10 WWE Legends Who Never Competed In A Royal Rumble Match
7. Brian Pillman
Despite being one of the hottest free agents of the mid-90s, Brian Pillman never made it to the Royal Rumble.
After making his name in WCW and furthering his reputation in ECW, The Loose Cannon signed with the World Wrestling Federation in June of '96 just two months after suffering a debilitating automobile accident that crushed his left ankle. Although Pillman would be used on television in various non-wrestling roles throughout his first few months with the company, he was written off television in November '96.
In reality, that November, Pillman underwent surgery to repair his ankle since it hadn't been healing as Brian had hoped. This prevented Pillman from participating in the 1997 Royal Rumble as the former Cincinnati Bengal had still not even wrestled his first match in the WWF by January '97. In fact, that wouldn't come until May 5th,1997 when, as a member of the Hart Foundation, Pillman teamed with fellow Foundation members Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith to wrestle Stone Cold Steve Austin & The Road Warriors.
By the time another opportunity to compete in the Royal Rumble approached, Brian had already tragically lost his life.
The man known as the Loose Cannon was such a major superstar in the world of professional wrestling that not appearing in even one Royal Rumble match seems hard to believe and unfair to the revolutionary superstar's career.