McMahon wins Rumble, Rock champ again
NOTE: Regular rasslin' PPV guy John Powell is on vacation, so Chris Gramlich is stepping into the void. We'll have video clips and still shots later in the week.
By "HARDCORE" CHRIS GRAMLICH -- For SLAM! Wrestling
The Royal Rumble happens just once a year and maybe this is a good
thing. The first WWF Pay Per View of 1999 was a lackluster affair that
had no real conclusions, no special guests in the Rumble itself (besides
the re-appearance of former Men on a Mission member and former King of
the Ring, Mabel). And featured yet another screw-job to decide the
outcome of the Heavyweight title match.
The Rumble
The first two combatants were obviously Steve Austin and Vince McMahon
and after all was said and done they were the last two. Highlights
involved Steve Austin and Vince McMahon brawling through the crowd,
ending-up in a bathroom where Austin was jumped by Team Corporate and
taken away in an ambulance. Vince doing commentary, Austin driving the
ambulance back and Austin Stunning him. Mabel clearing the ring before
being jumped by the Acolytes and kidnapped while the Undertaker watched
was good to.
Low-lights involved Mabel and Kane doing their best Diesel impressions
and tossing out a number of stars too quickly. Al Snow getting
eliminated almost immediately, Gillberg who was a dark-horse and could
have been a contender if he had lasted more than ten seconds and Vince
throwing Austin out while Austin was distracted by the Rock, winning the
Royal Rumble. Here's the order and subsequent elimination's (brackets
indicate who threw their tired asses out).
1.Stone Cold Steve Austin 2. Vince McMahon 3. Golga 4. Droz 5. Edge 6.
Gillberg 7. Blackman 8. Severn 9. Tiger Ali Singh 10. Blue Meanie 11.
Mabel 12. Road-dog 13. Gangrel 14. Kurrgan 15. Al Snow 16. Goldust 17.
Godfather 18. Kane 19. Shamrock 20. Billy Gunn 21. Test 22. Bossman 23.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley 24. Val Venis 25. X-Pac 26. Mark Henry 27. Jeff
Jarrett 28. D-Lo 29. Owen Hart 30. Chyna
Golga (Austin). Gillberg (Edge). Severn (Mabel). Blackman (Mabel). Tiger
Ali Singh (Mabel). Blue Meanie (Mabel). Droz (Mabel). Edge (Road-dog).
Mabel (Acolytes). Gangrel (Road-dog). Al Snow (Road-dog). Road-dog
(Kane). Kurgan (Kane). Godfather (Kane). Goldust (Kane). Kane (Kane).
Shamrock (Austin). Bad Ass (Austin). Test (Austin). X-Pac (Bossman).
Jeff Jarrett (Hunter). Henry (Chyna). Chyna (Austin). Val Venis
(Hunter). Hunter (Austin). Owen Hart (Austin). D-Lo (Bossman). Bossman
(Austin). Austin (Vince McMahon).
Mankind vs. the Rock
WWF Heavyweight 'I Quit' match
Another excellent match from these two, that featured an extreme
Hardcore bump from Mankind when he was knocked-off a balcony at least
six to eight feet on to lighting/speaker cabinets, then bouncing off of
them to the floor. The Spanish announce table collapsing before the Rock
could put Mankind threw it, Mankind being handcuffed and chaired until
unconscious and finally Mankind's voice saying I quit over the
loudspeaker while he was unconscious. Another screw-job by Vince and the
Rock is once again WWF champion.
Sable vs. Luna Vachon
WWF Women's Heavyweight Strap Match
A good match which saw Sable take a strapping and come back to win the
thing after being dragged around the ring by Luna and touching the
corners right after her. The fan/Stalker who ran in on Raw a few weeks
ago got involved and allowed Sable to touch the fourth corner ahead of
Luna. Sable retains the belt and for someone who doesn't take bumps
Sable looks like she got killed during the match.
X-Pac vs. Gangrel
WWF European Title Match
The sleeper match of the card didn't disappoint, with both athletes
trading high impact moves. It's hard to understand why both these guys
don't get bigger pushes, especially Gangrel. Anyway X-Pac won the match
with the X-factor to retain the belt. No bloodbath, no Brood, no win for
Gangrel.
Ken Shamrock vs. Billy Gunn
WWF Intercontinental Title Match
A good match with some good wrestling was what this one delivered.
Shamrock is an excellent technician but he just lacks charisma, Billy
has tons of charisma but looks out of place by himself. After Shamrock
worked on his ankle throughout the match Billy injured it severely on a
double ax handle of the top-ropes and quickly tapped to the ankle lock.
Ken is still in the zone and still the champ.
Road-dog vs. Bossman
This match was boring at best and made little sense, it wasn't a
Hardcore match and neither wrestler was strong enough to maintain
interest without some help form a weapon or two. Why they would spend so
much time getting Road-dog over as a hardcore wrestler and then not have
him in a Hardcore match is beyond me. Bossman won with his sidewalk slam
to not win the belt but thankfully to end the match.
