Hey, tough guy! It’s time for another Supercard!
Last year Kayfabe Commentaries debuted “SUPERCARD”, their newest historical shoot interview series that re-experiences some of pro wrestling’s greatest nights through the eyes of those who topped the cards. In this edition series host Sean Oliver sits down with WWE Hall of Famer (class of 2011) “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan to re-live, re-experience, and re-examine Royal Rumble 1988 in the “SUPERCARD: Royal Rumble ’88’ DVD!
The first portion deals with how “Hacksaw” Duggan got into pro wrestling in Dallas, how his father (a friend of Arnold Skaaland) got Duggan’s foot in the door in the WWWF in October ’79, and paying his dues. Duggan describes how lucky he was to be in the business at all in the late ’70s, the brotherhood that existed once one was allowed “behind the curtain”, and the odd culture shock he experienced from moving from football to pro wrestling, especially jobbing to guys he thought he could legitimately beat! We learn about how TVs were run and just how quickly and professionally the boys went from finding out the finish from either Monsoon or Skaaland to putting the finish itself together.
The next segment of the “Background” covers Duggan’s trip through the territories and his rise in Bill Watt’s Mid-South Wrestling. Duggan talks of Vince McMahon, Jr.’s cherry-picking of talent for the first few WrestleMania‘s leading to Duggan being re-signed in the early spring on 1987, a move he felt he was ready for, and the arrest with Iron Sheik on the Garden State Parkway on May 26, 1987 (“Thanks for bringin’ that up, brother!”) that brought it all crashing down. Duggan vividly recalls the arrest, working the show that night (and not telling anyone), the headlines, and the phone call with Vince that sealed his fate, including how riding with the heel Sheik was a bigger deal than getting popped for marijuana. In August ’87, as Duggan recalls, he was called back for the Paul Bosch Retirement Show (at Bosch’s insistence) and had a heart-to-heart with Vince that set things right.
In terms of “Build-Up” Duggan talks about not knowing anything about the Royal Rumble until they got to the arena to shoot it and being told early in the process that he was going over, expressing some surprise that no angles preceded the match nor followed it! The match “was just a test balloon,” Duggan says. “And boom we did it and that night we drove to another show.”
In “The Spot” Duggan breaks down the day of the event, from getting there at 1:00 PM for pre-tapes, to catering, to whether or not there was any kind of practice or run-through for the match. Of course they go over the event match-by-match with plenty of inside stories and thoughts on the individual talent involved on the card, including Vince and Jesse Ventura on commentary.
Duggan goes name-by-name through the Royal Rumble giving his thoughts on everyone in the match. This was my favorite part of the interview by far. Tons of inside stories, memories, and personal asides that not only help add color to the program but illustrate Duggan as a person and a human being, a side we don’t often get to see. As he goes Duggan walks us through how to work a battle royal, the dos and don’ts, the horseplay that was frowned upon for the “Rumble”, how eliminations were put together, timing the match (and why so many battle royals are so short), and what was going on in the Gorilla position at the start of the match. In the end Duggan talks of his pride in the inaugural Royal Rumble and the match holding a special place in his career with it being something fans still talk to him about to this day.
Along the way Duggan gives his thoughts on a who’s who list of talent including Hulk Hogan, Gene Okerlund, Bobby Heenan, Gino Hernandez, the McMahons, the Samoans, Pat Patterson, Bruiser Brody, Bill Watts, the Nasty Boys and so many more. We also hear about Duggan’s first MSG show, a classic Owen Hart rib, why playing cards was banned in the WWF locker room, who Duggan feels is the top guy, the “Montreal Screwjob” and more!
With a running time of 1 hour and 44 minutes anyone who thinks they know the Royal Rumble is sure to be taken to school in this incredible interview. Duggan looks into the camera throughout, making the viewer feel a part of this DVD, and is warm, engaging and funny. Filled with countless stories and one-of-a-kind insight, “SUPERCARD: Royal Rumble ’88’ is another grand-slam from the folks at Kayfabe Commentaries and is a must-see for any serious WWE fan.
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I don’t know why but till this day it still surprises me that of all the talent the WWE had back then that Duggan won the 1st Royal Rumble. Not knocking him I always liked him but it’s still makes me think why didn’t they have a bigger talent like Hogan win the 1st one? He had to wait till the Rumble in 1990 to win it. What’s even more surprising to me is that Big John Studd won the Rumble in 1989. I still can’t believe both of them won a Rumble before Hogan did.I don’t know why but every time I watch my Rumble anthology vol 1 I can’t help but think about that till this day.
Cuz the Hogan/Andre contract was s bigger attraction. In 89, Studd needed it more
I think initally they probably saw it more as an opportunity to get lesser talents over to that next level rather than another notch on a main event career, like they have done in general with the Andre Battle Royal in recent years. Either that or they just thought the multi-man match was entertaining in itself and were just having a laugh as they didn’t feel it mattered who won. Maybe they were just going for a feel-good moment with a fan favourite like Duggan winning. It seemed to just then kind of evolve into the whole title shot opportunity thing once they realised how popular it was.
The reason I can’t see someone like Duggan winning a Rumble, much less even a match itself, is because of the absolute slob he was in the ring. Even the Bushwackers collectively had more charisma than Duggan. Fans have been led to believe the Rumble is about precision and timing, something Duggan completely lacked, which it why it makes sense workers like Edge, Miz, or Orton would win. They are completely calculated. Duggan was an attraction, but precise? Not at all. And sometimes, all it takes is a large guy to get everyone else out. Hence, Big John.
I dunno, I just thin you’re overthinking it, bud. They hadn’t yet gotten into all the “precision and timing”. Mir was their first attempt; give them a break, lol.
think * It *
I hear you. But, they just didn’t do much with Duggan after that, which also bothers me. He wins the first Rumble ever, and while it wasn’t prestigious at the time, he went on to compete in dark matches and losses at Wrestlemania two months later in less than 5 minutes. I’d say winning the Rumble was the highlight of his career, especially being that his title reigns were never in WWF/WWE and considering what the Rumble has become.
Studd needed what more?? The win or a career boost or what?? What did winning the rumble do for Studds career? He was a comeback that was to late and nobody cared about.
It wasn’t a loaded Rumble in terms of big name (at the time) talent. It was just a show added to go up against the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede PPV event. The main focus wasn’t even the Rumble, it was to promote the Hogan/Andre rematch.