Bending a rodney
I think it has to twist to bend.
I've got a Vega rod that is bent 40-50 degrees with no twist. Dropped a valve, valve head jammed between piston and head, cracked head, water rushed in, instant hydrolock.
I have to wonder if your motor detonated when you 'cleared it out' with all that oil in there (a good source of detonation) and cracked a ring or ring land. Did anything look odd on any cylinder wall?
I tend to agree with your opinion on the oil; it will kill a cylinder from firing long before you get enough in there to hydrolock.
Could be something as easy as you broke one of the internal supports in the clutch pack; that will shake pretty good. I've done that by revving and dumping the clutch on pavement.