Royal Rumble 1998 Logo

January 18, 1998 - San Jose, California
San Jose Arena

The Advertisement

Match #1
Vader def. TAFKA Goldust
w/Luna Vachon
via Pinfall (7:49)
Notes: In a sweet finish, Vader gave The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust (TAFKA) the Vader Bomb with Luna on his back.

Match #2
Max Mini
Mosaic
Nova
def. Battalion
El Torito
Tarantula
via Pinfall (7:47)
Notes: Sunny was the Special Guest Referee for the match. Max Mini pinned El Torito to end an incredibly exciting and fast paced match.

Match #3 - WWF Intercontinental Championship
The Rock
Champion
def. Ken Shamrock
Challenger
via DQ (10:51)
Notes: Shamrock was originally declared the winner via pinfall and the new IC Champ, but the decision was reversed when the referee found some brass knucks in Shamrock's trunks. Of course, the Rock planted them there and told the referee to go look for them after the match. Shamrock went nuts.

Match #4 - WWF World Tag Team Championship
"The Legion of Doom"
(Hawk & Animal)
Challengers
def. "The New Age Outlaws"
(Road Dogg & Billy Gunn)
Champions
via DQ (7:54)
Notes: NAOs were wearing Brett Favre jerseys to draw some ire from the 49ers fans. Road Dogg used a chair on Animal, and Hawk was handcuffed to the ringpost.

Match #5 - Royal Rumble Match
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin def. (See Below) (55:22)
Notes: Mike Tyson was in a booth with Vince and Shane McMahon. Owen Hart was jumped by Jeff Jarrett on his way to the ring, and was thought to be eliminated. Owen came back when Jarrett entered the Rumble and eliminated him. Triple H and Chyna came out right after Honky Tonk Man and nailed Owen with a crutch to eliminate him. The #22 no entry was supposed to make the audience believe that Austin was taken out by someone, but he entered two spots later. WWF Magazine stated that #22 was slated to Skull, but he was taken out by Los Boricuas.

Match #6 - WWF World Heavyweight Championship - Casket Match
Shawn Michaels
Champion
w/Triple H, Chyna
def. The Undertaker
Challenger
(20:34)
Notes: Michaels won after Kane came out and attacked the Undertaker. Kane and Paul Bearer locked him in the casket and then set it on fire.

*Entrants were supposed to come down in 2:00 minute intervals. But for storytelling purposes, they sometimes have to run over/short, depending on what's happening in the ring. Individual times are from when the timer hit zero until the Superstar's feet hit the floor. Times are approximate, taken from video footage.
#Time InNameExitTime OutEliminated ByTotal
10:00Cactus Jack29:22Chainsaw Charlie9:22
20:00Chainsaw Charlie625:20Mankind25:20
31:45Tom Brandi12:06Cactus Jack0:21
43:32The Rock2855:22Steve Austin51:50
55:18Headbanger Mosh318:41Kurrgan13:23
67:05Phineas I. Godwinn1236:11Mark Henry29:06
78:528-Ball1439:44Steve Austin30:52
810:39Blackjack Bradshaw1546:38Dude Love35:59
912:25Owen Hart1031:11Triple H18:46
1014:12Steve Blackman420:16Kurrgan6:04
1115:59D'Lo Brown1648:32Faarooq32:33
1217:45Kurrgan521:468-Ball,Phineas,Bradshaw,Shamrock4:01
1319:31"Marvelous" Marc Mero
w/Sable
1339:32Steve Austin20:01
1421:18Ken Shamrock930:43The Rock9:25
1523:04Headbanger Thrasher1851:27Steve Austin28:23
1624:52Mankind727:48TAFKA Goldust2:56
1726:38TAFKA Goldust
w/Luna Vachon
2352:48Chainz26:10
1828:24Jeff Jarrett
w/James E. Cornette
830:06Owen Hart1:42
1930:11Honky Tonk Man1750:27Vader20:16
2031:59Ahmed Johnson1136:01Mark Henry, D'Lo Brown4:02
2133:46Mark Henry2553:21Faarooq19:35
2235:33NO ENTRY
2337:21Kama Mustafa1951:35Steve Austin14:14
2439:06"Stone Cold" Steve AustinWINNER
2541:00Henry O. Godwinn2252:37Dude Love11:37
2642:45Savio Vega
w/Los Boricuas
2052:19Steve Austin9:34
2744:32Faarooq2754:51The Rock10:19
2846:19Dude Love2654:27Faarooq8:08
2948:06Chainz2453:10Steve Austin5:04
3049:52Vader2152:27TAFKA Goldust2:35

Commentary:Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler
w/Michael Cole
Spanish: Carlos Cabrera, Tito Santana
French: Jean Brassard, Ray Rougeau
Ring Announcer:Howard Finkel
Referees/Officials:Jack Doan, Mike Chioda, Tim White, Jimmy Korderas, Earl Hebner, Pat Patterson, Tony Garea, Dave Hebner, Gerald Brisco, etc.

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