WWE Royal Rumble winners: Where are they now? (1988-1999)

9. Royal Rumble 1989 - Big John Studd

Big John Studd

It's appropriate that a "giant" won an early Royal Rumble.

John Minton was everything his ring name said. He was big, he was a stud, and his name was John. He was also one of the most underrated performers of his era.

(Thank you to Wrestling Bios on YouTube)

While Studd had a prolific career in the territories and the AWA, as well as the early years of the WWF - back when they had an extra W in their name - his first big moment came during his feud with Andre the Giant, when he and the Giant fought in a "$10,000 Bodyslam Challenge" at the very first WrestleMania. Standing at 6'10" and weighing in a just over 350lbs., Studd was hardly dwarfed by the legendary Andre. However, Andre prevailed and their feud continued.

In 1986, Studd retired from wrestling and the WWF. That would last for two years, when Studd announced his return on a "Brother Love Show" segment on WWF Superstars. While Studd's former manager, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, was elated to see his former charge back in action, Studd wanted nothing to do with The Weasel - who was also now the manager of Studd's former rival, Andre.

So, in 1989 and as a babyface for the first time in his career, Studd won the Royal Rumble by eliminating Andre's cohort, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase - then fighting off an attack by Virgil.

The Royal Rumble win would, sadly, be the major highlight of Studd's career. After a diagnosis in 1993, John Minton succumbed to a long battle with liver cancer on March 20, 1995. He was 47 years old.