As far as legit surprises go (no joke entrants or really old-timers), I'd put Mr. Perfects 2002 return in the top 3. He didn't get an amazing up and Ross/Lawler didn't go over the top when he came out, but he won that crowd over. I knew he wasn't going to win and I was still bummed out when he got eliminated.
Edge is my favorite surprise ever. Me and my buddies were drunk as hell and when Edges music hit I think we all just about lost our voices screaming. Total mark out moment.
They should toss Virgil a bone and let him work the rumble match as a surprise entrance. Wouldn't be any worse than when Michael Cole was a entrance and Virgil needs the cash/heat.
God bless Pat Patterson for his creation here. I may disagree with who gets the "Rumble push" at times (Bradshaw and the Miz were marathon men in Rumbles well before their peak and it seemed completely out of place), it's hard to dislike any of the matches...unless were talking about Vinny Ru's abomination in 1999.
We get to look forward to three things like the most marked out markiest mark:
1. Surprise entrants. This list was good, but it wasn't PERFECT. Sorry but Hennig's surprise in 2002's match was unbelievably awesome. It was only amplified as he managed to make it to the final 3 or 4, too.
2. The one man wrecking crew. Yeah, plenty of us dig Diesel in 1994 and Kane in 2001, but they didn't quite embrace the moment the way Austin (1997) and Punk (2010) did. It was pretty cool watching Austin practically morph into a main eventer before our eyes with his BMF approach to things, funny mannerisms, being the sole guy in the ring in two separate moments about 10 entries apart, and cheating his way to win. Punk's SES dominance was also badass and is still a bit fresher in our memories.
3. Tricked out near eliminations. Ever since HBK in 1995, we've had plenty of crazy "almost outs" in these matches. But the last few years with Morrison's spiderman, Kofi's handstand and walk, and Kofi & Bryan's polar opposite grab onto someone outside the ring, it's approaching mythical territory--just what great shit will they think of next?
Hennig wasn't a surprise in 2002. He was advertised well ahead of time (along with The Godfather, Goldust and Rikishi, I think) and actually stuck around for a while afterwards.
Bulldog got screwed in 1995. I mean, if the bell rings, my music plays, and I'm announced as the winner, then I'm going to have to assume the match is over.
A re-debut still falls into the surprise category for me, and his lasting into the final four also was a surprise. And, yes, like most on this board, I'm a Hennig/Perfect mark, so I know he stuck around for several months after this.
1: FULL AGREE. 2002 probably had the best set of surprises with Goldie, Honky, and Perfect.
2: Diesel in 94 did embrace it, in his own way.
3: What else can you do? Land on the announce table, and make a standing long jump back to the apron? Someone on the floor whose only job is to "save" a person everytime they're in danger (cheap).
So who do we think will be surprise entrants this year? I could see Jericho and RVD returning and maybe Seamus will be healthy by then. Jake Roberts was talking about hoping to do a Rumble appearance, that would be a mark out moment for me.
A spot I want to see is a bunch of guys laid out on the floor then someone else gets tossed but lands on one of them, then walks over the strewn bodies to climb back in
Sheamus will be this year's surprise. Last I heard, he was scheduled back from injury around Rumble time, and so far no one has bothered to mention his name on TV. And he better come back as ass-kicking Sheamus and not smiling, happy Sheamus.
I hate to say this but Hogan would blow the roof off the place. I'd love to see Roberts come back for one last rumble. Finally Dusty Rhodes throwing bionic elbows around with his sons would be awesome.
Pat didn't created it at all, he just stole it. San Francisco roy shire wrestling put this gimmick on a lot back in the day and Patterson was in the area all the time..the match always drew. Pat gets credit for pushing Vince to use it though.
Wow, until you posted this I had no idea "That Guy" meant "person who explains to someone else how the English language operates". Thanks for the info. ;)
I absolutely love that one: first Snuka comes out at #18, then Piper at #19. What follows is one of my favorite series of nostalgia wrestling moments: I invite you to follow along: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWENgrZleAs [24:33] Even Undertaker sells a Snuka headbutt. Respect for being victim #1 of the Streak? [25:17] The massive MSG pop when they realize it's Piper's music and his arch-rival is in the ring. [25:55] Snuka's face when Piper points at him. [26:02] The entire ring stops to watch two legends beat each other up. [26:18] It's not clear on this video, but the smile on CM Punk's face is fantastic as he watches them. After all, he credits the coconut incident as what hooked him on wrestling. [27:00] The big boos Kane gets for tossing both out.
Those are the type of nostalgia pops I can live with.
How could Diesel be the number four "surprise" entrant, when, seconds after he comes out, they immediately cut to a fan holding a "BIG DADDY COOL" poster?
Yes, this too. Only for Kane to re-enact that one scene from Jason Takes Manhattan with the rocker chick's death. 2001 = first Rumble with big surprises, no?
He disappeared from Smackdown right after, so I am guessing it didn't help any. I remember in that same Rumble, he blurted out "DIESEL HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!" about three minutes after it happened, as if he just noticed.
I saw Jake in DDP's Yoga infomercial and he looks 1000x better then he looked in Beyond the Mat. He could show up. Of course, the crowd won't know who he is so he'll get no reaction.
If WWE wants a legit surprise entry for this year while also putting the final nail in TNA's coffin, they should throw a boatload of money at Jeff Hardy right about now.
Big pet peeve: someone makes a "surprise" return and Michael Cole rattles off their height and weight. The most annoying one was Brock Lesnar returning in 2012. It's supposed to be this big game-changing shocker of a comeback after 8 years away from the company, but Cole thinks it makes sense to give the guy's height and weight. Fucking retarded.
Booker T coming out was the second loudest pop Ive heard in person. First being Foley'stitle win. People just lost their minds when Booker came out. The Foley moment though was thermo nuclear level the second Austin's music hit.
You have to get to a rumble. Boston garden has been lucky enough to host two and its a blast live especially the countdowns and such. Gotta go some year. Ive been to Mania as well and thats a spectacle but man the rumble is so fun.
LOL...not quite. It was "predicted" as in "that's what people were hoping for" but Seamus was always on the books for it. The joke was that every rumble someone on this blog talks about the last two guys eliminating each other and #30 being the winner.
I'm way more concerned with the fact that in nearly all "surprise" RR entrances there's an audience member holding a sign for that person. I'll live with an announcer knowing, but a random smark is unacceptable..
After seeing Jake Roberts in person last month, I say no. It was an eight man elimination match and all he did was stand on the apron clapping for the majority of the match. The end came with him and his partner, Chris Laplante, against villainous manager Jay Moore. Roberts finally came in, blew the short arm clothesline and messed up the DDT as well. The only memorable part was Jake pulling Jay's pants down and looking inside his underwear. Jake looked horrible in the ring and I don't want to see that on a major stage.
As far as legit surprises go (no joke entrants or really old-timers), I'd put Mr. Perfects 2002 return in the top 3. He didn't get an amazing up and Ross/Lawler didn't go over the top when he came out, but he won that crowd over. I knew he wasn't going to win and I was still bummed out when he got eliminated.
ReplyDeleteNo Haku? He was the WCW Hardcore Champion at the time.
ReplyDeletePerfect wasn't a surprise entrant because they announced that he was returning weeks before the Rumble that year.
ReplyDeleteI completely forgot how loud people were for Jericho. That was nuts.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who the first one was out of the bunch, but when the first announcers music played and they left the booth was pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt was a surprise when you aren't watching the product regularly I guess. Never knew that.
ReplyDeleteThink how surprised I'll be when Batista comes back!
No Piper in 2008?
ReplyDeleteEdge is my favorite surprise ever. Me and my buddies were drunk as hell and when Edges music hit I think we all just about lost our voices screaming. Total mark out moment.
ReplyDeleteI think that first to do that was Lawler in 1997. It led to a pretty funny spot too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gANvweIUy4
Foley was the best. Total mark-out moment with Orton scared shitless.
ReplyDeleteI just bought tickets for the Rumble in three weeks. This element of the show is what I'm looking forward to the most.
ReplyDeleteNo haiku?
ReplyDeleteYep, I think it was Perfect, Val Venis, Goldust and the Godfather, all as "hyped-surprise" entrants.
ReplyDeleteLucky you. You get to witness year 3 of the Kofi tradition. (fingers crossed)
ReplyDeleteNeeds Dick Murdoch in 1995.
ReplyDeleteThey should toss Virgil a bone and let him work the rumble match as a surprise entrance. Wouldn't be any worse than when Michael Cole was a entrance and Virgil needs the cash/heat.
ReplyDeleteHe used to be Meng.
ReplyDeleteThen showed up at the Rumble.
Could not have cared less.
God bless Pat Patterson for his creation here. I may disagree with who gets the "Rumble push" at times (Bradshaw and the Miz were marathon men in Rumbles well before their peak and it seemed completely out of place), it's hard to dislike any of the matches...unless were talking about Vinny Ru's abomination in 1999.
ReplyDeleteWe get to look forward to three things like the most marked out markiest mark:
1. Surprise entrants. This list was good, but it wasn't PERFECT. Sorry but Hennig's surprise in 2002's match was unbelievably awesome. It was only amplified as he managed to make it to the final 3 or 4, too.
2. The one man wrecking crew. Yeah, plenty of us dig Diesel in 1994 and Kane in 2001, but they didn't quite embrace the moment the way Austin (1997) and Punk (2010) did. It was pretty cool watching Austin practically morph into a main eventer before our eyes with his BMF approach to things, funny mannerisms, being the sole guy in the ring in two separate moments about 10 entries apart, and cheating his way to win. Punk's SES dominance was also badass and is still a bit fresher in our memories.
3. Tricked out near eliminations. Ever since HBK in 1995, we've had plenty of crazy "almost outs" in these matches. But the last few years with Morrison's spiderman, Kofi's handstand and walk, and Kofi & Bryan's polar opposite grab onto someone outside the ring, it's approaching mythical territory--just what great shit will they think of next?
The gum swat was the best part of that Rumble.
ReplyDeleteHennig wasn't a surprise in 2002. He was advertised well ahead of time (along with The Godfather, Goldust and Rikishi, I think) and actually stuck around for a while afterwards.
ReplyDeleteBulldog got screwed in 1995. I mean, if the bell rings, my music plays, and I'm announced as the winner, then I'm going to have to assume the match is over.
ReplyDeleteThey wont even have to call him. Just send an agent outside the arena where he has his stand set up and yell out "You're in Mike!"
ReplyDeleteA re-debut still falls into the surprise category for me, and his lasting into the final four also was a surprise. And, yes, like most on this board, I'm a Hennig/Perfect mark, so I know he stuck around for several months after this.
ReplyDeleteBacklund in 2000 also.
ReplyDeleteLOL. That's true. Maybe this is what made him "bizarre" two years after.
ReplyDeleteThat was still a sad picture of him at his autograph stand.
ReplyDeleteOh, he was bizarre long before that. Cocaine is a hell of a drug...
ReplyDeleteStriker just lost it when Booker T came out.
ReplyDeleteMan, if there were 2 PPVs I wouldn't mind going to at least once, it would be WM, and the RR.
Jericho's last year was absolutely incredible. What a pop!
ReplyDeleteIf by heat, you mean actual heating because he can't pay his electric bill.... (Ok, ok, so I'm a very bad person...) :)
ReplyDeleteHennig wasn't a surprise. He was announced as competing on Smackdown
ReplyDeleteBut it wasn't a surprise. You knew he was coming out. I was actually marking out at every buzzer waiting for Perfect
ReplyDelete1: FULL AGREE. 2002 probably had the best set of surprises with Goldie, Honky, and Perfect.
ReplyDelete2: Diesel in 94 did embrace it, in his own way.
3: What else can you do? Land on the announce table, and make a standing long jump back to the apron? Someone on the floor whose only job is to "save" a person everytime they're in danger (cheap).
Jerry Lawler: (HIGH pitched) "WHAT?"
ReplyDeleteIt's VINTAGE LAWLER!
Apparently I mixed up my Rumbles, so ignore #1.
ReplyDeleteYet another Botchamania highlight:
ReplyDelete"YOU STEAL MY WOMEN'S CHAMP! HA HA HA, I STEAL YOUR HARDCORE CHAMP."
"DAMNIT!"
So who do we think will be surprise entrants this year? I could see Jericho and RVD returning and maybe Seamus will be healthy by then. Jake Roberts was talking about hoping to do a Rumble appearance, that would be a mark out moment for me.
ReplyDeleteI was kinda hoping he'd say it for every entry, but he said it a couple times on one or two of them.
ReplyDeleteHey, it's "That Guy". Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteChristian? Is he healthy?
ReplyDeleteStriker's variations on "anything can happen" were also getting a bit annoying.
ReplyDeleteHonky in 2001 rules. Love King marking out and JR going: You'd think they were cousins.
ReplyDeleteKane shaking his head after El Kabonging him is great
Morrison jumping to the guard rail then walking on it before jumping to the steps is my favorite of those spots.
ReplyDeleteAfter getting tossed he goes back out and ups the price with a sign "2014 Royal Rumble Entrant"
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think Striker got demoted for I'M MARKING OUT BRO.
ReplyDeleteA spot I want to see is a bunch of guys laid out on the floor then someone else gets tossed but lands on one of them, then walks over the strewn bodies to climb back in
ReplyDeleteDidn't this happen with Rey Mysterio somewhat?
ReplyDeleteDid it? I don't recall
ReplyDeleteRoberts or GTFO
ReplyDeleteBut *advertising* his appearance beforehand makes it not a surprise.
ReplyDelete'09 Royal Rumble. He gets tossed but steps on Miz and Morrison to save himself.
ReplyDeleteFigures. Least favorite wrestler does a spot I have always wanted to see. Must have blocked it from my memory.
ReplyDeleteLIttle did we know that it was going to get worse...
ReplyDeleteThis, this, oh a thousand times this.
ReplyDeletePerfect's wasn't a surprised tho. They had video packages hyping his return, along with Goldust and some other dude.
ReplyDeleteHonky Tonk Man at the 2001 Royal Rumble needs some love
ReplyDeleteSheamus will be this year's surprise. Last I heard, he was scheduled back from injury around Rumble time, and so far no one has bothered to mention his name on TV. And he better come back as ass-kicking Sheamus and not smiling, happy Sheamus.
ReplyDeleteRoberts. Hands down. If he isn't in it? Fuck WWE.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say this but Hogan would blow the roof off the place.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Roberts come back for one last rumble.
Finally Dusty Rhodes throwing bionic elbows around with his sons would be awesome.
Sid! I don't care if no one else wants to see it.
ReplyDeleteThis genuinely got me hyped up for the Rumble
ReplyDeleteITS A SHAMEFUL THING LOBSTER HEAD TOO MANY LIMES
ReplyDeleteI actually laughed at "too many limes".
ReplyDeleteI still hate matt stiker
ReplyDeletePat didn't created it at all, he just stole it. San Francisco roy shire wrestling put this gimmick on a lot back in the day and Patterson was in the area all the time..the match always drew. Pat gets credit for pushing Vince to use it though.
ReplyDeleteDoug gilbert in 96! Haha
ReplyDeleteWow, until you posted this I had no idea "That Guy" meant "person who explains to someone else how the English language operates". Thanks for the info. ;)
ReplyDeleteTakro Omari (I think, from AJPW) was in the 96 Rumble too, for whatever fucking reason. Remember the AAA guys in 97?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that one: first Snuka comes out at #18, then Piper at #19. What follows is one of my favorite series of nostalgia wrestling moments:
ReplyDeleteI invite you to follow along: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWENgrZleAs
[24:33] Even Undertaker sells a Snuka headbutt. Respect for being victim #1 of the Streak?
[25:17] The massive MSG pop when they realize it's Piper's music and his arch-rival is in the ring.
[25:55] Snuka's face when Piper points at him.
[26:02] The entire ring stops to watch two legends beat each other up.
[26:18] It's not clear on this video, but the smile on CM Punk's face is fantastic as he watches them. After all, he credits the coconut incident as what hooked him on wrestling.
[27:00] The big boos Kane gets for tossing both out.
Those are the type of nostalgia pops I can live with.
I'd like to see steamboat as surprise entrant. Do a sequence with Bryan and cm punk and say goodnight.
ReplyDeleteQuit downvoting me, Smiling Happy Sheamus.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they are putting him back in the ring after the Nexus angle
ReplyDeleteScott Hall in 2014. That is all.
ReplyDeleteFucking Hogan would be an AWESOME surprise entrant also.
ReplyDelete#paddingppostcount
Hogan might break a hip getting eliminated.
ReplyDeleteForgot about that.
ReplyDeleteHow could Diesel be the number four "surprise" entrant, when, seconds after he comes out, they immediately cut to a fan holding a "BIG DADDY COOL" poster?
ReplyDeleteThe spot I want to see is thae last two guys eliminately each other, and #30 walking to the ring to claim victory.
ReplyDeleteFans have their pens and markers ready, bro
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with Steamboat and the Nexus angle?
ReplyDeleteYes, this too. Only for Kane to re-enact that one scene from Jason Takes Manhattan with the rocker chick's death. 2001 = first Rumble with big surprises, no?
ReplyDeleteHe disappeared from Smackdown right after, so I am guessing it didn't help any. I remember in that same Rumble, he blurted out "DIESEL HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!" about three minutes after it happened, as if he just noticed.
ReplyDeleteHe took a beating from them as part of their push, and ended up with some health issues for a while after.
ReplyDeleteShannon Moore saved Matt Hardy a few times, I think in 2003.
ReplyDeleteDiesel wrote the book. He went from a nobody to a somebody in one 10 minute span. Austin at least had some visibility before his run.
ReplyDeleteI saw Jake in DDP's Yoga infomercial and he looks 1000x better then he looked in Beyond the Mat. He could show up. Of course, the crowd won't know who he is so he'll get no reaction.
ReplyDeleteI love in the 2009 Rumble when everyone, including Taker, makes sure to bump for Hacksaw
ReplyDeleteHonky Tonk Man in 2001, and Mr. Perfect in 2002 are still two of my all time favorites.
ReplyDeleteEh, I found it endearing.
ReplyDeleteIf WWE wants a legit surprise entry for this year while also putting the final nail in TNA's coffin, they should throw a boatload of money at Jeff Hardy right about now.
ReplyDeleteNote that the Orton/Foley confrontation is clipped to hell, or it looks like it. I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteI think because He Who WWE Shall Not Name was in the clip.
ReplyDeleteExactly. So cool watching everyone line up to bump for Superfly. A nice show of respect.
ReplyDeleteI love when Foley's music hits and Orton's head jerks right up. He knows he's fucked
ReplyDeleteBig pet peeve: someone makes a "surprise" return and Michael Cole rattles off their height and weight. The most annoying one was Brock Lesnar returning in 2012. It's supposed to be this big game-changing shocker of a comeback after 8 years away from the company, but Cole thinks it makes sense to give the guy's height and weight. Fucking retarded.
ReplyDeleteWarrior clearing out the 3MB types would be tremendous.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if he comes out as Razor Ramon.
ReplyDeleteThat would be tits
ReplyDeleteJust no polka dots, please.
ReplyDeleteRoberts in 96, Backlund in 2000 and Perfect in 2002 were also great. Roberts this year has to happen. The kids can just learn who he is.
ReplyDeleteOr Angle. Tell me the place wouldn't go nuts if his music hits and we get the "YOU SUCK" chants going again.
ReplyDeleteBecause he won the Rumble.
ReplyDeleteI want that to happen, just so the little kids can have a confused look on their faces.
ReplyDeleteCan he even walk to the ring at this point?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Pittsburgh would do the You Suck chants put the pop would be massive.
ReplyDeleteWasn't the Big Show return from 2001? I remember picking him in my pool for that one and he wasn't an announced entrant.
ReplyDeleteWasn't that an idea for Jericho in 2012 but it got predicted?
ReplyDeleteBooker T coming out was the second loudest pop Ive heard in person. First being Foley'stitle win. People just lost their minds when Booker came out. The Foley moment though was thermo nuclear level the second Austin's music hit.
ReplyDeleteYou have to get to a rumble. Boston garden has been lucky enough to host two and its a blast live especially the countdowns and such. Gotta go some year. Ive been to Mania as well and thats a spectacle but man the rumble is so fun.
"Hey, it's an old, sort-of-fat, chain-smoking asshole!"
ReplyDeleteKids know who the Sandman is.
ReplyDeleteLOL...not quite. It was "predicted" as in "that's what people were hoping for" but Seamus was always on the books for it. The joke was that every rumble someone on this blog talks about the last two guys eliminating each other and #30 being the winner.
ReplyDeleteDusty Rhodes in the rumble?! What next, the Undertaker rolling out Sapphire's coffin.....
ReplyDeleteMeng/Haku could probably take on this entire blog at once and win....
ReplyDeleteDrew Carey is a fucking WWE Hall of Famer and doesnt get a mention?! This is complete bullshit....
ReplyDeleteHate to be an asshole, but Roberts wasn't a "surprise" either. He was announced ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteYes. Big Show *WAS* a surprise entrant. He had been in OVW to lose some weight.... And more weight found him.
ReplyDeleteI think in 1996 they legit didn't have 30 names on the roster. We also got The Headhunters that year.
ReplyDeleteHe bit off the nose
ReplyDeleteOf a mark in a bar fight!
Does he get on-line?
Haku superior, Big Show inferior.
ReplyDeleteNo it's because Vince and Steph are still bitter at Stevie Richards for trying to create his own angle on Sunday Night Heat.
ReplyDeleteFor your sake, I hope not....
ReplyDeleteI hope Vader is in the rumble, he'd looked great against Heath Slater
ReplyDeleteCarey forgot to shake hands with Vince on the way to the back and is now being buried.
ReplyDeleteI'm way more concerned with the fact that in nearly all "surprise" RR entrances there's an audience member holding a sign for that person. I'll live with an announcer knowing, but a random smark is unacceptable..
ReplyDeleteIf Taker is really in bad shape, I could totally live with a WM Buried Alive match vs WWE HOFer Drew Carey...
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing Jake Roberts in person last month, I say no. It was an eight man elimination match and all he did was stand on the apron clapping for the majority of the match. The end came with him and his partner, Chris Laplante, against villainous manager Jay Moore. Roberts finally came in, blew the short arm clothesline and messed up the DDT as well. The only memorable part was Jake pulling Jay's pants down and looking inside his underwear. Jake looked horrible in the ring and I don't want to see that on a major stage.
ReplyDeleteI liked Matt, he seemed like a real fan who enjoyed his job unlike the useless robots doing commentary now.
ReplyDelete