Royal Rumble Count-Up – 1997 (2017 Redo): Again Shawn, Again
IMG Credit: WWE
Royal Rumble 1997
Date: January 19, 1997
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Attendance: 60,235
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
The announcers preview the show and Lawler is VERY excited about the main event.
Intercontinental Title: Goldust vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
HHH actually comes off the top with an ax handle but a running knee hits the barricade. As JR asks about a DQ again, Goldust starts in on the knee like a good challenger should. We hit a Figure Four as this is already dragging horribly. The knee goes into the steps again as the announcers are wondering why the referee is letting so much go. Back in and Goldust misses a crossbody (called a high risk by JR) to send him outside as HHH takes over again.
Bret Hart is used to being the marked man in a match so the Royal Rumble will be no different.
Faarooq vs. Ahmed Johnson
A shot to the kidneys slows Johnson down and Faarooq calls for a belt, earning himself a clothesline in the process though. The brawl heads outside for a bit with neither being able to keep control all that long as you would expect in a brawl like this. A chair to the back keeps Ahmed in trouble and Faarooq opts to just kick him in the kidneys for good measure.
Post match the Nation bails for some reason, leaving Ahmed to Pearl River Plunge one of them through a table.
Vader vs. Undertaker
Vader leaves with Bearer and Undertaker beats up a referee.
Hector Garza/Perro Aguayo/Canek vs. Jerry Estrada/Fuerza Guerrera/Heavy Metal
Attendance announcement.
Royal Rumble
Flash Funk is in at #27 and Lawler wants the Funkettes. Bret piledrives the heck out of Austin and Flash dives off the top to take out Diesel and Terry. Vader is in at #28 as I start to miss people wrestling earlier in the show and still being in the Royal Rumble. For some reason Flash makes the mistake of going after him, only to get pummeled down in a hurry. Henry Godwinn is in at #29 to bring the talent WAY down in a hurry.
The still unknown brothers have a bit of a fight as Vince calls Undertaker the favorite. Vader throws Flash out and we have Henry vs. Undertaker for a rather off brawl. Rocky almost has Bret out until Vader makes the save for no apparent reason. Austin and Funk chop each other half to death and probably have a blast doing so.
Bret has another tirade and while he has a point, he handles it like a baby.
WWF World Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Sid
Sid is defending of course. Shawn stares him down to start and is quickly shoved across the ring without too much effort. A kick to the chest puts Sid on the floor but he comes right back in and grabs a camel clutch. That goes nowhere (other than around for a long time) so Sid tries a chinlock, followed by one heck of a clothesline.
The forearm into the flying elbow connects but Sid goes outside to yell at Jose and his son. We get a ref bump so the chokeslam only gets two as a second ref comes in. Sid knocks the second referee down so Shawn hits him with the camera for two. The superkick gives Shawn the title back.
A ridiculously long celebration ends the show.
Ratings Comparison
HHH vs. Goldust
Original: C-
2013 Redo: C-
2017 Redo: F+
Ahmed Johnson vs. Faarooq
Original: D+
2013 Redo: D+
2017 Redo: D
Vader vs. Undertaker
Original: C+
2013 Redo: D+
2017 Redo: C-
Hector Garza/Perro Aguayo/El Canek vs. Jerry Estrada/Heavy Metal/Fuerza Guerrera
Original: F
2013 Redo: D
2017 Redo: D
Royal Rumble
Original: C+
2013 Redo: B-
2017 Redo: D+
Shawn Michaels vs. Sycho Sid
Original: C+
2013 Redo: C+
2017 Redo: D+
Overall Rating
Original: C+
2013 Redo: D
2017 Redo: D
Here’s the original review if you’re interested:
http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/01/17/royal-rumble-count-up-1997-bret-hart-uh-make-that-austin/
And the 2013 redo:
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