WWF: Rampage 1992 [VHS]

Many people criticize this Royal Rumble because of the main focus of the event being on Ric Flair's performance in the Rumble Match. But it truly was/is a tremendous event. Really, the only way you are going to get anything out of this particular review is if you are a die-hard fan of this era in the World Wrestling Federation. In my opinion, this is one of the top two greatest Royal Rumbles of all time (right behind 1995.)One of the reasons is the uniqueness of the Rumble match. The stipulation was that whoever won the match won the vacant WWF Championship. It would be a year later that the company would include the stipulation that whoever won got a main event title shot at WrestleMania. If you followed the WWF in the early 90's, you are probably aware of how different an attitude the company had then. It was really a time when you either had to get wrapped in a particular storyline, or you just didn't get it. This Rumble was all about building Ric Flair as a WWF guy, but that is where the company needed to go since Flair had been the face of NWA/WCW for so long. Some of my personal highlights from this event include the commentary of Bobby "the Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon as relates to whether or not Flair could go the distance. Heenan is so excited and nervous every time Flair is close to elimination that you just have to laugh and admire Heenan's ability to be the best heel commentator in the business. The New Foundation and The Orient Express have a phenominal tag team match and do a great job of kicking things off at the event. Roddy Piper gives a hilarious interview about The Mountie, and there is so much more. Buy this event from Amazon. It is awesome. I give it five stars and a whole lot more.

The beginning match is kinda messed up as far as the tape quality but it's the Piper/Mountie match and already have it on DVDs. Other then that everything is up to par.

This WWF Royal Rumble took place in Albany, New York, in January of 1992 where, for the first time, this year's winner would lay claim to the vacant WWF World Championship. Also, among the other four matches on the card, the Mountie defended the WWF Intercontinental Title vs. Roddy Piper and the Road Warriors put the WWF Tag Team Championship up against the Natural Disasters. In all, the rumble alone gave WWF fans their absolute money's worth.1. New Foundation (Jim Neidhart & Owen Hart) vs. the Orient Express: 3 stars ..... In a slightly above-average match, the Hart boys (despite their gaudy costumes) display some solid in-ring chemistry together as they manage to deep-six the Express.2. Roddy Piper vs. I-C Champion The Mountie: 3 stars ...... After a flashback to Bret Hart's recent title loss, Piper easily blows past the Mountie and Jimmy Hart to win his first and only WWF gold. While the match is relatively decent, it is also heavily pushed that Piper will be the first-ever competitor to have a chance at winning the I-C and World Titles on the same night.3. Bushwhackers (with a geek) vs. the Beverly Brothers (with Lanny Poffo): A total zero ...... Watching a blank screen for 15 minutes is far more rewarding than forcing yourself to sit through this awful match. It is recommended that you immediately hit your fast-forward button when this one comes across your tv screen.4. WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Road Warriors (aka the Legion of Doom) vs. the Natural Disasters: 2 stars .... Not even the Warriors are able to drag much excitement out of this routine match with such inferior competition (when the Nasty Boys or the Powers of Pain could have been available). The dismal Disasters take the win with a dubious count-out and feel cheated afterwards. You should, too.5. The Royal Rumble participants: Hulk Hogan, Sid Vicious, Ric Flair, new I-C Champion Roddy Piper, the Undertaker, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Kerry von Erich, the British Bulldog, Hercules, the Warlord, Shawn Michaels, Tito Santana, Mike Rotundo, Ted DiBiase, Big Bossman, Sgt. Slaughter, Nikolai Volkoff, Jimmy Snuka, Greg Valentine, Rick Martel, Repo Man, the Nasty Boys, Hacksaw Duggan, Haku, the Barbarian, the Berzerker, Virgil, and Skinner.5 stars ...... Just about every major WWF star of the time (minus Bret Hart & the Road Warriors) makes an appearance sometime during the match. The in-ring chemistry among the wrestlers is outstanding from beginning to finish, especially Flair's willingness to take almost everyone's best shots during his hour-long stay in the rumble. In the end, it comes down to the four men who would headline the double main event at Wrestlemania VIII a few months later.As a side note, announcer Bobby Heenan's ringside commentary, which alternates between hyperventilating and flagrant cheering for Flair, is really amusing. The drawback is: the announcers end up so heavily hinting at who the eventual winner will be that it becomes a foregone conclusion.If you are able to find this vhs for a reasonable price, it is well worth the investment to see some of the best WWF players ever assembled in one match for the most valuable prize in pro wrestling.

Back when the WWF still understood the significance of the Royal Rumble event. The once classic hour-long battle royal really hasn't been much since the emergence of the "Attitude" era but in 1992, it wasn't just about which big-name stars could clear the ring of all the mid-carders. To those who aren't familiar with the pre-Austin WWF, this is a must-see.Ric Flair gave an "Ironman" performance here. The commentary was on point here as well as Bobby Heenan's blatantly-biased broadcasting made for some amusing moments as he and Gorilla Monsoon trade shots back and forth. This was long before there was so much emphasis on commentators spending the whole show talking about one or two big main event wrestlers until they arrive in the Rumble. Clearly, Hulk Hogan is the big favorite here but the broadcasters take the time to acknowledge other feuds and storylines such as the one between the Macho Man and Jake Roberts and so on. This was one of the last great classic Rumbles before the WWF started going the predictable route. This was also the first and only Royal Rumble where the winner would get the WWF Title, a strange stipulation though it made it that much more intruiging, and the last one before they began rewarding the winner with a shot at the WWF Title at Wrestlemania.The undercard for the '92 "Rumble" was not one of the better ones though Roddy Piper's only title win is a plus. He comes in as a substitute for Bret Hart, who is out due to illness, to challenge The Mountie for the Intercontinetal Title. There are also two tag team matches, one of which features the short-lived "New Foundation", a tag team featuring Owen Hart and Jim Neidhart.If you can find Royal Rumble 1992 at any video store, I recommend that you pick it up.

Absolutely amazing my brother was delighted with the video.. plus it still had the poster inside