SRS #RumbleRetro: Lost Royal Rumble Matches: Smackdown, MSG 1994, Tag Team, Minis, Corporation
2017 marked the first Royal Rumble I attended. I'm not much of a traveler — a lot of my work I can do remotely. It's always been a bucket list item, however, so I jumped at the opportunity to go. To prepare, I re-watched every Royal Rumble event, and used the #RetroRumble hashtag (originally #RumbleRetro). I'll be bringing you these in installments of every ten years, with links to additional series. Enjoy!
For the final installment….I'm watching LOST Royal Rumble matches!!
1994: The untelevised MSG Rumble!
Diesel is the first entrant #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Mo, Bushwacker Luke, 1-2-3 Kid, all enter and are brutally beaten and eliminated one by one by Diesel #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Scott Steiner ends the trend, then tries to TIGER BOMB DIESEL. Instead drops Nash on his head. Yeesh #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Mike Sharpe uses the "loaded forearm pad" on Steiner, who legit isn't happy. Scotty throws him over and flips him off #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Backlund in the house #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Jeff Jarrett in the ring and promptly eats a gutwrench powerbomb #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
It's Virgil! He's bringin' the meat sauce! Well until Diesel kills him with a sick backbreaker #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Bam Bam Bigelow WITH Luna! Awesome! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Samu just threw one of the most awesome spin kicks I've seen in wrestling #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Randy Savage! This is better than the actual 94 Rumble #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Savage eliminates Diesel and Jarrett! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Virgil stops a Bam Bam press slam in mid air and BBB did NOT expect it. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
SGT. SLAUGHTER!??!?!??? WHAT? #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Slaughter eliminates Adam Bomb! That gangster! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Oh sweet. Killer version of Crush. This is fun, because I have no idea who's in it or winning it. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Jimmy Powers got his ass kicked by Mabel with the quickness #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
A bunch of guys band together to eliminate Mabel. It's Crush and Samu after THE BOOGER is tossed out #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
This one is a special kind of stupid. https://t.co/snLx5vqC4b
— Tiny Lava Eruptions (@PocketVolcano) January 20, 2017
Crush is alone in the ring doing karate poses. I don't get it. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
"The Rocket" Owen Hart enters and beats the living shit out of Crush. Like, damn dude. #RetroRumble MSG pic.twitter.com/cebSkKgxuy
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
One of the early great Rumble competitors, Rick Martel! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Owen is fighting off Martel and Crush. BRET IS THE NEXT ENTRANT! I got goosebumps from a minus240p quality video! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Bret Hart atomic drops Crush out, who had an awesome run in this one #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Raven as Johnny Polo. Heh. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Scott Putski in 94? Didn't remember that one #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Michaels and Jannetty! They're going at it!!! It's pandemonium!!!!! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Michaels eliminates Jannetty. The BURIAL #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Doing eliminates Bart Gunn with a psycho vertical suplex over the top rope #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Bret, Owen, HBK, Fatu are the final four. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Michaels eliminates Bret! It's down to him, Fatu and Owen! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Razor Ramon distracts HBK. Owen sends Fatu into Michaels. He's out! It's The Rocket and Fatu! Wow. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
The damn second turnbuckle is broken! #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
Owen eliminates Fatu, and Bret stayed ringside for it. Man. The feels. This is a heartwarming/depressing moment. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
The match went 70 minutes, by the way. #RetroRumble MSG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2017
June 15, 1998- Tag Team Royal Rumble
Time for another lost Royal Rumble match. Tag Team Rumble from Raw, 06/15/98! Winners are top tag team title contenders #RetroRumble TAG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
LOD and Kane/Mankind starting out? Oh damn. #RetroRumble TAG
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
I've never seen this Rumble before. #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
The Headbangers! 2016 Smackdown Superstars! #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Only one partner has to be eliminated to be out of the Rumble. That happens to the New Midnight Express #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Steve Blackman and Faarooq teaming? What? #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Taka and Bradshaw?!!? WTF #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
A new record was set in this tag Rumble match for most competitors actively in ring — 16 #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Terry Funk and Scorpio. Hell yeah. #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Terry Funk eliminates Kurrgan by himself, then everyone starts flying out #RetroRumble tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Kane with an all-time terrible sell of a spin kick from Scorpio #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Kane and Mankind are killing ol' Terry and Flash Funk #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
So that Royal Rumble lasted like 12 minutes. Kane/Mankind went coast to coast to win. Entrants every 30 seconds #RetroRumble Tag
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
1999 Corporate Royal Rumble
Ah yes. The Corporate Royal Rumble. January 11, 1999 for spot #30 #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
LOL! Shamrock slingshots himself over the top rope, quite impressively. Either way, he's out and beats up Billy Gunn #RetroRumble corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Bossman and Test are in the ring. Test entered even though the Outlaws theme played. Ok #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
X-Pac is out to make the save, but Gunn is eliminated #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Road Dogg eliminated, now 3-on-1 in favor of the Corporation #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Triple H announced as the last participant….But he's not #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Kane goes crazy and eliminates Test. X-Pac eliminates him, then Pac is, too! #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Vince McMahon hits the ring and eliminates Triple H and Bossman CLEAN AS A SHEET #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Vince thinks he's won, but Chyna is out to a gigantic pop. Then Stone Cold distracts! Chyna wins! #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Vince McMahon caught his head on a rope. That guy had some close calls. #RetroRumble Corporate
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
2004 Smackdown Royal Rumble
Now time for a forgotten #RetroRumble…. The Smackdown 2004 Rumble!
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
This is a 15-man Royal Rumble. Winner got a shot at Lesnar at No Way Out #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Rhyno and Angle start things off, then Haas #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Bradshaw enters. Looks like a different human from a year before #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
ERNEST MILLER IS DANCING AND CLEANING HOUSE!!!! Oh No, Angle throws him out! Booo @RealKurtAngle #RetroRumble SD 04
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Miller is still the only person eliminated as Big Show enters at number 9. The field sells his dominance well #RetroRumble
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
A hampered Eddie is here and eliminates A-Train! Televised Rumbles are a ton of fun #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Rikishi was still a thing in 2004. Complete with Stink Faces. Hardcore Holly is #15 fresh off a WWE Title match #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Cena eliminates Big Show, helps set up their Mania 20 match #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
The Smackdown 2004 Final Four are Eddie, Angle, Rikishi, Billy Gunn #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Eddie and Angle as the final two, as it should be. #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Angle/Eddie at the end of this Rumble was a match in it's own #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
I'd say the Smackdown Rumble has been better than 60-70% of Rumble matches up to that point #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
Angle and Eddie went at it for 8 minutes as the last two remaining until Guerrero won! #RetroRumble SD
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2017
January 14, 2008 Mini-Royal Rumble
So uhh…the next "lost" Royal Rumble for #RetroRumble is the "Mini-Rumble" from 2008. Yep
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Mini-Mr.Kennedy and Hornswoggle start off #RetroRumble Mini
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
The minis don't have to go over the top rope, obviously #RetroRumble mini
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Hornswoggle with a pretty impressive press slam elimination of Mr. Mini-ddy #RetroRumble mini
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Mini-Batista and Mini-Kane out. I think Mini-Kane is just Marcus Louis #RetroRumble mini
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Mini-Kane has Kane's uppercuts down #RetroRumble mini
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Mini-Kane has Kane's uppercuts down #RetroRumble mini
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
1/31/11 Raw Rumble
John Morrison, egh. #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
John Cenaaaaaaaaaaaa. Place went crazy #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Morrison with a sweet flip out of the AA #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Oh, it's that CM Punk fellow #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
R-Truth. He was at this level back then I guess #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Jerry Lawler…..christ. That's why Matthews was on color commentary #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Orton is the final entrant, he and Punk promptly gone #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Cena has Morrison and Truth on his shoulders! Truth eliminated! #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Everyone but Lawler on the apron. He should just run into them #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Morrison used the bottom rope and apron like an inversion table to hang on!! Then misses his finish by a mile #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017
Lawler runs into Cena, he's gone. Cena holds down the top rope so Sheamus goes out, too. Lawler wins. Womp #RetroRumble Raw
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) January 10, 2017