10 WWE Royal Rumble Entrants You Totally Forgot
4. Jonathan Coachman (2006)
Michael Cole isn't the only commentator to have participated in a Royal Rumble match over the years. In fact, one particular former WWE commentator that has since moved on to the sports broadcasting network giant, ESPN, took part in the Rumble match half-a-decade earlier.
Before Cole even thought about donning the orange tights and jumping into the squared circle, Jonathan Coachman (aka The Coach) was one of the first full-time commentators to try his hand at wrestling back in the mid-2000s.
Coachman joined the World Wrestling Federation back in 1999 and was used exclusively as a non-wrestling talent. His primary duties were that of a backstage interviewer and commentator before he was moved into a bigger role as an on-screen personality, more closely resembling a WWE superstar. This transition began in 2003 and would eventually grow to include a Royal Rumble entry in 2006.
Although he was an announcer and not a regular, full-time wrestler, Coachman was not a surprise participant in the 2006 Royal Rumble. The Coach had actually competed in a match on the go-home edition of RAW that saw him defeat Jerry "The King" Lawler for the final spot in that year's Royal Rumble.
Despite having slightly more experience than Michael Cole when he participated in the 2012 Royal Rumble, Coachman was eliminated even sooner (30 seconds after entering) by the Big Show.