WWF Royal Rumble 1992 1/19/1992

WWF Royal Rumble 1992 1/19/1992

We are in Albany, New York at the Knickerbocker Arena.

Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are on commentary. Heenan says he's banking everything on Flair becoming champ. The Mountie shockingly won the IC Title yesterday at a house show, beating Bret Hart. 

The New Foundation (Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart) vs The Orient Express (Kato and Tanaka)

The New Foundation had just debuted a few weeks prior. Kato and Tanaka were already being phased out and Kato had been on jobber duty recently.

Heenan says The Foundation just got up as they are wearing pajama's. Owen and Kato trade wristlocks. Owen armdrags Kato and armlocks him. Owen boots Kato's arm into the mat. Owen jumps up top, seated springboards, flips and armdrags Kato. Owen then hurricanrana's him and armdrags him.

Jim hiptosses Kato then throws him down backwards. Tanaka charges at Jim and gets knocked down. Tanaka takes a spinebuster then a 2nd rope elbow drop from Owen for 2. Owen headbutts Tanaka and Tanaka hits some shots back. Owen flips over him in the corner then back body drops him. Owen step up enzugiri's him.

Jim is whipped into a corner spear on Tanaka. Jim hits a double clothesline. Owen hits a top rope double crossbody on his opponents for 2. Owen spinning heel kicks Kato for 2. Owen suplexes Kato then chinlocks him.

Tanaka knees Owen in the back from the apron then Mr. Fuji hits Owen with the cane. Owen takes a double superkick then a flying back elbow from Kato for 2. Owen takes a double team and is thrown into the buckles chest first for 2.

Tanaka superkicks Owen out of the corner for 2. Kato chinlocks Owen. Owen crucifixes Kato for 2. Tanaka superkicks Owen then headbutt drops him in the crotch. Tanaka flying forearms Owen for 2. Owen facebusters him.

Owen makes the tag but the ref doesn't see it. Owen is thrown into Fuji's cane in the buckles and breaks the cane. Tanaka headbutt drops Owen's arm then hammerlocks him. Tanaka shoulders Owen over then takes a belly to belly suplex for 2. Owen takes a double clothesline for 2.

Tanaka superkicks Owen. Owen is bridged on the ropes and Tanaka jumps on him. Owen hits a double dropkick. Jim is tagged in and hits a slingshot double shoulderblock. He slams his opponents and back body drops Tanaka. He is then whipped into a shoulder on Kato. Owen is then whipped into a tope on Kato. Jim rocket launches Owen onto Tanaka and Owen pins him.

Thoughts: The New Foundation had just debuted and the crowd had no idea who they were. The crowd was totally dead for this one and completely the destroyed the match because of it. It went a little longer than it needed to as well. The work was fine but this just had no chance. They also totally messed up the cane spot here as the camera's and commentator's didn't really catch it.

We see clips of The Mountie beating Bret Hart for the Intercontinetal Title.

Jimmy Hart and The Mountie are interviewed by Sean Mooney. Hart mocks Bret being sick. He says Bret isn't sick from the flu, he's sick from losing. Mountie asks how Piper got the IC Title shot and says he should win this one by forfeit. Mountie says he will take Piper's skirt and manhood from him.

Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Roddy Piper. Piper calls Mountie one of The Village People. Piper says he has no integrity. He says Mountie wants his manhood. Piper says he's here to fight and doesn't know what Mountie is here to do. He says Mountie has been dreaming and he thinks it has been all wet too.

Thoughts: Yeah, this was a Piper promo. You never know what you are going to get with him and this was not one of his better ones.

WWF Intercontinental Title - The Mountie (c) vs Roddy Piper

Monsoon talks about Piper having integrity after Piper said he doesn't have any. Piper puts his kilt in Mountie's face and starts pounding on him. Mountie goes out to avoid Piper and is nailed from behind. Mountie pushes Hart into Piper and hits shots on him.

Mountie drops down for a move and takes a first drop. Mountie's head is banged off the buckles then Piper bulldogs him. Piper eye pokes him and Heenan wants to go back and check on Flair's Royal Rumble number. Mountie and Piper trade shots.

Piper misses a dropkick. Mountie bangs Piper's head off the buckles then bites him. Mountie flying back elbows Piper and throws him out. Piper slingshot sunset flips Mountie for 2. 

Piper bites Mountie and pounds him after stopping himself from behind thrown out. Piper back body drops him. Piper tries to atomic drop Mountie out but Mountie skins the cat. Mountie misses a shot on Piper and nails Jimmy Hart on the apron. The Mountie out and Piper wins.

Thoughts: Like I said with his promo, this is Roddy Piper and you never really know what you are getting. He is just too crazy. This didn't really have much of a format or a pace to it and there wasn't a lot of heat behind this one because it was essentially a random match. The finish wasn't good with Mountie getting put to sleep with no real excitement behind it. I liked Piper's intensity and fighting spirit here but this didn't work.

Jimmy Hart goes after Piper with the shock stick after and misses. Hart is sent out. Piper gets the shock stick. Piper then shocks Mountie with the shock stick but unlike taped Superstars episodes, there was no electricity sound here so it didn't come off so well.

Lord Alfred Hayes is outside of Hulk Hogan's dressing room. He goes in and interviews him. Hulk says he's lucky he's a friend as he won't have friends later in The Rumble. Hulk says he's gonna throw everyone out tonight and says Hayes better get out as he's getting ready.

Mean Gene Okerlund interviews The Bushwhackers and Jamison. Luke says he's never been so excited and says it's final fling of The Beverly Sisters. He says they have a surprise for The Genius. Butch says when they are finished with The Sisters, they will beat them all. Jamison says he will smash Genius if he gets one minute with him. 

The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake Beverly) vs The Bushwhackers (Luke and Butch)

This is the first match on the show that has some real build to it, but there's really nothing appealing about this one. The Bev's attacked Jamison at ringside and The BW's came to Jamison's aid. The two teams were also feuding through promos anyway prior to that. The Genius and Jamison are with their teams and The Genius does a poem before the match.

They take forever to get this one going. Beau and Luke go at it and Beau stomps him. Luke bites Beau in the butt then The Bev's are thrown into each other. The BW's then hit running shots on them to send them out.

Jamison throws part of a hotdog at Genius outside. Blake stomps on Butch. Butch knees Blake in the gut then bulldogs him. The Bev's are thrown into each other then tripped. The BW's double clothesline Blake over the top. The Bev's try to sneak up on The BW's. Luke chases Blake out and Butch nails Blake with a double shot. 

Luke is bridged on the ropes and takes a double axe handle to the back. Blake butt drops Luke's back then backbreakers him. Luke is bridged on the ropes and takes a butt drop. Beau running knee drops Luke. Blake elbow drops Luke then drops him throat first on the ropes. Blake running lariats Luke. Beau tries to pose on Luke but is rolled up. Luke is thrown out.

Then Genius grabs Jamison outside and slams him. Beau throws Luke hard into the buckles and sends him down. Beau 2nd rope double axe handles Luke. Blake neckbreakers and legdrops Luke. Luke's head is banged off the buckles but he lariats Beau over.

Butch and Blake get in. Butch hits punches and running lariats The Bev's. Butch battering rams Blake into Beau then flying forearms him for 2. Luke pushes Beau over the top. Blake trips Beau from outside. Beau elbow drops Butch. Beau 2nd rope double axe handles Butch and Blake grabs the pin.

Thoughts: This was long and awful. I never understood Jamison. He's not like Urkel who was respectable but was nerdy. He dresses like a bum and everything he does is disgusting, so him being the focus here didn't do anything for me. The match went long, there wasn't much structure and the work wasn't good as typical with The BW's. I didn't expect this to be any good and it wasn't. 

The BW's attack The Bev's from behind after then hit stereo back elbows and battering rams. They throw The Genius in. Jamison hits horrible shin kicks as The BW's hold Genius. Jamison then puts Genius' hat on after.

Mean Gene Okerlund interviews The Legion of Doom. Animal says they will face all challengers and got the biggest team in WWF history tonight. Animal says they are the champs and won't start losing now. Hawk says The Disasters make them sick. Hawk says they want to throw their weight around and The LOD want to throw their weight around too. Hawk says their tongues will be sticking out like dead deers when they are done with them.

WWF World Tag Team Title Match - The Legion Of Doom (Animal & Hawk) (c) vs. The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon)

These two teams have been feuding for a while so there are no problems with the build on this one. I am concerned about the match though as I don't see The ND's bumping around and The LOD needs opponents who bump big.

Ty and Hawk start us off. Hawk flying forearms him then top rope diving lariats him for 2. The four stand off in the ring. Hawk standing dropkicks Quake and Quake no sells it. Quake misses a standing dropkick and Hawk fist drops him in the back of the head.

Quake and Animal trade. They double clothesline each other down. Animal tries to lift Quake for a slam but Quake falls down on him. Ty corner splashes Animal. Animal boots him out of the corner and lariats him. 

Hawk clubs Ty off the buckles and hits punches. Ty and Hawk lariat each other then Ty backbreakers Hawk. Hawk is thrown into the buckles and goes down hard. Quake elbow drops Hawk's back for 2. Ty butt drops Hawk's back on the ropes. Quake works Hawk's back and corner splashes him. Quake bearhugs Hawk. Quake misses a corner splash and Hawk 2nd rope elbow Quake in the head.

Animal gets in and flying shoulders Quake. Animal flips out of a double back body drop and hits a double lariat. Hawk flying lariats Ty off the apron. Quake slams Animal on the floor and the ref says The ND's win by countout.

Thoughts: Booooooo. This show really needed something good and this countout finish wasn't it. There was some logic here with Hawk's back being worked on and Animal making a comeback, but then the countout happened after. It had the issues I expected it to have with The LOD not really wanting to sell that much for The ND's and The ND's instead having to do the selling. This was just average and not that interesting.

Hawk chairs The ND's from behind after then Quake is whipped into a chair from Animal.

Sean Mooney interviews Jimmy Hart and The Natural Disasters in the back. Hart says he's disgusted and they should be the tag champs. The ND's come in fuming mad. Ty says they are the champs and Quake says they beat them fair and square. Hart says they were awarded the match and should be champs. Quake says they will be champs if they fight again.

Thoughts: This was interesting as they moved the camera up too high and you could see that the locker room was just a set.

Heenan and Monoon talk about the last match.

Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Roddy Piper. Piper says only in America can a skinny 15 year old kid become champ then have a chance at the world title. He says he will have the 30 guys falling down like President Bush. He says he has a dream and has his eyes on the prize.

Sean Mooney is in ther locker room and interviews Shawn Michaels, who is now in his traditional HBK gear. We see clips from The Barber Shop of Shawn Michaels turning on Marty Jannetty and sending him through the barber shop window. Sean calls it one of the most henious act he has seen. Shawn says he saved Marty 29 beatings. He says there's no doubt he will walk out with the title. He says everyone will find out he's the hottest thing the WWF has ever laid eyes on.

Lord Alfred Hayes interviews Ric Flair. Ric says he drew #3. He says he needs to beat 29 other men tonight. He says he will be in there close to an hour and become champ against all odds.

Mean Gene talks The Rumble. We hear thoughts from various wrestlers on The Rumble. Macho says only one man can win the belt tonight. He says he's been to the top of the mountain and is going back. He says he wants his hands on Jake and says he wants to be champ again. Sid says the man who is standing last will be the champ. He says to open your eyes as we are looking at the man who is superior to all and the next WWF champ.

The Repo Man says one of the biggest thrills in his life is to take something and he gets to take the biggest prize ever from 29 others tonight. He says it would be great to have the title around his waist. He says what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine too. The British Bulldog talks about winning a battle royal at Royal Albert Hall. He says it will be a thrill to dispose of 29 other opponents and get the title around his waist.

Jake Roberts says you can't get what you always what but he got what he needed. Jake says tonight will be a disappointment for 29 other men. He says he will be waiting for Macho.

Mr. Perfect and Ric Flair talk. Ric says we find out who's the fairest of them all tonight. Ric say 30 stars gather to find out who is the man tonight. Ric says there's no backdoor. He says he has lived with the idea that to be the man, you have to beat the man.

Paul Bearer and The Undertaker talk. Paul says 29 hearses are prepared for 29 bodies and caskets. Taker says he will be crowned champ once more.

Hulk Hogan talks. He talks about the prestige of The Rumble and says it means more with the WWF Title on the line. He says this is his cup of tea and will prove Hulkamania reigns supreme tonight. He says he has a special battle plan for tonight.

Howard Finkel talks about the rules of The Royal Rumble. Jack Tunney comes in with the title belt. He says the winner has the prestige of winning but will always be WWF champ. He says may the best man win.

The 1992 Royal Rumble

The British Bulldog draws #1 and Ted Dibiase draws #2. Davey hits shots on him and Ted back elbows him out of the corner. Davey's head is banged off the buckles and he gets chopped. Ted lariats him and stomps him. Ted suplexes him and fist drops him. Ted hits another suplex. Ted tries to throw Davey out and celebrates but Davey stays in. Davey then lariats him over the top for the elimination.

Ric Flair comes in at #3. Davey pushes Flair over. Davey gorilla press slams him. Davey running lariats him twice. Saggs comes in at #4. Davey hits corner punches and Saggs nails Davey from behind. Saggs fires on him. Davey is double teamed. Davey hits a double clothesline. Saggs avoids elimination but talks trash on the apron and is dropkicked out by Davey for the elimination.

Davey backs up Flair in the corner and is chopped and punched. Davey powerslams Flair. Haku comes in at #5.  Haku hits headbutts and stomps on Davey. Flair drops Davey with a punch. Haku and Flair then go at it. Flair slides out under the ropes to avoid Haku. Haku piledrivers Davey then is eye raked by Flair.

Flair knee drops Haku. Haku hits shots on Flair in the corner. Davey randomly dumps Haku out for the elimination. Shawn Michaels is in at #6 and is hit with something as he runs down.

Shawn and Flair trade. Shawn back body drops him and superkicks him. Davey gorilla press slams Shawn then hits running lariats. Davey lariats Shawn onto the apron, Shawn gets back in and superkicks him. Flair tries to dump Shawn over the top and is eye raked.

Shawn is thrown into the buckles chest first then ends up crotched on the ropes. Davey pulls the ropes up and down into his crotch. El Matador is next in. He tries to dump Flair over the top. Flair backdrops Tito then he low blows Davey. Tito bangs Shawn's head off the buckles. Tito flying forearms Flair.

The Barbarian is next in. Shawn holds Tito for chops from Flair. Barb tries to thrown Davey over the top and Flair helps out. Davey hits punches on Barb. Tito gets Shawn on the apron but shawl rolls back in. The Texas Tornado is next in. Kerry fires on Flair and hits a discus punch on him. Kerry discus punches Shawn and Shawn flops around for it. Shawn is catapulted into the buckles. 

Flair atomic drops Kerry. Barb works on Tito and Tito stomps on Flair. The Repo Man is next in and slithers into the ring. Flair tries to throw Davey over the top. Tito flying crossbodies Barb. Flair chops Kerry while Barb holds Kerry. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine is next in. He hits shots on Repo. Greg and Flair trade chops Greg elbows him and Flair goes down. Davey holds Ric for chops from Greg. 

Davey tries to thrown Shawn out. Flair eye rakes Greg. Nikolai Volkoff is next in, making his return to TV after basically a year off. Volkoff headbutts Repo. Flair and Greg fight and Greg figure fours him. Repo back body drops Volkoff over the top for the elimination.

The Big Boss Man is next in. He hits shots on everyone. Repo throws Greg out for the elimination. Boss then throws Repo out. Flair back body drops Davey over the top for the elimination. Flair then back body drops Kerry over the top for the elimination. Tito and Shawn throw each other over and both are eliminated.

Hercules is next in wearing his Power and Glory gear even though the team is done. Flair backs off from Barb and is gorilla press slammed. Barb goes to throw Flair over the top but Hercules throws Barb over the top during it. Barbarian is eliminated. Boss then eliminates Hercules over the top.

Boss and Flair go at it. Boss running lariats him then drops him with a big punch. Boss flies at Flair and misses then goes over the top for the elimination. Flair then flops. Roddy Piper comes in and goes wild on Flair as they have been feuding. Piper back body drops him and knee lifts him. Piper lariats Flair outside.

Flair pulls Piper's throat down over the top rope. Piper hits corner punches on Flair then Flair atomic drops him. Piper lariats him then airplane spins him. Piper sleepers Flair.

Jake Roberts is next in. He sits in the corner then nails Piper from behind. Flair is out in the middle of the ring. Jake hits punches on Piper then foot chokes him. Jake helps Flair up then short arm clotheslines him.Jake goes for the ddt on Flair and Piper lariats Jake. Flair figure fours Jake and Piper breaks it up. The three trade. Jim Duggan is next in. He pounds on Flair then lariats him. Piper and Jim trade. Piper eye pokes Flair.

Jake atomic drops Jim. IRS is next in. Jim grabs him by the tie and punches him. IRS bangs Jim's head off the buckles.

Jimmy Snuka is next in. He hits headbutts on Flair. Snuka double chops him. Jim hits shots on Jake and lamost throws him over. Piper chops up Flair and tries to toss him. The Undertaker is next in. Taker walks out slow as usual.

Snuka jumping headbutts Flair then Taker lariats Snuka over the top. Snuka is eliminated. Taker chokes Flair. IRS holds Jim for shots from Taker. Piper tries to throw Jake over the top. Macho Man is next in and runs in. He looks for Jake but Jake is hiding outside. Taker and IRS nail Macho from behind.

Macho pounds on Jake when he finally gets him. Macho 2nd rope double axe handles him. Macho flying knees Jake from behind and eliminates him. Macho then jumps over the top like a moron and chokes Jake outside. Taker shockingly comes to Jake's aid, though they have been cohorts for the last few months.

Macho goes for Jake then Taker drops Macho with a shot. Piper flurries on Flair. Piper hits shots on Taker. Flair pounds on Macho even though Macho is eliminated. Flair low blows Taker. Taker kind of sells it. The Berzerker is next in. IRS has his foot tied up in the ropes. Flair tries to suplex Macho out but Macho suplexes Flair. Virgil is next in.

Virgil is choked by Taker. Flair tries to throw Jim over the top. Taker chokes Flair and Berz big boots Virgil. Col. Mustafa is next in. He chokes Jim on the ropes. Macho double axe handles Taker from behind.

Piper hits corner punches on Flair and Taker hits him from behind. Rick Martel is next in, who is the current record holder for the longest time in The Rumble at 52:34. Martel and Flair each get shots in. Taker chokes Macho.

Hulk Hogan is next in. He bangs Flair and Taker's heads together. He hits shots on Flair then is grouped up on by the heels. Hulk lariats Taker over the top for the elimination. Hulk then back body drops The Berzerker over the top. Virgil crossbodies Jim Duggan, Jim tries to dump him over the top and both get eliminated.

Skinner is next in. Hulk shoulders over Flair. Hulk goes to throw Flair over but IRS hits Hulk. Hulk puts a shirt around IRS' neck and throws him. Skinner chokes Hulk with his own shirt. Hulk lariats Flair.

Sgt. Slaughter is in next. Skinner goes to eliminate Piper but Martel throws Skinner over the top. Hulk tries to dump Martel over the top. Sid Justice is next in. He hits shots on IRS. Sid hits a big shot on Martel. Flair hits punches on Hulk. Sid chokes Flair.

Sarge elbows hulk in the head. Sid kips up and lariats Flair. Flair eye pokes him. The Warlord is #30 and the last person in. Flair sides out, Hulk goes with him and they fight out there. Hulk suplexes Flair on the floor. Martel 2nd rope double axe handles Piper. Sid throws Sarge into the corner and Sarge goes over the top to the floor.

Hulk big boots Flair. Flair eye pokes Hulk. Piper grabs IRS by the tie on the ropes and eliminates him. Sid and Hulk throw Warlord over the top for the elimination.

Sid eliminates Piper and Martel at the same time as they fight near the ropes. Piper, Sid, Flair and somehow Macho (despite self-eliminating himself) are the last four. Ric flying knees Sid from behind as Sid has Macho on the ropes. Macho goes over the top and is eliminated for the 2nd time.

Hulk and Flair fight. Flair goes on the apron and Sid throws Hulk over the top from behind. Hulk complains despite years of him eliminating his friends. Hulk tries to pull Sid over the top by the arm then Flair helps. Hulk helps pull Sid over the top and Sid is eliminated. Flair wins.

Thoughts: The first part of this is about as good as it gets Rumble wise and becomes The Ric Flair Show. Ric got 1v1 segments with all of his old rivals which was great as we got to see his various matchups again. Heenan was fantastic during that and throughout the whole thing as he cheered on Flair. The second half slowed down a lot and the final few eliminations weren't very dramatic at all. I liked that Macho went after Jake here (and that Taker helped out Jake), but I didn't like Macho's self-elimination not being counted. There's just no explaining that one. Hulk was a terrible face as usual in this one. He had no problem eliminating friends in past Rumbles yet was a sore loser here as he helped pull Sid over the top. That's a big problem because this was basically the beginning of Sid's heel turn yet I don't think anyone could try say Sid did something bad here. It was one of the better early Rumbles and definitely one of the best overall, but there was some room for improvement. 

Flair celebrates some in the ring and Hulk chases him off because he's a poor face. Sid Justice then shoves Hulk from behind. They yell at each other and officials comes out to stop them. Sid then is the bigger man and walks off.

Mean Gene and Tunney are with Flair, Heenan and Perfect in the back to present him the title. Tunney congratulates Flair. Flair brings up his title being shown in distortion. Flair says this is the greatest moment of his life. He says he tells everyone he's #1 and says you have to show it in situations like this. He says this title is the only one that makes you #1. He says when you are the king of the WWF, you rule the world. Heenan and Perfect go "woo". Heenan says it was the most impressive thing he has ever seen in his life and calls him the real world's champion. Perfect says they aren't the kind of guys to say "we told you so, but we told you so". Gene then yells at someone to put their cigarette out. Flair says for all the Piper's and The Snake's, it's Ric Flair and you all pay homage to him.

Thoughts: I didn't like Flair saying the WWF Title was the real title here. He went around for months carrying his world title and basically just made it seem worthless which was dumb. Flair and Heenan were great here though and despite its issues, I'd still say it's one of the Top 10 most memorable promos of all time.

Overall thoughts: It was mostly a one match show. The opener had some good stuff in it but the crowd didn't care and brought it down.  The other non-Rumble matches weren't that good. The Rumble ended up being one of the best Rumble's ever with great commentary and Flair putting on a show. The final eliminations could have been better though, Macho's self elimination should have been recognized and Sid and Hulk's issues could have been done a lot better as Sid came off as the face during his heel turn. I'd really only give this show a 5 out of 10 as The Rumble was the only thing that really delivered on here. The Rumble is the only thing you need to see on this one.