This day in wrestling history, January 21, 1990, is known more for the Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior stare down enroute to their match at WrestleMania VII than anything, but there were several historic moments that occurred.
While not all of the moments in the pay-per-view were huge, there is one that stands out and it’s that Hulk Hogan not only won his first Royal Rumble match, but he’s also the only WWE Champion to do so.
This is my personal favorite Royal Rumble match for so many reasons from Ted DiBiase’s performance entering at number 1 and making it to the end, to Hogan and Warrior confronting each other.
There’s so much that happened we never knew at the time like this would be Tony Schiavone’s final WWE PPV broadcast, and Shane McMahon was one of the referees at ringside.
It was so layered it’s often easy to miss and forget about all of the tidbits floating around, but for me, Hogan’s accomplishments are the biggest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG8D276iv6s
It’s a marathon
Over the years, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing wrestlers last the whole match or make memorable moments, but in many ways they lack the feel of the older shows.
It’s not because one is better than the other or any fault of the wrestler, it’s simply that there’s over 30 years of history for the event and there aren’t a whole lot of firsts that can be done anymore.
When it comes to how to manage it and the randomness that can occur, there’s no doubt why it’s one of the best events of the year, hands down.
Hulk Hogan shared his thoughts on the event and it’s interesting points given how things can come up or change on a whim. Special thanks to @awrestlinghistorian for the following transcript.
“You’ve got to realize…when you go out there with 29 other guys, the odds are definitely against you. You have to have a whole lot of luck, but more than anything it’s pacing. I don’t care if you get Number 1 or you get Number 15 or you get Number 29, it’s pacing because once you get out there, you just never know how long you’re going to be pounding and grounding.
It’s a real lucky…and an enduring situation, it’s like having an Iron Man right in the ring. You just never know who is going to come at you, who is going to cheap shot you, who acts like they might help you, but is just there to set you up and stab you in the back. You have to pace yourself. You have to have eyes on the back of your head. Otherwise, you don’t survive the Royal Rumble.” – Hulk Hogan, India Today interview, December 30, 2020.
There are few that have captivated us through the years like Hulk Hogan, and this was one of those moments we couldn’t help but enjoy.
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