Historically Speaking: The Rumble Elite

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“Without passion there might be no errors, but without passion there would certainly be no history.” – C. V. Wedgwood

The Opening Chapter
In the storied career of the Royal Rumble there are certain performers that have become synonomous with the event. Some performers always shine at a certain event. Undertaker is, of course, the best at WrestleMania. Big Show has usually done well at Survivor Series. Triple H thrives in Hell in a Cell. Shawn Michaels has become eternally linked to the ladder match.

And likewise, to look at the Royal Rumble there are a group of men who have always brought their best or provided memorable moments. And as a prelude to the 21st anniversary Royal Rumble event I will look back at those men who have made a significant impact on the January flagship event.

Honorable Mention
Viscera
In the long and storied history of battle royals, one of the draws has always been seeing a promotion’s super heavyweights interact with the rest of the roster. Andre the Giant made a career out of dominating battle royals and made them seem relevant. In the modern era a man like Mabel/Viscera/Big Daddy V has been used in the same role. Big Daddy V, a near 7-foot, 500 lbs. man makes for a nice visual in a setting like the Royal Rumble. While the man has never been considered as a favorite to win a Royal Rumble match he was been used in eight different Rumble matches during three different runs with WWE. This year looks to be his ninth appearance under his third or fourth different persona. His role has been to either provide for the visual of a multi-man gang elimination or for a match favorite to single handedly eliminate the big man in another impressive visual. Look for him to be used in the same capacity again this year.

Rikishi
Much like Viscera, Rikishi has always been used as a perennial Rumble match entrant. From his early days as Headshrinker Fatu to “makin’ a difference” Fatu to The Sultan to Rikishi, the man born Solofa Fatu has competed in nine Rumble matches. He was considered a match favorite in 2000, where he eliminated seven men, and in 2001, when he drew the coveted #30 spot. Just for his tenure in the event, he deserves a nod of recognition.

10. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle, while never a Rumble match winner, was instrumental in some memorable Rumble undercard matches that helped shape some of the better pay per view cards. In 2000 he was used to put over Tazz in the former ECW Champion’s debut. In 2001 he defended the WWF Championship against Triple H in the continuation of their love triangle angle from the previous year. He was runner-up in the 2002 event and in the final four in 2004, and he competed in World Championship matches in 2005 and in 2006. But his crowing achievement was his WWE Championship defense against Chris Benoit in 2003. The two put a match of the year candidate and helped save the 2003 undercard from disaster.

9. Triple H
Triple H has been active in Royal Rumbles for over a decade now, even being the pace setter for the ’96 event. He was winner of the 2002 Rumble event, when he was fresh off of returning from his first quad injury. His win was almost a foregone conclusion that year. In 2006 he and Rey Mysterio went coast-to-coast, drawing #1 and #2 and then last the entire duration of the Rumble match. Needless to say he’s had success in the Rumble matches, but his work on the pay per view undercards that really cement his place here. In 2000, he and Mick Foley had a fantastic WWF Championship match that helped cement HHH’s legacy as a main event player. The next year he and Kurt Angle put on another great WWF Championship match. He carried Scott Steiner in 2003, put on an epic Last Man Standing match with his old rival Shawn Michaels in 2004 and then defended the WWE Championship again in 2005 against Randy Orton.

8. Bret Hart
“The Hit Man” was one of the first two men ever to step foot in a Royal Rumble match. And as his stock in the company grew so did the magnitude of his Rumble performances. He went 25 minutes in 1991, while still a primarily tag wrestler. In 1993 he was the first WWF Champion to have a defense at the Rumble, defeating Razor Ramon on the undercard. It was 1994 that become Bret’s banner year, as he and brother Owen challenged The Quebecers for the Tag championship on the undercard and then he and Lex Luger became the only co-winners in Rumble history. He then spent the next two years in WWF Championship matches. His final performance in 1997 was another memorable one as he was the technical winner of the event, but Steve Austin’s chicanery behind the referees’ backs led to Stone Cold being declared the actual winner.

7. Ric Flair
He was the first man to go coast-to-coast in the Royal Rumble. Flair drew #3 in 1992 and lasted over an hour to win the WWF Championship. It’s a performance that has been duplicated many times over but “The Man” was the original. Since his return in the early part of the new millennium Flair has been instrumental in numerous Rumbles, including an entertaining brawl with Vince McMahon in 2002 and entries in 2005, 2006 and 2007 events. This year looks to be Flair’s last Royal Rumble appearance, but expect him to go out in style like he always has.

6. Mick Foley
He was appeared on numerous Rumble cards, but his most memorable appearances were in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In ’98, Foley appeared as a participant three different times, once as each alter ego – Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love. Barring the logistics of appearing three times, it made for an entertaining and memorable spectacle. Then in 1999, Foley’s goal was to put over The Rock, and did so in astounding fashion, thanks to the now famous “I Quit” match where Foley took 10 unprotected chair shots en route to a loss. The next year his mission was to get Triple H over, and once again put on an amazing performance in loss, thanks to thumbtacks, a barbed wire baseball bat and an all out entertaining brawl.

5. Kane
Nine performances as Kane, an appearance as “Diesel” and another as Isaac Yankem, DDS puts the man Glen Jacobs as all-time leader in Rumble match performances. In the last decade Kane has become almost synonymous with the Royal Rumble. He was in the final four as “Diesel” in 1997 but really hit his stride as Kane. His shining achievement was in 2001, where he eliminated 11 men, last over 40 minutes and was runner up to eventual winner Steve Austin. Since that performance Kane has always built up as a legitimate threat in Rumble matches, including final four appearances in 2000 and 2003, and an impressive one-man elimination of The Big Show in 2002.

4. Hulk Hogan
Anyone reading this knows that Hogan was “the guy” in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. So it was no surprise that Hogan was winner of the Rumble match in both 1990 and 1991. En route to winning in 1990, he had the iconic stand off with the Ultimate Warrior and then eliminate seven men in en route to victory in 1991. His other two Rumble performances were equally as impressive as he eliminated a then-record nine men in 1989, and then was in the final three in 1992.

3. Undertaker
Since 1990, Undertaker has been the face of WWE. Since the beginning Undertaker has hyped up as legitimate threat. He looked indestructible in 1991, 1992 and 1993. His credibility survived the so-bad-its-good casket match fiasco with Yokozuna in 1994 and then put on solid performances with Bret Hart and Vader in 1996 and 1997 respectively. His casket match with Shawn Michaels 1998 kicked the Kane storyline into high gear and was responsible for Michaels’ career-threatening back injury. He has drawn number 30 in Rumble matches a record three times and used that position to finally win a Rumble match last year, in 2007.

2. Shawn Michaels
Back in the late ‘80s, it wasn’t expected that a skinny young blonde kid from Texas would rule the professional wrestling world. Shawn Michaels put the wrestling world on its ear. After a 30 second performance in 1989 and really good match with Marty Jannetty against old rivals The Orient Express in 1991, Michaels went solo. He fought against his old partner Jannetty in ’93, plus appearances in the ’92 and ’94 Rumbles. He went coast-to-coast in the worst Royal Rumble match in history (1995) that included seven tag teams, a legend (Dick Murdoch), three new roster members (Mantaur, Aldo Montoya, Henry Godwinn) and the rest of the WWF mid-card, but made the both-feet-touch-the-floor rule relevant. In 1996 he won again in star fashion, making the little 220 lb. star a two-time Rumble winner. The next year, in 1997, he popped his hometown crowd of San Antonio, Texas, by winning the WWF Championship. After his four-year hiatus thanks to his back injury Michaels has put on outstanding performances in the new millennium, thanks to his Last Man Standing match with Triple H in 2004 and his absolutely amazing runner-up performance against Undertaker in 2007.

1. Steve Austin
A disputed Rumble victory in ‘97, outright wins in ’98 and ’01 and an undeclared win in ’99 makes Steve Austin an easy choice for Royal Rumble MVP. Barring his run as The Ringmaster in 1996, Austin thrived in every Rumble he competed in. He is the only three-time winner of the Royal Rumble and a final four runner-up in 2002. His persona and attitude were tailor-made for an event like the Rumble. He was always successful in eliminations and was the iron man in ’97 and in ’99. Simply put, he dominated.

The Perspective
The Royal Rumble match has always been known for its memorable moments. It sets the stage for WrestleMania and showcases the performers who will be highlighted in the upcoming months. The Rumble match can help make new stars or solidify someone’s standing. For me it’s usually an automatic top five match of the year just on precedent, and it’s a testament to the performers highlighted above.

For this week the vault is closed…

Linked to the Pulse
Glazer gives his 23008 wish list for Ring of Honor.

Mulligan is back with more insight on the world of puro, including a preview of the next New Japan and TNA supershow.

Scott Keith is back with a review of the very first Monday Nitro.

Recent History
This is the section where I can ramble through my thoughts on this past week in wrestling, whether it be the television shows, pay per views, or any news that came out. Kinda like Vh1’s “Best Week Ever,” but this should be less annoying…hopefully.

I used to really enjoy TNA. It looked visually different. The wrestling style was different. It was a combination of southern rasslin’ and indy spot fests, and it was a good alternative to WWE. But as Russo has further taken TNA down the road of some warped, lesser version of WWF circa 1998 it has become harder and harder to watch. While watching this past week’s episode of TNA I asked the question “why” so many times that I lost count. And not “why” in the good way, like what’s happening next, but more like “why would you do that?” or “why is that needed?” or “why did that happen?” I hope Chris Harris and Ron Killings laugh their way to the bank in WWE. I know Low Ki is already enjoying his new life on the outside.

RAW really hit on all cylinders this week. This week they really highlighted the depth of the RAW brand with continuation of a lot of big time angles. They showcased how stacked the face side of the roster is. It’s only going to get more crowded when Lashley and Cena return. Props to Jeff Hardy for that crazy-ass swanton. He really is making the most of this main event opportunity.

This Day in History
I figured if we are talking history around here we should pay homage to what has happened on this very day in the years gone by. It will either make you long for the old days or be happy for what we have now.

1991 – Big Van Vader defeated Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight title
1992 – The Mountie defeated Bret Hart for the WWF Intercontinental title
1994 – The Quebecers defeated Marty Jannetty & the 123 Kid for the WWF Tag Team title
1997 – Beau James was awarded the SSW Appalachian title when War Machine failed to appear
1998 – Jimmy Cicero defeated Chris Stephenson for the SCW Heavweight title
1998 – Pat & C.W. Anderson defeated Cueball Carmichael & Christian York for the SCW Tag Team title
1999 – WCW Souled Out was held at the Civic Canter, Charleston, WV
2000 – Test defeated the Big Bossman for the WWF Hardcore title
2000 – Jeff Jarrett is awarded the WCW US Heavyweight title by Commissioner Kevin Nash
2003 – Balls Mahoney defeated Sabu for the USA Pro-Wrestling Heavyweight Title
2003 – The SAT defeated The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz for the vacant USA Pro-Wrestling Tag Team Titles

The Assignment
It’s important to know your history to know where you have come from and where you are going. Back when Nova was in charge of the WWE developmental system he implemented mandatory history assignments for the students of the developmental territories so they would know pro wrestling’s history and they would learn just how many moves Nova created and apparently the best ways to get on-line prescriptions. I feel Nova had a great idea there and every week I will assign a book or DVD for you to check out and learn from. They are not only educational but very entertaining.

No assignment this week, take the week off and enjoy yourself.

Mark was a columnist for Pulse Wrestling for over four years, evolving from his original “Historically Speaking” commentary-style column into the Monday morning powerhouse known as “This Week in ‘E.” He also contributes to other ventures, outside of IP, most notably as the National Pro Wrestling Examiner for Examiner.com and a contributor for The Wrestling Press. Follow me on Twitter here.