WWE Royal Rumble 2014: Most Shocking Eliminations in Battle Royal History

One thing you can be certain of in the Royal Rumble is shocks. Whether it is shock returns, shock breakups of alliances and friendships or shocking eliminations—the Rumble has it all.

With the 27th edition of the Royal Rumble fast approaching later this month, there is likely to again be a series of shocking eliminations to watch out for as all hell breaks loose in the ring on that special night of the year.

The previous 26 editions of the pay-per-view have had some huge shocks—with some of the biggest names in the history of the company sometimes the victims.

Let's take a look at the 10 most shocking eliminations in Royal Rumble history.

10. Rikishi Eliminates Too Cool (2000)

We start with a reminder that the Royal Rumble match is every man for himself, without a doubt. That is perfectly illustrated by Rikishi at the 2000 Rumble—when he mercilessly eliminated both of his stablemates without a thought.

After Grandmaster Sexay and Rikishi were left in the ring on their own, miraculously, the next entrant was fellow Too Cool member Scotty 2 Hotty. They gave Madison Square Garden a moment to remember as they danced their signature electric slide—before rage took over.

The Samoan hit them both with a brutal double clothesline, before tossing them over the top rope like he was throwing out the garbage.

The look on Too Cool's face after the elimination is priceless.

9. The Rock Eliminates Big Show (2000)

We stay with Madison Square Garden and the 2000 Royal Rumble—but this time we go all the way to the end.

After X-Pac and Royal Rumble legend Kane had been eliminated from the final four, The Rock and Big Show were left to battle it out for the victory.

They both traded finishing moves before Show took control with a dominant chokeslam. The match looked done and dusted—and it looked like Show would finally win the Rumble as he hoisted The Rock up on his shoulder.

Amazingly, though, The Rock slid out of Show's grasp before hauling the big man over the top rope to ensure it was he who headed on to WrestleMania and not a devastated Show.

8. Batista and John Cena Eliminate Each Other (2005)

This one makes the list for a completely different reason than the others. The fact a double elimination occurred makes it shocking in its own right, but the fact it really shouldn't have happened makes it even more shocking.

The confusion out at ringside, on commentary and behind the scenes was chaotic. Batista was booked to win the match by eliminating Cena last, so for both of them to go over the top rope together was bizarre, to say the least.

Thankfully, after some even more bizarre scenes from Vince McMahon—he tore his quadriceps whilst trying to get into the ring to solve the chaos—the match was finally restarted.

Batista then eliminated Cena legitimately to go on to headline WrestleMania 21.

7. Chris Benoit Eliminates Big Show (2004)

The ignominy and pain of coming up short in a Royal Rumble continued for the Big Show in 2004, and it was yet another shocking elimination.

After Kurt Angle had been eliminated to leave just Chris Benoit and Show in the ring, the two went at it as the final two traditionally do.

Benoit's excellent technical ability came to the fore in the final tussle, as he amazingly countered a chokeslam into his patented submission maneuver.

Again, many felt Show's brute force and strength would have seen him overcome the smaller man. But Benoit—who became just the third man to win from No. 1—managed to haul Show over the top rope and win the Rumble.

Benoit also passed Bob Backlund's then-record for length of time spent in the Rumble—a hugely impressive feat.

6. Beth Phoenix Eliminates The Great Khali (2010)

No list of shocking eliminations would be complete without this entry from 2010. If this list was named "most peculiar eliminations," then it would be No. 1 without a doubt.

The fact Beth Phoenix was even appearing in the Royal Rumble was shocking enough—what she did afterwards was downright bizarre.

With The Great Khali and Phoenix staring each other down, the giant tried to politely remind Phoenix that the Royal Rumble is no place for Divas, as he lifted her up and placed her on the apron.

The Glamazon was having none of it, though. She locked lips with Khali and managed to just about haul him over the top rope to the amazement of everyone watching.

It was a truly shocking Rumble moment.

5. Shawn Michaels Eliminates The British Bulldog (1995)

1995 was a special edition of the Royal Rumble. It was, of course, the first time a man entered at No. 1 and went on to win the Royal Rumble.

What makes Shawn Michaels' elimination of The British Bulldog shocking is the action that played out just before it.

As every wrestling fan will know, Michaels was perilously close to losing the Rumble as he dangled above the floor with just one foot on the ground. The Bulldog turned around to celebrate, believing Michaels was legitimately eliminated.

However—as every commentator has mentioned at least a thousand times in every Rumble since—both feet have to touch the floor. Michaels regrouped and created a special piece of history when he hauled the Bulldog over the top rope.

4. Stone Cold Steve Austin Eliminates Bret Hart (1997)

It's hard to remember Stone Cold Steve Austin in the days before he was one of the most revered and loved wrestlers in the entire company.

However, in 1997, he was still very much a heel making his way in the company, but with the Rumble in his home state of Texas, Austin used sneak tactics to a premium to shockingly eliminate Bret Hart.

Hart had actually hauled Austin over the top rope moments before the roles were reversed, but the officials did not see it, enabling Austin to climb back into the ring.

The Rattlesnake then turned the tables on Hart, eliminating him to win his first ever Royal Rumble.

3. Kurt Angle Eliminates Stone Cold Steve Austin (2002)

Stone Cold is a Royal Rumble legend, of that there can be little doubt. His record in the Rumble match is nothing short of superb, and he is consistently in the latter stages of the match.

In fact, there has been only one Rumble where Austin has not been in the last two—and it is this one, 2002.

That is why the elimination was all the more shocking—although Kurt Angle was one of the top guys in the company at the time, nobody saw Austin being eliminated before the match reached its conclusion.

Of course, Angle would go on to be denied the victory in the culmination of the match by Triple H.

2. Vince McMahon Eliminates Stone Cold Steve Austin (1999)

Stone Cold features heavily in the list of Royal Rumble eliminations—and although 1997 was probably his most famous victory, this could be his most famous moment of all.

Austin and Vince McMahon had a tussle to end all tussles at the 1999 Royal Rumble—they fought all over the arena with interference from The Corporation at points throughout the battle.

McMahon—who had entered at No. 2—then took refuge at the commentary table and watched on as Austin cleaned house to leave just The Rattlesnake and his archenemy left in the match.

What followed was stunning. More interference—this time from The Rock—left McMahon to sneak his way to Rumble victory by pushing Austin over the top rope.

1. Maven Eliminates The Undertaker (2002)

The single most shocking elimination in Royal Rumble history is bestowed at the door of Maven. The winner of Tough Enough didn't do many things of note throughout his time with the WWE, but this was certainly one of them.

The Undertaker had cleaned house and dispatched of The Hardy Boyz to leave him standing in the ring alone. Maven's number came up next, and after Jeff and Matt Hardy had tried to beat Taker down to no avail, they caught his attention long enough for Maven to strike with a dropkick.

Taker just about went over the top rope, and the crowd went crazy for one of the most shocking Rumble moments in history. However, Taker wasn't best pleased and reentered the ring to give Maven the mother of all beatings.

It mattered little though, as Maven claimed a piece of Rumble history that night.