10 Great Wrestlers Who Were Only In One WWE Royal Rumble
8. Big John Studd (1989)
Our trio of 1989 one-timers continues with Big John Studd, who won the match, throwing Akeem and Ted DiBiase out in a relatively unspectacular showing. Outshone by Hulk Hogan (with his ten eliminations) and even Andre the Giant, who fled the ring over the top rope when Jake 'The Snake' Robert chased him with Damien, Studd remains one of the least inspiring Rumble winners of all time.
This isn't entirely his own fault. While the '89 Rumble was presented as a bigger deal than the stipulation's inaugural outing one year prior, it was far from the huge, year-defining bout it is today, and WWE hadn't yet established the tradition of the winner getting a title shot. Thus, Studd's rub was minimal. A stratospheric push wasn't forthcoming and while he featured on the WrestleMania V card a few months later, it was as a special referee as Roberts wrestled Andre.
A pay dispute led to Studd leaving WWE later that year. He retired at 42 years old in 1990 and sadly died of liver cancer in March 1995, with WWE honouring him in the Hall of Fame nine years later.