1997 Royal Rumble Review

Ive still got my ppv copy of the event. It's one of my lesser favorite Rumbles.


McMahon, JR and Lawler calling the shots. Lawler insists throughout the night he's in the Rumble, but nobody believes him.

Free For All

Mascarita Sagrada and La Parkita defeated Mini Mankind and Mini Vader


This was the WWF's feeble attempt to get in on the cruiserweight and luchadore success of WCW. For a short time they were importing guys from AAA. I don't rate midget matches, fast foward.


There were two other Free For All matches at also involved the AAA guys. ALOT of AAA wrestlers here tonight.


Match #1

Intercontinental Championship Match

Hunter Hearst Helmsley w Mr Hughes Vs Goldust w Marlena

Hughes joined Helmsley at this ppv and was gone the same day, he traded up for Chyna for the next ppv. GD jumps Hunter outside and goes so far as to hit him with the steel steps. GD even calls him a piece of **** on camera. Getting closer to the attitude era each day. Hunter hurts his knee on the steps and I kinda think it might be legit as he is limping later in the night at the Rumble match. Hunter controls for awhile then GD fights back. GD goes up top but gets crotched. Hunter tries a superplex but gets shrugged off. GD goes for a flying elbow but the pool is empty. Hughes gives Hunter the IC belt, GD grabs it from him and lays out Hunter but only a 2 1/2 count as Hughes pulls out Hunter. GD scuffles with Hughes, knocking him off the apron. Hunter sneaks back in and clotheslines GD then kills him with the pedigree to retain at 16:50. I didn't realize the match was that long. 2 stars.


Bret Hart cuts a Rumble promo. Mankind cuts a promo.

Match #2

Grudge Match

Ahmed Johnson Vs Faarooq w The Nation Of Domination

Ahmed kicks Faarooq all over the place, he posts Faarooq outside and is doing great up until Faarooq posts him kidney area into the post. Faarooq works the kidneys and Ahmed rallies. The Nation runs interference and Ahmed takes them one at a time. Ahmed winds up winning by DQ at 8:48. Ahmed puts a Nation member through the French announcers table which the crowd likes. 1 star.

Terry Funk does a Rumble interview. Faarooq bitches at his Nation members.


Match #3

The Undertaker Vs Vader


Vader takes control with a low blow then knocks Taker down a few times, and the Deadman sits right up. Vader hits a powerbomb but only gets 2. Taker battles back and goes "oldschool". Paul Bearer waddles down to ringside as Taker chokeslams Vader. Taker distracts himself by looking at Bearer. Taker knocks him around and throws him in the ring. Taker and Vader go over the top rope and continue to battle. Taker props Vader on the railing and tries jumping off the steps onto him but Bearer gets Vader out of the way and he crashes on the railing. Bearer does his impression of the worlds fattest luchadore and jumps off the apron smacking Taker in the head with the urn. Vader hits the Vaderbomb and pins Taker at 13:19. Taker kills the referee postmatch. Bearer is now managing Vader. 2 stars.


Austin cuts a Rumble promo. Bulldog tells evryone HE'S BIZARRE!!!!!!!!


Match #4

6 Man Tag Team Match

Perro Aguayo, Hector Garza, and El Canek Vs Jerry Estrada, Heavy Metal and Fuerza Guerrera


Crowds not into this match much. Neither am I. Aguayo and Hector are the only one's I know right off the bat but I lose track of who the other guys are as this was the first and only match I saw of the other 4 guys. Im just gonna fast foward. Aguayo wins it with a double stomp on Heavy Metal 10 minutes in. 1 star. Nothing great. If the WWF was trying to copy WCW you DON't THROW 6 GUYS IN THE RING AT ONCE THAT THE REGULAR WWF VIEWER HAS NEVER HEARD OF!!!


Match #5

Royal Rumble


Crush draws #1 and Ahmed Johnson draw #2 naturally. They roll around on the mat making vauge attempts to kill one another. #3 is New Razor Ramon and unfortunatley the goobers in the back are having problems with the clock and no entrance music. Razor attacks Ahmed and poses. Ahmed throws him out in like 7 seconds then jumps out of the ring to chase Faarooq in the aisle (idiot). #4 is Phineos Godwin followed by #5 Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin and Crush work over Phineos. Phineos hits a hard clothesline on Austin. Crush holds Phineos and Austin goes to nail him but drops Crush by mistake. Phineos tosses Crush kinda early I think, then turns around into a stunner that would be used in ALOT of Austin montages. Austin throws him out then #6 Bart Gunn runs in and drops Austin with a goofy fameasser. Austin outmaneuvers him and throws him over the ropes then catches him with a clothesline to put him out the rest of the way. Drawing #7 for a third time and second year in a row is Jake Roberts. Jake works on the arm and refuses to let go. Jake short clotheslines then goes for the ddt near the ropes. It's the third time in a Rumble where Jake went for this move and was eliminated in the process. Dammit!!! I think Jake was sent packing after this ppv for noshowing some events. Bulldog is #8 and he's been waiting to get his hands on Austin for about a month and a half. He beats the **** out of Austin and #9 is Pierroth who attacks both guys. #10 is The Sultan with The Iron Sheik, no Backlund??? Mil Mascaras at #11 and he gets the biggest ovation of the Mexico based wrestlers. He's been in the ring as long as Ric Flair and moves around better than him. #12 is Hunter Hearst Helmsley, still limping as I said earlier. Bulldog sends Sultan packing. #13 is Owen and Austin tries eliminating him but Bulldog makes the save. Bulldog tries eliminating Austin but Owen? Shoves Bulldog out from behind, which is a bit of a shocker for him to take the walk so early. Goldust at #14 and he's on Hunter immediatley. Halfway mark with Cybernetico at #15. Marc Mero at 16 and Cybernetico goes out followed by Pierroth by Mascaras. Mascaras climbs up top and jumps onto both guys outside eliminating himself. Crowd in unison is calling BS. Goldust gets revenge for the loss earlier clotheslining Hunter out. Latin Lover at #17 and he superkicks GD in the ass. #18 is Faarooq he takes out LL quick then dukes it out with Austin and Ahmed runs in with a 2X8 and knocks Faarooq over the top rope. In the confusion we barely get a camera shot of Austin hoisting out Mero and Owen in the corner who were tangled up during all this. Austin now takes a breather waiting on his next opponent. Savio at #19 and he gets his token shots in then gets a stun gun and a clothesline out. #20 is Jesse James who gets the same treatement. #21 is Bret The Hitman Hart and Austin nearly ****'s his trunks. Bret beats him all over the ring then #22 is the suprise entrant that theyve been talking about all night. Jerry The King Lawler!!! He hops in and gets a Mortal Kombat uppercut, this year from Bret Hart that eliminates him in 4 seconds, he's all messed up and he sits back down at commentary. #23 is New Diesel who attacks both Austin and Bret then #24 Terry Funk jumps the gun abit before the buzzer sounds and he's the only guy tonight without any music. Funk hit's a crappy piledriver on Bret then #25 Rocky Maivia runs out and does his baby face offense. Mankind is next and he and Funk gouge eachothers faces off. #27 is Flash Funk and the ring is finally starting to fill up. Bret gets Austin GOOD with a piledriver then #28 Vader shows up. #29 is Henry Godwin then the lights go out and #30 is The Undertaker. Taker is in a pissy mood and he lays out nearly everyone. Vader gives Flash the highlight elimination of the night with a fallaway slam over the top rope. Get a wheelbarrel for Flash, he might be dead. Taker goozles Henry and flings him outta there. Taker tries the same thing on Austin but he survives. Rocky jumps off the second rope to attack Mankind but Foley catches him with the mandible claw and pushes him over the top rope. Mankind and Funk fight on the ropes and Mankind suplexes him to the floor then Taker big boots Mankind to the floor and they brawl drawing the attention of the TWO referees at ringside. Austin Lou Thesz presses New Diesel, Bret grabs him and sends him airborn over the top. But of course the refs don't see it so he gts right back in and dumps Taker and Vader. Bret eliminates New Diesel then gets heaveho'd by Austin who is declared the winner!!! Crowd loves it, I call Bull****. Bret sht's a hemorrage and roughes up the referee who has no clue, then shakes McMahon up. I don't blame him. Monsoon would declare Austin the winner but Austin won't get the #1 contender shot. I was displeased with this Rumble watching it live, and Ive never really warmed up to it. Im going 2 1/2 stars. Not as good as 96.


Match #6

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Psycho Sid Vs Shawn Michaels w Jose Lothario


Ive watched this match once from intro to end of the ppv. That's because some a$$hole is whistling into a microphone around ringside for almost 12 friggin minutes!!! I hit the fastfoward button to save my ears. Shawn starts quick taking Sid down with speed. Sid catches him with a powerslam then sends him outside and rams him into the post then goes into weardown mode. Shawn battles back and the idiot at ringside won't shut up with the whistling. Shawn hits a flying forearm then the flying elbow, moves of doom time. Shawn goes for sweet chin music but Sid blocks and dumps Shawn outside where he powerbombs him. Sid grabs ahold of Jose and his son but lets them go and turns his attention to Shawn. He rolls him back inside and things fall apart as the ref goes down. Another ref shows up and Sid gets a 2 count on Shawn. Sid lays out the replacement ref and Shawn bashes Sid in the head with a camera. Payback!!! Shawn gets a 2 count then sets up for the superkick. It connects, Shawn pins Sid to win his 2nd world title then surrendered the belt in unsportsman like fashion on Thursday Raw Thursday because he lost his sack. Do the job man!!! Im giving this one 2 1/2 stars.



Overall Opinion: The Royal Rumble ppv is still my favorite ppv series but this might be in my top 5 of least favorites. The undercard sucked and the Rumble and World title match were slightly above mediocre. I wasn't satisfied for paying $30 on this show.


Final Score: Im giving it a 3.9