A Look Back at the First Royal Rumble: Hits, misses, and Lasting Impact
The 1988 royal Rumble, WWE’s inaugural foray into the now-iconic event, wasn’t the spectacle it is today. Originally broadcast on the USA Network rather than as a pay-per-view, the show served as a testing ground for a uniquely formatted battle royal conceived by producer Pat Patterson. As fans gear up for the latest installment, revisiting this first Rumble reveals what worked, what didn’t, and how it laid the foundation for a wrestling tradition.
The event, held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, featured a card comprised of a singles match, two tag team bouts, and the 20-man Royal Rumble itself – a number later increased to 30 with its transition to a pay-per-view event the following year. Contemporary accounts paint a picture of a show with both promising moments and critically important shortcomings.
the Opener Falls Flat: Steamboat & rude underwhelm
Despite the involvement of wrestling legend Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat,the opening match against Rick Rude proved a disappointing start to the evening. While not a terrible contest,the slow pace and ultimately controversial disqualification finish left much to be desired.
There were glimpses of brilliance, including Steamboat’s masterful selling and moments of escalating intensity. However, these were overshadowed by questionable booking decisions, such as Steamboat repeatedly allowing his hand to go limp during a submission hold, despite the referee’s inaction.
The finish itself was chaotic. The referee initially signaled Rude as the victor via submission, only to reverse the decision moments later, awarding the win to Steamboat due to Rude interfering with the official.”While it’s not a terribly offensive match, considering the names involved, it could’ve been much better,” one analyst noted. The booking, it seems, did a disservice to both performers, a missed chance given the potential for a truly memorable opener.
A Commentary standout
One undeniable highlight of the 1988 Royal Rumble was the commentary of Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Retired from in-ring competition, Ventura had transitioned to a full-time commentary role and excelled as a heel color commentator alongside Vince McMahon. He seamlessly blended data with reactive, often bombastic, observations.
While some felt Ventura’s later return to commentary didn’t recapture the same magic, his energy and persona were perfectly suited to the late 1980s wrestling landscape. “His bombastic voice and over-the-top personality are suited to the personas of the era,” a senior official stated.Ventura’s enthusiasm for the Rumble stipulation itself was palpable, substantially contributing to the audience’s positive reception and ensuring the event’s longevity.
A 20-Minute Lowlight: the Dino Bravo Bench Pressing Segment
The absolute nadir of the first Royal Rumble was a nearly 20-minute segment dedicated to wrestler Dino Bravo attempting to break the world record for bench pressing. With Ventura acting as his spotter and Frenchy Martin as his mouthpiece, the segment was a tedious exercise in manufactured heat.
The intention, presumably, was to build Bravo as a villain, but the execution was a colossal failure. “It’s nothing more than a giant waste of time,” according to one observer. The segment was longer than some of the actual matches on the card and featured bravo repeatedly stalling, further frustrating the audience.
Women’s Tag Team Action
Thankfully, the show rebounded with the second match, featuring the Jumping Bomb Angels (Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki) capturing the Women’s Tag Team Championship from the Glamour Girls, Leilani Kai and Judy Martin.
The jumping Bomb Angels were quickly gaining popularity, showcasing a high-octane style unfamiliar to many fans, particularly in women’s wrestling. The match, a two-out-of-three falls affair, allowed for a substantial amount of in-ring action. However, commentary from McMahon revealed a lack of familiarity with the performers, referring to tateno and Yamazaki as the “Pink Angel” and “Red Angel” based on their ring attire. Despite their win, the jumping Bomb Angels’ success didn’t translate into a sustained focus on women’s wrestling within the company.
A Missed Opportunity with the Heavyweights
A significant disappointment was the relegation of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant to a mere contract signing. A rematch from their iconic WrestleMania 3 encounter, the match was postponed to a later date. Rather, the main event was a lackluster tag team match between The Islanders and the Young Stallions.
Many argue that pitting Hogan against Andre in the main event would have been a far more impactful decision. “Rather than having Andre beat Hogan for the world title weeks later, I argue that it would’ve made much more sense to have it cap off this show,” one commentator suggested.The Rumble wasn’t yet positioned as the main event, so a title change wouldn’t have overshadowed it, and it would have provided a more substantial conclusion to a show that would eventually become legendary.
The Royal Rumble itself: A Successful Experiment
Despite its flaws, the first televised Royal Rumble proved to be a resounding success, establishing a formula that continues to captivate audiences annually. The inaugural Rumble featured notable names like Bret hart, Tito Santana, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, The Ultimate Warrior, and ultimately, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan as the winner.
While Duggan’s victory might seem unconventional by today’s standards, the crowd reaction was overwhelmingly positive. “I won’t lie; to me, Duggan is a strange choice for the first Rumble winner. That said, fans in attendance seemed ecstatic when he eliminated The One-Man gang,” one source admitted. Though the win didn’t promptly propel Duggan to championship contention, his name is forever etched in wrestling history as the first-ever televised Royal Rumble winner, solidifying the event’s place in sports entertainment lore.
