4. Steve Austin – 1999
Steve Austin was looking to make history in the 1999 Royal Rumble match as he was bidding to become the first man to win a hat-trick of Royal Rumble matches in succession.
The Texas Rattlesnake was the odds-on favorite to win the Rumble as the number one entrant. However, his rival, Mr. McMahon, put a $100,000 bounty on his head if someone could remove him from the Rumble. Golga was Austin’s first victim, but after that, he fought with McMahon outside of the ring.
The chairman of the board had a devious plan devised as The Corporation attacked Austin backstage. However, Austin returned from the hospital and wreaked havoc. He eliminated a further seven competitors from the Rumble. The former WWE Champion was public enemy number one.
Furthermore, Austin and McMahon were the final two, but the new WWE Champion, The Rock, made an appearance. He taunted Austin, which allowed McMahon to sneak up behind Austin and eliminate him to win the Rumble. Austin and McMahon both lasted 56 minutes and 38 seconds, although a chunk of it was outside of the Rumble.
