'%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)
What's the story?
Bleacher Report recently sat down with Bruce Prichard to talk about the Royal Rumble. During the discussion, Prichard would talk about how things go backstage during a given Rumble as well as the thought process going into the creative side of the marquee match.
In case you didn't know...
In the WWF and WWE, Bruce Prichard was best known as Brother Love. He would have his own show from 1988 to 1991 before then stepping into the role of a major manager when he was the first to manage The Undertaker.
The heart of the matter
The Royal Rumble began in 1988 with "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan winning the first match. Bruce Prichard stated that Vince McMahon did not want to include the biggest superstars in this match, but realised after Duggan's success that it was a way to make a star.
When it comes to writing the Royal Rumble match, Prichard describes it in one word, "challenging." This particular match was one where you had to pay attention to detail.
"We would write who would eliminate who," Prichard revealed. "There were too many moving parts not to."
This was only the beginning as the creative had to get the WWE superstars to buy into their plans. Wrestlers would wonder why they were being eliminated so early or being in the match for 40 minutes - only to not ultimately win. This is why having a pre-made plan was essential for the match to be a success.
In regards to who would win a Royal Rumble match, several ideas were thrown around amongst the creative team but everything would hinge on Vince's final decision as to who would eventually win.
What's next?
The upcoming Royal Rumble takes plae this Sunday, from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition to the men's and first ever women's Royal Rumble match, four titles are on the line with Raw and SmackDown's tag and world championships up for grabs.
Author's take
The concept was a new one during the Rumble's early days, which would definitely have proposed some new challenges in regards to how the company handled its talent. Since then though, it's great to see that over 30 years later, it has grown into one of the most anticipated matches on the WWE calendar.
