Royal Rumble 1988 Review

[Keith]

Since its Rumble season once again I thought I'd look back at the very first Rumble. BTW I think the very first Rumble match was on a house show in 1987 and was won by The One Man Gang. This TV special took the experiment one step further.

Date: January 24th, 1988

Venue: Hamilton, Ontario Canada

Attendance: 18,000

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Ravishing Rick Rude VS. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

Coming off the back of his classic IC Title victory Steamboat is not much longer for the WWF. He dropped the belt in an upset to The Honky Tonk Man. The Dragon is in the bad books with Vince for wanting to take time off. Rude is new to the company and is still perfecting his character and in-ring skills. This match was a big let down. It drags, lacking any real spark. The booking is odd too, with most the match taken up by wear down holds. The pacing is off. At over 17 minutes the match was a bit over long too. Its a far cry from their 1992 WCW series. The finish is a bit naff too. Rude pulls the ref in front of Steamboat as he goes for the crossbody off the top. Rude hooks on a human torture rack style backbreaker. The ref calls for the bell and Rude celebrates. Its later revealed that Rude has been DQ. Rude sold this moment effectively. **1/2

Next we got the famous segment where Dino Bravo attempts to set a new world record for bench pressing. For extra heel heat Bravo is joined by manger Frenchie Martin and Jesse as his spotter. This segment is a lot of fun. The heels tell the fans to be quiet so Bravo can focus. At one point Dino threatens to walk out. In the end he gets up to the record breaking 715 pound record. Bravo does it but it seems as if he got a bit of a hand from Ventura This becomes a regular argument between Ventura and Vince throughout the show.




2-Out-3-Falls WWF Women's Title match: The Jumping Bomb Angels VS. The Glamour Girls (Judy Martin & Leilani Kai) (W/Jimmy Hart)

So Vince remind me what the names of the Jumping Bomb Angels? The Body might want a couple of girls to take out on the town later This had a tall order to live up to the Survivor Series match involving these teams. It doesn't quite do it, but is still a very enjoyable watch. Not only are the Bomb Angels on fine form with their beautiful double teams, impressive power outs, and dynamic top rope offense. Also the mix of personalities make for a fun watch. The Glamour Girls are an effective heel act. The two teams tell a nice little story. The match felt a bit rushed and had a few sloppy moments. The heels nick the first fall with a reverse over head flat jack from Martin for the pin. I enjoyed the Martin and Kai clothes lining each other before a roll through reversal levels the match up 1-1. The Glamour Girls stay on top with a nice double under hook surplex from Martin for a near fall. They cut the ring off nicely. Yamazaki fires back with a knee drop off the top and a nice bridge for a pair of two counts. She misses a reverse back splash off the middle rope. The Bomb Angels connect with stereo drop kicks off the top for the 1-2-3, new tag team champs! Despite this hot act from Japan making an impression WWF fans didn't see much more from them. ***

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We get an epic Mania 3 recap of the opening moments of Hulk VS. Andre. They sign the contract for the rematch at SNME a week later. Dibiase has bought the services of Andre and seems intent of getting the WWF Title should Andre win. This is a brilliant segment showing just why contract signings for big matches became great selling points over the years. Andre plays mind games with Hulk just standing and staring at the Champ. This segment proves Andre was more than just a big guy. He has presence. Dibiase is awesome too. He mocks Hogan, and suggests he's hesitating because maybe he knows he's not just signing on for a match but the end of his career After both have signed Andre runs Hogan's head into the table.


20 Man Royal Rumble Match
The first televised Rumble wasn't up to much. Filled with a lot of jobbers and tag guys. The action was just alright. The first two guys in are Bret Hart and "Chico" Santana (no ring entrances). Number 3 is Butch Reed. The heels establish a 3 on 1 situation on Tito. Santana survives and Jake Roberts arrives to help him out. Roberts gets a huge pop. The Snakeman quickly dumps Reed out and hammers away on both Harts. He almost gets the DDT on Bret, but Neidhart makes the save. Bret nails Tito with a decent looking piledriver. King Harely Race in the twilight of his in-ring career is out at number 6. Jake clings on. "Jumping" Jim Brunzell of the Killer Bees buzzes to the ring. Neidhart saves Bret again from Brunzell and Tito. Sam Houston with dodgy neck tie is out at 8. The Harts eliminate Santana. Turn coat ref "Dangerous" Danny Davis is number 9. He has a suprisely strong showing. Davis and Houston have a little feud going. Boris Zhukov is 10. In a priceless spot Don Muraco and Nikolai Volkoff run out together. To add to the comedy Volkoff must wait outside the ring until the two minutes are up and its his real entrance. Fair play to Volkoff he heels it up and nails Muraco before he makes it to the ring. Was this a mistake or on purpose? I don't care its kinda great!

Boris is out not long after he entered. Jesse threatens Vince with legal action mentioning Barry Bloom's name Race takes one hell of a bump landing head first on the floor at the hands of The Rock. Duggan comes in at number 13. Hacksaw gets a big pop and is over throughout. But there's no doubt WWF are piping in some crowd sounds. Race cheap shots Duggan on his way in Duggan pastes both Harts. Ron Bass is 14. Nikolai dumps Brunzell. Muraco showing some nice moves does flip onto the Outlaw. The other Killer Bee, B. Brian Blair makes up the numbers at 15. Hillbilly Jim is next and marks his presence by eliminating Neidhart. Bravo gets 17. Houston takes a ride at the hands of Bass. The Ultimate Warrior making his first notable is number 18. The Warrior recently signed. If this was a year later Warrior would probably be the favourite for this match. As it is he barely does anything and is dumped out a few minutes later by Davis and The One Man Gang who was number 19. Bret's impressive showing ends. The Gang also gets out Blair and with a little help ends Robert's night. No DDT for Jake tonight despite teasing it a couple of times. The Junkyard Dog is the finally man out and is very over with the crowd. Duggan back drops Volkoff out. Hacksaw then disposes of Davis with a clothesline. The Dog doesn't last long, eliminated by Bass. Muraco gets rid of Bass. Meaning we are down to the final four: Gang, Bravo, Duggan and Muraco. Frenchie takes a drop kick from "The Rock" on the apron. It turns out mangers are allowed at ringside for this first rumble. Gang clotheslines The Rock out. So the heels have two on one edge against Hacksaw. In a predictable moment Gang accidentally clotheslines Bravo out when Duggan moves out the way. Bravo was holding Duggan so near the ropes this was telegraphed. The Gang takes the upper hand against Hacksaw. But Duggan out smarts the heel pulling down the top rope as Gang runs in. The big man's momentum takes over the top to the floor. Duggan wins the Rumble. Should have been Jake IMO. Though the focus of the night was elsewhere, clearly this rumble did well enough as it got its own PPV the next year. And the rest as they say is history. **1/2



After a shit face promo from Hogan selling the contract signing we get to the low key main event...

2 Out of 3 Falls Main Event: The Islanders VS. The Young Stallions
Vince rambles on for ages about the storyline where The Islanders and Heenan dognaped Matilda The match itself is forgettable. In fact its so important that they take a break between falls for an interview with Dibiase and Andre What an epic heel promo it is! Andre is fucking amazing here! He almost sings his lines! Plus I love the line "Giantamania" Back to the match and The Islanders win in two straight falls. Firstly Roma is counted out after injuring his knee. Later after Powers takes a beating he tags Roma who is still favouring his knee. The heels make short work of pretty boy Roma. He takes a top rope splash to the knee. He quickly submits to a half Boston crab. **

Best Match: Women's Tag Title match

Event Rating: 4/10

 

[Apoho Creed]

I'm high a little bit on the Matches vs you Keith especially Rude vs Steamboat. I consider that Match between the two a highly underrated Royal Rumble Match over the years, and was just a teaser from what we would get years later in WCW. Alot of people didn't really know Rude from his days before WWE, but this Match with Steamboat I'm sure raised some eyes with the top brass that they had a star in the making for him, to be able to go with Steamboat that night.

The Jumping Bomb Angels were a hell of a Team in Japan from all the Joshi stuff I've watched the past 5 Years. It's crazy how good they were, and I think they could of easily had great Matches with any Women's team together today I feel. Problem is, with all that talent, WWE didn't know how to market them to a World. The Dino Bravo Bench Challenge still one of the funniest Segments to watch as a fan. Bravo we all know was strong as fuck, and he could of lifted that 715 Pounds easily, but having Jesse help him a little put the Segment over I feel.

The Islanders vs Young Stallions was just a okay bout, but it was just to put over a new act for Heenan and beating a young upcoming Tag Team. It wasn't too long before though they broke up this team and Heenan was managing Haku. The Royal Rumble I remember being pretty entertaining, and Duggan having to fight the odds at the end to win it was cool to see. The big thing with this Show was promoting of course Andre vs Hogan at Wrestlemania 3 and I found it funny WWE having two big guys like Andre and Hogan trying to sit still in Chairs to sign a Contract between the two. I still giggle when he lifts up the Table, and it set the tone for every Contract Signing in WWE after. Still it was just the moment that these guys really are going to go at it in a few Months. I hope you keep doing Rumble Reviews Keith.

 

[Keith]

I'm high a little bit on the Matches vs you Keith especially Rude vs Steamboat. I consider that Match between the two a highly underrated Royal Rumble Match over the years, and was just a teaser from what we would get years later in WCW. Alot of people didn't really know Rude from his days before WWE, but this Match with Steamboat I'm sure raised some eyes with the top brass that they had a star in the making for him, to be able to go with Steamboat that night.

The Jumping Bomb Angels were a hell of a Team in Japan from all the Joshi stuff I've watched the past 5 Years. It's crazy how good they were, and I think they could of easily had great Matches with any Women's team together today I feel. Problem is, with all that talent, WWE didn't know how to market them to a World. The Dino Bravo Bench Challenge still one of the funniest Segments to watch as a fan. Bravo we all know was strong as fuck, and he could of lifted that 715 Pounds easily, but having Jesse help him a little put the Segment over I feel.

The Islanders vs Young Stallions was just a okay bout, but it was just to put over a new act for Heenan and beating a young upcoming Tag Team. It wasn't too long before though they broke up this team and Heenan was managing Haku. The Royal Rumble I remember being pretty entertaining, and Duggan having to fight the odds at the end to win it was cool to see. The big thing with this Show was promoting of course Andre vs Hogan at Wrestlemania 3 and I found it funny WWE having two big guys like Andre and Hogan trying to sit still in Chairs to sign a Contract between the two. I still giggle when he lifts up the Table, and it set the tone for every Contract Signing in WWE after. Still it was just the moment that these guys really are going to go at it in a few Months. I hope you keep doing Rumble Reviews Keith.

Yeah that's why I was surprised it wasn't better. I'm a big fan of both. Maybe it will improve on a re-watch. Think the booking really didn't help them.

Thanks. I think I might.

 

[Necro]

Great read, I never got the hype around Jim Duggan. Never enjoyed anything he did.

The Jumping Bomb Angels of course were awesome, too bad they didn't have better opponents.

Rude/Steamboat was def a tease of a match, still was decent.

Dino Bravo was always a goof to me, looking back I can see why. They really made him look like one, he really played the role well though. He cracked me up.

 

[Chris]

Great read, I never got the hype around Jim Duggan. Never enjoyed anything he did.

The Jumping Bomb Angels of course were awesome, too bad they didn't have better opponents.

Rude/Steamboat was def a tease of a match, still was decent.

Dino Bravo was always a goof to me, looking back I can see why. They really made him look like one, he really played the role well though. He cracked me up.

I liked Duggan in Mid-South but still feel like he was carried by guys like DiBiase

 

[Necro]

I liked Duggan in Mid-South but still feel like he was carried by guys like DiBiase

I speak as a fan that started watching Duggan in WWF. I will say I did carry around a foam 2x4 though.

It's weird though knowing now that a lot of those WWF guys were at the end of their careers by the time they got there.

I actually just listened to the Duggan episode from Bruce and Conrad. His Mid-South stuff sounds interesting especially the fact he played a heel there right? Wasn't sure if ever turned face in Mid-South.

 

[Chris]

I speak as a fan that started watching Duggan in WWF. I will say I did carry around a foam 2x4 though.

It's weird though knowing now that a lot of those WWF guys were at the end of their careers by the time they got there.

I actually just listened to the Duggan episode from Bruce and Conrad. His Mid-South stuff sounds interesting especially the fact he played a heel there right? Wasn't sure if ever turned face in Mid-South.

Nah he got major over as a face the last couple years he was at Mid-South, had a blood feud with DiBiase that ruled

 

[Gentleman Jake]

Yeah I hated Dugan so much


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[Necro]

Nah he got major over as a face the last couple years he was at Mid-South, had a blood feud with DiBiase that ruled

I'll have to check that out, sounds pretty awesome. Thanks.

 

[Chris]

I'll have to check that out, sounds pretty awesome. Thanks.

I think all of 84 Mid-South is on the network and most of if not all of 85 and its fuckin awesome. They really pioneered the weekly TV storylines concept instead of just having all squash matches and interviews like WWF did for awhile