“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Explains Why He Was Shocked That He Won The First-Ever Royal Rumble

WWE Hall of Famer “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan revealed that he was completely caught off guard upon learning he would win the first-ever Royal Rumble match in 1988.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Jim Duggan admitted that he had no prior knowledge of the decision until he arrived at the arena on the day of the event.

“I have no idea, I was never an office guy, that’s why I was never a producer. I never schmoozed back then in the Gorilla Position. So we get to the building, and I’m looking down at the sheet and I’m like, ‘I’m winning this thing?’ Nobody was more surprised than me to win that sucker, that’s for sure, man.”

The historic match took place on January 24, 1988, with Duggan outlasting 19 other competitors and eliminating One Man Gang to secure the victory. While the Royal Rumble has since become one of WWE’s most iconic annual events, Duggan’s unexpected triumph remains a standout moment in his career. Although he never held a major singles or tag team championship in WWE, Duggan considers his Royal Rumble win the highlight of his wrestling career.

“Obviously, it’s the biggest feather in my cap, I was never world champion, I was never tag team champion, I was never Intercontinental Champion. I was lucky to win a match, brother.”

Duggan’s victory helped establish the Royal Rumble as a marquee event in WWE, and though he may not have anticipated the win, his name is forever cemented in history as the inaugural Rumble winner.

Which Former WWE Superstar Did “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Say He Didn’t Get Along With?

Jim Duggan spoke about how he didn’t get on well with Lex Luger and said that it was due to the fact that Luger was a bit of a narcissist, which Duggan found ironic as his gimmick at the time was “The Narcissist.” Duggan also did not like that Luger went on to take on an All-American gimmick in WWE, a gimmick that he had been doing for many years at that point.

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