Do you know that WWE has a YouTube channel devoted to sharing outdated matches, Coliseum Video releases, superior behind-the-scenes movies, and so many different nice and random clips? I not too long ago discovered concerning the WWE Vault, and over the previous few weeks, I’ve spent a ton of time watching a few of my favourite WWE moments of the New Era and Perspective Period, in addition to issues I by no means knew existed.
Significantly, when you’re a wrestling fan and wish to try stuff you’d anticipate on the outdated WWE Community that’s not out there with a Peacock subscription or with a Netflix subscription, this channel goes to scratch that itch. Listed here are 5 issues I can’t suggest sufficient for die-hard wrestling followers or these simply now stepping into the product since the beginning of the Triple H Period!
So Many Basic Matches Are In The Vault And Straightforward To Watch
Don’t get me flawed, I like watching basic pay-per-view occasions and random episodes of WCW Monday Nitro on Peacock, however typically I simply wish to return and revisit a one-off match with out having to skip two hours right into a present and find yourself in the midst of the bout. Whereas the WWE Vault YouTube channel doesn’t have each single match of all time, there are some absolute bangers within the huge assortment of over 1,000 movies. Right here’s one specific match I had plenty of enjoyable revisiting:
Stone Chilly Steve Austin vs. Triple H – Three Phases of Hell at No Approach Out 2001
I not too long ago went again and watched the 2001 Royal Rumble match, and couldn’t get sufficient of Stone Chilly Steve Austin’s brawl with Triple H because the Texas Rattlesnake was attempting to enter the match (he would ultimately win and headline WrestleMania X-7). Not lengthy after, the WWE Vault shared their brutal “Three Phases of Hell” match (Fall 1 – Singles, Fall 2 – Avenue Combat, Fall 3 – Metal Cage). I instantly watched the grueling affair in all its bloody glory.
Watch Stone Chilly Steve Austin and Triple H’s Three Phases of Hell Match on YouTube.
These Previous Coliseum Video Residence Releases Are Are Nice
A few of my favourite childhood recollections concerned going to Blockbuster with my dad to select up wrestling tapes from the surprisingly stacked assortment. Over time, I had hoped the now-defunct WWE Community or present WWE Community on Peacock would host these outdated pay-per-view releases and Coliseum Video compilations, however they by no means confirmed up or have been eliminated earlier than I knew higher. Nevertheless, that every one modified with the Vault, because the channel continues to add a number of outdated VHS tapes every month. However there’s one outdated compilation tape from what seems to be 1993 that I can’t cease fascinated by:
Smack ‘Em Whack ‘Em
I by no means knew the Smack ‘Em Whack ‘Em tape existed till just a few weeks in the past, however I’m so glad I discovered this gem. Not solely does it showcase Bret Hart defeating Ric Aptitude for the WWE Championship (The Hitman’s first WWE Title), but in addition options Razor Ramon vs. The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels vs. Hart for the WWE strap, and a few hilarious segments with The Bushwhackers and Lord Alfred Hayes. Significantly, this was an surprising and superb journey down reminiscence lane.
Watch Smack ‘Em Whack ‘Em on YouTube.
The Should-See Darkish Matches Compilation Is Full Of Forgotten And Random Matches
There’s something about watching darkish matches that has all the time felt so intriguing and flawed, like I wasn’t speculated to see these clips or one thing. Over time, movies of tryout matches and pre-show bouts to get the group scorching for Uncooked, SmackDown, or ppvs have leaked on-line, however the Vault has now put out a 34-minute compilation that includes everybody from Paul London and Brian Kendrick to Justin Credible to PCO. However there’s one which notably caught my consideration:
Dr. Loss of life Steve Williams vs. 2 Chilly Scorpio
It’s a disgrace Dr. Loss of life Steve Williams by no means obtained a good run in WWE, as a result of he was an absolute legend in WCW, AJPW, and just about in all places else he wrestled (together with the time I noticed him tag with Hacksaw Jim Duggan at a Boat Present in highschool). Properly, this compilation options a fantastic darkish match between the late wrestler and a couple of Chilly Scorpio from what seems to be like early 1998 (WWE was nonetheless utilizing the pre-Perspective Period font on the time). I’m not kidding you, go watch this match!
Watch Dr. Loss of life Steve Williams vs. 2 Chilly Scorpio
The world {of professional} wrestling misplaced one in every of its hardest, craziest, and most prolific figures in August 2023 when Terry Funk died at 79. From his days as NWA Champion to his resurgence as one of many trade’s premier deathmatch wrestlers, and every thing that occurred in between, the Funkster was a legend amongst legends. The Vault not too long ago put out an enormous four-and-a-half-hour compilation that includes all types of matches, promos, and random pictures of Funk with a farting horse. However there’s one part that I’ve liked essentially the most:
Terry Funk and Jerry “The King” Lawler’s Empty Area Match
Within the midst of an epic feud, Terry Funk challenged Jerry “The King” Lawler to an empty area match on the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, again in June 1981. Practically 20 years earlier than The Rock and Mankind duked it out in the course of the Tremendous Bowl halftime present, these two bitter rivals went to struggle in entrance of a cameraman and commentator Lance Russell (who stored attempting to get Funk to stop cussing). It’s epic, it’s iconic, and it’s a lot enjoyable to look at.
Watch Terry Funk and Jerry “The King” Lawler’s Empty Area Match on YouTube.
The WWE Vault Will Randomly Launch Behind-The-Scenes Movies From Previous Royal Rumbles And Different Iconic Moments
Very similar to the compilations of darkish matches, the Vault additionally releases random behind-the-scenes movies that present every thing from “discovered footage” from ECW and WWE reveals to the recording of the 1995 Monday Evening Uncooked intro atop Titan Towers in Stamford, Connecticut. Talking of which:
The Uncooked Rooftop Open BTS Video
If you would like a throwback to the New Era and see how one of the crucial iconic (and positively essentially the most ambitous) wrestling intros got here to be, then try this behind-the-scenes video. Although I had seen the hilarious clip of The Undertaker giving Hunter Hearst Helmsely and Goldust some severe side-eye as they performed the WrestleMania arcade sport, plenty of this was new to me.
Watch the Uncooked Rooftop Open BTS video on YouTube.
However, that is barely scratching the floor of the WWE Vault, because the channel continues so as to add an increasing number of matches, reveals, and random movies each day.