Ranking the Best WWE Royal Rumble Crowd Reactions of All Time

The Royal Rumble premium live event is one of the most important in WWE, the start of the company's road to WrestleMania and the home to some of the most unforgettable moments in pro wrestling history.

There have been staggering returns, awe-inspiring debuts, and one storyline development that paid off the fans' patience with a long-awaited betrayal.

In preparation for a 2025 show that will feature John Cena and Roman Reigns stepping into the titular match, and Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Championship in a Ladder Match against Kevin Owens, dive deeper into those historic moments with this look at the greatest crowd reactions in Royal Rumble history.

10. Rob Van Dam Returns to WWE (2009)

Rob Van Dam had not wrestled in a WWE ring for over two years by the time he returned at the 2009 Royal Rumble and fans let him know how much they missed the Whole Dam Show with an electric reaction.

Van Dam fed off of it, turning in one of that Rumble match's best performances amid a crowd still brimming with joy over seeing the former WWE and ECW champion in a match they did not expect him in.

He would not win the match, but it was proof positive that Mr. Pay-Per-View had created equity with fans to the point that he would remain forever over, regardless of when and where he popped up from there.

9. Triple H Surprises Roman Reigns (2016)

It would be a massive understatement to say the WWE Universe was still at the peak of their dislike and disdain for Roman Reigns, who they believed was being shoved down their throats by the company in an attempt to create the next major star.

If ever there was a moment that more perfectly exemplified the resentment WWE fans had toward Reigns, it was at the 2016 Royal Rumble.

The Big Dog, and reigning WWE champion, had entered the match at No. 1 and survived all comers, including a debuting AJ Styles. More on him in a bit.

Suddenly, at the No. 30 spot, Motorhead's "The Game" exploded over the sound system and Triple H stepped through the curtain, not as an executive but dressed to compete. He enjoyed an enormous reaction from fans, despite being the clear heel, and only saw that reaction grow louder when he dumped Reigns over the top rope, ensuring the second-generation star would not leave the show as champion.

Triple H would go on to win the WWE Championship that night and etch his name in the history books as a two-time winner of the annual contest.

8. Drew McIntyre Eliminates Brock Lesnar (2020)

Brock Lesnar dominated the opening quarter of the 2020 Royal Rumble, eliminating the first 13 Superstars to enter the match. He was an unstoppable force and while his dominance was impressive, it also bored the fans who expected more.

Enter Drew Mcintyre, a favorite to win that year's match.

Working in unison with Ricochet, who delivered a low blow to stun Lesnar, The Scottish Warrior exploded with a Claymore that sent The Beast over the top rope and to the arena floor.

The fans erupted in favor of McIntyre, who had spent weeks building up favor with audiences ahead of a major babyface turn that would culminate with him winning that Rumble match and heading to WrestleMania 36, where he would defeat Lesnar in just five minutes to capture the WWE Championship.

7. Cody Rhodes Wins the Royal Rumble (2023)

Fresh off a torn pectoral that haunted the dreams of fans who remembered him revealing it to the world at Hell in a Cell the previous May, Cody Rhodes made a triumphant return at the Royal Rumble in January in 2023 and received a thunderous welcome back.

The fans in San Antonio knew he was coming back and by the time he had not entered at the 29 position, it was obvious he would arrive at the No. 30 spot. Still, it did not damper his return as the WWE Universe was overwhelmingly happy to see him back.

That he overcame and eliminated the likes of Dominik Mysterio, Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Braun Strowman before outlasting Gunther to win the match and cash his ticket to WrestleMania 39 and a date with Roman Reigns only made the Nightmare Family that much happier.

His win in 2024 would generate an equally positive reaction but that first one was special and reaffirmed that even a significant injury that put him out of action was not enough to keep Rhodes from continuing his story on the grandest stage in wrestling.

6. Chris Jericho's Surprise Return (2013)

Dolph Ziggler entered the 2013 Royal Rumble match at No. 1 and waited, like fans in the US Airways Center in Phoenix, to see who would step through the curtain to join him at the top of the 30-man lineup.

The lights dimmed and "break the walls down!" exploded over the PA system as Chris Jericho made a shocking, surprise return to WWE after months away. It was another example of WWE's ability to preserve a surprise even in the age of internet spoilers and know-it-all insiders.

Jericho would compete in the match for over 47 minutes before being eliminated by Ziggler, an incredible feat for someone who had not been in the ring consistently for months ahead of his return.

5. Becky Lynch Replaces Lana (2019)

After losing to Asuka earlier in the night, the wildly popular Becky Lynch stepped through the curtain during the Women's Royal Rumble Match and interrupted WWE officials as they checked on a beaten and battered Lana. The Ravishing Russian was clearly in no shape to compete in the match after being jumped by Nia Jax and Lynch saw her opportunity to get back into title contention.

She did just that, taking Lana's spot to a thunderous ovation from the crowd.

The clear fan-favorite to win the match, she eliminated Jax and Charlotte Flair to cash her ticket to East Rutherford, New Jersey and WrestleMania 35, where she would make history as the first woman to win the Raw and SmackDown women's titles in the main event of wrestling's biggest night.

That may not have happened without the incredible reaction she received from fans that night in Phoenix that firmly solidified her status as the most popular competitor in the company.

4. Sami Zayn Betrays Roman Reigns (2023)

The Bloodline story had dominated WWE throughout 2022 and into the following January, with Roman Reigns establishing himself as a manipulative and gaslighting villain who used and abused his family for his own personal gain.

One such pawn in his plan for ruling over the pro wrestling world was Sami Zayn, whom he adopted as an "Honorary Uce" after several months of the lovable underdog serving as an ancillary member of the group and proceeded to use to help him retain his spot as the Head of the Table.

Having seen through the manipulation by the time the 2023 Royal Rumble arrived, Zayn finally lashed out, blasting Reigns with a steel chair to a deafening reaction from the San Antonio faithful.

It was the first crack in the Bloodline dynamic, creating a schism within the group that would allow Jey Uso to finally step out of his cousin's shadow.

3. AJ Styles Debuts (2016)

Buzz surrounded AJ Styles and a potential deal with WWE as 2016 arrived but even speculation could not prepare the wrestling world for the reaction The Phenomenal One got when he entered the Kia Center in Orlando at No. 3 in the Royal Rumble match.

The word "Phenomenal" appeared on the video screen and former TNA, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling star stepped through the curtain to a roar from the fans.

Any doubts about the WWE Universe's recognition, or appreciation, of Styles were dashed immediately as the world-renowned competitor announced his signing with the company in one of the most unforgettable moments of the last decade.

Styles immediately sparred with top star Roman Reigns, establishing himself as being on the level of the top dog in the promotion, a Superstar with whom he would battle three short months later, with the WWE Championship at stake.

2. Edge's Unlikely Return (2020)

In 2011, Edge was forced into an early retirement by a neck injury that threatened not only his livelihood, but his long-term well-being. After eight years spent on the sidelines, making only occasional cameos here and there, Edge delivered a spear to Elias during the SummerSlam pre-show that raised some eyebrows as it was the first he had been physical in any manner since he hung up his boots.

As it turned out, it was but a preview of things to come.

The following January at the 2020 Royal Rumble, Edge exploded through the curtain to a deafening ovation, emotion painting his face as he basked in the glory of the WWE faithful. Tears flowed, adrenaline was at a high, and spears were dealt as The Rated R Superstar tore through his fellow Superstars.

He did not win the Rumble that night but he did announce his return to competition as an active wrestler in grand fashion and kick off one last run with WWE.

1. John Cena's Shocking Return (2008)

In October 2007, John Cena suffered a torn pectoral muscle that was expected to keep him out of action for six months to a full year. That meant no WrestleMania, let alone the Royal Rumble.

Imagine the surprise, then, when "My Time Is Now" filled Madison Square Garden and Cena stepped through the curtain as the 30th entrant into that year's 30-man extravaganza. The arena erupted into one of the loudest ovations in company history, a combination of surprise and genuine excitement to see the top star in the industry back in time for the most important stretch of the year.

Cena would go on to win the Rumble, eliminating Triple H to cash his ticket to WrestleMania where, ironically enough, both he and The Game would challenge Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.

The eruption of the fans, both casual and the most die-hard, proved that wrestling's biggest company could still surprise the masses and generate buzz at the time of year when they most needed it.