10 Most Disappointing Surprises In WWE Royal Rumble History
2. Michael Cole (2012)
2012’s mess of a Rumble saw not one, but all three members of the event’s announce team enter the match. Jerry Lawler and Booker T were at least tolerable: they both built Hall Of Fame-worthy careers throughout their time in the ring, and Lawler’s 4-second 1997 elimination is one of the most memorable in Rumble history. He and Booker earned their spot, but you can’t say the same for their broadcast colleague.
Michael Cole may have a perfect WrestleMania record after besting Lawler by disqualification at ‘Mania 27, but he had no place in the 2012 Rumble. His music hit at number 20, and predictably, the crowd despised it. Cole peeled out of his suit to reveal an ugly orange singlet, and as the officials looked on in complete bewilderment, the announcer entered the ring.
Cole’s run was mercifully short, however. He was largely left to his own devices as the match’s active competitors grappled with one another, and then Kharma arrived. All of a sudden, Cole didn’t look too enthused about competing in the Rumble match, and Kharma promptly knocked his goofy headgear off with a big clothesline. Cole climbed over the top rope, and Booker and Lawler decided they’d seen enough: they pulled him from the apron, and Cole was out.