10 shocking Moments from WWF (WWE) 1996

#4 Shawn Michaels becomes a back to back Royal Rumble winner

Mr Royal Rumble

Whether fans particularly agreed with it or not, 1996, at least in terms of the WWF, was going to be the year of Shawn Michaels. He had been hovering around the main event scene for a number of years, demonstrating his advanced in-ring skills and abilities on the mic, but he hadn't quite reached the levels of a Bret Hart or Diesel. By the start of the year, all that would soon be about to change.

Not only did Shawn main event Wrestlemania, Summerslam and Survivor Series of that year, but he also became a back to back Royal Rumble winner, the first man to do it since Hulk Hogan half a decade earlier.

His Rumble victory in 95 was particularly special, entering in at number 1 and lasting until the very end. 1996 was a more evenly matched and hard fought affair, eventually eliminating former tag-team partner Diesel to pick up the victory.

This meant that Michaels would be challenging for the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania for the second time, and few doubted that Mania XII would finally be his time to shine.