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

Sheamus (2018)

All three of the previous names on this list have poor Royal Rumble records. Between them, The Warlord, Jerry Lawler, and The Hurricane have 12 Rumble appearances, yet only two eliminations – both from Lawler, and both occurring only after he had already been eliminated from the match.

The fourth entry however, is unique in that Sheamus is a former Royal Rumble winner. In 2012, eliminated three other Superstars Kofi Kingston and Chris Jericho to win the Rumble, and challenge Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship, who he infamously defeated within 18 seconds. Yet even he is susceptible to the occasional Rumble blooper, as was the case at the 2018 Royal Rumble, which took place at the Wells Fargo Center, in Philadelphia, PA.

Perennial underdog Heath Slater had entered the match at No. 5, but by the time Sheamus came out as the 11th entrant, he had still yet to make it beyond the entrance-way. This was through no fault of his own – as he came out, he was attacked by the recently eliminated Baron Corbin, and then again by a series of new entrants. It was only with the arrival of Sheamus at No. 11 that Slater was finally dragged into the ring.

What happened next was nothing sort of a Royal Rumble miracle.

It was almost with pity that Sheamus threw Slater into the ring. Perhaps it was a kind act, given the Irishman was celebrating his birthday that very same day. Maybe he was feeling almost sympathetic – after all, Heath’s got kids.

Sheamus then rolled into the ring, only to find himself immediately up against the ropes. This briefest of moments gave Slater – a man who had unable to make it to the ring by himself – the opportunity to surprise the former Rumble winner. Finally pulling himself up from the ground, he charged the Celtic Warrior, clotheslining him over the top rope, sending him to the floor and eliminating him after only two seconds.

The crowd were jubilant in their support for Slater, and the moment became a part of Royal Rumble history. Sheamus was stunned, and stared holes through the man who had eliminated him – on his birthday, no less.

Slater would not last for much longer, being thrown out just seconds later by the dominant Bray Wyatt. But it was sure fun while it lasted.