5 curious facts and stats you probably never knew about the Royal Rumble

#2 Dave's Groundhog Day

Dave Batista

Dave Batista was comfortably one of the biggest stars of the 2000s and 2010s in WWE, making a huge name for himself in the squared circle before going on to do huge things in Hollywood.

However, he has some interesting history in the Royal Rumble match. He is one of six men to have twice won the mass brawl, clinching victory in 2005 and 2014. The 'interesting' fact here? He won both matches from the number 28 entrant's spot.

Batista worked long and hard through the night in another Rumble match, becoming the Iron Man of 2008's affair with 37 minutes under his belt before, ultimately, being eliminated. He started much earlier that night, coming in at number eight before being toppled by Triple H. John Cena would go on to win that evening's Rumble.

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#3 Not so unlucky, Hacksaw

The first televised Royal Rumble match was won by Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Back in 1988, the very first Royal Rumble match to be presented as such was won by Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

While so much of the Rumble and winning it involves luck and a little bit of fortune, the maiden Rumble saw its winner reject one of the world's biggest superstitions. Did you know Hacksaw entered the match at number 13 that night?

So often a cursed number in many walks of life, it's occasionally yielded massive rewards in the Rumble - not least the first time out. Some would say he had it easier than some subsequent winners as that Rumble match only featured 20 competitors, compared to the traditional 30, but Duggan isn't likely to be too worried about that.