When Chyna became the first woman to ever enter the Royal Rumble, doing so way back in January 1999, fans saw it for what it was: a novelty. Chyna had proven time and time again that she could unload with a vicious forearm or huge bodyslam to some very big names so WWE Creative figured they may as well make a little history by tossing her into the mix. When she returned to the Rumble a year later, she did so as one of the biggest and most recognizable stars on the roster. Beth Phoenix was no Chyna. She did not have the height or the size of Chyna, nor was she booked like the former Intercontinental Champion. She was a woman, a dominant woman who had held multiple Women's Championships and was, arguably, the finest worker in the Divas division. Nonetheless, fans had no reason to believe that the self-proclaimed Glamazon would make history of her own by entering the 2010 Rumble bout. But she did, and she left an impression in her brief time there. She flattened the loudmouth CM Punk with a big clothesline. More notably, though, she planted a devastating (for her, of course) lip lock on Great Khali that lulled the Punjabi Playboy into a false sense of security and right over the top rope. A vicious Go To Sleep from Punk ended her night but the images of Beth Phoenix doing what no one ever imagined lives in the annals of Rumble history as one of the finest surprise entries while still using active members of the roster.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
