10 Most Infamous Backstage WWE Royal Rumble Moments

2. Maven Gets Hammered... Accidentally (2002)

The Undertaker Maven Drunk
WWE.com

Royal Rumble 2002 hosted the most memorable night of Tough Enough winner Maven's wrestling career, as the rookie famously eliminated The Undertaker in a major scalp-taking moment, kickstarting a feud with the legendary 'Deadman.'

It's a classic elimination and one that required preparation. In a 2019 interview with Fightful, Maven claimed 'Taker told him to take Aspirin to "thin his blood out" for the ensuing post-match beatdown, as was common practice, to ensure he "got good colour." That wasn't an option for Maven, though: the rookie was allergic to the medication.

Thank God for 'Taker's quick thinking and quick drinking, then. What did he substitute the Aspirin with? Jack Daniels. No, really: Jack Daniels.

The result was a hammered Maven somehow working through his Rumble spots without making a t*t of everything. "I'm out here, he's not feeling a thing because he's the Undertaker, and I'm two sheets to the wind," he told Fightful. "I'm shocked as f*ck that I actually hit the dropkick, but I'm glad I did."

Drunk as a skunk for his WWE's career's biggest moment, it's a shame the elimination couldn't catapult Maven to greater heights.

Channel Manager
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.