The Disturbing Truth Behind WWE's Royal Rumble 14 Curse

In a wonderful meta development, fan favourite and eventual winner Shinsuke Nakamura drew #14 in the Men’s Rumble of 2018. This was telling, given the wider theme of a match that threatened to monumentally piss the smartened-up fans off. Yielding a winner from the #14 slot for the first time in Rumble history, this spot of manipulative booking bled into a finishing sequence pitched perfectly to make us think we were in for another, infuriating continuation of the Roman Reigns push. But no: the King of Strong Style broke the curse…

…but then fell victim to it months later by losing his prize match at WrestleMania 34, losing also the wider feud, and Dean Ambrose-ing the United States title consolation he was given for what, it transpires, was no reason at all.

We can deduce, given the manipulative theme of the 2018 Men’s match, that WWE at some point became aware of the curse—and used it to prey on our fragile, but our favourites never get to win! emotions.

But for how long? How long have WWE been aware of the curse first put forth by old school wrestling columnist Sheepster in 2004? “Anything to fit a narrative,” was the reasoning behind a column designed to prove that statistics, in turn, can be used to prove anything. But, since 2004, the so-called curse has mutated to an extent that, one could argue, WWE has even acknowledged it within its own universe.

Given WWE’s history of cruel and unusual punishment, the curse, since 2004, appears to have manifested as a cruel rib of sorts. If a wrestler’s name was on the chopping block, that wrestler drew #14. Perhaps it was a way of undermining job security before the chop, if we’re cynical. Or perhaps we can apply a narrative to anything, if we’re honest.

But before that?

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