The Shark Tank got a whole lot brighter when the Mexican Minis came to the ring, because Sunny served as the special referee! These vertically challenged superstars are certainly not short on talent, as they dazzled the sold-out arena with their amazing array of high-flying aerial acrobatics! With the crowd in his corner, Max Mini earned the victory for his team by recording a pin on Battalion.
"The Rock" was "given" the Intercontinental Championship belt over one month ago by Stone Cold Steve Austin, and since then he has not had to fend off any serious challengers for the title. However, he would have to fight for dear life if he hoped to successfully defend it against the World's Most Dangerous Man, Ken Shamrock. These young superstars, who will certainly be two of the cornerstones in the WWF for many years to come, took turns controlling of this match. With the momentum obviously swinging the challenger's way, the Nation of Domination came out with some assistance. Although they were unable to do any physical damage to Shamrock, they did distract the official long enough for the Rock to level the challenger with a pair of brass knuckles, and then quickly hide them in his opponent's trunks. Amazingly though, Shamrock did not stay down, and he kicked out of the pin attempt despite being clobbered with the foreign object. Shamrock entered "his zone", and hit with the belly-to- belly suplex before pinning the champion for the three-count. Ken Shamrock became the new Intercontinental Champion! But wait one minute. "The Rock" informed the official that he had been hit with some type of foreign object and Shamrock was hiding them in his trunks. The official checked Shamrock's trunks, and found the brass knuckles. Although the Ultimate Fighting Champion did not use the brass knuckles, the evidence was not in his favor, and the official was forced to disqualify him and return the belt to the "The Rock." Ken then "lost it." He hit the official with a belly-to-belly before putting him in the ankle-lock submission hold. Officially, Rocky Maivia won by disqualification and "The Rock" retains the Intercontinental Title.
A few weeks ago the New Age Outlaws temporarily teamed up with DX to seemingly dismantle the legendary Legion of Doom. "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn shaved Hawk's famed Mohawk, as the others took turns kicking him. The four superstars powerbombed Animal off the ring apron and through the announcer's table, seriously injuring his back. Animal and Hawk returned at the Rumble, apparently more concerned with getting revenge than regaining the Federation Titles that the Road Dog and Billy took from them a while back. The Road Warriors took turns beating the Champions from pillar to post, but in the end the Outlaws would once again rely on underhanded tactics to save them. Billy and Jesse lured Hawk to one of the corners outside the ring, and handcuffed him there. Moments later, Animal had Billy down on the canvas for a certain three-count when the Dog clobbered him with a steel chair over the head. Enjoying a one-man advantage, the champions pummeled Animal while Hawk could only watch. However, the adrenalyn finally got to him and Hawk broke the handcuffs with his bare hands! He then stormed the ring to save his partner. The New Age Outlaws were disqualified but retain the Tag Team Titles.
Next up was the "fastest 60 minutes in wrestling"--the 30-man over-the-top- rope Battle Royal. Cactus Jack was the unlucky superstar who drew number one, and he was met by his friend Chainsaw Charlie. Although these two are usually allies, they battled like bitter enemies, as they showed their love for the extreme by taking turns slamming each other with a chair over their heads. Tom Brandi was the third one in, and lasted about 10 seconds because Chainsaw and Cactus teamed up to get him out. Blackjack Bradshaw was very impressive in the Rumble, the big Texan stayed in competition for nearly an hour. Ken Shamrock proved that he is not afraid of anyone, as he went right after the monstrous Kurrgan upon entering the Rumble. It took about seven superstars to dump the seven-footer out over the top rope. As Owen Hart made his way to the competition he was attacked from behind by Jeff Jarrett and Jim Cornette! Owen was injured but got back into the Rumble when Jarrett's number was called, and he quickly disposed of the NWA North American Champion. After Cactus Jack was eliminated, Mick Foley showed up again--as Mankind! Hunter Hearst-Helmsley and Chyna came ringside when the Honky Tonk Man's number was called, as "The Greatest Intercontinental Champion of All Time" was filling in for the injured Triple H. Although he wasn't competing, the European Champion was instrumental in getting Owen out of the Rumble. Of course, everyone in the competition was waiting for one man, Stone Cold Steve Austin. When his music went on, each superstar who was in the ring stopped what they were doing and faced the entrance ramp waiting for him, but the Rattlesnake would outsmart them by coming in through the crowd. He survived the initial attack by all of his competitors and then began dumping out superstars at will. The Nation of Domination was a "Nation Divided" during the Rumble. Instead of coming together, they attacked each other! As soon as Faarooq entered the contest he went right after "The Rock," beating him down to the canvas. It came down to four competitors--Steve Austin, Dude Love (who emerged after Mankind was eliminated), "The Rock" and Faarooq. Former partners, Austin and the Dudeness worked together to get the two Nation members down and in pain. Then the Rattlesnake turned on Dude and tossed him out! The Three-One-Six was now alone with the two members of the Nation. Faarooq and Austin battled in the corner, and instead of going to help his 'brother', "The Rock" stayed in the opposite corner pretending to be injured! Stone Cold had Faarooq up on the ropes, and Maivia came over to help him dump the leader of the Nation over! The field was now down to two. "The Rock" was the fourth one to enter and he still remained. Austin was a man possessed all night long. He immediately opened up a HUGE can of whoop-@#$ on the Intercontinental Champ. Austin hit him with the Stunner and threw him out over the top rope! Stone Cold Steve Austin was the winner of the 1998 Royal Rumble and will go on to face the World Wrestling Federation Champion at WrestleMania XIV on March 29 in Boston, MA!
The final match of the evening was a casket match for the Federation Championship between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. The third installment in the vicious war between these two superstars picked up right where the last one left off. HBK and the Man from the Dark Side took turns pounding on each other. The Undertaker was in full control of the match until it moved to the outside. Michaels took advantage of the no-disqualificaiton stipulation as he clobbered the challenger with the steel ring steps. Shawn then hit the Undertaker with a piledriver, using the steps as a landing pad! Back in the ring, they used the coffin as a weapon and not just a means to the end. The Phenom delivered a Tombstone to the champion, jumping off the ring apron and landing in the satin-lined box. Michaels, not to be outdone, crawled out and later went up to the rope to land an elbow to the Undertaker who was inside. After dishing out a great deal of punishment to the Heartbreak Kid, the challenger was set to toss him in the coffin and slam the lid shut when all hell broke loose! Los Boricuas and the New Age Outlaws came into the ring for the save, attacking the Undertaker so he could not put Shawn away. Then the lights dimmed, and Kane appeared! The monstrous younger brother of the Phenom cleared everyone out of the squared circle and stood face to face with the brother he was apparently about to reconcile. But Kane attacked his older brother, beating him down to the canvas and shoving him in the casket. Michaels then ran from behind to shut the door and officially get the win. Paul Bearer, who claimed that he and Kane had parted ways, appeared ringside to help Kane lock the Undertaker inside the huge box. The devious duo then wheeled the casket to the entrance way, and Kane attacked it with a pick axe! After destroying the casket, the red-headed monster poured gasoline on it and set the casket on fire! Have Bearer and Kane achieved their ultimate revenge on the Undertaker?!? Credit:www.WWF.com