Jim Duggan (2012)
Hacksaw Jim Duggan will always hold a special place in Royal Rumble history. As the first man to win the Royal Rumble match, he will forever be linked with the gimmick and its history. His popularity followed him throughout his career, and he had several successful comebacks along the way. However, as the years went on, his appearances received more of an eye roll than anything. The most egregious of which came at the 2012 Royal Rumble.
The fans in St. Louis were expecting some great surprises when the Royal Rumble hit their town. Instead, they were presented with former Royal Rumble winner Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The man was well past his prime and struggled against the younger stars. The fans in attendance were also at an age where the nostalgia act didn’t resonate with them. The reaction to Duggan was not what WWE wanted. It was time to put an end to the inaugural Royal Rumble winner.
