The Forgotten Participants of the 1990s Royal Rumble

While the Royal Rumble This match became an annual tradition in the 1980s, truly becoming a marquee event in the 1990s as the stakes of the match became even higher, with the winner receiving a world title shot in the main event. from WrestleMania.

For most of the 1990s, WWE’s roster was not as bloated as it would become in the future, leading to some participants being overlooked during the Royal Rumble match as the company had to occupy a few places here and there.

Shane Douglas (1991)

Before his run as Dean Douglas, Shane Douglas wrestled in WWE in the early 1990s

Shane Douglas’s journey as Dean Douglas in the mid-1990s is well documented, as he dealt with a gimmick change and the tense atmosphere behind the scenes caused by the Kliq. However, this was not his first stint with the company, as he wrestled for WWE from 1990 to 1991.

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Most notably, Shane Douglas replaced Shawn Michaels as a temporary member of

The rockers
during the latter’s injury in the summer of 1990. Near the end of his run, Douglas participated in the 1991 Royal Rumble match, where he lasted nearly half an hour before being eliminated by Brian Knobbs, who surprisingly reached the final four. .

Nikolai Volkoff (1992)

Volkoff became Babyface in the early 1990s

During the 1980s, Nikolai Volkoff was a notable heel in WWE, as he embodied the trope of the outsider heel at the time, capable of garnering immense heat. He formed teams with The Iron Sheik and Boris Zhukov, the latter of whom became known as The Bolsheviks.

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In 1990, Volkoff became a babyface and feuded with Sgt. Slaughter at the start of his Iraqi sympathizer campaign. Shortly after Survivor Series 1990, Volkoff left the company and his first appearance after leaving was during the legendary 1992 Royal Rumble match, but it turned out to be an unforgettable moment.

Carlos Colon (1993)

Carlos Colón is Carlito’s father

Carlos Colón is one of the most defining names in Puerto Rican wrestling history, as he brought major American stars such as Bruiser Brody and Ric Flair to the Puerto Rican wrestling scene, helping to elevate the territory .

During the 1993 Royal Rumble match, Carlos Colón made a surprise appearance as the 24th entrant, and unlike most entries on this list, he managed to secure an elimination, eliminating Damian Demento with little background. time after entering the match.

Genichiro Tenryu (1993/1994)

Tenryu competed at WrestleMania 7

In the early 1990s, Japan’s Super World of Sports formed a working partnership with WWE, leading to Genichiro Tenryu teaming with Koji Kitao to defeat Demolition at FightMania 7.

Nearly 2 years later, Tenryu made his return to WWE in the 1993 Royal Rumble match, but it was only to take a spot in the match and nothing more. At next year’s event, Tenryu intervened in the

coffin match
between Yokozuna and The Undertaker, before entering the Rumble match and surprisingly reaching the final five.

The Great Kabuki (1994)

The great Kabuki also interfered in the casket match between Yokozuna and Undertaker

Much like Genichiro Tenryu, The Great Kabuki appeared in WWE due to the company’s working agreement with Super World of Sports. Tenryu and Kabuki helped Yokozuna retain the WWE Title against

The entrepreneur
because they were hired by Mr. Fuji to do this.

The Great Kabuki competed in the 1994 Royal Rumble match, but he didn’t make as much of an impact as Tenryu. During the match, Tenryu and Kabuki attacked Lex Luger backstage, and once Luger made his way to the ring, he was able to make quick work of Kabuki.

Dick Murdoch (1995)

Murdoch won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Adrian Adonis in the 1980s

By 1995, Dick Murdoch was past his prime, making his entrance in the Royal Rumble match a huge surprise to fans who knew his work in promotions like Mid-South Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Murdoch was one of the last people to attend the match, but his impact was minimal. He had spots in the match with Shawn Michaels and Lex Luger, before being eliminated in strange fashion by Henry O. Godwinn.

Dory Funk Jr. (1996)

Funk previously wrestled in WWE in 1986

In 1996, WWE’s roster was incredibly thin, which meant wrestlers from other promotions or former legends had to compete in the Royal Rumble match. One of the most notable participants in this regard was Dory Funk Jr., who was 55 years old when he competed in his first Royal Rumble match.

It was rumored that Terry Funk was supposed to participate in the match alongside his brother, but he was unable to make the event. Dory Funk Jr. mixed it up with Bob Backlund and Jerry Lawler, before being unceremoniously eliminated by Savio Vega.

Takao Omori (1996)

He wrestled throughout Japanese professional wrestling in the 1990s

Takao Omori was completely unknown to the WWE public in 1996, as he had never wrestled in America before his appearance in the Royal Rumble match.

Unsurprisingly, Takao Omori failed to leave a lasting impression in the Royal Rumble match, as he was quickly eliminated by Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

Doug Gilbert (1996)

Doug Gilbert is the brother of “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert

In the mid-1990s, WWE had a working agreement with the Memphis-based promotion USWA, which led to an exchange of talent between the two promotions. In early 1996, a battle royal took place in the USWA, with the winner earning a spot in the Royal Rumble match, and the battle royal was won by Doug Gilbert.

Much like other forgotten participants in this match, Doug Gilbert failed to make an impact, as he was quickly fed to the first Vader, who went on a complete rampage after entering the match.

A Thousand Masks (1997)

WWE had a partnership with AAA at the time

Several AAA wrestlers competed at the 1997 Royal Rumble PPV, with veteran Mil Mascaras returning to the company for the first time in nearly two decades.

Mascaras’ appearance in the Rumble match will be best remembered for the fact that he accidentally eliminated himself, while flying over the top rope without realizing that he would actually be eliminated.