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Royal Rumble: 18/1/1998
Match Card
1. Vader vs Goldust w/Luna Vachon in a singles match.
2. Max Mini, Mosaic and Nova vs Battalion, El Torito and Tarantula in a Six-man tag team match with Sunny as special guest referee
3. The Rock (c) vs Ken Shamrock in a Singles match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship.
4. The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) (c) vs The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) ina tag team match for the WWF World Tag Team Championships.
5. 30-Man Royal Rumble match.
6. Shawn Michaels (c) w/Triple H & Chyna vs the Undertaker in a Casket match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
WWF Royal Rumble was live at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California. The opening match began with Goldust attacking Vader as he entered the ring. Vader soon recovered and threw Goldust into the turnbuckle before he eventually fell out of the ring where Vader also shoved Luna Vachon to the ground. After a suplex and a big splash, Goldust was dragged to the corner so Vader could attempt his Vader Bomb, but a low blow stopped him. Vader then attempted the move for the second time, only to have Luna jump on his back. Vader hit the move anyway, and scored the pin.
With Sunny as the special guest referee, a six-man tag match of lucha libre midget wrestling took place. The face team took most of the early advantage, tagging frequently while the heel team were regularly thrown under the bottom rope and replaced with a fresh member. Max Mini used Sunny to help him dropkick Battalion, Tarantula and then El Torito in order and then delivered a top rope hurricarana to Torito, and winning the match with a backslide pin.
The Intercontinental bout began with an exchange of punches and a few kicks until Ken Shamrock mistimed a hurricarana, allowing Rocky Maivia to slam him down. After being kicked to the corner, Shamrock replied with a crossbody that only gained him a two-count, as did a fisherman suplex pin. Rock took control by reversing an Irish whip into a DDT and then putting the challenger in a headlock. His next attempt at a DDT was reversed, however, into a powerslam prompting Nation members to storm the ring. With the referee distracted, The Rock used a brass knuckles to hit Shamrock and then disposed of the knuckleduster inside Shamrock's trunks.
By the time the referee looked back to the ring, he could only make a two count and Shamrock pulled off a belly to belly suplex slam, winning the match. However, as Shamrock celebrated, Rock appealed to Mike Chioda who, upon discovering the foreign object, reversed the decision and took the belt from a bemused Shamrock. Then, Chioda gave it back to The Rock, making him the winner via disqualification. A furious Shamrock attacked the referee for stripping him of the title.
In the tag team match, New Age Outlaws prematurely began by attacking Legion of Doom before the bell rang but the Legion quickly turned the match in their favor, chasing the Outlaws up the ramp as the champions tried to lose by count out. Still holding control, the Legion took turns on Road Dogg who eventually handcuffed Hawk to the corner outside the ring. Regardless, Animal successfully dominated both Road Dogg and Billy Gunn, powerslamming Gunn into a pin that was broken by a chair shot. The disqualification gave the victory to LOD while the New Age Outlaws retained the belts, double teaming Animal until Hawk broke free from the cuffs to save his partner.
And now the next match was for the Royal Rumble match.
The Royal Rumble began with Mick Foley's persona Cactus Jack as #1, bringing trash cans to the ring. The second contestant was Terry Funk's alter-ego Chainsaw Charlie who ran to the ring wielding his chainsaw before Cactus hit him with a chair and the two engaged in a hardcore battle briefly interrupted by Tom Brandi who they both eliminated over the top rope.
As The Rock entered, he was met with a trash can over the head, being bundled out of the ring under the bottom rope briefly. As the ring filled up Cactus Jack went to clothesline Charlie over the top rope but inadvertently threw himself over and eliminated himself.
Owen Hart came out #9 but before he was able to enter the ring, NWA North American Champion Jeff Jarrett and ally Jim Cornette attacked him. Soon after, at #16, Mick Foley returned to the ring in his Mankind gimmick, returning the favour by eliminating Chainsaw Charlie while Ken Shamrock and The Rock resumed their feud from earlier.
Jarrett officially came out at #18 and was soon joined in the ring by Owen Hart, who ran out from the back and eliminated Jarrett. Hart himself was soon distracted by the non-competing Triple H, who hit him with a crutch as Chyna yanked him out.
The countdown for number 22 began.
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BUZZ!
Skull's theme plays but after a few seconds he does not come out. The cameraman backstage shows Skull knocked out and looking like he got attacked by somebody. A pair of boots walk by the camera and the camera goes black, leaving everyone confused.
OOOOOOWHOOOOOO!
The Devil's Wolf plays as the lights change to dark red and dark blue/purple and the Bladewolf walks out to a pop from the fans, tossing his trench coat as he heads towards the ring with a glare in those demonic eyes of his, the desire to win the match and go to WrestleMania and face the WWF Champion was all he desired at the moment and he will get it no matter what.
Bladewolf slides into the ring and immediately he takes down Marc Mero with an uppercut, then knocks down Mark Henry with a hard right hand, then uppercuts the Honky Tonk Man before grabbing him...AND TOSSES HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE! THE HONKY TONK MAN IS ELIMINATED!
Mero attacks Bladewolf from behind bu the Demon Wolf turns around and knees him in the stomach before dropping a forearm across his back then knees him in the ribs multiple times before grabbing him by the throat, lifts him high into the air...AND PLANTS HIM WITH A CHOKESLAM!
Bladewolf is then blindsided by Mark Henry and the two go at it, Bladewolf throwing lefts and rights at the big man before grabbing him by the throat with both hands and with amazing strength tosses Henry into the corner where Bladewolf unloads with lefts and rights until Mero then tries his luck but Bladewolf grabs him by the throat, lifts him up and walks towards the ropes...AND CHOKESLAMS MERO OVER THE TOPE ROPE! MARC MERO IS ELIMINATED!
Bladewolf glares at Mero before he whips around to go attack Mark Henry as the countdown for the next entrant begins.
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BUZZ!
Kama Mustafa's theme plays and he comes out, heading down towards the ring. Bladewolf stomps away on Henry before flipping his hair back as he watches Mustafa enter the ring before running over...AND LAYS HIM OUT WITH A SPEAR! Bladewolf gets to his feet and turns around straight into a clothesline by Mark Henry but Bladewolf sits up instantly, causing Henry to back off. Bladewolf takes Henry down with a clothesline of his own.
Bladewolf then walks over to the Rock in the corner and stomps away at him in the stomach, then lays in a hard right hand. Kama Mustafa attacks Bladewolf from behind but Bladewolf hammers at him with right hands until the Rock, Mark Henry, and D-Lo Brown began teaming up on him but the Demon Wolf fights them off with right hands.
Bladewolf grabs the Rock by the throat, lifts him up...AND HITS THE CHOKESLAM! Bladewolf turns and ducks a right from Henry before rebounding off the ropes...AND NAILS HENRY WITH A SPEAR!
The countdown for number 24 begins.
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BUZZ!
Stone Cold Steve Austin's theme hits to a pop and all the action in the ring stops as all the men await Austin's arrival except Bladewolf who takes the Nation of Domination down from behind when Austin slides into the ring, turns Bladewolf around...AND NAILS THE STONE COLD STUNNER! Bladewolf rolls underneath the bottom rope and onto his feet, shaking his head to shake off the cobwebs from the Stunner.
The Demon Wolf watches Austin eliminate 8-Ball, then slides into the ring and Austin notices. The crowd comes unglued as Austin and Bladewolf start slugging it out with right hands, nobody wanting to even think about getting in between them, except D-Lo Brown who foolishly tries attacking Bladewolf but is met with a right hand, causing him to stumble towards Austin who nails him with a right hand and D-Lo goes back and fourth with being bit by right hands from Bladewolf and Austin.
Thrasher then attacks Bladewolf from behind, but Bladewolf just grabs him...THEN TOSSES HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE! THRASHER IS ELIMINATED!
The countdown for the next entrant begins.
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BUZZ!
Henry O. Godwin's music plays and he comes sprinting down into the ring, going straight after Austin while Bladewolf attacks The Rock in the corner, delivering rights into his stomach before headbutting him. Bladewolf fights off D-Lo Brown and Mark Henry again before grabbing Rock from the front and hits a Belly-to-Belly Suplex.
Bladewolf gets to his feet, ducks a right from D-Lo, grabs him from behind and hits a release German Suplex. Bladewolf then grabs Henry and hits a German Suplex. Kama attacks Bladewolf from behind, forcing the 7ft man to a knee as Kama hammers away at the masked face of the Bladewolf before going to rip it off but Bladewolf pushes him away and viciously attacks him, getting him into the corner and assaults him with lefts and rights before stomping away on him then uppercuts him in the chin, sending him down onto his backside.
Bladewolf flips his hair back again before turning a round into a right from the Rock but Bladewolf knees him in the stomach then grabs him from behind before hitting a German Suplex. Henry goes to attack Bladewolf but is scooped up onto Bladewolf's shoulders...AND HIT WITH THE WOLF'S HOWL!
Bladewolf gets to his feet and looks around at whoever was standing, he sees Austin fighting Godwin and walks over to attack as the countdown begins once more for the next entrant.
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BUZZ!
Savio Vega's theme hits and he comes out towards the ring, sliding in only to be knocked down by a right hand from the Bladewolf who glares at Vega's partners, telling them very clearly he'll hurt them badly should they enter the ring. they back off and Bladewolf hits a leg drop across Vega's throat before getting to his feet, lifts him up into a Gorilla press then walks forward...AND TOSSES VEGA ONTO HIS PARTNERS OUTSIDE THE RING! SAVIO VEGA HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
Goldust tries attacking Bladewolf from behind but is taken down with a hard clothesline by Austin. Bladewolf and Austin then begin teaming up as they take out anyone who comes at them before Bladewolf attacks the Rock as the countdown begins again.
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BUZZ!
The Nation of Domination's theme starts up and out comes Faarooq who slides into the ring and goes straight for the ring. Bladewolf sees the Rock and Austin going at it outside the ring but knew they weren't eliminated due to going through either the middle or bottom rope. Bladewolf takes down Faarooq with a hard right, then knees D-Lo Brown in the gut before dropping an elbow into his back then grabs him from behind before hitting a German Suplex.
Bladewolf then rolls out underneath the bottom rope and takes out a steel chair before sliding back into the ring...AND KNOCKS DOWN MARK HENRY WITH A CHAIR SHOT! THEN ONE TO D-LO BROWN! THEN ONE TO THE ROCK! THEN ONE TO FAAROOQ! THEN A CHAIR SHOT TO AUSTIN!
Bladewolf tosses the chair out the ring as the countdown begins once more.
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BUZZ!
Dude Love's theme hits to a pop and one of the three faces of Mick Foley runs out and comes down into the ring, goes right for Bradshaw...AND ELIMINATES HIM! BRADSHAW IS ELIMINATED!
Dude Love turns into a right hand from Bladewolf who then tries eliminating him but Dude Love fights back and the two go at it, fighting for the first time since Badd Blood last October.
Bladewolf headbutts Dude Love as the countdown starts up again.
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The theme of Chainz hits and he comes out, running down straight towards the ring and slides in...BUT IS CLOTHESLINED OVER THE TOP ROPE RIGHT AWAY BY BLADEWOLF! CHAINZ IS ELIMINATED!
Bladewolf is attacked from behind by Austin and the two go at it once more, slugging it out with right hands until Bladewolf knees Austin in the stomach, then uppercuts Austin, getting him into the corner. Bladewolf stomps away on Austin ass the countdown for the last entrant starts up again.
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IT'S VADER TIME!
Vader's theme hits to a pop and he comes out, sliding into the ring where he goes right for Goldust. Bladewolf is still going at it with Austin who ducks a right, Bladewolf turns into a kick to the gut...THEN A STONE COLD STUNNER! Bladewolf rolls underneath the bottom rope to the outside to recover as the match goes on.
Minutes past as one after another men are eliminated from the match. Bladewolf gets back into the ring just as Mark Henry is eliminated and now it is down to five men, The Rock, Faarooq, Stone Cold, Dude Love, and Bladewolf. Five men who want to face the World Wrestling Federation Champion at WrestleMania 14. Bladewolf goes right after Faarooq and Dude Love as they brawl against the ropes before he grabs them...AND PUSHES THEM OVER THE TOP ROPE! FAAROOQ AND DUDE LOVE ARE ELIMINATED!
It is now down to the Bladewolf, the Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Bladewolf watches as Austin and the Rock go back and fourth with each other until Austin...NAILS ROCK WITH THE STUNNER! Rock stumbles backwards only to be grabbed by Bladewolf...THEN TOSSED OVER THE TOP ROPE! THE ROCK IS ELIMINATED!
It is now down to two men. The crowd cheers as Bladewolf and Austin butt heads before Austin hits the right first and Bladewolf retaliates with a right hook of his own then tackles Austin into the corner, Bladewolf drives his shoulder into Austin's gut multiple times before uppercutting Austin, causing him to fall down. Bladewolf grabs Austin who fights back with a fury of rights, causing Bladewolf to back off.
Austin and Bladewolf go back to slugging it out with lefts and rights until Bladewolf ducks one, rebounds off the ropes...AND TAKES AUSTIN DOWN WITH A SPEAR! Bladewolf gets to his feet, grabs Austin by the throat and lifts him straight into the air...BEFORE BRINGING HIM DOWN WITH A CHOKESLAM!
Bladewolf grabs Austin again and scoops him onto his right shoulder, heading towards the ropes when Austin wiggles out and gets off, turns Bladewolf around...AND NAILS THE STONE COLD STUNNER ONCE MORE! Bladewolf stumbles backwards towards the ropes and Austin...CLOTHESLINES BLADEWOLF OVER THE TOP ROPE! BLADEWOLF IS ELIMINATED! STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN WINS THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
Austin's theme plays as he celebrates his big victory while Bladewolf gets to his feet and glares at Austin who flips him off. Bladewolf shakes his head before he heads backstage...
Bladewolf didn't win the Royal Rumble, but that doesn't mean his desire to be WWF Champion has stopped. He will do whatever it takes to get a shot at the title at WrestleMania 14.