WWE Royal Rumble Debut Wrestlers: Where Are They Now?

4. Don Muraco

Royal Rumble debut
WWE.com

One of the most decorated superstars of his era, Don Muraco was the very first WWE King of the Ring, and held the Intercontinental Title for 541 days over two separate reigns. He was never WWE Champion, but Muraco was a huge draw, one of the company's biggest heels, and someone who regularly locked horns with Bob Backlund and Hulk Hogan - two of the period's biggest babyfaces.

Muraco had turned face in the run-up to the Royal Rumble, and took Superstar Billy Graham on as his manager. He stayed with the company for the bulk of 1988, feuding with the likes of Dino Bravo and Greg Valentine, before eventually leaving late in the year.

At 39 years old, Muraco's high-level pro-wrestling career was over. He spent some time in Stampede Wrestling and the AWA, before becoming one of the first ECW Champions in 1992, then retiring in 1995. This didn't keep him away from the wrestling industry, however, and he formed Hawai'i Championship Wrestling with a local TV producer in 2003.

Muraco was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, and had the only of inducting Mr. Fuji, his old manager, three years later. HCW folded in 2008, and Muraco took up a gruelling role as a port longshoreman for a while, but now enjoys a quiet retirement.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.