10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 1988 Facts
6. The Participants Were Troubled By The Match's Complexity
If you watch even just one Royal Rumble, you may ask yourself, "How do they do it?" It seems so difficult to remember so many details for an hour-long match: when to get in, when to get out, what eliminations and spots do I get spotlighted in, etc. When the ring is emptier, there's more emphasis on individuals, so there's plenty of space for moments of shine.
According to Patterson, the day of the show, the wrestlers involved were "freaking out" because of his detailed instructions. This wasn't a basic match that two or four pros could call on the fly; this was a match with instructions that 20 wrestlers, outside referees, and a production crew would have to follow, with a national TV audience watching.
Comparatively speaking, the 1988 match was much less complex than later incarnations that would work in specific spots for ongoing feuds, as well as elaborate elimination spots. Though it may seem simpler than later versions, to the talent involved, it was a lot to digest.