40 men and one match. No friends only enemies. The chance at the holy grail of this business. One man has the title. Another man wants it. An official that won't play by the rules. All that and more tonight at the GWF 1st annual ROYAL RUMBLE!!
The Hardy Boys retained their titles against Test and Val Venis. This was a high flying match when everyone but Test was involved. Test used his power to ground the Hardy's. It seemed that Jeff was down and out when Test hit his Big Boot. He tagged Val but took too much time going for his flying splash. Jeff moved and tagged in Matt. Matt came in like a house of fire. He gave Val the Twist of Fate. Val kicked out and Matt dropkicked him into Test allowing him to make the tag. Test came in and missed the Big Boot, allowing Jeff to hit a missile dropkick. The Hardy's then hit a combination splash/legdrop for the win.
The Hardy Boyz defeated Right to Censor (Test and Val Venis) when M. Hardy pinned Test after the Hardy Bomb in 0:09:20.
Rating: * 1/2
(The Hardy Boyz retained the GWF Tag Team Titles.)
In the back we see Mr. McMahon and company arriving.
McMahon: Well tonight is the night. Tonight we take the title off of Raven and Hardcore Holly isn't that right guys?
Snow (To Head): What? Yes he was talking about me. No he wasn't talking about you. How many times do I have to tell you that you aren't a member of our group.
McMahon: Al please. Now Bret and Vader, one of you two have to win the Rumble. That is the only way to make sure that that Steve keeps the title.
Austin: Listen I don't need anyone's help tonight you understand me.
In the background we see Kurt Angle running up to the group.
Angle: Hey guys I must have missed you at the airport. I thought you said gate 8 Steve.
Austin: I said 18 you jackass. Anyway what are you doing here?
Angle: Finding out what the plan is tonight. After all I am going to win the Royal Rumble and then take the title at Wrestlemania---its true its true.
McMahon: Uh Kurt let's get inside.
Disqo just continues to win as he defeated Eddie Guerrero in a quick paced match. Eddie hit a brain buster and went for the Frog Splash but Disqo moved. Disqo hit a swinging Neckbreaker and a piledriver for near falls. Eddie came back with a lariat. He went for a back suplex but Disqo flipped over, spun Eddie around and hit the Last Dance for the win.
Disqo pinned Eddie Guerrero with the Last Dance in 0:08:28.
Rating: **
(Disqo retained the GWF TV Title.)
In the back we see the nWo talking.
Nash: Alright guys tonight is a big night guys. Chris and Shawn you two have a chance to become US Champion and I am sure one of you will. Scott, you, Hunter and myself have a shot at the main event at Wrestlemania.
Michaels: Well don't worry about the US Title, Chris and I have our insurance.
Hall: And with the numbers we picked one of us will walk out with the title shot.
Nash: Tonight we do it just like old blue eyes---well do it our way.
In the ring Al Snow, along with HEAD, are waiting the Hardcore champion Hardcore Holly.
This match was all over the place. The usual weapons were used in the match, trash cans, stop signs, chairs and tables. Both men also used HEAD. Throughout the match Snow argued with HEAD. The end came when Holly tried to use his Hollycaust off the apron through a table. Snow countered by floating over Holly's back. He then hit the Snow Plow through a table for the win.
No-Countout-No-DQ-Falls-Count-Anywhere Match:
Al Snow pinned Hardcore Holly with the Snow Plow in 0:06:38.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Al Snow won the GWF Hardcore Title.)
After the match Snow and HEAD celebrated. We then go to the back where we see Jeff Jarrett with Gene Bennett.
Bennett: Jeff Jarrett, in a few minutes you will be taking on five other men for a title you never lost.
Jarrett: Listen here you fat slapnut. Tonight I get my title back. Tonight I show everyone why I am the CHOSEN ONE! So Benoit, Jericho and all the rest better just watch out.
While Jarrett thought that he would be getting his title back he was wrong. He was actually the first man eliminated in this Six Pac challenge. Jarrett went for the Stroke on Jericho but Michaels broke it up with his Superkick. Jericho then hit a Lionsault for the elimination. Jericho mouthed off at Jarrett but turned around right into a Frankensteiner for the elimination. Storm was the next man eliminated after a power bomb by Benoit. This left Malenko, Benoit and Michaels battling for the US Title. Michaels ran from both men until Benoit hit his German Suplexs. Michaels quickly snuck up from behind and nailed Benoit with the Superkick for the elimination. This left Michaels and Malenko. Michaels couldn't keep up with Malenko so he used his 'insurance'. As Malenko was about to lock in the Texas Cloverleaf Michaels hit Malenko with the brass knuckles. Michaels waits for Malenko to get to his feet and hits him with his Superkick for the win.
No-Countout-No-DQ Six Pac for the vacant GWF US Title:
Shawn Michaels won a 6-man Battle Royal:
x Chris Jericho defeated Jarrett after a Lionsault in 0:03:59
x D. Storm defeated Chris Jericho after a Frankensteiner in 0:04:10
x Benoit defeated D. Storm after a power bomb in 0:08:06
x Michaels defeated Benoit after the Superkick in 0:08:19
x Michaels defeated D. Malenko after the Superkick in 0:11:16
Rating: *** 3/4
(Shawn Michaels won the GWF US Title.)
In the back we see the special ref Vince McMahon heading to the ring when Michael Cole catches up with him.
Cole: Mr. McMahon can I ask you something?
McMahon: Sure Michael.
Cole: How will you be a fair ref when we all know that you want the World Title off Raven?
McMahon: I take every job I have very serious and I promise that the best man will win.
Cole: Thank you.
Just as everyone thought Vince wasn't a fair ref at all. This was under Raven's Rules and it went all over the place. McMahon wouldn't count several falls for Raven. Finally Raven had enough and went after McMahon. This brought out Kurt Angle armed with a chair. Angle swung at Raven who ducked and hit Austin by accident. Raven gave a stunned Angle the Raven Effect. Raven made the cover but the McMahon wouldn't count. From the back out came Mick Foley in a ref's shirt. Foley attacked McMahon and tried to make the count for Raven himself but Vader came out and attack Foley. Raven spun Vader around and gave him the Raven Effect. However Raven turned right into the Stone Cold Stunner. McMahon quickly made the three count and we have a new GWF Champion.
No-Countout-No-DQ-Falls-Count-Anywhere Match with Special Referee Vince McMahon:
Steve Austin pinned Raven with the Stone Cold Stunner in 0:14:21.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Steve Austin won the GWF World Title.)
The Rock is going to Wrestlemania after winning the Rumble. That however isn't the big story, the big story was the fact that Owen Hart went over an hour and fifteen minutes in the match. Owen was the first man out and the next to last eliminated. Also Booker T went nearly an hour in the match Neither Steiner Brother lasted very long. Rick only a minute and a half and Scott less then a minute. Triple H lead to his nWo teammates elimination when he missed a high knee on Muta and hit Hall allowing him to be eliminated. The Rock not only won but eliminated five men including the last four. It was the first ever 40 man Royal Rumble and it was a great event.
No-Countout-No-DQ-40-Man Royal Rumble:
The Rock won a 40-man Royal Rumble:
x O. Hart and Helms started out.
x Rick Steiner entered at 0:02:00
x Helms threw out R. Steiner after a kick to the midsection in 0:02:39
x Rey Misterio Jr. entered at 0:04:00
x Shane Douglas entered at 0:06:00
x Crash entered at 0:08:00
x Sean O'Haire entered at 0:10:00
x Misterio Jr. threw out O'Haire in 0:10:21
x Spike Dudley entered at 0:12:00
x Scott Hall entered at 0:14:00
x Bret Hart entered at 0:16:00
x The Great Muta entered at 0:18:00
x Triple H entered at 0:20:00
x The Great Muta threw out Hall in 0:20:14
x Crash threw out Misterio Jr. in 0:20:26
x Booker T entered at 0:22:00
x Big Van Vader entered at 0:24:00
x O. Hart threw out Helms in 0:24:01
x Vader threw out Crash after a belly-to-belly suplex in 0:24:42
x Sting entered at 0:26:00
x HHH threw out Vader in 0:27:14
x O. Hart threw out Muta in 0:27:59
x Ray Traylor entered at 0:28:00
x O. Hart threw out Sting in 0:28:38
x Bill Goldberg entered at 0:30:00
x William Regal entered at 0:32:00
x Goldberg threw out Spike Dudley after a forearm smash in 0:33:43
x Kanyon entered at 0:34:00
x Goldberg threw out Traylor in 0:34:03
x Rick Rude entered at 0:36:00
x Mick Foley entered at 0:38:00
x HHH threw out Regal in 0:39:21
x Rhino entered at 0:40:00
x Ken Shamrock entered at 0:42:00
x Kevin Nash entered at 0:44:00
x Scott Steiner entered at 0:46:00
x Douglas threw out S. Steiner after a dropkick in 0:46:57
x Kid Kash entered at 0:48:00
x B. Hart threw out HHH in 0:48:01
x B. Hart threw out Rhino after a Northern Lights suplex in 0:48:23
x B. Hart threw out Goldberg in 0:49:57
x Rob Van Dam entered at 0:50:00
x Kid Kash threw out Shamrock after a ropeflip hiptoss in 0:51:03
x The Rock entered at 0:52:00
x Foley threw out Douglas in 0:53:27
x Chris Candido entered at 0:54:00
x Scott Norton entered at 0:56:00
x Bill DeMott entered at 0:58:00
x Booker T threw out Candido after a flying clothesline in 0:59:03
x Curt Hennig entered at 1:00:00
x Masato Tanaka entered at 1:02:00
x S. Norton threw out DeMott after a football tackle in 1:02:06
x Mike Awesome entered at 1:04:00
x The Sandman entered at 1:06:00
x Lance Storm entered at 1:08:00
x L. Storm threw out Foley in 1:08:12
x L. Storm threw out Awesome in 1:08:21
x Kurt Angle entered at 1:10:00
x Tazz entered at 1:12:00
x Curt Hennig threw out Kanyon in 1:13:38
x Sean Waltman entered at 1:14:00
x Ron Simmons entered at 1:16:00
x Nash threw out S. Norton in 1:16:06
x RVD threw out Curt Hennig in 1:16:44
x RVD threw out Sandman after an elbowsmash in 1:17:27
x Rock threw out Angle after a kick to the midsection in 1:18:26
x Tazz threw out Booker T in 1:18:33
x B. Hart threw out Simmons after a sunset flip in 1:19:13
x L. Storm threw out Kid Kash after a back suplex in 1:19:56
x O. Hart threw out Nash after a kick to the midsection in 1:20:30
x L. Storm threw out M. Tanaka after an elbowsmash in 1:21:17
x RVD threw out Rude after a fist to the midsection in 1:21:20
x Rock threw out Tazz after a backslide in 1:22:10
x Waltman threw out L. Storm after a duck-down move in 1:22:58
x Rock threw out RVD after a flying cross body press in 1:23:50
x Rock threw out Waltman after a clothesline in 1:24:22
x Rock threw out O. Hart after a side suplex in 1:24:42
x Rock threw out B. Hart after a chop in 1:25:32
Rating: ****