10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 1989 Facts
2. Big John Studd Was Nearly Fired Two Months Later
The decision to have Studd win the Rumble despite low fan interest remains somewhat puzzling. The logic seemed to be that he was being built up for a revival of his legendary feud with Andre the Giant, this time with Studd as the face and Andre as the heel. Seeing as Studd quit the company in early-June 1989, the decision to use the Rumble to rebuild Studd as a looming threat wasn't the wisest one.
Even prior to Studd's eventual exit, he was drawing the ire of WWE officials. It was reported that at an event in San Francisco in mid-March 1989, Studd was told he'd be fired if he was unable to bodyslam Akeem during their match that night. Studd and Akeem had been working together through the house show loop, and their matches were said to be subpar. With each passing day, that Rumble booking looked to be a colossal mistake.