How in the world can someone be as truly great as Randy "Macho Man" Savage, arguably the most dynamic sports-entertainer of all-time, and not grasp the seemingly simple rules of a Royal Rumble match? In 1991, Savage cost The Ultimate Warrior the WWE Championship during a match with Sgt. Slaughter. Later in the night, he was slated to enter the Rumble at No. 18, but never showed up. How he ever expected to win the match without actually showing up is beyond this writer, though running for his life from a crazed, face-painted madman may be a valid explanation for his absence. There is no excuse, though, for what happened two years later. One of the final two competitors in the '93 match, Savage looked poised to win and head to WrestleMania IX in Caesar's Palace to challenge Bret Hart for the WWE Championship. A flying elbow drop may have been a curious choice when it came to wearing the massive Yokozuna down with, but it was his signature move so it at least made a little sense. What did not was the fact that Savage tried for a pinfall. In a Royal Rumble match. A match type he had competed in previously and clearly knew the rules to. He was tossed into the air, over the top rope and to the arena floor, robbing fans of witnessing the future Hall of Famer get one last chance to headline the Showcase of the Immortals. Some will argue that he was caught up in the moment and as such, it makes sense. They would be wrong. One of the greatest wrestlers to ever lace a pair of boots, his Rumble resume is far from sparkling, leading to his status as the worst of the big name stars to ever compete in the match.
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.
