Royal Rumble By The Numbers WWE DON'T Want You To Know

8. 50

Jericho Rumble Numbers
WWE Network

50 minutes was the amount of time Channel 4 tape-delayed its broadcast of Backlash in the United Kingdom following the tumultuous fallout of Royal Rumble 2000.

The partnership between the WWF and the UK broadcaster was a major get; shown in far more homes than Sky Sports - i.e., every home with a television set inside of it - the sports entertainment empire could have used it as a platform on which to launch a second, stadium-sized Super-show on these isles. That did not come to fruition, because the sight of Mae Young's prosthetic dog ears - in addition to the rampant violence and gore levels - so utterly revolted the station.

Channel 4 took the immediate decision to end the relationship, and following the Rumble censored future, contractually-obligated PPV broadcasts and relegated Heat to a late-night death slot. Cutting WWE programming to ribbons with the zeal of Kevin Dunn, making something PG from something so family unfriendly was deemed more hassle than it was worth. And thus, WWE has never since flirted with a terrestrial TV station despite, if smoke exists where there is fire, attempting to hawk NXT UK to ITV as a ready-made World of Sport replacement.

"But there's no prosthetic breasts or blood on this show."

"Yes, but it's still dry and not particularly entertaining."

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!