It's January 21st, 1996. From Dusk til Dawn slays in the box office. It's still "One Sweet Day" for Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. The Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix. And things are certainly moving in the WWF, particularly into more edgy territory, as we enter the 1996 Royal Rumble from Fresno, California's Selland Arena to a crowd of 9,600 (slightly below the 10k for last year) and a buyrate of 260,000, which is up from last year's 225,000. So, what's been going on since In Your House 5?
It's honestly been a pretty quiet month save for the prevailing storyline between Razor Ramon and Goldust. It all started when the bizarre one sent Todd Pettengill to deliver a letter to Razor, which contained some racy wording that angered the bad guy. From there it's amplified with gold roses, a gold teddy bear, Goldust having Razor's name on his chest, and out and out saying many of the torrid things he wants to do with him. This has angered the Intercontinental champ who is set to face off with Goldust tonight.
Back at In Your House, Jeff Jarrett made his return to the WWF, promoting his next album "Greater than Great". One man who hasn't found Jarrett's antics to be so great is Ahmed Johnson, who has been victim of a collusion between Jerry Lawler and Double J to mess with Ahmed. After Jarrett smashed his gold CD over the head of Ahmed, president Gorilla Monsoon would kick Jarrett out of the Royal Rumble and place him in a match against Ahmed.
But then we focus on the Royal Rumble itself and the biggest star being focused on. No, not the debuting Vader. No, not Diesel. No, not even the returning Tatanka, but Shawn Michaels. Flash back to the Syracuse incident which left Shawn badly injured. After choosing to come back too soon against doctor's wishes, Shawn would collapse in the middle of the ring during an episode of Raw. Since then, it's all been doom and gloom with his doctors claiming that Shawn's post-concussion syndrome is so bad it would be wise for him to retire from active competition. Shawn chose against that suggestion and has thrown his name into this year's Royal Rumble in hopes to win the match for the second year in a row, and to finally take the one championship that has alluded him at Wrestlemania. Oh, and Bret's facing Undertaker for the WWF title. Not really much TV time spent on this.
Royal Rumble opens with Sunny still in that bathtub (now more bubbly than last week) as she tells us that this show contains material of a graphic nature. Viewer indiscretion-er, discretion is advised.
It's Vince and Mr. Perfect on commentary (since Lawler is in the Rumble match) as we open action with Double J taking on Ahmed Johnson. Ahmed jogs to the ring and starts with some strikes on Jarrett. He tries a spinebuster, but Jarrett escapes. Ahmed stalks Jarrett around ringside, but when both get back in it's Jarrett who gets some stomps. He tries a hiptoss, but Ahmed reverses with a big one of his own. Jarrett locks in a headlock, but Ahmed picks him up and throws him off. Ahmed misses a charge in the corner, but Jarrett avoids, only to then get smacked with a clothesline. Shoulder block by Ahmed, followed by a second and a scoop slam. Cover, but only a two.
Big flying clothesline by Ahmed barely connects on Jarrett. He tries a second, but ends up tumbling through the ropes, getting his hand caught in the ropes. Jarrett takes this chance to hit a clothesline on Ahmed off the apron. He rams Ahmed into the apron then whips him hard into the steps. Jarrett brings Ahmed back in and drops the leg on Ahmed who is draped on the ropes. He goes for some ax handles, which Ahmed shakes off. Eventually he gets caught in a bearhug turned into an inverse atomic drop. Another stiff clothesline follows. Spinebuster from Ahmed as Jarrett rolls back outside.
Ahmed dives over the ropes, getting more of the floor than he does Jarrett. It barely fases him as he brings Jarrett back into the ring. He goes to the top rope and goes for a flip, but Jarrett dodges. This gives Jarrett the chance to lock in the figure four, but Ahmed manages to reverse the hold. Jarrett continues to work the legs with some elbows to the knee. He tries again for the figure four, but he gets shoved to the outside. Jarrett then goes for his guitar and heads up top...
And lays in his biggest smash hit yet. This causes a disqualification, leading to Ahmed getting declared the Victor. Jarrett doesn't care as much as he struts up the ramp. Ahmed gives chase as Jarrett makes it to the back.
Not a bad opener honestly. Ahmed's fun to watch in a "this is going to end in a horrific car crash" sort of way, and that was exemplified here with a lot of his bigger spots. Jarrett tried his best to get a good match out of Ahmed, and while it was no quality outing, I feel it was fine for what it was. Especially the ending which makes sense considering Jarrett's desperation to get as far away from Ahmed as possible, hence the cheap DQ.
Todd is backstage with Diesel who says he's like a ninth grader who is going to have the time of his life with his parents not home. When it comes to Vader, he's unproven in the waters of the WWF and it doesn't look like Vader time to him, it looks like Big Daddy Cool time. Diesel has no issues with the Undertaker other than being bumped for contendership, and thus has no real preference of either Taker or Bret winning tonight.
Up next, it's the WWF Tag Team Championship on the line. The Smoking Gunns defend against the Bodydonnas. Recently added to Skip and Sunny's alliance is Zip, better known as former Heavenly Body member Dr. Tom Pritchard. Starting action is Skip and Billy. Headlock and shoulder block spot to start as Billy covers for two. Headscissors frm Skip, but Billy comes right back up with a back body drop. He goes for a cross body, but Skip ducks as Billy goes sailing out. Both Bodydonnas throw Bart out of the ring then bring Billy back in, hitting a double elbow. Bart sends both of them flippong over the ropes, then drops the rope to let Billy get a cross body in to the outside.
Bart and Billy gets in some shot on Skip. Zip tries to aid Skip, but to no avail as he gets a few shots too. Sunny distracts Bart and Billy as Zip makes the tag. Bart comes in as well. Chops by Zip have no effect on Bart, but Bart's chops have a far stiffer impact. He picks Zip up and hits a press slam. Tag to Skip who gets in a clothesline to Bart. Billy gets the tag and shoves Skip into Bart as they hit a double spinebuster. Sunny tries to interfere, but Billy hits the ropes, sending her tumbling. Billy goes to check on Sunny as some guy in the crowd can be heard saying "Kick her ass! Beat her up!" Classy folks in Fresno on this night. This is all a ruse as it allows the Bodydonnas to double team Billy. "She's not like a lot of women, McMahon, she's smart!" says Mr. Perfect. Ugh.
Skip hits a running plancha over the ropes on to Billy. Tag to Zip as Skip suplexes Zip on to Billy. Cover only gets a two. Zip rams Billy into the buckle, then to Skip's boot. He hits a slam and tags Skip, gutwrench powerbombing hin on to Billy. Elbow to Bart as the Bodydonnas gets some cheap shots on Billy. Zip keeps Billy locked in a chinlock, but Billy escapes. Tag to Skip who hits a body slam. He goes to the second rope and hits an elbow, covering for two. Tag back to Skip as they hit a double flapjack. Cover only gets a two.
Tag to Zip, but this double team attempt ends up with both Bodydonnas colliding into each other. Billy avoids contact and tags in Bart, who lays fists to both Zip and Skip. Back drop to Skip, and an elbow to Zip. Bart and Billy throw the Donnas into each other (Zip ending up back body dropping Skip in the process) and hit Zip with sidewinder. Sunny distracts the referee allowing for Skip to hit Bart with an elbow drop. Cover, but Bart kicks out at two. Double back drop by the Body Donnas. They try a double suplex, but Billy spears Zip and Bart rolls up Skip for the three to retain the tag team titles.
A pretty good tag match. Lots of good action and for a fresher team, Zip and Skip work very well with each other, hitting lots of unique double team offense. But what's most important is for the first time in a while, we actually have an actual team to feud against the Gunns. Maybe the tag division is slowly coming back?
Dammit, I thought I was free from this. We get a "greatest hits" compilation of Billionaire Ted. It's not funny on Raw, and definitely not funny here. Oh god, we still have two months of this.
Razor gets the shoulder of Goldust and slams him to the mat over and over again, turning an arm bar into some paintbrush slaps. Headlock by Razor, but Goldust begins to rub Razor's face, forcing the bad guy to panic and break the hold. Goldust look to Marlena and then goes behind Razor, feeling him up. Goldust takes Razor to the corner and rubs the face of Razor, forcing the bad guy to shove him. Razor starts some more work on the arm of Goldust, but Goldust comes back with a stiff slap that wakes Razor up. Drop toe hold by Razor and some more paintbrushes, followed by a slap to the face and the butt, which Goldust seems to enjoy. Another slap takes Goldust to the outside.
Razor gives chase, but Goldust hides behind Marlena. Both men return to the ring as Goldust gets a headlock takedown, only for Razor to get some scissors in and another stiff slap that takes Goldust back outside. Goldust again hides behind Marlena. Razor returns to the ring as Goldust blows a kiss at Razor. Some "faggot" chants can be heard as Razor clotheslines Goldust over the ropes to a pop. For the third time, Goldust hides behind Marlena.
Sick of this, Razor grabs Marlena and places her out of the way. This gives Goldust enough time to get in a cheap shot, sending Razor into the steps. He rams Razor back first into the steps a couple of times, injuring the lower back, and laying in a hard chop to the face. Both men return to the ring as Goldust hits an ax handle to the back. Hard whips to the buckle and a bulldog by Goldust who covers for a two count only. He bounces Razor off the ropes with a back suplex. Another cover, but another kick out at two. He drags Razor to Marlena who blows the gold dust into his eyes.
Razor tries to come back, but Goldust hits a facebuster and a spinning neckbreaker. Cover, but Razor kicks out again at two. Goldust follows up with a sleeper hold, but Razor eventually gets to his feet, falling into the corner and getting a low blow on Goldust with the referee distracted. Both men stay down on the mat until Goldust rolls into a cover for two. Razor blocks a punch and lands several rights of his own. Goldust tries a hiptoss, but Razor turns it into a chokeslam, covering for only a two count. Fallaway slam follows up, another cover for two. Eye poke from Goldust who goes up top, but Razor pushes the ropes, groining him. Razor hits a back suplex as Marlena distracts the referee.
Razor calls for the Razor's Edge, but the 1-2-3 Kid enters the ring, hitting a spinning heel kick. Cover and the three wins the I.C title for Goldust.
A really good match. Both men worked well together, and the match never felt like it moved too slow, even with the sleeper spot. Marlena already feels like a huge asset to Goldust's character proving a solid heel distractor. Speaking of Goldust, he shined the most in this match as his freaky, provocotive character is in full swing, and the mind games on Razor were well executed. And despite Scott Hall being uncomfortable with the angle, he still managed to put in a great effort here and helped make Goldust look like a star.
Up next, its the 1996 Royal Rumble match. We get some interviews early on. We have Shawn Michaels' doctor now saying that he's suddenly now fine to compete, Owen Hart says that he is going to win the rumble and end Shawn Michaels' career. Jake Roberts says that everyone get a taste of him. Lawler says that the Royal Rumble will be won by royalty, him. Horowitz says that he's confident in winning. Cornette says that he's ready to unleash Vader into the Rumble. And Shawn Michaels says that he did it once and he's bound to do it again. He refers to his fans as the Kliq (Yup, this is a thing that's happening).
Opening the Rumble is Hunter Hearst Helmsley (who lost a match with Duke "The Dumpster" Droese by DQ on the Free-For-All to end up with the #1 spot, while Droese will take #30). Entrant #2 is Henry O. Godwinn. Getting some In Your House 5 vibes to start this event. After a slugfest, Hunter takes Godwinn to the corner and lays some strikes. Big clothesline from the hog farmer followed by a big back body drop. Godwinn presses Helmsley, but Hunter rakes the eyes to make a save. Entrant #3 is Mr. Backlund (also this is the first Rumble to feature entrance themes with the entrants).
Backlund saves Hunter and goes after Godwinn. He tries to throw Godwinn over the ropes, but Godwinn gets a thumb to the eye. Backlund then goes after Hunter with some shots to the midsection. Godwinn then attacks Backlund and tries to throw him out, but Hunter attacks the hog farmer and tries to take Backlund out himself. All three brawl until we get our fourth entrant, Jerry Lawler. High Knee by Hunter to Godwinn. Lawler grabs Godwinn's slop bucket, but Godwinn saves himself. He chases the trio with the slop bucket as they all escape through the ropes (which does not count as an elimination.
Godwinn grabs the bucket and throws the slop on to the heels, with the majority hitting Lawler. Backund returns to the ring in a rage, but Godwinn manages to gain control. He fights off the heels as we get to entrant #5. Bob Holly is next up. Holly focuses on Lawler, hitting a back body drop. Things begin to slow down to the "get near the ropes and try to toss them out to no avail" spots. Backlund tries to eliminate Godwinn, but still no luck. Hunter tries to get rid of Backlund as we get entrant #6. King Mabel (with Sir Mo). No eliminations for the next 90 seconds as we get to the seventh entrant...
Jake "The Snake" Roberts, with bag in tow. He opens the bag and reveals the snake, which causes most of hte heels to clear out. All, but Lawler, who ends up getting up close and personal. Lawler crawls out of the ring in terror as the snake is being placed back in the bag. Everyone reenters the ring (except for Lawler who is hiding under the ring). Mabel gets caught in the ropes as we get to our eigth entrant, it's Dory Funk Jr. Jake tries a DDT on Hunter, but Hunter grabs the rope. Lots of brawling as we get to entrant #9, former Royal Rumble winner Yokozuna.
Backlund locks a chicken wing on Dory until Yoko stops him. He throws Backlund out, giving us our first elimination. Splash in the corner by Mabel on Yoko, with Godwinn sandwiched under him. He tries to eliminate Yoko but no luck. Loud "DDT" chants from the crowd as Mabel splashes Godwinn. Entrant #10 is next and it's the 1-2-3 Kid. Kid runs down the rampway, constantly looking behind him in fear of Razor getting retaliation for earlier. Speak of the devil, as Razor chases after the Kid around the ring. Officials finally hold Razor back, but to no avail as Razor enters and continues to give chase. Mabel gets in a shot on Razor as the officials are back on him.
Entrant #11 is Omari from Japan to the conwayest of pops. Godwinn was eliminated during the Razor/Kid stuff and Lawler is still hiding under the ring. Funk lays some elbow on Kid, but is unable to eliminate the Kid. Clotheslines by Roberts takes Yoko down as entrant #12, Savio Vega, makes it to the ring. He gets a spin kick on Mabel and he and Yoko work to then eliminate the king. Omari is next to be eliminated by Jake Roberts and Hunter.
Entrant #13 is Vader! A Vader wearing his singlet backwards by the way. Savio eliminates Dory Funk. Vader brings Savio back in and lays in some body blows. Entrant #14 is Doug "Jerry Lawler, you raped a 14-year old girl" Gilbert (that feels intentional). Gilbert goes after Hunter as Jake finally hits the DDT on Savio. A punch by Vader sends Jake tumbling over the top rope. He then clotheslines Gilbert and then goes after the Kid. Entrant #15 is...
I have no idea who they are. It's a member of the Squat Team (also known as the Headhunters). Chokeslam by Vader to Gilbert, followed by a press slam that eliminates Gilbert. The Squat Team member is thrown out easily next by Vader. But don't worry, Squat Team Member #2 is in next at #16... and is thrown out in about 24 seconds by Yokozuna as Vader throws the other out again. It's time to say goodbye to the Squat Team, after an amazing run of one whole appearance.
Entrant #17 is Owen Hart. Savio dropkicks Vader to no effect. The monster heels then double team on Savio as Vader throws Yoko into Savio in the corner, followed by a monster avalanche of his own. He slams Savio, then hits a massive splash, followed by a leg drop by Yoko. Entrant #18 is last year's winner, Shawn Michaels. Vader eliminates Savio as Michaels goes to work on everyone, but putting his focus on Owen. Both Vader and Yoko brawl in the middle of the ring, with Shawn managing to throw both big men over the top rope, followed by the 1-2-3 Kid.
As Entrant #19, Hakushi enters the ring, Vader attacks Yoko and reenters the ring. He attacks Shawn, laying in some body blows. He presses Shawn up and throws Shawn over the top rope, which isn't being counted as an elimination. Vader throws everybody over the ropes as Monsoon and the officials try to calm down the big man. Vader gets in Monsoon's face as Cornette tries to calm him down. While Vader makes his exit, the 20th entrant is our old pal Tatanka. Shawn throws Cornette over the ropes as things regain control.
Hakushi tries to eliminate Shawn Michaels, but Hunter stops him. Hunter tries to throw Shawn out to no avail. Owen dumps Hakushi out as entrant #21, Aldo Montoya enters to a death pop. Shawn tumbles through the ropesand walks around ringside. He starts looking around for Jerry Lawler, who is still under the ring. He drags Lawler out and brings him back in as we get our 22nd entrant, Diesel. Aldo and Lawler end up eliminated as Big Daddy Cool comes to the ring. Diesel chucks Tatanka out with ease.
Shawn and Diesel begin to brawl until Owen and Holly get involved. Owen rakes the eyes of Diesel and works him in the corner. Entrant #23 is Kama, now with a bald head. Shawn holds Kama as Diesel goes for a punch, but inadvertently hitting his best friend. Entrant #24 is The Ringmaster. He chop blocks Holly and goes on the attack. Shawn is still hanging on as every attempt to throw him over the ropes is met with no avail. Austin throws Holly over the ropes.
Entrant #25 is Barry Horowitz. Diesel throws Hunter out with ease, as Hunter has the longest run of this match at over 48 minutes. Entrant #26 is Make-A-Difference Fatu. He gets in a cheap shot to Hunter as he makes it into the ring. Owen tries to suplex Shawn over the ropes to no avail as Shawn grabs the rope. He tries to suplex Owen over, but no luck. Entrant #27 is Isaac Yankem D.D.S. Horowitz is thrown out by Owen. He then hits the enziguri on Shawn that took Shawn Michaels out before. He tries to throw Shawn over, but Diesel grabs Owen and throws him over the top rope.
Ringmaster lands a big clothesline on Shawn as entrant #28 Marty Jannetty is up next. The former Rockers trade blows, but both men end up colliding into each other. Entrant #29 is The British Bulldog. Bulldog wastes no time in eliminating Jannetty. Fatu tosses out Ringmaster. Duke "The Dumpster" Droese finally comes in at #30. Shawn and Bulldog battle on the outside as Owen returns to get in a cheap shot. Both Owen and Bulldog beat up Shawn as Owen is sent to the back. Bulldog brings Shawn back in and presses him over his head, until Diesel makes the save.
Shawn dropkicks Yankem over the top rope, while Droese is thrown out by Diesel and Kama. We're down to four, but not for long as Bulldog is thrown over the top rope. Kama tries to throw Shawn out, but Shawn skins the cat. Diesel dumps out Kama...
But Shawn hits sweet chin music to Diesel, sending him over the top rope. Shawn Michaels wins his second Royal Rumble and is going to Wrestlemania 12. A dejected Diesel starts walking up the ramp, then takes his frustrations out on the Bulldog. Dok tries to talk to Diesel, but Diesel says the only reason Dok's living and breathing is because he's allowing it. He returns to the ring. Shawn moons the crowd as Diesel confronts him. Diesel raises his hand and allows for Shawn to get a high five.
A good Royal Rumble. Definitely an improvement from the brief events of last year. Can't say it was the most star studded edition, with plenty of scrub entrants like Doug Gilbert, Omari and the Squat Team. But there was a lot of good action, Vader starts his run looking like a threat, we get plenty of continuing storylines including Diesel's slow turn and Shawn's issues with Owen, plus we continue through this whole Boyhood Dream story with Shawn getting one more shot at the gold at Wrestlemania. Overall, while not a top contender for best rumble, it was still a fun hour of action.
Main event time up next. Bret Hart defending the WWF Championship against The Undertaker. Diesel has still not left ringside and confronts Undertaker up the ramp way. He shoves Paul Bearer out of the way and that's enough for Taker to attack Diesel. Diesel comes back with a right hand as officials start to hold the two men back. Diesel yells "I ain't afraid of the dark" as he's sent back through the entrance way.
Bret avoids contact from the Undertaker early on and starts laying in some strikes, but Taker no-sells. He grabs Bret and throws him in the corner, laying in some punches and a choke. He hits a clothesline to the back of Bret and follows with a hard whip to the buckle and a double arm choke. He rips at Bret's face until the ref forces a break. Keeping Bret in the corner with some more punches, following with another whip sending Bret back first into the buckle. He grasps at the face of Bret, keeping the champion down for a good period of time. Bret tries to get his foot on the ropes, but Paul Bearer keeps pushing it away. Bret finally grasps the ropes, forcing a break.
Taker goes old school with the clothesline to the arm off the top rope. He goes back into the face grasp, eventually throwing Bret into the corner and getting in a shot to the face. Another hard whip to the buckle, but this time Bret comes back with a kick to the face, a clothesline off the buckle and a clothesline that sends Taker over the top rope. Taker stands up, taking no damage from the offense, but a plancha over the ropes from Bret takes him down. He tries to pull Bret off the Apron, but Bret dives at him. Taker catches him and rams him spine-first into the ring post.
Taker tries to ram Bret face-first into the post, but Bret counters, smacking Taker into the post. He runs at Taker, but the dead man gets a boot in. He throws Bret into the guardrail and hits a few stiff rights. He goes to whip Bret into the steps, but Bret reverses, sending Taker crashing knees-first into the steps, and flying right over them. Bret begins to kick down the knee of Taker, then chases away Paul Bearer. He then smashes Taker's leg over the stairs. He then breaks the count, only to bring Taker back in. Bret continues to work the leg, kicking at it and dropping his weight on it.
Bret transitions some leg locks into a figure four. Bearer calls upon the power of the urn (which is finally not chains anymore, I just realized), to give Taker the power to turn the hold around. Bret makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Bret comes back with more boots to the leg and a stiff punch to the knee. He wraps Taker's foot over the ropes and pulls as Taker tries to fight back. More leg work, which turns into Bret tearing at the mask of Undertaker. He goes back into working the leg, returning to the leg lock. Taker eventually starts kicking at the face of Bret with some stiff boot shots. He hobbles around, selling the leg damage, ald throws Bret to the outside.
He throws Bret hip-first into the steps, then starts choking Bret with a television cable as Paul Bearer distracts the referee. He then throws Bret into the timekeeper's area and drives a steel chair into his chest. He brings Bret back into the ring and goes for a boot, but Bret ducks him and punches the leg. He continues to damage the leg as some noticeable boos can be heard. He drags Taker to the pose and shoves the stairs away so he can slam the leg into the steel. Bret continues to wear down the leg and returns to the leg lock. Undertaker escapes, and gets in some punches and a headbutt. Taker lands a big leg drop and follows with a clothesline. He tries for a tombstone, but Bret escapes, only to get hit with an elbow to the face.
Taker tries to club Bret on the apron, but gets caught in a guillotine from the champ. He tries a back body drop, but Bret connects with a DDT. Cover, but Taker kicks out at two. He sits back ,up, but Bret is right back with some headbutts and a Russian leg sweep. He follows with a massive bulldog out of the corner, but Taker sits up, only to be taken down with a backbreaker. He tries to sit up again, but can't as Bret lands an elbow. He calls for the sharpshooter as the crowd is very mixed, but Taker grabs the throat, and hits a knee to the midsection. Bret ducks a clothesline and both catch each other in a clothesline.
Bret tears away the corner padding, exposing the turnbuckle ring. He bashes in Taker with some more punches to the face, and goes back into ripping the mask, managing to pull it off. Take goes on the attack, but Bret avoids contact. Taker reverses a whip, sending Bret into the corner. Bret comes back with an elbow and rams Taker into the exposed corner, hitting him twice. He continues to headbutt the face of Taker and follows with more headbutts. Taker catches Bret and lands a tombstone piledriver. Cover...
But Diesel returns, pulling the referee out of the ring to cause a DQ. Taker is woozy, but finally realizes what just happened. He flips Taker off and makes his leave, with Taker following him. Bret doesn't so much celebrate in the ring as he does just leave.
In a Royal Rumble Plus segment, Dok Hendrix is backstage with Gorilla Monsoon who gives us an update to the card for In Your House 6. Bret Hart to defend the WWF title against Diesel. Meanwhile Dok is with Shawn Michaels who is jumping for joy after his win. Shawn says he and his Kliq have completed phase one. He and his Kliq are going to rule the 90's (like they've ruled the backstage. Wink wink). When it comes to whoever wins at In Your House, Diesel vs Bret, he's fine with facing Diesel again at Wrestlemania, but he's got the Kliq behind him. Back to Pettengill as Monsoon continues his interview proud that Shawn is back 100%.
An irate Undertaker comes into the locker room saying that it will be a cold day in hell before Diesel ever regains the WWF title. Monsoon doesn't want to see what will happen tonight at In Your House, so he's now made the WWF title match a steel cage match.
Dok is now with Diesel who says that Bret lives and breathes because he's allowed it. All he did with Taker was state that Diesel is number one. You don't have to like him, but he's got to love him because he's the best thing going today. He's not afraid of the dark because Big Daddy's going to get the job done. The only thing Diesel's afraid of the Tax Man (but IRS is gone...). This is no longer the WWF, it's the DWF, and the companyis running on Diesel power. A really good promo from Diesel. Where the hell was that Diesel for a year? Back to Todd and an irate Cornette and Vader. Cornette is responsible for the real winner of the Royal Rumble, Vader. No one can underestimate Vader says Cornette as Vader breathes into the camera and we finally end this plus segment.
Bret vs Taker was a good match, but I wouldn't say it was as good as I was hoping. Way too much slow spots in between with a lot of focus on working the leg of Undertaker. Granted, it wasn't anywhere as bad as Diesel/Bulldog, but it definitely felt like a slowdown to any momentum the match started to have. I liked seeing Bret and Undertaker both work somewhat more heelish, with Paul Bearer distracting the referee to let Taker use the chair or choke Bret with a cable, and Bret smashing Taker's leg into the post and smashing his face into an exposed steel. All good stuff. And while the DQ ending feels a bit weak, it all makes sense since Diesel's issues with Undertaker continue to escalate. So, while not perfect, it was still a strong way to end, what was a strong show.
Strong is definitely a good word to describe 1996's Royal Rumble. A good show with no really bad matches. Granted, Jarrett/Ahmed was a messy match, but it still worked well. The tag title match was some good tag action. Goldust's push continues to go strong after a great match with Razor Ramon. And Undertaker vs Bret, while slow in places, was still a strong main event with angles that continue to move forward. And the Royal Rumble itself, while not the most amazing, was still a great installment this year. Back to the near two minute entrants as opposed to the minute entrants of last year, lots of good action, a decent debut for Vader, and the continuation of the Boyhood Dream storyline in all the right places. So far Wrestlemania in 1996 feels a lot stronger going into it than it did in 1995. Final Rating for the Royal Rumble is an A-.
Next up for the WWF, it's one last stop before Wrestlemania. It's In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage. Diesel gets his shot against Bret inside the steel structure. Shawn goes for revenge against Owen Hart. And something called a "Cry Baby Match". Find out what that's all about in the coming month of Raw reviews.
No comments:
Post a Comment