This was the first time there was stipulation in the match and the winner would be declared WWF Heavyweight Championship - backstory Undertaker beat Hogan for the title at the previous Survivor Series, a few days later at the only This Tuesday In Texas, Hogan reclaimed the title but it was all full of shenanigans saw Jack Tunney held up the title, meanwhile WCW legend Ric Flair arrived in the company with the actual NWA Title and he was out to prove he was really the greatest champion in wrestling.
Jack Tunney is making an introduction holding the title as our commentators are the legendary team of Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. This is probably Heenan's greatest moment as commentator and even has the great line when Tunney is in the ring "The best President since Noriega" - so I'm loving this and number one hasn't even come out yet.
Entry #1 is THE BRITISH BULLDOG to a great reaction, and Entry #2 is MILLION DOLLAR MAN TED DIBIASE with Sherri, I'm assuming he's not with Sherri for much long after this, as I always think of her being aligned with Shawn Michaels in 1992 and Hart as the Manager of DiBiase in Money Inc. around this time and the two fight from the first moment, DiBiase is absolutely one of my favourite heels of this time period since there was nobody I wanted to see get beat up more then them. Gorilla Monsoon says Bushwhacker Luke holds the record for shortest elimination, which is not true. and Ted almost gets out Davey but then Davey eliminates Ted, in hindsight it's a shocking open, and #3 is THE NATURE BOY RIC FLAIR with Mr. Perfect, and Heenan's not happy this, the two lock up but Davey gets the better and even does a power press slam but does the battle royale/rumble thing of deciding not to throw him over the rope. Flair is doing a good selling job with Smith, number #4 is JERRY SAGGS of the Nasty Boys who for some reason was not in the previous years rumble though his tag-partner Knobbs was. The two team up on Bulldog, and again like I said last year with Knobbs he looks positively trim here, Bulldog sends Saggs over the top rope but impressively stays in but is then drop kicked out by Smith.
#5 is HAKU I don't always think of being there this late in the run and I believed he left shortly after here, Flair escapes under the bottom rope when Haku works on Smith, Haku is eliminated by smith as #6 makes his way and it's newly heel Sexy Boy SHAWN MICHAELS who first goes for Flair and Smith again as the opportunity to press an opponent out (Michaels) but doesn't, Michaels seems like has been lucky to stay in, #7 is EL MATADOR TITO SANTANA, he wasn't El Matador in his previous appearances and he was never used the same when he was El Matador. Shawn Michaels stays in impressively while Flair low blows Smith, you think it would be a regular thing in a Rumble since there is no disqualifications, #8 is THE BARBARIAN, who left the month after so another guy who wasn't there long after this. This is the most people the Rumble has had in. El Matador almost eliminates Michaels, as entry #9 is THE TEXAS TORNADO who Flair motions to, the two have history in other territory so it's never mentioned here, he'd stick around until August and the following year commit suicide, it felt like his time was up with the company by this point. Entry #10 is the REPO MAN, it's never mentioned but this is Barry Darsow who was Smash of Demolition so it's not his first rodeo, I always found Repo Man a fun character. Tornado seems to call a spot loudly as Flair gives him a chop. Entry #11 is GREG VALENTINE, who had an impressive showing last year of 44 minutes 20 seconds, believe another guy who had history with Flair in a different company, he is another guy who leave in 1992. It was very much a year of change in the company. Tornado and Bulldog have almost got Michaels out but is holding on.
Entry #12 is NIKOLAI VOLKOFF, whose a face at this point I believe but doesn't get much of a response, this is past is heyday, Valentine has the figure four leglock on Flair and the crowd are happy as Repo Man eliminates Volkoff who was barely in there. Repo Man is the skulking around the ring, as #13 BIG BOSS MAN to a good reception makes his way in the ring and he goes straight for Flair, Repo Man dumps Valentine who lasts like a good 40 minutes less then he did last year, impressive punch by Boss Man that nearly sends Michaels over the top rope, he's selling well, Repo Man gets dumped by Big Boss Man (who were going steady - that's what I made it sounds like). Heenan is terrific I won't bore you with what he says.
Flair eliminates Davey Boy in a good moment, and Tornado goes out right after him also by Ric Flair. #14 HERCULES another guy who departed the company in 1992, I believe Tito and Shawn Michaels have eliminated each other. n all this and Hercules eliminates Barbarian, and Boss Man eliminates Hercules in less then a minute. It's Boss Man and Flair now and Boss Man does the run at the ropes and Flair moves and he;s out
#15 is ROWDY RODDY PIPER at great speed to a huge response, the two go under the bottom rope and fight on the outside. The two have great chemistry in their interaction here including Piper hitting a fireman's carry and a sleeper. #16 is a heel JAKE ROBERTS, Roberts did the clever idea of letting the other people fight while he sat in the corner but he couldn't wait long. Roberts goes for the DDT but Piper saves him, still I don't believe Roberts as hit the DDT here, but Roddy saves him and Heenan's does a great bit of saying it's a kilt not a skirt then changing his mind when Piper ends up attacking Flair. #17 is the first winner of the Rumble HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN and he goes after Flair. Monsoon gives Flair his props which is what I like in commentary when they can acknowledge what somebody has done who is not their same alignment. #18 is IRS, always confused me a kid why he would wear a tie in a match, but anyway he was a guy I loved to hate growing up, #19 is JIMMY SNUKA looks better than he did in 91, and I wonder if he's history with Piper is brought up and the first person he actually hits Piper first but then goes for Flair. Obviously I know the history and who does win but it does do a great set up of actually who could win this, there is so many people who seem like they could with. #20 is THE UNDERTAKER who of course is one of the people who had claim to the title and he eliminates Snuka quickly, and Flair goes for him but that is a big mistake on his part and gets choked out for his troubles, Undertaker low blows Duggan which is something you don't expect to see from the Dead Man. #21 is MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE running straight to the ring, and Jake gets under the bottom rope to hide from him, Roberts having crossed the line with him, but Undertaker gets Savage before Roberts makes his way in, Savage finally gets the better of him and hits the high knee to knock him out, and Savage in the excitement jumps over the top rope to get him... and he's out. Only he's not he was being overzealous and a then rookie does the clever thing of trying to pull him back in the ring, and they decide to make the ruling as the commentators try to cover and say you have to be thrown over the top rope (Andre eliminated himself a few years previous so it's a new rule on the fly). So Randy Savage is still in! Flair tries to hit a low blow on Undertaker but apparently Dead Men don't have testicles.
#22 is THE BERZERKER hussing his away down to the ring, always thought he had a good look but the gimmick of a Viking wasn't really going places, Flair is now almost the record holder for longest time in a Rumble. #23 is VIRGIL in his first Rumble I believe who goes right after IRS which I guess there is a 6 degrees connection there, never really a fan of his, and his antics post WWE have not really endeared him to me, #24 isTHE IRON SHEIK COL. MUSTAFA who is from Iraq here rather than Iran, this is post Iraq War/Sgt. Slaughter and the gimmick didn't last much longer. Virgil is hitting some very weak chops on Mustafa as the camera is show more of the crowd for a too long, and Monsoon a shout out... go us! #25 is THE MODEL RICK MARTEL who is the current record holder here, he should have gone for Flair first just so he looked like he was trying to keep his record. Monsoon still repeats the Bushwhacker record lie. Mustafa is thrown out by Savage, and Duggan is getting a USA chant going. Piper as been in there in an impressively long time with 25 minutes considering he had wrestled earlier in the night winning the IC title from the Mountain, #26 is HULK HOGAN to a huge response and goes right for Flair. I believe Virgil has just eliminated Rick Martel or not he may have gone under the bottom rope as Hulk Hogan clotheslines Undertaker out before getting the Berzerker out and he rips his shirt as Virgil and Duggan end up sending each other out which the commentators couldn't tell straight away it was Duggan. #27 is (Principal) SKINNER too little response as Hogan almost gets Flair out.
Flair and Martel are trying to get Piper out but he's sticking in well, #28 is SGT. SLAUGHTER now a babyface and winner of the WWF Championship the year previously and Skinner is gone by Rick Martel and Ric Flair is the record holder for longest time in a Rumble. #29 is SID JUSTICE, always over but never seemed to stay anywhere long enough (soft ball?) always helped he looked the part. it's really a lot of people struggling in the corner or ropes to get over people out. #30 - is THE WARLORD, I just noticed Brian Knobbs was never in this was there ever a reason each Nasty Boy was in a different Rumble, Warlord is the actual winner (loser) of shortest time in a Rumble as Flair and Hogan are outside having going under the bottom rope and Hogan suplexes Flair. Justice does an incredible elimination of Slaughter propelling him into the turnbuckle and Slaughter going over, probably my favourite elimination in a Rumble up until this point. and Piper uses IRS ties to get him out of the Rumble, but the camera misses most of him falling. Hogan and Justice team up to get The Warlord out. Martel and Piper are trying to get each other out by Justice comes behind them and eliminates both. The last four are Hogan, Justice, Savage and Flair, as Savage goes in all the excitement by Flair and Justice, you kind of wonder why they just didn't eliminate him.
Justice eliminates Hogan from behind in a good response as there is no friends, and top babyface Hogan is complaining and grabs Justice hands and tries to pull him out as Flair comes from behind and is the winner.... WHAT???
What did the top babyface just do? The guy who happy eliminated friends in previous Rumbles then threw a fit when he get eliminated fairly acts like this big Hero, and we don't get much of a celebration as Justice and Hogan get in each others face and officials are there to stop them getting at each other.
Okay, I'll say this here this would be Hulk Hogan's last Rumble, having won 2 and had hissy fits in the other two and I am for one glad to see the back of him in this project, I was never a fan of him long before the recent history, I just didn't get him and his behaviour here was a clear indicator of what he was actually like, Justice actually turned heel in all of this, can't say I blame him in the slightest. So I say sayonara to you
After the Justice Hogan confrontation we go backstage with Flair celebrating with Heenan and Perfect as he gets awarded the title after bravely entering at number 3 and overcoming the odds (seriously who is the face and heels in all this).
Overall a classic Rumble with a stellar in ring performance from Flair and a stellar commentary job from Bobby Heenan, Hogan's hissy fit and eliminating Justice so Flair could win just goes down in the what where they thinking history.
Entry #1 is THE BRITISH BULLDOG to a great reaction, and Entry #2 is MILLION DOLLAR MAN TED DIBIASE with Sherri, I'm assuming he's not with Sherri for much long after this, as I always think of her being aligned with Shawn Michaels in 1992 and Hart as the Manager of DiBiase in Money Inc. around this time and the two fight from the first moment, DiBiase is absolutely one of my favourite heels of this time period since there was nobody I wanted to see get beat up more then them. Gorilla Monsoon says Bushwhacker Luke holds the record for shortest elimination, which is not true. and Ted almost gets out Davey but then Davey eliminates Ted, in hindsight it's a shocking open, and #3 is THE NATURE BOY RIC FLAIR with Mr. Perfect, and Heenan's not happy this, the two lock up but Davey gets the better and even does a power press slam but does the battle royale/rumble thing of deciding not to throw him over the rope. Flair is doing a good selling job with Smith, number #4 is JERRY SAGGS of the Nasty Boys who for some reason was not in the previous years rumble though his tag-partner Knobbs was. The two team up on Bulldog, and again like I said last year with Knobbs he looks positively trim here, Bulldog sends Saggs over the top rope but impressively stays in but is then drop kicked out by Smith.
#5 is HAKU I don't always think of being there this late in the run and I believed he left shortly after here, Flair escapes under the bottom rope when Haku works on Smith, Haku is eliminated by smith as #6 makes his way and it's newly heel Sexy Boy SHAWN MICHAELS who first goes for Flair and Smith again as the opportunity to press an opponent out (Michaels) but doesn't, Michaels seems like has been lucky to stay in, #7 is EL MATADOR TITO SANTANA, he wasn't El Matador in his previous appearances and he was never used the same when he was El Matador. Shawn Michaels stays in impressively while Flair low blows Smith, you think it would be a regular thing in a Rumble since there is no disqualifications, #8 is THE BARBARIAN, who left the month after so another guy who wasn't there long after this. This is the most people the Rumble has had in. El Matador almost eliminates Michaels, as entry #9 is THE TEXAS TORNADO who Flair motions to, the two have history in other territory so it's never mentioned here, he'd stick around until August and the following year commit suicide, it felt like his time was up with the company by this point. Entry #10 is the REPO MAN, it's never mentioned but this is Barry Darsow who was Smash of Demolition so it's not his first rodeo, I always found Repo Man a fun character. Tornado seems to call a spot loudly as Flair gives him a chop. Entry #11 is GREG VALENTINE, who had an impressive showing last year of 44 minutes 20 seconds, believe another guy who had history with Flair in a different company, he is another guy who leave in 1992. It was very much a year of change in the company. Tornado and Bulldog have almost got Michaels out but is holding on.
Entry #12 is NIKOLAI VOLKOFF, whose a face at this point I believe but doesn't get much of a response, this is past is heyday, Valentine has the figure four leglock on Flair and the crowd are happy as Repo Man eliminates Volkoff who was barely in there. Repo Man is the skulking around the ring, as #13 BIG BOSS MAN to a good reception makes his way in the ring and he goes straight for Flair, Repo Man dumps Valentine who lasts like a good 40 minutes less then he did last year, impressive punch by Boss Man that nearly sends Michaels over the top rope, he's selling well, Repo Man gets dumped by Big Boss Man (who were going steady - that's what I made it sounds like). Heenan is terrific I won't bore you with what he says.
Flair eliminates Davey Boy in a good moment, and Tornado goes out right after him also by Ric Flair. #14 HERCULES another guy who departed the company in 1992, I believe Tito and Shawn Michaels have eliminated each other. n all this and Hercules eliminates Barbarian, and Boss Man eliminates Hercules in less then a minute. It's Boss Man and Flair now and Boss Man does the run at the ropes and Flair moves and he;s out
#15 is ROWDY RODDY PIPER at great speed to a huge response, the two go under the bottom rope and fight on the outside. The two have great chemistry in their interaction here including Piper hitting a fireman's carry and a sleeper. #16 is a heel JAKE ROBERTS, Roberts did the clever idea of letting the other people fight while he sat in the corner but he couldn't wait long. Roberts goes for the DDT but Piper saves him, still I don't believe Roberts as hit the DDT here, but Roddy saves him and Heenan's does a great bit of saying it's a kilt not a skirt then changing his mind when Piper ends up attacking Flair. #17 is the first winner of the Rumble HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN and he goes after Flair. Monsoon gives Flair his props which is what I like in commentary when they can acknowledge what somebody has done who is not their same alignment. #18 is IRS, always confused me a kid why he would wear a tie in a match, but anyway he was a guy I loved to hate growing up, #19 is JIMMY SNUKA looks better than he did in 91, and I wonder if he's history with Piper is brought up and the first person he actually hits Piper first but then goes for Flair. Obviously I know the history and who does win but it does do a great set up of actually who could win this, there is so many people who seem like they could with. #20 is THE UNDERTAKER who of course is one of the people who had claim to the title and he eliminates Snuka quickly, and Flair goes for him but that is a big mistake on his part and gets choked out for his troubles, Undertaker low blows Duggan which is something you don't expect to see from the Dead Man. #21 is MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE running straight to the ring, and Jake gets under the bottom rope to hide from him, Roberts having crossed the line with him, but Undertaker gets Savage before Roberts makes his way in, Savage finally gets the better of him and hits the high knee to knock him out, and Savage in the excitement jumps over the top rope to get him... and he's out. Only he's not he was being overzealous and a then rookie does the clever thing of trying to pull him back in the ring, and they decide to make the ruling as the commentators try to cover and say you have to be thrown over the top rope (Andre eliminated himself a few years previous so it's a new rule on the fly). So Randy Savage is still in! Flair tries to hit a low blow on Undertaker but apparently Dead Men don't have testicles.
#22 is THE BERZERKER hussing his away down to the ring, always thought he had a good look but the gimmick of a Viking wasn't really going places, Flair is now almost the record holder for longest time in a Rumble. #23 is VIRGIL in his first Rumble I believe who goes right after IRS which I guess there is a 6 degrees connection there, never really a fan of his, and his antics post WWE have not really endeared him to me, #24 is
Flair and Martel are trying to get Piper out but he's sticking in well, #28 is SGT. SLAUGHTER now a babyface and winner of the WWF Championship the year previously and Skinner is gone by Rick Martel and Ric Flair is the record holder for longest time in a Rumble. #29 is SID JUSTICE, always over but never seemed to stay anywhere long enough (soft ball?) always helped he looked the part. it's really a lot of people struggling in the corner or ropes to get over people out. #30 - is THE WARLORD, I just noticed Brian Knobbs was never in this was there ever a reason each Nasty Boy was in a different Rumble, Warlord is the actual winner (loser) of shortest time in a Rumble as Flair and Hogan are outside having going under the bottom rope and Hogan suplexes Flair. Justice does an incredible elimination of Slaughter propelling him into the turnbuckle and Slaughter going over, probably my favourite elimination in a Rumble up until this point. and Piper uses IRS ties to get him out of the Rumble, but the camera misses most of him falling. Hogan and Justice team up to get The Warlord out. Martel and Piper are trying to get each other out by Justice comes behind them and eliminates both. The last four are Hogan, Justice, Savage and Flair, as Savage goes in all the excitement by Flair and Justice, you kind of wonder why they just didn't eliminate him.
Justice eliminates Hogan from behind in a good response as there is no friends, and top babyface Hogan is complaining and grabs Justice hands and tries to pull him out as Flair comes from behind and is the winner.... WHAT???
What did the top babyface just do? The guy who happy eliminated friends in previous Rumbles then threw a fit when he get eliminated fairly acts like this big Hero, and we don't get much of a celebration as Justice and Hogan get in each others face and officials are there to stop them getting at each other.
Okay, I'll say this here this would be Hulk Hogan's last Rumble, having won 2 and had hissy fits in the other two and I am for one glad to see the back of him in this project, I was never a fan of him long before the recent history, I just didn't get him and his behaviour here was a clear indicator of what he was actually like, Justice actually turned heel in all of this, can't say I blame him in the slightest. So I say sayonara to you
After the Justice Hogan confrontation we go backstage with Flair celebrating with Heenan and Perfect as he gets awarded the title after bravely entering at number 3 and overcoming the odds (seriously who is the face and heels in all this).
Overall a classic Rumble with a stellar in ring performance from Flair and a stellar commentary job from Bobby Heenan, Hogan's hissy fit and eliminating Justice so Flair could win just goes down in the what where they thinking history.
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