After successfully making Jim Crockett’s first attempt at a PPV fail by creating the Survivor Series to run on PPV at the same time, Vince McMahon devised a different strategy to thwart Crockett’s second PPV. When Crockett announced that the Bunkhouse Stampede would be on PPV on 1/24/88, the WWF created a new event called The Royal Rumble that would be broadcast at the same time on the USA network. This event was so successful that it moved to PPV in 1989 and has been on PPV every January since.
The Royal Rumble Match
This match is an over the top battle royal where two men start and a new competitor enters the ring at a certain time interval. The first Rumble had 20 men. Since then, the number has been increased to 30. The time interval is usually 2 minutes but it has been changed periodically. The first few years the winner of the match only received glory. In 1992, Ric Flair won the match to win the vacant WWF Title. Starting in 1993, the winner would receive a title shot at WrestleMania. In several cases, the winner was not able to keep that title shot for a variety of reasons
Top 3 Royal Rumble Moments
1 – The Royal Rumble Match in 1992 had the greatest lineup of talent ever assembled in a wrestling ring. It is my favorite match of all time.
2 – Triple H vs Mankind at Royal Rumble 2000 was the match that solidified Triple H as a main event wrestler.
3 – In a total surprise to WWF and NFL fans alike, after losing a match at the 95 Rumble, Bam Bam Bigelow shoved Lawrence Taylor who was sitting at ringside.
3 Worst Royal Rumble Moments
1 – Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter wins the WWF Championship a few days after Operation Desert Storm begins in 1991.
2 – The 1995 Casket Match between Yokozuna and The Undertaker is so bad that I feel it is necessary to reprint my recap from the Tombstone DVD. “When it appears Undertaker is about to win, 9 other wrestlers come out to beat him up. He is able to beat them all up until his urn is stolen and opened up. As the green mist spews from the urn, the Undertaker loses his strength and is eventually put in the casket. As he is being wheeled to the back, mist comes out of the casket, he makes a scary speech on the TV monitors and then levitates to the top of the arena.”
3 – The 2000 Miss Royal Rumble contest features the elderly Mae Young showing the crowd her puppies (actually they were a very life like prop).
Royal Rumble Winners
1988 – Hacksaw Jim Duggan
1989 – Big John Studd
1990 – Hulk Hogan
1991 – Hulk Hogan
1992 – Ric Flair
1993 – Yokozuna
1994 – Bret Hart & Lex Luger
1995 – Shawn Michaels
1996 – Shawn Michaels
1997 – Steve Austin
1998 – Steve Austin
1999 – Vince McMahon
2000 – The Rock
2001 – Steve Austin
2002 – Triple H
2003 – Brock Lesnar
2004 – Chris Benoit
2005 - Batista
2006 - Rey Mysterio
2007 - The Undertaker
2008 - John Cena
2009 - Randy Orton
Title Changes
1988 - Women's Tag Title: The Jumping Bomb Angels beat Lelani Kai & Judy Martin in a best of 3 falls match
1991 - WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter beat The Ultimate Warrior
1992 - I-C Title: Roddy Piper beat The Mountie
1992 - WWF Title: Ric Flair won the Royal Rumble to win the vacant title
1995 - I-C Title: Jeff Jarrett beat Razor Ramon
1995 – Tag Titles: The Kid & Bob Holly beat Bam Bam Bigelow & Tatanka to win the vacant title
1996 - I-C Title: Goldust beat Razor Ramon
1997 - WWF Title: Shawn Michaels beat Sid
1999 - WWF Title: The Rock beat Mankind in an I-Quit Match
2000- I-C Title: Co-champ Chris Jericho beat co-champ Chyna & Bob Holly to become undisputed champ
2001- Tag Team Title: The Dudley Boyz beat Edge & Christian
2001 - I-C Title: Chris Jericho beat Chris Benoit in a ladder match
2002 - I-C Title: William Regal beat Edge
2003 – World Tag Team Title: The Dudley Boyz beat Lance Storm & William Regal
2006 - Cruiserweight Title: Gregory Helms beat Champ Kid Kash, Nunzio, Funaki, Jamie Knoble, & Paul London
2006 - WWE Title: John Cena beat Edge
2009 - Women's Championship: Melina beat Beth Phoenix
2009 - WWE Title: Edge beat Jeff Hardy
