The Disturbing Truth Behind WWE's Royal Rumble 14 Curse

Eddie Guerrero (2003) returns us to far more harrowing territory. The fast lane of personal excess and painstaking professional sacrifice robbed us of his Lying, Cheating, Stealing brilliance two years later. Rikishi (2004), years removed from the fame he did so well to grab, also left WWE that same year. The curse became a veritable P45.

Orlando Jordan (2005), known as the second-worst United States Champion ever, behind Dean Ambrose, was released the next year. Joey Mercury (2006) also fell victim to the curse, which manifested, sickeningly, as an exploded face in a December TLC match. Jeff Hardy (2007) fell victim to—and overcame—and fell victim to—and overcame—the curse. Umaga (2008) passed away the very next year. Finlay (2009), hard as f*ck in-ring talent and revolutionary, progressive road agent, was released from his latter role in 2011 after booking an anti-American angle on a house show.

MVP (2010), having already quite literally pissed his career away, was released later that same year—but did enjoy an influential NJPW run, impressing officials so much that they created the Intercontinental Title for him. Chris Masters (2011) followed this pattern (not the New Japan bit). Jinder Mahal (2012) left two years later, returning in 2016, sadly, to ruin the prestige of the WWE Championship. Rey Mysterio (2013) was booed out of the f*cking building by virtue of not being Daniel Bryan a year later. Kevin Nash (2014) had a public, physical falling out with his son. Diamond Dallas Page returned in the same nostalgia slot (2015) in a Rumble that itself was cursed. DDP also received a diagnosis of a rare breathing disorder (subglottic stenosis) shortly thereafter.

Stardust (2016) cursed WWE by leaving of his own volition that year, and developing a brand perhaps strong enough to challenge WWE. Kofi Kingston (2017) suffered an ankle injury just months later, requiring surgery.

CONT'D...(3 of 5)