10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2009 Facts
8. Triple H Was Supposed To Enter The Rumble First, Per A Stipulation
It wouldn't be the first time that WWE has ignored their own writing. On the January 16 edition of SmackDown (which aired nine nights before the Rumble), Triple H was put into a match with Vladimir Kozlov. GM Vickie Guerrero told Helmsley that if he lost, he would have to enter the Rumble from the number one spot.
The deck was stacked when Big Show was added as Kozlov's partner to make it a handicap match. Kozlov indeed pinned Triple H, so Helmsley should've been forced to enter the Rumble first.
WWE later amended the SmackDown broadcasts to ignore the filmed stipulations, as their plans obviously changed. Rey Mysterio would instead be the first entrant, while Helmsley would come in at the number seven position.