10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2002 Facts

10. Those In The UK Were Forced To Purchase The Show, Instead Of Watching For Free

It was noted in the 2000 list of Rumble facts that that show, as well as subsequent WWE pay-per-views, aired for free on the UK's Channel 4, complete with arbitrary commercial breaks. Like all good things, the free broadcasts were not meant to last.

Two weeks before the 2002 Royal Rumble, Channel 4's WWE deal expired, and was not renewed. Days later, WWE came to an agreement with Sky Box Office, taking them on as their new carrier. However, the shows were now pay-per-views in the literal sense, costing 14 pounds apiece (about $20 American in 2002).

Considering that I had to scrounge up double that ($39.95) to buy WWE pay-per-views at that point, I'd say my friends across at the Atlantic got off light.