Saturday In The Park: Rumble Memories

January 26, 2008

This is the second Saturday In The Park post and you know what? I kind of dig it…sucka (sorry I had to).

First things first, an update on JarryPark.com. The site is getting some major plastic surgery done to it. The doctors are actually working on the new site as we speak and I think you will love it. The reason behind this decision is because I want the site to move away from the blog look.

Don’t get me wrong, I love blogs and there will still actually be a JP.com blog but it will now just be one of the many different options to look at it. The blog will be a place to discuss last night’s PPV, a fight rumor or anything else that has nothing to do with our bread and butter – the interviews. Those bad boys are still coming (and we have some cool things planned on that front too) but will be featured a little differently. In a few weeks, I think The Park will look like a pretty snazzy combat sports site.

Onto the 2008 WWE Royal Rumble. As I mentioned on yesterday’s Fight Network Radio appearance (audio coming tomorrow), I will be attending the real grand daddy of ’em all tomorrow night at MSG. Yes, the RR is my favorite wrestling pay-per-view simply because it’s always a sure bet.

So, since we specialize in combat sports interviews I thought I would help get everyone excited for this year’s Rumble by presenting the top 3 greatest Royal Rumble promos of all-time. Enjoy!

3. 1990: We begin with a compilation of wrestlers giving their thoughts on the Rumble. Now, why doesn’t WWE produce these kinds of promos anymore? They’re so effective and so damn enjoyable. Plenty of juicy cameos in this one starting with a young Tony Schiavone calling the action next to Jesse Ventura wearing a funky Mickey Mouse sweatshirt. I guess no dress code back then. We transition into classic Savage, Fuji, Roberts, Hart Foundation and Hogan.

2. 2000: This might be the best Rock interview of all-time. Who else would start talking about Crash Holly and Headbanger Mosh before a big match? And it wasn’t in the HHH “allow me to bury ever other guy on the roster” kind of way. It was just sweet and funny – nothing more, nothing less. There’s even a classic Y2J promo at the end for good luck.

1. 1992: Without a doubt, the greatest wrestling promo of all-time. There’s really nothing more that I can say. Watching Flair, Heenan and Hennig doing their thing gave me goosebumps 16 years ago and still does to this day. (Love the added effect of the cameras flashing too).

  1. 12 Responses to “Saturday In The Park: Rumble Memories”

  2. Great memories man.

    Dayum, Flair was awesome then.

    By JHenry on Jan 26, 2008

  3. That poster is really cool. I liked the re-make of it in 2001, too.

    Man, Savage was great. He made everything seem like a huge deal.

    What the hell was Fuji talking about with being very selective while picking numbers? They’re supposed to be random! I hope Jack Tunney saw this and looked into any possible wrong doings.

    I miss The Rock.

    I miss Jericho’s James Hetfield mustache.

    WITH A TEAR IN MY EYE!

    By Jason on Jan 26, 2008

  4. By the looks of your website, Jason, it appears that you are a Jericho fan. So…

    1) What do you think of his return thus far?

    2) Thoughts on tomorrow’s match?

    I thought his promo on Monday was tremendous

    By Ariel Helwani on Jan 26, 2008

  5. Not sure if there is any Royal Rumble trivia on the site but does anyone remember:

    a) who was the first wrestler who never made it to the ring for the actual Rumble match?

    b) why didn’t he make it to the ring?

    c) what number entry was he?

    By Brian on Jan 26, 2008

  6. Also, did anyone realize that 5 out of 11 of the wrestlers on that ’91 poster are dead?

    Mr. Perfect, Road Warrior Hawk, Big Boss Man, Texas Tornado Kerry Von Erich, and Earthquake.

    Very sad stuff.

    By Brian on Jan 26, 2008

  7. Wow, I didn’t even realize that. That’s insane.

    As far as your trivia question…hmmm…I must admit its at the tip of my tongue but I just can’t think of it. I feel like it’s someone like Headbanger Mosh.

    Any hints?

    By Ariel Helwani on Jan 26, 2008

  8. Thanks for checking out the site! Yeah, big Jerichoholic but I’ve been underwhelmed by his return so far. People just haven’t got into him for whatever reason. I don’t know if there are THAT many new fans that don’t remember him and are just getting to know him now but I can’t think of anything else. His performances have been fine.
    I’d have chosen a different way to bring him back, though. Going straight to a title match, failing, and then being roughed up by a guy that’s been an announcer for the last few years kinda hurts him. The JBL feud has been a ton better than the rush job with Orton, though. Hopefully all goes well tomorrow, but I don’t know what to expect from JBL in the ring. If they talked for 15 minutes it’d be a slam dunk.

    By Jason on Jan 26, 2008

  9. I think the MSG crowd will be into it and, I disagree, I think his return has been handled well.

    He got a title shot off the bat against a guy he never really feuded with and now is involved in another fresh storyline. It feels special, you know?

    By Ariel Helwani on Jan 27, 2008

  10. Hint #1: the man who failed to enter the Rumble has a brother in the business who at one time, was a manager for Mr. Perfect.

    This is a pretty big hint so I expect someone to get it fairly quickly.

    Good Luck.

    By Brian on Jan 27, 2008

  11. Ah good ol’ Macho Man. I totally forgot about that.

    Good one.

    By Ariel Helwani on Jan 28, 2008

  12. I didn’t see the Rumble, but from what I heard there were boring chants during the Y2J/JBL match? That sucks.

    I guess it just seemed like the Orton feud too much too soon and that there was nowhere to go but down. I wish it could have at least lasted more than three weeks.

    I don’t know. Maybe things really are good and I’m just out of touch. I’ve been following things online, but I hadn’t watched any wrestling since the mess in June and it still doesn’t feel right. Maybe my lack of excitement is hampering my view of things.

    By Jason on Jan 29, 2008

  13. I was at MSG and was very disappointed in the match. I didn’t hear any boring chants but, then again, I didn’t notice anyone booing Mysterio and apparently they did. I had a feeling it would end in DQ since this seemed like a match headed to Mania but, still, I expected a little more.

    I feel you on your lack of enthusiasm. The Benoit tragedy was the biggest pill to swallow and I don’t think the business will ever be the same – at least for me it won’t.

    By Ariel Helwani on Jan 29, 2008

Post a Comment