10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2011 Facts

5. Kevin Nash Secured A Late Release From TNA In Order To Return For The Rumble

Royal Rumble 2011
WWE.com

Down in TNA, the company was gearing up to bring back The Main Event Mafia as part of their centerpiece angle against the Hulk Hogan/Eric Bischoff/Jeff Hardy-led faction. That fell apart when Booker T and Kevin Nash both showed up in the 2011 Royal Rumble match.

Booker had turned down the offer to return to TNA, but Nash had apparently committed, to the point where he had signed a new deal. Once WWE made it clear that he was wanted back, however, Nash reportedly set about trying to get out of the contract.

Dixie Carter, publicly, admitted that she let Nash out of his contract when asked, even though he was scheduled to return at TNA's tapings the day after the Rumble. The Wrestling Observer claims through sources that Nash had to coerce her, after she refused to grant the release at first. Whatever the case was, Big Sexy's days with TNA were over.

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Contributor

Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.