The End of the Natural Disasters

[XaviersSS2015hair]

I watched the 1993 Royal Rumble earlier today for the first time in about 25 years. I was very surprised to see Earthquake come in and make a bee-line for Typhoon. They fought non-stop, never once acting as a team or stopping to fight anybody else. The fight continued until Earthquake eliminated Typhoon. Earthquake then threw his hands up like "what the hell", which made no sense since he was the one that started it.
Was this the end of the Disasters as a team? I remember them being around for maybe a month after the RR, I think they both put Bigelow over. Was there anything leading up to this that I don't remember? Was there a tease of a breakup? Did they ever team again after the 93 RR? Was this mentioned on TV as the blow off to the team?

Anybody that wants to share any fun memories they have of the Disasters would be fun too. They seem to have become a cult favorite the last several years.

[nevthebassist]

I think the idea was to eventually turn Quake heel, but one of the two had left WWF before it all went ahead. I might be mistaken because it's been many years since I read somewhere about it.

My fondest memory is of John Tenta posting on these boards in the WrestleCrap days. He was always very open with the fans, answered questions and just came across as a wonderful, humble and awesome dude who loved us as much as we loved him.

[thecrusherwi]

Two things:

As it pertains to Royal Rumble 1993, it’s one of the first PPVs I ever saw live. I was sure Yokozuna was going to win, because he was so fat. My only hopes were the Undertaker and the Natural Disasters. When Taker got eliminated I started to get nervous. I was angry when the Disasters couldn’t get along and Earthquake eliminated Typhoon. I figured had they worked together, they could have stopped him. Every time Yoko did something like smoosh Jim Duggan, take Bret’s title, or end Hogan’s reign, I still resented that the Disasters let it all happen.

Also, a good Natural Disasters story. At my first house show in 1992, I had a sign that said “Natural Disasters Need Slimfast”. We were in the second row and I held it up and both Earthquake and Typhoon saw it and sold like they were angry about the sign. I tried to take it down because I thought they would come over and beat up my dad and I, but my dad kept making me hold it up. Their opponents were Hacksaw and Slaughter, who came out, saw the sign, started laughing, and gave me a thumbs up. Then I thought we were safe.

[jason1980s]

At the time it seemed like WWF was letting go of guys or letting the guys go who wanted to go. It was a bunch of the guys who had been around the last 3-4 years. The year prior was similar. Once an event like the rumble or survivor series took place, it wasn't too long before a few guys past the time would move on. Quake would be gone withing a month or two. Typhoon stayed on until May or June but was jobbed out. It's insane to think these big guys who were normally in a tag title spot and had won them, got jobbed so easily.
I remember a match with Typhoon and Yoko on Coliseum Video where the commentators (one was Lord Alfred) made mention of Yoko running Quake out of the federation.
3-4 or even 6 years (Hercules for example) was a lifetime back then. Now we have guys around 5, 10, 15-20 years.

Yoko's career really benefited from someone in WWF who knew how to market. Sadly it probably ended his life.
But put his hair in a bun and shave his facial hair right there he doesn't look Samoan. Add a Sumo type outfit and he's a main eventer. If he keeps the facial hair, leaves it down like Samu and Fatu and wears all black pants-I really can't see this guy being a main eventer.

[HMARK Center]

Jan 19, 2023 20:41:54 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

Two things:

As it pertains to Royal Rumble 1993, it’s one of the first PPVs I ever saw live. I was sure Yokozuna was going to win, because he was so fat. My only hopes were the Undertaker and the Natural Disasters. When Taker got eliminated I started to get nervous. I was angry when the Disasters couldn’t get along and Earthquake eliminated Typhoon. I figured had they worked together, they could have stopped him. Every time Yoko did something like smoosh Jim Duggan, take Bret’s title, or end Hogan’s reign, I still resented that the Disasters let it all happen.

Also, a good Natural Disasters story. At my first house show in 1992, I had a sign that said “Natural Disasters Need Slimfast”. We were in the second row and I held it up and both Earthquake and Typhoon saw it and sold like they were angry about the sign. I tried to take it down because I thought they would come over and beat up my dad and I, but my dad kept making me hold it up. Their opponents were Hacksaw and Slaughter, who came out, saw the sign, started laughing, and gave me a thumbs up. Then I thought we were safe.

God, yeah, I think 7-8 year old me would watch the '93 Rumble going "why didn't you wait until Yokozuna came in before fighting with each other?!" I always remember less being scared of the big heel wrestlers and almost more convinced that they were just unfair; after all, there's no way anyone could lift the Big Show Andre, Quake, or Yoko high enough to throw them over the top rope!

[Aceorton]

I read the Rumble encounter as SEE, EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!

If I recall correctly, doesn't Typhoon sort of give Earthquake a little "no hard feelings" gesture after he's eliminated? Seemed like neither of them was holding a grudge about it. Just business.

[MiLB Fan]

SummerSlam ‘92 was the first wrestling event I ever watched, and nine-year-old me thought it was hilarious how Earthquake and Typhoon threw the Beverly Brothers around like rag dolls. The Natural Disasters definitely caught my attention as I started learning about my new interest by renting tapes from Blockbuster Video.

[Hulkshi Tanahashi]

Jan 19, 2023 22:17:21 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

I read the Rumble encounter as SEE, EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!

If I recall correctly, doesn't Typhoon sort of give Earthquake a little "no hard feelings" gesture after he's eliminated? Seemed like neither of them was holding a grudge about it. Just business.

That’s what I figured. They wanted to sell the “Every man for himself” aspect of the Rumble, especially since that was the first year where the winner got the WrestleMania World Title match.

[A Platypus Rave]

I loved the Natural Disasters. One of my favorite big man tag teams.


That said basically nothing came of the Rumble stuff because Tenta was gone from the Federation like two days later.

he came back later to do some Sumo/Sumo stuff with Yoko. But his last match were two matches at superstars the 25th of January... then FEbruary 9th he's in Japan.

[Non Banjoble Tokens]

One time when I was a kid, my best friend and I play wrestled my two brothers in a tag team match. My friend and I were the Natural Disasters, and my brothers were the Beverly Brothers. My oldest brother was special guest referee Giant Gonzales because he was so much taller than the rest of us. We made enough of a ruckus that the lady in the apartment next to ours called the police because she thought there was a real fight gong on.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

There really wasn't any hint of dissension between the two other then them fighting in the 93 Rumble. And even that came off more like an every man for himself/just business type deal.

I agree with the other posters that it definitely a dumb move by Earthquake from a strategic standpoint. If you look at it in kayfabe he would've very likely won the match if he hadn't gone after Typhoon immediately and instead worked with him until they were the last two. Or at least waited until they could get Yokozuna out. With them both getting numbers in the twenties and being in the ring at the same time I don't really see anyone stopping both of them even Yoko. And since he got the better of Typhoon he would've won once it got down to the two of them. Instead he decided to take Typhoon out right away and then as result got taken out by a fresher Yokozuna later on which probably doesn't happen if Typhoon is still there.

[tafkaga]

It made it look like Earthquake was the superior Natural Disaster, which I kind of already thought, but I didn't want to see it. In hindsight it makes Earthquake look like the dumber Natural Disaster.

[johnnyk9]

I felt the federation ruined both of them the way they made them
Lose the titles back to Money Inc. I have no problem with IRS and Dibiase winning the titles back but they set it up like the Natural Disaster’s have an easy match ahead of then with The Nasty Boys jumping Money Inc. then not even a big distraction from the Headshrinkers and you take the leader of the team and have him job out.

You can figure Earthquake attacking Typhoon and eliminating him from the Rumble was Quake’s way of saying there I was being put to sleep and our tag titles slipping away and all you did Typhoon was stand on the apron with your hand out thinking I was going to tag you in. Why Typhoon didn’t run in and break the million dollar Dream after Quake’s arm fell a second time just shows you how worthless Typhoon was as a partner so I don’t blame Earthquake for what he did at Rumble.

[XaviersSS2015hair]

Jan 20, 2023 19:08:47 GMT -5 johnnyk9 said:

I felt the federation ruined both of them the way they made them
Lose the titles back to Money Inc. I have no problem with IRS and Dibiase winning the titles back but they set it up like the Natural Disaster’s have an easy match ahead of then with The Nasty Boys jumping Money Inc. then not even a big distraction from the Headshrinkers and you take the leader of the team and have him job out.

You can figure Earthquake attacking Typhoon and eliminating him from the Rumble was Quake’s way of saying there I was being put to sleep and our tag titles slipping away and all you did Typhoon was stand on the apron with your hand out thinking I was going to tag you in. Why Typhoon didn’t run in and break the million dollar Dream after Quake’s arm fell a second time just shows you how worthless Typhoon was as a partner so I don’t blame Earthquake for what he did at Rumble.

All very valid points lol

Earthquake is probably the only credible opponent Dibiase ever beat with the Million Dollar Dream.

[The Blue Nova]

It was so weird seeing typhoon and earthquake both get squashed and jobbed out to yoko in early 93

[fg]

Jan 20, 2023 19:08:47 GMT -5 johnnyk9 said:

I felt the federation ruined both of them the way they made them
Lose the titles back to Money Inc. I have no problem with IRS and Dibiase winning the titles back but they set it up like the Natural Disaster’s have an easy match ahead of then with The Nasty Boys jumping Money Inc. then not even a big distraction from the Headshrinkers and you take the leader of the team and have him job out.

You can figure Earthquake attacking Typhoon and eliminating him from the Rumble was Quake’s way of saying there I was being put to sleep and our tag titles slipping away and all you did Typhoon was stand on the apron with your hand out thinking I was going to tag you in. Why Typhoon didn’t run in and break the million dollar Dream after Quake’s arm fell a second time just shows you how worthless Typhoon was as a partner so I don’t blame Earthquake for what he did at Rumble.

I remember that tag title match. Money Inc. Irish whipped Quake into the turnbuckle and apparently they somehow whipped him so hard that Quake fell over the top rope and hit his head on the barrier.

Yeah!

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

Jan 20, 2023 20:03:04 GMT -5 XaviersSS2015hair said:

Jan 20, 2023 19:08:47 GMT -5 johnnyk9 said:

I felt the federation ruined both of them the way they made them
Lose the titles back to Money Inc. I have no problem with IRS and Dibiase winning the titles back but they set it up like the Natural Disaster’s have an easy match ahead of then with The Nasty Boys jumping Money Inc. then not even a big distraction from the Headshrinkers and you take the leader of the team and have him job out.

You can figure Earthquake attacking Typhoon and eliminating him from the Rumble was Quake’s way of saying there I was being put to sleep and our tag titles slipping away and all you did Typhoon was stand on the apron with your hand out thinking I was going to tag you in. Why Typhoon didn’t run in and break the million dollar Dream after Quake’s arm fell a second time just shows you how worthless Typhoon was as a partner so I don’t blame Earthquake for what he did at Rumble.

All very valid points lol

Earthquake is probably the only credible opponent Dibiase ever beat with the Million Dollar Dream.

It's real telling how ineffective that move was against name opponents when I think the next credible guy after Quake that jobbed to the Dream was the Red Rooster. I guess they didn't want anyone who they thought had any value getting sleepered out and on top of that if asked most guys above lower midcard back then would probably outright refuse if asked. I'm honestly surprised Quake didn't refuse to be honest. And Quake was also super protected up to that point when it came to doing televised jobs which made the finish of that match even more surprising. I think his only televised pin/submission losses in three years up to that point were to Warrior (Home Video) and Jake (MSG and televised only in that market).

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

I was a huge fan of Earthquake from his WWF debut (well debut PPV as I didn’t have access to the TV shows). He was this athletic big man and as an anorexic child who couldn’t put on weight I always liked the larger wrestlers. Quakes match agains Hulk Hogan at Summerslam was my match of the night. As soon as Tugboat joined him as Typhoon as was all in on the Natural Disasters. I hated L.O.D as they always (in my eyes) ran or cheated the Disasters.

[XIII]

I get the every man for themselves thing but Quake ran in that thing and made a beeline for Typhoon like he owed him money. LMAO. Not great booking. That whole Rumble is kind of a mess between them acting like Backlund is an ancient geezer at 43(even though Flair looks and is older), Disasters exploding for no reason, Macho trying to pin Yoko, Hawk with some impressive no-selling(even for Hawk), some major scrubs in this thing, and Giant Gonzalez(who “must be 20 or 30 feet tall” according to Heenan). One of the worst Rumbles for me.

[fw91]

Jan 21, 2023 14:43:39 GMT -5 XIII said:

I get the every man for themselves thing but Quake ran in that thing and made a beeline for Typhoon like he owed him money. LMAO. Not great booking. That whole Rumble is kind of a mess between them acting like Backlund is an ancient geezer at 43(even though Flair looks and is older), Disasters exploding for no reason, Macho trying to pin Yoko, Hawk with some impressive no-selling(even for Hawk), some major scrubs in this thing, and Giant Gonzalez(who “must be 20 or 30 feet tall” according to Heenan). One of the worst Rumbles for me.

Hawk? He wasn’t in the 93 rumble.