WWE Vintage Collection Report: 15th November 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund

Welcome aboard. This week, the Survivor Series retrospective continues with years 1992 through 1994. A match from each of the former Thanksgiving Turkey tradition shows has been plucked for our viewing pleasure. Let’s begin.

November 25th 1992
High Energy vs The Headshrinkers w/Afa
Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan are announcing. The Shrinkers had recently joined the WWF, while Owen Hart teamed with Koko B. Ware in mid-1992 after former partner Jim Neidhart left the company earlier in the year. Joined in progress. The Shrinkers gain control over Koko after Afa whacks him with a bamboo cane from the outside (not shown). Owen rallies the crowd with a Koko chant, as the Shrinkers spend several boring minutes on the offensive. Koko escapes a Samu nerve hold, runs into a clothesline, then turns into a Fatu crescent kick. Owen gets the tag after Samu misses a charge and crashes into the ringpost. Owen comes in with dropkicks, a backbodydrop and top rope cross body to Samu. Owen knocks Fatu out of the ring with a spinning heel kick. Samu catches Owen in a powerslam. Fatu delivers a top rope splash. 1-2-3. Not a very good opener. Winners: THE HEADSHRINKERS.

We switch gears to 1993. The team of the All Americans (Lex Luger, Tatanka, and The Steiner Brothers) were all set to face the Foreign Fanatics (Yokozuna, Ludvig Borga and The Quebecers) until………….

Ludvig Borga, with the aid of a steel chair ended Tatanka’s near two-year unbeaten streak, before a Yokozuna banzai drop put him out of the Survivor Series. Lex Luger tried to help Tatanka, but was jumped on by the Quebecers. The All Americans named The Undertaker as a replacement, who opened his black coat to reveal an American flag. Then in a match chosen by the fans, Lex Luger put Quebecer Pierre out of commission with a concussion following a steel plated forearm shot. The Fanatics brought in (recently turned heel) Crush, who says he’s joined men of honour, who will fight and watch each others backs until the very end. He challenges the All Americans to survive.

November 24th 1993
The All Americans w/Paul Bearer vs The Foreign Fanatics w/Mr Fuji, Jim Cornette & Johnny Polo
Luger still had unfinished business with Yokozuna after a countout victory earlier in the year at SummerSlam. Crush caused his former friend Randy Savage to get eliminated earlier in the night, leading to an incensed Savage being ejected from the building. The match airs in clipped form, with McMahon and Heenan once more at the announce table. Rick Steiner lands a high risk forearm on Borga. When Rick comes off the top rope again with a cross body, Borga botches a powerslam (not catching Rick properly) but still gets the pinfall. Rick rolls to the floor favouring his leg. Crush works over Scott Steiner as Vince teases that Randy Savage is back in the building. Officials and the Smoking Gunns block Savage’s path as Crush dumps Scott on the floor. Savage comes back a few minutes later, Crush is distracted and Scott dropkicks him to the floor. Crush rushes to attack Savage, who stops a press slam with punches to the head. Crush is counted out, Savage is escorted to the back for good and Crush protests that the decision is unfair. Luger makes short work of Quebecer Jacques during his first involvement, pinning the former Mountie after a slam and forearm drop from the second rope. Scott Steiner recovers from a heel attack to superplex Borga from the top rope. Yokozuna breaks up a cover and pulls an illegal switcheroo with Borga behind the referee’s back. Scott avoids a Yoko elbow drop, Yoko holds onto the ropes to prevent a Frankensteiner, then quickly drops a leg to eliminate Scott. When Yoko misses a corner charge at Luger, Taker tags in for the first time and immediately gives Yoko a jumping DDT. Yoko is staggered with clotheslines, but doesn’t go down. An interfering Borga is knocked from the apron, before Yoko takes advantage of the distraction to catch Taker in a belly-to-belly suplex. Taker sits up so Yoko clotheslines. Taker starts to sit up once more, so Yoko drops a leg. Yoko delivers a banzai drop and Taker crucially sits up for a third time to avoid a second banzai drop. A flying clothesline connects to send Yoko rolling to the outside where the fight continues. Yoko sends Taker’s head into the steps, but Taker flicks his head back up, and with his eyes rolled into the back of his head, turns the tables on Yoko. Both are counted out with Bearer pulling Taker off of the then WWF Champion. Borga picks the bones of Luger who is still down, but can’t put him away with a delayed suplex or powerslam. Luger reverses a suplex, both clothesline each other and Borga smacks Luger with Mr Fuji’s salt bucket. Luger recovers, kicking out of a pin in a Hogan-esque way to fire off punches, a DDT, backelbow and powerslam. Luger jumps over a backbodydrop attempt and rebounds with the steel plated forearm for the winning 1-2-3. Survivor: LEX LUGER. Good in parts (Taker/Yoko) and bad in others (Borga). Borga’s WWF career was cut short in early 1994 following injuries, but he wasn’t over in the slightest and he severely lacked in charisma. Crush and Savage continued their heated rivalry, providing Savage’s last great WWF moments, while Undertaker and Yokozuna went on to feud at the start and end of 1994. Who can forget Yokozuna enlisting the help of many of the WWF’s heels to ‘kill’ Undertaker at the 1994 Royal Rumble. Finally, the plug was pulled on the Lex Luger project at WrestleMania X, with Bret Hart re-inserted as the top dog. Not a moment too soon either. Sorry Lex.

November 23rd 1994
The Bad Guys (Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid, British Bulldog & The Headshrinkers w/Captain Lou Albano & Afa) vs The Teamsters (Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Owen Hart, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart & Double J Jeff Jarrett)
We’ve gone back to the original five on five concept for today’s Main Event. I prefer this format. Everyone was sort of feuding/or had feuded with each other during 1994 so these teams made perfect sense. Vince McMahon is joined by Gorilla Monsoon on commentary as Heenan hightailed it to WCW at the end of 1993. Owen and Bulldog are the first two to tussle. After exchanging holds, Bulldog slingshots Owen into the Bad Guys’s corner for some cheap shots. Owen survives a press slam to retaliate with an enziguiri kick. Owen and Anvil give Bulldog a double clothesline, before Bulldog gives them a dose of their own medicine. Bulldog displays his power by giving Anvil a delayed suplex. Fatu tags to deliver a falling headbutt from the top rope. Albano has the Shrinkers more civilised by having them wear footwear, but Fatu is struggling to adapt and tries to remove them. Jarrett takes advantage to attack from behind. Fatu comes back with a powerslam. Razor tags in to send Jarrett retreating in fear. Michaels coaches from the apron, and following some advice from the Heartbreak Kid, Jarrett armdrags Razor, then showboats with the Jackie Fargo strut. Jarrett schools Razor on the mat, cockily paintbrushing the back of his head. Razor slugs back, clotheslines Jarrett over the top rope, then provokes Diesel by punching him. Michaels climbs the ropes to calm Diesel down. After commercials, Owen gives Fatu a spinning heel kick, and it’s noted that neither Diesel or Michaels have tagged in yet. Fatu no-sells head rams in the corner, and starts to dance. Diesel blind tags in as Owen gives Fatu a DDT. Fatu pops right up to nail Owen with a superkick, before getting turned inside out with a 360 clothesline from Diesel. Jackknife powerbomb connects to eliminate Fatu. 1-2-3 Kid staggers Diesel with dropkicks and kicks. Diesel counters a sunset flip with a tree slam and a second Jackknife puts paid to the Kid, with Diesel pinning him with his foot on his chest. New Headshrinker Sionne (the former Barbarian) puts his head down way too early, and Diesel makes it three from three in Jackknife victims. Bulldog is sent to the floor with a big boot. Jarrett and Owen attack Bulldog on the floor, leading to Bulldog getting counted out. Razor is all alone. Diesel wants to tag out, but Michaels has no interest and encourages him to continue. Razor schoolboys Diesel for a nearfall, then takes the fight to Big Daddy Cool, with a tornado punch and bulldog from the second rope. Razor delivers shoulder thrusts until Diesel reels him in for a short arm clothesline. Michaels tells Diesel to finish Razor with the Jackknife. Diesel smiles as he carries on pounding the Bad Guy. Crowd are chanting for Razor, as Diesel drops him in the corner and plants with a big boot. Michaels impatiently paces along the ring apron. Diesel hits the Jackknife and now Michaels calls for and gets the tag. Michaels coaxes a knackered Diesel back in to hold Razor. Michaels attempts Sweet Chin Music, Razor moves and Diesel takes the hit, and not for the first time either. (Michaels cost Diesel the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam by pulling the same stunt). Here, Diesel finally stands up to Michaels, shoves his partners away and stalks Michaels up the ramp. Diesel fights off his teammates once more as they attempt to play peacemaker, and despite Owen’s last gasp pleas, the entire Teamsters team are counted out. Survivor: RAZOR RAMON. Razor threatens to use his Intercontinental Title as a weapon to ward off a post match sneak attack from Owen, Anvil and Jarrett. Backstage, Todd Pettengill has caught up with Michaels beating a hasty retreat to a parked car with his bags on his shoulder. Michaels calls Diesel an ungrateful leach and that he made him. No-one heard of Diesel before Shawn Michaels. Michaels washes his hands of Diesel, who has turned his back on him, before stating he wants nothing to do with him ever again. As Michaels gets into the car, he says Diesel’s a zero without him. When Todd tells Michaels that Diesel is on his way, Michaels says if he needs a ride then he should try hitting the pavement and the bricks. Michaels screeches off. This was a very good match/angle which was designed to break Diesel away from the influence of Shawn Michaels.

Okerlund brings up Diesel winning the WWF Title three days later in his closing notes and promises the first meeting between Stone Cold and Bret Hart next week as our Survivor Series retrospective concludes. See you next week. Shaun.

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