The Royal Rumble

It is Bret "The HitMan" Hart!! Michaels looks up the aisle to see the sight of Bret coming down in black jeans, a "Calgary HitMen" hockey jersey, tennis shoes and a hockey stick and has a priceless look on his face as if to say "Why him?! Why now?!" While Michaels is distracted, Benoit spins Michaels around and plants a kick into Michaels gut. He hits him with another chop to the chest. Michaels is staggered but he is fighting back as "The HitMan" enters the ring. Michaels turns around to take a jab to the gut again from the blunt end of Bret's hockey stick (the other wrestlers, by the way, have gone back fighting each other).

Benoit moves in and hooks in his "snap suplex" on Michaels. Bret comes to Michaels' head, turns the stick to the outer curved end, winds up, and plants a hard groin shot with it on Michaels!! If Michaels wasn't in tremendous pain before, he is now!! Michaels jumps to his feet holding himself. Even the other wrestlers (except Bret, of course) felt a little sorry for Michaels for the blow that he took. Bret now has his belt off and is whipping the sh*t out of Michaels!! Meanwhile, Benoit has joined up with his former tag partner in ECW (Malenko) to fight Flair and Sammartino. Malenko is battling Bruno while Benoit is tangling with Flair. Bruno whips Malenko into the ropes for a clothesline but Malenko ducks it, rebounds off of the opposite ropes and comes with a leg lariat that knocks Bruno down. On the other side of the ring, Benoit has Flair down and in the "Lion Tamer" boston crab!! Flair is screaming to the heavens right now.

In the center of the ring, Bret Hart is choking down Shawn with the belt. He is now pounding the head of Michaels with "fists of fury" (apologize to Bruce Lee) that opens up a cut on Michaels' face. Bret now takes the belt, wraps it around the head, and rakes it across Michaels' forehead!! The cut is really gushing blood now as the period ends.

Up next we have "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff!! He comes down with red warm up pants, his usual boots, no shirt and is armed with a steel chain. Meanwhile, Malenko (just out of the sight of the camera view) and Sammartino both went over the top rope and to the floor. Both of them are now gone from the match!! This leaves, at this point, Flair, Hart, Benoit, a battered Michaels and Koloff in the ring. Nikita goes after both Flair and Benoit, leaving Hart to punish Michaels. Michaels now has Bret's hockey stick. He takes it and "groins" him with it and pulls it out!!

Michaels, with whatever strength he has left, pulls "The HitMan's" jersey over his head and is wearing out Bret with his own stick!! Meanwhile, Nikita has bashed both Flair (who is bloody anyway) and Benoit in the face with his steel chain. Nikita goes to work on "The Nature Boy" by putting his foot on the throat of Flair, choking him down. While this was going on, Michaels has gone to the outside (his face a bloody mess) and has the steel ladder that was used earlier in the ECW Title Match between Magnum TA and The Rock. He brings it into the ring and lays it flat on the canvas.

He then goes and gets Bret, picks him up and bodyslams him on the ladder. Michaels then goes to the second rope, measures up the "HitMan" and flies at him with the elbowsmash.....and misses!! Michaels' right elbow drives into the ladder as Bret moves out of the way. Bret has now taken off his jersey and has thrown it to the outside. With Michaels prone, Bret picks up the ladder straight but still folded, climbs up to the second rope, lets the ladder fall forward with him ridding it down, and squashes Michaels underneath it!!

LAWLER: Oh my God!! Bret is trying to kill Shawn Michaels!!

ROSS: I'll tell you "King", the refs might ought to consider getting Michaels out of there. I know no one wants to lose this thing but Shawn may be in danger of losing his WCW Title, not to mention his career right now.

Indeed, Michaels looked dead as Bret had a big smile on his face. Michaels, amazingly, was still moving!! Bret quickly drug Michaels to a ringpost and hooked the "HartBreaker" on him (ringpost figure four). Benoit has now made it over to them and has a "Dragon Sleeper" on Michaels with Koloff and Flair battling in the background as the period ends.

The music of Kilgore's "Walk" blares out as "Mr. Monday Night" Rob Van Damn is making his way out to the ring. He comes out in his usual ring attire. He gets to ringside and finds another steel chair. He makes his way over to where Bret, Shawn and Benoit are.

Hart releases the "HartBreaker" and gets up to confront RVD. RVD throws the chair at Hart but Hart catches it. It is, however, a set up as Van Damn executes the "VanDamanator" spin kick on Bret. The blow knocks the chair into Hart's face and the force of it knocks the back of Bret's head into the ringpost!! Meanwhile, Michaels is knocked out from all of the punishment that he has taken and the ref's finally decide to use discretion and get him the hell out of there.

Several officials come down to pull Michaels out of the ring. They help him from the ringside area but Michaels is able to walk out on his own somewhat. The fans, out of respect for hanging in there, give Michaels a hand for his efforts. He just took too much punishment. Meanwhile, RVD is punishing the "HitMan" on the outside of the ring with a mixture of karate kicks and punches. He throws Bret back into the ring (he is now busted open as well). RVD, seeing that Bret was still on his back, jumps to the top rope and executes his version of the "Frog Splash" on Bret Hart!! Meanwhile, Benoit, Flair, and Koloff are having a mini "triple-threat" bout in the corner. Koloff knocks Benoit against the ropes and has Flair in the center of the ring. He backs up and runs at Flair with the "Russian Sickle" clothesline!!

Flair ducks the blow but Benoit gets it flush in the neck and goes over the top rope and to the floor. Benoit is now gone. Koloff is now off balance as well. Flair takes advantage and dumps Koloff out as well. Koloff is gone. Remaining in the ring right now are Flair, Hart and RVD as the period ends.

It is "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes!! He comes down with his famous pokadot tights!! He hits the ring and is met by RVD. RVD tries the chair toss trick again but Rhodes quickly tosses it back!! RVD catches it but is set up by his own trap as Rhodes executes his "bionic elbow" on RVD, driving the chair hard into RVD's head!!

Meanwhile, Bret Hart has recovered somewhat from the "Frog Splash" and is moving in on RVD. He takes the chair and places it on Van Damn's face. He then mounts the second rope and drives his elbow into the chair, thus nailing the face of RVD!! Meanwhile, two old rivals in Rhodes and Flair hook it up. Rhodes goes to work with the famous left jabs and rapid fire elbows that has a bloody Flair reeling. Flair, showing that he still has his head in the game, pokes Rhodes in the eyes. With Rhodes' momentum stopped for a moment, Flair kicks the bad left knee of Rhodes. Rhodes is now limping. On the other side, RVD and "The HitMan" are really having a fight. Bret does a smart move and takes Van Damn down. He straddles the agile competitor and is hammering him with right hands to the head. RVD reverses field and does the same to Bret. As they get to their feet, Bret goes for a single-leg takedown again on RVD but he counters with an "insiguri" kick that Bret ducks. RVD catches himself on his missed foot and comes back with a leaping side kick that knocks the "HitMan" down!!

With Hart prone, RVD sees that Flair has the figure-four leglock on Rhodes. RVD gets the chair, hits the ropes, uses his incredible leaping ability and (with the chair on his chest) executes a splash on Rhodes. This goes on as the period ends.

Coming to the ring now is Steve "Dr. Death" Williams!! He comes down with his old "Oklahoma Sooners" jersey and wrestling tights. He is also bringing a table to the ring!! He hits the ring and confronts Bret Hart, who has made it back up to his feet. Williams puts the table down in the corner and goes to a staredown with "The HitMan." After about 10 seconds, they look over and see Rhodes being double-teamed by RVD and Flair. They decide to get RVD and Flair and worry about each other later.

Bret goes for Van Damn while Williams goes for Flair, freeing Rhodes from the figure four. Bret hits RVD with a hard clothesline to knock him down. Hart then takes the table that Williams brought out, drags it to the outside, and sets it up between the ring apron and and the ringside safety rail. As Bret tries to come back into the ring, RVD nails him with a straight kick that knocks Bret onto the table. Seeing opportunity, RVD goes to the second rope on the outside but Bret gets up before RVD can set up. RVD then climbs backwards to the top rope with Bret following him up. They trade blows back and forth with both men teetering towards falling. Bret then throws in a knee to RVD's guts that doubles him over. Bret then hooks in a "superplex" from the very top rope!! They go flying off of the ropes, through the table and to the concrete floor!! The fans are cheering this move that was just done. Many of them are chanting "ECW, ECW!!" with both men laid out on the floor.

ROSS: To quote ECW commentator Joey Styles, I have to say "oh my god!!"

LAWLER: Amen to that JR!!! There is no way these two can continue!! Bret just superplexed Rob Van Damn off of the top rope, through a table and to the concrete floor!! I don't care who you are, you aren't going to continue after that!!

Meanwhile, as that was going on, Williams and Rhodes were struggling along the ropes when the move occurred. Flair, seeing opportunity, reached underneath them and dumped both men over the top rope for a double-elimination. Both Williams and Rhodes are gone!! Right now, however, all of the attention is focused on RVD and Bret Hart. Unbelievably, the two are getting up and back into the ring. They are hurting to be sure, but they are moving!! Even Flair can't believe what he is seeing as the period ends.

We hear "death music" and a shot of fire!! This is signaling the arrival of Kane. Meanwhile, Flair has (mercifully) eliminated RVD and Bret as they do need some medical attention. Flair now looks up the aisleway to see this big giant coming towards the ring. Kane steps over the top rope and stands in the center of the ring with Flair. He then does his usual "fire blasting" effect that brings the lights back on. Kane then goes for a right hand on Flair but Flair gets out of the way and into a corner. Kane then charges in on the "Nature Boy" but Flair moves out of the way again, trying to stay away from the big man. He chops Kane in his chest in the corner about three times but the masked man just looks at him and shoves him back. Flair rushes forward but Kane stops him with a big foot to the face. With Flair down, Kane leaps up to the top rope and waits for Flair to get back to his feet. When Ric gets up, Kane flies off of the top rope with a clothesline on the exhausted Flair (who has been in the ring for about 28 minutes).

As the time winds down, Kane awaits for Flair to get up again. He gets Flair by the throat with his massive hand and delivers his chokeslam on Flair just as time ends for another man to come to the ring.

It is former UFC Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock!! He comes down in faded blue jeans, cowboy boots, and no shirt. Kane is about to give Flair the "Tombstone" when Shamrock arrives and gives Kane a chop-block to the left knee. This doesn't take the big man down but it does make him let go of Flair. Kane turns around to confront Shamrock.

Shamrock throws some right hands into the face of Kane with some effect but the big man still stands. Kane throws a right hand of his own but Shamrock ducks it. Meanwhile, Flair performs the same move that Shamrock did on Kane's leg. This time, Kane goes down to one knee. The two men are now pounding Kane into the canvas. This strategy works for about 10 seconds until two massive hands reach up and grab the two men by the throat!! Shamrock and Flair respond by kicking Kane low at the same time. This loosens the grip momentarily but Kane stands up again with them in his grasps and delivers a double-chokeslam to Shamrock and Flair. This goes on as the period ends.

Shattered glass and driving guitars mean the arrival of NWA World Champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin!! He comes down wearing black jean shorts, black tennis shoes, and an "Austin 3:16 Blood Stone" t-shirt driving a Ford pickup truck!! He gets out of the truck and hits the ring. Kane goes for Austin with a clothesline but Austin ducks it and gets in about three right hands. He whips Kane into the ropes but Kane reverses the whip.

Austin rebounds off of the ropes with his "Lou Thez" press that takes Kane down and he his peppering him with fists. Austin then gets to his feet and waits for Kane to get up. When Kane does, Austin does his boot to the gut and goes for his "Stone Cold Stunner." Kane shrugs him off and throws him into the ropes. Kane goes for a big foot but Austin ducks it. Kane turns around and gets "stunned" by Austin!! Kane is still up but he is staggared.

Austin then goes to eliminate him. Flair and Shamrock get up to help him. The three eliminate Kane from the Rumble!! He is gone!! Now, we have another "triple-threat" match going on as Shamrock, Flair and Austin are going after each other. Both Flair and Shamrock have scores to settle with the texas "rattlesnake" but neither want to share in the glory of kicking Austin's butt. Shamrock throws a right hand to Austin and one to Flair that knocks him down. Shamrock then goes back to Austin and gives him a thunderous belly to belly suplex!!

Shamrock then turns Austin over for the anklelock hold. He wouldn't get a submission as submissions don't count here but Shamrock is looking punishment here. Flair takes advantage and kicks Shamrock in the back. He then takes the stunned man and executes a backdrop suplex on him. Ric then backs up on Shamrock and drops the patented knee to the head on him. Flair now sees Austin just coming up to his feet. Flair charges him but Austin dips his shoulder and executes his "Stun Gun" move on Flair, dropping him throat first on the top rope. Flair falls back in on the canvas as the next man is ready to come down.

It is former NWA World Tag Team and United States Champion Wahoo McDaniel. He comes down in his traditional wrestling tights. He hits the ring with both Austin and Shamrock waiting for him. He immediately goes into his wardance and uses his legendary hard chops on both Austin and Shamrock, fighting off both men. Wahoo then takes and rams both Austin's and Shamrock's heads together. Flair now comes in and joins in the fight. He and Wahoo have a virtual "chop-fest" as they trade back and forth on each other.

Wahoo gets the upper hand only because he is the fresher of the two (Flair has now been in the ring for about 34 minutes). Wahoo gets Flair down but is caught with a clothesline from Austin. The two texas natives are now into it (Wahoo is originally from Midland, TX). Meanwhile, Shamrock is coming for Flair, trying to eliminate him. The two are now trading punches with each other. Flair, surprisingly, is holding his own against the fresher Shamrock. Shamrock goes for another right hand when Flair ducks and gets in a "nut" kick on him!! Flair quickly gets "The World's Most Dangerous Man" out of there and Shamrock is history!! Flair now sits in the corner and gets his breath as another competitor is coming down.

It is former seven time NWA World Champion Harley Race. He comes down dressed in traditional wrestling gear. He gets to the ring and immediately goes for Flair (who is a battered warrior). He comes in with left hands to the side of the neck of Flair. He then takes Flair down with a snap mare and measures him with his own patented kneedrop to Flair's head. The bleeding that had stopped was now restarting again as Flair began to bleed. Meanwhile, McDaniel went for another chop on Austin but Austin ducked and backdropped him over the top rope and to the floor. McDaniel is history.

Race, while that was going on, was trying to get rid of Flair but Austin snuck up behind him and eliminated Race!! Race, barely a minute into this event, is now gone as well. Austin has his arch-rival in a helpless state as he is now kicking the daylights out of Flair. Austin backs up and gives the fans the "Stone Cold Salute." Flair, seeing that it is just himself and Austin in the ring, is energized suddenly and charges at him, taking him down by the legs. Flair quickly straddles Austin and is pounding the head of "Stone Cold." He then gets up to his feet and does his strut yelling "WHOOO" to the Houston, TX crowd!! Austin is dazed but gets up and goes fist for fist with Flair. The two trade punches and chops all over the ring as the next man is getting ready to come down.

The nWo music plays for "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan!! He comes down in his black and white gear. He still bears some of the scars from the "woodshed" whipping that he received at Starrcade: Deadly Unions on his back. He runs to the ring and slides underneath the bottom rope. Meanwhile, Austin had regained the advantage over Flair. Hogan sneaks up behind Austin, takes off his "weightlifting" belt, and lashes Austin with it. He beats Austin down to the canvas with the belt.

LAWLER: You know Hogan has revenge on his mind. Remember, it was Austin that cost Hogan the match at Starrcade in St. Louis, forcing Hogan to kiss the rear end of Shawn Michaels.

ROSS: It was also Austin, along with twenty-seven other superstars, that then proceeded to whip the living daylights out of Hogan as he was handcuffed like an animal to the "Hell In A Cell" cage.

As Ross continues the history lesson, Flair has snuck up behind Hogan and delivers a low-blow to Hogan. Flair the chops at "Hollywood", knocking him back a few steps. Austin now joins in and the two enemies join forces against a man that they hate even more than each other. Austin holds Hogan from behind and Flair gets in some rights and lefts on Hogan with some chops mixed in. Flair returns the favor by holding Hogan as Austin throws in some right hands to the face of "Hollywood." Flair then spins Hogan around and gives him a reverse atomic drop. It is followed by the "Stunner" from Austin!! Austin goes down into his push-up position, shaking his head and talking trash to Hogan. The camera picked up the words:

AUSTIN: Hell yeah you stupid piece of trash!! Your ass is going to wish you were back in Hollywood!!

Austin then gets up and picks up Hogan's legs. He then drops a quick knee into Hogan's nuts!! Austin then goes to the ground and grabs a headlock on Hogan and is peppering him with fists. Meanwhile, Flair has hooked in the figure four on Hogan as Austin gets to his feet and is stomping the crap out of him!! Austin is also yelling to Hogan as he stomps on him:

AUSTIN: Hell yeah you son of a bitch!! How does that figure four feel you bastard!!

Hogan is in too much pain to answer as he is being double-attacked from the two unlikely allies. This continues until the period ends.

We now have former WWF World Champion "Superstar" Billy Graham coming to the ring. He is coming in his traditional attire of tie-dye tights and to the music of "Bad To The Bone." He enters the ring with Austin all over him.

Meanwhile, Hogan has freed himself from the figure four leglock by raking the eyes of Flair. He gets up limping but has Flair at a disadvantage. He bodyslams the "Nature Boy" and does his traditional legdrop on him. He goes to the ropes again and does it for a second time. While this is going on, Graham has taken over on the "Rattlesnake" with right hands and a pair of brass knuckles which has busted open Austin.