Royal Rumble by (Entry) Numbers: 20

RVD may have been the best No. 20 ever, which ain't sayin' much Photo Credit: WWE.com

Winners: None
Final four: Rob Van Dam (3rd, 2006); Kane (3rd, 2008)
Multiple draws: Val Venis (2001, 2002); Shelton Benjamin (2009, 2010)
Longest: Rob Van Dam (2006); 23:52
Shortest: Kurt Angle (2005): 0:37.
Most eliminations: Three — Rob Van Dam (2006); Kane (2008)

For being so close to the conclusion of the match (and in one case, right at the end), it remains surprising how many ineffectual Royal Rumble entrants have come from No. 20.

The original No. 20, Junk Yard Dog, has a unique distinction unlikely to be usurped. He lasted just 2:08 in the 1988 Rumble, the shortest of any of the night’s 19 entrants. But he so far exceeds the performances of the worst entrants of the succeeding 25 Rumbles it’s almost astounding. The second-best worst man is Hercules, who in 1992 lasted 56 seconds. The appeal of the quick elimination from a narrative standpoint remains a Rumble stalwart year in and year out, it’s almost unfathomable to envision a Rumble in which the “worst” man of the night lasts longer than 2:08.

Only six spots have yielded just two final four finishers, and all but one (No. 21) came from closer to the start of the Rumble. (Eight spots have produced a sole final four contestant, none higher than 17). But wait, it gets worse.

Discounting spots 31-40 (used in only one Rumble), No. 20 is dead last in number of total eliminations at 14 over 26 years. No. 20 is tied with No. 5 with 18 of 26 entrants failing to record a single elimination (only No. 3 is worse at 20 of 26). Four No. 20s eliminated one man, two tossed two and two others tossed three.

Taking all that into account, crowing the best No. 20 comes down to two men — Rob Van Dam in 2006 and Kane in 2008. Both men finished third with three eliminations, the only No. 20 entrants to do either.

It's easy to crown Rob Van Dam in 2006 as the best No. 20. He’s got the most ring time (23:52) and tied with Kane (2008) with three eliminations. Kane eliminated legends entries Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper (not the only time those two were connected, of course) as well as a fatigued John Morrison. RVD tossed nostalgia entry Animal and then a fresh Goldust and a fatigued Carlito. Van Dam gets the slight edge with a minutes advantage of 23:52 to Kane’s 17:48.

As for the rest of the 20s? Nothing too exciting. In addition to JYD, 11 others failed to last five minutes. Shelton Benjamin entered at 20 in 2009 and 2010, and his main accomplishment was not getting eliminated by Shawn Michaels as he had in the three prior Rumbles. Hulk Hogan was in four Rumbles and three times eliminated No. 20, the most significant of which being his 1992 conquering of the Undertaker. Steve Austin also removed No. 20 three times, including both members of the New Age Outlaws, removing Jesse James in 1997 and Billy Gunn two years later.

Kurt Angle lasted but 37 memorable seconds in 2005 before Shawn Michaels showed him to the floor. That’s 28:27 shorter than Angle’s best — 29:04 in 2004. That disparity is at 29th on the list of biggest gaps between an entrant’s best and worst times.

The list of longest duration with no eliminations is rich with No. 20s. Crush, still masquerading as a member of Demolition, put up 18:34 in 1991 , 25th all time for ring duration without a single elimination. Two years later Jerry Sags lasted 21:50 with no eliminations, now 15th on the list. Greg Valentine is at 16th place on the list for 20:39 in 1994. I only count the top 30, but Damien Sandow narrowly missed the cut in 2013 with 16:26.

If No. 20 wins in 2014 it won’t be a shock, but it will be a first. The spot is long overdue for a dominant performance. In general the best times per entry spot are going to decrease between now and No. 30, which is to be expected given how much of the match has transpired by the time No. 20 hits the ring.

(And yes, I could have written about Michael Cole getting to enter the Rumble at No. 20 in 2012. But I don’t want to. If you don’t like that decision I’ll offer a full refund.)