With the new year right around the corner, the heart-pounding event that is the Royal Rumble is fast approaching. Along with WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank, it is part of the “Big Five” PLEs that take place during the year, and for good reason.
The Royal Rumble was created by WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, with the concept being tested in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in October 1987 at a house show. The first officially televised Royal Rumble event took place in January 1988 and was won by “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
2018 saw the format expand to the Women’s division, with Asuka emerging victorious. Between both divisions, there have been 35 different winners (28 men and 7 women). Winning the event once is considered a career accomplishment, and 11 superstars have won it multiple times, with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin having the most victories under his belt at three.
Impact and Mechanics
The rules for this match are simple. The bout starts with two contenders in the ring, with new participants entering the contest every 90 seconds. In total, 30 different wrestlers compete, with their placements determined by a random draw. The only method of elimination is being thrown over the top rope, with both feet needing to touch the floor. The last remaining superstar will therefore win the Royal Rumble.
Winning the Rumble guarantees the winner a title match for WWE’s top championship on the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania, with the winner deciding which belt they want to go after. This prize to the winner has been taking place since 1993, when Yokozuna won and eventually faced Bret “The Hitman” Hart a few months later at WrestleMania 9, winning the WWF Championship.
The 2026 Royal Rumble will be hosted on Saturday, January 31, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This will be the first time in history that it will be held outside of North America, and the excitement is building as fans speculate who might make an appearance at this year’s event. Let’s dive into the most exciting matchups in the history of this iconic event.
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2020 Royal Rumble (Houston, Texas)
The 2020 Royal Rumble is an example of WWE at its storytelling best, with numerous factors that make it truly special. While the event typically keeps fans standing for the duration due to the sheer number of surprises and simultaneous battles taking place, this bout saw three key moments that make it legendary.
Brock Lesnar, at the height of his dominance and the reigning WWE Champion, entered the match as the first contestant and would quash the first 13 entrants in a row. He tied a WWE record with the most number of eliminations, and seemed poised to execute a reign of terror on the roster, but would meet his match with participant number 16.
Drew McIntyre’s entrance was a major turning point, and with the assistance of Ricochet, he swiftly eliminated Lesnar, with the momentum shifting in his direction. But the loudest pop from the crowd wasn’t Lesnar being Claymore-Kicked over the top rope, but what took place with the entrance of participant 21.
Considered one of the most legendary moments in recent times, Edge made his emotional return after a 9-year hiatus due to a neck injury, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Despite Edge’s big return and making it to the final four men left in the ring, McIntyre would emerge victorious, cementing himself as a main-eventer by having eliminated giants such as Lesnar, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns. A truly thrilling spectacle that saw stunning upsets and unexpected returns, earning its rightful place in the ranking.
