One ring, thirty pro wrestlers and a fight to be last man standing – it’s no wonder that the WWE Royal Rumble is in the top four most popular pay to view wrestling events. Launched back in 1988, the Rumble has brought plenty of spills, thrills, and upsets over the years as 30 wrestlers compete to be ‘last man standing’.
Their objective? To eliminate their opponents by tossing them over the top rope. If they land on both feet outside the ring, their Royal Rumble game is over.
It is often described as chaotic mayhem in which anyone can win, so what is it like to actually compete in the Royal Rumble? The first-ever Royal Rumble champion, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, gives Betway Casino the insider view.
It’s anyone’s game
The participants of Royal Rumble are all WWE professionals, who are either selected or qualify to participate. And all have their eye on the prize, which is not only the title of Royal Rumble champion but also a straight pass into WWE’s ultimate event, Wrestlemania. But, says Duggan, don’t bank on the favourites to necessarily win. “Anyone has a chance at the Royal Rumble, and anyone can win it.”
You need the luck of the draw
As a staggered event, the Royal Rumble starts with two wrestlers, and the remaining 28 come on at 90-second intervals. This means the earlier you go on, the longer your potential match will be. The draw to determine the order of wrestlers is random, so the later you are in the draw, the fresher you will be. In the 1988 Royal Rumble, Duggan himself was 13th to go on, out of the original 20, and after eliminating three of his opponents, he lifted the title.
The corners are the safest place
Watch a Royal Rumble match and you will see that the corners of the ring are popular! This is because, says Duggan, the corners are the safest place and can help you to stay in the ring. To boost your longevity in the Royal Rumble, you also need to stay away from people; ‘the less time you are in contact with people, the longer you are in the ring.’
You can’t control the pace
Unlike a singles match, the multi-wrestler Royal Rumble is much more random, unpredictable, and frenetic. Speaking from experience, Dug likened his 1988 match to the ‘the Wild West’ and discovered that trying to control the pace of the match was impossible.
You need to go in believing you can win
Given that you need luck when it comes to the draw, and knowing that the outcome is unpredictable, attitude is essential if you are to get the best out of your Royal Rumble experience.
In 1988 Duggan was not the favourite to win and had no prior championship titles to his name. But he says, he winning the Royal Rumble was a defining moment of his career. He puts his win down to having the right mindset – to stand up and be counted and to ‘never surrender’.
Which is why the Royal Rumble makes such essential viewing.
