12 Times Wrestlers Failed To Make It Into The Royal Rumble Match

2. Lana - 2019

Lana Royal Rumble 2019
WWE.com

Coming into the 2019 event, if you'd have told people that a throwaway injury sustained on the pre-show would eventually lead to the most over star in the company winning the women's Royal Rumble you'd have probably been laughed all the way back down the never-ending Chase Field walkway. But, that's exactly what went down when Lana, nursing a sore ankle after being knocked off the apron during her husband's United States Championship match with Shinsuke Nakamura, was stopped in her tracks at number 28.

After Nia Jax had viciously brutalised 'The Ravishing Russian' on her way to the ring, an already struggling Lana had no choice but to give up on her hopes of winning the over-the-top-rope spectacular. So, sensing the opportunity to seize a chance at 'Mania immortality, the night's SmackDown Women's Championship challenger Becky Lynch suddenly appeared and pleaded to be subbed into the match.

Sure enough, Fit Finlay granted 'The Man' her wish and lit the match which ultimately sparked one of the biggest reactions in the events history as the star strutted down to the ring and ultimately went on to win the whole damn thing. This wouldn't be the only night ruined by an 'Irresistible Force', however...

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Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.