The 1994 Royal Rumble’s Overlooked Controversy

The 1994 Royal Rumble event, held on January 22, 1994, at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island, is often remembered for its unprecedented tie finish between Bret Hart and Lex Luger. However, this high-profile ending overshadowed several other controversial aspects of the event that deserve closer examination. From questionable booking decisions to behind-the-scenes drama, the 1994 Royal Rumble was a pivotal moment in WWE history that set the stage for significant changes in the company’s direction.

The Co-Winner Conundrum

The most obvious controversy of the night was the dual victory of Bret Hart and Lex Luger in the Royal Rumble match itself. For the first and only time in the event’s history, two wrestlers were declared co-winners after simultaneously tumbling over the top rope and hitting the floor1. This unprecedented finish left fans and officials alike in a state of confusion.

Initially, Lex Luger was announced as the winner, followed by a reversal declaring Bret Hart victorious. Ultimately, WWF President Jack Tunney intervened, and both men were declared co-winners7. This indecisive ending reflected the company’s struggle to choose between two potential top stars heading into WrestleMania X.

The disputed ending was not without its challenges. Lex Luger recently spoke about how he had never performed a backward elimination over the top rope while holding onto his opponent. He credited Bret Hart for guiding him through the sequence and ensuring its smooth execution26. This behind-the-scenes cooperation highlights the professionalism of both performers in pulling off a risky and unconventional finish.

The Owen Hart Turn

However, it was actually a moment during a Tag Team Championship match early in the show. Bret Hart and his brother Owen faced The Quebecers. At one point during the match, the referee had stopped the match as Bret had apparently injured his knee, thus making no attempt at a submission. In reality, no injury to the knee of Bret Hart ever occurred.

This decision led to a heated confrontation between the Hart brothers, with Owen blaming Bret for the loss and accusing him of selfishness. Owen’s memorable line, “That’s why I kicked your leg out of your leg,” became an unintentional catchphrase that added to the intensity of their burgeoning feud.

The Owen Hart turn was a storytelling masterclass, building one of the most riveting feuds of 1994. But at the same time, it marked the moment WWE’s booking philosophy started to change from heroes and villains in black-and-white shades to more delicate character-writer exchanges.

The Undertaker’s Supernatural Saga

Perhaps the most underappreciated controversy of the evening was the WWF Championship Casket Match between Yokozuna and The Undertaker. This match devolved into a farce as no less than ten men interfered to allow Yokozuna to retain his title18.

The match culminated in a surreal sequence where green smoke emerged from Paul Bearer’s urn, incapacitating The Undertaker and allowing Yokozuna to secure victory. This supernatural element pushed the boundaries of believability, even for a character as otherworldly as The Undertaker.

The aftermath of the match was equally bizarre, featuring The Undertaker delivering a promo from inside the casket, promising to “not rest in peace.” This segment marked a turning point for The Undertaker character, leaning heavily into supernatural themes that would define his persona for years to come.

While some fans embraced the mystical elements, others felt it stretched credibility too far. The match and its aftermath remain divisive among wrestling critics, with some praising its creativity and others deriding it as overly theatrical.

The Diesel Dilemma

One of the most intriguing subplots of the 1994 Royal Rumble was the unexpected crowd reaction to Diesel (Kevin Nash). Despite being positioned as a heel, Diesel received a surprisingly positive response from the audience during his dominant performance in the Rumble match.

Diesel went through seven straight winners, equaling the WWF record at the time. It sparked a buzz with the fans and they began to chant for the big man despite his heel persona32. This positive response towards Diesel would later lead to a face turn and a push as a main event star later in that year.

This organic crowd reaction represented a shift in the tastes of wrestling fans and the need for WWE to adapt to changing circumstances with its booking. The Diesel case proved that sometimes the best character developments come organically and not through months of planning.

Missing Entrants and Last-Minute Changes

Behind the scenes, the 1994 Royal Rumble was plagued by last-minute changes and no-shows. Bastion Booger, originally slated to enter at number 25, was absent from the match. On-screen, his absence was explained as food poisoning, playing into his glutton gimmick. However, this explanation did little to mask the disorganization behind the scenes.

Additionally, Kamala and Ludvig Borga were both advertised for the Rumble but did not appear. Kamala was replaced by Virgil, while Kwang took Borga’s spot. These substitutions highlighted the volatile nature of WWE’s roster at the time and the challenges of maintaining a consistent lineup.

The absence of these advertised performers raised questions about WWE’s ability to deliver on promised matchups. It also demonstrated the company’s willingness to make last-minute adjustments, sometimes at the expense of coherent storytelling.

The Luger Letdown

Lex Luger’s co-win in the Royal Rumble was meant to solidify his position as a top star in the company. However, the crowd’s reaction to Luger was noticeably mixed, with a significant portion of the audience favoring Bret Hart.

This lukewarm response to Luger was indicative of larger issues with his push as the company’s next big hero. Despite a massive promotional campaign dubbed the “Lex Express,” Luger struggled to connect with fans on the level that Vince McMahon had hoped.

The decision to have Luger share the Rumble victory with Hart was likely a response to this tepid fan reaction. It allowed WWE to hedge its bets, keeping Luger in the title picture while also elevating the more organically popular Hart.

The Steiner Situation

Another overlooked aspect of the 1994 Royal Rumble was the booking of the Steiner Brothers. Rick and Scott Steiner, one of the most dominant tag teams of the era, were both eliminated early in the Rumble match. This decision seemed to undervalue the Steiners’ status and abilities.

Setting Scott Steiner as the first entry in the Rumble, a position usually given to someone with a lot of stamina or very important storyline-wise, only to quickly eliminate him, made for an unpredictable match but also may have damaged some credibility for the Steiners.

This treatment of the Steiner Brothers foreshadowed their eventual departure from the company later that year. It raised questions about WWE’s commitment to its tag team division and its ability to properly utilize established talent.

The Intercontinental Championship Controversy

While not as high-profile as other controversies of the night, the Intercontinental Championship match between Razor Ramon and Irwin R. Schyster (IRS) had its own share of drama. The match initially appeared to end with IRS winning the title after interference from Shawn Michaels.

However, referee Earl Hebner restarted the match, allowing Ramon to retain his championship. This restart, while providing a crowd-pleasing outcome, raised issues about the consistency of rule enforcement in WWE.

The involvement of Shawn Michaels also foreshadowed the iconic ladder match between Michaels and Ramon at WrestleMania X. In this sense, the controversy served a larger narrative purpose, but it also highlighted the sometimes convoluted nature of WWE’s storytelling.

Long-Term Implications

The controversies of the 1994 Royal Rumble had far-reaching effects on WWE’s direction in the months and years that followed. The dual victory of Hart and Luger led to a complex WrestleMania X card, with both men challenging for the WWF Championship in separate matches.

The Owen Hart kickstarter was one of the most acclaimed feuds of the 1990s, culminating in a classic match at WrestleMania X. The supernatural elements of The Undertaker’s character would become increasingly prominent, leading to some of the most memorable storylines in WWE history.

Diesel’s unexpected popularity would result in a WWF Championship reign later that year, altering the company’s main event scene. The lukewarm response to Luger would ultimately lead to a scaling back of his push and his eventual departure from the company.

Conclusion

Though generally remembered for an incredibly unusual conclusion, the night of the 1994 Royal Rumble contained a ton of controversies that got lost in time, as well as key events, hidden throughout. The night summed up much of the grey transitional period for which the mid-’90s was the WWE.

These controversies, when examined closely, provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by WWE during this era. They highlight the company’s willingness to experiment with new ideas, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. The 1994 Royal Rumble serves as a fascinating case study in the evolving nature of professional wrestling storytelling and the unpredictable dynamics between performers, promoters, and fans.

As we look back on this event, it’s clear that its impact extended far beyond the dual victory of Hart and Luger. The overlooked controversies of the 1994 Royal Rumble shaped the direction of WWE for years to come, influencing storylines, character development, and the overall presentation of professional wrestling on a global stage.