The 2MB Wrestling Podcast is being re-branded, so Sunday the Top Of The Morning Podcast will be trying its hand at a watchalong live with the 1995 Royal Rumble match! Obviously being most remembered for Shawn Michaels’ epic and controversial victory, what else happened that night? Let’s find out and watch with Top Of The Morning live, Sunday at 9AM EST!

Open: A limousine pulls into the back of the arena and out steps Pamela Anderson. The WWF Superstars are there to meet her with open arms, but she shrugs them off and enters her locker room.

Match #1 for the WWF Intercontinental Championship: ‘Double J’ Jeff Jarrett w/The Roadie vs. WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon
A loud “Razor” chant breaks out, The Bad Guy throws his toothpick in The Roadie’s face at ringside, Double J tries to take the opening to attack from behind, misses with a clothesline and gets decked by big right hands. The champion shoots him to the corner and follows in, Jarrett hops up-and-over, stuns Ramon with a fist, hits the ropes for a crossbody, but gets caught in mid-air for a fallaway slam. Razor plants him with a chokeslam and the challenger rolls outside for a breather, The Roadie tends to Double J and he slowly steps back inside, toweling himself off. Collar & elbow tie-up sees Jarrett score with an arm drag, he struts around, go back in for another tie-up, Double J ducks under into a waistlock and hits another arm drag before strutting again.

They lock back up and the challenger goes to a wristlock, The Bad Guy counters to one of his own, switches to a top wristlock then a hammerlock, Double J reverses to a hammerlock, Ramon counters right back, but gets taken down by a drop toe hold and Jarrett slaps him on the back of the head, backing into the corner and having a good laugh. Another tie-up and Double J gains a side headlock, gets pushed off to the ropes, the champion drills him with a haymaker, clotheslines him to the outside and the challenger takes another little stroll to gather himself before heading back in. Jarrett asks for a test of strength, Razor gets the upper-hand and starts working over the shoulder, wrenching away at the joint, slaps on an armbar and returns the favor with slaps to the back of the head.

He whips Jarrett to the ropes for a right hand, Double J ducks under it, connects with multiple dropkicks, The Bad Guy crawls up to the 2nd rope, the challenger with a seated senton to the back, hits the ropes for a flying clothesline and covers for a count of 2. He sends Ramon hard into the turnbuckles from corner-to-corner, looks for a boot to the breadbasket, the champion blocks it, avoids an enzuigiri attempt and tries an elbow drop, Double J rolling out of harm’s way and gets another 2 count. Jarrett grounds Ramon now with a rear chinlock, The Bad Guy finds his way to a standing position and hits the ropes, the challenger tries a hip toss that’s blocked, Razor looks for one of his own to no avail, but hooks the challenger for a backslide that gets 2.

Jarrett quickly levels him with a clothesline for another 2 count, irish whip to the ropes is reversed, the champion ducks his head for a back body drop, Double J counters with a sunset flip, but it’s blocked and the champion drops down for a near fall. The challenger with a roll-up for his own 2 count off the kick-out, quickly lays Razor out with a dropkick, hooks the leg, but still only finds a count of 2. He whips the champion to the ropes and hops on his back with a sleeper hold, The Bad Guy shoots him off to the ropes and misses with a wild right hand, the challenger slides through the legs, gets sent back to the ropes, Ramon again tries a back body drop, but gets planted by a swinging neckbreaker, Jarrett putting his feet on the ropes for multiple 2 counts.

Irish whip to the corner is reversed, Razor charges in and slides to the outside, sweeps the legs and yanks Jarrett into the ring post to crotch him, steps back into the ring, climbs to the 2nd rope and hits a reverse bulldog for a near fall. The champion calls for a clothesline and builds a head of steam, Double J side-steps him and throws him over the top to the floor, Ramon pulls himself up favoring his leg, Jarrett distracts the official and The Roadie chopblocks The Bad Guy’s knee, the referee putting the count on and reaches 10.
Winner: ‘Double J’ Jeff Jarrett (Count-Out)

• After The Bell: Jarrett grabs a mic and doesn’t want Razor to get away this easily, stating he didn’t come all this way to not walk away with the title. He thinks if the champion accepts that decision then he’s proving he is a coward, The Bad Guy taking the bait and heading back to the ring to restart the match.

Ramon hobbles back into the squared circle and the bell rings to restart it, Double J charges at him and gets driven into the turnbuckles, the champion quickly goes to a schoolboy and gains a near fall. Jarrett pops back up and goes after the injured knee with kicks, picks him up for a slam, The Bad Guy counters with a small package, but still only gets 2. The challenger back up quick and again goes to the bad leg, connects with a kneebreaker, drives the leg down into the canvas numerous times, then sets it on the bottom rope and drives down all of his body weight. Double J goes to the well one-too-many times and the champion kicks him over the top rope, the challenger pulls himself up and goes right back to the leg, dragging it over the apron and ramming it down into the mat.

He slides back inside and hooks on the Figure Four, The Bad Guy hanging on and breaks the hold with big right hands, Double J hits the ropes for shots of his own, but the champion blocks and scores with more fists. He ducks a clothesline and props the challenger on the top turnbuckle, climbs up for a super back suplex, Jarrett turns over in mid-air for a cover, Ramon rolls through into a lateral press and nearly puts it away. The champion flattens Double J with a clothesline, drags himself up and calls for the Razor’s Edge, his leg gives out on him, Jarrett goes to a small package and we have a new champion.
Winner and NEW WWF Intercontinental Champion: ‘Double J’ Jeff Jarrett (Small Package)

• EA’s Take: Great opener, Razor is still white hot and knew how to perfectly use his position to help get rising starts over, such as Jarrett. There was not a lot too this rivalry heading into the night, however this was merely just the beginning with The Bad Guy seeking revenge and his championship heading into WrestleMania, especially given the circumstances of The Roadie playing a part in furthering damaging the left knee. Many fans will recognize The Roadie who was portrayed as a stagehand for Double J as Jarrett’s character was now looking to become a country music singer. The Roadie wouldn’t be sparingly seen in the ring at this time, mainly serving as a heater for the new IC Champ.

Backstage: Stephanie Wiand is standing by awaiting the arrival of Jeff Jarrett and throws it to Todd Pettengill who is with Pamela Anderson in her dressing room. Pamela is surrounding by gifts from the WWF Superstars, Todd wonders where his gift is, but it’s nowhere to be found. We head back to Stephanie who is now joined by the new WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett & The Roadie, Double J claiming this will be the biggest celebration ever tonight, stating he doesn’t have time for an interview because Pamela is waiting for him.

Match #2: Irwin R. Schyster w/’Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase vs. The Undertaker w/Paul Bearer
The Deadman stalks Irwin at the bell and IRS hangs out on the apron until the official creates separation, Paul gives some final instructions, Schyster sneaks in behind Taker and delivers a dropkick. The Phenom absorbs it, Irwin is stunned and quickly rolls outside for a conference with DiBiase, then takes his time sliding back into the squared circle. IRS avoids a right hand, ducks under another and starts getting confident, Undertaker stalks him in the corner, once again Schyster exiting the ring to take a walk. He has some words for Bearer, Taker climbs out behind him, chses Irwin back inside and IRS cuts him off with stomps and right hands.

Irish whip to the ropes is reversed, Schyster ducks under a right hand, The Deadman comes back with a big boot to the chops, then drives him head-first multiple times into the top turnbuckle. He shoots IRS hard back-and-forth from corner-to-corner, grabs him by the tie to lift him to his feet, then tosses Irwin across the ring by it. Undertaker in full control now, grabs a wristlock and scales the corner to the top rope, walks out to the middle and comes off with a clubbing blow to the back, prompting DiBiase to climb up on the apron. The Phenom grabs The MDM, Irwin sneaks up from behind to deliver a punch, Taker side-steps it, DiBiase gets clocked and Undertaker tosses IRS to the outside.

Schyster and DiBiase have a brief little dust-up, The MDM calls out to the back, a couple of druids make their way out to ringside and all seems to be well again with Irwin. The druids surround the ring, one climbs up to the apron, IRS slides in behind Undertaker and charges in, The Deadman cutting him off with a back elbow. He clobbers Irwin with uppercuts, grabs a wristlock and again looks to scale the corner to the top rope, one druid jumps on the apron to distract the referee, DiBiase and the other druid hop up on the other side, shake the ropes and it allows Schyster to drag The Phenom all the way down to the mat. Taker sits back up before Irwin can recover, scores with more uppercuts, Taker sends him to the ropes for a back body drop, IRS counters with a kick, then clotheslines him over the top to the floor. The Phenom lands on his feet and grabs both druids by the neck, Irwin comes off the apron from behind with a double axe, then deposits Taker into the steel steps.

He rolls into the ring and the druids get in some cheap shots, throw Undertaker back in, Schyster puts the boots to him, slaps on an abdominal stretch and uses the ropes for extra leverage. The official finally catches Irwin, Taker powers out with a hip toss, delivers a powerslam, hits the ropes for an elbow drop, but nobody’s home. IRS whips him to the ropes for a back elbow, Undertaker staggers, Schyster goes back to the ropes, flattens him with a clothesline, then drops multiple elbows followed up by a leg drop. The Tax Man goes back to the ropes for a splash that’s off the mark, The Deadman with uppercuts, irish whip to the ropes is reversed, he ducks a shot, both guys come running back out and they collide heads, falling to the mat. DiBiase grabs the ref’s attention and one of the druids enters the ring, drags IRS on top of Undertaker, the official turns around and counts, but only to 2.

The druid hops back up to the apron, The Phenom sits up, gets him by the neck, Irwin hits the ropes and rushes in from behind, Taker side-stepping out of harm’s way. IRS runs himself into the druid to knock him to the floor, Undertaker picks him up for a Tombstone, the druids hop back on the apron only to get kicked back down. The Deadman drops Schyster, The Tax Man goes into the ropes from behind, Taker turns around and gets leveled by The Write-Off. IRS can’t capitalize on it and stumbles to his feet, The Undertaker sits up again, Irwin with kicks, sends him to the ropes for a clothesline that misses wildly, The Phenom delivers a Chokeslam, crosses the arms over the chest and gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: The Undertaker (Chokeslam)

• After The Bell: The druids hit the ring and ambush The Deadman, send him to the ropes for a double clothesline, Taker avoids it with kicks, plants one with a Chokeslam, then floors the other with a clothesline to clear the ring. King Kong Bundy would head out, step into the ring and go eye-to-eye with The Phenom, IRS attacks Bearer of the outside, swiping the urn in the process. Undertaker would turn his attention to Irwin, Bundy takes the opening to ambush him, sends him to the ropes and squashes The Deadman with the Avalanche. The Walking Condominium hits the ropes for an elbow drop, follows with multiple splashes, leaving The Phenom laying.
• EA’s Take: Solid bout, nothing really spectacular. First time I can recall The Undertaker winning a match with something other than a Tombstone for what that’s worth. After he disposed of Yokozuna at Survivor Series, Undertaker’s rivalry with DiBiase was revisited as The Million Dollar Man was now leading a stable of Superstars with his Million Dollar Corporation. In my opinion, it was hard to take IRS as a legit threat to defeat Undertaker, so the use of the druids were used to help suspend that disbelief as DiBiase portrayed them as a couple of Taker’s druids that he had paid off. Ultimately, the identity of them would never be revealed and it was a short-lived angle. This was all really leading to a Bundy/Taker match at WrestleMania, sticking to the formula of giving The Deadman “monster” challenges.

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