Actual results:
1. Tatanka def. Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon)
2. Tag Team Championship: The Quebecers (c) (w/ Johnny Polo) def. Bret Hart and Owen Hart
3. Intercontinental Championship: Razor Ramon (c) def. Irwin R. Schyster
4. WWE Championship Casket Match: Yokozuna (c) w/ (Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) def. The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer)
5. Bret Hart and Lex Luger co-won the Royal Rumble
Overall, this was not a bad Royal Rumble event, but I can't say enough how much I hate the concept of co-winners. It's like the old saying when a coach can't decide on a starting quarterback, "If you have more than one, you really have none." However, the way they booked it with Yokozuna having to defend twice did help pave the way for one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all-time in Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, but the thought of the WWE Championship even possibly changing hands twice in one night at WMX the same way it did at WMIX makes for a bad feeling in this fan's stomach. Here is how I would have rewritten the first big event of 1994.
Rewriting the 1994 Royal Rumble
1. The Bushwhackers vs. The Headshrinkers
Luke and Butch make a seldom ppv appearance here with the big 30-man battle royal coming up and my preference of not making guys pull double duty. Fatu and Samu make short work of them and remain high on the tag team pecking order.
2. Intercontinental Championship: Razor Ramon (c) vs. Irwin R. Schyster
Nothing I would change about this one. With IRS no longer one half of Money Inc, a midcard push would be in order. This one comes about when IRS steals Razor's gold chains and tries to take the rest of his gold in the form of the IC Title belt. Razor would have none of it however, finishing Schyster off with the Razor's Edge in a match filled with controversy, interference from Shawn Michaesl, and 2 referees.
3. Tag Team Championship: The Steiner Brothers (c) vs. The Smoking Gunns
A battle of two teams of brothers here with mutual respect for one another as the Gunns challenge the Steiners for the tag team gold. Unfortunately, we wouldn't find out who the better team was thanks to The Quebecers, who decided if they weren't going to get a shot at the title, no one was. They would make their way to ringside and attack the Gunns, giving them the DQ win.
4. Tatanka vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
This was a solid match that served its purpose for the most part and the only thing I would change is the finish. Bam Bam wins with the moonsault and a little help from Luna, getting revenge from Survivor Series this past November when Tatanka would get the better of him and be the last man standing. These 2 would find each other again in the Royal Rumble match, being the only 2 men to make a double appearance on the evening.
5. WWE Championship: Bret "Hitman" Hart (c) vs. "The Narcissist" Lex Luger
Finally Hart and Luger would meet here after being on a collision course seemingly forever. Bret having been a fighting champion, having many successful title defenses since winning the gold at WrestleMania IX, would take on the #1 contender who had yet to be pinned in his first year with WWE. Despite Luger going out of his way in promos to time and time again after Survivor Series to say that Bret Hart had been dodging him ever since his arrival in the WWE, Hart would not back down and granted him a title shot for the Royal Rumble.
In a terrific 20+ minute match, Luger would come within an eyelash of becoming new WWE Champion several times. In the end, Bret wouldn't be able to get Luger to submit to the Sharpshooter, but still would go on to retain the gold with a backslide pin. Now, to find out who he would defend against next at WrestleMania X.
6. Royal Rumble Match: Owen Hart wins by last eliminating Shawn Michaels
This is a no-brainer here, really. Bret is still the WWE Champion and I of course would never get rid of their matchup at WMX. But I would have liked to have seen it with the title on the line. Owen goes in still a babyface, wins from entry #17, outlasting other great performances from Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage, Crush and Jeff Jarrett. And the big heel turn comes AFTER the Rumble match, when Bret comes out to congratulate his little brother. Owen takes exception to being congratulated, attacking Bret from behind after having his hand raised by his older brother and Bret's, not Owen's, music plays. Owen yells into the camera that Bret has never taken him seriously, he's always been the black sheep of the Hart family, and now he's gonna show the whole world that he's always been the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. WrestleMania X here we come.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment and/or post your changes to this card.
Next up, WrestleMania X.
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