WWE Vintage Collection Report: 28th March 2010
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund

Welcome aboard. We conclude this year’s WrestleMania rewind with action from shows 17, 18 and 19.

An awesome video package building up Rock vs Stone Cold III at WrestleMania 19 opens the show with Limp Bizkit’s “Crack Addict” playing in the background. Austin had just returned from a seven month hiatus after “taking his ball and going home” according to the Rock, who added he’s done it all except “whoop that bald candy ass at WrestleMania.” (Austin holds previous WrestleMania victories over the Great One from 1999 and 2001).

WrestleMania 17: April 1st 2001 – Houston, Texas
19 Man Gimmick Battle Royal
This was a match to bring together old gimmicks both good and bad. With WCW recently deceased, Gene Okerlund makes his return to call the match with Bobby Heenan. Beforehand, in-studio, Okerlund sheds some light on his WCW tenure by saying “I lost my head for a period of 7/8 years and gone astray but I did return.” The final minute of the match airs with eight men still remaining. Eliminations happen fast and quick. Kamala dumps out Doink the Clown which the crowd don’t like. One Man Gang ousts Freebird Michael Hayes, before being tossed by Kamala. Sgt Slaughter shoves Kamala out then slams Jim Cornette out. Hillbilly Jim dumps Slaughter from behind and the immobile Iron Sheik pushes Hillbilly out to win. The entire match only went three minutes. Winner: THE IRON SHEIK. After the match Slaughter re-enters to apply the cobra clutch to Sheik. Other participants included Earthquake, Tugboat, Repo Man, Kimchee, the Goon, the Bushwhackers, Nikolai Volkoff, the Gobbledy Gooker, Brother Love and Duke Droese.

WrestleMania 18: March 17th 2002 – Toronto, Canada
European Title: Diamond Dallas Page vs Christian
Announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. Page had been helping Christian control his temper tantrums and get over a losing streak. Under Page’s tutelage Christian won a match, turned on Page, so Page beat him for the title. Christian was looking to regain the European title in his own hometown. Ross brings up Page driving Honky Tonk Man to the ring twelve years ago at WrestleMania 6 in the same arena. Christian jumps DDP as soon as he enters. DDP retaliates and both take a spill outside. DDP mounts in the corner so Christian delivers a low blow and drops the champion face first onto the top turnbuckle. Christian suplexes DDP onto the top rope, then tackles him to the floor. DDP tries to crotch Christian on the ringpost, but Christian uses his feet to pull DDP face first into the steel.

After commercials, Christian remains in control with an abdominal stretch and backbreaker, but gets caught going high risk. DDP throws Christian to the mat before launching into a discus clothesline and sitdown powerbomb. Christian counters a back suplex, DDP blocks an unprettier, and Christian avoids the Diamond cutter. Christian reverses a second cutter attempt by holding onto the corner and planting DDP with a reverse DDT. 1-2-no. Christian manages to calm himself and keep his composure. DDP catches Christian unawares with an inside cradle, Christian escapes, DDP ducks a clothesline, hits the Diamond cutter at the third attempt and covers for the 1-2-3. Winner: DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE. Good match and chemistry on display from both. A post match DDP promo and subsequent Christian temper tantrum has been edited off.

Clips air from the Hardcore title match at WrestleMania 18. Originally contested by Maven and Goldust, Spike Dudley takes advantage of the 24/7 rule to run in and pin Maven. Spike then runs from Crash Holly. The Hurricane swings in on a rope backstage to pin Spike, before Hurri-sidekick Mighty Molly double crosses her ally to take the title after a frying pan shot to the head. As Molly runs backstage, a door is thrown into her face to knock her out. Christian emerges from behind it and he takes the title. As Christian celebrates in the parking lot, Maven strikes while he’s loading the boot of his car, rolling Christian up from behind to take the title back. Maven then steals Christian’s ride while taunting him from the window. This was very entertaining.

WrestleMania 18: March 17th 2002 – Toronto, Canada
Edge vs Booker T
For lack of a better angle, these two were thrown together at the last minute to feud over the rights to a Japanese Shampoo commercial. Ross and Lawler put over hometown boy Edge going from watching WrestleMania 6 in the sixth row to wrestling on the grandest stage of them all. This match is joined in progress with Booker in control until Edge shakes the ropes to crotch Booker on the top rope. Edge scores with a hurracanrana, spinning heel kick and a couple of clotheslines. Booker knees the gut, misses a scissor kick, allowing Edge to hit the Edge-o-matic (a reverse sit dowm slam) followed by a top rope spin kick. Booker tries a sunset flip out of the corner, but Edge counters with a slingshot. Booker leapfrogs Edge to avoid a spear and Edge hits the corner. Booker lands a crescent kick, spinaroonie and scissors kick. Edge elbows out of a Bookend attempt, before nailing the spear. 1-2-no. Edge pulls off a rubbish Edgearoonie, avoids some kicks, then delivers the Edgeocution (implant DDT) for the 1-2-3. Edge goes 3-0 up with his first singles win at a WrestleMania as “You Think You Know Me” is played instead of Rob Zombie’s “Never Gonna Stop” (the theme Edge was using at the time). This was another good crisp match. Winner: EDGE.

Highlights air of last year’s fabulous Undertaker/Shawn Michaels showpiece. After many counters, nearfalls and kicking out of each other’s finishers, the Deadman pins HBK after turning a moonsault into a tombstone piledriver to go 17-0.

WrestleMania 19: March 30th 2003 – Seattle, Washington
The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are the announcers for today’s Main Event and Austin’s unofficial last match. Rock is already in the ring as Austin makes his entrance. Rock cuts Austin off before he can finish playing to the crowd in all four corners. After standing nose to nose, Austin wins a punch fest, gives referee Earl Hebner the finger and Rock quickly bolts outside to prevent an early stunner. Rock starts to head to the back, so, Austin goes out after him to take the fight to the Great One on the floor. Austin sends Rock into the guardrail, Smackdown announce table and ringsteps.

After a commercial break, Hebner breaks up an Austin choke in the ropes. Rock takes advantage to chopblock a distracted Austin. Austin goes outside to recover, so Rock chopblocks him again and works over the leg on the announce table, ring apron and steel ringpost. Rock applies the Sharpshooter prompting Ross to bring up Austin being in the same position at WrestleMania 13 against Bret Hart. Austin reaches the ropes to force a break. Rock decides to mock Austin and his mannerisms by putting on Austin’s black leather ring vest. Austin clotheslines Rock to put both down as we head into our final commercial break.

Both men go role reversal as Austin uses a Rock bottom, while Rock catches Austin with a stunner. Rock flips Austin the bird and Austin finally hits the stunner to a big pop as Rock bounces all over the ring. Austin goes to retrieve his vest, so Rock gives him a low blow. Rock misses a people’s elbow, before countering a stunner attempt into a spinebuster. Rock loses the vest and connects with the people’s elbow at the second time of asking. Ripe for the pickings, and clutching his side, Austin survives two Rock bottoms before a third puts him away. 1-2-3. Rock breaks his Austin WrestleMania jinx, does his celebrating schtick then leaves, before we see Austin leave the ring to his music and on his own power. Ross puts Austin over as the fans soak up the end of the Austin era. Winner: THE ROCK. This was a very good match and a fitting culmination to one of the Attitude era’s most profitable and predominant feuds.

Okerlund wraps things up to end the show. See you next week for another random assortment of Vintageness. Shaun.

Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to shaunmb1@hotmail.com.