10 Craziest WWE Royal Rumble Match Spots

7.  The Three Faces of Mick Foley – 1998

This isn’t really one moment, it’s three. Entering the 1998 rumble at #1, Cactus Jack’s chances of punching his ticket to WrestleMania were slim. After being eliminated by Chainsaw Charlie, fans thought that they had seen the last of Mick Foley for that night.

Surprisingly, Mankind entered the Rumble at #16. Foley’s second persona avenged his first, eliminating Charlie, before being thrown out of the ring by Goldust.

Foley’s third persona, Dude Love, had drawn #28. Love made it to the final four, before being eliminated by Faarooq. The Three Faces of Foley played an entertaining role in the Rumble, meaning that technically, Mick Foley made it to the final few competitors from spot number one.

Foley remains the only wrestler to enter the Royal Rumble three times on the same night under three different personas. Mrs Foley’s Baby Boy had an entertaining story spanning the rumble, just not as a conventional iron-man.

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6. Hulk Hogan Eliminates Randy Savage – 1989

The first stop on the Road to WrestleMania, the annual 30-man match usually teases match-ups scheduled for the show of shows.

Heading into 1989, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage’s relationship wasn’t the strongest. The Mega Powers were beginning to rub each other the wrong way, often surrounding Hogan’s treatment of Miss Elizabeth.

Hogan accidentally eliminating Savage certainly didn’t help matters. As Hulkamania ran wild in the Royal Rumble, The Hulkster went on an eliminating spree. After eliminating The Warlord, Hogan threw Bad News Brown over the top rope, who, unbeknownst to The Hulkster, was tangled up with Savage.

After being eliminated, The Macho Man immediately returned to the ring to angrily confront Hogan. Miss Elizabeth persuaded the two competitors to shake hands, but it was clear that Savage had a bone to pick with The Hulkster.

The Mega Powers would famously implode less than a month later at The Main Event II, setting up the WrestleMania V championship match. Although this elimination didn’t directly result in Hogan and Savage’s split, it was an important chapter in their rivalry.

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 5. Santino Marella Lasts One Second – 2009

Santino Marella had the odds in his favour heading into the 2009 Royal Rumble. With only two entrants set to enter after him, the snake charmer charged towards the crowded ring as his entrance theme boomed.

Marella’s feet hadn’t been on the ring canvas for a second before Kane launched him back over the top rope.

Setting the record for the fastest Royal Rumble elimination, Marella began to beg for a second chance. Jerry Lawler kept reminding the shocked wrestler that there are “no redos” as the Italian heritage star pleaded “I wasn’t ready!”

There have been numerous quick eliminations in the years since, but none as shocking as Marella’s. Santino may not have won the match, but this Royal Rumble “performance” will definitely be revisited for years to come.

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