10 Most Infamous Backstage WWE Royal Rumble Moments

6. Dan Severn (Almost) Goes Rogue (1999)

The Undertaker Maven Drunk
WWE

While his WWE career wasn't much to write home about, Dan Severn was a 260lb beefer, a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler, and a former UFC Superfight Champion and tournament winner with a 28-3-3 MMA record at the time of Royal Rumble 1999. In other words, he probably would've wrecked anyone else on the roster in a real fight.

It's well-known that Severn quit WWE when they tried to tattoo "666" on his forehead and join the Ministry of Darkness; what isn't as well-known is what Dan threatened to do when the company said "no" to his release request.

Speaking to The Hannibal TV in 2015, Severn claimed WWE officials threatened to job him out when he rejected the "mark of the beast" gimmick. They soon changed their tune when Dan threatened to walk into the Rumble and turn WWE's fantasy into reality. "How many of your so-called 'stars' am I going to make look pretty darn silly?", he claims to have told a road agent, threatening to shoot on the entire roster, "just bustin' up everybody and their brother."

The thought of speaking to WCW's Eric Bischoff to find out what Ruining the Rumble "could've been worth for one night" even crossed Severn's mind, as he knew there'd be nothing WWE could do about it on live pay-per-view. It didn't come to that, though. WWE relented. Dan played ball in the Rumble, didn't get the tattoo, and walked away a few months later.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.