10 Times WWE Got The Royal Rumble Winner Wrong
5. Lex Luger (1994)
If ever confirmation in Vince McMahon’s lack of faith in Bret Hart as WWE’s “top guy” was needed, here it is. The 1994 Royal Rumble was a mess, and if the rumours are to believed, WWE hadn’t even decided upon a winner until hours before the show. The result was Hart sharing the victory with Lex Luger at a time fans were crying-out for Hart to be recognised as the company’s rightful franchise player, but The Hitman had that moment taken away from him.
The match ended with Luger and Hart simultaneously hitting the floor, but the replays were inconclusive. Thus, WWE President Jack Tunney came to the ring and had Howard Finkel announce both men as the winner, with Hart eventually going-on to wrestle for the title at WrestleMania X.
1994 turned out to be Hart’s only Rumble victory, and in making him share the prize, WWE completely undermined the blood, sweat, and tears he’d poured into his run. He was, fortunately, able to become a genuine megastar by the end of the year, but it should have come a whole lot earlier, and a Rumble win would’ve been instrumental in helping Hart escape his late-1993 slump.
Instead, Bret’s second run as WWE Champion came off as a fluke, and this period is a big reason why never achieved the same levels of fame as guys like Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin.