Patterson Ripped Off War Games?

By Scott Keith on 7 July 2013

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Hey Scott–

So one of the easter eggs on the War Games DVD is a segment where Dusty talks about how some people say the Royal Rumble is a rip-off of the Match Beyond.

Really? I have never heard that comparison (and for the record, Dusty thinks there is zero correllation between the two, as well.) Other than timed entrances, what similarities do the two events share?

I know that the battle royal concept was big in Roy Shire's San Francisco territory where Pat Patterson was a big star, so that's where he might have gotten the idea, but I would think there's a lot more connection between the Rumble and WCW's "Bunkhouse Stampede." I'm not sure, but I believe the Rumble came first.

Have you ever heard this ludicrous rumor?

–J

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As you said, it's easily debunked and more likely Patterson was borrowing the Shire battle royales as you noted. But then Dusty says a lot of dumb stuff.