50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble
34. Duke Droese In ’96 = Worst #30 Ever
Everyone who has watched even one Rumble knows the drill. Announcers talk about the importance of entry, and often discuss #30 like it's a dead cert to victory. That hasn't always been the case. If anything, it was a bit of a death spot until 2007. More on that later. In 1996, the WWF thought putting number 30 on the line during the 'Free For All' pre-show would get more fans to tune in.
They were probs right about that, but pitting Triple H (during his blue blood days) vs. Duke Droese was not the correct call. Both were undercard fodder - even Hunter, but it was clear to anyone paying attention that he had way more upward mobility than the garbage man gimmick he was working with. Droese won and wound up being arguably the worst #30 in Rumble history.
He only lasted 70 seconds in the pay-per-view showpiece later on, but that wasn't the biggest problem here. Duke bagging the 30th spot before the show even started likely didn't shift even one more buy for the WWF. It'd be like Trips deciding to run a match between Karrion Kross and Apollo Crews today, then being shocked that nobody cared if Crews was #30 or not.
No offence intended to those workers, but you get the general point. This was a low-tier attraction for something as grand as the Rumble. Y'know, one of the fed's most important annual events, and the launching point for fever pitch WrestleMania excitement. In 1996, they chose literal garbage to sell that.