When you see the Royal Rumble above, what comes to mind? Perhaps Ric Flair's 1992 performance, when he entered 3rd and went the distance. Maybe it was the stare down between Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in 1990. How about Ax and Smash of Demolition going at it being the first and second entrants in 1989? It could've been Diesel's impressive performance in 1994, or a year later when Shawn Michaels and The British Bulldog started first and second, lasted to be the final two competitors, with Shawn earning the victory?
Outside the inaugural Royal Rumble in 1988, the logo above was used for Rumble from 1989 - 1995. It conjures many memories for old school fans such as myself. One of the first pay-per-view events I was allowed to order was the 1991 event. The next year, I invited my friend over to watch. Little did I know how special the 1992 edition would be. My friend left my house that night a fan, and his fandom would span for many years. Here are some of my favorite moments from the early years of the Rumble in no particular order.
The Rumble was Fair to Flair (1992)
It is safe to say that the 1992 edition of the Royal Rumble is the favorite, and if not, close to, edition of the event for many fans. 1992 marked the first time the Rumble match had stakes. The prior events didn't have the winner go on to main event Wrestlemania, or in the case of 1992, win the vacant World Heavyweight Title.
The undercard was strong, and the story telling of not only Flair, but Roddy Piper was outstanding. Piper had wrestled The Mountie for the Intercontinental Title earlier in the evening, earning a victory, and along with it, the IC title. He competed in the Rumble match itself, putting himself in possible contention to win two belts that night. He wouldn't win, of course. Instead, the victor of the Rumble match was Ric Flair. Prior to 1992, anyone who entered the event early wasn't there at the end, or at least in contention to win it in the end. Flair entered number 3.
Flair was known by NWA and WCW fans for his long matches by this point, and ability to tell a story in the ring. He had entered the WWE in late 1991, claiming to be the "real world's champion". At his first Rumble, he revealed what he was known for to WWE fans. He really sold the fatigue, the struggle, and utilized strategy during the event. I don't know how familiar non-NWA or WCW fans were with Flair when he came over to WWE, but his performance most likely made many of those fans believers after his performance.
On a related note, Bobby Heenan performed one his finest moments in commentary calling the Rumble match. He really sold when Flair would be in danger, and you really believed his personal vestment in Flair. Heenan also sold other competitors in the match, including faces. For example, when "El Matador" Tito Santana entered, Heenan brought up his accomplishments in the ring, and made a case that he may have what it takes to win.
The post-match interview with Flair, Heenan and Mr. Perfect is still well-known and remembered today by fans.
Diesel Power
As a disclaimer, I did not watch the 1994 Royal Rumble until years after as part of the Royal Rumble Anthology set.
1994 was a year that saw the WWE navigating transitional waters. The old guards of the Golden Era such as Hogan Hogan were either gone, or put in a reduced capacity (Randy Savage in a commentator role). The WWE was seeking its next star, and they seemed to be banking on the future of one Kevin Nash. Standing about 6' 10", with a billed weight of over 300 pounds, he wasn't a muscle monster of the Golden Era, but fit the bill for WWE's preference at the time for physically impressive performers.
During the Rumble match, Diesel seemed to eliminate other match participants with ease. Tossing competitors out left and right, he was at times alone in the ring, waiting for the next challenger. He was the first competitor that I can recall that up to that point who did that. His performance would set the groundwork for those who'd follow like Kane in 2001.
Overall, the 1994 Royal Rumble seems to be overlooked in the overall history of the event, but it's overall a solid show.
Ted DiBiase's Two Year Rumble Story (1989, 1990)
Ted DiBiase's gimmick in the WWE was "The Million Dollar Man". That says it all. He was the evil man with money who used it to try to buy whatever, and whoever he wanted. How successful he ultimately was, is perhaps questionable.
In 1989, a segment was shown during the event of participants drawing their entry numbers. DiBiase drew his, then called out to Slick, who was a manager. It was clearly implied that DiBiase didn't like his draw, and was looking to purchase a higher spot. Sure enough, when the 30th entrant came down, it was everyone's favorite millionaire himself!
While in 1989 it looked like DiBiase was able to use his money to better position himself, it backfired. In 1990, when the Howard Finkel got the crowd excited to see who drew #1, it was the money man himself. Despite his draw, DiBiase would be considered perhaps the first ironman of the Royal Rumble event. He put on an impressive performance, lasting over 40 minutes.
Two Superhumans Stare Off (1990)
I won't assume, but I would think that many kids who were WWE fans in early 1990 would consider Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior a dream match. Two larger-than-life figures who seemed cut from a cloth no other humans were. They were muscular comic book heroes come to life. They would lay the foundation of their famous match at Wrestlemania VI during the 1990 Royal Rumble.
An Additional Observation
As I watch the classic Rumbles now, I appreciate the storytelling moments. How some feuds were perhaps never laid to rest. Two examples I can think of here are Tito Santana / Rick Martel, and Marty Jannetty / Shawn Michaels. Both pairs were in tag teams that would break up. Martel and Santana were Strike Force in the late 80s, until Martel turned on Santana at Wrestlemania V in 1989. Michaels and Jannetty were The Rockers from 1988 until Michaels' famous heel turn in early 1992 during an episode of The Barbershop segment.
It would seem each Rumble Santana would take go after Martel. They were still going at in the 1993 Rumble match. Jannetty and Michaels had a singles match on the 1993 Royal Rumble undercard, but in subsequent Rumbles, they would attack each other. Even as a late as the 1996 event. Some feuds never die, and it's storytelling like that that made those early events special.
Conclusion
It's difficult for the WWE to have a bad Rumble. Even the 1995 edition. While the Rumble match itself was shortened to 1 minute per entrant, and lacked star power, the undercard matches were really good. The current Rumble events are watchable in a time when the WWE for a multitude of reasons is a hard watch for me.
No matter how much the WWE product changes, or gimmicky the Rumble seems now (see Kofi Kingston's yearly elimination avoidance spots), the early years of the Rumble from 1989 - 1992 hold a very special place in my heart. Those were the years I was most vested in the product, and the Rumble felt like a must-watch event. While 1992 had stakes, it was still stand-alone in that the winner would win a vacant title. The days before the Rumble became an adjacent event to Wrestlemania, and the winner lamely pointing at the Wrestlemania sign in the arena.
The classic Royal Rumbles, despite the production showing their age, have held up very well over the years.
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