1988-1992 Royal Rumble Review: The Golden Era

It's time for my PPV Reviews again, and this time I am talking about the Royal Rumble PPV's, I know I always do them, I will touch on Summerslam and Survivor Series again when they are back in the fall and the summer of 2022. But now my next touch is the Royal Rumble, and of course I'm going to do the Early Royal Rumble Days from 1988 & 1992.

1988:
we said goodbye to 1987, as WWE was thriving in business back in 1987 including coming off the largest WrestleMania III attendance record, rivalries were hot like Hogan and Andre, and Steamboat and Savage, and a formation between Hogan & Savage, WWE was not only thriving in business, Rock Music, Movies, And ETC was thriving in business. U2's Joshua Tree hit #1 with a handful of #1 singles like "With or Without You" & "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". And also Poison, Guns N' Roses and others burst onto the Rock and Roll Scene with their hits in 1987, Talk Dirty To Me by Poison, And Welcome to the Jungle & Sweet Child Of Mine by Guns N' Roses. But 1988 would be a good scene for the WWE, Movies & Rock and Roll especially for the WWE. In 1985, the WWE produced a pay-per view called WrestleMania, it would be followed in November of 1987 by the Survivor Series.

But there would be a third PPV that would take place as Pat Patterson demonstrated the idea for a battle royal with two participants starting out and another entrant showing up. They did a little rehearsal of that at a House Show in October of 1987 with The One Man Gang winning the match with Patterson not being able to show up. "We tried it in St. Louis on a smaller scale," Patterson confirmed. "I was not there. I wish I would have been there. They got [the Rumble concept] all mixed up. It didn't work. Then Vince says to me, 'It's not gonna work, Patrick.'" other WWE Superstars did not remember this match even when The One Man Gang won the Royal Rumble Match, he didn't remember it either. This matchup came about as this. "The one who remains will most likely battle Hulk Hogan on Nov. 17," it said, referring to the date of the next St. Louis house show after the Royal Rumble.

"We tried it [in St. Louis] before we tried to do it on television," Patterson said, "but it didn't work because I wasn't there. The producer was all mixed up and the talent was all mixed up, and they didn't know how it was gonna work. Also, we didn't have all the [entrance] music for all the boys in those days, so it was kind of dead, you know what I'm saying?". People in St. Louis weren't impressed and McMahon wrote off the Rumble, but a meeting with Dick Ebersol would change it all.

Ebersol who was the partner of McMahon to produce Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC. And the WWE was scheduled to run for a TV special in the USA Network with Ebersol, McMahon and Patterson all in the same room together. Patterson recalled a meeting in where Embersol was not impressed with that show, instead McMahon told Patterson to tell that stupid idea he had to Dick.

"I said, 'First of all, it's not stupid.' Then I gave the concept to Dick Ebersol about one guy comes in, then two minutes later another guy comes in. Dick Ebersol was going crazy. He says, 'My God, this is the greatest thing for television!'" And the Royal Rumble was born, meaning that every 2 minutes, another participant would enter the match, No Disqualifactions, everything would be legal. The Rumble Participants would be raised to 20 similar to the Traditional Battle Royal.

Rude/Steamboat: A great match to kick off the Inaugural Royal Rumble, although I feel like both of them should've been in the Rumble Match had there not been 20 participants, Steamboat had a mild 1987 coming out of injury after an attack by Randy Savage and winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 3 in one of the great matches in WrestleMania history. But his cinderella story was winding down after losing to the Honky Tonk Man and refusing to have a long Intercontinental Title Reign because he was taking time off due to the birth of his son, and that pushed Steamboat up to the Midcard Ranking, as for Rick Rude, he had a great 1987, he left the Jim Crockett Promotions to join the WWE and joined up with The Heenan Family and wrestling his first PPV in the Main Event. Rude and Steamboat put on a good match, but the ending of the match came about with Steamboat attempting a cross body but Rude pulled the referee out of the way. Rude hit the Canadian Backbreaker and went for the cover, but the referee called for the bell awarding the match to Steamboat. The match gets a 3/5. But the ending could've been better. Steamboat was out the door in the Middle of 1988, so this would be his first and only Royal Rumble Appearance.

Dino Bravo Bench Pressing: Before Mark Henry was the World's Strongest Man, we simply knew Dino Bravo as the World's Strongest Man. Dino said that he would set a world record of 715 pounds and with help from spotter Jesse Ventura, despite the heel noises, Dino successfully completed it, This segment got a 2/5. I didn't like this when I watched it on DVD. And the Crowd Noise was also not helping as well.

The Glamour Girls/The Jumping Bomb Angels: Before we had the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship in 2019, it was still around. The match was a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the titles. The Jumping Bomb Angels won by a fraction of 2-1 ending the Glamour Girls's Tag Team Title Reign with the Glamour Girls having a 3-year long reign as Tag Team Champions, but the Jumping Bomb Angels would lose the titles to the Glamour Girls in June of 1988 and unfortunately the titles would be disbanded in 1989 until it returned in 30 years in 2019.

Hogan/Andre Contract Signing: The rematch for WrestleMania III needed to be signed, this whole thing started out with Hogan defeating Andre at WrestleMania 3 only for Andre to get his win back in the traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match, Ted Dibiase wanted to take the WWE Championship away from Hulk Hogan and buy it from him, but Hogan said "no brother". Then Dibiase told Andre to deliver the WWE Championship with Andre agreeing because of his hatred still with Hulk Hogan. Dibiase also purchased Andre's contract from Bobby Heenan and promised him should he get the job done. He would reward Andre with a large sum of money. Andre and Hogan both signed the contract with Dibiase ordering Andre to give the stamp of approval with Andre slamming Hogan's head into the table. The Contract Signing gets a 3/5. You can tell the intensity between the two was still boiling.

1988 Royal Rumble: The next match featured what everyone came to see the 20-Man Royal Rumble, entering at #1 in the match was former WWE Tag Team Champion Bret Hart, and entering at #2. Former WWE Intercontinental & Tag Team Champion Tito Santana, Bret & Santana being the first two entrants, that was a great way to kick off this Rumble Match cause think about it. They are both talented wrestlers and although #1 and #2 is a bad way to start, it's a good way to start off the match. Hart and Santana both had a back and forth encounter until Butch Reed entered at #3 and it's a 2 on 1 against Santana. Remember Heels in that era could team up, but it was every man for himself, speaking of heels. #4. Hart's tag team partner Jim Neidhart meaning that Santana was doomed, but helped arrived in the form of Santana, and #5 was Jake Roberts. Roberts first eliminated Reed with Reed becoming the first man in Royal Rumble History to be eliminated. And unfortunately for Reed. He was also in the released form in 1988. Harley Race, former NWA Champion and 1986 King of The Ring, Harley Race came out at #6 to take a 3 to 2 advantage for the heels, but then Jim Brunzell came out at #7 to even the sides and then the faces got the advantage when Sam Houston came out at #8 but it wasn't for long as Hart & Neidhart eliminated Santana as revenge for Santana & Martel winning the Tag Team Titles in October of 1987. The heels returned the advantage as Danny Davis, the crooked referee who screwed Santana out of the Intercontinental Championship in 1986 and The Bulldogs out of the Tag Team Titles in 1987 and got his referee license suspended came out at #9. The heels continued their advantage with Boris Zhukov entering at #10, a 5 on 3 advantage until new fan favorite in 1987, Don Muraco came down at #11 fending off an attack from the #12 entrant Nikolai Volkoff, Zhukov would unfortunately be eliminated by Roberts and Brunzell with Race also being eliminated. It would be now a 4 on 4 advantage with Jim Duggan entering at #13 giving the faces now an advantage. Duggan despite being a USA fan favorite got a big pop from the Canadian Fans. #14 was Outlaw "Ron Bass". Yea I said fourteen, I will explain the Royal Rumble Curse after I talk about Bass being eliminated, Brunzell would be thrown out by Nikolai Volkoff, #15 would be Brunzell's Tag Team Partner, B. Brian Blair, and then Hillbilly Jim entered at #16 eliminating Neidhart meaning the faces had a 6 on 3 advantage. Dino Bravo would enter at #17 after completing the press bench challenge, the heels got back their advantage with Bass eliminating Houston, making it a 5 on 4. Until the Ultimate Warrior entered at #18. Hart would be eliminated by Muraco with Hart setting the longevity record for being eliminated in 25 minutes and 42 seconds. The One Man Gang came in at #19 cleaning house eliminating Blair & Roberts gaining the advantage back to the heels until The Junkyard Dog came out as the final entrant. So it came down to Duggan, Volkoff, Davis, The One Man Gang, The Ultimate Warrior, Don Muraco, The Junkyard Dog, Dino Bravo and Hillbilly Jim with 9 competitors left. Duggan eliminated Volkoff narrowing down the field to eight competitors, with The Gang eliminating Hillbilly Jim following it up with Duggan making another elimination eliminating Davis. The One Man Gang would be the next to eliminate Ultimate Warrior. The last entrant of the 1988 Royal Rumble would be eliminated by Bass with the final five as Bass, Duggan, OMG, Bravo and Muraco. Bass would be eliminated by Don Muraco, so the reason for the #14 curse is this, The person who gets eliminated as the #14 entrant either ends up fired or dead. Here's a few examples, Yes. Ron Bass entered at #14 and stayed on in the WWE in 1988 having a feud with Brutus Beefcake but after having his hair shaved, he was released in 1989, and sadly he passed away on my 26th birthday in 2017. Let's move to the final four. Muraco would end up being eliminated by OMG & Bravo. But as One Man Gang & Bravo tried to team up to eliminate Duggan. One Man Gang would accidentally eliminate Bravo but it was legal, that made The One Man Gang have a Royal Rumble Record with 6 eliminations, it came down to Duggan & The One Man Gang but this time it wasn't the One Man Gang who won the match like in the infamous House Show. It was Hacksaw as he won the first-ever Royal Rumble, but despite Hacksaw's big moment. He sadly never got the push he needed. He did have some profile feuds in the 80s and 90s with Andre The Giant, Sgt. Slaughter, Yokozuna & Shawn Michaels, but that was it. The Rumble Match gets a 3/5. Good showing out there, Duggan winning was definitely a right call.

The Islanders/Young Stallions: Question, why was this match The Main Event?. Seriously, The Islanders after coming off a feud with The Bulldogs stealing The Bulldogs's dog with Bobby Heenan and this match gets the main event. This Royal Rumble Match should've been the Main Event, but not this. The match was okay, but it wasn't a perfect one as The Islanders won the match in the best of three falls. Yes, they had another Three Falls Tag Team Match. The Match gets a 2/5. Nothing special.

My Rating: 7/10. Good show, but the Royal Rumble should've been the Main Event. You also didn't have people that could've made good showings in the Royal Rumble Match, Randy Savage, King Kong Bundy, Honky Tonk Man, Hercules and others.

MVP of The Show: Hacksaw "Jim Duggan"
Worst MVP of the Show: Dino Bravo's Bench pressing.

1989:
After the 1988 Royal Rumble, the WWE would decide to put the Royal Rumble in PPVS. A Big Four would also be formed with Summerslam coming in on August of 1988. In the Spring and the Summer. Randy Savage would win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 4 in a Tournament by defeating Ted Dibiase in the finals forming up the MegaPowers followed by the Ultimate Warrior ending The Honky Tonk Man's reign as Intercontinental Champion at Summerslam. The show would air on PPV and has since then stayed on PPV for a long time.

Duggan/The Hart Foundation vs Bravo/Rougeau Brothers: The first Royal Rumble winner kicked off the 1989 show teaming up with The Hart Foundation to take on Bravo & The Rougeau Brothers in the first 6-Man Tag 2 out of 3 Falls Match. The heels took advantage with the first fall. But Duggan & The Hart Foundation fought back getting the second fall and then the third fall to get the win. The match gets a 3/5. It was an okay match, great showings between all these six competittors.

Robin/Martin: This would be the first time the WWE Women's Championship would be defended in the Royal Rumble, this was an okay match. Robin retained the Women's Title, the match gets a 2/5. The Women's Championship would be deactivated until 1993 again and then defended at a PPV for the first time at WrestleMania 10 in 1994 since this match until it was deactivated again until 1995 until being reactivated in 1998 and taking another hiatus in 2010 until 2016 when it was changed to both the RAW & SMACKDOWN Women's Championship.

Rude/Warrior Posedown: This was the start to a feud between these two strong muscled up men. The winner had to be decided by fan reaction with 4 categories. Double Biceps, Best Abs, Most Muscular and Medley of Poses with Warrior winning every posedown, but Rude would attack Warrior with his own metal workout bar. This posedown gets a 2/5. No disrespect, but this was distasteful.

Race/Haku: In 1988, Harley Race went down with an injury, Haku would take the throne in the Summer of 1988 giving Haku a little push. Pretty good match between the two with Race trying to get the crown back from Haku but Haku defeated Race to become the Undisputed King of the WWE. The match was a 3/5. This would be one of Race's last WWE Matches until heading back to WCW and retiring for WCW for good in 1995 until returning to the WWE as a part of the 2004 Hall of Fame. Sadly, we would lose Race in August of 2019.

1989 Royal Rumble: The first 2 Rumble Entrants kicked off with Ax & Smash as they were the reigning Tag Team Champions. This time it wouldn't consist of 20 men, but it consisted of 30 men and it would continue to stay the same to this day until 2011 when the WWE Royal Rumble had 40 participants and in 2018 when the WWE toured to Saudi Arabia when the WWE had 50 participants, and also in House Shows in Japan in 1994 when they had 18 participants as well and also on their TV events in RAW in 1999 & 2011 and SMACKDOWN in 2004 with 15 participants. Ax & Smash both battled each other until the #3 entrant came out and it was Andre The Giant. Demolition put their differences aside to go after Andre and it stayed that way. #4 would be Mr. Perfect who debuted at the start of 1988. Smash would be eliminated by Andre The Giant, and #5 would be Ronnie Garvin, both continued to target Andre with Andre being so huge, they wanted to target the biggest monster of the match. Andre had recently won Battle Royals before the Royal Rumble came out. Greg Valentine would then enter at #6. It would be a 4 on 1 for Andre. Andre was able to fight them off and would eliminate Garvin until Jake Roberts came out at #7 to try to scare Andre again, similar to what Jake did to Andre in October of 1988 with Jake putting a Snake on Andre. Andre and Roberts brawled but it would be Andre that would get his third elimination by eliminating Roberts. Ron Bass came out at #8 to fight with Ax while Andre was still continuing his advantage. At #9. Shawn Michaels was the next out for the Rockers. Ax would be eliminated by Perfect, And almost tried to eliminate Michaels but Michaels before the 1995 "Skinning The Cat" came back in. #10 would be one half of the Bushwhackers, Butch. Roberts would come back in with snake in hand scaring off Andre eliminating Andre in the process. The Rumble Match continued on with former Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man entering at #11. Followed by another former Intercontinental Champion, Tito Santana at #12. Bad News Brown would get the unlucky number #13 while Honky Tonk Man would be eliminated by Santana & Butch. The #14 curse would go to Marty Jannetty, despite being #14. He did get the next elimination as he & Michaels eliminated Bass. At #15. WWE Champion Randy Savage would then enter the match and immediately went it with Bad News. Valentine would be the next person eliminated instead by Savage. Arn Anderson would enter at #16. He & Savage oddly enough eliminated Michaels until Anderson's partner Tully Blanchard entered at #17. They both eliminated Jannetty, the #14 curse for Jannetty would continue as he was betrayed in 1992 by Shawn Michaels, but still had a little success by winning the Intercontinental Championship in 1993 and winning the Tag Team Titles in 1994 with The 123 Kid until he was released 3 times, in 1993, 1994 & 1996 until trying to come back to the WWE again in 2005, 2006 & 2007 and having some appearances with his friend Shawn Michaels and also being involved in the Vince McMahon/Shawn Michaels rivalry. Jannetty's last WWE Appearance would be in 2009 against The Miz. Jannetty had some problems after leaving WWE. Being arrested on a DUI charge in 2004. And also on Drugs & Alcohol. Jannetty has made some personal headlines as well after saying that he murdered someone in 2020 but then said that he didn't do it. Back to the match, Shall we?. Hulk Hogan entered at #18 and eliminated Perfect. But Perfect broke the longevity record with 27 minutes and 58 seconds ending Bret Hart's 1988 longevity. Anderson would then dump Santana. While Hogan & Brown eliminated Butch. Koko entered at #20 but he was eliminated immediately by Hogan. Hogan then eliminated Luke next who entered at #19. Hogan next eliminated the Brainbusters. The Warlord would come in at #21 but Hogan immediately eliminated the Warlord in 2 seconds, the record would be broken in 2009 when Kane eliminated Santino Marella, we'll get to that later. Hogan would then eliminate Bad News Brown & his partner Savage. Hogan broke OMG's 1988 record by eliminating 9 competitors. After, Savage & Hogan got into a heated argument setting up a tease for WrestleMania 5. Both men however shook hands. Big Bossman entered at #22 in his first Royal Rumble Match and got at it with Hogan as both men began to feud in Late 1988 with Bossman hitting Hogan with his nightstick and handcuffing him at the Brother Love Show. Bossman and Hogan brawled until Bossman's partner and runner-up from last year Akeem came out at #23. Yes, One Man Gang had transformed into Akeem in the fall of 1988. Hogan had a brief offense against both the Mega Powers but the odds were too great and Hogan would be eliminated by Akeem & Big Bossman, Brutus Beefcake came out at #24. And as they were about to gang up on Beefcake. Hogan shoved Bossman out of the ring making it his 10th elimination leaving it to Akeem & Beefcake to a fair one on one match, #25 would be Red Rooster. Rooster & Beefcake teamed up against the big guy Akeem. At #26 entered The Barbarian. The ring started filling up with four men in the ring, but it filled up even more with Big John Studd entering at #27 going after Akeem. This was Studd's first WWE Match since 1986. Studd had now become a face and while he was a heel he was feuding with a top face by Andre The Giant but now with Studd returning, Andre had now become a heel. #28 would be another new fan favorite away from the Heenan Family, Hercules followed up by Rick Martel who had entered at #29 until the final entrant was Ted Dibiase at #30, it was down to 8 people. The First Elimination who was eliminated in the Final 8 would be the Red Rooster by Ted Dibiase and then Dibiase would next eliminate Beefcake and Hercules while Martel eliminated Barbarian, the final four would be Akeem, Big John Studd, Ted Dibiase and Rick Martel. Martel would be the next eliminated by Akeem and it came down to 3, Akeem. Big John Studd and Ted Dibiase. Akeem would be eliminated by Studd and then it was down to Studd & Ted Dibiase with Studd lastly eliminating Dibiase and making him the first person to enter at #27 to win the Royal Rumble and the first big man to win the Royal Rumble Match. The Rumble Match receives a 3/5 from me. Nothing special, but it was a great Rumble Match from Start to Finish.

Royal Rumble 1989 Review: 8/10.
MVP Of The Rumble: Hulk Hogan & Big John Studd
Worst MVP Of The Rumble: The Ultimate Posedown

1990:
As 1989 and the Berlin Wall came down. The 90s were coming on their way, Rock Music from the 80s was still going on, but Pop, Hip Hop & Alternative would take its place while 1989 Movies continued to stay a big hit by the start of 1990 with Ghost. Total Recall. Kindergarten Cop. Goodfellas. Days of Thunder. Pretty Woman. Die Hard 2 and Rocky V would be considered the top hot movies of 1990. And as the WWE took the 1980s out. They would start out the 1990s with a clean and fresh start, with new rivalries. But the WWE meanwhile were still focusing on their Early 1980s Superstars and wanted to give the Late 1980s Superstars a new fresh push. Like take the Ultimate Warrior for example. He had debuted in the WWE in 1987 and ended The Honky Tonk Man's reign as Intercontinental Champion at Summerslam 1988, by the end of 1989. Warrior had started to become a big star and he would prove that at the Royal Rumble Match by challenging the Top Dog of the WWE in that match. Hulk Hogan who had also won the title from a recently heel turned Randy Savage at WrestleMania 5.

Bushwwhackers/Rougeaus: A great match to kick off the Rumble. They feuded for the rest of 1989 until their feud would finally culminate in this event with the feud starting at WrestleMania 5 in April of 1989. The Bushwhackers won, and they would win the match again in the opening event, match for me gets a 3/5. Good Solid Tag Team Match and a Solid Start.

Beefcake/Genius: Genius who used to be a jobber would now be Mr. Perfect's handler, The Genius and Mr. Perfect took it too far when they destroyed Beefcake's friend Hulk Hogan's WWE Championship Belt with Beefcake wanting revenge as Beefcake shoved Genius into the referee, he eventually knocked The Genius down and went to apply to use his signature haircut on The Genius, but Mr. Perfect came down and attacked Beefcake causing The Genius to be disqualified, The match gets a 1/5. Don't know why this match was there.

Valentine/Garvin: This was the first time the WWE would use a Submission Match with a rivalry that dated way back to the Summer of 1989 with Valentine forcing Garvin out of retirement. Garvin would continue to try to make Valentine's life a living hell until Garvin would be reinstated. Garvin and Valentine tried to outdo each other with submission moves. But neither could make the other tap out, but in the end it would be Garvin getting the victory by making Valentine tap out. To be honest, the match got a 4/5. Probably one of the best matches out of Valentine's career and even in Garvin's Career. Garvin was a former NWA Champion and Valentine was a former Intercontinental Champion, so both of them had a legendary match and this definitely was one of them.

Duggan/Bossman: Another hard hitting contest between these two big bulls. Duggan had the 2X4 while Bossman had the nightstick & handcuffs, so it was hard to tell who was going to strike with one of the weapons. But before that, this was one heck of a good back and forth. But Bossman ended the match by using the nightstick to his advantage on Duggan, the match i'll give it a 2/5. Although it was pretty good, the disqualifaction thing didn't stick with me.

1990 Royal Rumble: The first two entrants would be Ted Dibiase who entered at #1 because it was found out last year that he paid off somebody's number to be the #30 entrant. But history would not repeat itself again, Dibiase started off with Koko B. Ware who was the #2 entrant, but as soon after the bell rang. Dibiase immediately eliminated Koko after Koko had a brief flurry of offense. The next entrant at #3 would be Marty Jannetty, Dibiase would also eliminate him as well until Jake Roberts entered at #4 and stopped Dibiase's dominance, Roberts & Dibiase had a feud before this with Dibiase attempting to steal Roberts's snake at WrestleMania 5 and trying to put him out of action with Roberts turning the tables and attempting to steal the Million Dollar Title away from Dibiase. Roberts and Dibiase brawled in the first 2 minutes until heel Randy Savage came out at #5. Savage became a heel in 1989 breaking up the MegaPowers because of Hogan's jealousy with Miss Elizabeth and would also dump Elizabeth and gain Sensational Sherri as his manager and would also become the Macho King by defeating Jim Duggan to win the King's Crown. Savage and Dibiase teamed up against Roberts until Roddy Piper came out at #6 to make the save for Roberts. This was Piper's first Rumble Match as he had never appeared in the 1988 & 1989. Piper claimed to be "retired" in 1987. But a return in 1989 would signal for him to be back for good in wrestling. Piper & Roberts fought off the onslaught against Dibiase & Savage until The Warlord who had the worst embarassing moment ever last year came out at #7 and this time he didn't last 2 seconds at all, And then Bret Hart would come out at #8 eveneing up the sides. #9 would be Bad News Brown as he went after Hart. Roberts would be the third man eliminated from the Rumble Match by Randy Savage as Roberts attempted a DDT on Dibiase. Dusty Rhodes came out at #10 and immediately eliminated his rival Randy Savage. Andre The Giant would enter at #11 and immediately eliminated Warlord. Then the next entrant would be Red Rooster who entered at #12 wanting to make redemption as he was part of the final eight last year and the first of the final eight eliminated. Bad News was eliminated by Piper but an upset Bad News would shove Piper out of the apron and eliminate him leading to a brawl between the two men. Ax would then enter at #13 while Andre eliminated The Red Rooster. Then Andre's partner who had recently won the Tag Team Championship with, Haku entered at #14. Yes, Andre & Haku were a team as they defeated Demolition to end their second reign as Tag Team Champions. Help would be on the way for Ax though while Andre & Haku double teamed him with Smash entering at #15 leading to a fight between Demolition & Colossal Connection, Akeem entered at #16 having the record of staying in the final 2 in 1988 and in the final 3 last year. Hart would be the next eliminated by Rhodes while Demolition eliminated Andre on their own, unfortunately for Andre. This would be Andre's final Rumble Match ever with health problems later that year. Andre & Haku lost the titles at WrestleMania 6 to Demolition and Andre wrestled his last WWE Match ever. He was originally slated to be in the 1991 Royal Rumble Match but it didn't happen. Andre never would wrestle a WWE Match as he unfortunately died of a heart attack in his sleep in January of 1993. Jimmy Snuka who also never appeared in Rumble Matches like Piper made his first Rumble Match at #17 with Snuka making a statement by eliminating the monster Akeem. Dino Bravo would be next at #18 followed by his partner and who was much bigger than Andre The Giant, Earthquake entered at #19 and immediately eliminated Ax & Rhodes. Jim Neidhart would then enter at #20 and all of the superstars all teamed up to get rid of the 400-pound Earthquake successfully. The odds on favorite Ultimate Warrior came out at #21 and immediately cleaned house right away eliminating Bravo. Rick Martel, who was now a heel breaking away from Strike Force in 1989 entered the ring at #22 while Haku eliminated Smash from the match. #23 was Martel's former partner Tito Santana as he went straight after Martel. The Honky Tonk Man would soon follow as the #24 entrant. Neidhart was eliminated by Martel with some help by Dibiase and Warrior, but Dibiase would be the next to be eliminated by the Warrior as Dibiase broke Perfect's longevity record for staying in the match for 44:47. #25 was another odds on favorite, the WWE Champion Hulk Hogan and just like Warrior. He cleaned house as well eliminating Snuka & Haku. As far as Haku entering at #14. Haku stayed around for 2 years still holding the Tag Belts with Andre until leaving the WWE in 1992 and fighting in indie promotions until coming to WCW in Late of 1994 or early 1995 to be exact and stayed there until January of 2001 when he returned to the WWE again only to be released later that year. But Haku's entrant at #14 is not a curse cause Haku had not done anything bad at all, his wrestling career still stayed tact. The Eliminations continued piling up with Warrior eliminating Santana and Hogan eliminating Honky. #26 was Shawn Michaels, but Warrior tossed him out with ease and then did the same to Martel, until it came down to The Warrior & Hogan with the fans going nuts and you can remember the voices heard by Jesse Ventura & Tony Schiavone with Ventura screaming "IT'S HOGAN & THE WARRIOR!" And Schiavone then exclamated "There is not a person sitting down". That's what I love about Schiavone. He's good at his commentary talent. Unfortunately this would be Schiavone's last WWE PPV until he returned to WCW until its demise in 2001. Schiavone had a brief run in TNA in 2003 but not on commentary, Schiavone returned to commentary with AEW in 2019 and ever since has stayed there and even has made a friendship with Dr. Britt Baker DMD. Anyway, back to the match at hand. Hogan & Warrior knocked each other down with a double clothesline and as both men went down. Barbarian entered at #27 going after Hogan & Warrior and he would soon be followed by Rick Rude at #28. Rude & Barbarian both teamed up to try to eliminate Warrior but Hogan got to his feet and as he went to save Warrior, he accidentally helped Rude & Barbarian eliminate Warrior. Warrior reentered the ring hitting Rude & Barbarian with clotheslines until leaving the arena. #29 was Hercules, followed by the #30 entrant. Mr. Perfect, Barbarian was the first of the final five to be eliminated by Hercules until Hercules would be eliminated by Rude, Rude & Perfect would team up to go after Hogan, but Hogan fought back and as Hogan irish whipped Rude to the ropes. Perfect eliminated Rude thinking it was Hogan, it came down to Hogan & Perfect. Perfect was the guy that broke Hogan's WWE Championship Belt so Hogan needed redemption for that and redemption, he got it. Hogan would eliminate Perfect to win his first Royal Rumble Match. Hogan was the first competitor to win the Royal Rumble as the #25 competitor, he held on to that until Asuka the first winner of the Women's Rumble won at #25 in 2018. The Rumble Match got a 3/5. It definitely showed a tease of Hogan and Warrior for WrestleMania 6.

The Royal Rumble Show: 7/10. I really have to say this was not a bad Rumble, few things I liked and few things I didn't but solid Rumble.

MVP: Hogan/Warrior faceoff confrontation, Rhodes vs Valentine: Submission Match. Ted Dibiase's 44-minute Rumble Match.
Worst MVP of the Rumble: Bad News Brown illegally eliminating Roddy Piper.

1991:
By the end of 1990, some of the old guards from the 1980s were starting to lose their flavor but they were determined to still be on top even if it was just for a few years. The WWE had produced a lot at the end of 1990, Ultimate Warrior was atop as the WWE Champion while Hogan stepped away from the title scene for a while. they would bring in some several more superstars from WCW & WCCW. Kerry Von Erich, The Legion of Doom and at the 1990 Survivor Series, The Undertaker who would continue to stay with the WWE for 30 years until his retirement at the 2020 Survivor Series. 1991 would definitely be trying times for the WWE and even in the world as well. Our Country was in Gulf War 2 days before the Royal Rumble from January 17 through February 28, enter Sgt. Slaughter for example, an american patriot turned Iraqi Sympathizer in the WWE Storylines. The Invasion of Kuwait would be hard times for America in August of 1990. But there were still some movies coming out in 1991, Bands splitting up in 1991, Poison after their disastrous MTV Awards Appearance in September of that Year. Nirvana, Metallica and all the others were just hitting their strides in Music. Movies like Father of the Bride, The Addams Family, Silence of the Lambs, My Girl, Boyz N the Hood and Judgment Day: Terminator were all smashing hits of that year. Meanwhile tragedy also hit Motown as well as Temptations lead singer David Ruffin passed away in June of 1991 after returning from a trip to the United Kingdom. But 1991 would prove to be a promising year of the WWE and the way to kick off the Road to WrestleMania in 1991 is the 30-Man over The Top Royal Rumble.

The Rockers/Orient Express: The first match of the evening was The Rockers vs The Orient Express, this was a rematch from Wrestlemania 6, and this was a good tag team match to kick off the Rumble as every Wrestling Observer Newsletter thought this match was good as well, The Rockers won this match and you know I agree with them, The match gets a 5/5. This was a very good entertaining match, first 5 of the night.

Bossman/Barbarian: Bossman who had become the heel rulebreaker of the WWE since his debut from the Summer of 1988 through the Spring of 1990 was now a big fan favorite, but he had issues with Bobby Heenan with Heenan making remarks to the Big Bossman's mother. Heenan would also sic in some members of the Heenan Family against the Bossman that he used The Barbarian to wrestle The Bossman in this match, the match was okay but not like the good last one. Bossman gets the win, i'll give this a 2/5. Nothing special.

Warrior/Slaughter: It's the first WWE Championship Match at the Royal Rumble, Summerslam finally waited til 1990 to have their WWE Championship Match. Slaughter, who like we said before was a patriot american, now turned Iraqi Sympathizer wanted the WWE Championship from the Ultimate Warrior. Ultimate Warrior had stayed on as Champion after he defeated Hulk Hogan to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 6. Warrior had several title defenses against the likes of others, Haku. Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Ted Dibiase and an entire list of superstars but never had he got a challenge like Sgt. Slaughter, Warrior & Slaughter fought a pretty allright match, but the match came with Sherri and Randy Savage both coming down twice to attack Warrior giving Slaughter the advantage and as Warrior made a comeback. Savage appeared again attacking Warrior with his scepter and nailing him with it giving Slaughter the win and the WWE Championship, the match gets a 3/5. Although this was a good match, the fans and even myself before I was 2 months born was not happy with this. Eventually WrestleMania was moved to the Sports Arena due to threats of Sgt. Slaughter's life being in danger, Slaughter was not really a terrorist in real life people. He was an American. This was just a storyline, I wish that his storyline wasn't that, a terrorist. But Vince in his crazy idea did it.

Mountie/Koko: The Mountie enforces the law as only as he can, and unfortunately for Poor Koko, he enforced this match with Koko not getting the Mountie any chance as The Mountie defeated him, the match gets a 1/5.

Dibiase & Virgil/The Rhodes Family: This time you didn't have Dusty Rhodes's manager Sapphire in his corner, the feud started with Dibiase buying Sapphire as his manager at Summerslam, but Sapphire was dropped out of the WWE before this storyline got red hot, instead Dibiase & Virgil went on to target Dusty Rhodes's son Dustin Rhodes and there was even problems in the camp between Dibiase & Virgil with Dibiase forcing Virgil to shine his shoes and rub his toes. And also Dustin even got his first win over Dibiase a few weeks later this would lead to the Tag Team Match. A pretty good tag team match, not as huge as the last Tag Team Match. But it worked to its perfection and of course they still teased the hell out of Virgil turning on Dibiase with Dibiase hitting Virgil and throwing him over the top rope after Virgil missed a move by accident. Dibiase was able to win the match by himself without his partner, after the match. Dibiase demanded that he give the Million Dollar Title to Virgil and as the commentators pleaded with Virgil not to do it and even Piper who was Virgil's supporter. Virgil gave Dibiase the belt but he gave it right to his head turning Virgil into a face in the process, the match gets a 3/5. Although this was a big push for Virgil. Virgil did get the Million Dollar Championship over Dibiase, but by the spring of 1992. Virgil's push began to sour some and he would eventually leave the company in 1994 only to return in 2010 as the manager of Ted Dibiase Jr. for a while. Virgil would eventually come to WCW in 1996 as a member of the nWo.

1991 Royal Rumble Match: The match started off with Bret Hart entering at #1 and Dino Bravo entering at #2. Bret had entered the Rumble at #1 in 1988, so he was indeed the first person in the Royal Rumble to enter at #1 twice in his career. Bret and Bravo brawled for a few minutes until the #3 entrant showed up and it was Greg Valentine, Valentine had turned on the Hart Family just a few weeks earlier and eliminated Dino almost immediately, this would be Dino's final Rumble Match appearance as he left the company later that year and never returned to the WWE before passing away in 1993 although he did ref a couple of matches, but sadly, just 3 days after my birthday and 2 days before the 1993 Storm of the Century. Dino Bravo would be gunned down at the age of 44 years old. #4 was Paul Roma. Another person who was a jobber in the late 1980s would become a part of a New Tag Team called Power & Glory with Hercules. He would soon be followed by Kerry Von Erich who entered at #5, and then after that it was Rick Martel who came out at #6. Then Saba Simba known as Tony Atlas came out at #7. I mean who came up with that name?. Saba Simba?. Whoever did that is pretty stupid for doing that. Bushwhacker Butch entered at #8. Martel would eliminate Atlas, Sorry WWE. I'm calling him Atlas, not Saba Simba. Then #9 shows up in the form of Jake Roberts, and it's open season for Martel. Roberts immediately went straight for him and chased him around until Valentine stopped what was going on. #10 was Hercules, who was in the finalist in 1989 & 1990 came down to help his friend Roma. Tito Santana was next at #11 while Roberts eliminated Roma, then at #12 entered The Undertaker, Taker immediately goes after Bret and not even 15 seconds of Taker entering the ring, he disposes of the #1 entrant Bret Hart, and to think Hart was the first man facing him in his debut at the 1990 Survivor Series. Taker goes straight for everyone, And then after the #13 entrant Jimmy Snuka enters. Taker eliminates another one, Bushwhacker Butch. Everyone did their best to knock Undertaker down, but how can you knock a dead guy down when he's already dead?. #14 was the British Bulldog who had returned to the WWE for the first time since 1988 as he was a part of a partnership with the Dynamite Kid. The ring gets seriously loaded now with a lot of guys, Smash then fills the ring up at #15, but out of nowhere Martel who is still hanging on in there eliminates Roberts after Martel spent some more time on the wrong side of the ropes on the apron. Roberts & Martel had this storyline with Martel spraying arrogance on Roberts's eye at the Brother Love Show in October of 1990. Hawk comes in at #16 cleaning house on everyone but his momentum gets slowed down. Meanwhile Taker still no sells these punches from everybody. At #17. Shane Douglas enters, yes. The Shane Douglas who threw down the NWA Belt and declared himself the ECW Champion in 1994 before that and then returned to the WWE as a Dean in 1995, but that went nowhere. 2 Eliminations happened right after Douglas. Hawk threw Snuka over the top rope while Undertaker got rid of Von Erich, Elimination #3 for the Man From The Darkside. Then #18 shows up, But nobody is there. The Commentators try to figure out who it was, but No Dice!. #19 is Animal, The Legion of Doom finally work over Undertaker and Undertaker's night is done as the LOD throw him out of the ring with a clothesline. Taker does the land on his feet move but he is done. Taker who had the strongest performance is now gone. But as Taker is immediately eliminated, Hawk gets out by Martel & Hercules. Crush entered at #20 and Demolition go straight for Bulldog. Crush replaced Ax in 1990 because of Ax having health problems and was also a Tag Champion with Smash as well. #21 was the 1988 Royal Rumble winner "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. And then the game changes, out comes #22. Earthquake. Earthquake immediately eliminates Animal after ducking a clothesline and using his momentum. LOD's night is over. Then entering at #23, the Intercontinental Champion. Mr. Perfect. Perfect eliminates Duggan similar to what Earthquake did to Animal. Valentine and Martel continue to stay on after entering at #3 and #6 simulteanously. #24. Hulk Hogan, another game changer. Smash is the first to try to come after him but Hogan kicks him out saying "Bye Bye Brother" and then turned his attention to the man that tried to put him out of business in the Spring of 1990, Earthquake. Entrant #25 was Haku, And while Haku came to the ring. Valentine got eliminated by Martel nearly close to breaking Dibiase's record last year cause he was 44 seconds away from breaking it. Entering #26. Jim Neidhart. Tito's eliminated by Earthquake. #27 is Bushwhacker Luke. Earthquake gets tired of Luke's walk thing and just throws him out with ease. Hit the Road Luke!. #28 is Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs, he eliminates Hercules just after entering. At #29 was the man who still held the 2 second record in 1989, The Warlord. Hogan eliminates another Demolition Member Crush. So Demolition's night is over. Then we are about to find out who #18 was and who #30 is. Was it Macho King or was It Tugboat?. #30 is Tugboat, so Ultimate Warrior who had probably been upset by now after Savage cost him the WWE Championship must have chased him out of the building. So 10 men are left. Douglas gets eliminated by Knobbs. Also, Warlord got eliminated similar to 1989 by Hogan, but it wasn't 2 seconds thank god. Martel unbelievably breaks Dibiase's record as the #6 entrant. The next person that stayed in the Rumble at #6 would be Kane in 2001 in the final moments of the Royal Rumble. Tugboat and Hogan who've had a strong relationship after Tugboat was Hogan's best supporter in his feud with Earthquake go at it with each other with Hogan eliminating the big guy. Perfect was the next to be eliminated by Bulldog. Bulldog also stays in there unbelievably enough at the #14 entrant. That's the first time that somebody stayed in at #14 since Outlaw Ron Bass in 1988. Neidhart is tossed out by Martel and Haku is also eliminated by The British Bulldog. 5 men remain, Martel, Earthquake, Hogan, Bulldog and Knobbs. Martel who holds the record for longevity is finally eliminated by Bulldog. Martel lasted for 50 minutes. Bulldog's elimination spree does not last long as Earthquake & Knobbs are able to eliminate him with ease, Bulldog's run at the #14 entrant at the 1991 Royal Rumble was good, although his career hit an up and down after entering at #14 in the 1991 Royal Rumble, he did win the Intercontinental, European & Tag Team Championship and main evented Summerslam 1992 with his brother-in-law Bret Hart. The #14 curse would hit him twice, first in 1998 when Bulldog fell through a trapdoor at WCW's Fall Brawl that would be used for Ultimate Warrior's entrance and then in 2002 when he passed away of a heart attack. The final 3 was Hogan. Earthquake and Knobbs and while Knobbs & Earthquake doubled up on Hogan. Hogan made a comeback and immediately eliminated Knobbs, and 2 men remain. Hogan & Earthquake. Hogan eliminates Earthquake after a Bodyslam and wins his 2nd Royal Rumble not only for himself, but for the United States of America. The Rumble Match gets a 4/5. There were a lot of highlights in this match, Martel and Valentine both lasting long, The Undertaker, Earthquake and Hulk Hogan all getting the big dominations of the Rumble Match.

Royal Rumble 1991 Rating: 8/10. Good Rumble, The Tag Team Match and the Royal Rumble Match were the highlights of the show, except for Slaughter winning the WWE Championship.

MVP of the 1991 Royal Rumble: The Opening Match, Virgil turning on Dibiase, The Undertaker, Earthquake, Hulk Hogan, Rick Martel and Greg Valentine
Worst MVP of the 1991 Royal Rumble: Randy Savage not appearing in the Rumble Match and Slaughter as WWE Champion.

1992:
The Gulf War finally came to an end, and the WWE was still building on new talent while continuing to pander to the old 80s characters, they finally brought in another star from the 1970s through the 1980s and was even shining in the 1990s, in 1991. Ric Flair left the WCW after becoming the first inaugural WCW Champion 6 months ago. Flair left WCW in July and would eventually join the WWE in the Fall. Meanwhile, Hogan would win back the title again over Sgt. Slaughter at WrestleMania 7, but would once again lose the title but this time to The Undertaker only for Hogan to win it back 6 days later only to have it vacated again for the second time cause of interference. The WWE was starting to wind down some of their 80s popular stars like Hogan, Savage, Warrior, Piper and all of the other characters from the 1980s. But Vince was poised to let them have one more run at the top before they could go somewhere else.

Orient Express/New Foundation: After a 5 star classic with The Rockers last year, The Orient Express was on the opening card once again, this time taking on Owen Hart, Bret Hart's brother & Jim Neidhart, but this was similar to the Hart Foundation teaming up in 1987 through 1991 as Bret & Jim broke up in 1991 after Bret went on to pursue a singles career and win the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam. The New Foundation win this match, a solid tag team match to kick off the show. 4/5 for me.

Mountie/Piper: The match was originally supposed to be Mountie vs Bret for the Intercontinental Title but at a live event, Bret got sick and was forced to drop the title to The Mountie as Bret had a high fever against the orders of his doctor. Piper stepped in and took Bret's place and wanted to teach this clown the Mountie a lesson, you would think Mountie would learn his lesson at Summerslam 1991 when Bossman threw him in the New York Prison. Well Piper would make it 10 times worse for him as he defeated The Mountie to finally win his first WWE Title for the first time in his 8 years in the WWE dating all the way back to 1984. The match gets a 3/5. Although it was horrendous, it was nice to see Piper finally win a title. But the question remained could Piper walk out with both belts?. Cause he was also going to participate in the Royal Rumble Match as well for the vacated WWE Championship.

The Beverly Brothers/Bushwhackers: This match was horrible as horrible as it seems. The crowd certainly and surely was not into this match, but the fans of course favored the Bushwhackers and they won again, the match gets a 2/5.

LOD/Natural Disasters: Earthquake and Tugboat who were arch rivals turned friends in 1991 as they formed a tag team with Tugboat known as Typhoon. Earthquake and Typhoon had targeted the Champions, The Legion of Doom who finally won the big one at Summerslam. This was a natural disaster of a match. LOD got counted out but however kept the Tag Team Titles, match gets a 2/5 next to the Tag Team Match, Disappointment.

1992 Royal Rumble Match: Now let's get on to the biggest Royal Rumble Match in history with the vacated WWE Championship being defended for the first time in this match. Entrant #1 is the man who lasted in the final four last year and won the Royal Albert Hall Battle Royal in 1991 before this, The British Bulldog and he starts it off with 1989 runner-up and 1990 Longevity Man. #2. Ted Dibiase, Dibiase doesn't last than 2 minutes as Bulldog eliminates him with ease. #3 shows up, and it's Ric Flair. Heenan has a heart attack while Gorilla says "you can kiss him goodbye Brain". Heenan calmly says that Flair's got this despite entering. Now here's what people do not know is that Flair was going to win this match at the #3 entrant and the championship. Bobby Heenan mentioned in his autobiography, Bobby The Brain, that it was his initial suggestion that Flair enter the Rumble at number one for dramatic purposes, and that Vince McMahon changed it to number three and claimed it as his own idea. So anyway, Bulldog & Flair go at it until the next person arrives, and entering at #4 is Jerry Sags, who didn't appear in Last Year's Royal Rumble only his tag team partner Brian Knobbs last year was in this match, but Sags is unfortunately eliminated by Bulldog. #5. Haku. Haku and Flair who are Heenan Family Members go after Bulldog, but Haku was out for himself as he goes after Flair, but Bulldog saves Flair by eliminating Haku, That's 3 eliminations for The Bulldog and it's down to Bulldog & Flair again. This would be Haku's last WWE PPV Appearance until 9 years later when we saw him at the 2001 Royal Rumble. #6. Recently heel-turned Shawn Michaels and why I say heel is because he superkicked Marty Jannetty just days before the Rumble through a plate glass window and would become the Heartbreak Kid from we know now Today. So Michaels goes after both Flair & Bulldog. He hits Bulldog with a superkick same thing he did to Jannetty at the Barber Shop but does not immediately eliminate no one. #7 is Tito Santana who has now changed to El Matador. Tito, Flair, Shawn and Bulldog all in the ring, it's a classic. And then Barbarian enters at #8 followed by Texas Tornado at #9. Ring fills up right away, Bulldog has stayed in there for 16 minutes. Ring fills up once more with Repo Man entering at #10. Yes, Repo Man. Repo Man was known as Demolition Smash until Demolition fizzled in 1991 after 3 long reigns as Tag Team Champions. So it was former Demolition Member's time to shine. Nobody is still eliminated as of yet. Greg Valentine enters at #11. Him & Flair get into a chopfest which is interesting because him and Flair had a feud in 1980, a bloody feud if you wanna call it. Nikolai Volkoff enters at #12. This is his second Rumble Match since the inaugural one. Volkoff is eliminated by Repo Man while Valentine has Flair locked in the figure-four leg lock. #13 is The Big Bossman. Heenan yells out "does he have his nightstick, does he have handcuffs?". Bossman goes wild on everyone. Repo Man eliminates Valentine only for Bossman to repo the Repo Man out of the match. Then Flair would go on to eliminate Bulldog & Tornado immediately while Santana & Michaels both eliminate each other, #14. Hercules. After Barbarian & Flair squared off, Hercules immediately eliminated Barbarian similar to 1990, but he's immediately eliminated by The Bossman. It's down to Flair & Bossman. Flair eliminates Bossman after he misses a clothesline and Flair stays alive, but the #15 entrant is his old nemesis before Flair came to the WWE. Roddy Piper, Piper & Flair have a slugfest and then they fight outside the ring until returning to the ring. #16. Jake Roberts, Roberts who had turned heel for the first time since 1986 aids Flair against Piper but then turns his back on Flair and sets up for the DDT but Piper saves Flair from doing so. #17. 1988 Royal Rumble Winner, Hacksaw "Jim Duggan". The ring is refilled again. I.R.S. the Taxman shows up at #18. Eliminations are all quiet, but the ring is eventually filled up again. Flair has lasted for 36 minutes. #19 is Jimmy Snuka, Snuka, Piper & Flair all in one ring together, that's a recipe for 80s nostalgia there. Of course Heenan is still worked up over Flair being eliminated with Monsoon having to calm him down throughout the entire Rumble with Monsoon continuing to tell Heenan that no one has never won at number 1 through 5 and never have been at the end. Now as far as Snuka and Piper, they hadn't wrestled each other since 1985. This would've been the perfect opportunity for them to go at it which i'm pretty sure they did. #20. Former WWE Champion, The Undertaker. Heenan yells out "Break out the Bodybags, This Bag's for You and Death Takes a Holiday". Taker eliminates Snuka and goes straight for Flair with Heenan continuing to go nuts on commentary. #21. Randy Savage comes out and tries to go after Jake Roberts for all the cruel things Roberts had done to him like ruin his wedding reception for starters at Summerslam 1991 and then Roberts seemingly used a king cobra tying Savage up to the ropes and having the cobra just unleash his venom on Savage with Vince screaming "That Damn Snake better be Devenomized". And then the ultimate act of disrespect, Roberts slapped Elizabeth at Tuesday in Texas. Vince let Roberts get away with crazy stuff like that over the years. Savage is immediately attacked by Roberts's partner in crime, Undertaker. Roberts gets back in and tries to get his hands on him but Savage unloads on him and immediately throws him out. Savage rolls out of the ring to go right after him until Undertaker stops him from doing so. Savage jumped out of the ring again and continues to go straight for him but once again Undertaker tosses him back in, and there was something fishy about this. Savage jumped out of the ring with both feet touching the floor, but Gorilla says that you had to be propelled by someone over the top, but yeah didn't somebody do it in 1989 with Andre The Giant eliminating himself after Jake's Snake scaring him off?. The Berzerker enters at #22 and just goes "HUSS" "HUSS" "HUSS" over everyone. Yea, Berzerker had the worst gimmick ever. Cause he failed to do anything and even he had failed feuds with everyone in the WWE. #23. Virgil, who goes after Dibiase's new friend I.R.S., then at #24. Col. Mustafa best known as Iron Sheik, former WWE Champion comes out because let's face it. The Sheik's WWE Championship run from December 1983 through January 1984 was just an overthought cause they punished The Sheik for that "throw in the towel" incident against Backlund and feed him to Hulk Hogan which started the Hulkamania Era. #25. The man who lasted over 50 minutes last year, Rick Martel. Just as Martel enters the ring. Mustafa gets eliminated by Randy Savage who is still getting beat on cause that attack by Roberts & Undertaker outside of the ring earlier on. Entrant #26. Hulk Hogan, who's looking for his third straight Rumble win. He simply goes after everyone, he immediately eliminates Undertaker and then the Berzerker. Then Virgil & Duggan both eliminate each other together, #27. Skinner, another gimmick that sucked in the Golden Era. Followed by Sgt. Slaughter at #28 who got his country back after that whole Iraqi Storyline which I will still never get over, Martel and Piper team up both to eliminate Skinner, #29 enters and it's Sid Justice. And then Warlord, the final participant enters at #30. The guy who lasted 2 seconds in the 1989 Royal Rumble, yes i'm still going over it again. The ring starts to wind down. Sgt. Slaughter is the first man to be eliminated in the finals, according to the commentators. Flair has been in there over an hour with Heenan putting it over saying "That's fair to Flair". I.R.S. gets tossed out by Piper and Hogan once again like 1989 and last year eliminates The Warlord. Sid then eliminates Piper and Martel at the same time and then Savage gets dumped out by both Flair & Sid. Hogan & Flair go at it with Sid standing there wondering if he could help Hogan eliminate Flair or if he tosses out Hogan. Sid grabs Hogan and just tosses him over the top rope and then Hogan gets upset. Hogan grabs Sid's arm and Flair sneaks up from behind and tosses Justice out to win the match at #3 and become WWE Champion for the first time and I think this may have been his 8th or 9th World Title Win, but i'm not sure. After this, Okerlund interviews Flair backstage with Flair saying "With a tear in my eye, this is the greatest moment of my life." Of course it was because this man definitely put on an all-time showing at 42 years old. The next time anyone would win the 1-5 mark would be Shawn Michaels at #1 in 1995, and even Vince McMahon in #2 in 1999. Chris Benoit at #1 in 2004. Rey Mysterio at #2 in 2006 and Bianca Belair would soon follow at #3 last year. By the way, Belair was the second person ever to enter at #3 and win the Rumble. She's the first female to last that long by the way. The Rumble Match gets a 4/5. Awesome Rumble Match, Awesome showing by the Nature Boy. My hat goes off to the Dirtiest Player in the Game.

Royal Rumble 1992 Review: 7/10. Awesome Rumble, Piper winning the Intercontinental Title was surprising, the first tag team match was great, but the other 2 tag team matches suffered, but the Rumble Match was considered to be the best match for me of the show with Flair lasting this long.

MVP of the 1992 Royal Rumble: You Know Who. The Nature Boy Ric Flair.
Worst MVP of The 1992 Royal Rumble: Randy Savage's dumbness for accidentally eliminating himself for trying to go after Jake Roberts, and the 2 tag team matches.

That ends the Golden Era. I will tackle the New Generation Era later on.