#1 & #2 Entrants:
1988: Bret Hart & Tito Santana
1989: Demolition Ax & Demolition Smash
1990: Ted DiBiase & Koko B. Ware
1991: Bret Hart & Dino Bravo
1992: Davey Boy Smith & Ted DiBiase
1993: Ric Flair & Bob Backlund
1994: Scott Steiner & Headshrinker Samu
1995: Shawn Michaels & Davey Boy Smith
1996: Triple H & Henry Godwinn
1997: Crush & Ahmed Johnson
1998: Cactus Jack & Terry Funk
1999: Steve Austin & Vince McMahon
2000: D-Lo Brown & Brian Christopher
2001: Jeff Hardy & Bull Buchanan
2002: Rikishi Phatu & Goldust
2003: Shawn Michaels & Chris Jericho
2004: Chris Benoit & Randy Orton
2005: Eddy Guerrero & Chris Benoit
2006: Triple H & Rey Misterio Jr.
2007: Ric Flair & Fit Finlay
2008: Undertaker & Shawn Michaels
2009: Rey Misterio Jr. & John Morrison
2010: Dolph Ziggler & Evan Bourne
2011: C.M. Punk & Daniel Bryan
2012: Mike Mizanin & Alex Riley
2013: Dolph Ziggler & Chris Jericho
2014: C.M. Punk & Seth Rollins
Some unlucky people in that list...Bret, Flair, Shawn, DiBiase, Benoit, Bulldog, HHH, Rey, Dolph, and then Punk. Some people were stuck at #1 by a heel authority figure or even requested the spot...it does give one an opportunity to shoot for an endurance record.
Final Entrants:
Junkyard Dog(#20), Ted DiBiase, Mr. Perfect, Tugboat, Warlord, Randy Savage, Adam Bomb, Crush, Duke Droese, Undertaker, Vader, Chyna, X-Pac, Rikishi Phatu, Booker T, Undertaker, Bill Goldberg, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Undertaker, John Cena, Big Show, Batista, Kane(#40), Big Show, Ryback, Rey Misterio Jr.
Taker is the luck-of-the-draw winner, getting #30 on three occasions(and often drawing a late entry at other Rumbles). Despite the advantage of the slot, it wasn't until 2007 that the final entry actually won the Rumble...and then it happened two years in a row. Rey finally got a better draw after starting the Rumble twice in previous years...though the fans weren't too appreciative.
Winners:
Hacksaw Jim Duggan(#13 of 20), Big John Studd(#27), Hulk Hogan(#25), Hulk Hogan(#24), Ric Flair(#3), Yokozuna(#27), Lex Luger(#23)/Bret Hart(#27), Shawn Michaels(#1), Shawn Michaels(#18), Steve Austin(#5), Steve Austin(#24), Vince McMahon(#2), The Rock(#24), Steve Austin(#27), Triple H(#22), Brock Lesnar(#29), Chris Benoit(#1), Batista(#28), Rey Misterio Jr.(#2), Undertaker(#30), John Cena(#30), Randy Orton(#8), Edge(#29), Alberto Del Rio(#38 of 40), Sheamus O'Shaunessy(#22), John Cena(#19), Batista(#28)
The winner often seems to come from the early or late entries...the middle of the pack seems to be the actual kiss of death. The winner only came from that field on three occasions(depending on how you count Duggan). #27 is popularly noted as the most successful slot, producing the winner on four occasions. The short list of multi-time Rumble winners: Hulk, Shawn, Austin, Cena, and Batista. Notably, Batista drew #28 both times he won.
Runners-Up:
One Man Gang(#19 of 20), Ted DiBiase(#30), Mr. Perfect(#30), Earthquake(#22), Sid Justice(#29), Randy Savage(#30), Luger(#23)/Bret(#27), Davey Boy Smith(#2), Diesel(#22), Bret Hart(#21), The Rock(#4), Steve Austin(#1), Big Show(#26), Kane(#6), Kurt Angle(#26), Undertaker(#30), Big Show(#24), John Cena(#25), Randy Orton(#30), Shawn Michaels(#23), Triple H(#29), Triple H(#7), John Cena(#19), Santino Marella(#37 of 40), Chris Jericho(#29), Ryback(#30), Roman Reigns(#15)
#30 seems to be the prime spot for the bridesmaid...1995 was the first time the Rumble ended with #1 and #2(though it was the abbreviated one-minute interval version)...it happened again in the Russo-rific 1999 Rumble. 2003 was the first time the Rumble ended with #29 and #30(it happened again in 2008). 2006 was the first time it ended with a guy who started the Rumble(Rey at #2) and the final entry(Randy at #30).
Endurance Marks(source: www.prowrestlinghistory.com):
Bret Hart(25:42), Mr. Perfect(27:58), Ted DiBiase(44:47), Rick Martel(52:17)(honorable mention to Greg Valentine at 44:03), Ric Flair(59:26), Bob Backlund(61:10), Bam Bam Bigelow(30:12), Shawn Michaels/Davey Boy Smith(38:41), Triple H(48:01), Steve Austin(45:07), The Rock(51:32), Vince McMahon/Steve Austin(56:38), Test(26:17), Kane(53:46)(honorable mention to The Rock at 38:42), Steve Austin(26:46), Chris Jericho(38:54), Chris Benoit(61:30), Chris Benoit(47:26), Rey Misterio Jr.(62:12)(honorable mention to Triple H at 60:09), Edge(44:02), Triple H(49:51), John Cena(22:11), C.M. Punk(35:21), Mike Mizanin(45:39)(honorable mention to Cody Rhodes at 41:57), Dolph Ziggler(49:51), C.M. Punk(49:25)(honorable mention to Seth Rollins at 48:30).
These vary wildly depending on the time intervals...it was set at two minutes with the first Rumble(only 20 entrants), changed to one minute in 1995, then varied from 2 to 1:30 to 1:00 over the years. Rey is the current holder of the endurance record with Chris Benoit coming in second.
Most Eliminations:
12(Roman Reigns in 2014), 11(Kane in 2001), 10(Steve Austin in 1997), 8(Shawn Michaels in 1995, Shawn in 1996, Austin in 1999), 7(Hulk Hogan in 1991, Yokozuna in 1993, Lex Luger in 1994, Diesel in 1994, Steve Austin in 1998, Rikishi in 2000, Austin in 2002, John Cena and C.M. Punk in 2011)
Big runs of eliminations have often helped to push wrestlers...Diesel's dominance in '94 was the start of his big push. Reigns got the new elimination record in the 2014 Rumble and is one of the favorites in the 2015 Rumble.
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