Royal Rumble 2012: Top 6 Rumble Matches of the New Millenium

There isn't a more exciting, unpredictable match in WWE history than the highly-anticipated annual Royal Rumble.

Though the match has a storied history, there are very few Rumble matches better than the ones that have taken place since 2000. 

With a host of fantastic, star-studded Rumbles to choose from, it was difficult to choose just six.

Still, despite having to spurn some awesomeness, they've been narrowed down. As we head into the epic 25th anniversary of the Royal Rumble, enjoy a trip down (semi-recent) memory lane.

Honorable Mention: 2008

Easily one of the most star-studded Rumble matches in WWE history, this match never failed to let down the excitement. You seemed to have a big name or WWE legend arriving every other entry.

With The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Kane, CM Punk, Triple H, Batista, Mick Foley, Rowdy Roddy Piper, The Miz and John Cena, it's tough to be disappointed. 

It's difficult to find a better pairing to begin a Rumble match than 'Taker and the Heartbreak Kid. It was simply awesome to watch these two start a match in similar fashion that they ended the previous year's. It was even better when they teamed up to eliminate the incoming participants.

Though we all wanted to see them last longer, preferably til the final four or five, it was a perfect way to set up their ensuing WrestleMania dream feud. 

As usual, it comes down to the finale. Cena lit up Madison Square Garden as the surprise No. 30 entrant as he returned from devastating injury. It was easily one of the best moments of Cena's illustrious career and has been difficult to top since then. 

With an Attitude Adjustment over the top ropes to eliminate Triple H, it was easily one of the most unpredictable Rumble matches in history. 

2006

All you need to know about this match is how awesome both No. 1 Triple H and No. 2 Rey Mysterio did.

Despite being the first two men in the match, they both managed to last for more than an hour! Talk about insane endurance.

Although I desperately wanted to see it come down to The Game and Rey-Rey as the last two, you have to give it to WWE for giving Randy Orton a bit of a rub. This was all part of his development towards becoming a top superstar.

Still, it comes back to Mysterio. This was his moment and the crowd ate it up. Not many gave him a chance heading into the Rumble, especially not when he came out as the No. 2 entrant. 

People don't realize just how talented Mysterio is. The man is a wrestling icon inside that ring. His charisma and ability to draw emotion from the crowd is phenomenal, probably far better than WWE ever imagined when they signed him in 2002. 

This was an incredible underdog story and couldn't happen to a better performer and person than Mysterio. Easily one of the most memorable Rumble winners in history.

2000

This match took place during the height of the Attitude Era, and it was everything you would expect. First and foremost, this is the event that blessed fans with one of the greatest themes and stage sets ever. 

WWE made the short entrance way into a cold, dark and unforgiving New York City street alley, equipped with a sewer cap, wood pallets, graffiti and more.  

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker were out nursing injuries and WWE refused to rely on surprise entrants like they do now. Instead, they thoroughly planned an exciting Rumble match by capitalizing on characters and storylines.

Kae En Tai and the Mean Street Posse, despite not being legitimate entrants, would continue to run in during the match to try and participate to win. Instead, they were constantly beaten down and tossed out nearly immediately.

One of the lasting images of this match and easily one of the greatest moments in Rumble match history, Big Boss Man tosses TAKA Michinoku over the top rope and sends him crashing face first onto the mat outside, forcing him to be sent to the hospital, according to Jim Ross on commentary. Jerry "The King" Lawler would religiously ask for this replay throughout the match, which made it that much better. 

It was obvious since the moment The Rock threw his name into the Rumble hat and called everybody else Jabronis that he was going to win. Still, WWE, whether it was planned or not, did an amazing job with the finish.

Another incredible moment was the absolute dominance of Rikishi. Many forget just how incredibly over Rikishi was with the crowd. He truly paved the way for the Brodus Clay that you see today. Rikishi came in at No. 5 and would clear the ring. He then danced with Too Cool to a massive pop before eliminating them to end the dance. No, he didn't turn heel, as Scotty Too Hotty and Grand Master Sexay forgave him.

All business, folks.

WWE even got Viscera over in this match (shocking, right!?) as he came out to stand toe-to-toe with the 'Kish. After eliminating a whopping seven competitors, it took the combination of Big Boss Man, Test, Edge, Gangrel, British Bulldog and Bob Backlund to finally "toss" Rikishi over the top.

It came down to The Rock and Big Show in the final two as everybody expected, but nobody could have predicted the finish.

Rocky's feet touch the ground for a split second before Show topples over and onto the ground. The beauty of the finish is that it led to long-term planning and a fantastic storyline that would see Big Show do everything in his power from photos to an eye-witness to video footage stating his case to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.

After finally proving his point, the two would meet at No Way Out 2000 in a WWF Championship No. 1 Contender's match, that would see Show win thanks to the returning Shane McMahon. This would eventually lead to the climatic WrestleMania 2000 Fatal Fourway Elimination match between Show, Rocky, Triple H and Mick Foley.

Pure awesome. 

2002

When Triple H returned to RAW after being out for nearly one year due to a torn quad, everybody knew he was going to win the Royal Rumble and Main Event WrestleMania.

Still, that didn't stop WWE from truly selling this match and its competitors. It was a superstar-studded Rumble with the likes of Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Diamond Dallas Page, Big Show, Mr. Perfect, The Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle and Steve Austin to name a few of the legends. 

WWE did a fantastic job building up to the pay-per-view, making each man look strong and really selling the Rumble match, which is becoming rare these days. 

Everyone remembers Triple H's return to RAW for the length of the ovation, but I can say from being there live at the taping that his return to SmackDown was louder.

As you can see from the video, it was all about the Royal Rumble. The way it should always be.

Undertaker and Austin dominated this match early, but things really got out of control when Tough Enough winner Maven eliminated The Dead Man. It was one of the most shocking and unpredictable eliminations in the history of the match.

Undertaker then dragged Maven out of the ring and proceeded to dismantle him across the arena. Eliminating 'Taker and then receiving a beat-down from him—not bad for the rook. 

The final four of the match saw Triple H, Angle, Austin and Mr. Perfect in the ring together in a great exchange. Triple H ultimately won the match and would go on to defeat Chris Jericho (w/ Stephanie McMahon) for the WWF Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania X8.

2004

Many people want to forget about this Rumble because of how Chris Benoit's career and life ended, but there's no taking away the sheer brilliance and importance of this match.

Benoit was a machine, lasting for just over one hour after entering at No. 1. He had to battle Big Show in the final two and managed to eliminate him in epic fashion by dragging him over the top rope with a submission hold and dropping him to the floor.

Everyone wanted to see him win and finally go on to Main Event WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden, but not many thought WWE would ever give him the opportunity. This was one of the greatest moments of his phenomenal career and a well-deserving moment for one of the top all-around wrestlers to ever grace a ring.

2007

Oh, that's right, there was a Rumble match that took place in 2007.

The Rumble match itself became an afterthought after The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were left as the final two men. They went on to put together the greatest finish ever in a Rumble match considering they actually put on a legitimate Main Event-caliber outing immediately.

Despite a groggy HBK and bloodied 'Taker, they would proceed to toy with the crowd's emotions left and right with false finish after another.

If their encounter doesn't get you out of your seat years later, there's something wrong with you. 

Words cannot describe just how incredible their exchange was. It paved the way for them to have two of the most elite pro-wrestling matches ever at WrestleMania XXV and XXVI.

The Undertaker was long overdue to add "Royal Rumble Winner" to his Hall of Fame career, and he finally won the honor. Even better, he went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Batista and extend his WrestleMania winning streak.

2001

The last Rumble match of the Attitude Era was everything you'd expect.

This was the first time the Rumble had a hardcore element and it was freakin' awesome. It made up for the lack of big-name superstars, though we got to see Drew Carey eliminate himself and Kane destroy the Honky Tonk Man. 

The highlight of this Rumble, unlike most, was that it wasn't about the finish.

Instead, it was all about Kane absolutely destroying everybody that crossed him. You knew Steve Austin was the favorite to win when he came back from neck injury in October 2000, but most couldn't help but cheer for Kane to win after his heroic performance. 

Kane would eliminate 11 men in 53:46 of action. Epic.

Although he didn't get to wrestle in a high-profile match at the greatest WrestleMania ever in WrestleMania X-Seven, he did participate in the best and funniest WWF Hardcore Championship match in history with Raven and Big Show.  

You can't hate on Vince McMahon's decision to have Stone Cold win over Kane by any means. He went on to continue his legendary feud with The Rock in one of the greatest professional wrestling matches ever at 'Mania. 

This was Austin's third and final Rumble victory, which would instantly catapult him to the top as greatest Rumble winner ever.