Top 20 Greatest Royal Rumble Matches Of All Time
20. 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Drew McIntyre eliminated Brock Lesnar after 13 consecutive eliminations by “The Beast.” Edge made a surprise return after nine years to one of WWE’s loudest reactions. McIntyre’s finishing sequence against Roman Reigns sealed his rise as the central figure of WWE’s next era.
19. 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Becky Lynch won the second Women’s Rumble after substituting for Lana. Charlotte Flair dominated with five eliminations, while Natalya lasted over 55 minutes. Lynch eliminated Flair to earn her WrestleMania 35 title match against Ronda Rousey, launching the “Becky Two Belts” era.
18. 2009 Royal Rumble Match
Randy Orton captured his first Rumble victory with significant help from Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. Triple H led eliminations with six, while The Big Show and Undertaker anchored the late sequence. The result advanced Orton’s feud with the McMahons and culminated in the WrestleMania 25 main event.
17. 2006 Royal Rumble Match
Rey Mysterio entered at #2, lasted 62 minutes, and dedicated his victory to Eddie Guerrero. Randy Orton and Triple H engaged in the final elimination sequence. Mysterio’s win set a new longevity record and earned him a World Heavyweight Championship shot that defined his 2006 rise.
16. 1990 Royal Rumble Match
Hulk Hogan won the first of his two consecutive Rumbles by last eliminating Mr. Perfect. The match is remembered for the mid-bout confrontation between Hogan and Ultimate Warrior, which previewed their WrestleMania VI main event. Ted DiBiase entered first and lasted nearly 45 minutes, the longest performance of that year.
15. 2002 Royal Rumble Match
Triple H returned from an eight-month quad injury to win after entering at #22. The field included surprise participants Mr. Perfect, Maven, and Goldust. Kurt Angle was the last eliminated, setting up Triple H’s successful Undisputed Championship pursuit at WrestleMania X8.
14. 2017 Royal Rumble Match
Randy Orton earned his second Rumble victory by eliminating Roman Reigns. The match featured high-profile returns from Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, and Undertaker, marking the final Rumble appearances for several veterans. Orton’s partnership with Bray Wyatt foreshadowed the implosion of The Wyatt Family which led to a WWE title match at WrestleMania 33.
13. 1997 Royal Rumble Match
Steve Austin’s first Rumble win came through controversial means after re-entering the ring unnoticed post-elimination. He dumped Bret Hart, Vader, and Undertaker in sequence. The controversy directly led to Austin vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13, a pivotal match in the Attitude Era’s rise.
12. 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Cody Rhodes returned from injury at #30 and triumphed over Gunther, who set a 71-minute endurance record from the #1 spot. The match was tightly sequenced, featuring Logan Paul’s aerial collision with Ricochet and Seth Rollins’ elimination near the end. Cody’s win confirmed his path to WrestleMania 39’s main event.
11. 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Asuka won the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble by outlasting 29 opponents and eliminating Nikki Bella last. Trish Stratus, Lita, and Michelle McCool returned, bridging generations. Ronda Rousey’s post-match debut shifted WWE’s women’s division into mainstream spotlight.
10. 2008 Royal Rumble Match
John Cena’s return from a torn pectoral muscle shocked Madison Square Garden. Entering at #30, he eliminated Triple H to claim victory after a seven-month absence. The match also featured a strong midsection from Batista, Umaga, and Shawn Michaels in front of one of WWE’s loudest crowds.
9. 2005 Royal Rumble Match
Batista and John Cena accidentally touched the floor simultaneously, prompting Vince McMahon’s legitimate injury when restarting the match. Batista officially won by eliminating Cena afterward. Kurt Angle’s brief interference with Shawn Michaels mid-match built their future WrestleMania 21 rivalry.
8. 2016 Royal Rumble Match
For the first time since 1992, the WWE title was on the line in the Rumble with Roman Reigns coming in as the title holder. Triple H entered at #30 and eliminated Dean Ambrose to claim the championship. AJ Styles made his WWE debut at #3, receiving one of the loudest non-return reactions in Rumble history.
7. 2003 Royal Rumble Match
Brock Lesnar entered at #29 and overpowered The Undertaker to win his first Rumble. Chris Jericho, disguised as Christian early on, extended his run by targeting Shawn Michaels. Lesnar’s win solidified his placement in the WrestleMania XIX main event against Kurt Angle.
6. 2004 Royal Rumble Match
Chris Benoit entered first and survived nearly 62 minutes, eliminating six men including Big Show to win. Randy Orton’s 33-minute run and Kurt Angle’s late entry boosted the mid-match quality. Benoit’s technical pacing earned critical acclaim for its endurance-focused layout.
5. 2010 Royal Rumble Match
Edge made a shock return from Achilles surgery and last eliminated John Cena to secure victory. Shawn Michaels’ obsessive effort to face Undertaker led to his own elimination by Batista. CM Punk’s early mic segments elevated the match’s pacing and storytelling quality.
4. 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Shinsuke Nakamura outlasted Roman Reigns and John Cena to win his first Rumble. Finn Bálor logged 44 minutes, while surprise entrants Rey Mysterio and The Hurricane provided nostalgia moments. Nakamura’s clean finish and subsequent WrestleMania title shot marked the best-balanced Rumble of the decade.
3. 2007 Royal Rumble Match
Undertaker, entering at #30, became the first to win from that position. The final sequence with Shawn Michaels lasted nearly ten minutes and received a standing ovation. Edge and Randy Orton’s tension during their Rated-RKO alliance created mid-match unpredictability.
2. 2001 Royal Rumble Match
Steve Austin’s third Rumble win was built around Kane’s record 11 eliminations. The Hardy Boyz’ brawl, The Rock’s late entry, and Drew Carey’s celebrity appearance gave the match variety. Austin’s victory completed one of WWE’s most action-heavy Rumbles before WrestleMania 17.
1. 1992 Royal Rumble Match
Ric Flair lasted 60 minutes from the #3 position to win the vacant WWE Championship. His performance eliminated five major stars, including Sid Justice. Bobby Heenan’s real-time commentary added context to Flair’s endurance and made it the most technically praised Rumble of the early 1990s. Moreover, Flair's post-match 'with a tear in my eye' promo lives in wrestling folklore.
