15 Best Matches To Ever Take Place At Royal Rumble
15. Goldust Vs. Razor Ramon (Royal Rumble '96)
If you have grown up in this modern generation of growing acceptance and understanding, then you may not fully appreciate the effectiveness of the Goldust character back in the New Generation. When he debuted, he redefined the word controversy in pro wrestling. He played up to every stereotype associated with the homosexual male, while never actually saying outright his orientation. Back then, it was as easy to dislike that character as breathing air. Today, it is as easy to appreciate the talent that Dustin Runnels displayed in that role as writing the word iconic. It was truly one of the most underrated reasons for the mindset behind the envelope-pushing Attitude Era. The perfect foil to that character was the, in real life, uncomfortable Scott Hall, who portrayed Razor Ramon. He was clearly not OK with what was going on. It was written all over his face and in his body language. He's not that good of an actor. Other than Roddy Piper, Razor was the most high profile Goldust opponent. Their feud over the IC title peaked at the '96 Royal Rumble. We praise in modern times reality. You can comb through sports entertainment lore and struggle to find a match that felt more real than Goldust vs. Ramon. Every punch thrown, every risque gesture, and every psychological moment. This match is a great example of why WWE Network is a priceless purchase for wrestling enthusiasts.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
