10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE Royal Rumble

2. Maven Was Drunk For His Big Moment

Randy Orton WWE Royal Rumble Record
WWE.com

Maven eliminating The Undertaker from the 2002 Rumble remains an answer to one of WWE's most curious trivia questions. It was an attempt to legitimise the Tough Enough winner, but ended up being one of the final big moments he'd have in company rings before being released.

The man himself probs barely even remembers it.

Understandably nervous, Maven sought advice from 'Taker about bleeding freely during the legend's post-elimination beatdown. 'The Deadman' told him to take some aspirin, but Maven was allergic to the pills. So, instead, 'Taker brought out a bottle of Jack Daniel's, and the rookie downed some shots.

It turns out he downed a few shots too many, because Maven admitted he was "two sheets to the wind" come Rumble time during a 2019 interview with Fightful. Put another way, the fledgling young star was more than a bit tipsy before working the biggest moment of his entire WWE career.

Plans still went off without a hitch, at least.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.