In 1996, however, Hunter Hearst Helmsley was a far cry from the main event staple he would eventually become. Regardless, at Royal Rumble 1996, "The Connecticut Blue Blood" put on the most ...

That's why it was so shocking when the promotion booked the huge Alamodome for 1997's Royal Rumble. Even more surprising ... Look at 1995 and 1996's numbers again for context.

1998 wasn't the first Rumble centred around one story. Indeed, 1996's match was framed around Shawn Michaels repeating his victory in the shadow of Vader's impending debut, and '92 had Flair going ...