WWF Royal Rumble 1991
I chose to review/look back at this Rumble simply because it took place 20 years ago, so there you go! Plus, it is nice to look back with a different view.
This was a great opening match. A fast paced start in which Michaels and Janetty pull a double suicide dive to the outside. The match was truly back and forth. Tanaka came across as a very sound competitor and hit a sweet standing flying forearm.
I found it quite funny when I saw Michaels use a HHH like high knee! Also, he pulled a moonsault which left Piper and Gorilla Monsoon baffled! Piper just says “What a move!!”
There is a great spot using Kato’s belt preceding a very innovative finish. 7/10!
Next, a promo by The Macho King which leads to Sherri and The Ultimate Warrior, out in the arena. Sherri seemed drunk! The Warrior looks great in Stars and Stripes Warrior ring attire; his face is priceless when Sherri is trying to seduce him. Ooh, wait a sec; she’s on her knees now! Macho really wants a title shot! Decent segment which fuels future events.
First thing I notice, a very young Mike Chioda is the ref! Not a great match, but Monsoon and Piper prove they could sell s**t to a farmer. The Barbarian goes up top and hits a huge flying clothesline. He looked really at ease perched on that top rope. Hats off. 4/10 they got an extra point due to the announce team.
Next, a promo by Sgt. Slaughter w/ General Adnaan. This is a great promo and he calls the Warrior the Ultimate Puke! LOL!
Now a Warrior promo! He must have a cold, all grunting from the nose. This promo actually makes sense and sounds rational!
The title is on the line now and its action from the off! Warrior destroys the Iraqi flag and shoves it down Sarge’s throat! Chaos! Then Sherri comes down and baits Warrior into chasing her off. BAM! Where did Savage come from?? He does a number on Warrior, gets some real heat.
Eventually, Warrior gets back to the ring and the match progresses. I love Slaughters boots! You can’t NOT get into this match, even if you don’t like either competitor. The crowd are so into it. I love everything about the finish, the crowd are great and Piper and Monsoon are gold. 6 /10
Awesome promo by Ted DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man.
Dusty looks all “Bid’ness” as he comes down the aisle. The Fink announces Virgil as “The Bodyguard” Virgil, where’s Whitney Houston when you need her? “And I, will always lo...” forget that!
The action itself was pretty poor. We had Virgil and a 21 year old Dustin Rhodes do most of the work, wonder why Dusty and DiBiase didn’t feature more? Piper kept teasing the finish. The elbow fest from Father and Son on DiBiase was cool.
Gorilla: Virgil drove his (Dustin) Lateral Collateral Ligaments into the ring post!
VINTAGE Monsoon!
Good segment at the end, but I’ll give this one 5/10.
Promo by Hulk Hogan. It’s Captain Real America! We got a Botchamania moment!
I won’t go over every individual entry, but Brett opens with Dino Bravo. Bravo gets ruined by a classic Monsoon remark! Greg Valentine came in at 3 and went on for 45 minutes, hats off! Paul Roma came in at 4. Now say what you will about Roma, but he catches someone with a text book dropkick!
Rick Martel came in at 6 and went on for 53 minutes! Again, hats off. Hang on, that was my last hat!
Tony Atlas as Saba Simba was involved. He was put together, shame about the gimmick. Hey, Tony probably saw the funny side of it. When he got eliminated, Piper does him with a great line about his rear end!
Jake Roberts comes in at 9 and got a huge pop. He had a great exchange with Martel.
The Undertaker came in at 12 and made a big impact. I miss this Taker!
Davey Boy Smith was in at 14 and was there in the last 4. Davey always had a good showing in the Rumbles and he should have won it at some point IMO.
After number 19 comes down, Animal from the Legion of Doom, we get the biggest pop so far when The Road Warriors eliminate The Undertaker! At least we don’t have to listen to Brother Love anymore!
Hacksaw Jim Duggan comes in at 21 and the crowd go crazy!
Hogan comes in at 24. Surely that’s Canned Heat!?!
Bushwhacker Luke is here at 27...there goes Bushwhacker Luke!
Warlord in at 29, Tugboat at 30. Did Hogan have something against the Warlord? He really makes sure Warlord never overstays his welcome in these Rumbles!
Well the final 4 was Hogan, Bulldog, Earthquake and Nasty Boy Nobbs.
The final 3 was Hogan, Earthquake and Nasty Boy Nobbs.
The final 2 was Hogan and Earthquake.
Earthquake has never won a Royal Rumble.
The Rumble itself was pretty quiet, nothing of major note, although entry number 18 does not show, despite the curtain being pushed aside! So as far as Rumbles go, 5/10. The following year would easily garner an 8/10.
Overall, the event wasn’t bad. There was a lot of emotion around due to being in the middle of the first Gulf Conflict at the time and the WWF heroes and villains of the time did their thing quite well. I’ll give it 5 and a half /10 overall.
The Orient Express vs The Rockers
This was a great opening match. A fast paced start in which Michaels and Janetty pull a double suicide dive to the outside. The match was truly back and forth. Tanaka came across as a very sound competitor and hit a sweet standing flying forearm.
I found it quite funny when I saw Michaels use a HHH like high knee! Also, he pulled a moonsault which left Piper and Gorilla Monsoon baffled! Piper just says “What a move!!”
There is a great spot using Kato’s belt preceding a very innovative finish. 7/10!
Next, a promo by The Macho King which leads to Sherri and The Ultimate Warrior, out in the arena. Sherri seemed drunk! The Warrior looks great in Stars and Stripes Warrior ring attire; his face is priceless when Sherri is trying to seduce him. Ooh, wait a sec; she’s on her knees now! Macho really wants a title shot! Decent segment which fuels future events.
The Big Bossman vs The Barbarian.
First thing I notice, a very young Mike Chioda is the ref! Not a great match, but Monsoon and Piper prove they could sell s**t to a farmer. The Barbarian goes up top and hits a huge flying clothesline. He looked really at ease perched on that top rope. Hats off. 4/10 they got an extra point due to the announce team.
Next, a promo by Sgt. Slaughter w/ General Adnaan. This is a great promo and he calls the Warrior the Ultimate Puke! LOL!
Now a Warrior promo! He must have a cold, all grunting from the nose. This promo actually makes sense and sounds rational!
The Ultimate Warrior vs Sgt Slaughter
The title is on the line now and its action from the off! Warrior destroys the Iraqi flag and shoves it down Sarge’s throat! Chaos! Then Sherri comes down and baits Warrior into chasing her off. BAM! Where did Savage come from?? He does a number on Warrior, gets some real heat.
Eventually, Warrior gets back to the ring and the match progresses. I love Slaughters boots! You can’t NOT get into this match, even if you don’t like either competitor. The crowd are so into it. I love everything about the finish, the crowd are great and Piper and Monsoon are gold. 6 /10
Awesome promo by Ted DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man.
The Rhodes vs "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase w/ Virgil
Dusty looks all “Bid’ness” as he comes down the aisle. The Fink announces Virgil as “The Bodyguard” Virgil, where’s Whitney Houston when you need her? “And I, will always lo...” forget that!
The action itself was pretty poor. We had Virgil and a 21 year old Dustin Rhodes do most of the work, wonder why Dusty and DiBiase didn’t feature more? Piper kept teasing the finish. The elbow fest from Father and Son on DiBiase was cool.
Gorilla: Virgil drove his (Dustin) Lateral Collateral Ligaments into the ring post!
VINTAGE Monsoon!
Good segment at the end, but I’ll give this one 5/10.
Promo by Hulk Hogan. It’s Captain Real America! We got a Botchamania moment!
The Royal Rumble.
I won’t go over every individual entry, but Brett opens with Dino Bravo. Bravo gets ruined by a classic Monsoon remark! Greg Valentine came in at 3 and went on for 45 minutes, hats off! Paul Roma came in at 4. Now say what you will about Roma, but he catches someone with a text book dropkick!
Rick Martel came in at 6 and went on for 53 minutes! Again, hats off. Hang on, that was my last hat!
Tony Atlas as Saba Simba was involved. He was put together, shame about the gimmick. Hey, Tony probably saw the funny side of it. When he got eliminated, Piper does him with a great line about his rear end!
Jake Roberts comes in at 9 and got a huge pop. He had a great exchange with Martel.
The Undertaker came in at 12 and made a big impact. I miss this Taker!
Davey Boy Smith was in at 14 and was there in the last 4. Davey always had a good showing in the Rumbles and he should have won it at some point IMO.
After number 19 comes down, Animal from the Legion of Doom, we get the biggest pop so far when The Road Warriors eliminate The Undertaker! At least we don’t have to listen to Brother Love anymore!
Hacksaw Jim Duggan comes in at 21 and the crowd go crazy!
Hogan comes in at 24. Surely that’s Canned Heat!?!
Bushwhacker Luke is here at 27...there goes Bushwhacker Luke!
Warlord in at 29, Tugboat at 30. Did Hogan have something against the Warlord? He really makes sure Warlord never overstays his welcome in these Rumbles!
Well the final 4 was Hogan, Bulldog, Earthquake and Nasty Boy Nobbs.
The final 3 was Hogan, Earthquake and Nasty Boy Nobbs.
The final 2 was Hogan and Earthquake.
Earthquake has never won a Royal Rumble.
The Rumble itself was pretty quiet, nothing of major note, although entry number 18 does not show, despite the curtain being pushed aside! So as far as Rumbles go, 5/10. The following year would easily garner an 8/10.
Overall, the event wasn’t bad. There was a lot of emotion around due to being in the middle of the first Gulf Conflict at the time and the WWF heroes and villains of the time did their thing quite well. I’ll give it 5 and a half /10 overall.