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#3 Royal Rumble Runner Ups 1994-96
1994 - Shawn Michaels
The 1994 Royal Rumble was co-won by Lex Luger and Bret Hart who eliminated each other and hit the floor at the same time. However, the last man to be eliminated before the co-winners was Shawn Michaels who was thrown over the top rope by Lex Luger.
Would a Michaels win have made more sense? Not in 1994. HBK was on the rise as an upper mid-card heel and would crack the main event scene the following year but 1994 was too early in his ascension.
However, perhaps he would have made a better choice as a co-winner than Luger, who had already peaked in the promotion.
Although, that result would have robbed us of the classic Ladder Match encounter between Michaels and Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania. In hindsight, the 'Rumble result was the right one.
1995 - British Bulldog
Shawn Michaels would go one better in 1995, last eliminating The British Bulldog to win. Bulldog threw Michaels over the top rope and believed he had won. His music even started playing. However, only one of Michaels' feet had hit the floor and he returned to the ring to eliminate Bulldog.
The outcome was pretty unfair for Bulldog but he did get shots at the WWE Championship later that year versus both Diesel and Bret Hart and then again in 1996 versus Michaels.
However, he would never win the big one. Although, victory in this 'Rumble likely wouldn't have changed that as Michaels did not win the belt at that year's Wrestlemania either, falling short to WWE Champion, Diesel.
1996 - Diesel
Shawn Michaels made it two in a row at the 1996 Royal Rumble and it was his buddy, Diesel whom he last eliminated to win.
Diesel had peaked the year before, where he had reigned as WWE Champion for an entire year.
He was the worst drawing champion in WWE history and was never going to considered for the 'Rumble win.
Diesel would challenge Bret Hart for the title at the following pay per view and compete with Michaels for the belt two months later. However, he would win neither and left for WCW where he made an impact as a founding member of the nWO.
