The 1996 Royal Rumble was interesting in that it featured stars who had no business in or around a match of that magnitude. Doug Gilbert and an over-the-hill Dory Funk, Jr. were brought in to help bolster a roster in desperate need of bodies to fill out the 30-man field. Jake Roberts was brought out of mothballs to assist as well, though he also brought considerable star power to the proceedings. At the very least, those men were established stars, either nationally or regionally, and could be considered quality additions at a time when Vince McMahon's company needed them. The same could not be said for the Squat Team. Having competed in the dying days of the territories as The Headhunters, they garnered a reputation for their girth and brawling style. Trips to Japan helped bolster their reputations but they were far from highly recognizable stars. That should have helped their cause in WWE, where they could have started from the ground up, introduced as the badasses they should have been. Instead, they entered the Rumble match, almost immediately targeting Vader. That was a poor decision. The former WCW world champion dumped one of the super heavyweights while Yokozuna ridded the match of the other. And, after less-than two minutes of ring time combined, their careers in WWE were over.
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.
