Date: January 15, 1989
City: Houston, Texas (The Summit)
Attendance: 19,000
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Tagline: No Partners... 30 Opponents
Six Man Tag 2 out of 3 Falls match: Dino Bravo and The Fabulous Rougeaus Brothers VS. Hacksaw Jim Duggan and The Hart Foundation
Jesse's first great line of the night is that the heels have an advantage because they can all speak French and can communicate better
The match starts with some power exchanges between Neidhart and Bravo. The pace picks up as Bret gets a series of near falls with a small package, sunset flip and crossbody on Raymond. A very nice Hitman clothesline too. The Hitman's work here is stellar. Its an early sign of his potential as a singles star. The Harts double team the Rougeaus in the corner. Raymond turns the tables dropping the top rope down and sending Bret to the floor. The fresh Bravo hits his cool side surplex. A Rougeaus double team top rope move polishes off Bret for the first fall. The heels cut off the ring on Bret, tagging in and out. The Hitman's selling is excellent. The Canadian is dropped across Jacques knee by Raymond and placed in a bearhug by Dino. Bret nicks a two count from a sunset flip, but can't make the tag. He takes more punishment in a Jacques camel clutch, a Boston Crab and the classic Abdominal stretch with Raymond holding on to his partner's hand Bret counters a monkey flip attempt with an awesome atomic drop and makes the hot tag to Mr. USA. Duggan hammers the heels. He slingshots first Neidhart and then Bret onto Raymond, but of course neither are legal
Hacksaw finally pins him with a elbow drop. 1-1. Hacksaw then runs into the heel corner and is triple teamed. The Body rightly points out what a dummy move that was, Hacksaw indeed has a peanut for a brain
In a move nearly as dumb Bravo atomic drops Hacksaw into his own corner allowing him to tag Bret. A recovered Hitman gets into his groove, a nice breakbreaker but as he goes for the middle rope elbow is tossed off by Raymond, but Hacksaw cheap shots Raymond from the outside with the 2x4 allowing Bret to get the winning pinfall. ***
Ted DiBiase in his classic Green suit draws out his number for the Royal Rumble match. The Million Dollar Man isn't best pleased so has a word for fellow manger Slick who says that his Twin Towers pulled out good numbers. DiBiase decides its time to make a deal We see other wrestlers draw their numbers for the Rumble, not much of interest happens in these clips.
WWF Women's Title: Rockin' Robin (c) VS. Judy Martin
The former Champion Sherri Martel challenges the winner of the match. Sherri joins Monsoon and Jesse and is awful. This is surprising because over the next few years Sherri would become one of the most charismatic performers in the business. The highlight of the match is when Jesse claims Martel's defeat in Paris was because she couldn't understand French This is a sloppy match which played before a dead crowd. Robin's DDT looked awful. The Champ retains with a twisty top rope crossbody. *1/2
We cut to the crowd and a Jesse action figure pinning a Macho Man one
Super Posedown
This heated segment fires the gun on the Ultimate Warrior-Rick Rude feud. The network has a terrible dubbed in version of Rude's entrance Heenan does a great job of trying to butter the crowd up, drawing heat at the same time. I always mark out at Rude addressing Mean Gene as "Little Man" The two men each compete in four rounds, double bicep, most musclear, best abs and a Medley. Predictably the crowd cheers for Warrior and boos Rude. Rude oiling himself and working out between poses is awesome! The segment ends with Heenan spraying baby oil or something into Warrior's eyes and Rude hammering him with a bar. Warrior snaps attacking helpless officials. It went a bit long but did a great job of setting the table for their feud. Warrior and Rude would feud over the Intercontinental title for the next 6-7 months.
King Haku VS. Harley Race
Haku defends his Crown against the man he defeated for it. This is pure filler. Heenan has a field day at ringside switching sides depending on whose on top (he manages both guys). Haku looks like a monster, but has to carry a dead weight Race. At this point age and injuries have caught up with Harley. The former NWA champ takes a nasty looking bump over the top rope backwards to the floor. Haku hammers Race, but takes a decent looking piledriver from him for two. Race hits a soften piledriver outside. Haku misses a top rope splash, but Race returns the favour off target with a elbow drop. Haku retains his crown with a side kick catching Harley coming off the ropes. At 9 minutes this match was too long. The booking was backwards. To work around Harley's injuries Haku should have dominated most of the match, with Race making a comeback at the end, only to be beaten. **
30 Man Royal Rumble
Tag team Champs Demolition (Ax and Smash) draw numbers 1 & 2 so must start the rumble. The announcers put this over big time. For some reason the crowd response seems a bit flat, but picks up when the partners start going at it. Ax almost dumps Smash over but the future Repo Man lands on the apron saving himself.
Business really picks up as Andre the Giant is number 3. The tag champs are waiting in the wings for Andre knocking him down with a double clothesline as soon as he enters. This gets a big pop. The pair start pounding away as only Demolition can Mr. Perfect comes out at 4 and wisely takes his time. Smash is the first elimination at the hands of Andre. Perfect and Ax go after the Giant. Ronnie Gavin is number 5. Andre gets tied up in the ropes as the other three attempt to power him out, but the Giant kicks them away. This would become a classic big man rumble spot through the years. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine is next and we get 4 on 1 situation. Gavin is tossed out by Andre. Andre's face as he chokes Ax is scary Jake Roberts hits the ring to a huge pop. Him and the Giant are engaged in a intense feud since Survivor Series. As the Snake unloads on the Giant Outlaw Ron Bass enters at 8. Roberts is quickly eliminated by Andre. But we haven't seen the last of Jake tonight 9 is one half of the Rockers Shawn Michaels. Perfect back drops Ax to the floor. Michaels and Perfect who would feud over the IC title 4 years later really light up the match. Michaels skins the cat after Perfect throws him over. A Michaels drop kick almost sends Perfect to the floor, but he gets tangled up in the ropes and drags himself back inside. 10 is Bushwacker Luke. Jake indeed returns with his friend Damian and scares the living shit out of Andre who eliminates himself The crowd love it. Former Intercontinental Champion the Honky Tonk Man struts out at 11. The heels gang up on Perfect and Michaels. The Rocker survives a Hammer and Honky double team. Chico Santana arrives at number 12 and gets some choice shots in. Bad News Brown draws unlucky 13. The Tito and Butch elminate Honky. Michaels nails both Bad News and Bass at the same time with a high risk move, but is then almost eliminate with an atomic drop. His Rockers team mate Marty Jannetty is out next to even things up. A Rockers double drop kick sends Bass packing. A Santana flying forearm on the Hammer is almost enough to get him out.
WWF Champion Macho man hits the ring at number 15 to a massive pop The Champ goes straight after Bad News. Arn Anderson is 16. Macho eliminates Valentine. The unlikely duo of Anderson and Macho eliminate Shawn. Macho starts acting a bit more heelish during the match The other member of the Brain Busters Tully Blanchard is number 17. Him and Arn double team Jannetty. The Rockers and Brainbusters were feuding around this time. Arn hits his awesome spinbuster As the pair try and force Marty out he hangs on for dear life and one point by his toes. In the end Tully gets him out, but almost eliminates himself in the process Hogan storms to the ring at 18. A plum number for such a big name. A fresh Hogan ends Perfect's impressive showing. He saves Macho from Bad News. Tito is sent to the showers by Brown. Bad News and Hulk go at it and the heels start outnumbering the Hulkster who doesn't get any help from his Mega Powers partner Macho is tied up with Butch of all people Luke comes out at 19 just seconds before his tag partner is eliminated. The Mega Powers team up on Bad News but Arn saves him. Hogan presses Tully onto the rope. That bump looked great. The favourite to win the rumble Bushwacker Luke squares up to Hogan Koko B. Ware flies to the ring at number 20. Hogan makes quick work of the birdman and also back drops Luke out. The Warlord is 21. Hulk starts cleaning house, double clothes lining the Busters out and he clothesline Warlord straight out as soon as he enters. This spot is awesome. BTW this has to be the quickest elimination in Rumble history. The WWF claimed that Luke's rumble 91 exit was faster, but watch the two and it has to be Warlord's. Bad News is working over Savage and appears to be about to eliminate him. Hogan comes over and throws Brown over the top rope taking Macho with him. Was this an accident on Hogan's part? Clearly Macho didn't think so. He squares up to Hogan in a heated exchange. The Mega Powers are about to explode before Miss Elizabeth runs out to cool the boys down. This slow burning feud would finally ignite on Saturday Night's Main Event leading to a huge money making match at Wrestlemania 5. Jesse: "He'll clothesline Elizabeth if it meant winning" referring to Hulk
Bossman is number 22 and he has a thing going with Hulk who dominates him with a body slam, but then takes a big splash in the corner and piledriver. Stretching the truth a bit Monsoon claims Hogan has been out there half an hour Akeem is next meaning the Twin Towers are together and have Hogan at their mercy. Hulk puts a brave fight up slamming Akeem, but the numbers game catch up with him. The Towers nail him with a double avalanche And Slick's boys eliminate the red and yellow. A huge shock. But sore loser Hulk can't take it so eliminates Bossman by pulling down the top rope. Jesse roasting Hulk is again fantastic! Hogan and Bossman brawl to the back. In all the mayhem Hulk's best buddy Brutus Beefcake has entered the match.
Sadly the match has peaked and kinda slumps to the finish line. Red Rooster is number 25. The Barbarian adds to the muscle at 26 as Akeem splashes the Rooster (I'm sure I saw feathers flying everywhere). Big John Studd making his long awaited comeback is 27. Studd goes straight for the African Dream. Hercules is 28. 29 is the other member of Strike Force Rick Martel who puts in a decent showing. And at number 30 to nobody's surprise is the Million Dollar Man who bought the perfect number and maybe bought victory in the rumble? Along with buying the WWF title this rumble scheme might be DiBiase's finest WWF moment. The Rooster takes a tumble upside down in the corner and to the floor at the hands of DiBiase. Hercules unloads on his former employer. DiBiase tosses Beefcake and Hercules out together as Brutus had a sleeper locked on. Martel surprises the Barbarian with a drop kick sending the Powers of Pain man out. Akeem catches Martel in mid-air and dumps him to the floor. We are down to three, Akeem, The Million Dollar Man and Big John Studd. The heels double team Studd with DiBiase directing traffic. Things take a turn when Akeem misses a splash in the corner and is throw out by Studd. Seeing his shot of glory in danger, Ted tries to pay Studd off. The big man is having none of it and dominates DiBiase for a couple of minutes before throwing him out to win the first PPV Rumble match at 1:04:53. Studd also takes care of Virgil when the bodyguard goes after him post match. An enjoyable Rumble match ends on anticlimactic note. ***
Best Match: Royal Rumble
Worst Match: Women's Title
Event Rating: 6/10
City: Houston, Texas (The Summit)
Attendance: 19,000
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Tagline: No Partners... 30 Opponents
Six Man Tag 2 out of 3 Falls match: Dino Bravo and The Fabulous Rougeaus Brothers VS. Hacksaw Jim Duggan and The Hart Foundation
Jesse's first great line of the night is that the heels have an advantage because they can all speak French and can communicate better
The match starts with some power exchanges between Neidhart and Bravo. The pace picks up as Bret gets a series of near falls with a small package, sunset flip and crossbody on Raymond. A very nice Hitman clothesline too. The Hitman's work here is stellar. Its an early sign of his potential as a singles star. The Harts double team the Rougeaus in the corner. Raymond turns the tables dropping the top rope down and sending Bret to the floor. The fresh Bravo hits his cool side surplex. A Rougeaus double team top rope move polishes off Bret for the first fall. The heels cut off the ring on Bret, tagging in and out. The Hitman's selling is excellent. The Canadian is dropped across Jacques knee by Raymond and placed in a bearhug by Dino. Bret nicks a two count from a sunset flip, but can't make the tag. He takes more punishment in a Jacques camel clutch, a Boston Crab and the classic Abdominal stretch with Raymond holding on to his partner's hand Bret counters a monkey flip attempt with an awesome atomic drop and makes the hot tag to Mr. USA. Duggan hammers the heels. He slingshots first Neidhart and then Bret onto Raymond, but of course neither are legal Hacksaw finally pins him with a elbow drop. 1-1. Hacksaw then runs into the heel corner and is triple teamed. The Body rightly points out what a dummy move that was, Hacksaw indeed has a peanut for a brain In a move nearly as dumb Bravo atomic drops Hacksaw into his own corner allowing him to tag Bret. A recovered Hitman gets into his groove, a nice breakbreaker but as he goes for the middle rope elbow is tossed off by Raymond, but Hacksaw cheap shots Raymond from the outside with the 2x4 allowing Bret to get the winning pinfall. ***Ted DiBiase in his classic Green suit
draws out his number for the Royal Rumble match. The Million Dollar Man isn't best pleased so has a word for fellow manger Slick who says that his Twin Towers pulled out good numbers. DiBiase decides its time to make a deal We see other wrestlers draw their numbers for the Rumble, not much of interest happens in these clips.WWF Women's Title: Rockin' Robin (c) VS. Judy Martin
The former Champion Sherri Martel challenges the winner of the match. Sherri joins Monsoon and Jesse and is awful. This is surprising because over the next few years Sherri would become one of the most charismatic performers in the business. The highlight of the match is when Jesse claims Martel's defeat in Paris was because she couldn't understand French
This is a sloppy match which played before a dead crowd. Robin's DDT looked awful. The Champ retains with a twisty top rope crossbody. *1/2We cut to the crowd and a Jesse action figure pinning a Macho Man one
Super Posedown
This heated segment fires the gun on the Ultimate Warrior-Rick Rude feud. The network has a terrible dubbed in version of Rude's entrance
Heenan does a great job of trying to butter the crowd up, drawing heat at the same time. I always mark out at Rude addressing Mean Gene as "Little Man" The two men each compete in four rounds, double bicep, most musclear, best abs and a Medley. Predictably the crowd cheers for Warrior and boos Rude. Rude oiling himself and working out between poses is awesome! The segment ends with Heenan spraying baby oil or something into Warrior's eyes and Rude hammering him with a bar. Warrior snaps attacking helpless officials. It went a bit long but did a great job of setting the table for their feud. Warrior and Rude would feud over the Intercontinental title for the next 6-7 months. King Haku VS. Harley Race
Haku defends his Crown against the man he defeated for it. This is pure filler. Heenan has a field day at ringside switching sides depending on whose on top (he manages both guys). Haku looks like a monster, but has to carry a dead weight Race. At this point age and injuries have caught up with Harley. The former NWA champ takes a nasty looking bump over the top rope backwards to the floor. Haku hammers Race, but takes a decent looking piledriver from him for two. Race hits a soften piledriver outside. Haku misses a top rope splash, but Race returns the favour off target with a elbow drop. Haku retains his crown with a side kick catching Harley coming off the ropes. At 9 minutes this match was too long. The booking was backwards. To work around Harley's injuries Haku should have dominated most of the match, with Race making a comeback at the end, only to be beaten. **
30 Man Royal Rumble
Tag team Champs Demolition (Ax and Smash) draw numbers 1 & 2 so must start the rumble. The announcers put this over big time. For some reason the crowd response seems a bit flat, but picks up when the partners start going at it. Ax almost dumps Smash over but the future Repo Man lands on the apron saving himself.
Business really picks up as Andre the Giant is number 3. The tag champs are waiting in the wings for Andre knocking him down with a double clothesline as soon as he enters. This gets a big pop. The pair start pounding away as only Demolition can
Mr. Perfect comes out at 4 and wisely takes his time. Smash is the first elimination at the hands of Andre. Perfect and Ax go after the Giant. Ronnie Gavin is number 5. Andre gets tied up in the ropes as the other three attempt to power him out, but the Giant kicks them away. This would become a classic big man rumble spot through the years. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine is next and we get 4 on 1 situation. Gavin is tossed out by Andre. Andre's face as he chokes Ax is scary Jake Roberts hits the ring to a huge pop. Him and the Giant are engaged in a intense feud since Survivor Series. As the Snake unloads on the Giant Outlaw Ron Bass enters at 8. Roberts is quickly eliminated by Andre. But we haven't seen the last of Jake tonight 9 is one half of the Rockers Shawn Michaels. Perfect back drops Ax to the floor. Michaels and Perfect who would feud over the IC title 4 years later really light up the match. Michaels skins the cat after Perfect throws him over. A Michaels drop kick almost sends Perfect to the floor, but he gets tangled up in the ropes and drags himself back inside. 10 is Bushwacker Luke. Jake indeed returns with his friend Damian and scares the living shit out of Andre who eliminates himself The crowd love it. Former Intercontinental Champion the Honky Tonk Man struts out at 11. The heels gang up on Perfect and Michaels. The Rocker survives a Hammer and Honky double team. Chico Santana arrives at number 12 and gets some choice shots in. Bad News Brown draws unlucky 13. The Tito and Butch elminate Honky. Michaels nails both Bad News and Bass at the same time with a high risk move, but is then almost eliminate with an atomic drop. His Rockers team mate Marty Jannetty is out next to even things up. A Rockers double drop kick sends Bass packing. A Santana flying forearm on the Hammer is almost enough to get him out.WWF Champion Macho man hits the ring at number 15 to a massive pop
The Champ goes straight after Bad News. Arn Anderson is 16. Macho eliminates Valentine. The unlikely duo of Anderson and Macho eliminate Shawn. Macho starts acting a bit more heelish during the match The other member of the Brain Busters Tully Blanchard is number 17. Him and Arn double team Jannetty. The Rockers and Brainbusters were feuding around this time. Arn hits his awesome spinbuster As the pair try and force Marty out he hangs on for dear life and one point by his toes. In the end Tully gets him out, but almost eliminates himself in the process Hogan storms to the ring at 18. A plum number for such a big name. A fresh Hogan ends Perfect's impressive showing. He saves Macho from Bad News. Tito is sent to the showers by Brown. Bad News and Hulk go at it and the heels start outnumbering the Hulkster who doesn't get any help from his Mega Powers partner Macho is tied up with Butch of all people Luke comes out at 19 just seconds before his tag partner is eliminated. The Mega Powers team up on Bad News but Arn saves him. Hogan presses Tully onto the rope. That bump looked great. The favourite to win the rumble Bushwacker Luke squares up to Hogan Koko B. Ware flies to the ring at number 20. Hogan makes quick work of the birdman and also back drops Luke out. The Warlord is 21. Hulk starts cleaning house, double clothes lining the Busters out and he clothesline Warlord straight out as soon as he enters. This spot is awesome. BTW this has to be the quickest elimination in Rumble history. The WWF claimed that Luke's rumble 91 exit was faster, but watch the two and it has to be Warlord's. Bad News is working over Savage and appears to be about to eliminate him. Hogan comes over and throws Brown over the top rope taking Macho with him. Was this an accident on Hogan's part? Clearly Macho didn't think so. He squares up to Hogan in a heated exchange. The Mega Powers are about to explode before Miss Elizabeth runs out to cool the boys down. This slow burning feud would finally ignite on Saturday Night's Main Event leading to a huge money making match at Wrestlemania 5. Jesse: "He'll clothesline Elizabeth if it meant winning" referring to HulkBossman is number 22 and he has a thing going with Hulk who dominates him with a body slam, but then takes a big splash in the corner and piledriver. Stretching the truth a bit Monsoon claims Hogan has been out there half an hour
Akeem is next meaning the Twin Towers are together and have Hogan at their mercy. Hulk puts a brave fight up slamming Akeem, but the numbers game catch up with him. The Towers nail him with a double avalanche And Slick's boys eliminate the red and yellow. A huge shock. But sore loser Hulk can't take it so eliminates Bossman by pulling down the top rope. Jesse roasting Hulk is again fantastic! Hogan and Bossman brawl to the back. In all the mayhem Hulk's best buddy Brutus Beefcake has entered the match.Sadly the match has peaked and kinda slumps to the finish line. Red Rooster is number 25. The Barbarian adds to the muscle at 26 as Akeem splashes the Rooster (I'm sure I saw feathers flying everywhere
). Big John Studd making his long awaited comeback is 27. Studd goes straight for the African Dream. Hercules is 28. 29 is the other member of Strike Force Rick Martel who puts in a decent showing. And at number 30 to nobody's surprise is the Million Dollar Man who bought the perfect number and maybe bought victory in the rumble? Along with buying the WWF title this rumble scheme might be DiBiase's finest WWF moment. The Rooster takes a tumble upside down in the corner and to the floor at the hands of DiBiase. Hercules unloads on his former employer. DiBiase tosses Beefcake and Hercules out together as Brutus had a sleeper locked on. Martel surprises the Barbarian with a drop kick sending the Powers of Pain man out. Akeem catches Martel in mid-air and dumps him to the floor. We are down to three, Akeem, The Million Dollar Man and Big John Studd. The heels double team Studd with DiBiase directing traffic. Things take a turn when Akeem misses a splash in the corner and is throw out by Studd. Seeing his shot of glory in danger, Ted tries to pay Studd off. The big man is having none of it and dominates DiBiase for a couple of minutes before throwing him out to win the first PPV Rumble match at 1:04:53. Studd also takes care of Virgil when the bodyguard goes after him post match. An enjoyable Rumble match ends on anticlimactic note. *** Best Match: Royal Rumble
Worst Match: Women's Title
Event Rating: 6/10
posedown was pretty entertaining though I can't lie
