People and Legends You Probably Forgot Were In A Royal Rumble

People and Legends You Probably Forgot Were In A Royal Rumble
January 28, 2021
By Ryan Porzl

With the dawn of a new year, that usually means for the WWE that the Royal Rumble is coming up and thus begins the Road to Wrestlemania. Over the decades, many names have competed in the Royal Rumble and many all time greats are winners of it. Obviously, there are many names that clearly competed in a Rumble but there are some that may surprise you. With the Royal Rumble coming up, we'll take a look at some people and mostly legends who you may have either didn't know or forgot competed in a Royal Rumble.

                            

Dory Funk Jr. (1996)- A member of the legendary Funk family, Dory Jr. is also one of wrestling's biggest legends enjoying success in his family's Amarillo promotion Western States Wrestling as well as many NWA territories, All Japan in Japan, and WWC in Puerto Rico as both a single and in a legendary tag team with brother Terry. However, his biggest success was his four year reign as NWA World Heavyweight Champion from 1969-1973. While most may remember Dory having worked for the WWF from 1985-1986 as Hoss Funk, they may forget Dory once competed in a Royal Rumble.

Dory would take part in the 1996 Royal Rumble, a year before Terry would. He entered the Rumble at #8 and lasted 10:53 before being eliminated by Savio Vega with Vince even bringing up Dory being a former NWA World Champion. He wasn't able to eliminate anyone during the match.

                                        

Genichiro Tenryu (1993 and 1994)- Another all time great, Tenryu is one of the biggest names in the history of Japanese wrestling first enjoying huge success in All Japan from 1976-1990 before branching out on his own with his own promotions such as SWS and WAR while popping up in New Japan, NOAH, and FMW. During the early 90s, Tenryu's two promotions began relationships with the World Wrestling Federation and he notably made three big appearances. The first was Wrestlemania VII while the other two were back to back Royal Rumbles.

Unlike most on this list, Tenryu made multiple appearances with his first being in 1993. In the Rumble, Tenryu entered at #9 and lasted 13:17 but eliminated no one. He would be one of many victims of The Undertaker along with Samu, Ted Dibiase, and The Berzerker.

One year later, Tenryu returned to the Rumble. He first made his presence felt during the WWF Championship casket match between Yokozuna and The Undertaker as he was one of nine to assist the WWF Champion in retaining against Taker. He later then entered the Rumble as one of Mr. Fuji's hitmen to stop Lex Luger from winning. He entered at #24 and lasted 17:21. While he eliminated no one, he would be one of the final five and was eliminated by the co-winners Bret Hart and Luger.

                                 

Mil Mascaras (1997)- A legendary luchador, Mascaras is best known as one of the biggest names in the history of lucha libre in Mexico even having branched out to TV and movies. In the United States, Mascaras was also a big name in the Texas area during the 1970s and made appearances for the WWWF including becoming the first masked man to compete in Madison Square Garden.

Mascaras would participate in the 1997 edition of the Royal Rumble likely due to the event being held in San Antonio and Mascaras having history in Texas. Mascaras entered the Rumble at #11 and lasted 7:28 during which he made three eliminations by eliminating countrymen Pierroth Jr. and Cibernetico before accidentally eliminating himself by diving over the top rope to the floor.

                                 

Shane Douglas (1991)- Obviously, Douglas is best known for his runs in ECW as one of the biggest names in company history including four runs as World Champion and two runs as Television Champion. Douglas also enjoyed success in the UWF, Continental, and WCW winning gold in each promotion. He's also known for his short second run in the WWF as "Dean Douglas" where he held the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Notice though, I said "second run" as many may forget Douglas had a previous WWF run from 1990-1991.

In what would be his only Pay-Per-View appearance during his first run, Douglas competed in the 1991 Royal Rumble. Though he eliminated no one, the future Franchise would actually fare well lasting 26:23 before being eliminated by Brian Knobbs.

                                                   

The Great Kabuki (1994)- Another Japanese legend, The Great Kabuki was one of the first of his kind portraying a mist spewing kabuki demon character that inspired others like The Great Muta. Though Japanese and despite achieving success in promotions such as the JWA and All Japan, Kabuki perhaps made his name in the United States where he enjoyed success in several NWA territories specifically in Jim Crockett Promotions and World Class Championship Wrestling where he was managed most of the time by Gary Hart.

Kabuki's Royal Rumble story is similar to Tenryu's in that he appeared in the 1994 edition but before he did, he was one of nine wrestlers who assisted WWF Champion Yokozuna in his casket match against The Undertaker. Like Tenryu, Kabuki was brought in as a hired hitman of Mr. Fuji to prevent Lex Luger from winning. Drawing #22, Kabuki would be one of seven wrestlers to eliminate Mabel and lasted 2:46 before being eliminated by Luger.

                                 

Carlos Colon (1993)- Puerto Rican legend Carlos Colon is probably best known to American fans for his family's success in the WWE including his sons Carlito and Primo as well as nephew Epico. Colon made his name in his native Puerto Rico as a co-founder and top star of the World Wrestling Council promotion where he enjoyed an unrecognized run as NWA World Champion and 26 runs as WWC Universal Champion. He also became known for his bloody matches specifically against Abdullah the Butcher.

Long before his family entered WWE, Colon would make an appearance as a participant in the 1993 Royal Rumble. Colon would draw #24 and last 7:25 all the while he eliminated Damien Demento. Ultimately, he would be one of several victims of eventual winner Yokozuna.

                                   

Tony Atlas (1991)- WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas had a memorable career. One of the strongest guys of his time, Atlas is best known for his team with fellow Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson where they became the first black tag team to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship back in 1983. Outside of WWE, Atlas enjoyed success in Georgia Championship Wrestling, World Class Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Council winning several championships.

After battling drug addiction, Atlas returned to the WWF in 1990 under the controversial African warrior gimmick Saba Simba. During this run, Atlas competed in the 1991 Royal Rumble where he drew #7 and lasted 2:27 before being eliminated by "The Model" Rick Martel while eliminating no one in the Rumble.

                                      

Diamond Dallas Page (2002 and 2015)- DDP is, of course, one of the biggest stars in WCW history starting out as a manager before becoming a wrestler and one of the top wrestlers of the late 1990s best known for his feuds with the nWo and specifically "Macho Man" Randy Savage as well as Raven while enjoying three reigns as WCW World Champion along with runs as United States, Television, and World Tag Team Champion.

Like Tenryu, DDP made more than one appearance at a Royal Rumble. His first was in the 2002 Royal Rumble which saw him return to WCW's home of Atlanta. DDP would draw #14, eliminate Scotty Too Hotty, and last 5:15 before being eliminated by Christian.

DDP would return to the Rumble 13 years later in the 2015 Rumble drawing #13. He wouldn't fare as well as this time as he didn't eliminate anyone and would last less at 2:28 before being eliminated by runner up Rusev.

                                

Dick Murdoch (1995)- Murdoch was one of more successful wrestlers from the 1970s to the mid 1980s originally enjoying success as part of the Texas Outlaws with Dusty Rhodes before embarking on his own with runs in Mid-South Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Central States Wrestling, Western States Sports, and Championship Wrestling from Florida winning many championships along the way. From 1984-1985, Murdoch popped up in the WWF where he teamed with Adrian Adonis as the North-South Connection where they held the WWF World Tag Team Championship.

Murdoch would make a one time return to the WWF in 1995 when he participated in the Royal Rumble. Murdoch would enter at #27 and co-eliminate Bart Gunn (along with Crush) while lasting 5:08 before being eliminated by Henry O. Godwinn.

                                              

The Sandman (2007)- The King of Extreme, The Sandman is unquestionably best known for his time in ECW for almost the company's nine year run winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship a record five times and the ECW World Tag Team Championship once with 2 Cold Scorpio while engaging in famous rivalries with Tommy Dreamer, Shane Douglas, Cactus Jack, Steve Austin, Sabu, and Raven. He also made appearances for FMW in Japan where he was one half of their last WEW World Tag Team Champions, in XPW where he held the XPW King of the Deathmatch Championship, in TNA (now Impact Wrestling) where he won the 2003 Hard Ten Tournament, and a brief in WCW as Hak.

Sandman would make his one and only Rumble appearance in 2007 as part of the ECW brand. Unfortunately, not only would he not win but his famous entrance would last longer than his Rumble participation as he lasted only 13 seconds before being eliminated by King Booker. Obviously, he didn't eliminate anyone.

                                    

Psicosis (2006)- A Lucha Libre legend, Psicosis is largely best known for his run in his native Mexico for promotions such as WWA, AAA, and CMLL winning various championships and engaging in many matches with Rey Mysterio. In the United States, he had a cup of coffee in ECW before going to WCW where he became a 2 time Cruiserweight Champion. He also later worked in World Wrestling All-Stars winning their International Cruiserweight Championship and in TNA where he competed to be the inaugural X Division Champion.

As part of the Mexicools, Psicosis would enter the 2006 Royal Rumble. He drew #4 and lasted only 1:15 without eliminating anyone before being eliminated by old rival and eventual winner Rey Mysterio.

                                      

Sabu (2007)- Sabu is best known for being one of the more groundbreaking wrestlers of the 1990s for his high flying and hardcore matches. In Japan, he competed for promotions such as FMW where he held the FMW World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship and in New Japan where he held the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. In the United States, Sabu became famous for his time in ECW having reigns as World Heavyweight, World Television, and World Tag Team Champion while having memorable matches and rivalries with the likes of Terry Funk, Cactus Jack, and Taz. He would also hold the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and have runs in WCW and TNA/Impact Wrestling.

Like Sandman, Sabu would also make an appearance in the 2007 Royal Rumble as part of the ECW brand. He drew #7 but eliminated no one and lasted 5:27 before being eliminated by Kane in a memorable elimination where he was chokeslammed out of the ring and through a table.

                                            

Drew Carey (2001)- Unlike everyone else on this list, Drew Carey is, of course, not a wrestler but an actor and comedian best known for being the host of the popular game show The Price Is Right and prior to that, starred on the Drew Carey Show and the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?.

Carey would be a special guest at the 2001 Royal Rumble as he was promoting a show he was doing the following week when Vince McMahon gave him the chance to enter the Rumble. Carey would enter the Rumble at #5 and lasted 2:54 before eliminating himself trying to get away from Kane.

                                    

Awesome Kong (2012)- A pioneer in women's wrestling, Awesome Kong originally gained success in Japan competing in promotions such as All Japan Women's, Gaea Japan, and HUSTLE winning championships under the name "Amazing Kong". Her best known success was in TNA (now Impact Wrestling) as one of the biggest names in the history of their Knockouts Division (Women's Division) winning the Knockouts Championship twice, the Knockouts Tag Team Championship, and had several memorable rivalries including with Gail Kim which put the division on the map.

In the early 2010s, Kong would have a short and forgettable run in the WWE as "Kharma". During which, she entered the Royal Rumble in 2012. She drew #21 and lasted 1:00 in the match where she eliminated Hunico before being eliminated by Dolph Ziggler.

                                       

The Iron Sheik (1992)- I did question putting this one on here because I figure people may remember but then the 1992 Royal Rumble was so stacked and Sheik was in another gimmick so I figured why not. The Sheik was one of the WWF's biggest heels during the early to late 1980s playing a pro Iranian/anti American heel. Sheik's biggest moments include winning the WWF Championship in 1983 and ending Bob Backlund's 5 1/2 year reign before dropping it to Hulk Hogan which launched Hulkamania and for his tag team with fellow anti American Nikolai Volkoff where they not only captured the WWF World Tag Team Championship but did it at the first Wrestlemania in 1985 but it was the first title change in Wrestlemania history. His most memorable rivalries were usually against pro America wrestlers like Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, Sgt. Slaughter, and the US Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham). Outside of WWF, Sheik was also successful in various other promotions winning many championships.

During a return to the WWF as the pro Iraqi Colonel Mustafa, Sheik entered the 1992 Royal Rumble where the winner won the vacant WWF Championship. Sheik would enter at #24 and lasted 2:36 before being eliminated by "Macho Man" Randy Savage while having eliminated no one.