'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Royal Rumble match has seen more than its share of incredible records, surprises and moments that still stand out. It hasn’t mattered what the circumstance is or who is in the ring, the Royal Rumble is often a highlight reel of competitors that are there to make a statement. In 1988 in Hamilton, Ontario, the first ever WWE Royal Rumble was held during an event that featured a number of matches, but one match is considered the highlight of the event to this day.
The over the top rope to the floor elimination style matchup was one that may have evolved since its inception, but stars of today have to give thanks for the trail blazed by the participants in that first Rumble thirty years ago. What has happened to these men in the thirty years after the initial Rumble match up? What are their lives like today, and what are they doing?
Here are five former WWE stars from the first ever Royal Rumble match, and where they are today.
#5 Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Duggan can still be seen today in various wrestling conventions and connecting with fans both young and old.
Duggan’s time in WWE has been well chronicled. He spent six years in WWE, competing with the promotion from 1987 until 1993. He would often refer to his competition as ‘tough guys,’ insinuating they weren’t as tough as he was in the ring. Duggan had feuds with several notable characters in WWE such as the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, along with Andre the Giant.
Hacksaw wasn’t simply a participant in the first ever Royal Rumble match, he had the distinction of winning the first ever match up. He outlasted nineteen other men in order to capture the win, eliminating the One-Man Gang at the end, after having entered the matchup as the thirteenth competitor. Duggan spent several years with WCW as well. Today, the 64-year-old Duggan, who was inducted as part of WWE’s 2011 Hall of Fame class, continues to make appearances at wrestling conventions and seminars to this day. He was a beloved character that embraced his character regardless of the circumstance.
#4 Tito Santana
He was a former Intercontinental champion and part of one of the most popular tag teams in the 1980s in WWE as one half of Strike Force. The pride of Tocula, Mexico Santana had some of the greatest long-standing feuds, such as his one with Greg ‘The Hammer' Valentine during his time.
Santana was in the inaugural Royal Rumble in 1988, the second man that entered the match, facing off with Bret Hart who was the first competitor, in the matchup. He was eliminated before the eighth man would enter the Rumble.
Santana remained with the company until 1993. Since that time he has competed for various promotions. Today, the 64-year-old works as a high school teacher, sharing his gift of knowledge to the youth of today. His time in the ring will never be forgotten, as he was the ultimate face at a time when it was sorely needed.
#3 One Man Gang
The 400 plus pound Gang was massive in size and stature during his time in the ring. During the 1988 Royal Rumble, Gang entered the nineteenth competitor. Both his size and how late into the Rumble he emerged played a part in his success in the match. What many fans may not know was that the initial Royal Rumble had only twenty participants, therefore entering the ring next to last was certainly an advantage. As one of the final two, the Gang was clearly an odds-on favorite to win the match. However, while he may not have won, he certainly made a name for himself during the match.
Today, the One-Man Gang is retired from the ring and is one of the names listed in a class action suit against WWE launched in 2016, which was brought forward by a number of former talent who claim they suffered brain injuries during their time with the promotion.
#2 Harley Race
Known for being as tough outside the ring as he was inside, Harley Race blazed a trail that those today respect. During his thirty-year career, he had memorable feuds with the likes of Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, the Junk Yard Dog and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Race joined WWE in 1986 and was the sixth competitor in the inaugural twenty-man Rumble, eliminated before the twelfth man entered the ring. His time with the company lasted a few years until he returned to World Championship Wrestling to manage Big Van Vader.
Today, Harley Race is not just known for what he did in the ring, but for running promotions such as WLW, along with operating the Harley Race Wrestling School. His promotion has had longstanding working relationships with international promotions such as Pro Wrestling Noah. In May of 2017, at the age of 74, Race suffered a terrible fall, breaking both of his legs in the process. Race required four blood transfusions during surgery. He is currently in recovery from the injuries suffered.
#1 Jake ‘The Snake' Roberts
‘Trust me' was a menacing and haunting statement uttered during his time in WWE. As a face, Roberts was admired for having an edge about him, a good guy because he was not bad enough to be a heel. Despite not winning any championships, his persona was enough to resonate with fans and definitely captured their attention. And as a heel, there was no denying Roberts relevance and place in the ring. Roberts entered the 1988 Royal Rumble as the fifth competitor. He remained in the ring until the One-Man Gang would eliminate him from the matchup.
Today, there is no denying the difficult life the 62-year-old Roberts had led to date. Recovering from substance abuse, Roberts has never hidden from his past, but simply hopes to use it as a means to enlighten others and be better because of it. To this day, Roberts is actively seen attending wrestling events and participating in seminars all across the country. Roberts was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
