The Nature Boy and The Big Red Machine both put in epic performances. Naitch won, Kane got close. The Texas Rattlesnake returned from injury and The Macho Man cared more about maiming Jake Roberts than winning the title. Hogan, Piper, and HBK. The Rock, The Big Show and JBL. Even the future R-Truth, K-Kwik knew exactly where he was - the 2001 Royal Rumble!
For many fans, both the 1992 and 2001 Royal Rumble events were in the upper echelon of tremendous hours-plus of television. Here are five reasons why the 1992 royal rumble is the best one, and five reasons why it's 2001.
10 1992: Bobby And Gorilla
Overall, JR and The King might go down as the best broadcast team in history, but the comedy stylings of Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon were second to none and at the 1992 Royal Rumble, they were even better than that! Between their usual routine, add Bobby going berserk when his guy, Ric Flair drew unlucky number three. It’s one one-liner after another, like listening to a stand-up routine set to a wrestling event - “that’s not fair to Flair!”
9 2001: The Rumble Gets Hardcore
With plenty of ECW alum now working for the WWE, the Hardcore Title was held by Raven at the time of the 2001 Rumble. He came into battle and immediately looked for weapons. But so did the next few combatants - Perry Saturn, Al Snow, and Steve Blackman. They all looked for a melee weapon or two to try and lay waste to the competition. The Rock eventually got slammed through a table by the Big Show and Austin got bloodied by Triple H before he even got into the ring.
8 1992: The Title Was On The Line
It's so strange to think about now, but for the first few years of the event, people actually fought tooth and nail all for just the pride and honor of winning the Rumble - there was no WrestleMania sign to point at. But the ‘92 event was the first to offer up a grand prize. Thanks to the chicanery involved at the 91 Survivor Series and Tuesday In Texas, the WWE Title was vacant, and the winner of the match would be declared the champion.
7 2001: Kane’s Performance
In 2001, Kane had still barely spoke and wasn’t unmasked yet. The mystery around the character was still very strong. He dominated the Rumble, and while he didn’t surpass Diesel’s record, he still dumped 11 guys on their keisters. He even got to swing a guitar for the fences against the Honky Tonk Man. The Big Red Machine also showed how amazing his conditioning was as the future mayor lasted over fifty minutes before Stone Cold assaulted him with a chair and eliminated him to win the match.
6 1992: “With A Tear In My Eye!”
Nearly thirty years later and fans still believe that the 1992 Royal Rumble event is the best one. The performance Ric Flair gives to become the WWE Champion is the number one reason why. Always known as the sixty-minute man, it’s exactly what he had to win the title. The promo that Ric delivers after claiming the gold is one of his best. Even winded from an hour of combat, the net crowned champ called out any and all challengers to “pay homage to the Man!”
5 2001: The Bionic Redneck Returns
After over a year on the shelf, Stone Cold Steve Austin returned to full-time action at the Rumble and stomped his way to ring, ready to do battle with the Brothers Of Destruction, who were controlling their Yard. Instead, he took a beating from Triple H and was left bloodied and down. But the Rattlesnake still wouldn’t be denied, eventually got up and headed into battle to eventually win the match and head to WrestleMania.
4 1992: Jake Has The Best Spot In History
With an empty ring, Ric Flair had a few precious moment to get his wind back when the next number came out - the brand-new Intercontinental Champion, Rowdy Roddy Piper. For two minutes the Hot Rod gave Flair a beating.
Jake Roberts was the next guy in and did what a heel should have done, which was one of the best spots in Rumble history. He came in the ring and just sat there, letting Roddy get a few more licks in before striking.
3 2001: The Build To WrestleMania X7 Began
As the Rumble was dwindling down to its final moments, a big one happened. Stone Cold and the Rock hadn’t squared off in a long time, longer still factoring in Austin’s injury. But then the Rattlesnake and the Brahma Bull locked eyes and traded blows. The crowd went bananas in their first taste of the eventual WrestleMania X7 main event. The two traded haymakers with one another long enough for Kane to get back in the ring, attempt to throw both men out but succeed with just The Rock.
2 1992: The Talent
17 Hall Of Famers, 7 Former WWE Champions, 13 Former Other Champions all fought in the 1992 Royal Rumble. The entire field was littered with people who you actually believed might have been able to win the championship.
Similar to how WrestleMania X7 felt like the final chapter of the Attitude Era, the 1992 Royal Rumble is the beginning of the end for the Hogan Expansion Era. In a mere few months, the New Generation would be breaking through.
1 2001: Haku
While the announcers didn’t mention it on the PPV, the WWE had a great coup at the Rumble. Haku managed to snag the WCW Hardcore Champion a week after he won the belt! The tales of Haku being the ultimate badass in real-life have taken on a life of their own in recent years. It was still a grand move in the Attitude Era to grab a WCW guy and bring him to the WWE. The restraint that Vince McMahon must’ve had to not have Haku dump the WCW Hardcore Title in the trash is astounding.