For 33 years, the Royal Rumble has been one of the most anticipated events of the year. I’d wager even more so than WrestleMania. Yet, as I re-watched all 36 Rumbles before this year’s 37th & 38th, I noticed something: not all of them are as great as I remember. Don’t get me wrong; when the Rumble is on, IT’S ON! From epic eliminations, thunderous returns and surprises and interwoven storylines between the 20-50 competitors, even when they falter, everyone looks forward to the Rumble countdown. With that said, these are just my opinions, and not going to please everyone. Let’s get started in 3…2…1!
Editor’s Note: Each winner has their entrant number next to their name.
36. 2015 Winner: Roman Reigns (19)
Of course it was the 2015 Rumble. Vince and co. booked this match so poorly, it’s simultaneously hilarious and sad to go back and watch. From Daniel Bryan’s 10-miunte run, to Kane and The Big Show running the show at the end in a failed attempt to get eventual winner Roman Reigns over, this match is just a mess. Granted, it starts out well with The Miz and R-Truth mixing it up with a returning Bubba Ray Dudley, and Bray Wyatt dominating until the end, but the booking is the definition of miserable and not even The Rock could save it.
35. 2014 Winner: Batista (28)
Just a hair better than the 2015 Rumble, 2014 is the first time the crowd absolutely decimated everything to do with this Rumble. Everyone and their mother knew the returning Batista was going to win, and as he came out at 28 (the same number he won from 9 years earlier), looking as gassed as a wounded buffalo, the crowd immediately began to turn. This was the chance to FINALLY have CM Punk win and main event Mania, right? Or how about the young upstart Roman Reigns, who set a record for most eliminations and crushed roughly 40% of the field? Or maybe even Daniel Bryan, the obvious #30 who would bring the YES Movement to Pittsburgh? Nope, it was the 203 year old Dave Batista, who got booed out of the building and ruined whatever goodwill he had left by flipping off the crowd and mocking Daniel Bryan. Hell, I even blame him for getting Rey Mysterio booed for the first time in his career. Oh, and it was the last time Punk was ever in a wrestling ring, so there’s more salt on the wound. Sidebar, I love Batista, he just needed to not be the guy this time.
34. 1995 Winner: Shawn Michaels (1)
How. Dare. I. You mean the Rumble where my favorite wrestler of all-time lasted all the way from number one to win the whole thing is one of the worst Rumbles of all time? Well, yes it is, and here is why. Aside from Shawn and Davey lasting from beginning to end, name one other thing that happens in this Rumble. I’ll wait. Exactly. Do you remember 1-minute intervals, making Shawn’s epic win only a 38-minute affair? How about the epic superstars known as: Eli Blu, Mantaur, Aldo Montoya, Jimmy Del Ray, Steven Dunn and Timothy Well (Editor’s Note: And randomly famed, but well past his prime brawler Dick Murdoch), most of which got bounced rather quickly and did nothing of note. Aside from Michaels, Davey, Lex Luger and maybe, MAYBE Crush, no one who entered was even close to main event status and the eventual prize in Pamela Anderson, was too bored to care that she was supposed to care. Yes, Shawn’s winning at 1 is iconic, but one moment does not a great Rumble make.
33. 2020 (Men’s) Winner: Drew McIntyre (16)
This is somehow the absolute worst booked Rumble, while also highlighting such highs that I was mixed at first. But the more I sat on it, this Rumble is bad. Let’s start with the highs: Drew’s coming out party, Edge’s amazing return (which is the biggest pop in Rumble history) and the mini Rated RKO reunion. But other than that…this match is goddamn terrible. Brock buries everyone. Sure, we knew he’d take out a few guys quickly. Maybe even one main eventer. But why even make a big deal of John Morrison’s Rumble return to just have him tossed in seconds and do nothing of note? Why have Kofi, Rey and Big E. do barely anything and not get any retribution.
Even Keith Lee and Braun Strowman were fed to The Beast just because. Once Brock was (thankfully) eliminated by a surging McIntyre, guys like The Miz, Ricochet, Aleister Black, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles were just, gone. Even Baron Corbin was dumped way too early and what even was the damn point of having Matt Riddle in there? Yes, McIntyre kicked ass and I cried like a baby when Edge came out, but aside from those two things, it was just a mess that even managed to kill goodwill towards Roman by having him eliminate Edge and getting booed…AGAIN! F***king Vince.
32. 1988 Winner: Hacksaw Jim Duggan (13)
The inaugural Royal Rumble isn’t bad, per se, but it is a wonder why this event worked so well years later, because this match is BOR-ING. Much like Citizen Kane to film students, the ’88 Rumble is homework for fans that want to know everything about the subject. There isn’t much to note here except that Duggan wins, Bret Hart is the first ever entrant and Butch Reed is the first ever to be eliminated.
31.2013 Winner: John Cena (19)
This match is just the victim of knowing exactly who was going to win, thus giving away the ending to the WWE Championship match that followed. Yes, Big Match John takes the win here, making it fully obvious The Rock was going to end CM Punk’s epic title reign. Again, this match is a little boring, but unlike ’88, there were highlights, such as Kofi’s Pogo-Chair save, Bo Dallas having a good showing, The Godfather making a fun return and Chris Jericho & Dolph Ziggler having near 50-minute runs.
30. 1993 Winner: Yokozuna (27)
As the WWF transitioned from the Hogan Era to The New Generation, new stars being built was a must. Enter Yokozuna, the 500+-pound monster who was an unknown entity at the time. The problem with this Rumble? No real stars. The 1992 winner, Ric Flair, is bounced way too soon. Mr. Perfect is soon to follow. Sure, Randy Savage is the last to be thrown out by Yoko, but he stupidly goes for a pin and is tossed over the ropes. This Rumble also brings us The Undertaker getting eliminated by Giant Gonzales for…reasons. At least Bob Backlund looked good. Moving on.
29. 1999 Winner: Vince McMahon (2)
My very first live WWF event is something I often look back on fondly. And while the card isn’t all the good (including the Rumble), I can’t help but love it. Personal bias aside, however, this Rumble is another one that suffers from “only one man can win it” syndrome. And while the Vince swerve was great, the rest of the match lacked. While guys like Edge, Triple H and Kane would become staples of the WWE for years to come, they stood no chance here. But this match, like the soon-to-be-mentioned 1998 & 2000 Rumble’s are a who’s who of Attitude Era stars, including Chyna, the first woman to ever appear in a Rumble.
28. 2012 Winner: Sheamus (22)
Ah yes, the Rumble that everyone agrees should have been won by the guy we actually all thought was going to win, Chris Jericho. According to reports, however, it was so obvious that Jericho was going to win, they changed it to Sheamus at the last minute, which is…fine. I have nothing against Sheamus, and he was already an established champion at this point but…it should have just been Jericho man. Other than that, the Rumble is incredibly paint by numbers, even if it did give us the start of Kofi’s epic elimination escape (the handstand) and the return of Road Dogg Jesse James. Yet, it shows the lack of roster depth when all three announcers are in it, as well as Kharma and David Otunga, the latter of which is a massive waste.
27. 2020 (Women’s) Winner: Charlotte Flair (17)
Much like the Men’s Rumble, this is a poorly booked Rumble. Charlotte winning, it can be argued, is the right call, even if the crowd wanted Shayna Baszler to take it. Bianca Belair looked AMAZING here, taking out eight women. Not to be outdone, Baszler did the same at the end of the match, Miss WrestleMania herself, Santina Marella, made a return to a love it or hate it moment, The Divas of Doom kicked ass, Mighty Molly retuned, and Alexa Bliss looked solid. However, other aspects cause one to scratch their heads: why have Dakota Kai in the match for a minute, with no exchange with Tegan Nox, get eliminated by Chelsea Green, who is then dumped seconds later? Why have Tamina and Sarah Logan get bounced in seconds? And why, for the love of Jericho, did the announce team make Naomi’s near escape seem like something new, when we had seen John Morrison do the EXACT SAME THING 10 years earlier? This match isn’t nearly as bad as the Men’s match, but it raises more why’s than it wants to answer.
26. 2011 Winner: Alberto del Rio (38)
The very first 40-Man Rumble is a tale of two Rumbles: The New Nexus, led by a pre-Pipe Bomb CM Punk vs. The Corre (which doesn’t even have much to do with the match), and the main event guys all coming in near the end. Punk looks great here, but is sacrificed (as well as the rest of the Nexus) to Big Match John because, why not? It also marks the first time we’ve ever had a #31 enter and a coming out party for Alberto del Rio, even if he did lose quite decidedly at the following WrestleMania. Diesel and Booker T make fun returns and the near win for Santino Marella was unexpected, but it does feel a bit bloated.
25. 1989 Winner: Big John Studd (27)
Much like the inaugural Rumble, 1989 didn’t have a big name winner. Yes, Studd was an accomplished big man already, but the ’89 Rumble didn’t set up much for the winner. What it did have, however, was the latest chapter in the explosion of the Mega-Powers, Ted DiBiase buying his way to #30, Andre the Giant eliminating himself to not have to face Jake Roberts or his snake, and the two member of Demolition kicking the absolute crap out of each other to start. It’s a fun look back at the height of The Rock ‘n’ Wrestling era.
24. 1998 Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin (24)
Another who’s who of Attitude Era stars, the 1998 Royal Rumble is a lot of fun, even if it is subpar in terms of action. Cactus Jack and Terry Funk start the match, turning it into a brief hardcore bout, before The Rock enters at 4 to thunderous boos and an amazing 51-minute run. However, it’s Austin who has the only real shot of winning, taking on everyone, whether they’re a face or heel. When Austin enters, he whoops everyone’s ass, from Headbanger Thrasher to Goldust to Vader. Mick Foley returns as Mankind and then Dude Love, some mid-card guys like Bradshaw and 8-Ball get huge runs and the crowd absolutely pops when Rock is sent over the top rope. Plus, Mike Tyson calls Austin “Cold Stone” and you can never unhear it.
23. 1994 Winner(s): Lex Luger (23) & Bret Hart (27)
This Rumble, like many after, the winner could be seen from a mile away. However, depending on which direction you were facing, the winner was either Lex Luger, “The Real American Hero,” or “The Hitman” Bret Hart. Somehow, both of them ended up going over the top rope and touching “at the same time” (even though replay does show Luger’s feet hitting a fraction before Bret’s) to set up the first ever co-winners and fun little end to the match. Diesel also shows up in this match to eliminate seven guys, Shawn Michaels looks great and some very fun pre-Mania matches are set up here. However, this Rumble does something I hate (1991 & 1998, I’m looking at you, too) and having an entrant not show up for “reasons”.
22. 2000 Winner: The Rock (24)
We all knew it would be The Rock. The Rock and The Big Show, the obvious final 2. However, The Rock’s feet legit hit the floor first, because he and Show are so damn tall, they couldn’t pull off the spot properly. And everyone in the arena and at home saw it, yet The Rock still won as planned. This doesn’t take away from the match at all, which is fun and another who’s who of Attitude guys. Guys like The Big Boss Man, Test and Edge have lengthy runs, Rikishi looked amazing (and provided the spot of the night by eliminating his tag partners) and X-Pac and Taka (who wasn’t even in the damn match), took epically painful bumps.
21. 1991 Winner: Hulk Hogan (24)
Though not explicitly said, this Rumble sets up the winner taking on the champ at that year’s WrestleMania, as Hulk Hogan needed to fight for all of America. Though I’m not a Hogan fan, his run is somewhat spectacular (21 minutes)! Elsewhere, Rick Martel sets the longest time record (for the time, of course), Greg Valentine, Bret Hart and Davey Boy Smith all look strong and a young Shane Douglas makes an appearance. The one downside is Randy Savage no-showing because he was scared of The Ultimate Warrior.
20. 2006 Winner: Rey Mysterio (2)
Do you ever wonder who would have won this match had Eddie Guerrero not tragically passed away? Personally, I think it would have been Randy Orton, but we’ll never know. While I don’t hate Mysterio in the slightest, he won because of a tragedy, and it sucks to say, but here it is. His lengthy run isn’t even all that impressive, as he lays in the corner for most of the match. For comparisons sake, Triple H, who lasted just minutes less, carried the load. Other than that, this match is loads of fun, with Shawn Michaels going HAM on everyone, to Kane, Bobby Lashley and The Big Show pounding each other, Carlito having a killer run returns of Goldust and Tatanka.
19. 2002 Winner: Triple H (22)
Depending on who you ask, this match is either the Triple H or Stone Cold show. This match starts pretty fun, with a bunch of mid-card guys (including a returning Goldust) going at it until The Undertaker comes in a cleans house. He is then shockingly eliminated by Maven (remember him?) and then promptly kicks his ass. More mid-card guys go at it until Austin arrives, followed soon by The Game. The last third is filled with amazing main even talent (RVD, Booker T, Big Show, Kane, Kurt Angle and an awesome run by Mr. Perfect). It was a forgone conclusion that Trips was winning, but this is a fun post-Attitude Rumble.
18. 2009 Winner: Randy Orton (8)
Another case of “we know who is going to win” was halted by the actual match itself. Yes, I was sure Randy Orton was going to win. But then a funny thing happened; Triple H entered. Then The Undertaker, Kane, Chris Jericho and Rob Van Dam (in an amazing return) popped up and I thought, “maybe not.” Yes, with the help of Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Jr., Orton won his first Rumble at the expense of Triple H, yet the journey along the way was as visceral and bad ass as they come.
17. 2017 Winner: Randy Orton (23)
Randy Orton Part II (electric boogaloo) comes in shortly after. There isn’t much wrong with this Rumble, as it subverts expectations by having Orton take the W instead of Roman, the man we all thought would win. But wouldn’t have someone else been the better option? Bray Wyatt, perhaps? Or, God forbid, Dean Ambrose or Chris Jericho, who could have feuded with Kevin Owens for the Universal Title at Mania instead of just the U.S. Title. Other highlights include Enzo Amore getting wrecked by Brock Lesnar, who, in turn, gets wrecked by Goldberg, Sami Zayn, Jericho and The Miz having lengthy runs and Tye Dillinger’s main roster debut.
16. 1996 Winner: Shawn Michaels (18)
1995 might have been the first time Shawn won, but this Rumble match, I argue, did more for him than his first win. Shawn was a house of fire, popping the crowd like no other. While the WWF was in a down period, they still managed to put on a bout that anyone could have won. Sure, Doug Gilbert, Barry Horowitz and The Samoan Swat Team had no chance, but big names like Diesel, Davey Boy Smith and a debuting Vader did. We also see a lengthy run by Hunter Hearst Helmsley, as well as great heel maneuvers by Owen Hart and a “stunning” run by The Ringmaster and a “Hell” of a debut by Isaac Yankem, DDS.
15. 1997 Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin (5)
THIS is how you make someone have a dominant Rumble run without burying every single person on your roster. An incredible run by Stone Cold Steve Austin throws out people left and right while, wait for it, actually letting the ring fill up and NOT make it all about him. Yes, Austin throws out a third of the field on his way to his first of 3 wins, but not at the expense of the talent. The last third of this match is fantastic, with Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Vader and a non-Kevin Nash Diesel all vying for the win. A very young Rock also mixes it up with Mankind and Terry Funk near the end. Also, look for Mexican legend Mil Mascaras refusing to put anyone over by eliminating himself.
14. 2008 Winner: John Cena (30)
Up until this years Rumble, I would say John Cena at #30 was the loudest pop ever in a Rumble. Cena, injured in October of ’07, was supposed to be out 9-12 months. Instead, Super Cena recovered in 3 and returned to win his first Rumble. Aside from that, the sheer star power here is on full display. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels start out (after ending the match the previous year), Batista, John Morrison, Mr. Kennedy, Umaga and Cody Rhodes all look strong, Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper have a fun spot and the crowd absolutely loses it for Mick Foley mixing it up with Triple H. My biggest bitch about this Rumble is Finlay getting disqualified for using his shillelagh in the match to save Hornswoggle, who also never gets eliminated.
13. 2016 Winner: Triple H (30)
The tagline is “One vs. All,” as Roman Reigns was scheduled to enter #1 with his WWE Championship on the line. But isn’t “Every Man for Himself” the same thing? Regardless, the rumor was always that Triple H was going to return, and it would be down to him and Roman. However, the company swerves us by having Roman eliminated and the final two being Dean Ambrose and The Game, with the crowd believing for seconds that Ambrose would win. This match also had the epic debut of AJ Styles, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn reigniting their feud, Chris Jericho looking strong and Bray Wyatt staring down Brock Lesnar.
12. 2019 (Men’s) Winner: Seth Rollins (10)
Apparently, this match went through a spinning wheel of winners. Originally, it was going to be The Rock, who was going to feud with his cousin at Mania. However, Roman’s health issues resurfaced, and The Rock couldn’t change his schedule. Then, both Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman were penciled in, but again, it was changed. Seth Rollins then took the W in a very entertaining Rumble that had a good mix of comedy and great spots and, shocker, no major returns to take away from the main roster and NXT guys. Seth carried the load and his showdown with Braun was great. Jeff Jarrett returning was fun as Hell, the NXT guys looked great and the Nia Jax spot was fun.
11. 2018 (Women’s) Winner: Asuka (25)
The first Women’s Rumble was a little sloppy at times, but, for the most part, women’s battle royals had never had them going over the top rope before, instead sending through the middle or bottom. This match, however, is historic, a perfect mix of old and new. Some have said that it relied on too many past stars, but pioneers like Trish Stratus, Lita, Molly Holly, Beth Phoenix and Jacqueline never had the chance to participate in these before, and very much deserved to here. While I disagree with the Bellas being in the final 3, it makes sense from a company standpoint and made Asuka look that much better when she finally won. This was a great moment and it was a lot of fun to see the women finally get their shot.
10. 2003 Winner: Brock Lesnar (29)
This Rumble does everything right. It highlights the right guys, such as Chris Jericho, Batista and eventual winner, Brock Lesnar. It flips the script by having the fans think Shawn Michaels is in for a marathon, only to have him be attacked and eliminated first. It makes midcard guys like Edge, Christian, Rey Mysterio, Batista and A-Train look solid and ends with a respectful jarring between Brock and The Undertaker. The match also has the majority of the field working a long time, with the middle of the pack getting a lot of time to work each other and last a good amount of time. A lot of people sleep on this Rumble. Don’t.
9. 2018 (Men’s) Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (14)
Forgetting the fact that the WWE has completely buried Nakamura (up the past few weeks), his win here was epic and unexpected. We all had an inkling he might win, but he was forced to end his night against Roman Reigns, the “lol he’s probably going to win” guy. Nakamura carried a large load, lasting for more than half the Rumble, while Finn Balor held the iron man at 57. The Rumble was also filled with spots including Kofi being saved by pancakes, The Hurricane making a hilarious return, Mysterio returning and NXT’s Adam Cole (BAYBAY) and Andrade getting big moments. The crowd popped hard for the new guard (Shinsuke, Finn, Roman) facing off with the old (Cena, Orton, Mysterio) and even harder for Nakamura’s eventual win.
8. 2005 Winner: Batista (28)
See, I don’t just hate Batista. That being said, Cena probably should have been the winner here, and, by complete accident, almost was. Big Dave and Cena both accidentally fell over the top rope at the same time, hitting the floor at the same time and causing Vince McMahon to tear both his quads…AT THE SAME TIME. While this is hilarious, it also created intrigue and an ending no one saw coming. Even with all that, this match was lit, with Edge carrying the iron man load, Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels setting up their epic WrestleMania match, Ric Flair getting some huge pops and Daniel Puder getting murdered by Eddie Guerrero, Hardcore Holly and Chris Benoit. This was also right in the middle of brand warfare, with some fun spots between Raw and SmackDown going on early.
7. 1990 Winner: Hulk Hogan (25)
This match is pure fun from start to finish. From Ted DiBiase lasting almost 50-minutes, to WrestleMania matches getting set up early (Dusty/Savage, Piper/Bad News), this match is fun, fast-paced action from beginning to end. The brief showdown between Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior is very much as epic and ridiculous as it sounds, a perfect precursor to their match a few months later. While Hogan didn’t need the win (Warrior or Perfect would have been better), it’s hard not to say this isn’t the most fun Hogan Rumble match.
6. 2019 (Women’s) Winner: Becky Lynch (28)
It took them to year two, but the WWE got the Women’s Rumble 100% right here. Becky Lynch was in a match earlier in the night and it was said she did not have a Rumble number. However, Lana was also injured earlier in the night, setting up Becky to take her spot to a thunderous ovation from the crowd. She locked up with a pissed off Charlotte, who deemed Becky not worthy of her spot. Elsewhere, NXT women such as Rhea Ripley, Lacey Evans and Io Shirai looked great, Nia Jax was a monster and, while legends got their due the year before, not one was seen this year. It’s great from beginning to end.
5. 2004 Winner: Chris Benoit (1)
This is one of the best booked Rumbles of all time, and that’s just from a SmackDown point of view. General Manager Paul Heyman’s attempt to stack the odds against Benoit by making him number 1 adds an intrigue to the Rumble, as no one thought he would win. Benoit’s performance is better than that of Michaels and Mysterio because he is involved in every second, from beginning to end. Randy Orton, the #2 entrant, also has a great performance. His feud with Mick Foley is reunited in a dramatic way, while also showcasing his “anything to win attitude”. Goldberg is a house of fire, until it bites him in the ass with interference from Brock Lesnar. And The Big Show is a legitimate threat, overcoming a gang up from Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Benoit, John Cena and Chris Jericho to be the final competitor. This win might be tainted by history, but if you can put that aside, it’s as great as they come.
4. 2001 Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin (27)
Hot take, I was over Austin at this point. And this Rumble is amazing in spite of him. The final Attitude Era Rumble has everything; record setting eliminations (Kane, with 11), hardcore wrestling, WrestleMania builds and fun entrants (Honky Tonk Man and Drew Carey). This is hands down the best Rumble of the era. As mentioned, Kane dominated and, while I didn’t care for Austin, his run is fantastic. The final 3 come down to Austin, Kane and The Rock and it can be argued Kane deserved to win after what he did.
3. 2010 Winner: Edge (29)
Another perfectly booked Rumble that also told multiple stories across the hour. Of course Shawn Michaels was going to win and take on The Undertaker for the World Title at Mania, right? Except he didn’t, being tragically eliminated by Batista at the end of the match. John Cena, Batista and a returning Edge were the final three, all of whom had chances to win. The crowd feared Cena, but it was Edge, who also exacted his revenge on Chris Jericho, taking the W. Earlier in the match, C(harles)M(anson) Punk stole the show by cleaning house and claiming he was better than everyone else. He was dispatched by Triple H, who reigned supreme until unexpectedly being eliminated by Michaels later. This also had John Morrison skiving off elimination by attaching himself to the barricade and making his way back to the ring via the steps. This match is great, a perfectly booked Rumble, a number one if the next two didn’t exist.
2. 1992 Winner: Ric Flair (3)
Some will say, with tears in their eyes, that this not being #1 isn’t Fair to Flair. While I believe this is another perfectly booked Rumble, it always drove me nuts that Hulk Hogan is a petulant child who could never let anyone go over him clean. Flair is the master here, lasting over an hour to win the vacant WWF Championship. Bobby Heenan’s commentary is as biased and perfect as you can get. The feuds between Hogan and Flair, Randy Savage and Jake Roberts and Sid Justice and everyone else makes this Rumble feel huge. You can even argue that any of the Final Four could have won (Savage, Flair, Hogan, Sid). This match also feels me with glee as, when Hogan is eliminated by Sid, the crowd pops, because they’re also tired of Hogan’s crap. This match cannot be done justice with words. Just watch it. WOOOOOO!
1. 2007 Winner: The Undertaker (30)
This Rumble is the BEST ending to a Royal Rumble, hands down. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, after dispatching of Edge and Randy Orton, put on a near ten minute clinic to determine who the winner will be. With Superkicks, Chokeslams and near eliminations putting the crowd into a frenzy, The Dead Man finally gets the better of The Heart Break Kid, tossing him over the ropes for his first (and #30’s first) Rumble win. Elsewhere in the match, Edge and Orton put on a great show, The Great Khali cleans house late in the match, Finlay has a long run, Sabu gets Chokeslammed through a table and The Sandman caning the crap out of everyone. While this match doesn’t have the star power of 1992, the ending alone is enough to edge it out as the best Rumble of all time.
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