Rumble Ramblings: #2 Dustin's Golden Opportunity

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Since the 2017 Royal Rumble is right around the corner, I've decided to countdown to this year's event with my 10 favorite non-Rumble Royal Rumble matches. 

In 1991, Dustin Rhodes made his Royal Rumble debut. He and his father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes teamed up to take on "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Virgil. The father-son duo lost and both soon department WWF and went to WCW. Fast forward five years later and Dustin's alter ego Goldust received a golden opportunity

Goldust had actually debuted in fall 1995 and was the polar opposite of "The Natural" character Dustin had perfected in Atlanta. Goldust was a character way ahead of his time and paved the way for the infamous Attitude Era. Goldust entered into a war of words and love notes with Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon. That brewing battle came to a head at the '96 Rumble.

Full disclosure, Goldust is one of my favorite gimmicks of all time. Dustin jumpstarted his career with the character and changed the face of wrestling at the same time. When he headed to the ring that night, he was joined by a beautiful woman in a golden dress and carrying cigar. We'd later learn her name was Marlena. She was Dustin's real life wife who had played Alexandra York in WCW. By the way, Terri was the guest on the one-year anniversary show of My 1-2-3 Cents the podcast and you can listen to the backstory here.

Underneath the wig and makeup, of course, is an amazing wrestler. Goldust and Ramon had a great match which saw some distractions from Marlena and interference from the 1-2-3 Kid who had recently turned his back on Ramon. I celebrated the victory as I watched live in my apartment one month removed from graduating college. I had just bought a computer and this was my first event with internet access. I talked about the victory with other AOL chatters and in rec.sports.wrestling.

I wish Goldust's run as champion would have lasted longer. He ended up battling "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in a Hollywood Backlot Brawl at WrestleMania 12 a couple months later. The title wasn't on the line. The championship was vacated after an indecision with Savio Vega, but he recaptured shortly after that and lost it to Ahmed Johnson at the King of the Ring in summer 1996.

Despite that, the chase and the title win is one of my favorite moments from Dustin's career and obviously my second favorite non-Rumble Royal Rumble match. I really will remember the name... Gooooollllduuuussssttt!

10 Favorite Non-Rumble Royal Rumble matches

10. Super Posedown
9.  Harts Broken
8.  All fired up

7.  Daniel & The Giants 

6.  Co-owners Collide

5. Rollins arrives

4. Great Scot! Piper wins

3. Mankind get ROCKED

SURVIVOR SERIES: Favorite team number 6: Team HBK (1995)

Survivor Series 1995
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I'm counting down to the 30th annual Survivor Series by looking back at my ten favorite teams in the history of the event. Survivor Series ranks among my favorite events every year and if you've read this blog in the past you know I'm a fan of the traditional elimination matches. 

In 1995 WWE tried something different for Survivor Series. This was the first year the event aired on a Sunday night. Previous Survivor Series shows were on Thanksgiving or the night before. Also that year, good guy teams vs. bad guy teams were tossed out the window. One match featured so-called Wild Card teams.

When rivals have to be partners
Courtesy: WWE

Interim WWF President Gorilla Monsoon made rivals team up and take on their friends. Shawn Michaels was forced to captain a team with Ahmed Johnson and his enemies, Sid and Davey Boy Smith. That foursome faced Razor Ramon, Yokozuna, Owen Hart and Dean Douglas. As you might imagine, the teammate loyalty ran then and Shawn helped eliminate Sid after a serving of Sweet Chin Music. Once the dust settled it was Shawn's team that won, with HBK, Johnson and The Bulldog standing tall as the survivors. 

Teamwork
Courtesy: WWE

At the time of this match, Davey Boy was one of my favorites. He had recently turned heel and was being managed by Jim Cornette. I had previously been a fan of the heel HBK, and Ahmed Johnson was growing on me. I'll admit it here, I liked Sid too, so this team had it all. The "Wild Card" concept didn't become a consistent idea, but it did return from time to time. 

Top 10:

Team 7: Team Piper: Survivor Series 1991

Team 8: The All-Americans

Team 9: Team WWF Survivor Series 2001

Team 10: New Day, King Barrett and Sheamus

Rest in Peace "Nature Boy" 3.0

Rest in peace Buddy Landel

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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The wrestling world is mourning once again this week, as "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel has died.  He was just 53 years old.  Reports indicate he had been involved in a car a few days earlier, and was found unresponsive Monday.  No other details have been released as of this writing.

I remember Landel from his days in the NWA under the management of JJ Dillion.  This was prior to the Four Horsemen and the other "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.  Both men used the moniker, but of course Buddy Rogers was the originator of the name.  Flair beat Landel, who was talented in my opinion, but stayed on the midcard for the most part.  I loved his corkscrew elbow drop.  He had the trademark bleach blond hair and fancy robes too.

Landel vs. Bob Holly during his brief WWF run
Photo courtesy: WWE

Landel bounced around to various independent promotions, including a pretty successful run with Jim Cornette's Smokey Mountain Wrestling.  That led to matches with WWF Superstars like Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart as the two companies worked together briefly.  Landel also wrestled for a short time for WWF and against Ahmed Johnson at In Your House: Seasons Beatings in December 1995.  That contest lasted under a minute with Johnson winning.  I'm pretty sure Landel faded away from the WWF at that point.  He did wrestle at least one other time in 1999 against Triple H in an enhancement match.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Landel's family, friends and fans.  Rest in peace, Nature Boy.