This WWE legend surprises, makes history in KFC Colonel Rumble

By Jim Varsallone

January 30, 2018 4:49 PM

Ronda Rousey wasn’t the only surprise at the WWE Royal Rumble on Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Nature Boy Ric Flair stunned the world by entering and winning the KFC Colonel Rumble to become a two-time Rumble winner and the iconic Colonel Sanders.

There were actually three Rumbles at the WWE Royal Rumble on Sunday, Jan. 28, and a WWE legend made a surprise return to win the unannounced Rumble, his second Rumble victory of his career.

WWE Superstars like Titus O’Neil of Titus Worldwide participated in a KFC Colonel Rumble to determine who would become the iconic Colonel Sanders.

The action occurred at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

If becoming the Colonel, Titus thought about introducing Gator nuggets to the menu. Not this time. Titus was eliminated.

KFC commercial break

WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler and WWE Hall of Famers Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels have portrayed the Colonel in the past. Heath Slater, who was in the KFC Colonel Rumble, portrayed the Colonel’s nemesis, when Angle drew from his inner Colonel.

With Ziggler, his Ohio brethren The Miz was the foil fowl.

Back to the action

This time Miz, believing he would be an awesome Colonel, threw his wing into the ring at the KFC Colonel Rumble. Rusev, also in the mix, looking to make Happy Rusev Day finger licking good.

They got close to winning, but a legend with Southern ties took the nod.

Woooo.

The KFC Colonel Rumble winner makes history

Ric Flair, the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion and WWE Legend, made a triumphant return to the ring at the Rumble.

In a KFC Colonel Rumble match, ‘The Nature Boy’ donned a Colonel Sanders-themed Ric Flair robe to the ring, where he eliminated WWE Superstars The Miz and Rusev to claim the title Colonel Sanders.

Flair was to be Colonel Sanders at SummerSlam in August, but when he was hospitalized, his good friend Michaels took his spot. It was HBK who retired Flair in a classic match at WrestleMania 24 in 2008 in Orlando.

Now Flair, a pop culture phenom, takes his rightful spot as another pop culture star.

To commemorate the occasion, there is a T-shirt for sale with a photo on the front and this inscription on the back:

“You’re talkin’ to the mealin’ and dealin, bucket fillin’, chicken fyin’, pot pie-in’, sonuva gun. And I’m havin’ a hard time not seasonin’ every one a ya. Woooooooo!”

Click this link to see the T-shirt:

https://shop.wwe.com/royal-rumble-2018-kfc-colonel-flair-t-shirt/CN1106.html

Flair won the 1992 Royal Rumble to become the WWF Champion at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, N.Y.

He is the only Royal Rumble and KFC Colonel Rumble winner in history.

The KFC Colonel Rumble

Each participant wore something Colonel Sanders-esque.

The Miz drew No.1, fowled by Rusev. Titus O’Neil was third to enter, and then Heath Slater, Mojo Rawley, Fandango, Tyler Breeze and Goldust, before the Nature Boy made his own shocking appearance, styling and profiling.

Mojo was eliminated first by The Miz.

Rusev eliminated Titus.

Miz and Rusev eliminated Slater.

Breeze eliminated Fandango.

Rusev eliminated Goldust.

Miz eliminated Breeze.

Flair eliminated Miz and Rusev together.

Winner: Ric Flair.

Other Colonel Sanders

WWE superstars and other celebs have portrayed the legendary Colonel at WWE events and in KFC commercials.

Kurt Angle, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton, Darrell Hammond, Wayne Knight, Vincent Kartheiser, Ray Liotta, Rob Lowe, Norm Macdonald, Reba McEntire, Shawn Michaels, Randy Quaid, Rob Riggle, Billy Zane, Dolph Ziggler and now Ric Flair.

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This story was originally published January 30, 2018 at 4:49 PM with the headline "This WWE legend surprises, makes history in KFC Colonel Rumble."

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