WWE Royal Rumble 93'

WWE Royal Rumble 93'

Sacramento, CA - January 1993

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, Bret Hart was the WWE Champion, the Intercontinental Champion was Shawn Michaels, and the World Tag Team Champions were Money Inc.

Royal Rumble shows are always a fun watch and this one has the benefit of being called by my personal favorite broadcast team - Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan. 

The show begins with The Beverly Brothers taking on The Steiner Brothers, who had joined the company just a few weeks before in December 92'. This is a paint-by-numbers tag match with Scott playing the face-in-peril for an extended stretch until he makes the hot tag to Rick Steiner, who comes in and delivers some no-nonsense ass-kicking in the form of an awesome release german suplex and then a couple Steinerlines. Scott Steiner eventually gets the victory with a painful-looking Frankensteiner. I prefer Steiner matches where they just come in and destroy people so there were some moments I was bored by this, but the finish was solid enough. Not an all-time great opener, but not terrible. (2.5/5)

After a video recap of all that led up to this match, it is time for Shawn Michaels to defend his Intercontinental Championship against his former teammate, Marty Jannetty. This is one of the best feuds of the 90s, no doubt, and really propelled Shawn into the singles division. Before the match begins, Sherri Martel shows up, the Sensational One having been accidentally struck by a mirror by Jannetty during one of their physical confrontations weeks earlier. Marty's outfit is bonkers (he thankfully ditches most of it when the match begins), while Shawn (referenced as "the wrestler of the 90s") is decked out in white, gold, and black and looks like a million bucks. Just a few months earlier, Michaels had main evented the 92' Survivor Series but this match has considerably more heat because of the history between the competitors. Michaels bumps like crazy but gets in quite a bit of offense too, including a shoulder-breaker into the post that sets the stage for further shoulder damage in the minutes after. Considering the Rockers were known for their speed and high-flying, the deliberate pace that Michaels set is a bit underwhelming. There are good moments and Sherri's facial expressions are terrific on the outside, but Shawn had not "put it all together" in terms of controlling long stretches of a match - and, truthfully, had the best matches of his career by avoiding having to work that way anyway. There's an awesome suplex to the outside - a move I'm not sure the WWE had ever featured before - and then a great moment where Sherri slaps the taste of Shawn's mouth. It is here when the action finally gets good, not that Jannetty is particularly awesome, but just that the pace picks up and we get some exciting nearfalls (plus Bobby Heenan losing it on commentary). A ref bump leads to Sherri accidentally waffling Jannetty with her shoe and Shawn gets in her face. Michaels connects with a very lackluster superkick and makes the cover, Sherri running to the back in tears. I'd consider this slightly above-average and it does have an interesting (though, not necessarily a good) ending - I mean, Sherri now a babyface? - plus some good post-match brawling and "Mean" Gene losing his cool trying to get a word from Shawn's ex-manager. (3/5)

Back to the ring we go for Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Big Bossman. If I'm not mistaken, Bossman would leave the company before the year's end, while Bigelow was headed for a bit of a push (and an eventual WrestleMania main event in 94'). Bigelow controls early, jumping Bossman before the bell rings, and bringing the fight right to him. Bigelow almost takes the countout victory but Bossman rolls back in and manages some offense with a series of big clotheslines. Bossman would have some tragically underrated and super stiff matches against Vader in 94' so this match looks very "soft" in comparison, some of his punches not landing at all. There is at least one great spot - a back body drop that Bossman takes to the floor (and ring apron) that looks nasty - but the action is too broken up to keep the crowd engaged. Bigelow applies a cartoonish rear bearhug and Bossman has no trouble breaking out of it. He comes off the rope but the Bammer catches him and drops him neck-first on the top rope. He gets a 2 count and the match continues but doesn't get any more interesting as Bigelow reapplies a the rear waistlock. Bigelow attempts a suplex, but Bossman blocks it and just barely hits one of his own (which Heenan wisely notes on commentary). Bossman gets one last comeback but his lower back is clearly hurt. He hits some of his signature offense, but Bigelow catches him with a boot in the corner and hits the flying headbutt for 3. What a lousy finish that was for Bigelow as it just doesn't look at all impressive and only barely connects with Bossman's upper chest. This could've been a great match if they'd both been motivated and given the opportunity to go out there and just beat the hell out of each other - but that simply wasn't what the WWE offered at the time. (1/5)

Backstage, Owen Hart (pre-heel turn) sits down for an interview, but gets attacked by Razor Ramon. Bobby and Gorilla then segue to an additional promo out of Razor Ramon. As I noted earlier, Survivor Series 92' was headlined by Bret Hart and Michaels and now, a couple months later, it is Ramon who is challenging the Hitman after, just 9 months earlier, being a lower midcarder in WCW. The WWE wasn't yet fully into its New Generation, but it is remarkable to think that, a year prior, the 91' Rumble featured Hogan, Savage, Piper, Flair, Jake The Snake, and Sid Justice and, a year later, we're heading into WrestleMania IX with nearly that entire crew of main eventers either out of the company entirely, on their way to being out of the company entirely, or nowhere close to the main event. Anyway...the bell rings and Ramon immediately brings the fight to the Hitman, Bret manages to get Razor into the figure four and Razor starts selling the damage instantly. Bret continues to work on Ramon's leg and the crowd is 100% behind him. There's a great spot that turns things around, though, as Ramon whips Bret into the corner and Bret (who usually takes a facefirst bump into the buckle) goes ribs-first into the post. Outside the ring, Razor hits him with a series of rib-breaker slams and then rams him into the post for good measure. I've been critical of Scott Hall's in-ring work over the years, calling him outright boring at times, but his offense is crisp and focused here and Bret was clearly driven to re-educate the fans about what a World Heavyweight Championship match could be and should be after years of watching Hogan, Warrior, and others go through the motions and barely leave their feet. Like most of Razor's matches from this time, he relies a bit too much on restholds for my liking - but at least here he varies them up and Bret is a good enough worker to struggle through them, not just play dead. Bret escapes a bearhug and, soon after, we get a great dive into the entranceway and Bret follows it up with a flurry of fists in the corner. Bret drops him with a series of big right hands and then hits an atomic drop and clothesline for 2. Bret hits a backbreaker that impresses Gorilla and then another clothesline from the 2nd rope for another nearfall. Bret hits a bulldog as Gorilla wonders aloud why Bret won't apply the Sharpshooter. Bret hits the Russian Leg Sweep but only gets 2 again. Bret goes for the Sharpshooter, but Razor is able to use his height to get to the ropes. Bret tries his best to turn him, but Razor pulls the ref into the fray and the match continues. Razor goes back to the ribs and Bret collapses to the mat. Razor attempts a back suplex out of the corner, but Bret counters it and hits one of his own. The Hitman goes for his patented elbow drop, but Razor gets his foot up. Wow. Everytime this match seems like it is going to go into "5 Moves of Doom" territory, there's another wrinkle. Razor tries to hit the Razor's Edge, but Bret counters it into a backslide - but only gets 2.9. Good false finish there. Razor maintains control, stomping on Bret and sending him into the corner again. Ramon tries to weaken Bret even more, locking his hands up and booting him in the chest, but Bret maneuvers it into a pinfall attempt and then awkwardly applies the Sharpshooter. This match had really good moments, but the finish fell flat because it was overly complicated. Throw a better final 2 minutes on this match and this could've been a "must see." As it is, it is above-average but not that much above average. (3/5)

This match is followed by one of my all-time favorite debuts/segments - Bobby Heenan unveiling "The Narcissist" Lex Luger. Luger had been hired by Vince to be a "guest star" of his short-lived World Bodybuilding Federation (and cohost of the WBF Bodystars show) in 92', but never actually competed. After rehabbing an injury caused by a motorcycle accident, Luger was brought the WWE proper and given Heenan has a mouthpiece (a good idea) and this gimmick (a not as good idea). I'm guessing the initial plan was for Luger to challenge Bret for the Championship at SummerSlam, but that everything was thrown for a loop when Hogan came back? Its never really been clear to me but the Narcissist gimmick didn't end up lasting long. Anyway, this is a great segment and sets up the feud with Mr. Perfect, well, perfectly. (+1)

Luger's debut is followed by "Caesar" and "Cleopatra" making their way down the aisle to start tonight's main event - the 1993 Royal Rumble. The 93' Royal Rumble was an interesting one in terms of setting as Caesar's Palace wasn't your conventional basketball arena like the other WrestleManias around this time. Coming in at number 1, a clever nod to the 92' Rumble, is Ric Flair, but it gets a much lesser reaction than it did 12 months earlier - even from the commentators. At #2 is Bob Backlund and one has to wonder if this was something like a rib as Backlund was the other "old guy" (having made his comeback at age 43). Papa Shango comes in at #3 but is eliminated in under a minute. Next up, another guy known as a Rumble "Ironman" Ted Dibiase. At this point, DiBiase and IRS were the World Tag Team Champions, but I'm not sure if they were already pencilled-in to work with Hogan and Beefcake at WrestleMania IX (maybe the Steiners, though?). Nasty Boy Sags comes in next, a babyface, to even the sides. The Nasties and Money Inc. had been feuding for the past few months, but I doubt their program would've had the legs to make it to April. Virgil comes in at #6 and Sags gets clotheslined out of the ring. Jerry "The King" Lawler comes in at #7 to a chorus of boos. Lawler had only recently joined the company but, by the year's end, would be one of the company's top heels (which is, in a weird way, symbolized by the way he comes in and inexplicably goes right for Flair). Max Moon comes in at #8, one of the most bizarre gimmicks of the 90s. Was an astronaut? A man from the future? A wrestling alien? Lawler eliminates him as Tenryu makes his way down the aisle. Tenryu would also appear in the 94' Rumble. In some ways, if you look at the "star power" of this match, it is loaded with names that would've meant much more  5-10 years prior - Flair, Backlund, DiBiase, Lawler, even Perfect (who comes in at #9) - as this would've been essentially a show featuring the biggest regional names of the late 70s/early 80s, a clash of NWA, Memphis, and New York icons. As Perfect goes after Flair, Gorilla notes that the next night would feature a Loser Leaves Town match between Flair and Hennig. Skinner comes in at the #10 spot, but the big moment follows soon after as Perfect palm-faces Flair out of the ring to a huge ovation. Koko B. Ware comes in next and goes right after Lawler, these two fairly familiar with each other from 81'. Headshrinker Samu comes out next, followed by The Berzerker next. Lawler gets eliminated and, with Perfect on the other side of the ropes, nearly everyone tries to shove him out (with Lawler pulling him down too). Lawler and Perfect brawl on the outside, hinting at a feud that we never saw fully develop in the WWE but arguably could've/would've been pretty good (they'd feuded in the AWA). The Undertaker comes in next to a huge ovation and Heenan jokes that by the time he gets to the ring, it will be WrestleMania. Outside the ring, Nord grabs a chair and beats down on Backlund. Taker eliminates Samu as Nord continues his assault on Backlund outside the ring. The Berzerker's use of weapons and exposed concrete made him a bit different than the average WWE heel. Taker eliminates Tenryu as Taker brawls with DiBiase. In comes Terry Taylor, who I completely forgot was in the WWE at the time. B.Ware and Taylor get eliminated by DiBiase, but he ends up eating a chokeslam soon after and getting eliminated himself. This results in Taker and Berzerker being the last two men standing (though its unclear whether Backlund was ever officially eliminated). As they fight, Harvey Wippelman walks down the aisle with The Giant Gonzalez - an unofficial entrant. This is Gonzalez' debut and, to be fair, aside from his infamously bizarre outfit, he does look impressive. Taker eliminates Berzerker (who deserved better) and, after an epic staredown, Gonzalez strikes and backhands Taker over the top rope. Credit to the Undertaker as he does an expert jobbing selling for Gonzalez, bumping and bouncing around the ring to do whatever he can to get this angle over. Damien Demento is supposed to be the next entrant but he just watches from outside the ring. As Gonzalez continues to beat down Taker, IRS comes out. In the ring, IRS and Demento beat down Backlund (who ended up back in the ring, barely alive). Tatanka comes in next but the audience is focused on Taker, who is selling more than he ever has. As Heenan notes on commentary, Taker looks "more human than he's ever been." Nasty Boy Sags comes in next and we've now got the ring filled with relative jobbers (aside from Backlund, who would end up with the WWE Championship for 24 hours later in 94'). Typhoon comes in next, one half of the Natural Disasters tag team and just a 9 months from becoming the Shockmaster. Headshrinker Fatu comes in and this match has basically died, the crowd not responding at all to his entrance. After a quiet two minutes, Earthquake comes in. In a somewhat shocking twist, Quake eliminates his tag partner, but as far as I know this storyline was never really developed further and Typhoon just accepted that this was part of the game. Carlos Colon comes in and is, rather famously, referred to as a "youngster" despite being 45. Colon was known by very, very few of the fans based on the reaction he gets, but, in hindsight, I can understand Vince's desire to hype this match - maybe more than any other in the past (I'm not sure) - as being a ticket to a WrestleMania main event (which would explain why foreign talent and previously-retired wrestlers would want to participate). Tito Santana comes in next, another guy who I did not remember was still working in 93'. Rick Martel comes in and next and immediately goes after his former partner as Earthquake ducks and IRS goes flying out of the ring. This match really does bank a ton on fans being familiar with not-so-recent rivalries in and out of the company - from Hennig/Lawler to Martel/Santana to even Backlund/Flair. The next entrant (and SPOILER ALERT: eventual winner) is Yokozuna, who Monsoon notes has to be the odds-on favorite now. They really go out of their way to play him up as Yokozuna sends both Tatanka and Colon out of the match. The crowd loves the Yoko/Quake staredown, but 'Zuna won't budge and Tenta looks nervous. The next entrant is "The Rocket" Owen Hart but all the attention is still on Quake and Yoko. Yokozuna bearhugs Earthquake and sends him over the top rope as Heenan predicts him to be the eventual winner. The Repo Man comes in and everyone in the ring tries to take Yoko out, but its to no avail. The final entrant is "The Macho Man," arguably the most over babyface on the roster at this point (as Bret Hart had not quite ascended to that spot). Yoko tosses Santana as Savage works on Repo Man in the corner. Owen dropkicks Sags out of the match and we're down to 6. We're down to 5 when Owen gets tossed and then 4 when Repo is eliminated very soon after. Backlund hits the 61-minute mark, nearing the record that Flair set the previous year. Backlund eliminates Martel and it seems like Backlund may somehow, someway win the Rumble. He goes after Yoko, dropkicking him twice as the crowd roars, but ends up tossed over the top rope soon after. Savage and Yoko are the last standing and Macho Man is in trouble. Savage fights back with rights and lefts, though, eventually even attempting to topple him with a flying forearm from the top rope. Savage looks like he might have him once he brings him down to one knee, but Yokozuna connects with a devastating thrust kick and then a belly-to-belly slam. Savage takes an unbelievable beating for the next few minutes but manages to dodge a splash that leads to Yoko finally leaving his feet! Savage hits a somewhat-awkward elbow drop, but Yoko shoves him off and over the top rope! The finish is better in theory than in execution, but I still think it works and definitely put Yoko over huge as he basically shrugged-off Savage's finisher. (1.5/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.4-out-of-5, Royal Rumble 93' is a considerable step down from the all-time best version from a year prior, but as a whole, the show does make for an interesting watch, especially for rasslin' history buffs. 93' was a transitional year for the WWE and there may be no greater evidence of it than this show. The commentary team and graphics are the same as 92', you've still got Flair and Savage and DiBiase and "The Model" all in significant roles, but the title is held by Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels has moved up the card, and Razor Ramon, Lex Luger, and Yokozuna are clearly being positioned as the company's top heels (though Ramon would be turned babyface by the year's end). The Rumble match itself has a few bright moments: the finishing stretch is unfairly maligned and makes Yoko look like a worthy challenger for the title, seeing Flair, Backlund, and Lawler in the same ring is remarkable in its own right, and, though he couldn't work an actual match if his life depended on it, the debut of Giant Gonzalez is terrific (and the Undertaker's performance is a large part of that). Plus, as mentioned earlier, you've got Gorilla and Bobby together calling one last Rumble (though, to be sure, they've got considerably less to work with than they did a year prior). A very specific type of fan will love the hell out of this show, but because this show doesn't represent the best of the early 90s (when Hulkamania was still running wild) or the peak of the New Generation, it is hard to recommend.

FINAL RATING - High Risk Maneuver