[1994-01-22-WWF-Royal Rumble] Undertaker vs Yokozuna (Casket)

[flyonthewall2983]

The accumulation of hokey angles didn't help him, nor the general downward direction of the company (in the U.S. anyway). I'd imagine those numbers rose dramatically during his feud with Mankind, someone both as a character and worker who could bring out something more in Taker.

[garretta]

None of this impessed me worth a damn. I wasn't even paying attention all the way by the time the supernatural stuff started, to be honest. One thought and one thought only was in my mind as Taker battled every heel in the damn company except for the guy he was actually supposed to be wrestling. You know, the guy with the belt:

 

Is this what Yoko's been reduced to? Is he so fat and incompetent that it takes every other heel in the goddamn building to wrestle the match for him? He hasn't looked good in any of the matches he's been in on these Yearbooks. Not one​. He's a joke of a champion, plain and simple. Forget having a decent match; the man can't even have a match at all​. Don't call that brawl we saw before everyone else came down a match; it was an opening segment, or at least it should ​have been. If he's that incapable of wrestling, take the belt off of him, Vince. Don't stink up a pay-per-view with shit like this.

 

You'll never convince me that this wasn't done as much to keep Yoko from actually having to wrestle as much as it was to sideline Taker. If Yoko had been capable of getting out of his own way, he would have put Taker out himself, as others have said above me. But he wasn't, and we still have to watch him work twice ​at Mania. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd at least participated in the beatdown, but he didn't except to coldcock Percy. What a disgrace. I don't see how Nash could possibly be worse.

 

I meant to ask this before, but did it sound to any of you like Vince and Teddy were calling this off of a monitor in Stamford? They certainly didn't sound like they were at the card live. Maybe they were having technical difficulties of some sort or other.

[thebrainfollower]

Yeah I was never impressed with Yokozuna. My best friend gave up on the WWF for good as soon as it was clear he was getting a monster push and i held that against him. For a supposed monster with all this speed and agility he sure never shows any of that in the ring often enough, Vince and Co hype aside.

[The Russian Daydream]

I was actually surprised how much I was enjoying the Yoko-Taker brawl before all the heels came out. Yoko was both far bigger and far more mobile than I remember at this point.

 

I agree it was disappointing that Yoko didn't really take part in the beat down. If he did the big leg-drop and a few banzai-drops, it would have made him look better and the Undertaker's 'death' seem more plausible too.

[JRH]

One question, I've read that the Undertaker who was being raised to the "heavens" was actually Marty Jannetty in an Undertaker suit. Is this legit? Looking at the segment its hard to say, but the hair doesnt seem to match. I mean, they still could have conceivably just used Undertaker (slip a trap door in the casket so taker can head in back and get strapped up while the pre-taped interview is playing). 

[Dav'oh]

I always heard it was Paul Diamond. Then I think I heard it wasn't Paul Diamond.

Either way, he's the only other name I've seen bandied about.

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF World Heavyweight Champion Yokozuna vs Undertaker - WWF Royal Rumble 1994

I was already to come in here and be Hot Take Marty, nobody knows what you’re talking about this matches kicks major league ass but to my pleasant surprise everyone agrees. Pretty much everyone praises the actual match, it is just your mileage may vary on the angle, which is fair. I personally liked the gang beat down. I thought it put over Taker huge and the key is the Urn. It is not the numbers game; it was Yoko taking possession of the Urn, braining him with it and popping it open that drained the Undertaker of his powers. There’s an internal logic to that I dig. Now the speech at the end and resurrection were a bridge too far for me. It was classic Vince gotta make sure the crowd goes home with hope. Let this be that Thanos moment where there is no hope. Enough about that onto this killer match:

One of the first times they run a video package before the match catching you up. I enjoyed the vignettes, the Double Wide Casket was amusing. Undertaker was so over. He murdered Luger at Survivor Series and I would be surprised if Bret was more over. Taker is their Ace Face. From what I saw at Survivor Series ‘93 my interest was immediately piqued. These boys got some freaky chemistry and I am here for it. Taker bursts of acceleration make the gimmick for me. He is lumbering and then all of sudden he EXPLODES~! He gets the Undertaker gimmick in a way all other spooky wrestlers have never gotten. He knocks Yoko off his feet with some wicked clotheslines. Classic early Yoko bump, back somersaulting to the floor. They repeat the Survivor Series 93 spot that made me a fan of theirs for life where Taker no sells the slam into the steps and slams Yoko instead. Takers wails on him with a chair but takes it a bit easier on the head, smart. Yoko salt to eyes and CRACKS him in the head with a chair so much for taking it easy. Taker is selling pretty well but will not go easily into the night. Belly 2 Belly. ZOMBIE SIT UP! The choke slam sucks but what you gonna due it’s Yoko. The DDT however does NOT! That was ELECTRIC! Taker is about to win when Fuji’s other charge, Crush interferes then it is Great Kabuki and Tenryu of all people which pops me huge. I cover the ending above.

Call me crazy but I loved this from bell to bell which gets me out of saying I loved the speech and resurrection. They left a shit ton for the rematch. No Legdrop, No Banzai, No Tombstone. I am so psyched for Survivor Series 1994! ****