goodhelmet Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 In honor of me seeing a WWF PPV live for the first time, which show would you consider the best? I would love to hear your reasoning and not just a show listed. To help refresh your memory, I have listed the matches for each year since 1988... 1988 Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude The Jumping Bomb Angels vs. The Glamour Girls Jim Duggan won the Royal Rumble The Islanders vs. The Young Stallions 1989 Jim Duggan & The Hart Foundation vs. Dino Bravo & The Rougeau Bros WWF Women's champ Rockin' Robin vs. Judy Martin Haku vs. Harley Race John Studd won the Royal Rumble 1990 Paul Roma vs. The Brooklyn Brawler The Bushwhackers vs. The Rougeau Bros The Genius vs. Brutus Beefcake Ronnie Garvin vs. Greg Valentine Jim Duggan vs. The Big Bossman Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble 1991 The Rockers vs. The Orient Express The Big Bossman vs. The Barbarian The Mountie vs. Koko B. Ware Ted DiBiase & Virgil vs. Dusty & Dustin Rhodes Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble 1992 The New Foundation vs. The Orient Express Roddy Piper vs. The Mountie The Beverly Brothers vs. The Bushwhackers The Natural Disasters vs. The Legion of Doom Ric Flair won the Royal Rumble 1993 The Steiner Brothers vs. The Beverly Brothers Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Janetty Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Big Bossman Bret "Hitman" Hart vs. Razor Ramon Yokozuna won the Royal Rumble 1994 Tatanka vs. Bam Bam Bigelow The Quebecers vs. Bret & Owen Hart Razor Ramon vs. Irwin R. Schyster Yokozuna vs. The Undertaker Bret Hart & Lex Luger won the Royal Rumble 1995 Jeff Jarrett vs. Razor Ramon The Undertaker vs. Irwin R. Schyster Diesel vs. Bret Hart 123 Kid & Bob Holly vs. Bam Bam Bigelow & Tatanka Shawn Michaels won the Royal Rumble 1996 Duke "The Dumpster" Droese vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley Ahmed Johnson vs. Jeff Jarrett The Smoking Gunns vs. The Bodydonnas Goldust vs. Razor Ramon Shawn Michaels won the Royal Rumble The Undertaker vs. Bret "Hitman" Hart 1997 Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs. Goldust Ahmed Johnson vs. Faarooq Vader vs. The Undertaker Perro Aguayo & El Canek & Hector Garza vs. Fuerza Guerrera & Heavy Metal & Jerry Estrada Shawn Michaels vs. Sycho Sid Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble 1998 Vader vs. Goldust Max Mini, Mosaic & Nova vs. El Torito, Tarantula & Battalion Rocky Maivia vs. Ken Shamrock Legion of Doom vs. New Age Outlaws Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble 1999 The Big Bossman vs. Roadogg.. Ken Shamrock vs. Billy Gunn X-Pac vs. Gangrel Sable vs. Luna Vachon The Rock vs. Mankind Vince McMahon won the Royal Rumble 2000 Tazz vs. Kurt Angle Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz Miss Royal Rumble Swimsuit Competition Chris Jericho vs. Chyna vs. Hardcore Holly The New Age Outlaws vs. The Acolytes Triple H vs. Cactus Jack The Rock won the Royal Rumble 2001 The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge & Christian Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit Ivory vs. Chyna Kurt Angle vs. Triple H Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble 2002 Tazz/Spike vs. The Dudley Boyz Edge vs. William Regal Trish Stratus vs. Jazz Vince McMahon vs. Ric Flair Chris Jericho vs. The Rock HHH won the Royal Rumble 2003 Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show The Dudley Boyz vs. William Regal & Lance Storm Torrie Wilson vs. Dawn Marie Scott Stiener vs. Triple H Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit Brock Lesnar won the Royal Rumble 2004 Ric Flair & Batista vs. The Dudley Boyz Rey Mysterio vs. Jamie Noble Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero Brock Lesnar vs. Hardcore Holly Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble 2005 Edge vs. Shawn Michaels The Undertaker vs. John Heidenreich John Bradshaw Layfield vs. The Big Show vs. Kurt Angle Triple H vs. Randy Orton Batista won the Royal Rumble 2006 Kid Kash vs. Jamie Noble vs. Nunzio vs. Paul London vs. Sho Funaki vs. Gregory Helms Mickie James vs. Ashley Massaro The Boogeyman vs. John Bradshaw Layfield Rey Mysterio won the Royal Rumble John Cena vs. Edge Kurt Angle vs. Mark Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bix Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Probably '91. Everything aside from Mountie-Koko (which I've never seen and isn't on the comm tape) is at least very good or entertaining with a good angle to go along with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 1994 has that legendary casket match with Yoko and Taker, but I really enjoy the Bret/Owen v Quebecers and the Rumble match from that show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Not saying it's the best, but 1995 is probably the most underrated. I remember the Rumble match being pretty good, Jarrett-Ramon being very fun (and better than their WM11 match), Diesel-Hart being fine (albeit the least memorable of their three PPV matches), and the tag match being perfectly fine. Of course, I haven't seen that show since '95, so who knows what I'd think now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuttsy Posted January 17, 2007 Report Share Posted January 17, 2007 '91 is pretty bitchin, as Rockers/Orient Express still holds up as awesome today, as does Barbarian/Bossman. I really like 2000 too, although Taz/Angle is basically an angle more than a match and the IC & Tag title matches are nothing really notable. It still features the Hardys/Dudleys bringing the tables & ladders match to the 'Fed and HHH/Cactus giving an incredible World Title match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anarchistxx Posted January 20, 2007 Report Share Posted January 20, 2007 2000 was probably the best for me. A super fun tables match that I loved at the time, went off it, and would probably appreciate more now that I'm not constantly looking at 'transitions' and 'psychology'. The swimsuit contest was entertaining until Young spoiled the fun, Cactus/Trips was obviously awesome, and the Rumble was passable. Even the rubbish stuff was kept short. Enjoyed 2001 as well, Benoit/Jericho was excellent, a nice basic tag opener, HHH/Angle was a lot of fun, and I loved the Steph/Trish interaction, and the Rumble was all sorts of fun. I agree with Loss that Bret + Owen v Quebecers was very good. Really well worked tag match, and very underrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KingPK Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 2001 starts off pretty well with the tag title and ladder matches along with a simple and logical angle involving Drew Carey entering the Rumble match. However, starting with the Ivory/Chyna match, the show really loses momentum. HHH/Angle had this weird sort of dynamic in that it seemed like just a sideshow for both the Trish/Steph and Austin/HHH angles (the fact that the crowd only wakes up when both pairs start to go at it is a great example). The ending seems like an afterthought; the crowd goes nuts when Austin stuns HHH, but there's almost no reaction when Angle gets the win. The Rumble match itself starts well, including a perfect use of Drew Carey and Honky Tonk Man, but after the "hardcore" portion, nothing happens until Big Show's entrance, which is a decent chunk of the match. The Royal Rumble PPVs are not really built on a strong overall card. The Rumble match is the selling point, so if it is good, the show is usually worth it. There have been great individual undercard matches (Benoit-Angle in 2003, HHH-Jack in 2000), but I don't think there's been a Rumble that's been "great" top to bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunning_grover Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 1992 had the best Royal Rumble match and it could've been the best event if it wasn't for that horrible Bushwackers vs. Beverly Brothers match. I really liked the 1994 Royal Rumble PPV. I guess that's my favorite. I also like how it was basically a very big part of the WrestleMania X build-up. But really the best was the 1991 Royal Rumble PPV. It also featured the best match ever on a Royal Rumble PPV, The Rockers vs. The Orient Express. By the way, was the Sgt. Slaughter vs. Ultimate Warrior match left out from the listings in the first post on purpose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomk Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 I don't know if best means most consistent start to finish, or just has highest highs. Wrestlemania 10 is often pointed out as best Mania since it has opening Owen v Bret match and the ladder match although it really is pretty unwatchable in between those two. So worth pointing out that the 2007 Royal Rumble had two WWE MOTY candidates in Hardys v MNM and Cena v Umaga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkeats Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 I was actually at the '94 Rumble live in RI so it has some sentimental value to me for that alone. That Undertaker angle was a little out there to see. That may have been the best Rumble show but my favorite is still '92, for the main event and that Piper finally won WWF gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMJ Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Not looking at whole cards, but.... On Austin's podcast a few weeks ago, a caller phoned in and mentioned how he thought the 97' Rumble was pretty underrated in that it was such a pitch-perfect way to push the Austin character (and that Austin's work in the match is exceptional). I was pretty convinced by the guy - thinking back, Austin was the shit in this match. I could be mistaken, but at one point he did push-ups and looked at his wrist like a watch was there? Also, again, could be wrong, but I remember when Bret comes, Austin gives a look of astonishment first, but then, starts making the "bring it" gesture with his hands. I think Fake Diesel was close to the last eliminated and the roster was full of guys who had no chance of winning (when did it ever?), so I see the initial hesitance to pay respects to this battle royal...but, in the grand scheme of things, the way the Rumble was produced to build Austin and also lead to the Final Four PPV in an exciting fashion that I don't recall being tried prior to WM13 was kinda cool (title changes on RAW? In February?). So, all things considered, including hindsight, how does Rumble 97 rank? Personally, I'm a 92' man, but I definitely know what I'll be watching on the Network this weekend. I don't think I've viewed it for 16 years, but I'm kinda amped. I know there's no way JR's work is as good as Heenan's in 92', but I'm pumped for that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffey Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 '91 is pretty bitchin, as Rockers/Orient Express still holds up as awesome today Aye, that match was a pleasant surprise for me when re-watching a bunch of old WWF shows. Really blew me away. I know '92 is kinda the go-to default answer & it was the first one that popped into my head, but I do really like 1991. 2007 also had that kickass John Cena Vs. Umaga match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMick Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I think it's easier to separate this into best undercard ever and best Rumble ever. Best Undercard - 2000 (the Rumble was forgettable) Best Rumble - 2007 (especially for the Undertaker-Michaels finishing stretch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamthedoctor Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Best ever Royal Rumble Match has to be 1990. Not one wrestler was out of place in that match that deserved to be in it, even the Rooster who I knew as Terry Taylor was a decent wrestler and had wrestled for the NWA and had some big matches against Flair, well thats what WCCW led me to believe on Lifestyle/Screen Sport channels. I wasent a fan of the 92 Rumble at all even though Heel Ric Flair won the thing as I wanted Hogan to win or Sid as long as it wasent a Heel. What spoiled 92 was apart from a heel going over was they put Jerry Sags in the match which to be fair he had no business being lodged into a Championship match in that show. The Mountie should have been in that match instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Best ever Royal Rumble Match has to be 1990. I like the continuity angle from 89 where DiBiase had bought the #30 ticket last time but drew #1 this time, and then that feeds right through the match where he goes iron man, suggestions he paid off Savage -- the 3-way with him and Jake is one of the great Rumble moments in my view. And it pays off with the massive pop and the Warrior elimination, which then pays off itself with the Hogan showdown. I like the sort of one-night angles they'd do on PPVs at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I think it's easier to separate this into best undercard ever and best Rumble ever. Best Undercard - 2000 (the Rumble was forgettable) Best Rumble - 2007 (especially for the Undertaker-Michaels finishing stretch) This is actually my snap answer as well. Curious what I'll think when going back and rewatching some eventually, but '07 was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I just watched 2007 last night and thought it had literally nothing until the Michaels/Taker finale. What are people seeing that I'm not? I do like the undercard just to be clear. 1992 and 2004 are both great. I think 2005 is pretty underrated, always liked that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerpride Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 The 2007 Rumble is meh until the end. Certainly not the best Rumble. 2004 is my favourite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 2010 was pretty awesome. Christian-Ezekial Jackson was pretty good. Taker-Rey Jr. was a top 5 Rumble match ever and the Rumble match itself was pretty great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMick Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 2010 was pretty awesome. Christian-Ezekial Jackson was pretty good. Taker-Rey Jr. was a top 5 Rumble match ever and the Rumble match itself was pretty great. Taker-Rey, really? Watched it again last year, it didn't jump out at me as exceptional..... What's the rest of the list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo-Yo's Roomie Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 A good excuse for me to link to my 'every Royal Rumble match' rankings from DVDVR: http://deathvalleydriver.com/forum/index.php?/topic/2031-every-royal-rumble-match-ranked/?hl=%2Broyal+%2Brumble I'd probably say 2007 is the best show. Really strong undercard on that one. Honourable mentions to 2001 and 1991, and 1992 still has the best rumble match, in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 2010 was pretty awesome. Christian-Ezekial Jackson was pretty good. Taker-Rey Jr. was a top 5 Rumble match ever and the Rumble match itself was pretty great. Taker-Rey, really? Watched it again last year, it didn't jump out at me as exceptional..... What's the rest of the list? http://placetobenation.com/the-top-25-matches-in-royal-rumble-history/ Here is the article I wrote for top 25 matches in Royal Rumble history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradhindsight Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 If you want to tweak with Bryan and bray from last year , we can update Steven. It's a big hit, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soup23 Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 I was at 2010 live and it never struck me as a great event overall. Taker vs. Rey was a very good big vs. little match and Zeke vs. Christian was good. I really disliked the Mickie James stuff, the Orton vs. Sheamus match and thought the Rumble was just finisher, finisher, finisher until Shawn got eliminated and Edge won. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMick Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I'm noticing a lack of affection for Rumbles this decade. Would it be fair to say that quality/intrigue/novelty/spectacle seems to have dropped off? I know it has for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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