HeadLocker–Jay Shannon
Running the Royal Rumble numbers
Our resident philosopher takes a look at the history of the Royal Rumble.
This Sunday, we will get to enjoy the 2008 Royal Rumble. For this special edition of Headlocker, I thought I’d share a little history and a few statistics regarding the January tradition.
:02-The shortest time that a wrestler lasted in the Royal Rumble. (That dishonor goes to the Warlord, who was eliminated by Hulk Hogan.)
62:12-The longest time spent by a wrestler in a Royal Rumble match. (Rey Mysterio–2006)
1-The number of females that have competed in the Royal Rumble. (Chyna)
1-The number of wrestlers that have refused to enter the Royal Rumble match. (Randy Savage at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Savage had cost the Ultimate Warrior the WWE World Title earlier in the evening, and then fled the arena to avoid Warrior’s fury).
2-The number of winners of the 1994 Royal Rumble. (Bret Hart and Lex Luger)
2-The number of feet that have to hit the floor before a competitor is eliminated from the Royal Rumble match.
3-The number of Royal Rumble matches won by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
3-The number of men who have won more than one Royal Rumble match. (Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin).
3-The number of Mick Foley characters that entered the 1998 Royal Rumble (Cactus Jack [1], Mankind [16] and Dude Love [28])
3-The number of non-wrestlers to enter the Royal Rumble. (Drew Carey [2001], Vince McMahon [1991-Winner of that year's Rumble], and Jonathan Coachman [2005 and 2006]
3-The number of times that Undertaker has entered the Royal Rumble in the number 30 position (1997, 2003, and 2007. 2007 was the only time Undertaker has won the Royal Rumble and the only time that a number 30 entrant has won the Royal Rumble)
10-The record number of “in-a-row” Royal Rumble matches that Kane has competed in.
11-The number of Royal Rumbles that Shawn Michaels has competed in. (The most of any competitor.)
11-The record number of wrestlers eliminated by one wrestler in a single Royal Rumble match. (Kane at the 2001 Royal Rumble)
19-The most popular date in January to hold a Royal Rumble (4 times)
20-The number of entrants in the initial Royal Rumble.
21-The total number of Royal Rumble as of 2008.
27-The luckiest position to draw for the <.i>Royal Rumble. (4 winners have drawn this spot and then won).
36-The most combined Royal Rumble eliminations by a single competitor. (Steve Austin).
73(%)-The percentage of Royal Rumble winners, since 1993, that have gone on to Wrestlemania and won championship gold in the main event.
569-Number of wrestlers that have competed in the Royal Rumble.
1988-The year of the first Royal Rumble.
and one final bit of trivia:
Butch Reed-The very first person ever eliminated in a Royal Rumble.
The Royal Rumble is an annual tradition that has kicked off the Road to Wrestlemania since 1988. Almost every superstar that has walked through the WWE doors has had their shot at the Royal Rumble. Many have tried, but only few have prevailed. Who will win, this year? Only time will tell.
–Jay Shannon
Boxworld@SBCGlobal.net
(1/24/08)
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