able to put King Duggan back together again. Okerlund asked HTM where he parked the pink Cadillac. HTM laughed and said he parked it on London Bridge. Okerlund informed him that London Bridge went down a long time ago and HTM stormed off. Awesome interview.

-Okerlund interviewed Jim Duggan backstage as well. Duggan was sporting his usual 2x4, an American flag, and the King's crown & cape he won from Haku. Duggan said that HTM was great on the guitar, but can't fight a lick. He threatened Jimmy Hart with his 2x4 if he sticks his nose in the match.

[Commercial Break]

4 – THE HONKY TONK MAN (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. JIM DUGGAN

Duggan lands a barrage of punches, but HTM pokes him in the eyes. HTM boogies in the middle of the ring before missing a splash in the corner. Duggan shoots HTM into the ropes and lands a big clothesline. Duggan follows up with his clothesline from the three-point stance for the victory.

WINNER: Jim Duggan in 1:33 of what aired. The interviews were longer than this clip.

-After the match, HTM and Jimmy Hart assaulted Duggan. Duggan grabbed his 2x4 and cleared the ring.

[Commercial Break]

-Backstage, Okerlund interviewed WWE Champion Hulk Hogan & Miss Elizabeth. Hogan said that Hulkamania was running wild as soon as the plane landed in the U.K. Hogan said he knew it wasn't over between himself and Savage when the Megapowers exploded at WrestleMania V. He claimed he had to call Scotland Yard to warn them about all the crazy Hulkamaniacs that will be running loose tonight.

-Okerlund interviewed Randy Savage and Sensational Sherri. Savage said he was the former champion and in a matter of minutes he would capture the title again. Savage said he was the one man who could beat Hogan and guaranteed victory. He concluded that the "Madness was better than the Mania."

[Commercial Break]

5 – HULK HOGAN (w/Miss Elizabeth) vs. RANDY SAVAGE (w/Sensational Sherri) – WWE Championship Match

Before the match, Savage grabbed a Hogan sign from a ringside fan and ripped it in half. Hogan talks strategy with Elizabeth. Savage angrily points at Elizabeth and threatens her. Both men circle each other to start. Savage ducks to the outside to stall. Hogan overpowers Savage in a collar and elbow tie up. Hogan takes Savage down with a shoulder block. Savage runs to the outside and tosses a chair into the ring. Hogan sits in the chair and invites Savage back in as the fans cheer. On the floor, Savage protects himself by keeping Sherri in front of him. Savage grabs a microphone at ringside and dedicates the match to the prettiest woman who ever walked the face of the earth – Sensational Sherri.

[Commercial Break]

-A video aired hyping the Breaking Point PPV.

Hogan scores with a series of shoulder tackles before both men collide with double clotheslines. Both men miss elbow drops. Savage hits a running knee to the back of Hogan and schoolboys him for a nearfall. Savage locks in a sleeper hold. Sherri taunts Elizabeth at ringside. Hogan breaks free of the hold, but Sherri trips him up when he hits the ropes. Hogan grabs Sherri by her hair and Sherri screams in horror. Savage grabs Hogan and jumps to the floor sending Hogan throat first over the top rope. Savage jumps off the top rope and smacks Hogan with Sherri's purse. Savage pulls Hogan up during the pinfall attempt to punish him some more. Savage climbs to the top rope and hits his signature flying elbow drop. Savage poses to the crowd as Hogan quickly pops up behind him. Hogan holds Savage and allows Elizabeth to slap him. Hogan lands a clothesline and then his legdrop for the win.

WINNER: Hulk Hogan in 9:02 of what aired to retain the WWE Championship. Both men were great in this match. Savage shined with all of his shenanigans.

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