The Royal Rumble match winner is guaranteed a world championship match of their choosing at WrestleMania. The iconic rule has been in place since the 1993 Royal Rumble match. However, whilst the Royal Rumble match winners get all the plaudits, it’s not all doom and gloom for some Royal Rumble runner-ups. Several Royal Rumble runner-ups have found an alternative route to make their way into a world championship match at WrestleMania.
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With two world championships in the men’s world title picture and two women’s world titles in the women’s division, there are several reasons as to why Royal Rumble runner-ups have found themselves competing in world title matches at WrestleMania.
For sure, it’s not an unwritten rule, but Royal Rumble runner-ups participating in world championship matches at WrestleMania showcases the significance of having a good Rumble. Nevertheless, there have been several different ways in; Rumble runner-ups have punched their ticket to a world title match on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
5. Steve Austin
Despite having a $100,000 bounty placed on his head by Mr. McMahon, Steve Austin was the odds-on favorite to win the 1999 Royal Rumble match. The Texas Rattlesnake sought to become the first man to win a hat-trick of Royal Rumble matches on the bounce. However, Austin failed to win the 1999 Royal Rumble match as McMahon prevailed, all thanks to outside interference from the new WWE Champion, The Rock.
McMahon was never going to compete for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 15. Therefore, Austin and McMahon clashed in a steel cage match at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre with McMahon’s title opportunity at stake. Despite Paul Wight making his WWE debut, Austin defeated McMahon, punching his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania 15.
Austin’s win was historic as he became the first Rumble runner-up to challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. The Texas Rattlesnake didn’t let this opportunity slip as he beat Rock for his third WWE Championship.
