10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 1996 Facts

10. It Was The First PPV With A Free-For-All

In previous years, WWE pay-per-views would sometimes air live from the arena to give something of an energetic pre-game feel, as opposed to some in-the-can pre-tape. Occasionally, as was the case with the 1994 Rumble, you could see the pre-show match in the background as someone like Todd Pettengill or Vince McMahon addressed the camera with some sort of unrelated info or hype-job.

Beginning with the 1996 Royal Rumble, WWE instituted a "Free For All", a live pre-show that would feature one exclusive match. In the case of this event, it was Hunter Hearst Helmsley taking on Duke "The Dumpster" Droese, with the winner getting the 30th spot in the Rumble, and the loser having to enter first.

Although the Free For All name gradually died out, the concept lives on today with WWE's interminable Kickoff shows, complete with vapid talking heads, and exclusive matches.