50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble

So, the actual Rumble '88 match itself isn't much to shout about, but that's only part of the story. Keep in mind that this epic binge session took in each event as a whole. That's a good thing too, because it means your writer clapped eyes on hidden gem treats like Rick Rude vs. Ricky Steamboat in the opening match from Ebersol's rubber-stamped TV special on NBC.

It was a smart move from somebody behind the curtain to say, 'Hey, let's give Rude and Steamboat over 15 minutes to get us started'. They produced a cracking little match that's well worth your time. NWA enthusiasts will enjoy it too, because their ring work was more akin to things you'd see over in competitor NWA/WCW than on Vince McMahon's programming. That's meant as a compliment, by the way.

This match was really well worked.

Sure, the DQ finish failed to satisfy, but the general work? Excellent, and a million times better than most undercard matches you'd see in the company at the time. It doesn't quite match Steamboat vs. Randy Savage from the prior year's WrestleMania III. Then again, that had the added value of the Intercontinental Title and the 'Mania stage. Meanwhile, this one was housed on a TV special with a questionable future.

Steamboat vs. Rude is the only non-Rumble match from the 1988 show worth revisiting. Others like The Jumping Bomb Angels vs. The Glamour Girls and a quirky Young Stallions vs. Islanders main event lose steam quickly despite the '2 Out Of 3 Falls' stipulation for both.