10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2011 Facts
8. 14 Of The Rumble Entrants Were First-Timers
With two male-centric seasons of NXT in the bag, there was bound to be plenty of new blood in the 2011 Rumble match, especially with 40 spots to fill. Indeed, eight of the entrants were from those NXT seasons.
Of that group, Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, and David Otunga from the original eight took part. Alex Riley, Michael McGillicutty (Curtis Axel) and Husky Harris (Bray Wyatt) from the second season were all entrants as well.
Alberto Del Rio was another such first-timer, having debuted the previous summer. He became the first man to win the Rumble match on his first try since Chris Benoit did so in 2004. It was also the first Rumble match for the following year's winner, Sheamus.