10 Times WWE Royal Rumble Winners Risked It All Before WrestleMania
2. Rey Mysterio - 2006
Saying a beloved wrestler who died three months prior was in hell.
That's what this storyline between Royal Rumble match finalists Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton was all about. Rey won the match for his best friend Eddie Guerrero, but WWE decided to push a distasteful storyline where the Legend Killer mocked a man who'd only just passed away; first by saying he was in hell, then by driving a low-rider to the ring and mocking his autobiography. Stay classy, WWE...
Not only was this fresh in the minds of wrestlers, it was a tragedy that affected fans too; all round a terrible idea. When Mysterio and Orton faced off at No Way Out 2006, Orton held onto the ropes during a roll-up to steal Rey's world title match at WrestleMania. Not the happy ending the fans were hoping for.
All wasn't lost, and the next week SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long holla'd his way to the ring to announce that it would be Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio at the Show of Shows anyway. The Master of the 619 would take home the gold, celebrating with Chavo and Vickie Guerrero to honour Eddie's memory.
Whether you agree with Rey Mysterio getting a run with the Big Gold Belt or not, this wasn't the way to go about it.