One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every WWE Royal Rumble

2018 - The Curse Was Broken…Or Was It?

Actual curses are not real - but a wildly improbable statistical convergence is just as fascinating.

It was said for years that the #14 spot in the Royal Rumble was “cursed”. Marty Jannetty (1989) refers to himself as ‘God’s Amusement Toy’, he feels his luck is that rotten. The British Bulldog (1991) and Hercules (1992) passed away at no age at all. The Berzerker (1993) lasted just two more dates with the WWF. Jacob Blu (1995) didn’t last much longer. Doug Gilbert (1996) all but torched his own career with a wild 1999 shoot promo on Jerry Lawler. Dustin ‘Goldust’ Rhodes (1997) spent years battling addiction thereafter.

Some names went unaffected, which renders the theory a load of old b*llocks, but the case of Joey Mercury (2006) is striking; he started the year as #14, and ended it with an exploded face after suffering one of the most revolting in-ring accidents ever.

The “curse” can be explained by two factors.

Firstly, the wave of premature wrestler death was not the result of a curse, but rather an unregulated industry that imposed far too much demand on its overworked contractors.

Secondly, on those who left the company shortly thereafter, the number #14 is itself the explanation. Exciting talents arrive early, to fire up the crowd. Important wrestlers enter later, to ramp up the stakes. Those in the middle are often just midcard acts there to make up the numbers. The most expendable wrestlers are more likely to come out at #14, as opposed to #1, #2, or #30.

But not Shinsuke Nakamura, who broke the “curse” by entering at #14 in 2018 before winning the whole thing. Or did he?

He lost at WrestleMania 34, never won a World title, and spent the next several years as just another bloke on the roster.