Debunking a Royal Rumble Urban Legend

With the Royal Rumble coming up in just a few weeks, it's time to revisit a classic moment in Royal Rumble history. The year was 2002, and the rookie Maven (winner of the first-ever Tough Enough) stepped into the ring with The Undertaker, who had just cleared the ring, last eliminating both Hardy Boys. With the Dead Man distracted after tossing the Hardys from the ring not once, but twice, Maven cemented his legacy in Rumble lore by dropkicking the former WWF champion over the top rope and eliminating him.

Undertaker, embarrassed by his defeat at the hands (and feet) of a rookie, came back into the ring to take his frustrations out on Maven. In the ensuing beatdown, Maven was certainly eliminated from contention due to injury, but he was never officially eliminated from the Rumble. The Undertaker had thrown him through the ropes, not over the top rope! See for yourself in this classic clip uploaded by WWE:

This oversight inspired Ric Flair, then co-owner of the WWF, to place Maven into a match with Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho. Maven was never officially eliminated, so he deserved a title shot. Chris Jericho was livid, but what could he do? Flair was not only the boss, but he had a point. The only way to be eliminated from the Royal Rumble is to be thrown over the top rope, so Maven never was eliminated. 

Except that he was. For whatever reason, WWE likes to replay these moments: 

Judging by that sequence, you would think that Maven dropkicked Taker over the ropes, Taker threw Maven through the ropes, then beat him all the way from the ring to the concession area. I don't know what WWE has to gain by perpetuating this myth of Maven never being eliminated, but they have certainly been effective. Wikipedia tows the WWE line: 

"Undertaker attacked Maven after his elimination, beating him to the point where he could no longer continue the match."

WWE will never show this clip, showing the Undertaker throwing Maven over the top rope and to the floor. See, in the middle of his beatdown, the Dead Man rolled the Tough Enough winner back into the ring, beat him up some more, and eliminated him properly.

Here, watch it again: 

So there you have it. Maven was officially eliminated. Also, Sheamus's 18-second victory over Daniel Bryan didn't set any kind of record. But you already knew that.