The night a comedian joined the fray in a high-stakes battle royal
In short: In January 2001, the WWF's Royal Rumble delivered more than just scripted drama. Between the heavy hitters of the ring, a surprise celebrity entrant and a record-setting victory for a wrestling icon transformed this annual pay-per-view into one of the most memorable chapters in professional wrestling history.
The 2001 Royal Rumble, held on January 21 at the New Orleans Arena, was the 14th annual iteration of the event. Unlike a standard battle royal where all competitors start in the ring simultaneously, this modified match features 30 participants who enter at timed intervals. The stakes were exceptionally high: the winner secured a WWF Championship match at the upcoming WrestleMania X-Seven.
The event was marked by several significant storylines and historical milestones. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin secured his third Royal Rumble victory—a record at the time—by being the final person to eliminate Kane. This win followed his previous victories in 1997 and 1998. The match also featured comedian Drew Carey, who entered at number five as the first celebrity participant in the event's history, a move intended to promote his 'Improv All-Stars' pay-per-view.
Beyond the main event, the card featured intense championship battles. Kurt Angle successfully defended his WWF Championship against Triple H in a match complicated by interference from Trish Stratus and Stephanie McMahon. Furthermore, Chris Jericho secured the WWF Intercontinental Championship by beating Chris Benoit during a ladder match, concluding their protracted feud. The night also saw the return of Haku, who had previously been competing in WCW as Meng.
While the results of the matches were predetermined by WWF writers and built through weekly television shows like Raw and SmackDown!, the event remains a cornerstone of the promotion's 'Big Four' pay-per-views. This status was cemented by the high-profile nature of the participants and the significant career implications for the winners.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Royal Rumble (2001)
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