WWE Royal Rumble: Santino Marella and five hilarious Royal Rumble eliminations

The Hurricane (2002)

The Royal Rumble is a match that tends to favour giants, making it difficult for smaller Superstars to leave their mark. With only a few exceptions – future WWE Hall of Famers Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio among them – Cruiserweights and light heavyweights often meet only limited success.

However, one Superstar who was not deterred by this was the company’s most famous superhero, The Hurricane. The former European Champion – who was said to bare an uncanny resemblance to roving reporter Gregory Helms – displayed gallant, heroic feats in almost every Rumble he participated in. Yet in 2002, his very first Rumble, he quickly crossed the line between bravery, and outright stupidity.

Ahead of the Rumble, Hurricane – along with his sidekick, Mighty Molly – had gained some momentum, defeating Crash Holly and even picking up an upset win over former Intercontinental Champion, Test. But his actions at the 2002 Rumble even now remain a mystery, except to the especially “heroic” among us.

Coming in at No. 23, he arrived following the elimination of Test, with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H the only competitors in the ring. Now, a lesser man may have taken stock of the situation – two former world champions in the ring, including a three-time winner of the Rumble in Austin, and decided to wait until the situation was more favorable.

A more cowardly man might have entered the ring, and taken advantage of the deep rift between The Rattlesnake and The Game to help one eliminate the other, striking up a short-term alliance.

But the Hurricane was no coward. Instead, the superhero charged the ring, and boldly looked to chokeslam not just one, but both of his opponents. Using all of his Super Strength, he tried to propel both men in the air with a move he was scarcely able to hit on one person. Yet for all he tried, he could not lift them.

But his efforts were not entirely fruitless. Due to his actions, a miracle was able to occur – and for but a brief moment, the Two Man Power Trip reunited, agreeing to toss Hurricane over the top rope. The superhero flew from the ring to the floor, landing in a mess underneath his cape.

He may have lasted less than a minute, not even having the time to remove his cape, but Hurricane was obviously deemed such a threat* by both Austin and Triple H that they temporarily worked together to eliminate him.

Whassup wit’ dat?

*Or maybe just a nuisance…