WWE
Aaron Wood Presents The WWE Vintage Collection: Ep. 6 (Hogan, Rockers, Perfect, Bushwhackers...Red Rooster...Brooklyn Brawler...)
By Aaron Wood
Jul 13, 2008 - 9:38 AM

As ever, Mean Gene Okerlund welcomes us to the show, and this week, we'd be going back to March of 1989.

If I can digress for a moment, because there is something incredibly ironic going on here. You see, I do actually do research for this show and see what the full results were before time and so on and so forth and the show we're taking matches from aired on March 18th of that year. Now, you see, one of my oldest friends, Grant MacDonald, was the one who got me into wrestling originally, and it was 1989 when he did that. Not only that, but his birthday was on...well, you can probably guess what date his birthday was on at this point. NO WORD OF A LIE!

Anyway, back to Gene, who said that things were heating up as the Superstars geared up for Wrestlemania 5 in Trump Plaza. We'd see Mr. Perfect, The Bushwhacker, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Hulk Hogan and more, but first, as they say on Monty Python's Flying Circus, for something completely different...

The Red Rooster vs. The Brooklyn Brawler (Originally aired on the MSG Network on March 18th 1989)
OMG! WHAT A CLASSIC~!~!~! We join things mid-match (well, who could watch a whole one of these great encounters without exploding?), but who is that voice? That annoying, annoying voice? Why...just to round off the crappiness factor of it all, it's TONY SCHIAVONE! And just for kicks, it's Alfred Hayes who's with him. What a treat for me!

Anyway, The Rooster works his way out a headlock and takes Brawler's arm, but Brawler pulls Rooster down by the "comb" and works another headlock. Rooster gets out, but a shoulderblock gets a CLOSE (???) 2 for Brawler, before Brawler puts on another headlock. Rooster finally gets up and rams Brawler into the corner before putting some kicks in. However, Brawler hit back and then sent Terry Taylor over the top with a clothesline.

However, Rooster came in with a slingshot sunset flip for a 2 count, although Brawler fires a clothesline for another 2 count. Roll up for Rooster scores a 2 count. but Brawler kicked out and sent Rooster throat-first into the rope. Hayes surmises that brawler is looking to injure Rooster ahead of Wrestlemania and his encounter with Bobby Heenan. Brawler blocked a corner charge but had a slam countered into a rollup for a 2 count. However, Brawler stayed on top of things. However, after being whipped across, Rooster exploded back with a swinging neckbreaker. He began to build momentum before hitting a clothesline. Backslide by the Rooster scored a three count.

WINNER - THE RED ROOSTER

Next up, a former AWA Champion against a former NWA Champion.

We came back from break as we'd continue more singles action as one of the best, in Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig, who would quickly cement his name in the WWE.

Mr. Perfect vs. "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin (Originally aired on the MSG Network on March 18th 1989)
Again, we join things mid-match as Garvin dropped an elbow for a 2 count. Back rake by Garvin, before he whipped Perfect off the ropes and slapped on a sleeper as Hennig came back. Hennig dropped to the mat, but got a foot on the ropes. Orton Garvin Stomp by, well, Garvin. Garvin sets for a piledriver, but Perfect lifted up Garvin. However, Garvin turned it into a sunset flip for a 2 count. Straight right hand by Garvin was followed by a Jacknife cover for another 2 count.

Garvin caught a kick and gave Perfect an atomic drop. That scored a 2 count. Garvin rammed Hennig's head into the top turnbuckle a bunch of times before rolling Perfect up for a 2 count. Both men clash in the centre of the ring, Perfect gets up at 7 while Garvin gets up slower, but on the apron to break the count. Perfect gives Garvin some clubs to the chest. However, Garvin grabbed Perfect and hung Perfect on the top rope. Garvin went up top for a flying crossbody, but Perfect rolled through with a pin of his own for the win!

WINNER - MR. PERFECT

Hercules vs. Bad News Brown (Originally aired on the MSG Network on March 18th 1989)
Without any rhyme or explanation, we come back straight into the middle of this match. Normally, Mean Gene puts at least one of the guys over beforehand, but not this time. Anyway, Bad News is working over Hercules on the apron, before Bad News sent Hercules to the outside. Bad News took a wooden chair and rammed it into Herc's gut. Somehow, that doesn't draw a DQ and Herc manages to get back in again. Hayes tries to explain why the ref didn't call for a bell already, saying he knew how important this match was and was giving them a fair crack at each other. Bad News continued to work over Herc's gut before hitting a scoop slam. However, a splash was met with knees. he then avoided a Brown corner charge before punching Brown down. Knee lift by Hercules gets the crowd going, before a pair of clothesline. Brown takes both men out. Herc works over Brown before trying to get back in. However, in this most random of matches, Brown does everything in his power to stop Hercules getting back in and succeeded, with Herc on the apron, as the ref counted them both out.

RESULT - DOUBLE COUNT OUT

After the bell, Herc tried to claim victory, but Brown tired to attack. However, Herc got his chain and started swinging for the fences, causing Bad News to bail.

After the break, we'd have some six man action as Canada took on the world...

Gene welcomed us back, as he said there were many superstars you couldn't forget. Such as a pair we were about to see in the New Zealanders that were the Bushwhackers. They brought their unique style to the ring every time they were out.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan & The Bushwhackers vs. Dino Bravo & The Rougeau Brothers (Originally aired on the MSG Network on March 18th 1989)
An interesting note here as, out of all the matches featured on this week's show, which come form the same televised show, guess which one was the main event of that particular show...THIS ONE! Again, we join things mid-match as the Rougeaus are working over Luke. However, Jacques seems to have hurt his left arm, as he's totally holding it. The Canucks work Luke over with clubs in the corner as the ref tries to hold the other faces at bay. Bravo comes in off the tag and chokes Luke. Bravo cut Luke off from the tag. He then drew Duggan out, so the Rougeaus could work on Luke some more.

Schiavone says Frenchie Martin has come over, but it sounds like he's on a cell phone in France because the sound quality of his promo is so bad to begin with. Eventually, you can make out that he said he and Bravo are after Hulk Hogan. The heels allow Frenchie to hit Luke in the back with his flag pole. Butch makes the save off the pin fall, but the Canadian heels continue to work over Luke with a couple of them putting on Abdominal Stretches. Raymond comes in and locks on a Boston Crab. Luke managed to crawl over to his corner, but Dino and Jacques drew the ref, and when Luke tagged in Hacksaw, the ref forced Duggan back outside because he didn't see it.

However, almost immediately, Luke avoided a Jacques high knee, which hit Bravo, sending him out, and Luke went over and tagged Duggan anyway. Duggan cleaned house and hit Jacques with the Three Point Stance clothesline, but Bravo broke up the pin. The Bushwhackers came in and fought the brothers. However, Duggan smacked Raymond in the back with his 2x4 and Butch made the cover and scored the three count.

WINNERS - THE BUSHWHACKERS & HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN

The Rockers vs. The Brain Busters (Originally aired on the MSG Network on March 18th 1989)
Again, we immediately jump to this match with no explanation and again, we join things mid way through as Arn Anderson and Marty Jannetty are in a test of strength. Anderson won and catapulted Marty into Tully Blanchard's fist. Tully came in off the tag and stomped away, but Marty fought back. Jannetty looked for the tag, but Tully caught him and brought back to the heel corner. Arn came in and put on an Abdominal Stretch, which Tully helpfully assisted with.

Marty reversed a whip and went for a corner charge, but Arn avoided it, and Jannetty crashed and burned on the top rope before falling to the outside. Such a bump that we even saw a replay. HBK looks over his concerned friend, but Marty eventually got back in. However, he blocked a head ram, went up top and hit a flying crossbody. However, Tully made a tag in. Marty scored a sunset flip out the corner for 2, but Tully mauled Marty and tagged Arn back in again.

Marty countered a whip off the ropes and hit a facebuster. However, Marty ended up on the wrong side of the ring and couldn't make the tag. Arn tagged Tully before being suplexed by Marty. Marty was given an elbow to the head before Blanchard took a cheapshot at Shawn. This drew the ire of Michaels, who came in illegally, allowing Arn to come in and dump Jannetty out while the ref's back was turned. HBK again had to help his friend up and back into the ring. Marty whipped Tully into the corner, but the charge was blocked. However, Tully came off the top to a shot to the gut. Arn tagged in and got a shot to the numbers too. Marty was whipped to the Brian Busters corner, but slid beneath Arn's swing and dived for HBK and made the tag!

Michaels came in and took it to both former Horsemen. HBK rolled Tully up for 2, but Arn broke it up. HBK was dumped out as things broke down, although he tripped Arn up and took him with him. Marty nailed Tully with a superkick for a 2 count, even though Marty wasn't legal. HBK then climbed up and hit the splash off Marty's shoulders for the apparent win. However, Arn pulled out the ref out the ring, drawing the DQ.

WINNERS BY DQ - THE ROCKERS

Up next, our final match as Hogan takes on the Bossman in a cage.

Scheme Gene welcomed us back once again, and our main event, and on this night, the WWE fans would be treated to a Steel Cage match as The Big Bossman would take on Hulk Hogan. Hogan and Bossman wouldn't be strangers at this point due to Bossman's attack on Hogan on the Brother Love show. So to the match!

Hulk Hogan vs. The Big Bossman - Steel Cage match (Originally aired on the MSG Network on March 18th 1989)
Now, can someone call Goldust because I have a case of Shattered Dreams... Or at least "Shattered Memories", because I can never remember Bossman being as, shall we say, ROTOUND as this. Sure, he was never the most built of guys, but he looks like a whale who has made it into a wrestling ring here. I was a Bossman fan too at the time. I always played with Grant using him or Warrior.

Anyway, we join things, guess when... And Hogan works Bossman over in the corner and goes to leave, although he got cut off. Bossman scoop slammed Hogan and went to leave himself. However, he was joined on the top rope by Bossman. He rammed Bossman's head off the bar at the top of the cage, starting a cut on his head. Hogan dropped back down again to inflict more punishment, but had a whip reversed with Bossman then hitting a spinebuster. Bossman had the door opened, but it wasn't to leave, but for Slick to pass a rope of some description. We jumped to some point later in the match, as Bossman now had a chain in his hand, ready to use it like a pair of brass knucks on Hogan. However, Hogan blocked the shot. Bossman was able to rake the eyes, They traded attempts to ram the other into the cage, but it ended up with both them going into it. They both lay there as we took a break.

We come back to see Hogan looking to crawl out the door. However, Bossman grabbed the foot and stopped that nonsense. Hogan hit a couple of shots and then a vertical suplex on Bossman! Hogan got the chain and wrapped it around his fist, punching Bossman in the head, busting him open properly. Hogan then went back and forth, sending Bossman into the steel. Hogan hit a big leg drop before climbing up the cage. Slick downed the ref and got in the ring to cut Hogan off.

Hogan kicked Slick away as Bossman started climbing. However, Hogan crotched the cop. Hogan downed Slick with a handcuff shot before cuffing Bossman to the rope. Hogan climbed up and over. However, Bossman crawled over to the door, but couldn't leave thanks to the cuffs, allowing Hogan to drop down and win.

WINNER - HULK HOGAN

Hogan picked up the ring bell and smacked the newly-freed Big Bossman with it before climbing back in the ring to attack Slick some more. Slick tired to escape, but Hogan pulled him off the top rope and sent him into the cage, which allowed Slick to slip through the door before taking any more punishment.

As the heels left, Hogan celebrated before mimicking Randy Savage's "taunt" and intimating that he wanted the belt.

Gene said that Hogan and Bossman would have more memorable encounters before thanking us for watching.

OVERALL - HOLY COW! What a packed show! There were only 2 matches on that card that we didn't see. They were Paul Roma & Jim Powers defeating a pair of Conquistadors and Rockin' Robin pinning Judy Martin. Apart form those two, we got a taste of that entire show, albeit, as mentioned earlier in a different order. it was alright. Brawler & Rooster sucked, pretty much, and the Hercules/Bad News match wasn't great either, and the crowd was pretty quiet for Perfect/Garvin, but the rest was pretty good with a couple of classically run tag matches and the steel cage match. Good variety of stuff this week.