Classic Royal Rumble Review

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

First up is 1996, follow this procedure...any year ya want.

 

The 1996 Royal Rumble Match

 

Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Henry Godwinn

Bob Backlund

Jerry Lawler

Bob Holly

King Mabel

Jake Roberts (Eliminates Godwinn, Omari)

Dory Funk

Yokozuna (Eliminates Backlund, King Mabel, Squat Team Member #2)

1-2-3 Kid

Omari

Savio Vega (Eliminates Funk)

Vader (Eliminates Roberts, Gilbert, Squat Team Member #1, Vega)

Doug Gilbert

Squat Team Member #1

Squat Team Member #2

Owen Hart (Eliminates Hakushi, Horowitz)

Shawn Michaels (Eliminates Vader/Yokozuna, 1-2-3 Kid, Lawler, Michaels, Yankem, Bulldog, Diesel)

Hakushi

Tatanka (Eliminates Montoya)

Aldo Montoya

Diesel (Eliminates Tatanka, Helmsley, Kama)

Kama (Eliminates Droese)

The Ringmaster (Eliminates Holly)

Barry Horowitz

Fatu (Eliminates The Ringmaster)

Isaac Yankem, D.D.S. (Eliminates Fatu)

Marty Jannetty

The British Bulldog (Eliminates Jannetty)

Duke Droese

 

Final Four: Kama, Diesel, Shawn Michaels, The British Bulldog

 

The Finish: Michaels throws Bulldog over. Shawn Michaels is thrown over by Kama but "skins the cat". Diesel eliminates Kama. Diesel turns around and is hit with Michaels' "Sweet Chin Music" and goes over the top rope. After the match, Diesel attacks Bulldog in the aisleway. When asked about Michaels by Dok Hendrix, Diesel claims "The only reason he's living and breathing is because I allow it." As Michaels dances around in the ring, Diesel re-enters. After a staredown, Diesel raises a hand, and Michaels does their trademark "jump up and slap hands" routine. Shawn then celebrates some more.

 

Highlights:

 

- Hunter Hearst Helmsley lasts 50 minutes.

- Jerry Lawler hides under the ring.

- Jake Roberts unleashes a snake into the ring and terrorizes Lawler.

- Vader debuts, no-sells everyone and flips out when eliminated.

- Steve Austin's first major WWF match.

- Michaels and Jannetty have a quick sequence together.

- Diana Smith (with nice rack) shown at ringside.

- Michaels and Diesel duke it out.

- Mr. Perfect comments on Aldo Montoya's mask, "He's got his jock strap in the wrong place."

[Epic Reine 0]

Bob Holly lasted a pretty long time in that one as well.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

The 2001 Royal Rumble

 

Jeff Hardy (Co-Eliminated Bull Buchanon & Faarooq)

Bull Buchanon

Matt Hardy (Co-Eliminated Bull Buchanon & Faarooq)

Faarooq

Drew Carey (Eliminates himself)

Kane (Eliminates Sexay, Blackman, Snow, Raven, Saturn, Honky Tonk Man, Tazz, Crash Holly, Albert, Co-Eliminates Scotty 2 Hotty, The Rock)

Raven

Al Snow

Perry Saturn

Steve Blackman

Grandmaster Sexay

The Honky Tonk Man

The Rock (Eliminates The Goodfather, The Big Show, Rikishi)

The Goodfather

Tazz

Bradshaw

Hardcore Holly

Albert

K-Kwik

Val Venis

William Regal

Test (Eliminated William Regal)

The Big Show (Eliminated Test, K-Kwik)

Crash Holly

The Undertaker (Eliminates Bradshaw, Hardcore Holly, Val Venis, Co-Eliminates Scotty 2 Hotty)

Scotty 2 Hotty

Stone Cold Steve Austin (Eliminates Haku, Billy Gunn, Kane)

Billy Gunn

Haku

Rikishi (Eliminates The Undertaker)

 

Final Four: Kane, The Rock, Steve Austin, Billy Gunn

 

The Finish: Gunn counters a Stone Cold Stunner and delivers the Famouser to Austin. Yet Austin recovers and reverses Gunn's throw and tosses him out. With the three remaining guys down, Rock & Austin lock eyes and then go at it. Rock wins the fist fight. Austin blocks a Rock Bottom and delivers a Stunner. Lou Thesz Press and low blow by Austin takes Kane down. Rock plants Austin with the Rock Bottom. Rock throws Kane through the ropes, not over. Austin tries to dump Rock, no luck. Rock tries to dump Austin, but Kane comes from behind and pushes The Rock over. Kane drills Austin with the Chokeslam. Austin low blow on Kane. Kane grabs a chair, but Austin dodges, escapes a Tombstone, and delivers the Stunner. Three chairshots and a clothesline eliminates Kane.

 

Highlights:

 

- Kane was the Iron Man of this Rumble, at

- Jeff & Matt Hardy go at it.

- Jeff Hardy horribly blows a leap off of Matt's back onto Faarooq.

- Drew Carey enters, in exchange for Mr. McMahon helping him promote a comedy PPV. Kane greets him, with Carey attempting to bribe him. Carey hops over the top as Raven attacks Kane.

- Snow brings garbage and weapons into the ring, and hits Raven in the crotch with a bowling ball.

- The Honky Tonk Man returns and sings, with Kane then smashing the guitar over his head.

- Goodfather & Tazz are embarassingly eliminated by Rock & Kane, respectively.

- The Big Show surprisingly returns, decimates the competition, but is eliminated by The Rock. He thanks Rock by chokeslamming him through a table.

- Kane & Undertaker clear the ring only to greet the next entrant...Scotty 2 Hotty.

- Stone Cold is blindsided by Triple H on his way to the ring. Austin is bloodied from the attack, which continues for several minutes.

- Billy Gunn challenges Jeff Hardy and Bob Backlund for the "pastiest white skin" Rumble award.

- Haku, who was WCW Hardcore Champion at the time as "Meng", made a surprise return.

- Rikishi cleanly eliminates Taker with a superkick.

- Warrior/Hogan esque "Stare and Mega Face Showdown" between Austin and Rock

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Ratings thus far:

 

1996 - 4/10

2001 - 6/10

[Aero 0]

I'm bored, I'll do one.

 

1997

 

Crush

Ahmed Johnson

Fake Razor Ramon

Phineas Godwinn

Steve Austin

Bart Gunn

Jake Roberts

British Bulldog

Pierroth

The Sultan

Mil Mascaras

Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Owen Hart

Goldust

Cybernetico

Marc Mero

Latin Lover

Faarooq

Savio Vega

Jesse Jammes

Bret Hart

Jerry Lawler

Fake Diesel

Terry Funk

Rocky Maivia

Mankind

Flash Funk

Vader

Henry Godwinn

Undertaker

 

How sad is it that I can remember the entrance order for any Rumble from 1997 and up?

 

Final Five: Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Fake Diesel, Vader, and Undertaker

 

As referees try to separate a brawl between Mankind and Terry Funk, both of which are eliminated, Bret Hart launches a surprised Austin, who was in there over 50 minutes, over the top and to the floor. Austin realizes that the referees never saw him, so he sneaks in and tosses both Vader and Undertaker out as they fight near the ropes. Meanwhile, Bret throws Diesel over, not aware that Austin snuck back in. Immediately after eliminating Diesel, Bret is thrown out by Austin, who the referees quickly declare the winner. Bret gets in the referees' and Vince McMahon's face as Austin is quick to get out.

 

Highlights

- Up until about # 6, there being no timer due to technical difficulties

- Fake Razor being tossed in mere seconds

- Ahmed Johnson being an idiot and jumping to over the top and eliminating himself after seeing Faarooq in the aisle.

- Austin eliminating Phineas, Bart Gunn, and Jake Roberts in succession

- Owen Hart eliminating his bizarre tag team champion partner, Bulldog

- Mil Mascaras being an idiot by diving off the top rope outside onto Cybernetico & Pierroth immediately after eliminating them

- Austin simultaneously throwing Mero and Owen Hart over

- Austin and Bret Hart's mini-match

- Jerry Lawler entering from the commentary table and being hit out in seconds

- Mankind and Terry Funk fighting

- Austin sneaking back in to eliminate Vader, Undertaker, and Bret in a row to "win" the Rumble

- Bret Hart going insane after being tossed by Austin

- Steve Austin lasting from # 5 and winning

 

Steve Austin IS the 1997 Royal Rumble. On a "Rumble Scale", this is about 5/10.

[Guest korndogg123]

1991

 

Order of entry:

1. Bret “Hitman” Hart

2. Dino Bravo

3. Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (eliminates Dino Bravo)

4. Paul Roma

5. Texas Tornado

6. “The Model” Rick Martel (eliminates Saba Simba, Jake Roberts, the Anvil, and co-eliminates Hawk)

7. Saba Simba

8. Bushwhacker Butch

9. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (eliminates Roma)

10. Hercules (co-eliminates Hawk)

11. Tito Santana

12. The Undertaker (eliminates Hart, Texas Tornado, and Butch)

13. “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka

14. British Bulldog (eliminates Martel, Perfect, and Haku)

15. Demolition Smash

16. Hawk (eliminates Snuka, co-eliminates Undertaker)

17. Shane Douglas

18. No entry (“Macho King” Randy Savage)

19. Animal (co-eliminates Undertaker)

20. Demolition Crush

21. Hacksaw Jim Duggan

22. Earthquake (eliminates Santana, Luke, Animal, and co-eliminates Bulldog)

23. Mr. Perfect (eliminates Duggan)

24. Hulk Hogan (eliminates Valentine, Smash, Crush, Knobbs, Warlord, Tugboat, and Earthquake)

25. Haku

26. Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

27. Bushwhacker Luke

28. Brian Knobbs (eliminates Douglas, co-eliminates Bulldog)

29. The Warlord

30. Tugboat

 

Final four: Hogan, Earthquake, Knobbs, and Bulldog

 

The Finish: Earthquake and Knobbs double team eliminate Bulldog and double team Hogan for a few mins. Hogan no-sells the Earthquake sit-down splash and eliminates Knobbs. He tries to slam Quake and Quake falls on him. A couple minutes more of beatdown by Quake, Quake stupidly tries to pin Hogan, Hogan kicks out, does his whole "hulking up" routine and clotheslines Quake out.

 

Highlights:

- Martel sets the then record at just over 52 minutes

- Valentine fresh off a face turn lasts just over 44 minutes and eliminates former Jimmy Hart stablemate Dino Bravo upon his entry

- #18 no showed, later figured out to be "Macho King" Randy Savage. Speculation was he was either hiding from or got his ass kicked by the Ultimate Warrior after Macho screwed Warrior in his title match w/ Sgt. Slaughter earlier in the night.

- Martel eliminates Roberts, who apparently got his vision back in the bad eye

- Shane Douglas, then a pretty much unknown at the time, makes his only WWF PPV appearance and actually lasts over 26 minutes

- British Bulldog returns to the WWF in strong form, putting on his first of several straight impressive Rumble performances, lasting almost 37 minutes and making the Final Four

- Undertaker makes his Rumble debut, lasting almost 15 minutes and eliminating four guys before being eliminated on a double clothesline by the Legion of Doom

- Warlord continues his streak of being a late entry and quickly eliminated, entering at 29 and being clotheslined out by Hogan after only about 2-1/2 minutes

- Tugboat is eliminated by then friend Hulk Hogan after hyping possibly having to face Hogan in his pre-Rumble promo

- Bushwhacker Luke gives his legendary hilarious performance of marching down the aisle in moronic Bushwhacker fashion, entering on one side and pitched out the other by Earthquake. He proceeds to keep marching around the ring like nothing even happened.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Jerry Lawler during '97 Rumble

 

"It's like I always said, McMahon, it takes a king...

 

:::Lawler enters Rumble:::

 

:::Lawler is knocked out by Bret:::

 

:::Lawler gets back on commentary:::

 

...to know a King!"

 

Vince: "Did you realize you were just in the match?"

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

91...

 

>>>Shane Douglas, then a pretty much unknown at the time, makes his only WWF PPV appearance and actually lasts over 26 minutes

 

Douglas appears in a vignette at SummerSlam 1995 as Dean Douglas. He also wins the forfeitted IC Title at IYH: October 95 and loses it in the same night to Razor. He works Survivor Series 1995 in the cool "Wild Card" match. he may have had another appearence "IYH: Sept 95?" where he defeated Razor if I can recall.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

I have a couple of highlights for the '96 one too.

 

- Vince McMahon: "Henry O. Godwinn is calling the hogs!"

Mr. Perfect: "Yeah, those women in the front row are moving in..."

- Doug Gilbert coming out what sounds like carnival polka music, flapping his arms, puffing his cheeks, and then getting murdered by Vader.

 

I'll do one for the 2002 Rumble later.

[Guest LooneyTune]

91...

 

>>>Shane Douglas, then a pretty much unknown at the time, makes his only WWF PPV appearance and actually lasts over 26 minutes

 

Douglas appears in a vignette at SummerSlam 1995 as Dean Douglas.  He also wins the forfeitted IC Title at IYH: October 95 and loses it in the same night to Razor.  He works Survivor Series 1995 in the cool "Wild Card" match.  he may have had another appearence "IYH: Sept 95?" where he defeated Razor if I can recall.

I'm assuming he meant his brief run from the Summer of 1990-early part of 1991.

[cawthon777 0]

When asked about Michaels by Dok Hendrix, Diesel claims "The only reason he's living and breathing is because I allow it." As Michaels dances around in the ring, Diesel re-enters. After a staredown, Diesel raises a hand, and Michaels does their trademark "jump up and slap hands" routine. Shawn then celebrates some more.

Are you absolutely sure he was referring to Michaels? At the time, there was zero tension between the two and the split didn't happen for another 2 months.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

1990, one of my favourite Rumbles.

 

Ted Dibiase

Koko B. Ware

Marty Jannetty

Jake Roberts

Randy Savage

Roddy Piper

Warlord

Bret Hart

Bad News Brown

Dusty Rhodes

Andre the Giant

The Red Rooster

Ax

Haku

Smash

Akeem

Jimmy Snuka

Dino Bravo

Canadian Earthquake

Jim Neidhart

Ultimate Warrior

Rick Martel

Chico Santana

Honkytonk Man

Hulk Hogan

Shawn Michaels

Barbarian

Ravishing Rick Rude

Hercules

Mr. Perfect

 

FINAL FOUR: Mr. Perfect, Rude, Hogan, Hercules

 

FINISH: Rude eliminates Herc, leaving Hogan 2-on-1 against the boys from Minnesota. Perfect is knocked to the apron and pulls the rope down with Rude running the ropes to eliminate him. Perfect Plex. Hulk Up. The Perfect Killer Slingshot of Death. And Perfect is hurdled over the top for Hogan's first Rumble win.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Dibiase becomes the Rumble's first true Iron Man, lasting 44 minutes.

- Hogan & Warrior are the only two left at one point and proceed to go at it in one of the biggest dream segments in WWE history up to that point. Hogan later accidently tosses Warrior and he comes back in to nail Barbarian & Rude.

- Perfect draws the Perfect number and is cheated out of a win backstage.

- Dibiase dispatches Jannetty & Koko with ease, only to have archrival Jake Roberts to come out at #4.

- Bad News is eliminated by Piper, then pulls Piper out. They then brawl to the back.

- Colossal Connection vs. Demolition continues.

- The Piper/Dibiase/Roberts/Savage fourway which makes up my favourite mini-match in Rumble history.

- Future WWE Legend Shawn Michaels gets eliminated in about 10 seconds.

- One of the last actual wrestling appearances by Andre the Giant. Afterwards he would only be in tag matches with Haku doing all the work while he stood on the apron.

- For the first, but not the last time, we get Martel/Santana going at it in a Rumble match.

[JoeDirt 0]

1993 Royal Rumble:

1 Ric Flair

2 Bob Backlund

3 Papa Shango

4 Ted DiBiase

5 Brian Knobbs

6 Virgil

7 Jerry Lawler

8 Max Moon

9 Genichiro Tenryu

10 Mr. Perfect

11 Skinner

12 Koko B Ware

13 Headshrinker Samu

14 The Berzerker

15 The Undertaker

16 Terry Taylor

17 Damien Demento

18 Irwin R Schyster

19 Tatanka

20 Jerry Sags

21 Typhoon

22 Headshrinker Fatu

23 Earthquake

24 Carlos Colon

25 Tito Santana

26 Rick Martel

27 Yokozuna

28 Owen Hart

29 Repo Man

30 Randy Savage

 

Final Four: Backlund, Martel, Yokozuna, Savage:

 

Backlund dumps Martel, but then charges Yokozuna and gets dumped to a big negative reaction from the fans, who were getting into Backlund's long time in the ring. Savage hits some axehandles, but Yoko squashes him with a kick, belly to belly, and leg drop. He misses an avalanche, and Savage knocks him down and hits the big elbow...AND TRIES TO PIN HIM. Yoko shoves him off and casually tosses Savage over to win it.

 

Highlights:

 

-Backlund gets the longevity record for the time, with 61:10. Some say this was booked as a rib on Bob, who everyone thought was weird and goofy.

 

-Giant Gonzalez debuts and attacks the Undertaker, taking him out of the Rumble.

 

-Damian Demento actually lasts a while in the ring.

 

-Lawler is eliminated by Perfect, and then helps others eliminate Perfect, setting up a feud for a match at Wrestlemania that was changed to Perfect/Luger instead.

 

Very bland Rumble, 4/10.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Why was the Lawler/Perfect plan scrapped?

 

Was there any special reason?

[JoeDirt 0]

Why was the Lawler/Perfect plan scrapped?

 

Was there any special reason?

I don't have a specific answer, but they probably just changed plans. I know Lawler was supposed to wrestle Tenryu at Wrestlemania 9, but that got scrapped too.

 

I've got the 2002 Royal Rumble coming up next, which I know like the back of my hand.

[cawthon777 0]

-Lawler is eliminated by Perfect, and then helps others eliminate Perfect, setting up a feud for a match at Wrestlemania that was changed to Perfect/Luger instead.

?

 

Seemed like it was pretty obvious it would be Perfect / Luger from the moment Heenan "unveiled" Luger earlier in the show.

 

Where did you hear about Perfect / Lawler? I just figured their interaction was a nod to the AWA / Mid-South fans.

[JoeDirt 0]

1 Rikishi

2 Goldust

3 Big Bossman

4 Bradshaw

5 Lance Storm

6 Al Snow

7 Billy Gunn

8 The Undertaker

9 Matt Hardy

10 Jeff Hardy

11 Maven

12 Scotty Too Hotty

13 Christian

14 Diamond Dallas Page

15 Chuck Palumbo

16 The Godfather

17 Albert

18 Perry Saturn

19 Steve Austin

20 Val Venis

21 Test

22 Triple H

23 Hurricane

24 Farooq

25 Mr. Perfect

26 Kurt Angle

27 The Big Show

28 Kane

29 Rob Van Dam

30 Booker T

 

Final four: Austin, HHH, Angle, and Mr. Perfect:

 

Austin tries to dump Perfect, but Angle comes from behind and takes out Austin and Perfect hangs on! Austin comes back and drills everyone with chair shots. Back up, and Perfect narrowly avoids elimination before hitting a Perfect Plex on Angle...but HHH dumps him. Angle then tries to dump HHH and thinks he wins, but HHH hangs on. Angle turns, and HHH does his gay little pose before charging and knocking Angle over the top to win.

 

Highlights:

 

-Undertaker enters at #8 and destroys EVERYBODY. The Hardy's come out in succession and reunite, but Taker beats them up, tossing them, and beats up Lita too. As they come back for more, the next man out Maven dropkicks Taker out for the most shocking elimination in Rumble history!

 

-Taker proceeds to dump Maven illegally and take him through the arena, busting him open and beating the shit out of him. Maven never makes it back to the match.

 

-Steve Austin eliminates everyone when he comes to the ring, and has time to bring them all back into the ring, hit stunners, and toss them a second time.

 

-Godlust, Godfather, Val Venis, and Mr. Perfect all return for this Rumble!

 

-HHH and Austin square off. Hurricane comes out and tries to double chokeslam them. They both look at each other as if to say "is he serious?" and then toss the superhero.

 

-The crowd continues with Kurt Angle's music after it stops playing for about a minute, chanting, "You suck...WHAT?"

 

-Mr. Perfect gets beat down by HHH and Austin and STILL manages to swat his gum out of midair!

 

-RVD enters the ring with a five star, but gets pedigreed quickly by HHH and then dumped by Booker. They were supposed to have a feud (I think) leading to Wrestlemania, but things got changed to RVD/Regal and Edge/Booker instead of Edge/Regal and RVD/Booker.

[JoeDirt 0]

-Lawler is eliminated by Perfect, and then helps others eliminate Perfect, setting up a feud for a match at Wrestlemania that was changed to Perfect/Luger instead.

?

 

Seemed like it was pretty obvious it would be Perfect / Luger from the moment Heenan "unveiled" Luger earlier in the show.

 

Where did you hear about Perfect / Lawler? I just figured their interaction was a nod to the AWA / Mid-South fans.

You're right, it's my fault. I THINK I read that a long time ago in a Scott Keith rant, and he's been proven to be wrong over and over again. Or maybe I heard it somewhere else. Oh well.

[alfdogg 0]

1998

 

Cactus Jack (co-eliminates Tom Brandi)

Chainsaw Charlie (eliminates Cactus Jack, co-eliminates Tom Brandi)

Tom Brandi

The Rock (eliminates Ken Shamrock & Faarooq)

Mosh

Phineas Godwinn (co-eliminates Kurrgan)

8-Ball (co-eliminates Kurrgan)

Bradshaw (co-eliminates Kurrgan)

Owen Hart (eliminates Jeff Jarrett)

Steve Blackman

D-Lo Brown (co-eliminates Ahmed Johnson)

Kurrgan (eliminates Mosh & Steve Blackman)

Marc Mero

Ken Shamrock (co-eliminates Kurrgan)

Thrasher

Mankind (eliminates Chainsaw Charlie)

TAFKA Goldust (eliminates Mankind & Vader)

Jeff Jarrett

Honky Tonk Man

Ahmed Johnson

Mark Henry (eliminates Phineas Godwinn, co-eliminates Ahmed Johnson)

Kama Mustafa

Steve Austin (eliminates Marc Mero, 8-Ball, Thrasher, Kama Mustafa, Savio Vega, Chainz, & The Rock)

Henry Godwinn

Savio Vega

Faarooq (eliminates D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry, & Dude Love)

Dude Love (eliminates Bradshaw & Henry Godwinn)

Chainz (eliminates TAFKA Goldust)

Vader (eliminates Honky Tonk Man)

 

THE FINISH: Ex-tag team champs Steve Austin and Dude Love paired off against Nation of Domination comrades The Rock and Faarooq. After Dude took down Rock with Sweet Shin Music and the double-arm DDT, Austin turned on Dude, but received the Mandible claw for his efforts. Austin kicked low to break, and Faarooq recovered from a stiff Austin clothesline to eliminate Dude with one of his own. Faarooq then sets up Austin for elimination, but Rock opts to take a brief rest rather than help out...only to eliminate Faarooq. This proves to be his mistake, as he receives a Stunner and elimination, making Austin the third back-to-back winner of the Rumble.

 

Notes

 

- Cactus and Chainsaw battle it out with chairs & a trash can to start, the first time weapons were brought into play during a Rumble.

 

- Jim Ross doesn't even have time to discuss Tom Brandi's feud with Marc Mero before he's dumped immediately. He lasted all of 11 seconds in the ring.

 

- eight people turned in performances of 25 minutes or more, including the Rock, who was the ironman with a time of 49:47, Chainsaw Charlie, Phineas Godwinn, 8-Ball, Bradshaw, D-Lo Brown, Thrasher, and Goldust.

 

- Owen Hart was attacked inexplicably by Jeff Jarrett and Jim Cornette as he made his way down the ramp, and was taken to the back. He returned to the ring after Jarrett's entrance, nine entries later, and eliminated him. Owen was then eliminated illegally by HHH, who hit Owen with one of his crutches. HHH was originally scheduled for the Rumble, but was replaced by the Honky Tonk Man due to his injury.

 

- Skull of the Disciples of Apocalypse was #22, but didn't make it to the ring after being ambushed backstage by Los Boricuas, who thought he was Steve Austin from the back.

 

- The Nation of Domination proved that it truly was every man for themselves, as they had five members entered, and three of them were eliminated by their fellow Nation members.

 

- the most memorable moment of this Rumble was Mick Foley appearing as all three of his alter-egos: Cactus Jack [1], Mankind [16], and Dude Love [28].

 

- Austin's win inspired the debut of the infamous "STONE COLD! STONE COLD! STONE COLD!" chant from Jim Ross which has been used for surprise appearances for Austin to this day.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

-Lawler is eliminated by Perfect, and then helps others eliminate Perfect, setting up a feud for a match at Wrestlemania that was changed to Perfect/Luger instead.

?

 

Seemed like it was pretty obvious it would be Perfect / Luger from the moment Heenan "unveiled" Luger earlier in the show.

 

Where did you hear about Perfect / Lawler? I just figured their interaction was a nod to the AWA / Mid-South fans.

You're right, it's my fault. I THINK I read that a long time ago in a Scott Keith rant, and he's been proven to be wrong over and over again. Or maybe I heard it somewhere else. Oh well.

Perfect started a feud with Razor Ramon around this time too, that never went anywhere. They had a big brawl on Challenge during an interview segment.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Cawthon:

 

Diesel was referring to Michaels.

 

Diesel was a quasi-heel at Rumble '96. Not a face. Not a heel. But *NOT* a tweener. To the 7-12 year old mark watching, he was an asshole jerk who had a really popular friend named Shawn Michaels. He even had the dreaded "grey elbow pad of death" (wink). During the Rumble, Shawn and Diesel punched each other when they were both in there. The (very brief) interview) was the beginning of Diesel's "I'm turning heel, but not really, if you wear my glove, but none of you are, and I'm facing Taker, so naturally, I'm a heel" phase.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Hey, I just hung with my two very drunk friends to watch:

 

ROYAL RUMBLE 94

 

1, based on it being 1994, thought Bret had to win.

 

1, based on it being 1994, thought Luger had to win.

 

I made them agree "Which *1* guy do you think wins this thing?" They were both SURE of the winner. I made them chug a beer if they were wrong.

 

Interestingly enough, one picked the final 4 as: Bret, Lex, HBK, and...shit, someone NOT NAMED HEADSHRINKER FATU...

 

So impossible.

 

Meaning this year we get:

 

John Cena, Batista, Shawn Michaels, and Mark Jindrak

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Re: 2002

 

>>>Perfect Plex on Angle...but HHH dumps him.

 

One of the Top 5 WORST RUMBLE MOMENTS *EVER*, anyone disagree?

[Guest LooneyTune]

Eh... I'm impartial.

 

Onto the 1990 comment about Hennig: The win would've meant nothing in the long run for Hennig. Hogan/Warrior I can guarantee was in stone for Wrestlemania, and since the Rumble Match had no real prize (the ever forgotten "Winners purse of the money"), it was just another Battle Royale. He ended up winning the IC Title anyway, and had two very respectable reigns for the time frame.

 

I think people just make too big of a deal. Now, if the title match stipulation was around for this, then I could see people going "hmmm... what a politics players". Also, 1990 was still the time when almost always, the WWF had the face win the main event/final match on the card, so that could also be a factor.

[DCMaximo 0]

Royal Rumble 1993

Highlights:

 

-Backlund gets the longevity record for the time, with 61:10. Some say this was booked as a rib on Bob, who everyone thought was weird and goofy.

 

-Giant Gonzalez debuts and attacks the Undertaker, taking him out of the Rumble.

 

-Damian Demento actually lasts a while in the ring.

 

-Lawler is eliminated by Perfect, and then helps others eliminate Perfect, setting up a feud for a match at Wrestlemania that was changed to Perfect/Luger instead.

 

Very bland Rumble, 4/10.

Don't forget the highlight of Gorilla Monsoon refering to the aging Carlos Colon as a "youngster"

[Lil' Bitch 0]

1996 was the first Rumble that had theme played for all of the participants entering.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Don't forget the highlight of Gorilla Monsoon refering to the aging Carlos Colon as a "youngster"

Compared to Gorilla, everyone in that match was a youngster. Even Backlund.

[cawthon777 0]

While on the subject of the Rumble, I think I've sat through about 6 or 7 of them this week in putting together the spcecifics for each match. The only one I have left to go through - that I have - is 91.

 

If anyone can go through and help me out with the missing cards along with who eliminated who and how, I'd appreciate it.

 

Here's what I have thus far:

 

http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/rumbleppv.htm

 

When it comes to getting Rumble match times, I don't trust the net.

[Guest LooneyTune]

I have the times of entrances and eliminations for the 1988 Rumble. (gets to the email-zone). I timed it yesterday to see how screwy the intervals were (The time between Warrior and Gangs entrance was around 45 seconds for some reason).

[BHK 0]

Eh... I'm impartial.

 

Onto the 1990 comment about Hennig: The win would've meant nothing in the long run for Hennig. Hogan/Warrior I can guarantee was in stone for Wrestlemania, and since the Rumble Match had no real prize (the ever forgotten "Winners purse of the money"), it was just another Battle Royale. He ended up winning the IC Title anyway, and had two very respectable reigns for the time frame.

 

I think people just make too big of a deal. Now, if the title match stipulation was around for this, then I could see people going "hmmm... what a politics players". Also, 1990 was still the time when almost always, the WWF had the face win the main event/final match on the card, so that could also be a factor.

When was the WM title shot stipulation added, then? Was there an angle to implement it and it just stuck, or what?