WWE Vintage Collection Report: July 3rd 2011
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome! This week our Cruiserweight focus takes us to early 1990s WCW, more specifically the Light Heavyweight Title tournament to determine the inaugural champion. Although the title was dropped just a year later by Bill Watts, it still served as a precursor to the Cruiserweight title, which rose like a phoenix from the flames in 1996. Back to today. Seven men are in this tournament, yes that’s not a typo. It’s just typical WCW booking, with no logic. I guess they couldn’t find an eighth man, although they were running a separate U.S Title tournament at the same time. Let’s begin!
WCW Worldwide: August 24th 1991
Richard Morton w/Alexandra York vs Johnny Rich
Morton had turned his back on former Rock ‘n’ Roll Express partner Robert Gibson to fill the void left by the departed Michael Wallstreet (IRS) in the York Foundation. Alexandra York is the future Marlena aka Terri Runnels. Meanwhile, Johnny Rich is the cousin of another Foundation member Thomas Rich (formerly “Wildfire” Tommy Rich.) The match is generally a slow and plodding affair as Rich works Morton’s arm until Morton sends him to the floor. Back inside, Morton utilises a suplex and several chinlocks. Rich frees himself to give Morton a backbodydrop out of the corner. Morton blocks a rollup to quickly deliver a clothesline and inverted atomic drop. The finish comes when Morton climbs to the top rope, bringing his knee down across the back of Rich’s head for the 1-2-3. Winner: RICHARD MORTON.
WCW Worldwide: August 31st 1991
Badstreet vs “Jumping” Joey Maggs
Brad Armstrong is the man behind the black mask of Badstreet, completing his outfit with a black, green and purple bodysuit, while aligning himself with the Fabulous Freebirds. Maggs on the other hand is a recently debuted jobber. Maggs escapes an early takedown to hiptoss and dropkick Badstreet to the floor. After the two trade holds, Badstreet uses the hair to put Maggs down and take full control. Badstreet follows a neckbreaker with a top rope forearm, then holds his balance to prevent a sunset flip. Badstreet scores with a big boot, telegraphs a dropkick, then places Maggs onto the ropes and delivers the 911 (facelock into a DDT) to advance. Winner: BADSTREET.
WCW Main Event: September 8th 1991
Mike Graham vs Terrence Taylor w/Alexandra York & Thomas Rich
Mike Graham is the son of legendary Florida promoter Eddie Graham. Taylor has dyed his hair dark brown, and wears a ponytail to escape chants of “Rooster” from the fans. He looks like the evil Terry Silva from Karate Kid III. Graham works the leg until York causes a distraction, allowing Taylor to toss Graham over the top rope (an automatic DQ if seen by the referee at the time.) Rich roughs Graham up on the floor. Taylor channels Mr Perfect as he delivers a rolling neck snap, followed by a jawbreaker and backbreaker. Graham escapes a chinlock, only to get caught with a short-arm clothesline. Taylor declares he’s “had enough” of Graham, but this spurs a short Graham fightback, culminating with a front first irish whip and bridging german suplex. Rich has the referee distracted, allowing Richard Morton to run out and jump on Graham’s midsection from the top rope. Taylor covers and gets the 1-2-3. Graham goes after the York Foundation after the bell until the three on one odds overwhelm him. The referee would end up overturning his decision (not seen on the show.) In all likelihood, WCW realised they had booked themselves into a corner and didn’t want heel stablemates Morton and Taylor facing off. Winner via DQ: MIKE GRAHAM.
WCW Clash of the Champions 16: September 5th 1991
Flyin’ Brian Pillman vs Badstreet
Pillman received a bye in the first round for reasons never explained. He had just returned following a stint as the masked Yellow Dog. Badstreet’s Freebird allies Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin have been ejected by the time we pick the action up. Badstreet stops Pillman suplexing him into the ring, by suplexing him to the floor. The DQ rule is waived as both men need to be in the ring for the ruling to come into play. Badstreet keeps Pillman on the outside by sending him into the guardrail and ringpost. Pillman comes back with a slingshot cross body. Badstreet recovers to deliver a neckbreaker. Pillman crotches Badstreet up top with a dropkick, then clears the ring with a suicide dive. Both throw simultaneous dropkicks. Pillman counters a backbodydrop into a faceplant then connects with a spinning wheel kick. Badstreet comes right back, planting Pillman with a DDT. Pillman turns a second neckbreaker attempt into a backslide. Pillman attempts a crucifix, but Badstreet flattens him with a samoan drop. Badstreet hesitates as he has Pillman on the ropes, allowing Pillman to headbutt him off. Air Pillman connects with a cross body for the 1-2-3. This was really good and years ahead of its time. Winner: FLYIN’ BRIAN PILLMAN. Ironically enough, Brad Armstrong would be recognised as the final titleholder a year later, as he relinquished the title due to an injury just before he was set to face Pillman in a match.
WCW Clash of the Champions 16: September 5th 1991
Richard Morton w/Alexandra York vs Mike Graham
After some mat based grappling, Graham pulls Morton off the ropes into a bridging german suplex for a nearfall. Morton calls for a timeout, only to rake Graham’s face and work him over in the ropes. Graham manages a single leg takedown into a figure four, but Morton is right by the ropes. Graham goes after an arm. Morton cheats with a hair pull to escape. Morton gets caught with a drop toehold and Graham brings his weight down across Morton’s leg a couple of times. Morton once more cheapshots the eyes to get ahead and hits an inverted atomic drop. Morton misses an elbow. Sensing trouble, York distracts the referee. Graham has Morton pinned in a rollup position. Morton pushes Graham face first into the corner, then rolls him up with a handful of trunks for the pin. Winner: RICHARD MORTON. Complete contrast in style from the previous bout.
Ahead of the final, both participants have their say. Pillman says the title shot is special to him as a few months ago he wasn’t even in WCW, (wink wink, nudge nudge) and dedicates the win to his family and great friends of WCW. Pillman promises he won’t let them down.
Alexandra York promises that the York Foundation will secure its first title, promising not to stop there, before telling Morton it’s a big night. Morton says it’s been a long, hard road, but Pillman’s road comes to a dead end. Morton says all his life he’s been a champion stating his name carries weight as championship material.
WCW Halloween Havoc: October 27th 1991
Flyin’ Brian Pillman vs Richard Morton w/Alexandra York
Referee Nick Patrick looks like he’s wearing a bicycle or beer helmet when in actual fact it’s a refer-eye camera, designed to give fans an even closer look at what’s going on in the ring. Mercifully, the gimmick doesn’t last long. Pillman clears the ring with a slam and heel kick. Back inside, Pillman floats over a corner charge and lands a double axehandle. Pillman attempts a couple of side headlocks on the mat, only for Morton to counter each hold with a headscissors.
Back from commercials, Morton is in control focusing on a wristlock and armbar for a couple of minutes. Pillman finally hits a clothesline after Morton ducks an initial attempt. Morton goes to the eyes to resume control with a back suplex. Pillman comes back with an enziguiri and backbodydrop. Morton sends Pillman to the corner and tells him “it’s time.” Pillman answers back with chops, before a tackle sends both men spilling outside from opposite sides of the ring. Morton posts Pillman on the floor. Still dazed, Morton takes his time to step back in and is facing the referee as Pillman surprises him with a top rope cross body. 1-2-3. Winner: FLYIN’ BRIAN PILLMAN.
Compared to last week’s compilation, the quality of some of the matches have definitely come down a few notches. However, once the jobbers were out of the way, Pillman and Badstreet put on a cracking little matchup that introduced the WCW audience to the high flying style they would later become accustomed to.
We have one more week of high flying action next week.
Any comments or discussion points drop me a line at [email protected]