10 WWE Royal Rumble Wins That Became Huge Disappointments
8. Big John Studd - 1989
Big John Studd had been a big star in the early days of the WWF's national expansion, battling Hulk Hogan and most notably feuding with Andre the Giant. One of the top bad guys in the territory, he was a prominent member of the Heenan Family and had big spots at the first two WrestleManias. But by 1987 he had disappeared, trying to make it in Hollywood.
He returned in early 1989 for the first pay-per-view version of the Royal Rumble, this time as a fan favourite. Studd entered late in the match, after the excitement of the latest step in the Hulk Hogan-Randy Savage Mega Powers explosion had come and gone and worn out the audience.
Studd would eliminate 'Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase to win the match, providing DiBiase's iconic headstand sell that graced the intro to Silver Vision videos in the UK for years to come. Little came of this historic win. Studd didn't even wrestle at WrestleMania V, instead acting as guest referee for a match between Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and old rival Andre the Giant.
Intended to renew his rivalry with Andre with their roles reversed, Studd didn't last long past 'Mania. Disappointed in his Rumble paycheque, Studd would be gone from the company for good by the early summer, meaning his Rumble win was forgotten about on WWF TV.