For anyone who adores the 1992 Rumble because it is like taking a walk down Memory Lane for fans from the Rock and Wrestling Era, the 2002 Rumble was similar to fans of the Monday Night Wars. You had Rikishi, who rode the late Attitude Era to heights few ever thought possible for the Phat Man, entering first. The Hardy Boyz reunited early on in the match. The Undertaker was the dominant force of the first half and provided a shockingly memorable moment when he was eliminated by Maven, winner of a competition that came about solely because of the success of the Attitude Era. You also had the APA, Billy Gunn, Christian, and Big Bossman as highly relevant stars from that period. It was like a "Who's Who of Attitude" the entire match, with spotlight returns afforded to Goldust, Val Venis, and The Godfather after each had less successful stints in other roles. Mr. Perfect came back, too, and excelled as one of the focal points of the climax. Not to mention that a number of WCW stalwarts, such as Booker T and Diamond Dallas Page, made their first Rumble appearances. And don't forget the incomparable Rob Van Dam doing the same. Your opinion of the match likely hinges on the performances by three particular individuals; Kurt Angle, Steve Austin, and Triple H. The story of the match during the weeks leading up to the Rumble was that of a four man race for the main-event slot afforded the winner. Taker had already been written out long before the final four, so it was up to Angle, Trips, and Austin. Stone Cold was on his last legs as a character, eking out a few months of nostalgia with the horrific "What?" chant inching him toward retirement. In the end, it came down to HHH and Angle, with The Game using the Rumble win to further his comeback story.
"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.
