Flashback Reviews 1995 WWF Royal Rumble

1995 is viewed by many be the worst year in the history of the WWF. Attendance dropped badly, ratings were down, buyrates were poor. From a creative standpoint things weren’t any better. Of the five major Pay Per Views that year three still come in the debate for worst PPV ever. By years end the company found it self locked in a battle with newly launched WCW Nitro and was losing. 1995 set the stage for what would have been unthinkable just a year earlier a time where the WWF wasn’t the top wrestling company in North America. So what went so wrong? To try and figure that out I am going to look at all five of the major PPV’s. We start with the Royal Rumble. Now the rumble is not viewed as one of the real duds of that year it even featured some major history. So this a hidden gem from a dark era?

We open with a limo pulling up an up in the garage. A large wrestler run up see it just as actress Pamela Anderson stops out she wave before quickly going into her dressing room. We than get a super generic opening card as we see the Royal Rumble logo amid palm tree since we are in Tampa Florida. That’s it? Vince had paid Anderson who was becoming a world wide sensation thanks to her looks appearances in Playboy, and Baywatch to appear at both the Rumble and Mania. And well she did nothing outside of waving to people. The opening for the event should get you hyped up. We get no mention of the card, no one saying “I’m winning the rumble” just a wave from an actress and than palm trees.

Vince McMahon welcomes us to the show. He and Lawler hype the card. Lawler talks about how popular Bret Hart and Diesel are and it wont’ be pretty since both are willing to do anything to win the WWF Championship

WWE Intercontinental Championship Razor Ramon (c) vs. Jeff Jarrett with the Roadie- Lawler says all of Jarrett’s fans from Nashville are there and than makes redneck jokes. Ramon had won the IC belt back at SummerSlam. Jarrett had been a regular rival for the belt but hadn’t won the belt yet. The Roadie tries to distract Ramon so Jarrett can jump him. It doesn’t work and Jarrett eats a series of big punches. Up and over in the corner by Jarrett and he slaps Ramon. Jarrett goes for a cross body. Razor catches him and hit the fall away slam and follows it up with a chokeslam for two. Jarrett to the floor. Lock up and an arm drag by Jarrett who struts. Fight on the go behind. Jarrett takes Razor down again and struts again. Exchange of arm holds and locks. Drop toe hold by Double J who than slaps Razor in the back of the head. Jarrett goes for a head lock. The Bad Guy shoves him off and than lands big right hand. Clothesline over the ropes sends Double J to the floor. Jarrett to the floor and stalls getting back in even drinking water. Jarrett calls for a test of strength and Ramon controls it with ease and than hits him some shoulders and than ties up the arm and starts slapping Jarrett in the head. Vince plugs Lawrence Taylor the NFL great is there. Jarrett is free and hits a drop kick. Second and third drop kicks. Jarrett uses the ropes. Botched flying clothesline seems like Razor was two close so Jarrett couldn't’ really jump. Jarrett covers and gets two.

Razor whipped into the corners. Jarrett goes for a kick, Razor catches the, Jarrett goes for a enziguri but Razor ducks. Jarrett rolls out of the way of an elbow drop covers for two. Chin lock by Jarrett. Ramon back to his feet and Elbows free. Jarrett goes for a hip toss but Razor counters into a backslide for two. Back to there feet Jarrett with a clothesline. Jarrett goes for a sunset flip but Razor punches him before going for a pin, one two, Jarrett reveres the pin for two. Dropkick by Jarrett gets another two. Vince says Razor is off his game but than says its more Jarrett is on his game. Sleeper by Jarrett but he can’t hand on. Series of ducks until Jarrett hits a neck breaker. Jarrett using the ropes on a series of pins until the referee finally catches him. The champion to the outside and pulls Jarrett crotch first into the ring post. Razor to the second rope and off with a flying neck breaker for two. Razor goes for a clothesline but Jarrett side steps and tosses Razor to the floor. Ramon up limping Vince talks about Razor suffering a knee injury on Raw recently. Roadie clips Razor in the leg with the ref’s back turned. Referee starts to count and Razor can’t bet the count. Jarrett quickly realizes he can’t win the belt on the count out. King says Razor’s leg is gone.

Jarrett gets on the microphone. Jarrett rants about he came to win the belt not just get a count out. He calls Razor a coward for taking the count out. Jarrett claims Razor is no cheicko and no bad guy he’s a chicken. Razor comes back to the ring. Match restarts. Jarrett charges but Razor avoid Jarrett hits the corner. Roll up by Razor gets two. Jarrett kicks Ramon in the bad leg. Small package by Razor gets two. Knee breaker by Jarrett. Double J picks up the leg and slams it into the ground and again. Canon ball onto the leg by Jarrett a few times. Jarrett goes for it one time to many and Razor kick him out the floor. But Jarrett right back on the bad leg slamming it into the apron. Figure four by Jarrett. Razor is in agony but fights on. Razor tries to reveres the hold and the fans get behind him. Jarrett gets the hold back on. Razor lays flat and the ref counts two. Razor slaps his way free. Big right by Razor. Ramon puts Jarrett on the top. Back drop from the ropes. Jarrett lands on top gets two, Razor reveres gets two. Clothesline by Razor but his leg gives out.

Razor is back up and calls for the Razor’s edge. Razor gets him up but the leg gives out. Small package by Jarrett for the one two three. This is a pretty good match. It can be a bit slow paced at times but part of that is them having to tell the story vs. Jarrett’s style at time is just show. Clearly the leg injury was meant to give Razor a face saving excuse but it helps to get heat on Jarrett and Roadie going forward.

Post match Jarrett celebrates and struts after putting the belt on. The referee checks on the badly injury Razor. King puts over its amazing Razor could even get Double J up. Nice little build there by king. Vince throws to Stephanie Wyatt. She says she’s waiting for Double J so than she sends it Todd Pentengail who is in Pamela Anderson’s dressing room. We see a ton of flowers and other gifts that are supposed be from the wrestlers. They do some lame joke about Todd being cheap with his gift.

Well that was pointless why not just right to Todd even than it’s pointless. Anderson just seemed board. She name drops Lex and Bulldog but nothing makes you think she actually knows who either one is.

Jarrett is with Wyatt. Jarrett calls it the greatest stop of them all on the Ain’t I Great 95 tour. He says he’s got no time for interviews he’s on his way to see Pamela. Really? You have Jarrett winning his first title but we make it about Anderson. We cant’ even go in depth with Wyatt asking about Roadie attack Razor? Or even something like “Will you give him a rematch.”

Back at the broadcast table Vince and Jerry Lawler talk about the Undertaker vs. IRS match. IRS and The Million Dollar man come out. The talk about something with Druids. If I recall correctly the idea was DiBiase has paid off some fake druids to walk around like the ones The Undertaker would have from time to time. IRS says no one will rest in peace until you have paid all your taxes. Vince mentions that Undertaker buried Yokozona at the Survivor Series.

IRS with Ted DiBiase vs. The Undertaker with Paul Bearer- So the Fake Undertaker angel really was the start of a long feud with Undertaker and the Million Dollar Cooperation. When the Undertaker got his rematch with Yokozona at Survivor Series IRS had interfered. IRS stalls heavily at the start. Bearer meanwhile wont’ leave the ring and screeches at IRS. Undertaker turns his back to watch his manager leave. IRS runs up from behind and hits a dropkick that Undertaker to the floor. IRS to the floor. IRS ducks a punch and again. Undertaker advances on IRS who bails to the floor. IRS goes after Bearer that draws The Undertaker out of the ring. IRS back in and he stomps on The Undertaker when he tries to get back in. Right hands by IRS. Undertaker revers a whip and hits a big boot. IRS sent into the buckle. Hard whips into the corner by Undertaker. IRS pulled up this feet b his tie and than tossed by his tie. Arm wringer into a the rope walk club to the back by Undertaker. Ted DiBiase on the apron, Undertaker goes after him. IRS tries to jump Taker who loves. IRS stomps himself from hitting The Million Dollar Man. Undertaker tosses IRS to the floor.

DiBiase to the aisle and calls out the fake druids. Vince asks who these druids are and speculates one could be Tatanka. IRS tries to jump the distracted Undertaker but he runs into an elbow. Back to the arm wringer and Taker goes to walk the rope again but one of the druid shakes the rope and Undertaker falls. IRS clotheslines Undertaker to the floor and he lands on his feet and starts to choke the druids. IRS with a sledge hammer off the apron. IRS sends Undertaker into the steps. Druids jump The Undertaker. Back in the ring IRS with the Abdominal stretch and of course IRS grabs the rope when the referee isn’t looking. Hip toss to get free by the Undertaker and than a slam. Elbow drop by The Undertaker misses. Back elbow and a clothesline by IRS knock Undertaker down. Elbow drops by IRS. Running splash misses as Undertaker sits up. Both men collide on a rope run. King mentions Undertakers sits up when ever Bearer lifts the urn up. A nice bit of putting focus on the urn for the post match angle. Referee is distracted allowing one of the druids to get in the ring and throw IRS on the Undertaker. Cover gets two. Undertake is up and goes after a druid on the apron.

IRS charges but Undertaker moves and hits the druid. Undertaker sets up for the tombstone but the druids are up on the apron drawing his attention before he just drops IRS. Flying clothesline by IRS knocks Undertaker down. Undertakes is up but IRS with kicks. Taker ducks a clothesline and hits a chokeslam for the three count. This match feels like a letdown. It wasn’t awful but given the talent IRS had and the face Undertaker is so good it should have been great. It doesn’t help the really repeat stuff over and over like someone on the apron so that distracts Taker leading to an IRS attack. It really also feels like they never get out of second gear.

We cut to footage from earlier in the day with Todd Pentengail interview Diesel. Todd says on Action Zone Diesel was relaxed but Diesel cuts him off and says he’s not in the mood to talk. We than go to footage of Todd with Bret. Todd talks about how this is Bret’s chance to regain the WWF championship and Bret says that’s all he’s thought about since Survivor Series. Todd tries to ask about the jackknife but Hart cuts him off and asks him to leave. At the announce table King says it’s impossible to put into words the feeling you get going into a big match like this. How you feel it real deep in the gut. Really good final hype. It comes off like it should as two men about to battle it out in a big fight for the world title.

WWF World Heavyweight Championship Diesel (c) vs. Bret Hart- Back at Survivor Series thanks to the antics of his brother Owen, Bret had lost the championship to Bob Backlund at Survivor Series. Just a few days later Backlund lost the title to Diesel in what was billed as a eight second match. This was Bret’s first chance to get the belt back. Pre match as Hart does his giving out his sunglasses Vince puts over all the titles Bret has won. Even King puts over Bret’s technical skill. Diesel comes out and hugs Lawercne Taylor. Vince in a good hype moment points out Bret is the only man to be a triple crown champion twice why Diesel is the only man to do it within a year. Lockup and Diesel shoves Bret off. Go behind by The Hitman. Hart can’t get Diesel down and The Champion grabs the ropes. The two men get mad and start to exchange punches. Diesel gets control. Hart tries for a crossbody but is caught and slammed. Diesel misses an elbow drop. Hart with a series of blows but Runs into an elbow. Clothesline sends Hart over the top to the floor. Slugfest and Diesel knocks Hart back to the floor. The Hitman trips Diesel and wraps his leg around the post. More attacking of the leg. Vince says the feeling is Bret is more aggressive after losing the championship. Hart kicks and twits the leg. Bret locks in the figure four.

Now I have a few issues I want to point out. One the Sharp shoot Bret’s move really does more to the back and even with the size of Diesel there are things Bret could do to work over the back. Two I just don’t like Bret using the figure four given at the time it was Jeff Jarrett’s only finisher in the WWF. He wouldn't’ adds stuff like the stroke until years later. I just feel it weakens the move. Now to be fair the idea is also that Bret is cutting down the size of Diesel. The Champion gets to ropes. WE than get that dumb ref counts Bret doesn’t break so the ref asks again for the break. Hitman finally does break works over the leg some more and locks in the figure four. Vince brings up a match between the two at the 1994 KOTR which Diesel won via DQ. Diesel starts to let his shoulders touch the mat drawing two counts. Diesel gets the ropes again and again won’t break so the ref counts than stops, than counts again. More stomping on the leg by Hart as Diesel rolls to the ground.. Suicide dive by Hart. Bret sends Diesel into the ring post however Diesel than sends Bret into the steps. Back into the ring. Hart whipped hard into the buckle. Back elbows by Diesel. Sidewalk slam by Diesel gets two.

Diesel chokes Hart on the ropes than splashes onto the back. Back breaker and than into a stretch by Diesel who than cover for two. King says everyone backstage is happy since both men are tearing each other apart and there will be one less guy to worry about when it’s over. Back up and Hart fires back but Diesel goes to the eyes and punches Hart hard. Whip into the corner and Hart drops to the knees. Diesel has Hart in position for the Jackknife but instead holds him in the air like a part bear hug part torture rack. Seems strange Diesel wouldn’t got for his finisher. If the idea is supposed to be Bret fought out of it enough that Diesel had to change up the attack it didn’t come across that way on TV. Referee checks the arm. Hart escapes and goes for a sleeper but Diesel snapmares him off. Big boot by Diesel than the elbow drop for two. Diesel charges into a boot. Clothesline off the second ropes by Hart knocks Diesel down. Hart to the top rope but Diesel is up and carries him into the center. Suddenly Hart landing on top getting two. Hart rolls to the floor. Hart trips Diesel again but this time uses tape from his wrist to tie up Diesel. Hart stomps on the champion. Well that was strange. Again it’s one of those spots that just seems like Bret is allowed to ignore the rules but stay a face.

Bulldog by the challenger gets two. Hard punch to the gut by Bret and than a side Russian leg sweep for two. Back breaker by Hart than the second rope elbow drop for another near fall. Hart back after the left and Diesel grabs onto the ropes. Headbutt by Hart and than he clothesline Diesel to the floor but Big Daddy Cool lands on his feet. Sling shot crossbody to the floor by Hart but he is caught and rammed into the ring post. Back into the ring. Diesel calls for the jackknife and hits it. Diesel covers one and two. Shawn Michaels into the ring and attacks Diesel. The referee won't DQ and screams at Shawn to leave another referee forces Shawn to leave. Earl Henber talks to Howard Finkel who announces the match must continue. This is just a little ridicules. With the earlier Hart stuff and even things Diesel did you can argue the ref was letting the match play out. But Shawn ran in and kicked, stomped and worked over Diesel’s leg all right in front of the referee. Both men fight back to there feet. Hart kicks the bad leg over and over again. More working over the leg by Hart repeating stuff he did earlier. Cannon ball onto the leg by Hart than back to the figure for.

I get no move is every your own and it just happen but really they couldn’t mix it up to a single leg crab or a ankle lock instead of another guys finisher. Hell why have Bret act like he’s about do that entry to the sharp shooter from the figure four like he did at Summerslam 91. Diesel manages to land some punches to the ribs and the hold is broken. Hart goes back after the leg and ties it up in the ropes. Once more we get the referee counts Bret never breaks though so the referee just counts again. I get they are trying to sell Bret is more aggressive and maybe willing to risk a DQ but they started it to early. Have Bret be aggressive but not dirty until at least 15 minutes in. Than have him start to get dirty as it wears on. Hart misses a corner splash and hits his bad ribs. Shoulders in the corner by Diesel and knee lift than one to the ribs. Gut wrench suplex by Diesel gets two. Diesel chokes Hart in the corner using his boot.

Diesel goes for a kick but Hart ducks and the bad leg get hung up on the ropes. Hart back to the floor and he wraps into the post again and than gets a chair smacks the leg. This is just getting stupid that Bret hasn’t been disquilfed. The referee at this point has no reason not end the match. And from a logic stand point it insane since they aren’t turning Bret heel. Sharpshooter locked in. Owen Hart in and attack Bret breaking the hold. Owen pulls a bad off a turnbuckle and throws Bret into the exposed steel. Again at this stage the referee comes off like a moron for not ending the match. Again as a real sport by this point the fucking commissioners would be out ending it. Hell they have even mentioned Jack Tuney was at the show. Again both men are down as the referee says the match mus continues. Diesel stands. King says both men were be eliminated after his. Diesel falls down and crawls towards Bret. Cover and Bret kicks out at two. Diesel tries to ram Bret into the exposed turnbuckle Bret blocks and does it to him instead. Punches by Bret and after about twenty hay makers finally knocks him down. Diesel pop back up and hits forearms on Bret. Bret is hung from the ropes outside. Diesel has a chair. The referee frees Bret. Diesel drops the chair in the ring Bret suddenly fakes a leg injury. Now the ref seems worried this going to far and demands Diesel let him check on Bret.

Small package by Hart and it only gets two. Headbuts and punches by Hart. Hart on a go behind winds up sending Diesel into the referee. All three men are down. Shawn Michaels is back out and he goes after Diesel. Owen and Bob Backund go after Hart. Double J and the Roadie join with Hart in attacking Diesel. The referee is up and calls for the bell. That match was a disaster. It has a decent idea two fan favorites two elite guys doing all they can to win but its done poorly. Way to much stuff that would have a disqualification in any other match especially with Bret. They might have been trying to add more depth to Bret character wise but it didn’t come off well. Like I said they went to Bret being out right dirty way to quick it’s like a movie that start off with a hundred explosions no place to go after that. The finish also just feel meh it was clear they wanted to protect both men so neither one took the loss. But given it was going to be HBK vs. Diesel at mania I think they should have had Shawn come out go for chin music miss Diesel and nail Bret. It would see the kick as a big finisher but also let Shawn say “you only beat him because of me.” The only good thing I can say is both men are clearly trying. Bret broke out some different moves and for all the crap Kevin Nash gets he was able to pick it up a notch when he really needed to.

Bot match the beat down on the faces keeps going. Officials flood the ring trying to get the heel group. Lawler says it’s like a gang fight only the Hitman and Diesel don’t have a gang. Finally the heels are forced to leave the ring. The match is ruled a draw due to the official being unable to keep control. Backlund breaks free and gets back and lock in the cross face chicken win on Hart why Owen, Double J, The Roadie hold Diesel so Shawn can attack him. Diesel powers free. BK bails out. Diesel sends the other heels running and stomps on Backlund to save Bret. Owen and Michaels are force to leave as Diesel helps Bret to his feet. The two men shake hands as the fans cheer. So this was mean to set up HBK and Diesel at mania as well as another I quit match with Bret and Backlund. The post match handshake comes off as forced. Again making the whole logic of match flawed. After that they shouldn't’ be buddy buddy.

You know a lot has been written about Nash’s failures as champion and why he didn't’ get over. I think little moments like this that shine some real light on what went wrong. Nash was actually very over in large part due to the fact Diesel was portrayed as a bad ass. He beat guys up with ease he was laid back and didn’t really give a fuck. Until he won the WWF title. All of a sudden he was becoming just another smiling good guy. Given everything he had just gone through Nash shouldn't’ be pulling Bret up and showing him respect. Nash should be giving chase to the heels that just had the “Brilliant” idea to piss off a seven footer.

Backstage Todd is back in Pamela’s dressing room. He says she is getting dressed just behind the screen. We hear Pamela ask for her purse. Pamela pops out just enough we supposed to get the impression she is naked. Todd acts like a virgin that’s never seen a woman before so more lame comedy.

Stephanie Wyatt is with 123 Kid and Bob Holly the Cinderella story of the WWF tag title tournament. She mentions how they replaced the Smoking Guns and how this is a big opportunity for them. Kid says he and Holly are excited. Holly compares them to the San Diego Chargers getting there shot at the Superbowl. Generic promo. They kill more time with King saying he has a date with Pamela.

WWF World Tag Team Championship Tatanka and Bam Bam Bigelow with Ted DiBiase vs. The 123 Kid and Bob Holly- After Shawn Michaels and Diesel split as a tag team the championships were vacated and the WWF held a tournament to crown new champions. The Smoking Guns were supposed to be in it but were injured thus opening the door for Kid and Holly. Tatanka and Bigelow are portrayed as the heavy favorites. Vince mentions the Guns will get a shot on Raw tomorrow night vs. the winners of the match. Holly and Tatanka stat and the lock off. Tatanka shove Sparky Plug away. Headlock by Holly by Tatanka shoves off. Kicks and over hands chops by Tatanka. Side slam by the Native American. Holly with a flying head scissors than a slam and a series of dropkicks. Tag to Bam Bam. Drop toe hold by Holly and a tag to the Kid. Double team elbows have no effect and Bam Bam lands clotheslines on both men. Bigelow tosses Kid across the ring. Bigelow tosses The Kid into the air but it’s turned into a rana. Spring back kick by the Kid has no effect. Enziquri by Bam Bam gets two. Tag to Tatanka. Kid worked over a whipped hard into the corner a couple times. Tag back to Bigelow who scores with a headbutt. Kidds with punches a dropkick but no effect and The Beast From East slams him face first before giving him a suplex.

Big shoulder by Bigelow and he charges. Bigelow charges but the Kid back body drops him to floor. Tatanka in to attack the kid. Kid escapes a back drop attempt and sends the heels into each other. Tag to Holly. Holly goes for a cross body on Bigelow from the top and Kid the same on Tatanka but both men are caught. The heels set like they are going to ram the underdogs into each other. Faces escape and the heels have meeting of the minds. School boy by Holly on Tatanka gets two. Dropkick by Holly for another two and a series of running clotheslines. Bigelow pulls the ropes down and Holly falls to the floor hard. Kid goes after Tatanka but the referee holds hims back. Holly tossed back into the ring. Body slam and an elbow on Holly. Clothesline by Tatanka. Another body slam by Tatanka and again. Cheap shot on the Kid. Powerslam on Holly and a cover. Kid trying to break it up but Tatanka sees it coming so the Kid elbow drops his own partner. No tag exchange by the heels but we see the ref clap signally Bam Bam is legal. Bigelow holds Holly as Tatanka goes to the top.

Tomahawk chop attempt. Holly moves and its The Beast From The East that takes it. Tatanaka distracts the Kid pulling him out of the corner meaning he’s not there for the tag. And man does this make The Kid look stupid. He could clearly see Holly crawling towards him but nope he just had to yell at Tatanka. Bam Bam splashes Holly in the corner. Bigelow tosses Holly to the floor. Holly on the apron and he goes for a sunset flip but Bigelow sits down on him. Double heel kick by Bigelow gets two. Holly is so out of it he tags Tatanka. Bam Bam tags his partner allowing for a double team in the corner. Kid over and he nails Tatanka. Re freer forces him back and the double team continues. Holly tires to fight back but Tatanka with a gut wrench suplex. Hard whip and a running clothesline takes out Holly again. Holly fires back but one punch shuts the rally down.

Hard knife edge chop by Tatanka. Both men go for a cross body and hit mid air. Both men are down. Tag to Bigelow but hot tag to the Kid meaning it’s house of fire time. Jumping spinning heel kick by the Kid takes Bigelow down. The Kid to the top and hits a missile dropkick. Tatanka taken out by a running dropkick. Than a sling shot flip dive by the Kid. Kid to the top rope and hits a cross body on Bigelow one two and Tatanka makes the save. Holly back in and he takes out Tatanka. Bigelow press slams the 123 Kid to the floor. Tatanka sends the kid back in the ring where Bigelow slams him. Bam Bam climps to the top. Tatanka has comes in and goes to run the ropes and he knocks Bigelow down. Holly takes out Tatanaka like he’s Dale Earnhardt trying to win at Bristol. Both legal men are down and the ref counts. Kid finally gets his his arm on top and 1 2 3. This was a actually a pretty good match. All four men got there roles. Tatanka and Bigelow were the big bad heels that had every advantage and a times comes off as to cocky. Holly and Kid were the faces that needed it all to go right. It’s a fun to watch. Holly and Kid’s reign only lasted a night they dropped the belts to the guns the next day on Raw. From what I can recall they didn't’ really team after that as Kid returned to his main role as Razor’s little buddy.

Post match Holly and The Kid celebrate as Vince and King joke maybe the Charges can win the Superbowl after all. DiBiase and Tatanka leave while Bigelow is still down in the ring not moving. Even King is stunned that Bam Bam has been left alone. Vince puts the blame on Tatanka and see Bigelow who is now standing is bleeding from the mouth. Vince and King talk about how angry Bam Bam is going to be. King even warns the fans to shut up. Bigelow stomps around the ring and says it’s not funny as they are saying fans are laughing at him. Bigelow sees Lawrence Taylor is laughing. Bigelow yells at him. LT sands up and extends his hand as he stands but Bigelow shoves him down. LT jumps up and is held back by some guys he was with. Now this was meant to set up for the Mania main event. It’s pretty well done. They act like it’s business as usual with a heel being pissed after a loss and even act like they are about to move on with the show until Bigelow got in LT’s face. My only real issues is Taylor calm’s down way to quick. Now I get holding off on him getting in the ring until Mania but it’s his shoved jumps up pissed and than back sitting in about 30 seconds. Take some time act pissed longer but still clam down.

We get flashback to last year’s rumble when Diesel was dominating the match eliminating superstar after superstar. We than see how later in the match Diesel didn't’ eliminate his than buddy Shawn Michaels which actually led to Diesel getting taken out. Now they stupidly claim Shawn helped kick him over but we never see that. We than get a promo where Shawn brags about kicking Diesel. Shawn brags about landing the kick on Diesel again recently. Shawn brags its the year of the Heartbreak Kid and how the show will end with him arm and arm with Pam Anderson. Decent promo by HBK. Back to last year we get the end of the match with Bret Hart and Lex Lugar going over at the same time and it not being clear who really won so both men were named co-winners. Todd talks about how Lugar wasn’t able to win the belt. Lugar says 1994 is over but he’s concerned with 1995. Lugar says its time to fulfill his destiny and become a champion. Decent promo by Lugar. Back at the table Vince apologizes to Lawrence Taylor.

So before Rumble the Think introduces Pamela Anderson and explains she is the guest hostess and will escort the winner to WrestleMania. Anderson comes out and just waves to the fans. The King keeps saying he and Pam are going on a date after the Rumble. What a waste of money and time. She doesn’t seem board but just there and doesn’t really do anything.

The Royal Rumble- Now you should know the rules 30 men enter you are eliminated when you go over the top rope. In 95 a new person entered every sixty seconds. Vince calling it the Fastest and Most Furious Rumble ever. But that is a real mistake. It just makes the Rumble it self way to short. The fact the rumble is long is one of the things people like about it. It’s a thrill ride with ups and downs. You can get several different stories each year of it. It also really damages what they were going for with Shawn Michaels being the first man to enter at one. 90 seconds to 2 minutes is about where the entrances should be at.

Shawn Michaels is number one. Vince pretty much writes off Shawn’s chances. King says Shawn loves it because it lets him strut his stuff in front of Pamela longer. The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith is number two. Now most people know that Shawn won this rumble and was the first to enter and one and do it. But I’ve always like them having Smith the runner up at number two. It the gave the match a real story as the two men outlasted everyone else. Shawn jumps Davey Boy on his entrance. Hard whip and back body drop by Davey Boy then a press slam and a clothesline. Shawn goes up but not over. Michaels tied up in the ropes and Davey charges but HBK gets the boot up. Elbow by Shawn misses. Eli Blu a tag wrestler enters at three. Eli right after Davey boy and clubs and stomps him. Shawn locks in a sleeper and than mounts Eli in the corner but Davey Boy goes after Shawn. Eli and Davey Boy fight and Shawn tries to get rid of both men. Duke the Dumpster Dorsey is four. Eli lands a big boot o the garbage man. The Dumpster hits and punches on Michaels and a spinning bodyslam than a bear hug. Eli lays out Michaels with a big punch.

Jimmy Del Rey a wrestler out of Smokey Mountain is the fifth man. You guys see how thin this Rumble is already? See HBK and the Bulldog were both clear up mid card guys that you could see getting main event runs. But the other five are guys you forget about until you watch something from this era. Sure every Rumble has guys you don’t think will ever win but there needs to be some guys you can go maybe about. Jimmy all over Duke. Michaels works on Smith. Del Rey and Michaels double team the Trashman before fighting each other. Del Rey has Shawn on the turn buckle. Entrants six is Sione better known as The Barbarian but at this stage he was a member of The Headshrinkers. HBK is on the apron allowing Vince to point out the feel must touch the floor rule. Sione tries to toss out Michaels but he holds on. Running clothes line by Smith sends Del Rey up and out for elimination one. Sione and Blu exchange strikes. Dr. Tom Prichard who is Del Rey’s tag partner comes out at seven. Everyone picks a foe and fight. Sione tries to toss HBK out but Michaels holds on again. Prichard goes for a spinning back kick on Blu and it misses by a mile but Blu sells it anyway. Doink the Clown enters next.

Doink tires to eliminate Sione but can’t get him out. Eli and Sione work over Doink. Kwang who is Savio Vega doing a Ninja gimmick enters at nine. Duke has Shawn back over the ropes but not out yet. Eli Blue tries to get rid of Davey Boy but Shawn breaks it up. Rick Martel enters at ten. Vince and King point out Martel has been in seven rumbles most of anyone to that point. Prichard and Sione double team The Bulldog. Kwang tries to get rid of Michaels. The King of Harts enters at number eleven. Bret jumps Owen on his entrance. Referees and official run out to try and get Bret off his brother. Owen’s beat time took up all the time before the next entrant up. Timothy Well is well the coming in at twelve. Shawn Michaels back body drops The Dumpster out of the ring and Drosey lands on Earl Hebner. Man I hope that was planned. We missed Owen Hart’s elimination and King blames Bret. Bulldog got Owen and I really don't’ get why they didn’t show it. Unless it was happening when Shawn got Drosey and they just couldn't’ get both. Davey Boy tosses Well out. Sione takes eliminates The Model and Prichard is sent back to Smokey Mountain by HBK.

Sion tires to get rid of Doink but he The Clown lands on the apron. Superkick by Kwang finishes off. Eli Blu with a running clothesline takes Sione and himself out of the match. Bushwhacker Luke is next. In the ring its down the HBK and Bulldog. Luke and Bulldog go after Shawn. Shawn thumbs the eyes of both men and gets rid of Luke. Shawn drops knees on Bulldog. Delayed suplex by the Bulldog. Jacob Blu is out next. Big clothesline by Jacob knocks down Michaels. Jacob goes for a running clothesline but HBK ducks and the other Blu is gone. Forearms by Bulldog and than he picks him up. HBK locks onto the ropes to not get eliminated. King Kong Bundy is number fifteen. We finally get to see Owen Hart’s elimination as he came in he charged Bulldog and who back dropped him out. Bundy tries get rid of Bulldog. Shawn tries to get both of them. Shawn than hits Bundy who turns and and sens Shawn flying with a shot.

Mo from Men on a Mission is out and taken out by Bundy. For years the WWE claimed Luke was the fastest elimination at four seconds. Yet Mo only lasted three. Bulldog with a whop on Bundy. Davey Boy can’t get Bundy up. In a nice moment Shawn sees Bundy is trying to toss out Davey Boy than remembers what happens earlier keeps his distance. Mable is man seventeen. Bundy and Mable go chest to chest and start to fight. They ties up and Mable had Bundy by the ropes. Bushwhacker Butch is next man. Bundy just kind of finally falls over the ropes and he is gone. Butch whit shitty looking punches on Michaels. Michaels tosses Butch out. Mable nails Michaels. HBK is hung over the ropes. Shawn gets tot he apron. Lex Lugar enters and is a house of fire and dumps Mabel. Running clothesline series by Lugar on Michaels. Press slam by Lugar on HBK. Lugar and Bulldog try to get rid of Shawn. Mantar enters and attacks Lugar. Mantar after Bulldog and he rams the shoulder in gut. Elbow drop by Mantar. Aldo Montoya enters at number twenty one. Lugar and Bulldog team up on Mantar. Henry O. Godwin is the next man out. HOG goes after Bulldog and Lugar. We cut away from the match to show Pam who is at least watching the show.

Billy Gunn who still doing Cowboy gimmick at this point goes right after Mantar. Aldo has Michales in trouble again. Bart Gunn is next meaning we have first tag team in at the same time for this rumble. Mantar cuts Bart off. Bob Backlund enters at twenty five. Bret Hart runs out and jumps Backlund. Like with Owen the attack takes all the time between entrants. Steven Dunn is the next entrants. Baklund finally gets in but has his back turned. Lugar eliminates Backlund. Bret is back and goes after Backlund again. Officials finally get Hart and Backlund out of the arena. Dick Murdoch comes in a twenty seven. Vince plugs Murdoch was a tag team champion years ago with Adrian Adonis. Adam Bomb is next. Everyone is just fighting with anyone that moves. The Guns double team Murdoch. Mantar splashing Lugar in the corner. Fatu the future Rikishi is twenty nine. Billy Gunn and Fatu exchanges punches. Lugar elminates MMantar. Adam Bomb stomps on Michaels. And number thirty is Crush. Crush and Murdoch eliminate the Smoking Gunns at the same time. Montoya ducks a Dunn punch and eliminates him. Adam Bomb and Henry Godwin exchange punches until Crush hits both of them.

Aldo is stomping on Lugar. Murdoch is trying to get rid of Michaels but Lugar makes the save. Murdoch and Fatu starts to exchange headbutts. Adam Bomb tires for a running clothesline on Crush. Crush ducks and Bomb is up and over. Crush thinks he’s eliminated Fatu but the Samoan landed on the apron and he comes back and goes after Crush. Superkick by Fatu. Michaels gives Aldo the bum’s rush to eliminate him. Crush lays out Fatu with a clothesline and than tosses him out. Dropkick by Murdoch on Godwin than the airplane spin. Shawn gets hit by Henry’s feet. Murdoch slips and he falls over. Some how Godwin lands on the apron. We get a break in the Action. Godwin in on one corner. Bulldog and Lugar in another, across the ring are Michaels and Crush. Shawn suddenly leaps at Lugar. I actually liked that pause. It like a movie fight where you get a reset of what is going on.

Godwin tries a corner splash on Lugar but he runs into boot. Clothesline by Lugar. After some more general moves Lugar gets rid of Godwin. Crush and Michaels with a double team on Lugar. HBK lays out Bulldog before he can make the save and he does it again a few seconds later. Lugar with a rally and fight back and free. Lex goes for mounted corner punches on Crush but Michaels shoves him over the top. Michaels begs Crush to help him take out Bulldog and than fight it out amongest tthemselves. Vince notes we are down to the first two men to enter and the last two men. I think this is smart booking. Crush was also much bigger than Shawn and Davey Boy so he was a threat. And while he was unlikely to main event main he also was a size match up for Diesel. Double team clothesline on Bulldog.

Shawn offers his hand but Crush kicks him. Crush has Shawn up in a press slam and walks toward the ropes. Shawn goes the eyes. Bulldog charges and Shawn ducks so Crush is taken out. Both men take a second second as the fans comes alive. Davey starts to walk forwards while Shawn backs up it reminds me of a boxing fight Davey is the pressure man while Shawn is looking for space to work. Exchange punches and Shawn goes to the eyes. HBK sets to soon on a back body drop and gets kicks. Hard whip by Davey puts Shawn on the corner mores kicks. Davey Boy has Shawn in the press and crotches him on the ropes. Running clothesline and Shawn goes over. Davey Boy celebrates as in a brilliant touch his music actually plays. Davey is on the ropes as Shawn gets back in and shoves him over. The Fink than announces only one of Shawn Michaels feet touched the floor when he went over. Shawn Michaels has won the Royal Rumble.

Now they do lot of really small but brilliant stuff to set this up. First as I mentioned they even played Bulldog’s music. Add into that we had seen the way Shawn had gone over numerous times just automatically be an elimination. Both Vince and King act confused at first. We had never seen the “only one foot thing” before to that point. Earl Hebner is right in front of Shawn the whole time he goes over. We see a clear replay where Shawn always has a one foot in the air. And the camera shot focus on Bulldog. We don’t get a tip off that Shawn is about to get back in. It really does feel shocking. Now this Rumbles has a very good ending and a very idea of the first two men are the last two. But man does it have problems. Having the times between entrees really hurts the match. There is no time to absorb what is going on with each new entry so close together. Sometimes it seems like a new person comes in doesn’t even hit a move and than the countdown for the next guy starts. Also with the Rumble being so short it doesn’t give the full effect to one and two being in there so long. The Rumble only goes just over thirty eights minutes we had seen people go much longer in losing Rumble efforts to that point. And well the very thin roster doesn’t help at all. You just can’t get excited with guys like Well Dunn or Aldo Montoya coming in. Not helped by having Owen Hart be taken out so quick as he could have added depth.

So we close the Shawn with Pamela coming in as Shawn celebrates. She stands around for a while and than leaves. Shawn dances around still celebrating. So this show is not that bad but man does it show some problem the company was facing. We get way to much with celebrity you know at least with Mr. T or even Cyndi Lauper they were actually involved with the story. LT did get involved but for Anderson it comes like she’s just there for a check. But she was a big name and Vince was desperate so he gave her tons of TV time. The Rumble is to short yet other matches have to much time. The IC tile match drags once they get to restart the match stuff, the world title match is nearly 30 mins when cutting at least ten out would have made for a tighter match. I get they had to do the Tag match given LT was at the Rumble but did we really need IRS vs. Undertaker? Hell IRS and Undertaker should have been in the Rumble. This show is worth checking out just not one on the must see list.