10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 1997 Facts
5. Half Of The Rumble Entrants Were First-Timers
For the third time since the original Rumble in 1988, at least 15 wrestlers in the Rumble field were taking part in their very first one. In this instance, it was exactly 15 men competing in a Royal Rumble match for the first time ever.
Four of the 15 were stars from AAA: Cibernetico, Pierroth, Latin Lover, and the legendary Mil Mascaras. Terry Funk, in a guest appearance, was another first-timer.
The other ten included Ahmed Johnson, Faarooq, Flash Funk, Goldust, Jesse James, Mankind, Marc Mero, Phineas Godwinn, Razor Ramon II, and The Rock. Between James, Mankind, and Rock, that's three stars that were a gimmick tweak or two away from reaching new heights in the forthcoming Attitude Era. Four, if you count second-timer Diesel II (Isaac Yankem in the 1996 Rumble) donning a mask and red bodysuit by year's end.