WWF ROYAL RUMBLE 1995
January 22nd, 1995
USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida
Your commentators are Jim Ross and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.30 Men, 1 Winner, Something's Gotta Give!The Hollywood Blonds (Steve Austin and Brian Pillman) defeated
Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) when Pillman pinned Grunge
after hitting him with a foreign object in 0:14:05.
Rating: ***Referee Tim White was knocked from the ring when Rocco Rock sidestepped Brian Pillman's springboard clothesline and Pillman collided with the hapless official. Public Enemy appeared to be heading for victory in their pay-per-view debut when they set Pillman up for the Drive By. However, Steve Austin sprayed paint in Rocco's eyes from one of the spraycans that Public Enemy had brought to ringside. Rocco lost his balance and took a nasty spill to the floor. As Johnny Grunge went to confront Austin, the latter rolled the spraypaint can to his partner. Pillman then cracked Grunge in the back of the head with the can and covered him while Austin threw the referee back into the ring to register the three count.
Scott Steiner pinned British Bulldog after a rollover in 0:09:22.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Scott Steiner retained the WWF Intercontinental Title.)
[Tammy Fytch interfered against British Bulldog.]This was a war of attrition between two of the Federation's powerhouses. Scott Steiner tried to leave with his belt after the first flurry of offence from the British Bulldog, but the Bulldog went after him and forcefully made Steiner return to the ring, aware that this is his only shot at the gold. Interference from Tammy Fytch allowed Steiner to take over and he went after the Bulldog's back. Steiner punished Bulldog with a tilt-a-whirl slam and applied a camel clutch. Bulldog powered out though and dropped Steiner in the electric chair. Davey Boy rallied with a series of shoulderblocks, clotheslines and a hanging vertical suplex. Bulldog attempted to put Steiner away with the running powerslam, but Fytch grabbed Davey Boy's foot as he held Steiner in the air! The Bulldog lost his balance and tripped, allowing Steiner to roll through for the pinfall!
The Thrillseekers (Chris Jericho and Lance Storm) defeated
The Beverly Brothers (Beau Beverly and Blake Beverly) when L. Storm pinned Blake
after a German suplex in 0:12:58.
Rating: *** 1/2
(The Thrillseekers won the WWF World Tag Team Titles.)
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Chris Jericho.]
[Tammy Fytch interfered against Lance Storm.]The Thrillseekers were not to be denied in their quest to recapture the Tag Team Titles tonight and started the match out at a frantic pace. Lance Storm set Beau up for a butterfly suplex, but Blake broke it up with a clothesline. Blake delivered a neckbreaker and the Beverly Brothers followed up with their leapfrog body guillotine in the ropes on Storm for a near fall. Blake executed a powerslam but Chris Jericho broke up the pin attempt. Storm eventually managed to make the hot tag to Jericho, but Tammy Fytch disrupted the challengers' momentum when she tripped Jericho and the Beverlys seized the advantage once again. However, that interference riled the British Bulldog, who made his way down to ringside. Fytch swung at Davey Boy with her handbag, but the Bulldog ducked and hoisted Fytch over his shoulder! The Bulldog carried Fytch kicking and screaming all the way to the back to the delight of the crowd, ensuring that she could no longer be a factor in the bout. Jericho monkeyflipped Beau and followed with a German suplex for two. Blake charged at Jericho, but the young Canadian side-stepped and sent him crashing into his brother Beau! Lance Storm then struck with a German suplex into a bridge for the win! The Thrillseekers are the new two-time WWF Tag Team Champions!
The Undertaker pinned Ted DiBiase with the Tombstone in 0:13:39.
Rating: ***
(The Undertaker retained the WWF World Heavyweight Title.)
[Barry Windham interfered against The Undertaker.]Ted DiBiase continually waged psychological warfare with The Undertaker throughout this bout by yelling at the champion about the mysterious secret he holds over him. The Million Dollar Man ripped the Deadman's protective facemask off and used it as a weapon behind the official's back. DiBiase tried to work over The Undertaker's damaged face as he tore the top turnbuckle pad off and went to drive the Undertaker's face into the unprotected steel, but 'Taker managed to block it. The Undertaker chokeslammed DiBiase, but Barry Windham put DiBiase's foot on the rope and prevented the fall. The Phenom decked Windham, but DiBiase capitalised by locking in the Million Dollar Dream. The WWF Champion broke the hold by backing DiBiase into the exposed buckle and then Tombstoned the Million Dollar Man to retain the title!
The referee reunited The Undertaker with his championship belt as the Deadman looked down at Ted DiBiase with disdain. 'Taker then left with Paul Bearer, as Barry Windham helped the dejected DiBiase back to his feet. The Million Dollar Man took the mic and acknowledged his promise not to reveal The Undertaker's secret if he received a WWF Title shot. DiBiase then reminded The Undertaker of that old saying - "put not your trust in money" - and said he would reveal the secret right now! DiBiase announced that when The Undertaker was a child, he burned down his family funeral home and killed his entire family! The Million Dollar Man revealed that The Undertaker's parents and little brother burned to death and it was all the fault of the Man from the Darkside! The fans and announcers could not believe what they were hearing as The Undertaker burst out from the back! Barry Windham cut The Undertaker off in the aisle and the two men began brawling as Ted DiBiase continually branded the WWF Champion a murderer! The Undertaker threw Windham into the steel steps, before entering the ring and decking DiBiase with a hard right! The Undertaker was a man possessed as he pummelled DiBiase. 'Taker acquired a steel chair from ringside and wrapped it around the head of Windham as he tried to intervene! The Phenom whacked the chair over the skull of DiBiase and then threw him out of the ring. 'Taker peeled back the protective mats at ringside and lifted DiBiase up for the Tombstone as a hoard of officials and road agents arrived on the scene. The suits begged The Undertaker to put DiBiase down and show some mercy. The pleas fell on deaf ears as The Undertaker dropped The Million Dollar Man directly on his head on the exposed concrete with the Tombstone!!! DiBiase lay motionless at ringside as The Undertaker was escorted to the back.
A hush fell over the arena as medical staff tended to Ted DiBiase. A gaggle of referees assisted in carefully applying a neck brace to the Million Dollar Man and placing him onto a gurney. As DiBiase was stretchered out, he worriedly admitted to Barry Windham that he could not feel his legs.
This year's Royal Rumble opened up with
Tatanka vs
Jeff Jarrett. Tatanka had Jarrett on the brink of elimination several times during the first two minutes but The Roadie, who had stayed at ringside following Double J's entrance, was there to push his man back in the ring.
Scotty Flamingo was next in and he and Jarrett doubled up on the Native American. Flamingo had debuted at last year's event and impressed a lot of mat observers with his performance that night.
Bob Backlund evened the odds at number four as the announcers brought up the past history between Backlund and Flamingo. After entering so early, Backlund had his work cut out if he was to realise his dream of challenging for the title at WrestleMania.
Repo Man sneaked in at number five. Backlund had Jarrett in a precarious position, but again the Roadie intervened.
Marty Jannetty was next in, followed by
Rockabilly at number seven. Tatanka almost had Double J out again, but The Roadie was there once more to block it. Tatanka had seen enough and as he tussled with the Roadie on the ring apron, Jarrett seized the opportunity to dump Tatanka over the top rope to the floor. The Native American was not happy at being the first man thrown out and protested with the officials about the antics of The Roadie at ringside.
PJ Walker was in next to make his Royal Rumble debut. Bob Backlund eliminated his old rival Scotty Flamingo. As Backlund celebrated the achievement, he was knocked out of the ring himself courtesy of a dropkick from none other than his protege, PJ Walker! Walker was apologetic but stressed that it is every man for himself. Backlund was frustrated, but proceeded to shake hands with Walker and gave him his blessing to go on and try to win the match.
The Birdman entered the fray next, followed by the debuting
Savio Vega who received a nice reception from the crowd. The Roadie was still freely helping out Jeff Jarrett from ringside when Double J was in trouble. Tatanka then made his way back out to ringside to take care of the Roadie and remove Jarrett's unfair advantage. Double J was distracted by Tatanka cleaning the Roadie's clock at ringside, which allowed Marty Jannetty to clothesline Jarrett over the top rope! Furious, Jarrett took his acoustic guitar and smashed it over Tatanka's head! Jarrett and the Roadie then made their way to the back to a chorus of boos. Next in was
Mr. Perfect. PJ Walker bit the dust following a Rocker Dropper from Rockabilly. The ring was beginning to fill up as
The Warlord entered next. Savio Vega certainly made an impact on his first night with the company when he backdropped Mr. Perfect out to the floor which received a superb response! Perfect could not believe what had happened! The next participant was the returning
Man Mountain Rock, who went straight after Rockabilly and quickly dumped him out. This was a measure of revenge for the knee injury Rock suffered at the hands of Tennessee Lee Promotions which sidelined him for two months. Much to the chagrin of Max Moon,
Bob Holly was the next man in. The two sport superstar promptly eliminated Repo Man.
Friar Ferguson was next in and it was the mad monk who ended The Birdman's WrestleMania dreams by chucking him. Man Mountain Rock hiptossed The Warlord over the top. There were five men battling it out as number sixteen prepared to make their entrance…
IT'S TIME IT'S TIME IT'S VADER TIME!! Big Van Vader's sixty day suspension was officially over as The Mastodon made his way out! Vader immediately roughed up poor Savio Vega with punches and threw the Caribbean superstar out. Friar Ferguson and Man Mountain Rock quickly followed as Vader's path of destruction began to take shape. Vader avalanched Marty Jannetty in the corner and threw him over the top. That left Bob Holly in with Vader and there was only one outcome - Vader sent Holly flying over the top rope with a body splash. The former WWF Champion had cleared the ring in under two minutes! But he would face a sterner test as
Crush was next in! The crowd went nuts for the big Hawaiian. Crush and Vader proceeded to battle it out, evoking memories from the closing stages of last year's Rumble. Shawn Michaels' new bodyguard
Diesel was the next man in.
Randy Savage was the next participant and the crowd reacted big for him. Savage also had some unfinished business with Vader from last year. The ring was starting to fill up with some serious beef as
Adam Bomb entered.
Shawn Michaels was in at number 21 and his luck was certainly in as his bodyguard Diesel was already out there. Michaels and Savage started going it at until Diesel broke it up with a hard clothesline to the back of the Macho Man's head. Hardcore Champion
Taz was next in, followed two minutes later by
The Berzerker. The next superstar out was
Sabu, who was making his eagerly anticipated debut. Sabu set up a table at ringside before entering the match and attacking everybody! The
Great Muta was next out and he and Taz teamed up to go after Crush, presumably following Gary Hart's orders. Diesel got rid of The Berzerker with a big boot.
Bret Hart was next in to a huge reaction and he went after everyone. Crush threw out Taz, but then turned around into a mouthful of green mist from the Great Muta! As Muta measured up a blinded Crush for a knockout blow from one of his deadly kicks, Randy Savage scuppered Muta's plans by grabbing the Pearl of the Orient and throwing him out of the ring!
Razor Ramon was the next superstar to enter and he made a beeline straight for Shawn Michaels, but Diesel cut him off with a boot to the head. Number 28 was
Bam Bam Bigelow and Adam Bomb immediately jumped him as the Beast from the East rolled into the squared circle. Randy Savage launched Sabu over the top rope. The crazed Sabu would not leave quietly though. He shoved the timekeeper to the ground and returned to the ring with a chair. Sabu attacked Savage with the chair and knocked the Macho Man through the ropes to the floor. Sabu laid out Savage with a wicked chair shot to the head and draped Savage onto the table which had been set up earlier. The maniacal Sabu then set the chair up in the ring before sprinting off the ropes, springing off the chair to the top rope and then smashing Randy Savage through the table with a jaw-dropping dive!! The crowd could not believe their eyes as Randy Savage was helped to the back for medical attention, effectively eliminating him from the contest.
Sean Waltman and
Duke Droese were the final two participants. As Razor Ramon tussled with Big Van Vader, Michaels snuck up and blasted the Bad Guy with a superkick, sending Ramon over the top rope to the floor! Ramon was seething and had to be prevented from returning to the ring by the officials at ringside while the Heartbreak Kid rubbed the elimination in Ramon's face! Suddenly, Bret Hart grabbed the distracted Michaels and launched him over the top rope! The crowd celebrated the elimination of Shawn Michaels, who was now directly in Ramon's crosshairs with no escape route! As Michaels crawled away, begging Ramon for mercy, Diesel noticed that his man was in danger. Big Daddy Cool leapt into action, stepping over the top rope and dropping Ramon with a blow to the back of the head before the Bad Guy could put his hands on Michaels. Michaels and Diesel did a number on Ramon and left him laying after Big Daddy Cool dropped the Bad Guy face-first on the ring steps. Vader threw out Droese. Bret Hart got rid of Waltman, bringing us down to five men. As Bam Bam Bigelow and Adam Bomb fought near the ropes, Crush came over and toppled both men out to the floor in an incredible show of strength! The crowd was completely standing as Bret Hart, Crush and Big Van Vader prepared to duke it out for the right to face the WWF Champion in the main event of WrestleMania. Vader planted The Hitman with a power bomb, before rocking Crush with an avalanche in the corner and flooring him with a stiff lariat. Vader went for the Vader Bomb, but Crush recovered and punched the Mastodon in the gut! Crush then lifted the 458-pound Vader off the turnbuckles and onto his shoulders, before dumping him out to the floor! The fans cheered this awesome achievement by Crush, who for the second year in a row was one of the final two men left in the Royal Rumble match. Bret Hart immediately pounced and tried to throw Crush over, but the big Hawaiian fought the Hitman off. Crush drilled Hart with a side suplex. Crush went to throw the Hitman out, but Hart reversed into a Russian legsweep and followed up with an elbowsmash from the middle rope. Hart went for the Sharpshooter but Crush kicked him off, almost sending the Hitman over the top rope! Crush attempted to push Hart the rest of the way out, but the tenacious Hitman rolled back in under the bottom strand. Crush went for the kill with a Gorilla press, but Hart countered with a front facelock and hung on. The Hitman pulled Crush to the apron with the hold and refused to let go. From the edge of the ring, Hart kept a vice grip on Crush's neck until the big Hawaiian tipped over the top rope! Crush slowly fell to the floor — eliminated — as The Hitman rested safely on the ring apron! Bret Hart is the winner of the 1995 Royal Rumble and the recipient of the title shot at WrestleMania XI!
30-Man Battle Royal:
Bret Hart won a 30-man Royal Rumble:
x Tatanka and J. Jarrett started out.
x Scotty Flamingo entered at 0:02:00
x Bob Backlund entered at 0:04:00
x Repo Man entered at 0:06:00
x Marty Jannetty entered at 0:08:00
x Rockabilly entered at 0:10:00
x J. Jarrett threw out Tatanka in 0:10:43
x PJ Walker entered at 0:12:00
x B. Backlund threw out Flamingo in 0:12:57
x Walker threw out Backlund after a dropkick in 0:13:05
x The Birdman entered at 0:14:00
x Savio Vega entered at 0:16:00
x Jannetty threw out J. Jarrett after a clothesline in 0:17:25
x Mr. Perfect entered at 0:18:00
x Rockabilly threw out Walker after the Rocker Dropper in 0:18:33
x Warlord entered at 0:20:00
x S. Vega threw out Perfect after a backdrop in 0:21:20
x Man Mountain Rock entered at 0:22:00
x Rock threw out Rockabilly in 0:23:09
x Bob Holly entered at 0:24:00
x B. Holly threw out Repo in 0:24:20
x Friar Ferguson entered at 0:26:00
x Ferguson threw out Birdman in 0:27:15
x Rock threw out Warlord after a hiptoss in 0:27:24
x Big Van Vader entered at 0:28:00
x Vader threw out S. Vega in 0:28:15
x Vader threw out Ferguson in 0:28:32
x Vader threw out Rock after a splash in 0:29:23
x Vader threw out Jannetty in 0:29:41
x Vader threw out B. Holly after a Vader attack in 0:29:56
x Crush entered at 0:30:00
x Diesel entered at 0:32:00
x Randy Savage entered at 0:34:00
x Adam Bomb entered at 0:36:00
x Shawn Michaels entered at 0:38:00
x Taz entered at 0:40:00
x The Berzerker entered at 0:42:00
x Sabu entered at 0:44:00
x Great Muta entered at 0:46:00
x Diesel threw out Berzerker after a kick to the head in 0:47:19
x Bret Hart entered at 0:48:00
x Crush threw out Taz in 0:48:05
x R. Savage threw out Muta in 0:48:47
x Razor Ramon entered at 0:50:00
x Bam Bam Bigelow entered at 0:52:00
x R. Savage threw out Sabu in 0:52:36
x R. Savage was carried out in 0:53:47
x Sean Waltman entered at 0:54:00
x Duke Droese entered at 0:56:00
x Michaels threw out Ramon after a superkick in 0:57:24
x B. Hart threw out Michaels in 0:58:21
x Diesel eliminated himself in 0:58:57
x Vader threw out Droese in 1:00:30
x B. Hart threw out Waltman after a bodyslam in 1:03:07
x Crush threw out Bigelow in 1:04:46
x Crush threw out A. Bomb in 1:04:46
x Crush threw out Vader in 1:08:42
x B. Hart threw out Crush in 1:12:21
Rating: *** 1/4
[The Roadie interfered against Tatanka.]
[The Roadie interfered against Bob Backlund.]
[Sabu interfered against Randy Savage.]Crush cut a forlorn figure as he walked to the back shaking his head, knowing that he had blown his chance to headline WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Bret Hart celebrated his Rumble victory in front of his cheering fans. The Hitman motioned that the WWF Championship would soon be back around his waist as the pay-per-view drew to a close.
Card rating: *** 1/2Circuit information:
Bret Hart was relentless in his quest to become WWF Champion again as he held firm and wrenched Crush out by the neck with a front chancery to win the Royal Rumble. In doing so, The Hitman secures his spot in the main event of WrestleMania XI, where he will challenge for the WWF Title.
Crush was devastated at missing out having put in perhaps the most impressive showing of anybody. The big Hawaiian mustered all of his considerable strength to dump out Adam Bomb, Bam Bam Bigelow and Big Van Vader, having survived an earlier mist attack from the Great Muta.
The Hitman won an eventful Royal Rumble match which also saw Diesel sacrifice his chance to challenge for the WWF Title at WrestleMania in order to ensure that Razor Ramon once again failed to get his hands on Shawn Michaels. Sabu made a huge impact on his debut, attacking Randy Savage after the Macho Man had eliminated him and putting him through a table which forced Savage to be carried out. PJ Walker proved that it was certainly every man for himself as he eliminated his mentor Bob Backlund and Jeff Jarrett laid out Tatanka with a wicked guitar shot after the Native American, exasperated at the Roadie's constant interference in the Rumble, took matters into his own hands.
Number Entrant Eliminated by
1 Tatanka Jeff Jarrett
2 Jeff Jarrett Marty Jannetty
3 Scotty Flamingo Bob Backlund
4 Bob Backlund PJ Walker
5 Repo Man Bob Holly
6 Marty Jannetty Big Van Vader
7 Rockabilly Man Mountain Rock
8 PJ Walker Rockabilly
9 The Birdman Friar Ferguson
10 Savio Vega Big Van Vader
11 Mr. Perfect Savio Vega
12 Warlord Man Mountain Rock
13 Man Mountain Rock Big Van Vader
14 Bob Holly Big Van Vader
15 Friar Ferguson Big Van Vader
16 Big Van Vader Crush
17 Crush Bret Hart
18 Diesel (eliminated himself)
19 Randy Savage (carried out)
20 Adam Bomb Crush
21 Shawn Michaels Bret Hart
22 Taz Crush
23 The Berzerker Diesel
24 Sabu Randy Savage
25 Great Muta Randy Savage
26 Bret Hart -
27 Razor Ramon Shawn Michaels
28 Bam Bam Bigelow Crush
29 Sean Waltman Bret Hart
30 Duke Droese Big Van Vader
After failing to capture the WWF Championship from The Undertaker, Ted DiBiase went back on his word and revealed the dark secret from Undertaker's past to the world. It appears that The Undertaker was responsible for a fire which claimed the lives of his family. The Phenom went into a rage after this revelation and obliterated Ted DiBiase and his bodyguard Barry Windham. The Undertaker drilled DiBiase with a Tombstone onto the unprotected concrete floor and the Million Dollar Man has suffered a serious neck injury as a result. DiBiase was transported to a local medical facility wearing a neck brace after the show and we will hopefully bring you an update on his condition tomorrow on Monday Night RAW. You do have to wonder if we shall ever see the Million Dollar Man again.
Tammy Fytch cost the British Bulldog his one and only shot at Scott Steiner's Intercontintal Championship by tripping the challenger as he had Steiner set up for the running powerslam. Davey Boy Smith would later have his revenge as he forcibly removed Fytch from ringside as the Beverly Brothers dropped the Tag Team Titles to the Thrillseekers. Fytch is furious that the Bulldog had the audacity to put his hands on her and she is determined to make the Englishman pay.
If you think that anything was settled tonight in the war between Public Enemy and the Hollywood Blonds, then think again. This one's just getting started!
The fallout will be felt from the 1995 Royal Rumble for weeks to come, starting tomorrow night on Monday Night RAW! Till then, so long everybody!!