10 Greatest WWE Pay-Per-Views Of The '90s

5. Royal Rumble 1991

Steve Austin SummerSlam 1998
WWE.com

In 1991, Dave Meltzer called the Royal Rumble one of the greatest pay-per-views ever presented by the World Wrestling Federation. He wasn't wrong then and some 25 years later, it still holds up as an event that feels special.

The Royal Rumble match itself was so-so but featured some of the biggest names of the '90s: Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Legion of Doom, Mr. Perfect, Bret Hart, and more. The opening tag team match between The Rockers and The Orient Express was perhaps the greatest tag match in company history to that point and the interview segment that followed between Sensational Queen Sherri and WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior set the stage for the main event.

For the first time in history, the WWF Championship was defended at the January event when Sgt. Slaughter challenged the Ultimate Warrior. After the Macho King Randy Savage cost Warrior the title with a scepter smash to the head, Slaughter became only the third heel to hold the WWF title since the birth of Hulkamania (Andre and Savage the prior two).

And finally, the post-match of Dusty & Dustin Rhodes vs. Million Dollar Man & Virgil saw the long awaited split between Ted DiBiase and his bodyguard - another historic moment that added to the show's instant classic feel.

Contributor
Contributor

A former stuntman for Paramount Pictures, Matt enjoys sports, water skiing, driving fast, the beach, professional wrestling, technology, and scotch. At the same time, whenever possible. Having attended many famous (and infamous) shows including WrestleMania XV, In Your House: Mind Games, and the 1995 King of the Ring, Matt has been a lifelong professional sports and wrestling fan. Matt's been mentioned in numerous wrestling podcasts including the Steve Austin Show: Unleashed, Talk Is Jericho, and Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard. As a former countywide performer, Matt has been referred to as Mr. 300 for his amazing accomplishments in the world of amateur bowling. He is also the only man on record to have pitched back-to-back no hitters in the Veterans Stadium Wiffle Ball League of 2003.