Chris Cooley Presents The WWE Vintage Collection: Ep. 46: Ric Flair vs. Tito Santana, The Nastys vs. The Rockers, L.O.D. vs. Power & Glory, and a 20 Man Battle Royal
Welcome to the Vintage Collection for another week. During Aaron Wood's break from WWI, I will taking over his duties in recapping the show. For those who dont know who I am, I've been a member of the boards since 2005, and am currently a writer for BoredWrestlingFan.com and VinceRussoWatchesHisBeardGrow.com. Let's get to the show! Today's show takes us to October 3, 1991 and the United Kingdom, for the BattleRoyal at the Royal Albert Hall.
MATCH#1: The Rockers (Marty Jannetty/Shawn Michaels) vs The Nasty Boys (Jerry Saggs/Brian Knobbs) w/ Jimmy Hart
The Match begins already in progress. Saggs whips Michaels into the ropes and catches him with a Bearhug. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan on commentary. Michaels fights out with elbows and tries to slam Saggs, but to no avail. Jerry tags in Knobbs, who pulls Michaels to the centre of the ring and drops an elbow. Knobbs locks in a Chin Lock, and Michaels powers out with a back slam. Shawn tags in Jannetty, but Sags is distracting the ref, so he doesnt see the tag and doesnt allow Jannetty to enter. That leaves the Nasty Boys to double-team Michaels. Saggs whips Michaels into the corner, then whips Knobbs toward Michaels, but Michaels moves out of the way, and Knobbs crashes into the corner. Michaels then clotheslines Saggs, and both men are down.
Michaels crawls over and tags in his partner, and Jannetty goes after both men. Marty goes in with a mounted ten-punch on Knobbs in the corner, then starts on Saggs. Jannetty starts with the mounted punches on Sags in the corner, but sees a charging Brian Knobbs coming, and allowed him to crash into Saggs. Jannetty attempts a pin on Knobbs, and when Sags tries to break it up, Jannetty moves, and Saggs hits Knobbs instead. Marty then grabs both Saggs and Knobbs and bangs their heads together, then Michaels joins Jannetty in the ring, and they whip the Nasty Boys so they collide with each other. Jannetty with a pin attempt on Sags, and the crowd thought it was three, but Saggs kicked out at two. Michaels slams Jannetty onto Sags, and as another pin attempt is made, Jimmy Hart jumps up on the ring apron. As the referee and Shawn Michaels are distracted by Hart, Knobbs comes from behind and nails Marty Jannetty with the microphone, allowing Saggs to get the three. WINNERS - The Nasty Boys
COMMERCIAL - Did You Know? This was the WWE's first appearance in the Royal Albert Hall.
We're back and at the Hall, Gene Okerlund is interviewing Ric Flair. Flair tells Tito Santana that he'll find out why Flair is the real World's Heavyweight Champion, and then, tells Roddy Piper that, "He can't run, but he can't hide", in the Battle Royal, because Flair wants to prove that he is the man. For now, and forever.
MATCH#2: Ric Flair vs Tito Santana
The match begins with a lockup. Flair pushes Santana to the corner and Woos. They lock-up again, but the time Santana pushes Flair into the opposite corner. Flair woos, but Santana chops Flair, knocking him down to a knee. They lock-up a third time, and Santana applies a Headlock, but Flair sends him to the ropes, only for Santana to counter with a Shoulder Block and Flair rolls to the outside. Flair climbs back in and they lock-up again. Flair gains an advantage, but Santana looks to power out, only for Flair to knock him down, and start work on the arm. Whenever Santana would get to his feet, Flair would grab the hair of Santana to keep him grounded, all the while still working on the arm. Flair lifts Santana up, still working on the arm, but Santana powers out and Flair backs away. They lock-up again, Flair goes for the arm again, but Santana counters straight away. Santana with some punches, and then whips Flair into the corner. Flair bounces back, only to receive a Back Body Drop. Flair tries to get up, but Santana keeps him grounded with dropkicks, and when Flair finally gets up, he face plants moments later. Flair rolls out of the ring, but Santana goes after him, and bangs Flair's head against the apron, then the barricade. Santana tries to re-enter the ring, but Flair is there to stop him and hit a chop. Flair then bangs Santana's head on the barricade, and climbs back in the ring, as Santana tries to recover. Santana staggering to his feet, as we come to commercial.
COMMERCIAL
Back from commercial, as Flair gets to his feet and connects a Back Drop on Santana. Flair then goes for the legs, and locks in the Figure Four. Flair uses the ropes several times for leverage, before Santana rolls it over, and Flair has to break the hold. Flair with a kick to the leg, but Santana fires back with a right hand and Flair face plants again. Santana bangs Flair's head on the mat, the clotheslines him to the outside. Santana follows him out, and slams him on the floor. Santana rolls inside the ring, only for Flair to grab the legs and pull Santana back out. Flair and Santana exchange chops and punches, before Flair pokes Santana's eyes and rolls him back into the ring. Flair climbs to the top rope, only for Santana to grab him and throw him off the top. Santana goes for the cover, but Flair kicks out at 2. Santana goes for an elbow, but Flair rolls out of the way. Flair whips Santana into the corner, but Santana bounces back with a Clothesline. Santana with another pin attempt, and again another two. Santana bounces off the ropes and connects with a Flying Forearm, and goes for another pin, but Flair gets his foot on the rope. Santana picks Flair up, but Flair counters and applies a Headlock. Santana counters and whips Flair into the ropes. Santana grabs Flair from behind, and takes Flair to the corner, and Santana goes for a roll-up. The ref counts two, but Flair counters into a roll-up of his own and after grabbing the tights, Flair gets the three count and the victory.
WINNER: Ric Flair
COMMERCIAL - After some research, a total of 8 matches happened at this event. In other matches, Earthquake def. Big Bossman. Mountie defeated Kerry Von Erich, Undertaker defeated Jim Duggan by Countout and British Bulldog defeated Barbarian.
The next match sees the Tag Team Championship on the line, as Animal and Hawk, the Legion of Doom, defends against Power and Glory.
Back from commercial, and at the Hall, as 'Mean' Gene interviews first Power and Glory, then the Legion of Doom. Power and Glory say they've travelled halfway around the world, just to win the Tag Titles. Whereas, LOD are gonna beat them so bad, their mothers wont accept them.
MATCH#3: The Legion of Doom (Animal/Hawk) vs Power and Glory (Hercules/Paul Roma)
The match begins, with a test of strength between Hawk and Roma, which Hawk wins, until Roma gets in a headbutt and some punches. Roma whips Hawk, but Hawk counters and catches Roma with a Dropkick, and Roma rolls to the outside. Hawk chases him outside, but Roma rolls in and catches Hawk, as he tries to enter. Roma whips Hawk againt the ropes and drops his head, but hawk counters with a neckbreaker. Hawk hits a snapmare and a fist drop, gets a two-count, then both men tag in their respective partners. Hercules off the ropes, tries to knock down Animal with a Shoulder Block, but Animal doesnt budge. Another another attempt by Hercules, he finally gets Animal down with a Clothesline. Hercules gets in a few punches, then whips Animal into the corner, but Animal charges out with a clothesline, and makes the tag to Hawk. Hawk with punches, driving Hercules into the corner, but Hercules counters with an inverted atomic drop. Hercules goes to bang Hawk's head into the top turnbuckle, but Hawk blocks it and bangs Hercules' head on the turnbuckle ten times. Hercules dazed, and Hawk connects an uppercut. Hercules staggers over and tags in Roma. They lock-up, with Roma driving Hawk into his corner. The ref is distracted by Animal trying to enter the ring, allowing the double-team on Hawk. Roma brings Hawk into the centre of the ring and hits a piledriver. Roma taunts Animal, as Hawk gets straight up and gorilla press slam's Roma onto the in-coming Hercules. Animal comes in and sends Hercules to the outside, as Hawk slams Roma and heads to the top. Hawk attempts a flying clothesline, but Roma ducks and Hawk ends up outside the ring on the other side. Animal checks on his partner as we hit a commercial.
COMMERCIAL - Don't forget to check out BoredWrestlingFan.com and VinceRussoWatchesHisBeardGrow.com! Cheap Pop!
We're back, and Hercules picks Hawk up and drops him on the barricade. Roma then tags in Hercules, and as he gets the referee's attention, Roma drives Hawk into the ring apron. Hawk finally manages to enter the ring, but is under attack from Hercules, who staggers Hawk with every punch and kick he delivers. Hercules taunts the fans, then whips Hawk into a corner, but when Hawk bounces back, he collides with Hercules, knocking down both men. Both men get the tag, and Animal is on the attack. He whips Roma into the ropes, then connects a flying shoulder block. Animal then whips Roma into a corner, and follows him in to connect with a clothesline. Animal gives Hercules a dropkick, and whips Roma again. Animal catches him and connects a falling powerbomb, but as he goes for the cover, Hercules enters and breaks it up. Hawk comes in and takes Hercules to the outside, whilst Roma slams Animal on the inside. Roma climbs the ropes, looking for a cross body, but Animal counters into a powerslam and the three count
YOUR WINNERS AND STILL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Legion of Doom
COMMERCIAL
Back from commercial, and it's Main Event time. A 20-man Battle Royal to determine the winner of a trophy. The competitors were as follows: Animal, Barbarian, Big Bossman, British Bulldog, Jim Duggan, Earthquake, Ric Flair, Hawk, Hercules, Marty Jannetty, Brian Knobbs, Shawn Michaels, the Mountie, Roddy Piper, Paul Roma, Jerry Sags, Tito Santana, Typhoon, Undertaker and Kerry Von Erich. Also, Lord Alfred Hayes has joined Monsoon and Heenan on commentary.
The match begins already in progress. Bossman almost eliminated by Earthquake. Hercules eliminated by Hawk. Hercules wants back in with a chair, but the referee's on the outside won't allow it. Von Erich eliminated by Knobbs and Barbarian. Knobbs tries to eliminate Piper, but Piper has him staggering on the apron, before poking him off and out of the match. Piper waves Knobbs off, as Jannetty is eliminated by Barbarian. Mountie gets knocked down, but he rolls under the ropes and is not eliminated, as Earthquake eliminated Santana as Mountie rolls back in. Piper knocks Flair down, and Flair rolls under the bottom rope to escape Piper. Sags eliminated Hawk, but is quickly eliminated by Animal, with an assist from Piper. Hawk dropkicks Sags on the outside for good measure. Mountie throws Michaels over the top rope, but Michaels skins the cat. However, as he gets back in the ring, Mountie clotheslines him over the top, eliminating Michaels. Mountie avoids the Bossman as we hit our final commercial break.
COMMERICAL
We're back and the action continues. Piper is teeing up on Flair, Flair tries to fight back, but Piper ducks and flips Flair over the top rope to elimination. Piper and Undertaker then go at it, with Piper wishboning Undertaker on the top rope. Roma tries to attack Bulldog, but Bulldog eliminates Roma. Animal charges at Undertaker, but the Deadman uses Animal's own momentum against him, and eliminates Animal.
Six men left in the ring. Piper, Undertaker, Typhoon, Bulldog, Bossman and Mountie remain. Taker fires shots at Piper, but when he goes for the final blow, Piper ducks, and Undertaker is eliminated. Taker then reaches in and pulls Piper over the top rope to the floor and Piper is eliminated. Mountie tries to run from the Bossman, but Bossman catches him and hangman's him on the second rope. Bossman tries to move again, but Mountie moves out of the way. Bossman slides out of the ring, and knocks out Jimmy Hart, whom is there to support his organization. Bossman back in, charges at Mountie, but Mountie pulls the top rope down, and Bossman goes over the top and he is eliminated. Mountie and Typhoon, two members of the Jimmy Hart Organization, start to double-team Bulldog. Mountie holds Bulldog in a corner, whilst Typhoon charges from the other side. Bulldog pulls Mountie in the way, and Typhoon connects with the Mountie. Bulldog then tries to eliminate Typhoon, until the Mountie breaks up the attempt. Mountie and Typhoon continue with the double-team, with a double slingshot into a double clothesline. Both guys pick Bulldog up, and Mountie holds him for Typhoon to clothesline, but when Typhoon comes, Bulldog ducks and Typhoon eliminates the Mountie. Bulldog and Typhoon remain, and Bulldog with some offense. He tries to knock Typhoon down with shoulder blocks, but Typhoon doesnt move. Bulldog goes to try again, but Typhoon goes for a clothesline. Bulldog ducks, and knocks Typhoon off his feet with a dropkick. Bulldog tries to whip Typhoon, but is reversed and Typhoon hits a clothesline. Bulldog using the ropes to pull himself up, Typhoon charges, but Bulldog lifts him up and over the top to eliminate Typhoon.
YOUR WINNER: BRITISH BULLDOG
Before the Bulldog can celebrate, Earthquake and Jimmy Hart hit the ring and with Typhoon start to attack Bulldog. Bulldog tries to escape to the outside, but once he gets out there, he is stopped by the Natural Disasters. They attack Bulldog, until Andre the Giant, recovering from a knee operation, comes down and between him and Bulldog, send Earthquake, Typhoon and Jimmy Hart scampering away. Bulldog thanks Andre and celebrates his victory with his home fans.
