SUMMARY: APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 33:19 Min.*
At Madison Square Garden, on February 23, 1992, this WWF house show included a 20-Man Over-the-Top Battle Royal main event.
In order of appearance, the participants are: 1. The Berzerker 2. “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith; 3. “The Model” Rick Martel; 4. Hercules; 5. and 6. The Bushwhackers’ Luke & Butch; 7. Skinner; 8. Repo Man. 9. Warlord; 10. Chris Walker; 11. The Orient Express’ Kato; 12. “Jumping” Jim Brunzell; 13. WWF Intercontinental Champion “Rowdy” Roddy Piper; 14 and 15. The Nasty Boys’ Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags; 16. The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer); 17. Big Boss Man; 18. Sid Justice (with Harvey Whippleman); 19. WWF World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; and 20. Hulk Hogan.
The match’s co-commentators are: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and “Lord” Alfred Hayes.
Notes: The match’s running time is significantly padded by the participants’ leisurely entrances. The wrestlers highlighted in black italics previously appeared in the 20-Man Battle Royal held at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 3, 1991.
REVIEW:
Given the mostly ‘B’ and ‘C’-list cast, fans are treated to watchable battle royal mayhem. Still, there are some intriguing one-on-one (and occasionally two-on-one) match-ups worth catching, even briefly: i.e., Sid vs. the newly face Undertaker; the sight of Hogan & Undertaker double-teaming Flair; the reliable Piper vs. Flair rivalry; Sid repeatedly pounding on Nasty Boy Knobbs; Boss Man holding his own vs. Undertaker & then later Sid; and inevitably Hogan vs. Sid’s skullduggery to tease WrestleMania VIII.
Hogan and Sid’s slow-pitch showdown (as dubious as that sounds) surpasses their subsequent WrestleMania VIII main event. Without spoiling their semi-clever finish, the less-than-dominant Hogan comes away as a sympathetic underdog. At least, it is better plotting than the disappointing WrestleMania cliché-fest he and Sid bored fans with.
All said, the biggest names shine enough. Supplying main eventers Sid and The Undertaker their most plausible opposition, this battle royal’s unappreciated MVP is the Boss Man.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
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