Recently the number thirty was given some validity as being a lucky number to draw in the WWE Royal Rumble as the Undertaker won the 2007 incarnation of the event after entering thirtieth. Calling this accomplishment historical may seem to be a bit of an exaggeration at first glance. However, given that a number thirty entrant had not won for twenty years and the importance of drawing a high number often being shoved aside by low drawing winners, no other word seems appropriate.
This column will argue in favor of the Undertaker being the right number thirty to first win the Royal Rumble match. To prove this first, three of the best number thirty entrants of past years will be compared to the Undertaker. Next, why exactly 2007 was the right year for this accomplishment will be examined.
Interestingly enough, one of the number thirty entrants that made the most sense in terms of storylines was the first wrestler to draw that number. In 1989 Ted DiBiase at the height of his “Million Dollar Man” gimmick entered the Royal Rumble at number thirty. The commentators at the event—specifically Gorilla Monsoon—played off of this for all it was worth, adding heat to the already infamous DiBiase.
DiBiase drawing number thirty was a classic moment that was even referenced for comedic value a year later when he again participated in the Royal Rumble, this time entering at number one. The reason that the Undertaker was the better choice to win the event in 2007 is that in 1989 the Royal Rumble had yet to be cemented as a WWE tradition. By having the number thirty entrant win in 1989 viewers may have felt that the event would automatically be won by a late number. Having Big John Studd win the Royal Rumble in 1989 at number twenty-seven worked better than a hypothetical DiBiase victory in a couple of ways. First, though he was still a late entrant, Studd was not the last entrant showing that he had to go through at least a few competitors on his way to victory. Second, Studd was a face. One of the major drawing points to the Royal Rumble has always been that the victor has to defeat twenty-nine other entrants. DiBiase at the time played a heel with some credibility as a kayfabe tough wrestler. However, he was always considered far from the league of such competitors as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Brutus Beefcake. Though a weak competitor in kayfabe would win the Royal Rumble one day in the form of Vince McMahon in 1999, ten years earlier it would have been too much too soon.
In 1991 Tugboat entered the Royal Rumble at number thirty, beginning a formula, which would be repeated again and again ever since. This practice focused on a big and strong competitor entering last, who in all likelihood would demolish the other entrants. This gave the impression that there was no reason why he should not win the match. When the eventual winner would outlast this wrestler either by eliminating him or simply avoiding his onslaught credibility would be given to either the mighty face or the wily heel winner.
The formula used with Tugboat is unique when being put side by side to the Undertaker’s win. For the most part the 2007 victory used the Tugboat practice with one huge exception, which was that this entrant won instead of being tossed out. Additionally the Undertaker had even been placed in this situation before in 1997 and again in 2003. The reason that his 2007 win was the right choice over all these other options is that in the other years mentioned the eventual winners were too important to discard. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin winning in 1997 following his own elimination helped show the duality that would define his character in the Attitude Era. Though he cheated to win, Austin also drew an early number giving the impression that he legitimately worked for his triumph. Alternatively in 2003, Brock Lesnar was red hot. If Lesnar did not win the Royal Rumble his perception as an unstoppable force would have been drastically undercut. Though Lesnar was not undefeated at the time, in order to properly buildup his match with Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania XIX, a Royal Rumble victory was needed. Going back to Tugboat though, why Undertaker was the better choice to win in 2007 than Tugboat in 1991 may be obvious. After Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble in 1990, it was almost a given that the winner of the event would have to be a main event player. Whether or not this has been a good decision in the long run is debatable. However by having Tugboat specifically win the event in 1991 integrity may have been taken away from some of the bigger names in that years event.
Randy Orton with his blatant smugness and general heel persona made for a fitting final entry in 2006. Adding to the attractiveness of a possible Orton win was that the eventual winner, Rey Mysterio, Jr. was beginning to show signs of weakness in his Royal Rumble participation. This match saw Mysterio on his back for much of the event, which helped to undercut his eventual victory. Subsequently at least in some small way this showing helped contribute to his lackluster run as a world heavyweight champion in the WWE.
Despite everything that Orton had going for him in the 2006 Royal Rumble, one characteristic that Orton lacked at the time was his ability to be a main event player. The WWE had tried to get Orton over in 2004 by putting the World Heavyweight Championship on him. However, more than just poor planning contributed to Orton’s reign not being noteworthy. Orton had a work rate that resulted in his matches seeming to drag on and on before their conclusions. That is not to say that Mysterio was a good choice to win the 2006 Royal Rumble. This incarnation of the event, though entertaining at times was generally a mess. Subsequently the winner of the match did not get a singles match at Wrestlemania, but was put in a triple threat match, which failed to top the card. The Undertaker winning in 2007, therefore makes more sense as he is universally considered a main event player and still pulls out a good to great match every so often.
2007 was the right choice for the Undertaker to win the Royal Rumble as the number thirty entrant because despite all of his accomplishments, one victory he cannot gain is his battle with age. While the Undertaker permanently retiring may be as unlikely as Hulk Hogan stepping away from the ring for good, his status in the main event has long been going downhill.
In recent years, the Undertaker has reduced his schedule considerably from the peak of his career in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Still, for the past few months the Undertaker has been making more television appearances leading one to believe that he is willing to devote some time into a final main event run.
Perhaps one of the greatest disappointments in wrestling is wrestlers not knowing when to end their career. While some would still love to see Ric Flair have a final run on the top of the card, this seems less and less likely with each passing year. The Undertaker taking his leave from the main stage with a fan base and some ability intact will make certain that he does not see a similar fate.
The number thirty, for years a prize that was made unattractive in the Royal Rumble finally was given appeal in 2007 by a worthwhile win. The Undertaker accomplishing this goal likewise added to the occurrence as it took place at a time in his career where direction was needed.
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