1997 Royal Rumble Thoughts

   1997 was a very unique Royal Rumble event.  While the actual Rumble match was mediocre, the controversy regarding the ending made the match seem better than it was.  Another thing the WWF did in 1997 was a working deal with Mexico's Luche Libra promotion, AAA.  My guess is that it was a response to WCW's thriving Cruiserweight division, consisting of many talented Luchadores.  The WWF didn't know how to properly promote the Luchadores.  Due to that, none of those matches at this event were remembered.  This event was, however, remembered for Shawn Michaels returning to glory in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

Luchadore Matches

    There were two dark matches and one on the Free For All, which was the WWF's PPV pre-show at the time.  The first featured the late Perro Aguayo Jr. teaming with Venum against Maniaco and Mosco de la Merced.  I knew who Perry Aguayo Jr. was at the time and in 2015, he sadly died during a match.  After this was the well-known Blue Demon Jr., Octagon, and Tinieblas Jr. vs. Abismo Negro, Heavy Metal, and Histeria, who would become ECW's Super Crazy.  The Free For All consisted of mini Luchadores.  There was a mini version of Mankind and Vader that took on La Parkita and Mascarita Sagrada Jr.  They were entertaining with all the high-flying involved but ultimately forgotten due to their lack on connection with the audience.   

Intercontinental Title - Hunter Hearst-Helmsley vs. Goldust 

   This feud began when Hunter was interested in Goldust's valet, Marlena.  This was touchy at the time because Marlena, also known as Terri Runnels, was Goldust's real life wife.  During this time, Hunter had a bodyguard in Mr. Hughes, who helped him win quite a few matches.  This was the case for this match as well, when Hughes distracted Goldust and cost him the match.  The feud between the two heated even more when Hunter brought Chyna to the WWF.

Ahmed Johnson vs. Faarooq

   The feud between Ahmed Johnson and Ron Simmons' Faarooq had been going on since the Summer of 1996.  By this time, Faarooq was the leader of a Black Panthers-like group called the Nation of Domination.  This was an intense battle and unfortunately the match ended in disqualification when the other Nation members Crush and Savio Vega attacked Johnson.  It was an incredibly one-sided feud, though, with Faarooq and the Nation almost always overcoming Johnson. Johnson recruited the Legion of Doom for a match against the Nation at WrestleMania.  

Undertaker vs. Vader

   This match was pretty good.  It was hard hitting and told a story at the same time.  Paul Bearer had turned on the Undertaker in August, 1996, joining up with Mankind.  In the Fall, Bearer also started managing Vader and sent him in to finish the job on the Undertaker.  During the match, Vader nailed Taker with Bearer's urn. Since Bearer's turn, the Undertaker wasn't as strong without the powers the urn possessed.  A hurt Undertaker didn't retaliate and after a Vader Bomb, he lost the match.  Their feud got quite brutal the following month at the Final Four Pay-Per-View when Vader was busted open and blood was all over his face.

Hector Garza, El Canek, & Perro Aguayo vs. Fuerza Guerrera, Heav Metal. & Jerry Estrada

   This match made it to the main card of the show.  Much like the others, this match, while exciting, fell flat because a lot of the American audience didn't know who these guys were.  El Canek was pretty well-known in Mexico and Hector Garza gained more fame in WCW. Fuerza Guerrera's son is Juventud Guerrera, who also flourished in WCW's Cruiserweight Division.  

Royal Rumble Match

   Again, the placement of the Rumble match was not in the main event spot.  I can somewhat forgive this year, as it was Shawn Michaels' homecoming but I still feel the Rumble match should be the main event.  Ahmed Johnson was number one and having already competed earlier in the night, was in for a touch challenge.  He didn't mind so much when Nation member Crush was the number two entrant.  A few entrants later was Stone Cold Steve Austin.  There were several moments when Austin cleared the ring of all opponents and waited impatiently for the next wrestler to arrive.  That lasted until his mortal enemy Bret Hart entered the ring.

   This Rumble match had constants like the British Bulldog, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and Owen Hart, the fairly new Rocky Maivia (The Rock), as well as several Luchadores, including perhaps the most famous Luchadore of them all, Mil Mascaras.  Being that this was the first time Luchadores were in a match like this, they might have misunderstood the rules.  In an amazing yet confusing moment, Mil Mascaras scaled the top rope and launched himself onto other wrestlers at ringside, not realizing he eliminated himself.  He was either confused or the rumors of him not wanting to job were true.  It was certainly a highlight!

   The last five remaining competitors were Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Vader, Undertaker, and the Fake Diesel, who would become Kane just nine months later. While it appeared that Stone Cold was eliminated by Bret Hart, the officials were busy dealing with a brawl between Mankind and Terry Funk.  Therefore, they didn't see the elimination. Hart eliminated the Fake Diesel and while Vader scuffled with the Undertaker, Austin reentered the ring, dumping both men out Vader and Taker out, leaving just himself and Bret.  Bret celebrated as if he had won, only for Austin to sneak up behind and eliminate him. The officials recognized Austin as the last remaining competitor in the ring and awarded the Rumble win to him.  Hart was furious! The controversy here coincides with the next match and the events that came after.

WWF Title - Sycho Sid vs. Shawn Michaels

   Despite disagreeing with this being the main event even in HBK's hometown, I enjoyed this match and it was a feel good moment, at least for a short time.  As expected, big Sid dominated a lot of the match.  This was the rematch of their previous encounter two months earlier at the Survivor Series when Sid took extreme measures to take the Title by hitting both Michaels and his mentor Jose Lothario with one of the video cameras.  In this match, Shawn made some great comebacks.  Of course, there were a few times where the referee was down.  When Sid attacked the replacement referee, Michaels got sweet revenge by hitting Sid with, of all things, the very object Sid used on him, a video camera.  It was even sweeter when he delivered his patented Sweet Chin Music super kick to secure his victory and WWF Championship at San Antonio's Alamo Dome.

   The Royal Rumble match results and the events that followed led to some very interesting times in the WWF.  Due to the controversial nature of Austin's win, the final four participants in the Royal Rumble were due to face off at the Final Four PPV to determine who would meet the WWF Champion in the main event of WrestleMania XIII.  As such, Sid was to get his Title rematch against Shawn Michaels.  However, just days before the event, Michaels gave up the Title due to knee problems and delivered his infamous "I lost my smile" speech.  Take it for what you will!  While it's possible he had a significant injury, others claim he did this in order to not have to lose the Title back to the man that he defeated at the previous WrestleMania, Bret Hart.  A Michaels/Hart rematch was rumored to be in the works.  Due to the circumstances, the Final Four match was now for the vacant WWF Title.  Bret defeated Austin, Vader, and Undertaker to win his fourth WWF Title.  The next night, however, he lost it to Sid, who was awarded his rematch, due to the interference of Austin.  It set up Bret vs. Austin at WrestleMania in a submission match and Sid's opponent for the Title was ultimately the Undertaker.  It was very round about way of doing things but it helped launch Stone Cold into super stardom.

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