Royal Rumble 2012 Results: Kofi Kingston and Others Who Deserved a Longer Run

The 2012 Royal Rumble was very entertaining, but there were a few dynamic performers I would have liked to see last a bit longer. There comes a time when in-ring action has to count for something, and that should have some bearing as to how long a superstar's Royal Rumble stay lasts.

Here are three guys who deserved to stay in the ring longer than they did.

Ezekiel Jackson

Big Zeek was only in the Rumble for 3:46 after entering 13th, which is enough time to do a lot of things but not enough to make his mark in the Royal Rumble. I'm not at all suggesting Jackson should have won it, been in the final four or even the final eight, but less than four minutes is a disgrace.

Jackson is the last ECW champ, a former intercontinental champion, and he's strong as hell. That might seem like just a jobber-level quality, but remember that is what originally launched Mark Henry into major status.

Strong men have the ability to represent big time in the Rumble. Feats of strength like tossing two guys out at once are something Big Zeek is capable of. Instead, he eliminated no one and was dispatched by a virtually immobile Great Khali. You know that ain't right. 

Here is Big Zeek's best moment:

Hunico

Hunico is amazingly athletic and the gold-plated, low-rider bicycle he rode into the ring after entering 16th was sick, but his uneventful nine-minute stay was beneath him. What was more foul was the fact that he was eliminated by Kharma. I'm all for an equal-opportunity storyline, but that is no way to get a guy over with the crowd.

Hunico came in like a house of fire but went out like a wet book of matches. You know that ain't right.

Here are Hunico's best moment and his embarrassing elimination:

Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston entered 11th and had a lengthy 17:33 stay, but he deserved more. It's time for Kofi to get some main-event love. The Tag Team title, US Title and Intercontinental championship aren't enough. Is there a more gifted performer in the WWE?

No.

Do you hear the pop he gets when he comes out?

He can take solace in the fact that he was eliminated by Sheamus, the eventual winner, but Kofi deserved to be in the final four.

Plans for Kingston to ascend to World Title or WWE Championship-level status should be in the works. Let's hope they don't wait for him to injure himself thrilling the crowd before they give him the love he deserves for being the company's best in-ring performer.

Check out this sick hand-walking move to avoid elimination: