From The Vault Review: 40 Minutes of One-Sided Beatdowns

It’s time to dive back into the WWE Vault and its vast content. This week.. Squash!

The Vault crew released a playlist of 40 minutes of beatdowns, as they called it, and how can I resist that? The fun thing is that a majority of these are NOT currently available (legally) through WWE-endorsed streaming releases.

WWE Raw: The Undertaker vs Spike Dudley for the WWE Hardcore Title (12/10/21)

With the move to Netflix and the very limited amount of content dropped, this one is not currently “available.” We start with Spike pulling the plundah out from under the ring, throwing it in as Taker stares at him. Taker starts catching the items, which is not a great sign for Spike. Spike then goes and sits on the deadman’s Beautiful Titan Bike and pretends to rev the engine, which of course pisses off Taker. Taker runs out after him and Spike dashes in, then tries to splash out onto Taker only to be caught.

Taker runs Spike into the ringpost and throws him back in the ring. Commentary keeps talking about this “Mr. McMahon” guy. Taker ties Spike upside down in the “tree of woe” spot in the corner, but Spike hits Taker with a low blow and then a kendo stick. Taker slings Spike down. Spike comes back with dueling trash can lids, only to run into a boot. Taker gets a trash lid of his own and starts smashing Spike in the head. Taker picks up Spike’s limp body but then decides to smash his forearm in his face instead. Then he sets Spike up, raises the fist and does the Last Ride through a trash can. One, two, three and Taker retains. JR continues to try to get “Booger Red” to be a thing. Taker picks Spike back up and chokeslams him over the top rope and onto the arena floor. Yikes.

WCW Main Event: Sid Vicious vs Scott Lee (8/27/89)

Another “rarity” as far as what WWE has out there for us. I don’t like Scott’s chances. Lee tries to pound Sid with fists, but Sid clotheslines him 360 degrees down. Then Sid picks up Scott and throws him over the top rope to the floor. As Dan Spivey taunts him, Sid goes outside, picks up Lee and throws him from the floor, over the top rope and back into the ring. Sid does what the announcers call the “suicide,” picking Lee up in a power-bomb style position but then spinning him around and throwing him. Then we get an actual powerbomb and Lee is dead. Spivey and Teddy Long, with some semblance of hair, run in and celebrate with Sid. Just an awesome squash.

WWE ECW: Kurt Angle vs The Brooklyn Brawler (8/1/06)

Available on Peacock. We’re in the Hammerstein Ballroom for this one, as all major Brooklyn Brawler matches should be. Angle takes Brawler down and immediately hooks on the ankle lock, but Brawler grabs the ropes. Back on his feet, Brawler shoves Angle which seems like a mistake. Angle heatbutts Brawler to the mat, locks on an ankle lock and it’s an immediate tap.

WWF Raw: Shawn Michaels vs Gus Kantarakis (6/19/95)

This is not from one of the nine 1995 episodes Netflix allows us to watch. This is the Raw before King of the Ring. Gus whips Shawn in, who pushes Shawn down with a shoulder block. And again. Shawn gets on Gus’ back and swats his ass. Gus chases Shawn around ringside, with Shawn sliding into the ring, back out of the ring and over the guardrail to sit in the conveniently empty seats behind McMahon & Lawler. Gus comes out after him again, trying and failing to land a flying blow on Shawn. Back in the ring, Shawn goes up and flies into a fist. Gus gets Shawn in the corner with some punches and kicks. Shawn slaps Gus and punches out, throwing him out of the ring.

Shawn jumps over the top rope and hits Gus, then suplexing him on the ringside mat. Shawn rolls in as the referee counts, then rolls out and delivers a Sweet Chin Music on the arena floor. As the referee counts, Shawn goes out and brings Gus back in. The fans chant “one more time,” so Shawn shrugs, kicks and sits on Gus for the win. A fun squash, but I’m a sucker for mid 90’s HBK.

World Championship Wrestling: The Midnight Express vs The Mulkeys (5/10/86)

This one is on Peacock. The Express music is peak 1986. We start with Dennis Condrey and… uh, a Mulkey. Jim Cornette very loudly joins the commentary team. Lane drops the Mulkey and tags in Bobby Eaton, who immediately slings the Mulkey over the top rope and about five feet away from the ring, the Mulkey splatting on the exposed floor. Yikes. Right in front of the cameras, Eaton suplexes the Mulkey onto the exposed floor. Eaten rolls the Mulkey in and throws him to his partner to tag in. Other Mulkey and Condrey both tag in as Dennis throws the Mulkey – Tony tells us it is Bill – outside.

Bobby grabs Bill and takes him over to the broadcast spot to gloat, then throws him back in the ring. Dennis slams Bill and rubs his face in the mat. Cornette is so damn loud, which is probably not a shock but I had to actually turn the volume down. Dennis chokes Mulkey again and drags him to the corner, tagging in Eaton. Eaton lays in a double-arm suplex for a one count, pulling his opponent’s arm up to break the count. Randy Mulkey and Dennis both tag in, Randy actually landing some punches in the corner before Dennis knees him out. Dennis suplexes Randy and tags in Bobby, who slams Randy and goes up for the elbow drop. He tags Randy back in who slams the Mulkey face first to the mat for the win. This was kind of violent. Also, Bobby Eaton is pretty awesome.

WCW Monday Nitro: Goldberg vs La Parka for the WCW U.S. Championship (6/01/98)

Like all Nitros, this is easily available on Peacock. We get the full Goldberg entrance, which will probably outlast the actual match. La Parka is standing on his chair in the ring as Goldberg enters. La Parka runs at Goldberg with the chair but is stopped by the referee. Parka breaks through and smacks Goldberg in the head with the chair as the bell rings. Goldberg shakes it off and spears La Parka. He picks him up, hits the Jackhammer and extends his streak to 93-0. Like most early Goldberg matches, it had a crowd on fire and was fun.

WWE Raw: Braun Strowman vs James Ellsworth (7/25/16)

2016 isn’t represented on Netflix, which is probably sad for people who want to watch Ellsworth matches. Ellsworth cowers in the corner. The bell rings and Ellsworth punches Braun, who grabs him and chops him down. Braun kicks Ellsworth to the corner as commentary just laughs. Braun runs full strength into the corner to splash Ellsworth (full speed, not 2025 Saturday Night’s Main Event speed). He hits a reverse chokeslam and pins Ellsworth.

Ellsworth would actually make something out of this, as they kept him around after this squash. He’d beat AJ Styles in three SmackDown matches (with hijinks of course) including a ladder match before settling into a spot for a while with Carmella.

World Championship Wrestling: The Steiner Brothers vs Cactus Jack Manson & Rick Fargo (12/16/89)

The Network/Peacock classic content drops stopped before making it to the end of 1989, so this episode never made it to WWE streaming. Rick starts with Cactus Jack. They fight into the ropes where Jack punches Rick, who pounds Jack back. Rick slaps Jack as hard as he can, nailing Jack with a running clothesline. Scott is tagged in, who hits Jack with a backdrop. Scott gets a two count while having Jack in a headlock. Jack gets whipped to the outside.

Back in, Jack tags in Fargo. Scott drops Fargo with a knee and places him on the turnbuckle, dropping him with what JR calls the wolverine slam. Scott tags in Rick, who locks in a long headlock before taking Fargo down with a Steinerline. Scott is tagged back in and calls for the Frankensteiner, getting an easy three.

WWE NXT: Asuka vs Aliyah (8/03/16)

While they’ve started a NXT YouTube account with full episodes, they haven’t made it to the Asuka era yet so this one isn’t streaming in the U.S. I’ll also always ride for Aliyah. Bayley is on commentary.

Asuka decides to set up a chair on the ramp, pointing at Bayley and telling her to sit there instead. Bayley walks up but knocks over the chair, standing at ringside instead. The bell rings and Asuka kicks Aliyah down, stomping her to the mat. Asuka taunts Aliyah who tries to fight out with fists, only to be punched back into the ropes. Asuka knocks Aliyah down with the flying hip attack while continuing to eye Bayley. Asuka just batters Aliyah against the ropes before hitting her with another running hip attack. Aliyah tries for a top rope remover but pumps right into a vicious kick from Asuka, who covers her for two before pulling Aliyah up. Asuka locks in the Asuka Lock and Aliyah tags quickly. Asuka doesn’t let go, so Bayley jumps on the apron and then we smash cut to the next match.

WWE Heat: Tyson Tomko vs Shawn Riddick (10/28/05)

Nope, not on Peacock. This is a rare bit of Heat representation on the Vault. Tommy Dreamer is on commentary because we haven’t suffered enough. Tyson runs Reddick into the corner and slams him to the mat with a spinebuster. Tomko with a series of knees before taking Reddick down again. Tomko throws Reddick outside and follows to slam him into the ring apron. Back in, Tyson throws Reddick to the corner again but misses a running shoulder. He shakes it off and boots Reddick to the floor outside. Reddick is OUT and the referee calls for the bell, giving Tomko the KO win.

WWF Superstars: Beverly Brothers vs Pete Christie & Bob East (2/06/93)

Available on Peacock. We’re talking in hushed tones about Hacksaw Jim Duggan on commentary. The Beverlys double team West and throw him into a tag. Vince plugs the WWF Magazine as Blake hits that wild flying face plant on Christine for an easy three. A nothing match and commentary was too distracted, but the face plant is crazy and you’ve probably see it.

World Championship Wrestling: Kevin Sullivan & Buzz Sawyer vs Zan Panzer & Robbie Idol (3/03/90)

This is beyond the scope of what made the classic content uploads back in the day. Sawyer starts out with Idol, slinging him outside of the ring. Sullivan picks up the wooden ringside steps and throws them at Idol before throwing him back in the ring. Sullivan tags in and chops Panzer in the corner. A tag again and Sawyer chops Idol in the ropes before nailing an elbow drop. Sawyer slugs him in to tag the masked Panzer. Sullivan tags in, laughs and slams Panzer. Panzer tags back in and suplexes Panzer for a two. Sawyer chokes Panzer on the ropes and hits him with a flying crotch to the back of his head. Sure, why not. Sawyer bites at Panzer’s neck before tagging in Sullivan, who slings Panzer back to Idol. Idol is tied in the tree of woe, taking a full speed running knee from Sullivan. Sullivan stomps Idol and tags in Sawyer, who has his own suplex for Idol. Sawyer goes up and hits a beautiful flying splash but pulls Idol up before the three. Sawyer climbs to the top turnbuckle and hits a second, again pulling Idol’s head up. The referee calls for the disqualification, so Sawyer chokes out Idol instead. Sawyer bites Idol’s ear as multiple wrestlers try to pull Sawyer off. This was fun.

This was a fun little watch, with lots of stuff I haven’t seen and guys just beating up other guys. It’s good for background viewing if nothing else.