-I guess this would technically be part of my From The Vault series as this full show was uploaded on the WWE Vault YouTube channel. Since it’s an entire show, I’ll just call it a Retro Review. I’ve been wanting something to review on Sunday night to fill the void from losing the A&E Block. I was curious about this one and the other option was a Hogan era WWE show from Paris that ran just under an hour. This episode wins out because it has what happened after Randy Savage and Elizabeth got married. Let’s get to it!
-Announce Team: Vince McMahon and Roddy Piper
-Rochester, NY
-Run Time: 41:35
-Show opening set to country rock.
-Vince welcomes us to the show and notes Savage is still missing. Piper loses his mind and goes on a rant about what Jake Roberts, Undertaker, and Paul Bearer did at the reception. He credits Sid Justice for being the only one to stand up to Jake and The Undertaker.
-Vince runs down the show and promises we will get footage from the wedding reception.
“The Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich vs. Bubba Monroe
-Didn’t notice it as a kid, but boy can you tell the commentary is added later. I am already in nostalgia heaven as I grew up with big name Superstar against scrawny jobber. Kerry gets an insert promo and threatens Sgt. Slaughter for turning his back on his country. It takes 90 seconds until we finally get a lock up. Bubba lands a few shots and that was the high point for him. Piper is having fun making fun on Bubba. Discus Punch finishes at 2:22.
Winner: Kerry Von Erich via pin at 2:22
-I mean it was literally a lock-up a couple of punches and then the finisher. DUD
-We go to the Wedding Reception and Savage telling Bobby Heenan he feels sorry for him and wants someone to show him the exit is great. We see the toast made by Mean Gene and then the first dance between Randy and Elizabeth. Vince’s narration is tremendous as it is full of cheese. I am smiling so much watching all of this. We see the cake being cut as Vince notes “Randy cutting the cake in his own way.” More kissing! Liz throws the bouquet and then we get to gifts. That’s when it happens or as Vince tells us: “DISASTER STRUCK.” A cobra pops out and Taker comes out of nowhere and blasts Savage with the urn. Here’s Jake and he terrorizes Liz with the snake. Sid shows up with a chair and gets Taker and Jake to retreat. All of this is just awesome and Jake was the evilest wrestler in the world and would only top himself numerous times during the Savage feud.
Skinner vs. Scott Summers
-With that name it’s hard to resist making any one-eyed jokes. Skinner backs him into the corner and laughs at our hero. Summers hits the ropes but Skinner avoids and buries a knee to the gut. He ties Summers in the ropes and lands a kick to the back to send him to the floor. Insert promo as Skinner says he is going to skin his way up and he wants The Dragon. So two matches and two programs set up. Efficient! Scorpion Death Drop finishes at 2:10.
Winner: Skinner via pin at 2:10
-Better than the opener as they at least did some work. SQUASH
-Sean Mooney is in the control center and throws to a British Bulldog interview. He hates bullies and wants a part of The Bully. I always liked the themed backdrops for the interviews.
-Nasty Boys next as they call out The Rockers, Bushwhackers and LOD. Knobbs calls out Jack Tunney for being in the bag for LOD as they saw him wearing spiked shoulder pads. Politics man!
Virgil vs. Chris Duffy
-Both men already in the ring as the bell sounds. I didn’t catch the jobber’s name, but Vince just keeps calling him Duffy. He attacks Virgil before the bell, but it doesn’t last. Clothesline sends Duffy to the floor and he dives over the top which was crazy for 1991 WWF TV. Vince informs us the jobber’s first name is Duffy. I should mention Virgil is the Million Dollar Champion and his feud with Dibiase is in it’s 9th month. Million Dollar Dream finishes at 2:18.
Winner: Virgil via submission at 2:18
-This was better than the first two and the dive to the floor is worth a star. *
-Mean Gene is in the control center with an update and takes us back to Bobby Heenan being a guest on The Funeral Parlor. Heenan is carrying around The Big Gold Belt, which was heavy stuff for 1991. Heenan is out to talk about The Real World’s Champion, Ric Flair and he calls out Hogan and Piper. Hogan is not there, but Piper is on commentary and he heads down to confront Heenan. He proclaims Hogan the real Champion and tells Heenan, “I scare Flair.” Piper gives the Big Gold Belt a spit shine and I am sure that angered quite a few people down South. Piper spits on Heenan as well. Good stuff!
Kerry Davis vs. The Berzerker (w/ Mr. Fuji)
-I don’t think this will top the last match. Big Boot from Berzerker and he makes sure to get praise from Fuji. World’s Strongest Slam. Cool! Berzerker off the middle ropes with a splash. He ties Davis in the ropes and hits a running boot. Another one! A third one! And a fourth! Berzerker throws Davis over the top to the floor and gets the count-out win at 2:25.
Winner: The Berzerker via count-out at 2:25
-Effective SQUASH. I popped for The World’s Strongest Slam. SQUASH
-Back to Mooney in the control center and he throws to a Rockers promo. Shawn says the state of mind of the Rockers will never change. The drugs they did would beg to differ.
-Big Bully Busick promo and the poor guy doesn’t even get a personalized backdrop. Harvey Wippleman does all the talking. Weird hearing WWF and Superstars bleeped out during this show.
The Bushwhackers vs. Dwayne Gill and Barry Hardy
-GILLBERG! The crowd really likes The Bushwhackers and I hope they made all the money working comedy matches around the horn. Insert promo from The Beverly Brothers and yeah, they would end up having a Tag Match at The Royal Rumble. The Bushwhackers put a hat on the ref and then play to the crowd. Hardy gets a side headlock and brings in Gill. He accidentally clotheslines Hardy to the floor. Butch goes to the eyes and a right hand sends Gill over the top and to the floor. Hardy and Gill get their heads run into each other. Back in the ring double clothesline from The Whackers. Luke avoids a charge in the corner and Gill gets caught on the ropes. Butch in and he punts away. Tag back to Luke and Battering Ram and Double Gutbuster finishes at 3:45.
Winners: The Bushwhackers via pin at 3:45
-Parade of squashes continue, but this one kind of dragged compared to the others. SQUASH
-Vince plugs the WWF Magazine. Randy and Liz on the cover and I know I had that one. Not sure if I still have it in storage though.
-The Funeral Parlor: Paul Bearer welcomes IRS to The Parlor this week. They obviously talk about Death and Taxes. IRS calls out Boss Man for being a tax cheat as we have another program accounted for on this show. IRS accuses Boss Man of being a hick cop on the take. Not the most memorable Funeral Parlor.
-Back to SummerSlam as we see the ending of Perfect/Bret. Great match! That crowd was fantastic and added to the show. Bret catches dropping a leg and counters into The Sharpshooter for the win and his first Intercontinental Championship.
Mark Thomas vs. The Warlord (w/ Slick)
-If this was a PPV it would be Warlord vs. Bulldog. Piper notes he doesn’t know what it feels like to win The IC Championship as he never had that opportunity. Patience Roddy! Warlord with a shoulder tackle and a gut-wrench powerbomb. Insert promo as Warlord wants Bret’s IC Title. Warlord continues to beat Thomas down. Slowly! Delayed vertical suplex. Clothesline rips the head off Thomas and Full Nelson finishes at 2:44.
Winner: The Warlord via pin at 2:44
-Another SQUASH though not as fun as the previous ones. SQUASH
-Last time to Mooney in the control center. He throws to a Greg Valentine promo. He is the master of the figure-four and has an open contract for anyone to face him. Babyface Hammer was kind of weird.
-Ted Dibiase and Sherri get a promo next and they rage against Jack Tunney. Ted notes he has more money than Tunney. He doesn’t care about a million dollars, but wants the Million Dollar Title back.
-Next week: The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan speaks, IRS, The Anvil, and The Natural Disasters in action. Update on Randy and Liz plus comments from Jake Roberts and Sid Justice.
Read more on 411mania’s Comment Policy
