WWF Royal Rumble 1993 Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that continues to sink to lower depths than a wrestler trying to justify sexually assaulting someone! Yeah, not going to let that go anytime soon, it’s a tough time to be a wrestling fan and my feelings towards many of the people I have respected have change but let’s crack on with a review. It’s WWF Royal Rumble 1993, big matches on tonight’s card include Bret Hart defending his WWF Championship against Razor Ramon, that should be some good stuff. On top of that we have Shawn Michaels defending his Intercontinental Championship against the man he threw through a window Marty Jannetty. Finally, we have the Rumble itself where 30 men will compete to be crowned The Royal Rumble Winner 1993.

Steiner Brothers vs The Beverly Brothers

Scott and Beau to start, Scott shoots for the takedown. Beau claims Scott went for the tights, Scott wrenches the arm. Transition to a key-lock and takedown from Scott, Beau is not happy accusing Scott of nefarious tactics. Scott hip-tosses Beau across the ring, Beau complains about the tights again. Blake talks strategy with Beau, Beau goes low and grabs Scott by the hair. Beau whips Scott, Scott reverses for a massive tilt-a-whirl side-slam. Beau powders as Blake consoles his partner. Beau back away from Scott, tagging in Blake. Blake slaps Rick and runs away, Scott calls for Rick. Rick shoves Beau to the floor, Rick locks-up with Blake. Clean break from Rick but Blake goes low, shot to the face and a powerslam.

Blake leapfrogs Rick but jumps right into a powerslam, arm-bar from The Dog-Faced Gremlin. Tag to Scott, whip into a belly to belly suplex. Beau saves Blake attacking Scott illegally with a clothesline, Blake assumes control dropping his weight on the back of Scott. Back-breaker and tag to Beau, middle rope axe handle to the back. Beau taunts the crowd, back-breaker from Beau for two. Quick tags between Beau and Blake, attacks to the back of Scott. Blake chokes Scott with the tag rope before Beau lands a double arm under-hook suplex for two. Blake is in and applies a beautiful Boston Crab, Beau drops an elbow on Scott when it looks like Scott was going to escape the hold. Blake looks for a suplex on Scott but Scott reverses, could this be the opening?

Beau stops the tag at the last second, knees to the back of Scott. Whip off the ropes, Beau lowers his head and Scott lands a massive tiger-bomb. Scott tags Rick, right hands to Blake. Big back body-drop, high and tight German suplex. Beau eats a clothesline, Rick wants a superplex but Beau saves his partner. Rick clotheslines both Beverly Brothers before Scott comes in and hammers Beau. Blake has Scott on his shoulders, Doomsday Device does not connect as Scott ducks with a victory roll. Beau crashes and burns out of the ring, Blake whips Scott who reverses and one Frankensteiner later, it’s over.

Decent opening match, Beverly Brothers have never been high on my list, looking like a joke throughout their WWF run. Here they are in a familiar role of making another team look better, that German suplex and Frankensteiner look brutal. Top marks for some hard-hitting wrestling in the WWF, crowd was also very good throughout this match. Scott sold well, the attacks to the back looked snug and the hot-tag was brief but this match was fine. Perfect length for what it needed to be, The Steiners are here and they mean business.

Winners: The Steiner Brothers over The Beverly Brothers via Frankensteiner!

(WWF Intercontinental Championship Match) Marty Jannetty vs Shawn Michaels ©

The Rockers dissolved as Michaels fooled Jannetty into thinking they would reform before superkicking his former partner and throwing Jannetty through the barbershop window. Jannetty made his return, attacking Michaels before attempting to smash Michaels with his mirror before Michaels threw Sherri into the path of Jannetty which led to Sherri being smashed with the mirror. I have no idea what Jannetty is wearing, it’s very early 90s though. A blue strap championship is also something I have not seen in a while, Michaels is unfazed by Sherri not being in his corner, Sherri stands at ringside in neither man’s corner.

The two talk trash, Michaels looking to bully Jannetty. One right from Jannetty has Michaels running, Jannetty slams Michaels into the mat. Whip to the buckle, Michaels’ flip into an inverted atomic drop. Knee-lift sends Michaels to the floor, Jannetty is feeling it now. Michaels is thrown back into the ring, clothesline to the floor from Jannetty. Suicide dive and axe handle from Jannetty, Jannetty tries it again from the top rope and Michaels counters with a punch to the gut. Michaels sends Jannetty into the ring-post shoulder-first. Beautiful shoulder-breaker from Michaels, right hands to the shoulder from the champion.

Jannetty slowly re-enters the ring, the arm is in considerable pain. Michaels gleefully stomps on the arm, taking control as Jannetty is sent into the buckle. Axe handle to the arm, Jannetty is in a bad way. Michaels applies the arm-bar, Sherri looks concerned for Jannetty. Jannetty tries fighting back but a single arm DDT stops Jannetty’s momentum. Two for Michaels, Michaels drops his weight on the arm. Jannetty swings wildly but Michaels avoids it, Michaels gets cocky and eats two big right hands to the face. Michaels slams Jannetty and goes to the middle rope, Michaels looks to Sherri before diving and runs into the boot of the challenger.

Michaels looks to reassume control, Jannetty manages to dodge as Michaels runs shoulder-first into the ring-post. Jannetty rallies, big rights stagger Michaels. Massive right floors Michaels, Michaels pulls Jannetty to the floor to avoid an ass-kicking. Michaels reaches for Jannetty, suplex into the ring is on the champion’s mind. Jannetty suplexes Michaels to the floor, Sherri is edging closer to Michaels. Sherri slaps Michaels right in the face, the crowd erupts at that. Jannetty back suplexes Michaels into the ring for a close two, Michaels is whipped to the buckle and falls to the floor.

Jannetty rams Michaels into the steel steps, Michaels runs into a powerslam from the challenger. Jannetty is on the top rope, DDT in the middle of the ring after faking out Michaels. Two for Jannetty, Michaels leapfrogs Jannetty. Superkick is ducked and Jannetty nails his own superkick for two. Sunset flip attempt by Michaels is countered for a catapult to the buckle. Michaels hits the ring-post, another close two for Jannetty. Michaels elbows the referee by mistake, Jannetty has Michaels in a full-nelson. In comes Sherri with her high heel but she nails Jannetty by mistake, Michaels points at Sherri reading her the riot act.

Michaels is the man, Sherri is distraught. Michaels continues to intimidate Sherri, Michaels lands a massive Superkick on Jannetty. Sherri looks on in horror as Michaels flattens Jannetty and retains his Intercontinental Championship. Mean Gene tries to console Sherri as HBK celebrates retaining his championship.

The last few minutes of that match were some of the most exciting I have seen in a WWF match with the crowd buying into every near-fall on the part of Jannetty. I thought this match would have had more to it, considering the history of the two men. However, I felt Jannetty was a little awkward in the role as babyface. Not that Jannetty cannot play a babyface, Jannetty is a great babyface on his day but it just did not register with me at the level that it needed for this match. I did love the Sherri spot, Sherri had been mistreated for months at the hands of Michaels so to see that slap was very satisfying and the crowd reaction told you everything you needed to know while the drama of Sherri costing Jannetty by mistake was great too, Michaels survives by the skin of his teeth but this war is far from over.

Winner: Shawn Michaels over Marty Jannetty via Superkick!

Bam Bam Bigelow vs The Big Bossman

The Beast From The East is back, Bigelow rushes Bossman from behind. Huge corner splash and axe handles galore. Bossman is being decimated at the hands of Bigelow, Bossman meets the ring apron as Bigelow taunts the crowd. Bossman lands a desperation clothesline, mounted right hands to the head of Bigelow. Ten punches in the corner, side headlock from Bossman. Bigelow counters for a belly to back suplex, Bossman avoids the headbutt from Bigelow though. Whip to the buckle and right from Bossman, huge bulldog from Bossman. Bossman is sent to the floor by Bigelow, Bossman’s back hits the ring apron hard.

Bigelow stomps and clubs the back of Bossman, axe handles wear down Bossman. Bossman is caught in a waist-lock but Bossman breaks out before a stun-gun from Bigelow ends Bossman’s flurry. Bigelow applies the waist-lock again, Bigelow tries a suplex but Bossman manages to counter for a suplex of his own. However, Bossman’s attack was foolish as it dealt more damage to his injured back, Bigelow bounces back to his feet. Clubbing blows and shoulder block, Bigelow misses the crossbody. Back body-drop from Bossman, Bossman winds up for his uppercut, leg across the back from Bossman. Massive right to the head, Bigelow is all over the place. Bossman tries charging Bigelow, whip to the buckle. Bigelow blocks with a boot and a clothesline knocks down Bossman, Diving Headbutt for the win.

Good return for Bigelow but this match dragged the more it went on, I had commented in the past how good Bossman can be as a babyface when he is selling but the idea that a waist-lock was a good idea for the amount of time is ridiculous. It stalled the match completely, taking me amount of Bigelow dominating the match and stopping me from getting behind Bossman. However, this would be Bossman’s last WWF appearance for five years as Bossman would leave for WCW so I can see why Bossman would not have looked good in his last match, this can be viewed as an extended squash.

Winner: Bam Bam Bigelow over The Big Bossman via Diving Headbutt!

(WWF Championship Match) Bret Hart © vs Razor Ramon

Ramon has always been a scumbag since entering the WWF, sinking low to get inside his opponent’s heads but Ramon attacked Owen Hart before this match with his brother Bret. A brutal assault that lit a fire under The Hitman, crowd is pro-Bret and want to see The Hitman murder Ramon. All for it, let’s see what these two can do inside of the ring. Interesting note: this was one of the first matches I reviewed way back when Bret was diagnosed with cancer, thankfully Bret and recovered since then. Ramon throws his toothpick at the kid that got Bret’s glasses, I love Ramon so much.

Bret and Ramon trade blows, Ramon wins that war as the bigger man. Beautiful punches and a hard Irish whip to the buckle, Ramon misses a knee and Bret goes to work. Kicks to the leg, Bret drops all his weight on the leg. Figure four from The Hitman, Ramon survives by reaching the ropes. Bret refuses to let go of the leg, Bret is showing an aggressive side as Ramon’s leg is sent into the ring-post. Knees to that softened leg of the challenger, right hands stagger Ramon. Ramon reverses a whip to the buckle and lands a big knee, Bret is sent sternum-first into the ring-post. Back-breakers on the floor and Bret is rammed into the ring-post, The Bad Guy is furious.

Ramon rubs his hands together, saying this is all wrapped up. Elbows to the back, fallaway slam from the challenger. Helen Hart can barely watch, Ramon whips Bret sternum-first into the buckle. Two for Ramon, Ramon continues to apply pressure with an abdominal stretch. Bret counters but Ramon counters with a hip-toss, shoulder block from the challenger for two. Kicks and punches to the spine of Bret, Ramon slaps around the head of Hart. Whip off the ropes, Bret ducks and lands a flying crossbody for two. Ramon presses Bret out of the ring, Bret tries an apron sunset flip for two. Ramon is up first though, modified camel clutch by Ramon who decides a bearhug would be a more effective form of torture.

Bret fights his way out of the bearhug, Ramon is sent tumbling to the floor. Bret decides it’s suicide dive time, Bret lands repeated shots to the head of Ramon. Ramon meets the steel steps, Bret lands massive rights on Ramon. In the corner, Ramon tries to shove away The Hitman. Ramon is rocked all around the ring, headbutt from Bret. Right hands stagger Ramon, down goes the challenger. Inverted atomic drop and clothesline for two, back-breaker. Diving middle rope clothesline for two, Bret lands a massive bulldog for two. Russian leg-sweep for two, Bret wants the sharpshooter but Ramon reaches the ropes.

Ramon is dragged to the middle of the ring, Bret can taste victory but Ramon manages to pull the referee into Bret and break the hold. Ramon lands kidney shots, Bret is placed on the top rope. Bret elbows his way out and slides down the back of Ramon to nail a back suplex. Bret wants his signature elbow but Ramon counters with a massive boot to the face. Razor’s Edge time, Bret slides out for a close backslide for two. Ramon is up first, Bret is whipped hard into the buckle. Test of strength with Ramon stomping away at The Hitman, Bret manages to counter into a pin-fall, two for Bret but Bret has slapped on The Sharpshooter from the ground, Ramon has nowhere to go and this match is done.

Bret’s best championship match at this point in his career, a great angle which adds tension and excitement to the match. Love the beginning with Ramon luring Bret into a slugfest, Ramon is clearly bigger and can dominate Bret when it comes to throwing bombs so Bret goes after the leg, softening up Ramon throughout the early part of the match. Ramon takes over after a great looking bump, Bret goes flying into the ring-post and it’s back-breakers and fallaway slams galore. Ramon is sinister in his assault of the ribs of Bret, great facials and body language from The Bad Guy. Bret shows great fire and passion when taking punishment from Ramon, the finish was so sweet. I do love when Hart locks in The Sharpshooter from the ground, gets me every time. Thought both men were great during this match and I look forward to their future feuds in the WWF.

Winner: Bret Hart over Razor Ramon via Sharpshooter!

The Royal Rumble Match

Thirty Men with one winner, elimination occurs when you go over the top rope and both feet touch the floor. Two men begin and at timed intervals, a new competitor comes in until we have all 30 men inside of that ring. I break it up in five entrants to make things easier to follow for you at home.

Entrants 1 to 5

Ric Flair is number one while Bob Backlund is number two, Backlund lands a shoulder block to kick us off. Make it two, leg-sweeps from Backlund. Backlund is incredibly goofy, eye pokes from Flair. Chop from Flair, right hands from The Nature Boy. Backlund sends Flair to the buckle, back body drop and a delayed atomic drop. Crowd is almost silent for Backlund, cannot say I blame them. Number three is Papa Shango, Shango stomps Backlund. Headbutts and chokes from Shango, Flair sneaks up on Shango and Shango is out of the match.

Papa Shango Has Been Eliminated By Ric Flair!

Flair almost dumps out Backlund, Backlund hangs on though. Chops and slaps between the two, number four is Ted Dibiase. Elbows to the face of Backlund, Flair and Dibiase double stomp on Backlund.  Double elbow takes down Backlund, the match is very quiet at this moment. Number five is Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs. Knobbs clotheslines Flair and Dibiase, big roundhouse rights from Knobbs. Noggin-knocker for both, Flair is almost tossed out by Knobbs. Knobbs hammers Dibiase, Flair comes back to rake the eyes of Knobbs. Backlund goes after Flair, Flair meets the buckle with his face.

Entrants 6 to 10

All four men are pairing off in corners, punching and elimination attempts until we have number six. Number six is Virgil, Virgil goes right after Dibiase. Inverted atomic drop on Dibiase and jabs from Virgil. Dibiase takes a double back body-drop from Knobbs & Virgil. Knobbs wants to eliminate Dibiase with a clothesline but Dibiase low-bridges and Knobbs goes sailing over the top rope.

Brian Knobbs Has Been Eliminated By Ted Dibiase!

Number seven is Jerry Lawler, things have gotten interesting now. Lawler has quite the attire on, possibly the most-ugly Lawler gear I have ever seen. Lawler and Flair are brawling, Flair rolls out to the floor. Flair wants Virgil out of there but Lawler rakes the eyes of Flair. Number eight is Max Moon, my God. Moon is throwing rights to Lawler, massive dropkick. Eye poke from Flair, Moon back-drops Flair.

Flair smashes Moon with a knee-lift, Moon skins the cat to survive being eliminated. Lawler plants Virgil with a DDT, Flair and Lawler work together on Moon before Virgil decides to get involved. Everyone is in separate corners, trying their best to survive. Lawler dumps over Moon who misses a kick as number nine is Tenryu of WAR.

Max Moon Has Been Eliminated By Jerry Lawler!

Depending on who comes out next, this might be the strangest first 10 superstars ever to enter a Rumble. The mix of talent in this ring is so strange and bizarre that there is no feud in there or reason for me to be invested in any of these men so far. It’s very rare I would find myself bored with a Rumble but this is not a good start. Number ten is Mr. Perfect who sprints to the ring and points at Flair, good shit finally.

Entrants 11 to 15

Perfect lands right hands, a knee-lift on Flair. Flair is yanked off the top rope, snap-mare into the neck-breaker from Perfect. Flair eye pokes Perfect and chops Perfect in the corner. Perfect returns the favour with chops of his own, right hands from Perfect. Number eleven is Skinner, Skinner kicks at Perfect. Eye rake as Flair goes after Perfect. Flair misses a chop on Perfect and Perfect clotheslines The Nature Boy out of the ring. Huge reaction from the crowd, things have changed.

Ric Flair Has Been Eliminated By Mr. Perfect!

Number twelve is Koko B. Ware, Koko comes in with headbutts and right hands. Perfect almost dumps out Skinner but Skinner skins the cat. Skinner does not get to bask in his glory though as Perfect dropkicks Skinner out of the match.

Skinner Has Been Eliminated By Mr. Perfect!

Number thirteen is Samu, Samu stands in the middle of the ring scouting for victims. Headbutts for anyone who is dumb enough to get in his way. Number fourteen is The Berzerker, the ring is filling with a lot of talent. You just know someone is going to come and end all of their lives but who will it be? Lawler measures Perfect for a right hand but Perfect manages to elevate Lawler to the floor, Perfect gets dumped out by Dibiase and Koko thanks to Lawler’s help from the floor. Virgil is dumped out off camera, sums up this match to be honest. Number fifteen is The Undertaker!

Jerry Lawler Has Been Eliminated By Mr. Perfect!

Mr Perfect Has Been Eliminated By Koko & Dibiase!

Virgil Has Been Eliminated!

Samu Has Been Eliminated By The Undertaker!

Tenryu Has Been Eliminated By The Undertaker!

Entrants 16 to 20

As you can read, Taker dumps out Samu and Tenryu. Berzerker sends Backlund to the floor, piledriving Backlund on the floor and smashing him with a chair. Number sixteen is Terry Taylor, had no clue Taylor was still in the WWF at this point. Taylor goes after Koko, Dibiase dumps out both of them. Taker Chokeslams Dibiase and clotheslines Dibiase over. Berzerker is dumped out by Taker but who is this Giant in the ring staring down Undertaker?

Koko B Ware & Terry Taylor Have Been Eliminated By Ted Dibiase!

Ted DIbiase & Berzerker Have Been Eliminated By The Undertaker!

Number seventeen is Damien Demento but that does not mean much as Giant Gonzalez attacks Taker, Harvey Whippleman’s new toy. Ridiculous outfit aside, Gonzalez is massive and bullies The Deadman. Number eighteen is IRS, Taker has been destroyed by Gonzalez and that is how we will setup their Wrestlemania match. Demento and IRS attack the battered Backlund, number nineteen is Tatanka. Paul Bearer saves his Undertaker, number twenty is Nasty Boy Jerry Sags. Sags and IRS are brawling, Demento is with Tatanka trading control back and forth while Backlund bounces between the four.

Number 21 to 25

Number twenty-one is Typhoon, crowd has gone quiet again. This has been a tough Rumble, not going to lie to you. IRS and Typhoon are battling before Sags comes after IRS again. Number twenty-two is Fatu, superkick for Typhoon. Headbutt for IRS, Fatu is attacking everything in sight. Sags tries headbutting Fatu, bad idea as Fatu feels nothing. More pairing off in corners, IRS is trying to get out Demento. More brawling around the ring and we have number twenty-three which is Earthquake. Earthquake is going after Typhoon, the two biggest trying to destroy one another. Make sense I guess, they could dump out everyone together though. Either way, they are just touching bellies for now. Earthquake elevates Typhoon to the floor though, we have an elimination.

Typhoon Has Been Eliminated By Earthquake!

Number twenty-four is Carlos Colon, Tatanka almost dumps out Demento who hangs onto the bottom rope for his life. The camera focuses for an awful long time on Tatanka thinking the elimination was coming, it was not. Colon manages to dump out Demento with a back drop-like manoeuvre.

Damien Demento Has Been Eliminated By Carlos Colon!

Number twenty-five is El Matador Tito Santana, Santana kicks lumps out of everyone. Fatu tries to take out Backlund, Backlund elevates Fatu over the top rope to the floor.

Fatu Has Been Eliminated By Bob Backlund!

Number 26 to 30

Number twenty-six is Rick Martel, Martel goes after Santana. I am all for this continuity, IRS charges at Earthquake but the big man ducks and IRS goes sailing over the top rope.

IRS Has Been Eliminated By Earthquake!

Santana almost dumps out Backlund who manages to hold on, the crowd is into Backlund. This is in stark contrast to the start of the match where they did not give a damn for Backlund. Number twenty-seven is Yokozuna, the ring is going to empty shortly I assure you. Yokozuna grabs Tatanka, Tatanka stands with Yokozuna before Yokozuna tosses Tatanka over, Carlos Colon tries to beat up Yokozuna but we have the same result.

Tatanka & Carlos Colon Have Been Eliminated By Yokozuna!

Yokozuna and Earthquake have a stare-down shoulder blocks with neither man moving. Number twenty-eight is Owen Hart, Earthquake clotheslines Yokozuna over and over but Yokozuna will not go down. Massive corner splash, one more says Earthquake. Yokozuna dodges and belly to belly suplexs Earthquake to the floor.

Earthquake Has Been Eliminated By Yokozuna!

 Owen goes after Martel, Santana attacks Yokozuna who is not going down. Clothesline floors Santana, Yokozuna has had enough of El Matador but Santana manages to hold onto the ropes to avoid Elimination. Number twenty-nine is Repo Man, Repo goes after Yokozuna. That ends with a headbutt for Repo, everyone decides that Yokozuna must be eliminated. Everyone pulls together but the big man shakes off everyone, what power from Yokozuna. Number thirty is Randy Macho Man Savage, things have picked up once more.

Savage goes after Repo, Santana tries to hurt Yokozuna again and this time, Yokozuna dumps out El Matador. Owen Hart dropkicks out Jerry Sags, missing his target which was Rick Martel.

Tito Santana Has Been Eliminated By Yokozuna!

Jerry Sags Has Been Eliminated By Owen Hart!

Owen Hart Has Been Eliminated By Yokozuna!

Repo Man Has Been Eliminated By Randy Savage!

Rapid-fire eliminations as we see the end of Hart and Repo Man, Martel wants to throw out Backlund. The crowd are loving what Backlund has done in this match, Backlund places Martel on the top rope before smashing Martel with the biggest right hand you have ever seen.

Rick Martel Has Been Eliminated By Bob Backlund!

Dropkicks from Backlund to Yokozuna, Yokozuna swats away Backlund who gets dumped out of the match. The crowd boos as Backlund has been eliminated, standing ovations for Backlund. Only Savage and Yokozuna remain, Savage is taking a beaten from Yokozuna. Big choke in the corner, Savage jabs back at the monster, axe handles to the head of Yokozuna. Diving axe handle from Savage, Savage does it again with Yokozuna going down to one knee. Superkick from Yokozuna, Yokozuna lands a disgusting belly to belly suplex on Savage. Leg drop flattens Savage, throat thrust drops Savage.

Savage pulls himself up using the ropes, selling the attacks of Yokozuna. Good stuff from Savage who looks close to death due to the attacks of Yokozuna. Big whip to the buckle, Savage is squashed by the rear-end of Yokozuna. Yokozuna goes for the attack again, Savage dodges. Diving Elbow Drop with Yokozuna pressing up and dumping out Savage to win the rumble.

Oh boy, this was a tough Rumble to watch. We are in the New Generation Era now, a lot of wrestlers in here that you would rather forget about to be honest and it shows. The first ten of that rumble are very weak, surviving on the interaction of Flair vs Perfect, that’s all you have as the ring fills with WWF “superstars”, it’s mostly wrestlers who were lucky to be featured winning matches on TV at the time and it shows because it’s a slow and boring opening to the Rumble match itself. Things pick up with Perfect as I said before we have a tease of Lawler vs Perfect, I felt Lawler did not play a big role in this match but his character will get more involved as the year goes on, the ring fills up again until Taker comes out. Taker does his best to wake up the crowd, all is well and right with the world and we have a great angle albeit a ridiculous outfit as Harvey Whippleman has a new toy to defeat The Deadman.

Things grind to a halt once more as the ring fills with wrestlers that the fans and I do not care for, it’s really rough. I liked Martel and Santana still going after one another, that’s nice but you are just wasting time until Yokozuna comes in. Yokozuna dominates and looks good as the match dies down again until Savage comes in, you do have the bright spot of Bob Backlund coming off as a babyface who refuses to die, shocking as the crowd did not care in the beginning. Ultimately, Savage tries a pin-fall in the rumble and gets dumped out, for a man who is known for planning at matches it’s a bit weird that would be a good finish that came to mind. Makes Savage look incredibly dump in the grand scheme of things, mostly boring Rumble with one or two bright spots.

Winner: Yokozuna!

That was WWF Royal Rumble 1993, a mostly solid show from the WWF but also a warning sign of things to come. The Rumble has a smaller card due to thirty wrestlers taking part in the rumble, this helps this card because you only see big matches to round out the rest of the card. So, you get to see The Steiners destroy Beau and Blake, no real complaints here. The Beverly Brothers have never looked impressive in the ring, no serious push came their way so being cannon-fodder for Rick and Scott works for me. They did their job well, crowd was hot for the opener and That Frankensteiner was nasty! We continue with a good Intercontinental Championship match with Jannetty and Michaels taking it into overdrive with near-falls near the end and a satisfying slap to the face from Sherri. I wish Jannetty had shown and given more, I think it could have been great but they do have a great match on RAW for the championship you should check out. Bigelow and Bossman is a little flat due to the heat segment from Bigelow, a waist-lock just looks weak but Bigelow was dominant. Bossman sold his back and Bigelow looks like a new man in the WWF.

Bret Hart vs Razor Ramon was a very good championship match, I loved the angle going into the feud and the psychology of both men as they waged war inside of the ring. Ramon wanted to goad Bret into a slugfest, relying on his strength to batter The Hitman while The Hitman never wavered from his game-plan of destroying the leg to setup for The Sharpshooter. I liked Ramon using the referee to stop the sharpshooter, I liked the way Bret setup the sharpshooter. It was a really solid and very good WWF Championship match with both men impressing me with their performances. The Rumble itself is where the weaknesses of this era and time in the WWF really show, a lot of the entrants are just bad. From lower-card talent to having to import Colon and Tenryu, it just screams weak and the action in the ring was poor with the match only coming to life for Perfect vs Flair, Undertaker’s dominance and Savage rallying against Flair. It did not excite me like a usual Rumble, I was bored during it and if that’s any indication of where things are going, The New Generation Era will be every bit as tough as everyone says it was! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!