10 Shocking Royal Rumble Plans WWE Originally Had
9. The Perfect Winner (1990)
Hogan must pose.
That mantra, one furthered by Bruce Prichard's podcast and his impressions of Vince McMahon, has become familiar. It's surely what was running through McMahon's brain when he decided to scrap one writer's suggestion that someone other than Hulk win the 1990 Rumble.
Prichard has admitted that Mr. Perfect was in the running to win the thing. Back in '90, he was in the midst of an unbeaten streak that wouldn't technically end until he fell to Brutus Beefcake at WrestleMania VI. Buoyed by that winning run, he'd have been a fine heel choice to win the Rumble and keep such success in his back pocket for a summer run at soon-to-be WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior's gold.
Vince said sod that and booked Hogan to win so he could grin, pose and celebrate along with the live crowd as the show went off the air; some have reasoned that Hulk winning made sense due to his upcoming 'Ultimate Challenge' match with Warrior. That's invalid, because the match could've happened without the Rumble result.