WWE Vintage Collection Report (03/27/11)

WWE Vintage Collection Report: March 27th 2011
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund

Welcome to the continuation of our Hall of Fame theme. We begin with the “most recognisable voice in WWE history,” Gorilla Monsoon. An amateur Olympian turned pro wrestler turned announcer, the 401lb behemoth made the transition from the mat to the mic after a 21 year in-ring career. Monsoon would form a famous on-air partnership with Bobby Heenan (who will be featured later.) The area just behind the entrance curtain has been named the Gorilla position in Monsoon’s honour as it was a position he frequented when he wasn’t announcing.

During his acceptance speech (June 18th 1994) Gorilla tells some funny stories. Standing at 6”6, he was paired with the 7”4 Andre the Giant one time against new tag team champions Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens, who in Gorilla’s words were “two beautiful blondes at 5”5.” Gorilla reveals that Patterson told Andre in French to “let the little guy start,” (aka him.)

The other involved wrestling Bobo Brazil in New York. The publicity was a week late going out, there was a bomb scare and no-one was in attendance. Brazil got Monsoon in a hold and whispered in his ear “we’ve got them kid.” Monsoon agrees they had all 38 of them hooked.

In closing, Monsoon puts over the new generation of wrestling stars and thanks his wife Maureen for raising his children and taking care of his home while he was away, noting a pro wrestler isn’t meant to have those things. Monsoon sadly passed away in late 1999 from heart failure.

Next up are the Wild Samoans, Afa and brother Sika. They were inducted in 2007. Afa begun training in the early 1970s under Rocky Johnson and High Chief Peter Maivia before training Sika himself. The Samoans were known for their unorthodox, striking physical presence and rugged style. Over a 30 year career, the team won an impressive 21 sets of tag titles in territories across Canada and USA.

Afa’s son Samu says they were “hardcore before hardcore was hardcore.”

Jim Ross says the Samoans were “probably one of the last teams in this business that the fans truly were intimidated by,” a statement which is backed up by Tommy Dreamer and Triple H. Afa’s nephew Rikishi warned “you don’t want to get on their bad side.”

January 21st 1980: WWF Tag Team Titles:
Ivan Putski & Tito Santana vs Wild Samoans
This was the Samoans MSG debut in the WWF. Sika mauls Putski with chokes, elbows and kicks. The Samoans give Putski a double clothesline along the ring apron. Putski hammers away at Sika then makes a hot tag. Tito comes in with dropkicks galore. Tito applies a headlock to Sika, who lifts Tito and drops him in a splits position across the ropes. Tito falls to the floor holding his groin allowing the Samoans to take the countout victory, but not the titles. Winners via countout: WILD SAMOANS.

Okerlund introduces our next inductee as “colourful, over the top, sneaky, villainous and hilariously entertaining.” It’s Bobby Heenan.

Turning pro in 1961, Heenan toiled for years as a wrestler before finding his true passion as a manager. Heenan was dubbed the Brain for being able to acquire talent. Heenan’s colleagues put him over.

Pat Patterson: “Without a doubt, the best wrestling manager ever in wrestling history.”

Arn Anderson: “He has the best wit of anybody I’ve ever met. He’s as good as any stand up comic on TV. He’s as funny as anyone I’ve ever heard.”

Random Heenanism to a married man of 21 years: “You realise on your wedding night, if you’d have killed her, you’d be out now.”

Always playing up to Weasel chants Heenan went on the old Tuesday Night Titans TV show (that Vince McMahon hosted) in a suit, to angrily declare that he doesn’t have fur on his body or a tail.

Brooklyn Brawler: “They hated him and booed him but yet they enjoyed when he came out because he was entertaining, very animated.”

Howard Finkel: “The last great manager in wrestling.”

Heenan’s acceptance speech took place on March 13th 2004 at the Hilton in New York. Straight off the bat Heenan mocks Pat Patterson’s heavy French accent, stating his earlier induction for Sgt Slaughter will be repeated later in English.

Heenan reveals he’s spent two and a half years sat in a bedroom at home taking chemo, radiation (for throat cancer) doing nothing. He wants to do things. Watching Judge Judy for that timeframe would make you go nuts, go crazy.

Heenan stayed in the wrestling business not for the money, but for the fans and the wrestlers and it’s a tremendous thrill to be inducted. Heenan says his biggest thrills in life are his daughter Jessica, wife Cynthia and son-in-law John. All stand up except for John. Heenan says he is standing as his daughter married a midget.

Heenan tears up as he says in closing: “Only one thing’s missing. I wish Monsoon was here.”

After leaving the stage, Heenan comes back on to ask Okerlund if they get paid for this. When Okerlund shakes his head, Heenan says he’s going to drink, which turns the tears into laughter.

July 31st 1988: Weasel Suit Match
Bobby Heenan vs Ultimate Warrior
Warrior runs out with the white suit tied around his neck like a Superman cape. Warrior has things in order until Heenan pulls out a metal rod from his tights and repeatedly jams it into Warrior’s throat and chest. Heenan is careful to hide the rod from the referee, but loses it after tucking it into his boot. Warrior bounces Heenan around the corners then puts him to bed with a sleeper. Heenan wakes up, not realising he’s wearing the suit – complete with claws and a tail until he goes to paw his face. Heenan comically falls over as he chases his own tail and rolls around to get out of the suit, prompting Hilbilly Jim on commentary to declare, “it’s a harder match trying to get out of the suit then he’s had with the Warrior.” The crowd rabidly chant “Weasel, Weasel.” Winner: ULTIMATE WARRIOR.

Eddie Guerrero’s Hall of Fame video airs from 2006, except this time all references/footage of Chris Benoit have been erased.

No Way Out: February 15th 2004
WWE Title: Brock Lesnar vs Eddie Guerrero
Brock taunts Eddie, who runs into the wall that is Lesnar and gets bullied in the corner. Eddie fights off a couple of corner charges, but Brock catches Eddie in mid-air (nearly dropping him on his head) spinning him round then releasing. Three belly-to-belly throws put Eddie on the outside.

We skip ahead to the closing stages. Eddie headbutts his way out of a waistlock squeeze before landing dropkicks to the knee and back of the head. Eddie hits a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Brock misses a corner charge, allowing Eddie to hit the three amigos (suplexes.) Eddie misses a frog splash. Brock nails the F5, but spins Eddie too close to referee Brian Hebner. Brock grabs his title, but gets met with a spear from Goldberg (who had jackhammered Brock earlier in the night.) Goldberg leaves. Brock escapes a cover, ducks a belt shot, but Eddie counters a second F5 with a tornado DDT onto the belt. The frog splash connects and Hebner has recovered enough to count the 1-2-3. Eddie jumps into the crowd before embracing his mother (Herlinda) and brother (Mando) in the front row then celebrates on top of the announce table. Winner: EDDIE GUERRERO. Match went around 30 minutes, we got around 10. This was a real, genuine feel good moment and one Eddie truly deserved. After showing great character to rebound from being fired three years earlier, Eddie returned with a vengeance and the emotion on show draws comparisons to Mick Foley’s first WWF title victory. The Goldberg interference was done at the right point, so that it didn’t detract from Eddie’s victory. A vintage match!

The Hall of Fame theme concludes next week! Shaun.

Any comments or discussion points drop me a line at [email protected].