WWE Vintage Collection Report: 13th September 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
This week’s showcase is an Intercontinental Title tournament held between August-September 1996, along with bickering announcers hyping up the return of (the fake) Razor Ramon and Diesel.
Todd Pettengill opens the show (in serious voiceover mode) narrating the bad fortune of then Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson.
On the July 22nd 1996 edition of Raw Johnson suffered a ruptured kidney at the hands of the debuting Faarooq Asad (using a gladiator gimmick, complete with light blue helmet). Two weeks later, Johnson “defied medical advice” to win an 11 man Battle Royal for a WWF Title shot.
In truth, Johnson’s real life kidney injuries were discovered after all these editions of Raw had been taped, so voiceover commentary was added to the Battle Royal in post production. Johnson’s planned Intercontinental Title bout with Faarooq at SummerSlam was off.
Footage is shown of Johnson undergoing emergency surgery in Houston Texas. WWF President Gorilla Monsoon strips Johnson of the title and makes an eight man tournament.
Johnson says he will ignore what the Doctors say and do what the fans want him to do. He has a commitment to the fans and will do whatever it takes, however long it takes to get the job done. Johnson kind of reminds me of Ezekiel Jackson, but without the beard.
Okerlund introduces the brackets: Owen Hart vs British Bulldog: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs “Wildman” Marc Mero: Sycho Sid vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley: Savio Vega vs Faarooq. The commentary team consists of Jim Ross, Kevin Kelly, Jerry Lawler and other special guests during various matches. Most of the matches are joined in progress. Let’s begin.
September 6th 1996
“Wildman” Marc Mero w/Sable vs Stone Cold Steve Austin
This is a rematch from King of the Ring a few months prior. Brian Pillman is guest commentating, noting Austin’s challenge to Bret Hart, before teasing a Bret and Owen reunion. Pillman’s a bit ahead of himself though, although he hypes an upcoming interview with Bret who’s on sabbatical. Austin mocks Mero. The two go back and forth until Mero dropkicks Austin to the floor. Austin kicks Mero during a test of strength. Mero locks on a headscissors, turns a jackknife pin into a backslide, and nearly wins it with an inside cradle. Austin turns the tide by dropping Mero with a stun gun across the top rope. Pillman (who’s being unbiased) compares the similarities between Bret and Austin, as Austin misses a second rope elbow. Mero beats on Austin in the corner then rallies with a backbodydrop, top rope double axehandle and running kneelift. Austin throws Mero outside then pulls the referee in the path of a Mero battering ram. Austin is disqualified, but he doesn’t care as he gives Mero the stone cold stunner. Austin still hadn’t managed the smooth transition and positioning of arguably one of the most popular finishing moves at this point. The two brawl and have to be separated by officials. Mero advances, while Austin would turn on Pillman in the leadup to Bret’s return. Winner by DQ: “WILDMAN” MARC MERO.
August 19th 1996. Owen Hart is shown advancing over brother-in-law British Bulldog via countout. He faces Mero in the semi-finals.
September 6th 1996
Sycho Sid vs Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Sid tackles Helmsley, who retreats to the floor. Back inside, Sid plants Helmsley with a big boot, as a small “Sid” chant starts. Helmsley telegraphs a backbodydrop with a swinging neckbreaker. Helmsley tries to throttle Sid then drops a couple of knees. Sid presses Helmsley off of a cover and comes back with a one armed chokeslam and powerbomb for the 1-2-3. To make things worse for Helmsley, a suited and booted Mr Perfect comes out to charm then leave arm-in-arm with Helmsley’s valet Kimberley as Helmsley is having his ass handed to him. I enjoyed this match. Helmsley was still eating shit from the curtain call incident. Sid faces the winner of our next match. Winner: SYCHO SID.
September 9th 1996
Faarooq w/Sunny vs Savio Vega
Sunny lends extra leverage during a Faarooq chinlock. Faarooq misses a corner charge, so Savio goes after an arm. Faarooq pulls Savio headfirst into the bottom turnbuckle then pushes his head into the mat. Savio reverses a slam into an inside cradle for two. Faarooq slams, but misses a diving headbutt from the second rope and gets planted with a big boot. Faarooq delivers a big kick and clothesline. Savio escapes a chinlock with a jawbreaker. Faarooq halts Savio’s momentum by countering a backbodydrop with a headbutt to the back. Faarooq picks up the win following a standing inverted front powerslam (later dubbed the dominator). Winner: FAAROOQ.
The Final Four participants are hyped up by the commentary team and quick video packages. Owen Hart is the son of a champion and brother of a legend. Marc Mero is a virtuoso of aerial artistry and a superstar on the threshold of greatness. The title is his passage to glory. What goes on in Sid’s mind? Does he thirst for gold or is his appetite set on destruction? Whatever Sycho wants, Sycho gets. Finally, is Faarooq a militant warrior or a common thug without a conscience or a cause? Okerlund reveals, that for whoever wins, it would be their first Intercontinental Title.
September 16th 1996
Owen Hart vs “Wildman” Marc Mero w/Sable
Lawler reveals (1st Intercontinental Champion) Pat Patterson will referee the final. Patterson is commentating and defends himself against Lawler’s rumours of being friends with and favouring Faarooq. Patterson says he talks to everyone. Owen is sporting his patented “heel” cast. Mero delivers a couple of armdrags. Owen retaliates with a spinning heel kick and butterfly suplex. As Owen settles into a chinlock, Jim Ross argues on air with WWF President Gorilla Monsoon over the return of Razor Ramon and Diesel, with Ross not happy at being called a hoodwinker or misleading. Monsoon states nothing has come across his desk that would indicate Kevin Nash or Scott Hall returning to the WWF. Ross suggests everything that happens doesn't have to go across his desk. Monsoon returns us to the action with Owen still in control, using a dropkick, neckbreaker and top rope missile dropkick in between chinlocks. Mero delivers a back suplex, as Ross promises Diesel and Razor next week. Owen clubs Mero through the ropes with the cast. Ross rages there’s nothing wrong with Owen’s wrist. Owen crotches himself in the corner. Mero delivers an inverted atomic drop, backbodydrop, dropkick to the floor and a somersault plancha. Following a springboard crossbody by Mero for two, both collide in mid-ring. Owen removes the cast to smack Mero, but Mero kicks out and returns the favour to get the pin. 1-2-3. The referee misses both cast shots as he was positioned behind the victims both times. Mero stamps on the cast after the bell. This was a very good bout. Mero and Owen always worked well together. Winner: “WILDMAN” MARC MERO.
September 16th 1996
Sycho Sid vs Faarooq w/Sunny
Faarooq sends Sid front first into the corner then delivers a back suplex and legdrop across the back. Lawler jokes Ahmed Johnson may need a kidney transplant and his donor is going to be Jake the Snake. Faarooq goes after Sid’s kidneys as Ahmed cuts a pre-recorded promo on him. If Faarooq thinks what he did was courageous, great or special then all he did was light a forest fire and (Ahmed) will burn his ass up. Sid elbows out of a chinlock, Faarooq slams, but gets caught coming off the top rope with a powerslam. Simultaneous clotheslines put both men down. Faarooq applies a sleeper on the mat. Sid avoids a sitdown shot. Faarooq goes after the kidneys again with a headbutt from the second rope. Sid turns a dominator into a chokeslam. Sunny gets on the apron as Faarooq fetches a chair. Sid survives chair shots and returns the favour, laying into Faarooq and going berserk. The referee disqualifies Sid, so it’s Mero and Faarooq in the final. Sid’s been pretty entertaining in his two showings today. Winner by DQ: FAAROOQ.
September 23rd 1996
“Wildman” Marc Mero w/Sable vs Faarooq w/Sunny
Mr Perfect is guest commentating. He reveals Mero is the only one who’s took his advice on what it takes to be an Intercontinental Champion. Faarooq jumps Mero as soon as he enters. Mero lands a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Faarooq takes control with an enziguiri. It’s announced that Sunny is no longer with the Smoking Gunns who lost their Tag Titles the previous night. Faarooq is Sunny’s last meal ticket for gold. Mero avoids a charge, clotheslines Faarooq to the floor and connects with a somersault plancha. Back inside, a Mero-sault from the top rope gets the Wildman a nearfall. Faarooq tosses Mero to the floor, then tackles him off the apron into the guardrail. After commercials, Patterson has ejected Sunny. Faarooq panders to the guy in the front row holding a sign saying “We Love Rest Holds” by giving him just that. Mero comes back with a flying clothesline. Jim Ross claims Razor and Diesel are in the building. Mero crotches Faarooq up top to deliver a top rope hurracanrana. Both men clothesline the other. Sunny comes back down, placing her purse on the apron. Her and Sable exchange slaps. Lawler screams “catfight” but he isn’t a patch on Joey Styles and his “caaaaaattfiiiiite,” shriek. The referee goes out to deal with the girls. Mero wrestles the purse from Faarooq, knocks him out with it and connects with the Wild Thing (a top rope shooting star press) to hand Faarooq his first defeat and bag the Intercontinental Title. Sunny hastily hides the brick from her purse under the ring after the match. Winner: “WILDMAN” MARC MERO. Mero celebrates with Perfect and Sable in the ring. A post match interview with Jim Ross is cut out. Perfect would end up turning on Mero in a matter of weeks and costing him the title against Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Perfect would then leave Helmsley high and dry by defecting to WCW.
This was Mero’s finest hour, not only in the WWF, but in wrestling. Unfortunately for the former Johnny B Badd, a knee injury in early 1997 together with bad gimmicks and Sable’s popularity hampered the rest of his career. He certainly didn’t warrant the Triple H put down on Raw two weeks ago. That’s certainly the pot calling the kettle black when you consider the Helmsley character was an aristocratic blueblood snob, doing silly bows and rolling in hog slop with Henry Godwinn. On the subject of Sable, I much preferred her 1996 look to her attitude era look. Faarooq would drop the Asad name and Gladiator gimmick shortly after this to form the Nation of Domination and resume his feud with Ahmed Johnson, when Ahmed returned in 1997. As for (fake) Razor Ramon and Diesel, well that gimmick totally bombed and the crowd crapped all over Rick Bogner (Razor) and Glen Jacobs (Diesel). As we all know though, Jacobs has had the last laugh by getting so much mileage out of the Kane gimmick. Good for him.
This was a really enjoyable show with a strong showing from several midcarders as they tried to snatch the ratings away from WCW.
Okerlund promises to uncover more treasures hidden deep within the WWE vault next week.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.
