10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 1995 Facts

10. McMahon Was Concerned About Diesel Coming Off As A Heel

Two months earlier, Vince McMahon put his eggs into the Kevin Nash basket, allowing him to defeat WWE Champion Bob Backlund in a mere eight seconds. McMahon wanted a new Hulk Hogan, and was banking on Diesel's looming frame, ass-kicking style, and natural personality to fill the red-and-yellow void.

WWE kind of painted themselves into a corner with the Rumble by booking Diesel against Bret Hart. Neither man could really lose the match, and Diesel needed to look strong, even in a non-victory. For McMahon's part, the worry was that fans would reject Diesel that night as a) Hart was wildly popular and established, and b) fans might sympathize with Hart if the much-larger Diesel dished out a beating upon him.

Hart understood this, and says he told Nash to let him be the aggressor in the match, to allow Hart more of the offense. This way, fans wouldn't have been tempted to cheer Hart back into the match if Diesel were beating him to a pulp, which would've made Diesel look like the bad guy.