{"id":149646,"date":"2025-12-31T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T15:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=149646"},"modified":"2025-12-31T03:27:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T08:27:00","slug":"the-5-greatest-wwe-royal-rumble-matches-in-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/12\/31\/the-5-greatest-wwe-royal-rumble-matches-in-history\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Greatest WWE Royal Rumble Matches in History"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u201cBig Five\u201d PLEs that take place during the year, and for good reason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u201cHacksaw\u201d Jim Duggan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2018 saw the format expand to the Women\u2019s 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 \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin having the most victories under his belt at three.<\/span><\/p>\n

Impact and Mechanics<\/h2>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Winning the Rumble guarantees the winner a title match for WWE\u2019s 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 \u201cThe Hitman\u201d Hart a few months later at WrestleMania 9, winning the WWF Championship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s dive into the most exciting matchups in the history of this iconic event.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    2020 Royal Rumble (Houston, Texas)\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Drew McIntyre\u2019s 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\u2019t Lesnar being Claymore-Kicked over the top rope, but what took place with the entrance of participant 21.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"A
    Photo Credit: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Despite Edge\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      2008 Royal Rumble (New York City, New York)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Considering the fact that it took place at \u201cThe World\u2019s Most Famous Arena\u201d, Madison Square Garden, the stage was already set for a truly unforgettable evening. What took place during the match, most notably the ending, was the icing on the cake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Legendary superstars The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, the final two competitors in the previous year\u2019s Rumble, kicked off the match and delivered a highly competitive contest. Their battle lasted over 30 minutes before Michaels eliminated Undertaker, setting the bar for the intense action to continue with the other participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

      The bout included comedic relief, with Hornswoggle hiding under the ring for most of the time, but it was the star power involved that stole the show. Batista, CM Punk, Kane, Umaga, and Triple H all put on a thrilling exhibition, with legendary superstars Jimmy \u201cSuperfly\u201d Snuka, \u201cRowdy\u201d Roddy Piper, and Mick Foley all making surprise appearances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      The atmosphere of MSG was already buzzing, but the crowd\u2019s reaction to entrant number 30 was thunderous. The surprise return of John Cena is arguably one of the most shocking and electrifying moments in not just the Royal Rumble, but WWE history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Cena had torn his pectoral muscle in October 2007, with medical experts estimating that he would be sidelined for up to a year. Despite the seriousness of his injury, Cena was able to back up his \u201cNever Give Up\u201d persona by quickly rehabbing and making one of the most shocking returns in the history of the sport. <\/span><\/p>\n

      The final three came down to Batista, Triple H, and Cena, with Cena eliminating Triple H to win his first Rumble of his career. The starpower, intense action, and genuine surprise appearances make this Rumble an easy selection for one of the best of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        1992 Royal Rumble (Albany, New York)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The fifth edition of the Royal Rumble had many elements that made this match so iconic, cementing its unique place in WWE history. For starters, it was one of only two times that the WWE Championship was awarded to the winner. <\/span><\/p>\n

        The title was vacant at the time of the match, due to the controversial finishes during the bouts between The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan at the Survivor Series and This Tuesday in Texas PLEs. This stipulation added elevated stakes to an already fierce competition.<\/span><\/p>\n

        The bout also featured one of the most star-studded rosters of talent of any Rumble, with legendary superstars such as Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, \u201cMacho Man\u201d Randy Savage, \u201cRowdy\u201d Roddy Piper, and Shawn Michaels all being included in the contest. Almost every participant was a main-event talent, making the match feel like a battle of the titans with every new entrant.<\/span><\/p>\n

        By far the stand-out highlight of the bout is Ric Flair\u2019s dominant performance, which made this match even greater. Flair entered the match as the third contestant and lasted for over 60 minutes, a record-setting accomplishment at the time. He faced each legendary participant head-on, using heel tactics to escape each encounter, perfectly displaying his endurance. <\/span><\/p>\n

        Flair\u2019s \u201cIron Man\u201d underdog performance, with him eliminating Sid to become the new WWE Champion. This Rumble was one for the record books and earned this bout its place in the top five best Rumbles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          2007 Royal Rumble (San Antonio, Texas)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          While this match didn\u2019t have any shocking returns, what made the 2007 Rumble so iconic is what took place at the end of the bout. This was the first Rumble to feature superstars from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW and saw some of the biggest names in wrestling enter the ring: Edge, Randy Orton, CM Punk (making his first appearance in a Rumble), Kane, and Rob Van Dam.<\/span><\/p>\n

          The latter part of the match was dominated by the incredible teamwork of \u201cRated-RKO\u201d Randy Orton and Edge, putting up a cohesive unit that appeared unstoppable until they met their match in Shawn Michaels.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Michaels, wrestling in his hometown, was looking to secure one of the greatest victories of his career. He entered at position 23 and eliminated Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Randy Orton, and Edge. Despite making it to the final two, however, he had to contend with The Undertaker, who was the final contestant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          \u201cThe Deadman\u201d and \u201cThe Show Stopper\u201d battled it out for 10 minutes, which was the longest final-two showdown in the Rumble\u2019s history. Undertaker would eventually hoist Michaels over the top rope, making him the first wrestler to win the bout from the \u201ccursed\u201d 30th position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          The Undertaker and Michaels\u2019 incredible showdown set the path for what would become an iconic rivalry between the two, leading to matches at WrestleManias 25 and 26. This bout is so memorable that it almost always makes every top-five Royal Rumble list for good reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

          <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n

            2001 Royal Rumble (New Orleans, Louisiana)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            This Rumble match is considered one of the greatest in WWE history as it occurred at the pinnacle of the \u201cAttitude Era.\u201d It\u2019s one of the only times that weapons were involved, as kendo sticks, trash cans, and fire extinguishers entered the mix, adding an intense element to the bout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            It also featured a truly impressive performance from Kane, who was dominant throughout the match. He eliminated 11 superstars during the contest, setting a record that would stand for 13 years. On top of that, he managed to survive for over 53 minutes, having entered the match at number 6. The bout is considered the best of Kane\u2019s career, and for good reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

            The battle also included one of the most iconic stare-downs in Rumble history between The Rock and \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin, who were two of WWE\u2019s biggest stars at the time. It was the first time that the two met face-to-face, and teased not only their upcoming rivalry, but their iconic WrestleMania 7 showdown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            Kane would eliminate The Rock, but despite his electric performance as the MVP of the match, he would not walk away with the win. Using several steel chair shots, Austin would eliminate Kane, securing his record-setting third Rumble win, a record that still stands today and earning him the title of \u201cMr. Royal Rumble.\u201d The dominant and record-setting performances of Austin and Kane tip the scales in the favor of this Rumble being the best of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Each of these iconic Royal Rumbles has cemented the event\u2019s legacy by delivering a unique blend of high-stakes drama and athletic dominance. From masterful storytelling to those unforgettable surprise pops, the Rumble remains a highly-anticipated fan favorite and the definitive pulse-pounding start to the WWE calendar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            As the WWE Universe looks toward the upcoming showdown at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, the expectations are high. Fans are eager for the trademark surprises and awe-inspiring moments that define the match. Above all, they are ready for the official kickoff of the Road to WrestleMania.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013 Stay tuned to the\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a> for more on the WWE Royal Rumble and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the significant news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

            You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Netflix<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>USA Network<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>The CW<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Tubi<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>A&E<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Peacock<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>YouTube<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<\/i><\/em>WWE Speed<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>).<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            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 \u201cBig Five\u201d PLEs that take place during the year, and for good reason.\u00a0 The Royal Rumble was created by WWE […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5699,"featured_media":149668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7205,4,3],"tags":[397],"class_list":["post-149646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-royal-rumble"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149646"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":149669,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149646\/revisions\/149669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/149668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}