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| Ted DiBiase, Jr. is the best No. 10 ever, and he did so as a background character Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Final four: Ted DiBiase Jr. (4th, 2009)
Multiple draws: Steve Blackman (1998, 2001) Ted DiBiase Jr. (2009, 2010)
Longest: Ted DiBiase Jr. (2009), 45:11
Shortest: Epico (2012): 0:11.
Most eliminations: Three — Mr. Perfect (1993), Booker T (2005), Kane (2007)
Say this for Ted DiBiase Jr.; he made the final four. Entering at No. 10 in 2009, he endured 45:11, almost eight minutes longer than any other tenth man (the closest was Hercules at 37:36 in 1991). He was the 27th man eliminated; no other tenth man has done better than 17 (Hercules again, as well as Test in 2000). Yes, DiBiase only eliminated one man in 2009, and while it was Kane, it also was accomplished with the help of his Legacy partners Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.
Once it was down to Legacy and Triple H, DiBiase was the first man out. 'Twas a fitting end, probably, given the subsequent career trajectory of DiBiase and Rhodes. So it wasn’t a great showing, though it was the 19th-longest ever, which makes him the best No. 10 ever. Of course, he’s not the greatest DiBiase to enter a rumble. That honor still rests with the Million Dollar Man. (Ed. note, no, I'M TED DIBIASE, AHAHAHA)
Ted Sr. entered four Rumbles, lasted a total of 1:17:27 (an average of 19:22), made one final four and logged 11 eliminations. Ted Jr. had three rumbles (two straight at No. 10), lasted a total of 1:10:07 (an average of 23:22) also with one final four, but with only two eliminations. If both of them managed to enter the 2014 Rumble, my money still would be on Ted Sr. Not that he needs any more money.
Three men logged three eliminations from the ten spot, but 45 other Rumble entrants also recorded three eliminations in a single night, so that’s not an especially remarkable accomplishment. Yet since 15 of 26 tens eliminated no one, it does slightly differentiate these men from the pack.
Further, four men entering at ten lasted less than a minute. Another seven couldn’t get to five minutes. One great regret is Booker T illegally eliminating Kane in 2007 after the Big Red Monster had put up 13:21 and three eliminations. Glenn Jacobs still trails Shawn Michaels (who twice eliminated a tenth entrant) by three eliminations on the all-time list, and Kane appeared to be dominant again — even chokeslamming Sabu through a table — before King Booker exacted revenge.
Mr. Perfect had a fairly productive three eliminations in less than ten minutes in 1993, notably ousting Ric Flair the night before they met in a Loser Leaves the WWF match on the third episode of Monday Night Raw. Perfect met his fate in the Rumble at the hands of Ted DiBiase (Sr.) and Koko B. Ware, only worth mentioning because those two entered first and second in the 1990 Rumble. (DiBiase would eliminate Ware later in the match, just as he eliminated him in 1990.)
Steve Blackman entered four Rumbles — at tenth in 1998, then seventh in 1999 and 2000 and tenth again in 2001. He was always eliminated fairly quickly and never made his own elimination, so no more needs to be said about him. But if he ever makes a surprise Rumble appearance, hopefully he enters at one of those two spots to achieve a career full house. Hopefully he also eliminates someone, because right now he's tied with Honky Tonk Man and Gregory Helms for second place on the list of most Rumbles with no eliminations.
Ultimately, the tenth spot isn’t much more illustrious than the ninth. Really, only DiBiase Jr.’s run to the near finish sets the two apart. But looking down the list of the people who have eliminated the tenth entrant is pretty much a who’s who of Rumble lore: Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase, Diesel, Shawn Michaels, the Big Show, Kane, Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio — and starting in 2008 this streak is jaw-dropping: CM Punk, Triple H, Michaels, Mark Henry, Mick Foley and John Cena.
Looks like if there’s anything to expect from the ten-spot at the 2014 Rumble, it’s for that wrestler to meet the floor by the hands of a living legend.
Year | Wrestler | Dur. | Out | El. | Eliminated By |
1988 | Boris Zhukov | 0:02:33 | 3 | 0 | Roberts, Brunzell |
1989 | Butch | 0:18:13 | 13 | 1 | Brown, Hogan |
1990 | Dusty Rhodes | 0:18:18 | 12 | 2 | Earthquake |
1991 | Hercules | 0:37:36 | 17 | 1 | Knobs |
1992 | Barry Darsow (Repo Man) | 0:06:23 | 6 | 2 | Boss Man |
1993 | Mr. Perfect | 0:09:15 | 8 | 3 | DiBiase, Ware |
1994 | Virgil | 0:00:32 | 9 | 0 | Diesel |
1995 | Rick Martel | 0:02:29 | 5 | 0 | Sione |
1996 | Sean Waltman (1-2-3 Kid) | 0:15:40 | 13 | 0 | Michaels |
1997 | Fatu (Sultan) | 0:03:23 | 7 | 0 | Smith |
1998 | Steve Blackman | 0:05:58 | 4 | 0 | Kurrgan |
1999 | Blue Meanie | 0:02:59 | 6 | 0 | Mabel |
2000 | Test | 0:26:17 | 17 | 1 | Big Show |
2001 | Steve Blackman | 0:03:08 | 7 | 0 | Kane |
2002 | Jeff Hardy | 0:01:30 | 8 | 0 | Undertaker |
2003 | Tommy Dreamer | 0:00:48 | 5 | 0 | Jericho, Christian |
2004 | Gregory Helms (Hurricane) | 0:00:19 | 4 | 0 | Morgan |
2005 | Booker T | 0:10:42 | 9 | 3 | Mysterio, E. Guerrero |
2006 | Sylvan Grenier | 0:00:18 | 5 | 0 | Lashley |
2007 | Glenn Jacobs (Kane) | 0:13:21 | 11 | 3 | Booker* |
2008 | Chuck Palumbo | 0:04:00 | 5 | 1 | Punk |
2009 | Ted DiBiase Jr. | 0:45:11 | 27 | 1 | Triple H |
2010 | Ted DiBiase Jr. | 0:12:40 | 14 | 0 | Michaels |
2011 | Chavo Guerrero | 0:02:01 | 4 | 0 | Henry |
2012 | Epico | 0:00:11 | 6 | 0 | Foley |
2013 | Health Slater | 0:15:49 | 11 | 1 | Cena |
