In this WWF Royal Rumble 1994 review, 30 competitors square off in the Rumble match, Yokozuna defends the WWF title against The Undertaker in a Casket Match, and much more.
Let’s jump in.
- Show: WWF Royal Rumble 1994
- Date: January 22, 1994
- Location: Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, RI
RINGSIDE: Vince McMahon is EXCITED and hypes all the big matches. Then it’s Ted DiBiase making his way out to join Vince on commentary. I just went from watching DiBiase lose the North American title in Mid-South to fast-forwarding 12 years to see him on commentary with Vince.
Tatanka vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (w/Luna Vachon)
Vince explains that Ludvig Borga suffered a recent injury and couldn’t face Tatanka, which was actually legit. I enjoyed both Tatanka and Bam Bam during this era, but I enjoyed the Bam Bam and Luna pairing even more. DiBiase reveals both men will be in the Rumble right after Tatanka gets squashed in the corner by Bam Bam. Not the best timing, Ted!
This was a nice showcase for Bam Bam’s strength and Tatanka’s resiliency (with the ICO PRO banners hanging in the background). The crowd bites on a near fall when Tatanka counters into a bodyslam, and they are really behind Tatanka in this one. I love DiBiase pointing out he’d never dance around like Tatanka so he could preserve his energy for the Rumble match.
Bam Bam was so talented, and his versatility was on full display playing the heel role. But it was Tatanka coming off the top with the flying cross body to score the pin. (***, Recommended)
VIDEO: Highlights of the events leading to Bret Hart and Owen Hart against The Quebecers. Bret and Owen were both so awesome playing up the tension between them.
BACKSTAGE: Todd Pettengill with Bret and Owen. They really push their togetherness, and Owen is so over the top with his facial expressions that you know what he has in store. Love it.
Bret Hart and Owen Hart vs. (c) The Quebecers (w/Johnny Polo)
Polo is, of course, the future Raven. They tell the story of Bret and Owen being on the same page in the early going, and their technical skill is always a thing of beauty. These two were just so, so good in the ring. One example is Bret using a variety of pin attempts on Jacques Rougeau, which sends the crowd into a frenzy.
The heels work over Bret to set up the desire for the hot tag to Owen. Eventually, Owen gets the tag, and he locks in the Sharpshooter on Jacques. But it’s Pierre who hits him from behind. Another hot tag spot to Bret, and he manhandles both Jacques and Pierre.
Then comes a big sequence with Polo pulling down the rope as Bret attempts offense. From there, the heels do damage on Bret’s knee, and the onslaught continues with Jacques using a chair and cane on it. I like the small tidbit of Owen throwing Bret back into the ring to get destroyed some more which, on the surface, seems innocent enough.
Bret somehow reverses the momentum and locks in the Sharpshooter, with DiBiase noting that it’s a selfish move given how injured he is. Another small story tidbit there. However, Bret can’t keep the hold on and once again sells the knee injury, and referee Tim White calls for the bell to signal Bret can’t continue.
After the match, DiBiase does a great job pushing Bret’s selfishness, and Owen is pissed at Bret. And then it happens. Just when Bret gets to his feet, Owen kicks his leg out from under him. Owen walks down the aisle and calls Bret selfish, while officials tend to Bret in the ring. Raymond Rougeau comes down with a microphone and pushes Bret likely being unable to compete in the Rumble match as he does a stretcher job.
Though a different setting and storyline, there were shades of a format similar to the Mega Powers exploding in terms of the story detail involved. The finish was a little anticlimactic, but I loved everything about this with Bret, Owen, The Quebecers, Vince, and DiBiase all excelling in their roles. (Highly Recommended)
BACKSTAGE: Pettengill with Owen. Why Owen, why? He goes off on Bret, who is watching as he gets rolled down the aisle on the stretcher. AWESOME presentation there. Owen doesn’t care if Bret is in the Rumble, and he’s gonna win the WWF title himself.
RINGSIDE: DiBiase is applauding Owen and Vince is pissed. DiBiase explains what it takes to be at the top of the WWF. Seriously, bravo to everyone involved in the last 30 minutes of this show.
IRS vs. (c) Razor Ramon – Intercontinental Title
Jim Ross and Gorilla Monsoon are on commentary for this match. I’d say that’s a legendary duo, though both are used to being the main play-by-play guy. One of the real highlights of this match is Razor’s gear, as it resembles an aqua color. It looks great. Razor tries to make it a brawl early on, but IRS takes control and slows things down by using the ground game.
A ref bump allows IRS to grab his briefcase, but it’s Razor who uses it. The ref is still down, so no count. Then Razor goes for the Razor’s Edge, but here comes Shawn Michaels. He uses the bogus IC title to clock Razor from behind. Everyone is down, and IRS crawls his way to Razor to get the pin to win the title….or so we think.
One of the Hebners comes out to inform Joey Marella about the bogus belt shot. Rather than restart the match, Razor just hits the Razor’s Edge and Marella counts the three to allow Razor to retain. The crowd was hot, but I didn’t find the match all that engaging.
VIDEO: Paul Bearer is in a creepy warehouse, where The Undertaker is carving a casket for Yokozuna. We also see highlights of Yokozuna being terrified at Taker’s antics. Excellent vignette to push Yokozuna’s fear entering the match.
The Undertaker (w/Paul Bearer) vs. (c) Yokozuna (w/Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) – Casket Match for the WWF Title
This is an infamous match in WWF history, specifically due to it having one of the most unique finishes ever. I can remember watching this back in the day and being mesmerized by the wild finish, but I can’t say I remember much about the actual match that led to it. Turns out it’s pretty much a brawl with a lot of weapons involved, whether it be chairs, powder, or other wrestling-related items. But as I always note, you can’t deny the spectacle of these kinds of matches when the crowd is as invested as this one is in this match.
Crush preventing Taker from closing the casket on Yokozuna starts a flurry of heel interference. The Great Kabuki, Tenryu, and Bam Bam all join in as Fuji steals the urn. But Bearer gets in back and nails both Fuji and Cornette with it. They tell the story of the power of the turn bringing Taker back, and he fights off all the heels. Adam Bomb and Jeff Jarrett join the mix, and so do Samu and Fatu. That’s a 9-on-1 advantage for those keeping count. Make it 10-on-1 as Diesel enters. They try to close the casket, but Taker fights out until Yokozuna steals the urn and hits Bearer with it.
Then things get strange. Green smoke flies out of the urn as the beatdown continues until they successfully lock Taker in the casket. And then things get really strange. The green smoke is back, and Taker’s music hits. We see him on the video screen from inside the casket. He refuses to rest in peace, and we get 90s video effects until Taker levitates from the casket. Bearer places the urn on the casket as Vince pushes the supernatural of Taker.
This has to be seen to be believed, as there is no possible way to describe it accurately. I did love the psychology of Fuji and Cornette enlisting the help of all the heels since it was legal to do so given the match stipulation. That was clever. For old-school wrestling fans, it’s undoubtedly one of the worst matches in history. For people who enjoy a nice acid trip, it may be one of the best matches in history. You decide! (Noteworthy)
VIDEO: Randy Savage, Jeff Jarrett, Tatanka, Diesel, Doink, Dink, Shawn Michaels, and Lex Luger hype the Rumble match.
The 1994 Royal Rumble Match
Scott Steiner is No. 1 and Samu is No. 2. And it’s Rick Steiner at No. 3 to push the randomness of the draw. Samu gets his head hung in the ropes, which doesn’t look pleasant. Scott nonchalantly throws him out as Kwang enters at No. 4. Owen Hart is in at No. 5 as Rick continues to play up being blinded by Kwang’s mist. That allows Owen to eliminate Rick in an easy fashion.
Bart Gunn is No. 6. Vince alerts us something is going on backstage with the cameras headed in that direction. Here comes Diesel at No. 7. He dumps out at Bart and Scott, then tosses Owen and Kwang. There goes Owen’s shot. Perhaps he’ll get another! Bob Backlund runs in at No. 8, and he had quite a run in the 1993 Rumble match. Not so much in this one as Diesel tosses him too.
Billy Gunn enters the mix at No. 9, and if you thought he was gonna eliminate Diesel, you’re wrong. Diesel sends him packing right away. We see backstage footage of Tenryu and Kabuki beating down Luger, so now he’s questionable to enter. I like his chances though. Virgil is No. 10, and DiBiase’s reaction is great. Vince reveals Virgil is the alternate for Kamala.
Virgil tries to eliminate Diesel, and that was a mistake as Diesel tosses him. Randy Savage is No. 11, so business has picked up. Jeff Jarrett runs out at No. 12, and he gets some shine on Savage before Savage eliminates him. Crush joins at No. 13 to continue his feud with Savage. Diesel and Crush double team Savage, and Savage is tossed as Doink arrives at No. 14.
Doink watches Diesel and Crush beat each other up until the latter two turn their attention to him. Bam Bam Bigelow is No. 15, and Vince notes “the ring is starting to fill up with some beef.” Lots of beef! Bam Bam gorilla press slams Doink out of there, and here comes Mabel at No. 16. BEEF EVERYWHERE. He immediately goes after Diesel, and it’s wild to think these two would be main eventing a pay-per-view about a year and a half later.
Sparky Plugg is No. 17 to replace the 1-2-3 Kid. Vince pontificates Sparky could win this thing, and I’m not sure I agree. Shawn Michaels seems like a better choice at No. 18, and Diesel teases going at him before they shake hands. But then everyone gangs up on Diesel as Michaels sneaks up to lend a push, which eliminates Diesel. He gets a good ovation from the crowd and even some Diesel chants, so they bought the dominant performance.
Mo is No. 19, and for some reason, Michaels tries to bodyslam Mabel. Greg Valentine in at No. 20 as Vince notes his 50-minute performance in the 1991 Rumble match. Tatanka joins the mix at No. 21, and Michaels goes wild selling for him. And it’s The Great Kabuki coming out at No. 22 as the ring is filling up. But then everyone gangs up on Mabel to eliminate him.
Lex Luger does indeed make it in at No. 23. Boy does he sprint out there, so apparently that Tenryu and Kabuki attack was nothing. Luger quickly eliminates Kabuki to get his revenge. Speaking of Tenryu, he’s in at No. 24. The horn hits for No. 25 and no one comes out, so Vince assumes that means Bret can’t make it.
Rick Martel enters the mix at No. 26, and he’s another who had a long run in the 1991 Rumble. And it’s Bret Hart limping out at No. 27 to a huge pop from the crowd. Fatu doesn’t quite get the same pop at No. 28, but he adds to a loaded ring at this point. Luger and company eliminate Crush as Marty Jannetty runs in at No. 29, and he and Michaels square off to a big ovation.
Adam Bomb rounds out the group at No. 30 and Vince immediately declares him the winner. Vince’s commentary was hilarious at times. Michaels eliminates Plugg, and Vince reveals Bastion Booger got sick and didn’t enter at No. 25. So there’s your mystery entrant.
Still 11 men left, and it stays that way for a while until Martel eliminates Valentine, then Tatanka eliminates Martel. Bomb is out after Luger ducks, and Mo is also sent packing. Luger eliminates Bam Bam, while Michaels eliminates Jannetty. Luger and Bret join forces to eliminate Tenryu, and the final four is Luger, Bret, Michaels, and Fatu.
Luger runs wild, then Luger and Bret simultaneously eliminate Michaels and Fatu at the same time. And in a memorable finish, it’s both men tumbling over the top to create confusion as to the actual winner. Luger’s music initially plays to declare him the winner, but it stops and Bret’s music hits to declare him the winner. There’s zero doubt that the fans were way more excited about Bret winning.
Jack Tunney strolls down as we see multiple replays of the finish, which smartly never show a camera angle of their feet hitting the floor. Finkel then milks the announcement of the winner before declaring that Luger and Bret are co-winners.
Your mileage will vary on the finish, but aside from things getting bogged down with the lackluster stretch late, I enjoyed this Rumble and think it’s one of the more underrated ones in history. I can remember rooting for Luger at the time (though more fans were clearly behind Bret) and convincing myself Bret’s feet hit first. In actuality, it was the opposite, but credit to both men for pulling off a difficult task. I thought it was creative, and while you could have easily restarted the match to crown a winner, the cliffhanger made it work.
Elsewhere, you had a dominant run to establish Diesel as a top star, a few more storylines being advanced, and much more. Owen being randomly eliminated seemed odd given the role he played in the heel turn on Bret, but it’s almost forgettable by the end of the match (which may be a good thing). As always, a fan’s enjoyment is subjective, and I found this very entertaining. (Highly Recommended)
BLAKE’S TAKE ON WWF ROYAL RUMBLE 1994
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Thoughts: I know a lot of people will hate on this show for Taker/Yokozuna and the co-winner Rumble finish, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The opener was solid, the Bret/Owen stuff was fantastic across the board, and the Rumble match had a lot of fun spots. And yes, even the ridiculous Casket Match has value in a “what the hell did I just watch” kind of way. Some good 1994 nostalgia.
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