10 Terrifying Wrestling Curses That Will Chill Your Blood

6. The Other Royal Rumble Curse

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WWE.com

It is said that the ball numbered 14 in the Royal Rumble tumbler is cursed, given that the vast majority of those who've withdrawn it have either died young, or been released or suffered some misfortune shortly thereafter.

To disprove the curse, let's take another number, 11, and see if a narrative can be imposed up on it.

In 1990, Andre the Giant took #11. He died at 46 of congestive heart failure. In 1994, Randy Savage was #11. He died, aged 58, of a massive heart attack. Owen Hart was #11 in 1995; four years later, he plummeted to his death live on pay-per-view when he was dislodged from stunt equipment unfit for purpose on his way from the rafters to the ring. He was 34. That year, 1999, Mabel drew #11. He died at 43 of a heart attack. The British Bulldog, #11 in 2000, died two years later at 39 of a heart attack. Brian Christopher, #11 in 2001, died by suicide at 46 after a troubled life of substance abuse.

Wrestling had largely cleaned up its act by the 2010s; the lifestyle of the travelling wrestler of the '80s, '90s and early '00s had changed, mercifully, and thus the "curse" was lifted.

There is no #14 curse, nor a #11 curse: while the former yields slightly more tragedy and darkness than any other number, most numbers spit out some unsettling legacy of the damned because pro wrestling damned its workers as a result of its brutal pressures and working conditions.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!