Royal Rumble Count-Up – 1998: You Can’t Stop Destiny
Royal Rumble 1998
Date: January 18, 1998
Location: San Jose Arena, San Jose, California
Attendance: 18,542
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Mike Tyson is in a skybox.
Vader vs. The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust
Back in and Luna trips Vader up, finally allowing Goldie to get in a clothesline. Another clothesline puts him down and Goldust works on the leg a bit. Goldie drops a middle rope elbow to the ribs and we head back to the floor. Vader is sent into the steps so Luna can choke him a bit before we head back in. Goldust pounds away again but stops to kiss Vader. I may not be a pro wrestler, but I know better than to kiss a guy called the Rocky Mountain Monster.
Vader kills him with a clothesline and suplexes Goldust down before getting two off a splash. Vader loads up the Vader Bomb but a low blow stops him cold. Another clothesline puts Goldie down again and Vader sits on his chest. He loads up the Bomb again and despite Luna jumping in his back, Vader drops it anyway and crushes Goldust for the pin.
Austin gets here and tells Cole to park his truck. Southern Justice (the heel Godwinns) follow him, presumably to jump him.
Max Mini/Mosaic/Nova vs. Battalion/El Torito/Tarantula
The Nation goes to attack Austin but only find an Austin foam finger.
We recap Shamrock vs. Rock. Shamrock has charged through the Nation to get this shot at the unofficial leader of the team. Mark Henry joined the Nation to save Rock from Shamrock less than a week ago.
The Nation argues over which of them will win the Rumble. Rock says the fans of course want to know what he thinks of Clinton and Paula Jones, so he tells the President not to lie down with dogs or you might get fleas. This joke would be done way better over the next few weeks.
Intercontinental Title: The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock
Rock is defending of course. Feeling out process to start with Rocky trying to get a cheap shot in the corner. Both guys shove the other into the corner and Shamrock blocks a shot to the face before hitting one of his own. They run the ropes a bit until Shamrock kicks him in the chest and knocks the champion out to the floor. Back in and Rock pounds away a bit before hitting a corner clothesline. Ken comes back with some clotheslines of his own but the standing clothesline is countered into a hot shot for two.
Post match the referee finds the knuckles and reverses the decision. The referee is beaten up very badly for his efforts.
A Coliseum Video Exclusive from “moments later” show a clean and dry Shamrock in jeans attacking the Rock.
Los Boricuas attack someone that they think is Austin but find one of the Disciples of Apocalypse. Brawling ensues.
We recap the LOD vs. the Outlaws, which is old school vs. new with the Outlaws defending the titles. The Outlaws put a big old beating on the LOD and tonight is their return.
Tag Titles: New Age Outlaws vs. Legion of Doom
The Outlaws destroy Animal until Hawk snaps the handcuffs to make the save.
Some fan wins the Austin truck.
We recap the build up to the Rumble. Basically, everyone knows Austin is going to win and EVERYONE else in the Rumble is trying to stop him but not one has been able to slow him down at all. The only difference here: the fans were eating this stuff up with a spoon.
Royal Rumble
Mosh and Funk pair off as do the other two guys. Funk (the announcers are calling him that too) tries a moonsault but it winds up being more of a headbutt than a splash. Phineas Godwinn is #6 and helps Rock beat up Mosh. Not much happens for a bit until 8-Ball of the DOA is #7. Jack misses a charge and Funk backdrops him out to empty the ring out a bit. Apparently someone who might have been Ken Shamrock has attacked Austin.
The Nation members are thrown together and Rock gets hit by Sweet Shin Music and the double arm DDT. Austin hits Dude low and Faarooq throws Love out. Rock puts out Faarooq to give us Austin vs. Rock. They slug it out and Rock is thrown to the apron. Austin is fine with Stunning him and throwing him out to go on to Wrestlemania where he would claim his destiny.
Tyson celebrates “Cole Stone” Steve Austin winning the Rumble.
WWF World Title: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
The forearm from Shawn sets up the nipup which sets up the top rope elbow. He must be either high as a kite on painkillers or on a huge adrenaline rush to be able to have a match like this at this point. The superkick knocks Taker out cold but Shawn is Shawn and stops for a crotch chop. Taker grabs him by the balls and we head back inside for the beating Shawn deserves. Another Flair Flip sets up the big boot, but Taker misses a clothesline and lands in the casket.
Post match Kane nails the casket shut and hacks at it with an ax. He pours gasoline inside and LIGHTS IT ON FIRE to end the show. Taker of course would disappear from the casket once it was opened up.
Ratings Comparison
Vader vs. The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust
Original: B-
Redo: D
Max Mini/Mosaic/Nova vs. Battalion/El Torito/Tarantula
Original: B-
Redo: C
The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock
Original: C+
Redo: D+
Legion of Doom vs. New Age Outlaws
Original: D+
Redo: D
Royal Rumble
Original: D+
Redo: D
Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker
Original: B
Redo: B
Overall Rating
Original: C-
Redo: D
….what in the world was I on back then?
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