Fairly pedestrian in many ways, the '94 Rumble match was, in other ways, incredibly entertaining. Of course, there was the finish. Much credit must be given where it is due for the finish that saw Lex Luger and Bret Hart eliminated at the same time, leading to mass confusion and the excitement that accompanied it. It was an innovative climax that required impeccable timing from all parties involved, including the cameramen. All these years later after repeated viewings, it is safe to say that everyone succeeded. What an ending! Several years into the concept, it was the right time to pull such a stunt. Plus, it was an integral part in returning the Hit Man to the peak of the WWE mountain, giving this Rumble match an added boost of historical credibility. This was an interesting blend of initial boom period stars and new generation stars, with Diesel having a coming out party of sorts that earned him the crowds respect and began the slow push toward his title win later that year. HBK also shone bright, bumping all over the place and creating for exciting near eliminations in a manner that became more of a staple as the roster got smaller in stature. Diesel was arguably the match MVP. He displayed an intensity and desire to steal the show that exuded his passion for the business.
"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.
