WWF Coliseum Video Collection: Rampage ’91 (1991) (Version II)

 

WWF Coliseum Video Collection: Rampage ’91 (1991)

Coliseum Video compilation. The front cover features Ricky Steamboat blowing fire and promises an ‘outrageous wrestling extravaganza,’ while the back features Kerry Von Erich ‘roid raging and promises to take us home with Paul Bearer

Sean Mooney hosts from a country club, where Gene Okerlund and Bobby Heenan are playing a round of golf. Gene in a polo is a bad look for him. His suit jackets really did a great job of hiding that gut, wow

WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Mr. Perfect v Davey Boy Smith: TV taping dark match from Fresno California on June 18 1991, and is apparently a fan favorite match. Bulldog powers him around at the bell, so Perfect wisely bails to the outside to regroup. He gets some words of wisdom from Coach out there, and manages to grab a side-headlock on the way back in, but Davey quickly powers out, and sends the champion flying with a shoulderblock. Perfect is such a, ahem, perfect opponent for a guy like Bulldog, though it would be even more fun with the heel/face dynamics reversed. Smith calls for a test-of-strength, but Perfect is understandably hesitant, and we get some mileage out of that for a bit. They finally lock up, and Perfect goes right into extreme oversell mode, and it's pretty glorious. Bulldog with a crucifix for two, but Perfect counters to a backdrop with a sunset flip for two - complete with pulling Davey's tights down for leverage, prompting a mom in the front row to quickly cover her child's eyes, in a funny moment. Pinfall reversal sequence ends in a rope break, so Perfect tries bailing again, but Bulldog holds the hair to keep him inside, so Perfect punches him in the puppies to shake him off. Turnbuckle smash, but Davey reverses, and unloads a series of them. Perfect shakes him off by going downstairs again with a mulekick, and this time he's able to follow up, punting Bulldog in the ribs a few times to set up a Boston crab. Bulldog powers out of the hold, so Perfect knocks him to the outside with a standing dropkick, and Coach puts the boots to him out there. He does a terrible job of it, too. That draws Bret Hart out to make the save (complete with his decidedly not-great early singles run gear), but the damage is done, and Perfect hits Bulldog with a somersault necksnap for two. Perfect overselling even kickouts is awesome. Perfect with chops and a sleeper, but Smith powers out, so Perfect tries a whip into the ropes, only to get reversed. That allows Davey to drop him crotch-first across the top rope, and he starts making a comeback, but the referee gets bumped in the process. Say what you will about Earl Hebner's officiating, but the dude knew how to take a bump right. The collision allows the champ to set up the Perfectplex, but Smith counters with a small package. That draws Coach in to attack, but Bret cuts him off, and counts the pin for Bulldog himself. That's meaningless of course, leading to Perfect brawling with Hart, until the referee recovers, sees them, and disqualifies Bulldog over it at 9:35. A really basic - but fun - match. It's a shame we never got a proper match between the two where they put it into high gear. * ½ (Original rating: 1/2*)

Out on the golf course, Gene is trying to tee off, but Bobby won't stop blocking and/or distracting him, as Mooney gives us the address to send in our fan favorite requests

Kerry Von Erich v Warlord: From an MSG house show, New York City on April 22 1991. Funny bit during the introductions, as the announcers detail all the differences between these two (this one's smarter, this one's faster), and apparently Kerry's big advantage is that he's smarter than Warlord. That, um, might be a problem. Lots of measuring to start, leading to a test-of-strength, dominated by Warlord. See, they told us he was the stronger man! Of course, if Kerry truly was smarter he wouldn't have agreed to it to begin with. Von Erich escapes and hits the Discus Punch early, but he didn't set it up with the claw, so Warlord is able to quickly recover with a bearhug. Kerry escapes, so Warlord knocks him to the outside with an axehandle, and he follows to send him into the steps out there. If you've ever wondered what Steve Austin would have looked like if his WWF run came along ten years earlier, look no further than Warlord. Warlord tries for the countout, so Kerry comes back with a slingshot sunset flip, but Warlord blocks. He pounds Kerry into the corner, but Von Erich returns fire, only to have a bodyslam attempt toppled for two. Warlord with a backbreaker, but a kneedrop misses, and Tornado finally starts making the comeback for real. Discus Punch gets two, so Kerry tries a sleeper, but Warlord falls into the ropes, and both guys spill over the top for a double countout at 9:05. Dull stuff. ¼* (Original rating: DUD)

Animal v Paul Roma: From Prime Time Wrestling on June 24 1991 (taped June 3) at MSG. Roma as Hercules with him, and a distraction allows Paul to attack at the bell. He pounds Animal for a bit, but a criss cross ends in Animal hitting an atomic drop, followed by a clothesline. Headbutt drop to the groin follows, and Animal tries a ten-punch count, but Paul manages to dump him over the top to get out of it. Hercules is ready and waiting with a clothesline out there, and Paul quickly follows to ram Animal into the apron. Back in, Roma hits a dropkick, followed by an impressive three-alarm no-release backbreaker. Flying axehandle follows, but Animal starts no-selling, and drops Roma with a side suplex. Paul cuts him off with a piledriver, and lucky for him it's Animal and not Hawk, so it gets an actual two count. But then Animal just pops up right after, and starts running wild. The referee gets bumped in the process, but Animal stays focused with a standing dropkick, and a jumping shoulderblock. Cover, but there's no referee, so Hercules comes in to attack. He and Roma work Animal over, but end up colliding, and Animal finishes Paul with a powerslam at 4:58. This actually wasn't bad. ¾* (Original rating: ¼*)

Out on the links, Okerlund tries to give Bobby some pointers, leading to jinks of the hi variety

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Mountie and The Nasty Boys v Big Boss Man and The Rockers: Also from Fresno, June 18 1991. I hope Shawn Michaels never wore that backwards neon cap out on any playgrounds, because he'd get it worse than in Syracuse. He starts with Mountie, but Boss Man wants in, leading to Mountie bailing, of course. Dust settles on Jerry Sags in with Boss Man, and Boss Man wrecks him in the corner. Front-powerslam sets up a splash, but Sags lifts the knees to block, and then passes to Mountie to get his licks in. Unfortunately for him, Boss Man catches him in a spinebuster during a criss cross, drawing the Boys in, but the Rockers cut them off with stereo superkicks to clean house. Dust settles on Brian Knobbs in with Boss Man, and Boss Man puts him down with an enzuigiri before tagging out to Marty Jannetty. Marty with a 2^nd rope bulldog, followed by a sunset cradle for two. Tag to Shawn for a superkick, and a hangman's clothesline follows for two. Tag to Boss Man for a big boot, but he runs into a cheap shot from Sags, and the tide is turned. I just realized Boss Man and Mountie basically wear the exact same pants. Different sizes though, I'm sure. The heels go to work on Boss Man, but he fights Mountie off long enough for the hot tag to Shawn, and Roseanne Barr the door! The babyfaces whip all of the heels into each other, so Jimmy Hart tries tossing Knobbs the motorcycle helmet, but Michaels intercepts it, and knocks Brian cold. Cover, but Mountie zaps Shawn with the shock stick to break, so Boss Man saves. That allows Marty to cover the still downed Knobbs, and that's the pin at 8:48. This was nothing special, but surprisingly peppy. ¾* (Original rating: ¾*)

Ricky Steamboat v Smash: From Prime Time on June 24 1991 (taped June 3) at MSG. Boy, they're really swinging for the fences with this match selection, aren't they? Smash looks like shit here - looking pudgy, and not even bothering to properly apply his face paint. Didn't take long for him to start letting himself go, did it? Feeling out process to start, and Steamboat takes a nice bump out of the ring after escaping a headvice, with Smash following him out for a trip into the ring post, then adding a bodyslam on the floor. Smash uses the top rope to bring Dragon back in hardway with a slingshot, and a backbreaker is worth two. Back to the headvice, but Ricky escapes, so Smash throws a series of clotheslines, and grabs a sleeper. Steamboat actually lets the arm drop three times here, leaving the poor announcers to make excuses for him and the referee. Steamboat escapes and blocks a backdrop as he mounts his comeback, sending Smash to the outside with a standing dropkick then diving out after him with a 2^nd rope flying bodypress! Smash manages to nail him on the way back in to setup a hanging vertical suplex for two, but he misses a cross corner charge, and Ricky hits a flying bodypress to put him away at 10:14. * ¼ (Original rating: *)

Jake Roberts v Barbarian: From Prime Time May 28 1991 (taped May 7) in Green Bay Wisconsin. Getting on the last days of Bobby Heenan's full time managerial career here. Jake suckers him into a jab, and he grabs an armbar, but Barbarian just looks at him incredulously, and easily escapes. Jake dodges a charge to allow him to get the armbar back on, and this time actually manages to hold is for a minute before Barbarian kicks the shit out of him. Well, progress. Barbarian tries a backdrop, but Jake counters with a kneelift, only to have Barbarian bail before he can deliver the DDT. Barbarian stalls out there, so Jake follows to send him into the post, and he hits a short-clothesline on the way back inside. DDT, but Barbarian backdrops him to block, and hits a cross corner whip. He chokes Roberts down, and uses a backbreaker for two, then takes a battered Jake into the corner for chops. Charge, but Roberts manages to lift his boot to block, but Barbarian blocks another DDT attempt. Big boot leaves Roberts tied up in the ropes, but Barbarian wastes time, and Jake drops him with the DDT. That draws Earthquake out, but Jake spots him and grabs Damien to chase him away, getting counted out in the process at 6:56. Not much doing here. DUD (Original rating: DUD)

Back at the golf course, Heenan is drinking, littering, and cheating... and I think has his pants on inside-out, to boot. Give them credit, this is all super silly, but they're so talented that they can get it over. Can you even imagine how bad this would be with modern talent?

Greg Valentine v Haku: From UK Rampage, April 24 1991 in London England. And why isn't that full show on the Network? Unless it is, and I just can't find it, which is possible, considering how poor their layout is. The original form was actually much better. Haku tries to power him around, but Greg is able to use wrestling know-how to put the brakes on. Greg works a headlock, but Haku wants to criss cross, so Valentine gives him an atomic drop, and sends him to the outside with an elbowsmash. Back in, they throw shots at each other, and Haku gets the better of him by blocking a charge in the corner. That allows Haku a two-alarm backbreaker for two, as the announcers discuss the difference between working barefoot or with boots. Not saying anything major there, but I dig how they treat it like a real sport. Haku works a reverse chinlock, but Greg gets all fired up, so Haku uses a side suplex for two to cut off the comeback. Turnbuckle smashes, but Greg reverses, and Haku actually sells it! Greg makes a comeback, but misses an elbowdrop, and Haku unloads chops. That just fires Greg up MORE, however, and he chops Haku down for a headbutt drop to the groin. Figure Four, but Haku goes to the eyes to block, but Greg stays on him with a bodyslam to set up an elbowdrop. Back to the Figure Four, but Haku blocks again. He tries a backdrop, but Greg is ready with a sunset flip at 8:38. Watching Greg Valentine make babyface comebacks is just too weird for me. ½* (Original rating: ¾*)

Power & Glory v The Orient Express: From Prime Time, June 10 1991 (taped May 28) in Tucson Arizona. Hercules starts with Kato, and Kato manages to get him into the corner for chops, but he can't cross corner whip the big Herc, and gets pounded. Hercules with a backelbow to set up an elbowdrop, but Kato dodges, and passes to Tanaka to hammer away with chops. He actually does manages a corner whip, but it backfires when Hercules rebounds out with a press-slam for two. That brings Paul Roma in (sans tag) for a double team, but a criss cross ends in Tanaka planting a superkick on him. It's kind of weird how guys would just casually do that as a nothing move before around 1995, when it suddenly became a murderdeathkill finisher. Roma manages to work Tanaka over, but some well-timed cheating from Kato puts a stop to that, and Kato puts Paul in a chinlock. Paul fights free, so Mr. Fuji trips him up as he runs the ropes, and the Express double team. Roma dodges another double team, but Hercules doesn't even bother waiting for a tag, and just comes in to attack. He kicks the shit out of Tanaka before the referee sends him back to the apron, and Paul hits Kato with a dropkick for two. P&G with their own double team, but Kato manages a sunset flip for two, saved by Roma. Slick pulls down the top rope to send Kato crashing over the top, which draws Fuji over to get in his face, leading to both teams brawling for a double countout at 7:47. The heel/heel dynamic of this one was actually fun, with neither team really playing babyface, and lots of cheating. * (Original rating: ¼*)

Out on the course, Heenan steals balls from players outside of their group. Well, those can get expensive

And now, At Home with Paul Bearer! As promised! So, basically Paul's a weird guy, and has random dead bodies stashed around the house, like in closets and stuff. You know, as one does. Not to mention bottles filled with blood, complete with labels saying whose blood. And he drinks it, on screen. Um, he's not a vampire, guys. That's just lazy writing. What is this, 2020? This should probably have led to an inquiry from local law enforcement, at the very least

Ultimate Warrior v Undertaker: From a live event in Toronto Ontario Canada on June 2 1991. I can't find any attendance figures for this show, but the building looks empty here. Warrior charges in to kick start this thing, running wild with right hands. Cross corner whip is followed by a corner clothesline, but Undertaker dodges a second one, so Warrior just clotheslines him over the top instead. He tries pulling Undertaker back in, but Undertaker drops his weight, snapping Warrior's throat across the top rope to block. Undertaker works a choke for a really long time, until Warrior finally starts making a comeback, but Undertaker quickly cuts him off. He hits a jumping clothesline, which I initially thought Warrior was no-selling, but no, that's actually just how he sells. Undertaker tries an elbowdrop, but Warrior kinda moves, and it misses. I think. Doesn't matter, Undertaker no-sells the miss anyway. So Undertaker keeps pounding, but now Warrior really is no-selling, and he hits a bodyslam. Series of clotheslines follow, but Undertaker fights him off, and hits the Tombstone for two. Good thing they never booked 'Taker against Warrior at a WrestleMania, the streak would have never been a thing. Warrior keeps making his comeback, so Undertaker just grabs the urn and hits him with it for the DQ at 7:46. Hot start, but the extended choke in the middle really killed the thing, and the finish was shit, too. –¼* (Original rating: -*)

Out on the course, it turns out that Bobby never paid for the game, and gets chased out by the ranger (along with Okerlund). Hey, if there’s one thing white people won’t mess with, it’s the golf club ranger

BUExperience: What, no Hulk Hogan? I enjoyed the Perfect/Bulldog match, as well as some of the fun with Okerlund and Heenan, but this is basically just a bunch of random unimportant matches (even by Coliseum Video standards), and not worth your time.

Not a good addition to your Coliseum Collection.