From The Vault Review: WWE Vault’s Least Watched Videos

WWE Vault has been a revelation since debuting earlier this year, scoring casual fans with Roman Reigns matches and the hardcore fans with dark matches, tryout matches and events we’ve never seen before.

Everything isn’t a hit though. Sometimes it is the YouTube algorithm, which works in mysterious ways. Sometimes it just isn’t what the viewers want.

Today I’m reviewing the ten least watched videos on WWE Vault. One of these I’ve already reviewed, so I’ll copy and paste that one in.

One prerequisite: it has to have been on the service for 24 hours. It wouldn’t be fair to drop the Austin/Kane match that was posted to the service this morning. The two videos they posted yesterday already have more views than anything on this top ten list, and Austin/Kane probably will too.

These are also regular videos, not Shorts – though all but thirteen of those also have more views than these.

Pro Football Hall of Famers COLLIDE in WCW!

10,777 views – uploaded July 27, 2024

We go back to Great American Bash 1997 for the least watched WWE Vault video ever, Kevin Greene vs Steve McMichael. What did Mongo ever do to you people? To be fair, the video title is not great for drawing anybody in. Mention names! Mention NFL! Mention anything specific besides “WCW”!

We start with Greene running into the ring and attacking Mongo, hitting him with forearms on the mat. Greene hits a clothesline out of the three-point stance and more forearms. We clip ahead to Mongo pulling Greene out of the ring, rubbing his face into the outside mat. Mongo hits Greene’s head on the guardrail in front of Greene’s mom, who nails Mongo with her purse. Greene slings Mongo into the ring steps. We clip ahead back into the ring with Mongo and Kevin trading blows in the corner. Kevin rebounds up top and hits the ten fists in the corner before Mongo drops him with a knee. Two count but no.

Clip again and Greene is up top, hitting Mongo with a flying forearm and a two count. Greene clotheslines Mongo over the top to the floor and jumps over, stomping him. Greene bodyslams Mongo onto the mat and we clip ahead into the ring again with Greene putting the boots to Mongo. He whips Mongo into the corner, with Mongo being as loud as humanly possible. Greene goes for a three-point stand again but Mongo moves, Greene hitting the turnbuckle. Mongo chokes in the corner as Debra gets on the ring apron.

With the referee distracted, Mongo chokes Greene in the corner. Jeff Jarrett jumps on the apron and goes to smash Greene with a briefcase, but Greene pulls Mongo in to take the smash instead. It’s an easy three count for Greene there.

Maybe they blessed us with cutting four minutes out of the match here. It was…fine. **

FULL MATCH: Blitzkrieg vs Juventud Guerrera: WCW Spring Stampede 1999

13,534 views – uploaded September 27, 2024

This was the opener for Spring Stampede, warming the crowd up for the big Bam Bam Bigelow vs Hardcore Hak match that followed. This was to determine a number-one contender for the Cruiserweight Title, though this being WCW that would not matter when the title match happened and both men were in it on Nitro.

The men shake hands, locking up. Juventud reverses a hammerlock, Blitzkrieg flipping out. Juventud goes for an early pin but only gets two. Blitzkrieg locks on an ankle lock, Juventud flipping into another two count. Blitzkrieg gets in a side headlock, Juventud fights out and the flipping begins. Blitzkrieg flips Juvy into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a one count. Blitzkrieg and Juvy trade chops against the ropes, Blitzkrieg hitting a handspring into an elbow in the corner.

Juvy flips out of the ring and smashes Blitzkrieg’s head into the turnbuckle, going for a springboard missile dropkick. Blitzkrieg rolls out and threatens to walk off, but Juvy hits a suicide dive to the outside. Juvy rolls Blitzkrieg back in, hitting a brainbuster for a two. Juvy puts on the surfboard, but Blitzkrieg escapes and falls on Juvy for a two. Blitzkrieg with a jumping back kick and chops in the corner, hitting several dropkicks in the reverse corner.

With Juvy outside, Blitzkrieg hits the top rope but Juvy runs. Blitzkrieg goes to another corner and jumps, but Juvy hits him with a dropkick. Juvy rolls Blitzkrieg back in but finds his own way back out. Blitzkrieg springboards from the top into a moonsault onto Juvy, rolling him back in. Blitzkrieg reverses a Juvy Driver into a move, which Juvy reverses back for a two count. Juventud puts Blitzkrieg on the top rope and tries for a back suplex, but he can’t hold it and Blitzkrieg falls on top. Blitzkrieg goes up top for a sky twister and misses. Juvy tries for a Juvy Driver but can’t hit it, Blitzkrieg rolling it into two. He gets Juvy on top, gets on his shoulders and hurricanranas him down for a two count. Blitzkrieg puts Juvy on the top again but Juvy grabs him and lands a Super Juvy Driver from the top, getting the three and the #1 contendership spot.

This was good, as is the baseline for WCW cruiserweight matches not involving Disco Inferno. They missed a few spots, but it happens. A good watch. ***

CM Punk battles Brent Albright in OVW Strap Match: From the WWE Vault

16,055 views – uploaded August 31, 2024

This one surprises me, just because everything else with Punk’s name in it is a hit. Maybe “Brent Albright” is the line. This is officially a Vault rarity as it isn’t on Peacock. As this clip is only five minutes or so long, I’m going to assume this is very clipped.

The fans chant “Punk” as the referee straps up Albright. The bell rings and they tug-of-war with the strap, Punk letting it go and Albright falling. Punk attacks with a stream of fists before Albright rolls outside. We clip back inside the ring with Punk and Albright rolling and punching each other. They trade punches, Punk plants him with a slam. He clenches the strap to whip Albright, but Albright runs outside. Punk follows and pulls Albright into the ringpost with the strap. Punk boots Albright and rolls him back in, Albright running back out as Punk follows. Albright rolls back in and stomps Punk as he tries to reenter the ring, stomping Punk outside the ring. Punk gets control again and whips Albright outside the ring with the strap as Albright tries to climb the turnbuckle. Albright kicks Punk off, climbs to the second rope but Punk pulls him via strap into the ring barricade.

Clip clip! Alright touches the third turnbuckle but Punk stops the win by pulling the strap between his legs. Punk clothes lines several times with the strap, then takes Brent down with a kneelift. Punk whips Albright in for a knee and hits a bulldog and… fades to black. Alright then!

What we saw was fine, but without the whole ending it’s kind of hard to rate. Will that stop me? No. I don’t care about star ratings anyway. ** ½

The New Day enter The Wyatt Family’s Compound for a frightening brawl: Raw, July 11, 2016

16,288 views – uploaded July 11, 2024

It is awfully cruel to make me watch New Day after Monday night! This is presented in Wyatt-Vision. New Day pulls up and meets a girl in a sheep mask with a lantern before headlines turn on surrounding them. A car pulls up and it is the Wyatts and the brawl is on. Braun hits Big E with a shovel. Kofi jumps off a truck and into the arms of Erick Rowan before we Wyatt-cut into Xavier Woods, who finds himself behind a tree and listening to footsteps. They belong to Bray Wyatt, who punches him and carries his lifeless body off.

Meanwhile, Big E slams Rowan into the mud. Braun throws a tire but misses and they’re slinging mud everywhere. Braun runs full-steam into a car windshield as we flash elsewhere, Wyatt dumping Woods’ body on the ground. Back to the other side, as the men attack Big E and run him into a car repeatedly. Braun goes up top but Woods reappears with a trash can lid, attacking Braun. Wyatt throws Woods into the car now, hitting the window with an ax and asking where his power of positivity is now. My man, if you’d only see what this man put us through in 2024.

Wyatt keeps smashing windows but notices Woods isn’t in the car. Woods nails him with a trash can, then we watch Wyatt laugh, kneeling, in front of all three New Day members. As he laughs, the Wyatts and a see of fireflies surround them. Wyatt says “follow the buzzards” and we smash cut right out of the scene.

Well, as with many of the Wyatt things outside of the ring, it was unique. **

Attitude Era’s greatest daredevils collide in Ladder Match: SummerSlam 2001

16,921 views – uploaded July 17, 2024

Those daredevils would be Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy with the WWE Hardcore Title above the ring. As the runtime is seven minutes but the actual match went sixteen or so, the clipping rule is in effect. We’re learning that clipped matches don’t do the numbers that full matches do. Imagine that!

We join the match in action, a ladder across the bottom ropes in a corner. RVD lays Hardy on the ladder, rolling across the ring with a splash on the ladder. Clip ahead and Van Dam takes Hardy down with a reverse heel kick. RVD lays the ladder across one rope, kicking Hardy onto it and doing a leg drop on him over the top rope.

We clip to Hardy setting the ladder up and starting to climb. RVD climbs up top and kicks Hardy off with a flying kick to “RVD” chants. RVD folds the ladder and lays it on top of Hardy, running and landing on top of both with a splash. I’m never sure that’s the smartest move. Rob is back up though and starts the ladder climb as JR reminds us Undertaker & Kane vs DDP & Kanyon in a cage match is still to come. Thanks for the warning! Hardy dropkicks Van Dam and the ladder down.

Clip ahead! Hardy tries for the Swanton from the top but RVD rolls out of the way. RVD goes up himself, missing the frog splash. Hardy sets the ladder up and climbs. RVD slowly starts to climb the other side as Hardy reaches for the ladder. RVD suplexes Jeff off the top of the ladder. How do you learn to fall off a ladder??

We skip up to RVD reaching for the title, with Jeff climbing and punching RVD at the top. Hardy leaps over and hits a sunset flip from the top of the ladder. We skip ahead again to Jeff on the ladder. He grabs the belt and hangs on as RVD moves the ladder. RVD grabs Jeff’s feet and tries to pull him down,swinging him in the air. RVD flies from the top rope and tries to hit Jeff but misses, but Jeff still loses his grip and falls.

Jeff is up first and climbs the ladder, but RVD pushes the ladder and Hardy falls onto the ropes. RVD sets the ladder up and climbs, getting his hands on the belt and falls off with it as Hardy tries to climb. We have a new Hardcore Champion.

The parts we saw were fun. I’m not sure why they didn’t put the whole thing on here, but they were still a little more experimental with how they were working this channel back in July. ***.5 for what we saw.

Dennis Rodman & Karl Malone BATTLE in WCW tag team throw down: Bash at the Beach 1998

17,288 views – uploaded July 12, 2024

This is of course clip city, as we have a 8:04 runtime and the match went 23 minutes. We start in-match with Rodman having Malone in a side headlock. Malone whips out but Rodman bails to the floor. Rodman stalls and comes back in, tagging in Hulk Hogan. Yay. Hulk and Karl have a pose-off. Hulk goes for the test of strength, then waves it off. We are stalling. They lock up and Malone gets a front face-lock, Hogan running for the rope break but Malone pulling him out. Malone body slams Hulk to the roar of the crowd.

We clip up to Rodman and DDP in the ring, Rodman with his overly aggressive headlock. DDP gets a headlock of his own, Rodman whipping him in and leapfrogging him twice before a hard collision in the corner. We clip up to Hulk and Malone locking up, Hogan shouting, “Now who’s the master?” Uh. Malone muscles out, Hogan claiming that Malone pulled his hair. Rodman hits Malone from behind, allowing Hulk to hit Malone with several punches.

Clapping forward, Malone jumps in from a tag and bodyslams Hogan and Rodman. We get the double head knocker and Malone takes Hogan’s head to the turnbuckles. Malone does the diamond sign but hits the big boot on Hulk instead. DDP is tagged in and sure enough, there’s a Diamond Cutter. Rodman comes in and so does Malone, who does a Diamond Cutter of his own. Disciple runs in and takes down DDP, Hulk scurrying across and getting the three count. Malone hits Disciple with a Diamond Cutter in retribution as the fans boo. Malone hits Charles Robinson with a Diamond Cutter too because why not be a jerk to the referee.

It was fine for a sports guys match. Malone looked good! ***

WORLD-1 vs WARRIORS: Dragon Gate USA Mercury Rising 2010: From the WWE Vault

17,311 views – uploaded June 24, 2024

This was the very first video uploaded to this channel and one that had us questioning if it was an official WWE channel. Sure enough it was. We haven’t seen any Dragon Gate stuff since this first upload, but this video has also been here the very longest and hasn’t hit 20,000 views while the Daniel Bryan “Occupy Raw” video uploaded yesterday is already at 22K.

Now here’s the thing. I don’t know these guys and I am going to suck at recapping this more than I usually suck at recapping matches. I even tried and didn’t like what I had. So hey, here’s the match. What do you think? I did like what I saw enough for *** or so.

Lex Luger lines up for WCW Football Match: From the WWE Vault

18,132 views – uploaded September 5, 2024

I reviewed this one back in my first Vault column. So here you go!

1.11.1991: WCW Football Match – Lex Luger vs Curtis Hughes

This is from a pretty historic WCW house show, the same one where Ric Flair regained the NWA World Title from Sting.

What’s a WCW Football Match, you might ask? Well, both Luger and Hughes are wearing football jerseys with shoulder pads and have helmets. We join with Paul E. Dangerously complaining on the house mic about Lawrence Taylor being at Lex Luger’s side. That’s future WrestleMania main eventer Lawrence Taylor to you, Paul. LT has a very Cosby sweater on.

Luger gets his helmet on and the bell rings. Dangerously and LT finally leave the ring to a “Paul E sucks” chant as we’re clipped slightly forward. Hughes goes into a crouching stance, which Luger follows. Hughes quickly stands up and kicks Luger in the head because he’s smart. We zoom in on LT at ringside. Crouching stances again and they charge, tying up in the corner before being broken up.

Another charge, they tie up and tussle to the rope, being broken up again. Hughes throws Luger over the top rope during the break up, with LT waving it off. Luger storms the ring and clotheslines Hughes out of it as the bell rings. This was over the top rope then? I dunno. Paul gets clotheslined by Lex after the match. I assume the fans in the arena were told the actual rules. We weren’t. *

As a novelty match, it’s fine. Short and inoffensive. As an actual match, it kinda sucked. It seemed to work well for the live crowd it was intended for.

Sting battles “Deadpool & Wolverine’s” Sabretooth!

20,453 views – uploaded July 26, 2024

The title was of course trying to draw in ANY traffic from the movie release, though apparently it did not really work. This was on the 5/22/93 episode of WCW Saturday Night which IS on Peacock and WWE Network, so it isn’t a rarity. The Sabretooth in question is Tyler Mane, who wrestled as Big Sky and teamed with fellow future movie villain Vinnie Vegas.

The fans cheer as they do when the Man Called Sting enters, while Vegas and Sky look on menacingly in the ring. We even get some inset comments from Vinnie Vegas, who tells Sting he has Scott Norton tomorrow but Big Sky is going to make it where Sting doesn’t make it to tomorrow night.

Back in ring, Big Sky is indeed very big and as usual, the Saturday Night studio crowd is LOUD. Sting tries for a bodyslam but Sky fights out, slamming Sting instead. Sky misses an elbow, Sting then hitting an elbow and a clothesline. Sting with kicks to the knees to chop Sky down. Sting locks in a Boston Crab but Sky gets to the ropes. We have an awkward rope drop by Sky who then powers Sting to the corner. Sky runs Sting in for a clothesline who ducks under, drop kicking Sky. Stinger Splash thwarted. Sting fights off Vinnie Vegas and rolls up Sky for the three count, running before the two bigger men can do further damage.

Well, it wasn’t good. Sky was, uh, not good. But he found something he was good at! And I’ll never turn down an early 90s Sting match. *

FULL MATCH: Randy Orton vs Damien Sandow: WWE NXT, March 23, 2013

21,160 views – uploaded October 8, 2024

Oh god, why is this what I have to end with. In the early days of NXT’s Full Sail University run, they’d often have a main roster superstar appear to face (and usually beat) a NXT star. I’ve come around a lot on Randy over the years, but this is not a matchup where either wrestler particularly interests me. And yes, this technically has become a Vault rarity with NXT being dumped from the Peacock archives with the CW having the rights.

The fans chant “Randy” as we lockup. Orton takes Sandow down with a shoulder block as Byron Saxton explains Sandow’s character to those who might be seeing him for the first time. Orton hits an elbow on a running Sandow. Jim Ross is also on commentary. Orton tries to throw Sandow in the ring, but Sandow reverses it and kicks Randy down. Sandow whips Orton in, but runs into a Thesz Press. Sandow ducks out of the ring as Orton chases. Orton clotheslines Sandow on the ringside mat as we go to commercial break.

Orton stomps on Sandow’s leg as we see Orton suplexing Sandow outside the ring during the break. Orton tries to drop a knee but Sandow rolls out of the way. Sandow stomps Orton down as the fans continue to chant “Randy,” JR telling us we are hours away from Orton’s six-man tag match at WrestleMania. We’re back outside as Orton is whipped into the stairs. Sandow rolls Orton back in and hits a barrage of punches and kicks before landing a two-count. Headlock! Bryon keeps going back to how Sandow has no WrestleMania experience, which has nothing to do with this besides it being a special “WrestleMania NXT.” Sandow continues attacking Orton in the corner, kneeing him in the face. Orton punches out of the corner, headbutting Sandow in the corner. Orton superflexes Sandow from the top but is slow to cover, only getting a two.

Orton takes down Sandow with clotheslines and hits that beautiful running powerslam, followed by punches in the corner. Randy whips Sandow into the corner but runs into a boot, Sandow with a running neckbreaker that only gets a two. Orton counters into an inverted backbreaker, then follows with the draping DDT. The fans cheer as they know what’s next – Orton strikes with the RKO and it’s all academic from here.

The fans were really into it! We wouldn’t see Randy in another match in NXT until the move to the CW this year. It was your usual level NXT / Main Event match at the time. ***

And those, my friends, are currently the top ten least watched videos on the WWE Vault YouTube channel. I don’t like the odds of many of these ever escaping that bottom rung of the ladder.