Whereas Santino Marella had the excuse of being a comedic act when he was eliminated from the 2009 Royal Rumble, The Warlord had no such thing. One-half of The Powers of Pain, a bruising team of badass heavyweights, he was supposed to be an intimidating force in World Wrestling Entertainment. When he made his way to the squared circle at the 1989 Rumble, it should have been as one of the dark horses to win the entire thing. After all, he was chiseled out of stone, the type of physical specimen Vince McMahon loved. Instead, he no sooner stepped over the top rope before Hulk Hogan charged at him with a clothesline, sending him tumbling over the top rope and to the arena floor. It was a moment few could have foreseen, adding to the unpredictability of the match. For The Warlord, though, it remains the most embarrassing moment of his career, one that saw him achieve moderate success as a midcard villain.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
