Winning WWE’s Royal Rumble match is one of the most prestigious accolades to have on your resume. The winner of the Royal Rumble punches their ticket to a world championship at WrestleMania. However, someone has to be the bridesmaid by becoming the runner-up in a Royal Rumble match.
For sure, winning a Royal Rumble match sounds a lot better than being a runner-up, but it’s not all doom and gloom for a runner-up. Some runner-ups still manage to get a world championship match at WrestleMania.
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Some wrestlers who finished as Royal Rumble runner-ups multiple times managed to win the Royal Rumble in their careers. However, some runner-ups failed to get over the line and should have won the Rumble, but didn’t.
The likes of Kane, Kurt Angle, and CM Punk have all been former world champions, but finished as Royal Rumble runner-ups and never won the titular bout. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at wrestlers from men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches who came in second place the most.
7. Big Show – 2 (2000, 2004)
Big Show competed in the Royal Rumble match for the first time in 2000. The World’s Largest Athlete entered 26th, and he wasted no time in eliminating several competitors. He eliminated Test, Gangrel, The Godfather, and the 30th entrant, X-Pac.
However, Show and The Rock were the final two battling it out to win the Rumble. Rock’s feet touched the floor, and Show should’ve won, but he didn’t. Rock prevailed, preventing Show from winning the Rumble on his debut Rumble appearance.
Show entered the 2004 Royal Rumble match as the reigning United States Champion. The likes of John Cena, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho were thrown over the top rope by Show. However, for the second time, Show came up short as the runner-up, failing to punch his ticket to a world championship match at WrestleMania 20.
6. Charlotte Flair – 2 (2019, 2022)
Charlotte Flair didn’t compete in the inaugural Royal Rumble match in 2018 as she was the reigning WWE (SmackDown) Women’s Champion. However, Flair entered the 2019 edition of the women’s Royal Rumble match. She spent 50 minutes and eliminated five competitors.
Her rival Becky Lynch stole Lana’s spot as the 28th entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble match. Flair most likely would’ve won the Rumble, but the Man eliminated her from the match to win the Rumble.
Surprisingly, the Queen declared her entry in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match despite holding the WWE (SmackDown) Women’s Championship. Unfortunately, the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match is one of the worst in history. However, Ronda Rousey returned as a late entry, eliminating Flair, who failed to win her second Rumble in three years and took the runner-up spot once again.
