I did the 89 version of the show but wasn’t happy with it so I wrote this one and plan to have a crack at 89 again at some point.
I also gave match times a go this time. See if it enhances the reading experience or not
We’re in Orlando, Florida
Hosts are Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura
The Fabulous Rougeaus w/ Jimmy Hart Vs The Bushwhackers
Jacques has a bizarre beard here that makes him look like a drunk off the street. I’ll have “All American Boys” in my head for days now. Lot’s of stalling to start by both teams before Raymond and Butch finally start out. Raymond goes to a sleeper but Butch sends him into the corner and bites his derrière. Battering Ram sends both heels scampering away. Oh it’s going to be one of those matches. Luke and Jacques go next with Luke getting some biting and punching. Funny bit as Jacques dares Luke to hit him but ducks and Raymond takes it instead. Luke takes a cheap shot and gets worked over in the heel corner for a while. Jacques sends him spine first into the apron a few times drawing Butch over. More double teaming on Luke including a nice flapjack. Butch finally gets the hot tag and takes out The Rougeaus with some interesting offence to say the least. Jimmy Hart comes inside and takes a double team but The Rougeaus come in to save him. Quebec Crab is saved by Butch and Battering Ram ends it soon after.
WINNERS – THE BUSHWACKERS
Time of fall – 12 minutes 58 seconds
½* – Yes they gave it THAT much time!
Mean Gene is with Dibiase and Virgil. Dibiase looks very angry at not being able to draw his own number. He’s not too happy at his number either, he drew number 1!
The Genius Vs Brutus Beefcake
Beefcake is pretty over here to say the least. Genius offers a handshake to start but then pulls his hand away when Beefcake goes to shake. Genius stalls outside to annoy the crowd. Lock up and Beefcake gives him a clean break in the corner and starts mocking his skipping around the ring. Another lock up leads to Genius raking the eyes. Monkey Flip is reversed into a Reverse Atomic Drop and Genius bails again. Genius gets some right hands back in and some body shots in the corner. Brutus dodges a corner dropkick and crotches Genius on the top rope leading to him bailing again. Lanny Poffo is a pretty good worker he doesn’t need to do this sort of stuff. Genius gets a dropkick for two and follows up with some axe handle blows. Roll up gets two but Brutus starts fighting back with a slam and face rake. Brutus goes for the sleeper but Genius counters and the ref gets bumped. Brutus gets the sleeper bang in the middle but there’s no ref. Brutus gets ready to give Genius a short back and sides but Mr. Perfect runs in for the save and the ref awakens to call a DQ.
WINNER – DOUBLE DQ
Time of fall – 10 minutes and 35 seconds
*1/2 – Not bad despite the lame ending. Perfect and Genius double team Brutus with a chair post match.
Sean Mooney is with The Heenan Family, Rick Rude, Andre The Giant and Haku. Bobby Heenan says everyone is happy with their numbers and they’ll be working together. Everyone else seemingly disagrees.
Submission Match
Greg Valentine w/ Jimmy Hart Vs Ronnie Garvin
Garvin is wearing a shin pad here to counter act Valentine’s one. Valentine tries to bail but Garvin drags him in and sends him into the turnbuckle face first. Valentine gets some big chops in the corner but Garvin fights back with stiff open hand slaps. Valentine bails to avoid the onslaught. Garvin unloads with more shots back inside but takes a jab to the face from Valentine sending him down. Valentine dazes Garvin with some more shots but Garvin fights back and both men end up tumbling to the fall following a head butt. Garvin attempts a pile driver but Valentine counters and they do a pin fall reversal sequence which is completely pointless in a submission match. Psychology here is weird. Garvin goes for another pin which is about the fifth time in this match. Garvin sets up the shin guard and locks in the figure four but Garvin is able to no sell it due to his own shin guard. That was a fine piece of storytelling there.
Valentine gets the Canadian Back Breaker but Garvin doesn’t tap so he releases and drops and elbow. Garvin kicks him away on another figure four and unloads with some sting open hand slaps to the chest. Garvin then goes to the Indian Deathlock but Valentine makes he ropes to break. Brawl spills outside where they chop the absolute crap out of each other. Garvin tries a pile driver on the floor but Valentine back drops out of that to save his life. Back inside Garvin ends up in the tree of woe where Valentine gets some free shots in for fun. Both men go down again after knocking heads and Hart steals Garvin’s shin guard allowing Valentine to get the Figure Four. Garvin fights it and manages to turn it but Valentine makes the ropes. Valentine kicks away on Garvin’s leg and goes for another Figure Four but Garvin counters that. Valentine heads up top but Garvin throws him off and takes off his shin guard, to a huge pop, and now everything is equal. Garvin ties Valentine up in the ropes and stalks Hart. Valentine gets out but takes a shin guard to the face and Sharpshooter ends it for Garvin
WINNER – RONNIE GARVIN
Time of Fall – 17 minutes 7 seconds
***1/2 – Really good match with a great story involving the shin guards
Mr. Perfect is with Mean Gene and he says that Brutus Beefcake got what he deserved and that he’ll win the Rumble as he pulled the “Perfect number”.
Brother Love Show with Sensational Sherri and Sapphire.
It should be pointed out that Randy Savage and Sherri were doing the King and Queen gimmick miles better than Booker T and Sharmel do right now. The matches were actually good too. Brother and Sherri stroke each others ego’s and make fun of Sapphire. Sapphire joins us as Brother and Sherri make fun of her more. They call her a “peasant” and such and won’t let her speak. They also make fun of Dusty Rhodes and his size. Some of this stuff is really funny too. Sapphire snaps and slaps Sherri in the face. Randy Savage and Dusty both run down and start brawling until a host of officials come down to split them up. Dusty starts slowly stalking Brother Love and then gives him a beating as the crowd goes nuts.
Sean Mooney is with Jim Duggan and he’s not afraid of the Big Bossman.
Big Bossman w/ Slick Vs “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
Bossman was still a heel here but he eventually would turn face a few months later. Lock up to start leads to a total slugfest which Duggan gains the better of sending Bossman outside. The brawl continues outside with Bossman sending Duggan into the ring post. Bossman eats some steps and back inside the fight goes on. Bossman slugs away and floors Duggan with an enzuiguri. Bossman takes over but Duggan no sells some offence and starts fighting back. Bossman catches him with an Axe Handle though and takes over again. Slick gets some cheap shots in and Bossman goes to a neck wrench. Duggan again attempts a comeback but Bossman gets a knee to the gut to stop that rally. Bossman goes to a bear hug but Duggan fights out with some head butts and grabs the ropes. Bossman is demolishing Duggan here with little difficulty. Duggan finally gets back in the match with some right hands and sends Bossman outside with a clothesline. Duggan gets a 10 punch in the corner but misses a clothesline and takes one from Bossman. Bossman heads up top for a big splash but Duggan moves. Both guys knock heads and are out on the floor. Slick tries to get involved but that backfires so Bossman uses the nightstick for a DQ.
WINNER – JIM DUGGAN BY DQ
Time of fall – 10 minutes 17 seconds
**1/4 – I was actually kind of digging that match but it was a shame it was such a weak ending. Duggan sends everyone fleeing post match with the 2×4.
Time for the usual Royal Rumble medley of interviews and Sean Mooney asks fans who they think will win.
Royal Rumble
#1 is Ted Dibiase
#2 is Koko B Ware
Dibiase dominates Koko to start but Koko no sells being sent face first into the turnbuckle and mounts a comeback but gets dumped soon after
Dibiase dumps Koko (1)
#3 is Marty Jannetty
Marty takes it to Dibiase but runs into a raised boot. Marty of course works in the back flip sell on a clothesline. Marty mounts a comeback but misses a cross body and tumbles out
Marty Jannetty eliminates himself
#4 is Jake Roberts
Jake and Dibiase were feuding at the time so the crowd is pumped for this showdown. The fight spills outside where Dibiase slams Jake on the floor. Jake sends Dibiase face first into the ring post and the fight goes back inside. Jake tries a DDT but Dibiase counters
#5 is Randy Savage
Savage and Dibiase start double teaming Roberts. Jake gets tied up in the ropes and pounded on
#6 is Roddy Piper
Piper is the old house en feugo as he annihilates both men and unties Jake. Everyone pairs off with Roberts and Dibiase fighting in one corner while Piper and Savage fight in the other. Savage nearly dumps Piper and the crowd almost has a heart attack
#7 is The Warlord
Warlord hammers away on everyone but Piper is able to somehow fend him off. Savage and Dibiase team up to try and dump Jake who desperately hangs on. Piper makes the save again
#8 is Bret Hart
Everything goes 3 on 3 here as the faces and heels team up. Piper and Bret double clothesline Warlord to a big pop. Piper tries to dump him but that’s a lost cause. Bret tries dumping Savage but he hangs on. Jake tries to dump Dibiase
#9 is Bad News Brown
Bad News goes right for Bret as Jake and attempts a DDT on Dibiase but Savage clotheslines him out. They do that elimination all the time with Jake in Royal Rumbles
Savage dumps Roberts (1)
#10 is Dusty Rhodes
Dusty of course heads right for Savage and hammers away on him but Bad News jumps him. Savage charges at Dusty but gets back dropped out/
Savage is eliminated by Dusty (1)
Piper and Dusty team up to try and dump Warlord who holds on. Dibiase and Dusty start fighting in the corner as Piper keeps trying to get Warlord out.
#11 is Andre The Giant
Andre goes right for Warlord and dumps him with ease
Andre dumps Warlord (1)
Fuji and Heenan argue at ringside and Andre flattens Dusty and Piper in the corner. Dusty and Piper team up trying to dump him but he swats them away to stop that. Bad News and Dibiase team up on Bret
#12 is Red Rooster
Piper and Bad News fight with Piper eliminating Bad News but Bad News pulls Piper out and they fight to back.
Piper eliminates Bad News (1)
Dusty tries to dump Dibiase but Virgil makes the save.
#13 is Ax
Andre dumps Red Rooster (2)
Ax goes right for Andre and beats him down in revenge for Andre and Haku winning the tag team titles. Bret and Dusty try to throw Dibiase out who desperately clings on. Dusty and Ax tie Andre up in the ropes and club away on him.
#14 is Haku
Haku of course comes in to help out Andre. Dibiase and Bret are having a great scuffle in the corner during all of this. Everyone pairs off with Dusty fighting Haku while Ax and Andre go at it with Ax holding his own quite well.
#15 is Smash
Demolition team up and take it to The Colossal Connection while Dusty and Bret team up on Dibiase. Andre starts choking Dusty in the corner.
#16 is Akeem
Akeem goes for Andre straight out, obviously wanting to be the only big guy in the match, but then starts attacking Bret. Demolition eliminate Andre to a big pop
Demolition dump Andre (1 and 1)
During the commotion Bret Hart gets dumped but I didn’t see by whom because the camera was focused on Andre and the commentators just skim over it.
#17 is Jimmy Snuka
Demolition try to dump Haku while Snuka gets Akeem out.
Snuka eliminates Akeem (1)
Everyone sort of wanders around at this point hitting random people. Every Rumble has a slow portion.
#18 is Dino Bravo
Dino attacks Haku and tries to dump him but Snuka saves for whatever reason. Dear me Snuka should have hung em up after 87 shouldn’t he? Demolition try to get Dibiase out but he bites, kicks and scratches his way to safety.
#19 is Earthquake
Earthquake goes right for Dusty and flings him over the top
Earthquake eliminates Dusty (1)
Ax goes for Earthquake but that goes badly for him
Earthquake dumps Ax (2)
Earthquake continues beating the crap out of anyone stupid enough to go near him.
#20 is Jim Neidhart
Neidhart, Smash and Haku triple team Earthquake but he holds on so everyone in the ring helps to finally dump them
Earthquake is eliminated by Neidhart, Smash, Haku, Dibiase and Snuka (1, 2, 1, 2, 1)
#21 is Ultimate Warrior
BIG reaction for Warrior as he hammers away on Bravo and dumps him with ease
Warrior eliminates Bravo (1)
Haku and Snuka double team Warrior but he fights back and tees off on Smash in the corner. Niedhart and Dibiase fight in the corner with Warrior joining in.
#22 is Rick Martel
Smash goes right to work on Martel but gets sent into the turnbuckle. Haku sends Smash out.
Haku eliminates Smash (2)
Warrior and Dibiase start fighting with Warrior gaining the upper hand
#23 is Tito Santana
Tito and Martel of course start fighting with Tito dominating. Martel begins a tradition in finding as many ways to look like he’s going out without actually being eliminated. I mean Martel just perfected the teased elimination didn’t he? Dibiase piledrives Snuka down
#24 is Honky Tonk Man
Honky and Dibiase double team Warrior but he fights them off. Warrior and Dibiase team up to dump Neidhart
Neidhart is eliminated by Dibiase and Warrior (3 and 2)
Soon after that Warrior throws Dibiase over the top (3) after a commendable 45 minutes.
Haku and Martel try to dump Tito but he fights back and tries to dump Martel.
#25 is Hulk Hogan
Hogan dumps Snuka and Haku in record time (2)
Martel and Tito continue fighting but Warrior sneaks up and dumps Tito out
Warrior eliminates Tito (4)
Warrior and Martel fight while Hogan and Honky pair up.
#26 is Shawn Michaels to a huge reaction
Hogan dumps Honky Tonk (3)
Warrior dumps Michaels and Martel (6)
That leaves Warrior and Hogan and the whole crowd is going mental. Double clothesline sends both guys down and the crowd is absolutely torn.
#27 is Barbarian
Barbarian clubs away on both Hogan and Warrior as Rick Rude comes down early before he’s officially entered in the match. Rude and Barbarian try to dump Hogan but Warrior makes the save and pounds away on Rude. I guess Rude is officially in now. Rude and Barbarian try to dump Warrior but Hogan comes over with a double clothesline and the force knocks Warrior out
Hogan eliminates Warrior (4)
Warrior takes out Rude and Barbarian before leaving
#29 is Hercules
Hercules and Hogan team up to even the odds and pair up with Rude and Barbarian respectively. Hogan gets the Axe Bomber on Barbarian and walks over to start pounding on Rude.
#30 is Mr. Perfect
Perfect goes straight for Hogan
Hercules dumps Barbarian (1)
Final Four are Hercules, Hogan, Perfect and Rude
Perfect dropkicks Hercules over the top to eliminate him (1)
This leaves Hogan 1 on 2 and he gets worked over as the fans try to get behind him. Heel miscommunicatui leads to Rude hitting Perfect sending him through the middle ropes. Hogan then whips Rude to the ropes and Perfect pulls them down sending Rude out
Mr. Perfect eliminates Rick Rude (2)
Hogan brings Perfect in and starts pounding away but Perfect fights back and gets the Perfect Plex which Hogan no sells and it’s Hulk Up time! Hogan gets the toss into the ring post and a series of clotheslines. Hogan then dumps Perfect for the win. (5)
WINNER – HULK HOGAN
Time of last elimination – 58 minutes 51 seconds
Most eliminations – Ultimate Warrior (6)
**** – Really good Rumble which never really dragged and it had the Hogan/Warrior showdown that led to Wrestlemania VI. One of the better Rumbles I’ve seen
The Inside Pulse
Well the show wasn’t mind blowing but I enjoyed it. Personally I would recommend 91 and 92 over it because they are much better all round shows but this will still entertain you.
I would still recommend this
