Match #3 is the Royal Rumble Match

• Entry #1 is Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart. Entry #2 is Tito Santana. They lock-up, Hitman backing Tito into the ropes and firing right hands and headbutts. He stomps away at Santana in the corner, then attempts to drive his head into the turnbuckle. Tito blocks, delivering a taste of his own medicine, irish whip and Bret runs right into a right hand, then Tito reigns down more on the canvas. Hitman blocks an elimination attempt with shots to the midsection, then an inverted atomic drop and a 2nd rope elbow. Bret tries to toss Santana as the clock counts down…
• Entry #3 is ‘The Natural’ Butch Reed. Tito hits a flying forearm as Reed enters the match, going right after Santana. He attempts to toss Tito out, but Santana blocks it and hits a double noggin knocker to Reed and the Hitman. The numbers game catches up to him and Reed with a 2nd rope double axe handle, then a double team back elbow out of the ropes…
• Entry #4 is Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart. Tito avoids another double team move, Reed hitting Bret with a knee and almost eliminating him. Neidhart enters the ring and now it’s 3 on 1, Anvil & Reed holding Santana for a Hitman elbow off the 2nd rope. Santana is a sitting duck and they try to throw him out as the clock hits zero…
• Entry #5 is Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts. Jake comes in from behind and dumps Reed over the top to the floor. ‘The Natural’ Butch Reed has been eliminated. Roberts with stiff punches knocking down Bret, then a flurry for Neidhart and the 4 men pair off. Roberts and Santana whip The Hart Foundation into one another from opposite corners, then The Snake calls for the DDT before getting leveled by an Anvil clothesline. Hitman spikes Tito with a piledriver as the clocks ticks…
• Entry #6 is ‘King’ Harley Race. Harley enters and goes right after Roberts, dropping elbows as Neidhart holds the legs. They attempt to toss Jake out as Tito does the same to Bret on the other side. Neidhart stops to rescue the Hitman, which helps Roberts stay in the match.
• Entry #7 is ‘Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell. The face/heel odds are now even as Brunzell enters the ring after The Hart Foundation with a double noggin knocker. Neidhart helps Bret avoid elimination as everyone is grouped on the ropes now. All 3 men split into pairs now and here’s the clock…
• Entry #8 is Sam Houston. Houston goes for The Hart Foundation at the start, splitting the pair up and then hammering away at The King. Roberts drives the shoulder into the Anvil’s midsection in the corner, Neidhart with a rake of the eyes and he helps the Hitman throw Santana out. Tito Santana has been eliminated. The clock appears again and here’s the next entrant…
• Entry #9 is ‘Dangerous’ Danny Davis. Davis is eager to attack his rival Sam Houston, but Houston quickly brings the fight to Davis. Roberts has The King teetering in the ropes, back and forth with right hands. Davis tries a kick and Jake catches the foot, planting him with a back suplex. The Snake looks for the DDT, but Davis escapes and the clocks runs down…
• Entry #10 is Boris Zhukov. Boris goes to Houston with a choke as Jake gets double teamed by The Hart Foundation. The face/heel ratio is in favor of the heels and there are double teams galore. Davis hits his rival Houston with a dropkick, with help from the Hitman as we get our next entrant.
• Entry #11 is ‘The Rock’ Don Muraco. Nikolai Volkoff is trailing right behind Muraco as he runs to the ring. They have an argument outside, as Nikolai seems to think it’s his turn. The refs allow Muraco to enter the match and contine to argue with Volkoff on the outside. Jake & ‘Jumpin’ Jim have Zhukov in trouble, he falls to the floor and is gone. Boris Zhukov has been eliminated. The clock counts down and now Nikolai will be allowed to enter the match.
• Entry #12 is Nikolai Volkoff. Muraco levels The King with a right hand and he falls backwards out to the floor. ‘King’ Harley Race is eliminated. Brunzell & Roberts are both in a bad way, but the other faces help them out to void elimination as the next man enters…
• Entry #13 is ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan. The King with a cheap shot to Duggan as he comes down the aisle, Duggan gives chase, but then remembers the match and enters the ring. Duggan climbs the 2nd rope and pummels away at Neidhart as the action is furious, with more men entering the match. Speaking of which…
• Entry #14 is ‘Outlaw’ Ron Bass. Nikolai picks up Brunzell in a slam position, then turns him over the top and to the floor. ‘Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell is eliminated. The numbers are even and everyone pairs up again as the next man makes his way out…
• Entry #15 is B. Brian Blair. Blair goes after the Hitman, but gets caught in a double team by The Hart Foundation. Muraco goes after Neidhart to help out Blair, as Roberts tries to toss Davis to no avail. Here comes the clock and #16.
• Entry #16 is Hillbilly Jim. Jim is instantly clubbed by Neidhart, The Anvil goes for a clothesline and gets back body dropped outside. Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart is eliminated. Hillbilly props Davis on the top turnbuckle and fires right hands, but can’t get him to the floor. The clock appears again as we have 4 more entrants.
• Entry #17 is Dino Bravo. Sam Houston ends up on the shoulders of Ron Bass, Bass leans over the top rope and Houston spills to the floor. Sam Houston has been eliminated. Roberts is in trouble, planked across the corner, but he hangs on and stays on the apron…
• Entry #18 is the Ultimate Warrior. Warrior helps out Roberts, as the Hitman gets dumped on the other side by Hillbilly Jim. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart is eliminated. Here’s the clock again…
• Entry #19 is One Man Gang. Gang is easily the biggest man in the ring when he enters, pummeling The Snake & Blair before Warrior jumps on his back. Gang tosses Blair, then grabs Roberts and he hits the floor as well. B. Brian Blair & Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts have been eliminated. One Man Gang continues his dominance as the final man is about to enter the match.

Entry #20 is Junkyard Dog. Pandemonium everywhere now, as there’s action all over the ring. Duggan ducks a right hand from Nikolai, flipping him over the top. Nikolai Volkoff has been eliminated. Right after, One Man Gang does the same to Hillbilly Jim, ending his night. Hillbilly Jim is eliminated. Duggan lines up in the 3 point stance, Davis is against the ropes and he eats a clothesline that puts him out. ‘Dangerous’ Danny Davis is eliminated. Warrior gets a little overzealous, Dino & Gang team up to rid the ring of him.

Ultimate Warrior has been eliminated. Bass comes up to JYD from behind as he works over One Man Gang, taking his momentum over the top and to the floor. Junkyard Dog has been eliminated. Bass’ tactics get used against him, as The Rock dishes him a taste of his own medicine and tosses the Outlaw. ‘Outlaw’ Ron Bass has been eliminated. We’re down to the final 4 now, as Dino pairs off with Duggan while OMG has Muraco. They then team up, Gang squashing Hacksaw in the corner and they turn their attenttion to Muraco. Frenchy Martin hops to the apron and catches a dropkick from Muraco, who then pays for it by Frenchy’s guy, Dino Bravo.

Dino hold Muraco for OMG, Gang delivers a clothesline and Muraco spills to the floor. ‘The Rock’ Don Muraco is eliminated. Duggan is in trouble as it’s 2 on 1 now. Dino & Gang converse and Duggan jumps in swinging, holding his own before the numbers catch up to him. They whip Hacksaw into the ropes and hit a double clothesline. Bravo holds Duggan near the ropes for another clothesline, Hacksaw ducks and OMG connects to Bravo, sending him over the top. Dino Bravo has been eliminated. Duggan firing away with stiff right hands, whips OMG in and ducks for a back body drop, only to eat a kick. Gang chokes Duggan across the top, then reigns down clubbing forearms. Gang hits the ropes and charges, Duggan ducks and pulls the top rope down, dumping OMG outside.
Winner: ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan

• EA’s Take: As is usually the case with most firsts, there are definitely positives and negatives. The concept of the contest and idea behind is absolutely a positive and having an up and coming babyface like Duggan win is also a smart move. However, there were no real exciting spots in the match like you’d see today and the clock was very obviously not counting down every 2 minutes as advertised. As sports entertainment would grow, so too would the Royal Rumble match and the importance of the contest in later years.

Video: We recap the WWF Heavyweight Championship match contract signing from earlier tonight. Andre would attack the champion Hulk Hogan, slamming him off the table.

In The Arena: Craig DeGeorge welcomes his guest, WWF Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. Hulk speaks about DiBiase & Andre pulling tricks on him, adding more fuel to the fire. Hogan tears his shirt, talking about when he defeated Andre at WrestleMania III and being happy to do it again. He tells The Giant that he couldn’t break him with the table earlier and he can’t break his Hulkamaniacs either. Hulkster says he’s ready to destroy and for Andre to win, he has to beat every Hulkamaniac as well.

Match #4 is 2/3 Falls: The Islanders (Haku & Tama) vs. The Young Stallions (Paul Roma & Jim Powers)
Powers will start the action with Tama, Powers lunges at Tama who finds the ropes. More of the same from Tama, back into it and he goes to the eyes, then sends Powers into the ropes who hops over and lands left hands, followed by a body slam. Tama takes a break outside, coming back in the ring and dropping to his knees, offering a handshake to Powers. He takes it and Tama attempts a kick, Powers catches the foot and delivers an atomic drop. Tama is propelled towards Roma and The Stallions play pong with Tama’s head, Powers grabbing a wristlock.

Tama grabs the hair, backing Powers into the corner, irish whip across, Powers reverses and follows Tama in, but hits the turnbuckles instead. Haku makes a tag, misses a fist drop and Roma tags in as well, coming in and working the shoulder joint with a wristlock. Haku pushes him off into the ropes, Roma reverses and takes a shoulder. Back into the ropes, Roma with a couple of leapfrogs, attempts a hip toss and Haku counters into one of his own. Roma ducks a clothesline after an irish whip, connecting with a crossbody for a 2 count. He goes back to the wrist, tag to Powers and The Stallions with a double back elbow for 2.

Powers continues to work the arm, Haku going to the eyes and Tama comes back in, slamming Powers and missing an elbow drop. Powers tries to go to the arm again, but Haku tags and lands a back elbow for a 2 count. Tama off the tag to the top, driving down an overhead chop, then a quick tag back to Haku for a double headbutt. Haku sends Powers into the corner with force, follows him in and runs into a knee. Powers crawls toward his corner, Haku is up to stop him a whip him into the ropes, both guys with a clothesline and they double down.

They both crawl to tags and Roma with a flurry on Tama, into the ropes and a nice dropkick connects, followed by a back body drop. Roma takes out Haku on the apron, then lands another dropkick and Haku breaks up the count. Tama grabs a handful of hair, Haku pulls down the top rope and Roma is sent out hard to the floor. The referee counts and gets to 10.
First Fall: The Islanders

The Young Stallions head to the back and we get a promo featuring ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted Dibiase & Andre The Giant between falls in the arena. After the interview The Stallions make their way back out and Roma has his left knee wrapped. Tama immediately goes after the injury, using the knee wrap as a bullseye. Tama with a slam, attempts a splash and Roma puts the knees up, hurting himself as well. Tags on both sides now, Powers comes in on fire and hits Haku with a back body drop.

He drives Haku’s head into the top turnbuckle, then flattens him with a clothesline for a count of 2, following with a dropkick for another near fall. Powers plants Haku with a suplex now, but still can’t get 3. Right hands, into the ropes and a back elbow for yet another 2. Haku finally fires back with a shot to the midsection, in comes Tama to take the advantage and pummel Powers. Haku re-enters and The Islanders with a double headbutt, irish whip, Haku ducking for a back body drop and Powers gets a small package for 2. Haku keeps the pressure on, splitting Powers with a backbreaker and a count of 2.

Tama tags, sends Powers into the ropes and hits a jumping back elbow, hip toss and a 2 count. Haku back in with a standing dropkick, but still can’t get the 3 count. He plants Powers with a gutwrench suplex and another 2, then locks him in an abdominal stretch. Powers uses his strength to hip toss Haku over, but can’t get to his corner. Haku with a slam, then misses a running somersault senton, but again is able to prevent Powers from tagging. Haku sends Powers into the ropes, misses a dropkick and Roma makes the tag, firing right hands until Haku goes to the injured knee. Haku holds Roma down to the mat, Tama comes off the top and splashes the injured leg. Haku locks in a single leg crab and Roma can’t take it.
Winners: The Islanders

• EA’s Take: So what exactly was the point of the 2/3 falls stipulation? The Islanders are steep in the middle of a heated feud with the British Bulldogs that saw their manager Bobby Heenan, kidnap the Bulldogs mascot, an actual bulldog named Matilda. Tama wrestled previously in the WWF under the moniker The Tonga Kid, infamously aiding Jimmy Snuka in his rivalry with Roddy Piper. Tama is also the brother of a future WWE Hall Of Famer and related to numerous others as part of the famed Samoan Anoa’i Family.

In The Arena: Vince McMahon & Jesse Ventura break down the evenings events. Jesse continues to deny helping Dino Bravo break the world benchpress record earlier and they promote Saturday Night’s Main Event coming up in a couple weeks, featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant for the WWF Title.

EA’s Finisher: Although this was not a PPV and was merely a TV special, it was long on insignificance and short on meaningfulness in terms of the in-ring portions. The opening contest could have been the proverbial ‘barn-burner’, but instead had lots of rest holds and a screwy finish. The Women’s Tag Title match had it’s moments and The Jumping Bomb Angels were ahead of their time, but the pacing still needs work. The Royal Rumble match was certainly a success, but it would also need to be tweaked moving forward to make it more significant and become the January tradition we know today. It absolutely should have been the main event, I haven’t a clue why the match that the show was named after was not the final one. Instead we get another 2/3 falls match, that is won by The Islanders in two straight, which made no sense. At least let the Young Stallions pickup a pinfall if they’re going to lose. The best part of the night was by far the contract signing, as it was put together smartly and everyone played their role to perfection.

Top Three To Watch
1 – Royal Rumble Match
2 – Glamour Girls vs. Jumping Bomb Angels
3 – Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude

What was your favorite match from the 1988 Royal Rumble? Let us know on social media @theCHAIRSHOTcom and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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