The 25 Best WWE Royal Rumble Matches of All Time, Ranked
The 2026 Royal Rumble takes place Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will feature both the men's and women's same-titled matches to determine which Superstars will challenge for the top prizes in WWE at WrestleMania 42.
Ahead of the annual premium live event, join B/R's Erik Beaston and Graham Matthews as they rank the 25 best Royal Rumble matches of all time, determined by historical significance, match quality and overall star power, with special attention paid to the overall importance to the event's nearly four decades of thrilling and unpredictable action.
Dishonorable Mention
1 of 26
1993
When the debut of Giant Gonzalez and Randy Savage mistakenly trying a pin are the trademark moments of the Rumble, odds are it is a rough year. Such was the case in 1993, when Max Moon and Damian Demento were the fresh new faces in the field, while 43-year-old Genichiro Tenryu, 45-year-old Carlos Colon, and the returning Bob Backlund were dusted off to round out an underwhelming field. Yokozuna won, but that was never in doubt.
1999
The 1999 match may have had the whole "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon saga going for it, but nothing else. A lineup of Attitude Era midcarders like Golga, Dan Severn, Droz, Steve Blackman, The Blue Meanie and Tiger Ali Singh bored fans to tears while they waited to see what the war of attrition between The Texas Rattlesnake and evil owner of WWE produced. The answer? An underwhelming outcome in which The Chairman of the Board won after The Rock distracted Stone Cold. Go out of your way to avoid what may be the worst Rumbles of all time.
2015
It was bad enough that everyone knew Roman Reigns was going to win the Royal Rumble before he even set foot in the match. What made matters worse was that the fans still very much preferred Daniel Bryan, who entered the 2015 match in Philadelphia at No. 12 and was eliminated after less than 11 minutes of action. The company force-fed Reigns to the fans, who rejected him and his win in grandiose fashion, to the point that not even a surprise appearance from The Rock could quiet the very vocal dissatisfaction the City of Brotherly Love had for the outcome.
25. 1995
2 of 26
Winner: Shawn Michaels
Runner-Up: British Bulldog
Notable Moments: Michaels, Bulldog are the first and final two, only Royal Rumble to feature 60-second intervals
Erik
This Royal Rumble has everyone: Eli and Jacob Blu, Kwang, Aldo Montoya, and the future Hall of Famer himself, Mantaur.
If that all-star lineup is not enough to convince you of its placement on this list over other years, perhaps Shawn Michaels becoming the first Superstar to enter at No. 1 and win the entire thing is. The arrival of HBK as a bona-fide main-event talent, a strong performance from "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith as the No. 2 entrant and eventual runner-up, and one of the most unforgettable finishes in Rumble history give this one the edge over other, significantly better and less historically significant matches.
Graham
Although there's very little that's remotely redeeming or enjoyable about the 1995 Rumble due to a depleted roster at the time, the finish alone makes it more notable than a number of other installments.
Michaels going the distance isn't as impressive as it sounds on paper, but the innovative fashion in which he won with only one foot touching the ground was certainly memorable. The quick intervals between entrants made this a quick Rumble to rewatch, even if they're rather rushed.
24. 2006
3 of 26
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Runner-Up: Randy Orton
Notable Moments: Mysterio broke Chris Benoit's longevity record (1:02:15), non-entrant Shane McMahon eliminated Shawn Michaels, last Rumble appearance for Hall of Famer Road Warrior Animal
Graham
The 2006 Rumble resembles the 1995 Rumble in that Rey Mysterio also entered early and lasted the entire time, yet his performance wasn't anything to write home about. Despite that, it was an incredible story for him to win in honor of Eddie Guerrero and go on to win the world heavyweight title.
The pacing was a bit better and the roster wasn't nearly as dire. It lacked standout moments but did feature some solid showings from Triple H, Chris Benoit and Rob Van Dam.
Erik
Mysterio went the distance, honored Guerrero's memory, and cashed his ticket to the semi-main event of WrestleMania 22. RVD returned after a year on the sidelines and Shane McMahon eliminated Shawn Michaels to advance HBK's rivalry with his father.
The 2006 match is a perfectly acceptable Rumble that, without the historically significant outcome, probably would not have made this list. Had Triple H or Randy Orton won, as some predicted, it probably would not have made the top 25.
As it is, the contest features the final Rumble appearances of Road Warrior Animal and highlights the ever-changing landscape of WWE in the mid-2000s.
23. 1988
4 of 26
Winner: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
Runner-Up: One Man Gang
Notable Moments: Smallest Rumble field, 11-of-20 entrants are WWE Hall of Famers, three different tag teams represented
Erik
Hacksaw Duggan etched his name in the history books by winning the inaugural Royal Rumble. This contest gave WWE and Vince McMahon another special event to promote on its annual calendar.
Another entry that earns its place due to its historical significance, this one does highlight what was as deep a tag team division as WWE has enjoyed, with members of the Killer Bees and the Hart Foundation, as well as Hall of Famers such as Tito Santana, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and Don "The Rock" Muraco.
It also featured the Rumble debut of future WWE champion, The Ultimate Warrior, to top it all off.
Graham
You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who honestly believes the 1988 Rumble is the greatest ever, but it does deserve a shoutout for being the very first, and that alone makes it historically significant.
It also isn't a bad Battle Royal by any means, either. It's actually completely serviceable and has a handful of familiar faces from one of the most popular periods in wrestling.
Winning the inaugural Rumble was Duggan's sole claim to fame in WWE, but it's a pretty cool accomplishment to hang your hat on.
22. 2000
5 of 26
Winner: The Rock
Runner-Up: Big Show
Notable Moments: Rikishi dances with Too Cool mid-match, surprise appearance from Bob Backlund, final Rumble appearance for British Bulldog, Rock's feet touch the floor in botched finish
Graham
The 1997-1999 Royal Rumble matches should have been far better than they were, given they all occurred during the beloved Attitude Era, but each of them fell flat for different reasons. The 2000 Rumble was the strongest installment in years, yet it isn't an all-timer, either.
However, the atmosphere alone in Madison Square Garden makes it a must-watch. Sure, it's loaded with Attitude Era midcarders, but a vast majority of them were quite over with the audience, which made for a fun viewing experience. That's in addition to the botched finish with Rock and Big Show setting up a major main event storyline for WrestleMania 2000.
Erik
The Attitude Era may have produced countless unforgettable moments still remembered fondly by the fans who tuned into WWE programming during that period of time, but great Royal Rumbles were few and far between.
Better than anything produced in the two or three years before it, the 2000 match featured some of the most memorable characters in company history, as well as a surprise appearance from former two-time WWE champion Bob Backlund.
The Rock may have won, and Big Show sustained momentum ahead of his lone WrestleMania main event, but it was Rikishi who stole the show with his seven eliminations and mid-match dance with Too Cool. It would catapult him to stardom and set the stage for a career year for the future Hall of Famer.
21. 2011
6 of 26
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Runner-Up: Santino Marella
Notable Moments: First and only 40-man Rumble match, the Nexus-Corre showdown, John Cena and Hornswoggle's dual Five Knuckle Shuffles, Marella's near-win
Erik
The 2011 match proved you can have too much of a good thing. A watered-down pool of Superstars hurt the overall match quality. Still, a start that saw CM Punk square off with Daniel Bryan, and a 35-minute performance from John Cena, made up for it.
So did a fantastic finish that saw Alberto Del Rio outlast Randy Orton and appear to win, only for Santino Marella to pop up from ringside and pose one last threat to the arrogant heel.
The crowd reaction to the former intercontinental champion and his last-gasp effort was outstanding and put an unexpectedly great exclamation point on a match that overcame its flaws enough to warrant a spot on this countdown.
Graham
As a rule of thumb, 40 entrants is too many for a Royal Rumble and the 2011 Rumble (and the awful 2018 installment in Saudi Arabia) proved that. Hilariously, the WWE roster in 2011 wasn't nearly deep enough to justify that many people being involved.
Del Rio emerging victorious sticks out as an odd choice in retrospect, but he did go on to become a multi-world champ in the company, so it wasn't a wasted win.
Plus, CM Punk's New Nexus ruling the Rumble was a highlight, along with both Booker T and Diesel a.k.a. Kevin Nash shockingly returning following extended absences. And who could forget the crowd exploding when Marella nearly won the whole thing?
20. 1994
7 of 26
Winners: Bret Hart and Lex Luger
Runners-Up: Shawn Michaels and Fatu
Notable Moments: Diesel's dominance, Shawn Michaels superkicks Big Daddy Cool out of the match, Hart and Luger overcome the odds to become first co-winners
Graham
WWE has had many men dominate the Rumble over the years and make a name for themselves doing so (Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Gunther being the biggest examples), but Diesel was the one to start the trend in 1994.
It was that performance that ultimately led him to become a breakout singles star and eventually WWE champion. Bret Hart and Lex Luger "tying" for the Rumble win was underwhelming, but it was an interesting experiment designed to determine which of the two was the more popular ahead of WrestleMania.
Erik
Earlier in the show, Hart suffered the ultimate betrayal by his brother, Owen, who kicked his leg out from under his...well, leg...but The Hitman delivered a gutsy performance in the 1994 match.
He entered at No. 27, sold the knee injury suffered in the tag title match earlier in the broadcast, and became the first co-winner of the Rumble with Luger.
Love or hate the ending, it was an inventive finish to address two babyfaces who had split the audience's allegiances in their pursuit of a WWE Championship win.
Diesel set the standard for the dominant big man, Randy Savage made his final Rumble appearance, Shawn Michaels "accidentally" superkicked Big Daddy Cool, setting in motion the events that would lead to their split later in the year, and Bob Holly made his WWE debut with a 21:33 performance.
19. 2021 (Women's)
8 of 26
Winner: Bianca Belair
Runner-Up: Rhea Ripley
Notable Moments: Surprise appearances from Torrie Wilson, Victoria, Jillian Hall, and Alicia Fox; Rhea Ripley eliminated seven; final moments preview Belair and Ripley's main roster dominance
Erik
WWE has yet to perfect the format for the women's Royal Rumble, typically leaning too much on surprise and legendary entrants and not telling enough stories with the abundance of talent at its disposal.
In 2021, with Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch established as stars, the company looked to the future in grand fashion.
Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley announced to the world they were up next, delivering a thrilling conclusion to the match that confirmed they were ready to carry the mantle well into the next generation. Underrated performances by Naomi and Shayna Baszler, and Toni Storm's only Rumble appearance, make this a rewatchable gem.
Graham
WWE has held eight women's Rumbles to date, and only this installment comes close to the fantastic first one, despite emanating from an empty ThunderDome at the peak of the COVID pandemic.
The company has relied heavily on surprise entrants for the women's Rumbles and this was no exception, but the finishing sequence with Belair and Ripley is one of the best ever. Both women were unproven at this point, and this established they would be future cornerstones of the division.
It's an average Rumble otherwise, but so many NXT talents being showcased was refreshing.
18. 1991
9 of 26
Winner: Hulk Hogan
Runner-Up: Earthquake
Notable Moments: Randy Savage misses entry after running from Ultimate Warrior; Rick Martel sets longevity run in underrated performance, Undertaker's first Rumble appearance
Graham
Was it really necessary for Hulk Hogan to win a second straight Rumble? The answer is no, but that didn't take away from what was otherwise an entertaining event.
This benefited from having so much star power, including The Undertaker's first-ever appearance in a Rumble. Hogan and Earthquake finishing their feud made the ending a logical one, and Rick Martel being the iron man was a treat. The only real knock on it was that it paled in comparison to the year prior.
Erik
Hogan winning a second consecutive Rumble etched his name in the history books as the first Superstar to accomplish that feat, so there is that. He had to overcome Earthquake and, checks notes, Brian Knobbs to do so. Alright then.
Providing drama and elevating the 1991 match to its spot on this countdown was "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who completely skipped the match, having hastily retreated from the arena after costing The Ultimate Warrior the WWE Championship.
Martel set the longevity record, but Greg Valentine followed closely behind with a stellar 44:03 showing, while the legendary Legion of Doom tossed Undertaker in The Deadman's debut in the annual match.
17. 1990
10 of 26
Winner: Hulk Hogan
Runner-Up: Mr. Perfect
Notable Moments: Hogan inadvertently eliminates Ultimate Warrior; the final Royal Rumble appearance for Andre the Giant; "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase set the longevity record
Erik
The 1990 Rumble was the first hint that Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson recognized the power this one match had to tell stories and tease the matches that would unfold at the upcoming WrestleMania. Chief among them that year was Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, which was hinted at when the former accidentally eliminated the latter.
It was not the only one. Teases for Dusty Rhodes vs. Randy Savage, Demolition vs. Andre the Giant and Haku, and Roddy Piper vs. Bad News Brown are up and down that year's match. Throw in a great performance from Ted DiBiase and Mr. Perfect in the runner-up position, and you have one of the most influential Rumbles in company history.
Graham
This had even more stars than the 1991 Rumble, which made for a ton of exciting interactions. Chief among them was Hogan and Warrior toward the end and the seeds being planted for their mega 'Mania main-event a few months later.
This Rumble never really drags as the crowd is white-hot throughout. The middle is unspectacular, but that's the case with most Rumbles. Once the pace picks up down the stretch with this one, it's super enjoyable.
16. 2002
11 of 26
Winner: Triple H
Runner-Up: Kurt Angle
Notable Moments: Goldust, Big Boss Man, Godfather, and Mr. Perfect all returned for this match; first Rumble featuring former WCW and ECW stars; Maven eliminated The Undertaker
Graham
The biggest story coming into this bout saw Triple H returning from a nearly year-long injury as a conquering hero and reigning supreme. His involvement was announced ahead of time, so it was hardly a surprise when he won, but it was still a solid finishing sequence between him and Kurt Angle.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, coming close at the end, did add some suspense, and Mr. Perfect's comeback was outstanding enough to earn him another contract with the company.
Of course, Maven's shock elimination of The Undertaker will always be in the Rumble highlight reel for just how exceptional its execution was.
Erik
Triple H's win was a foregone conclusion as he was fresh off his return and destined for a world title match at the Royal Rumble. His showdown with Austin made for a great moment, enhanced with the brief but memorable addition of The Hurricane.
The 2002 match was star-studded but featured way too many big names entering late, which hurt their impact, while midcarders like Bradshaw, Chuck, Big Boss Man, Scotty 2 Hotty, and Albert ate up the middle portion of the bout.
Back-ended as it may have been, it does feature a strong finish from The Game and the Olympic gold medalist, and Maven's unforgettable moments in the sun via his unfathomable elimination of The American Badass, making it an enjoyable watch.
15. 2024 (Men's)
12 of 26
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Runner-Up: CM Punk
Notable Moments: Andrade, Omos, and Pat McAfee were surprise entrants; Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes were NXT entrants; Jimmy and Jey Uso kicked off the match; Punk fought through a torn triceps suffered during the match
Erik
The 2024 Royal Rumble did not reinvent the wheel, but there was genuine intrigue surrounding the potential winner, with Cody Rhodes and CM Punk emerging as legitimate contenders.
Punk's late-match triceps injury made what he accomplished with The American Nightmare in the closing moments of the contest that much more unforgettable and, ultimately, disappointing for The Best in the World.
Throw in a handful of red-hot Superstars who would go on to enjoy prime positions at WrestleMania 40, such as Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn, a hotly anticipated showdown between brothers Jimmy and Jey Uso, and an iron man performance from the latter, and you have a strong match.
Graham
For the first time in years, the men's Royal Rumble felt genuinely unpredictable in 2024, with both Punk and Rhodes being front-runners to win. Punk was fresh off his return to the company after a decade away, while Rhodes was gunning for his rematch with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania XL.
Punk getting legitimately hurt by McIntyre makes his performance more remarkable in retrospect, as Erik noted, and Bron Breakker filling in for Brock Lesnar on such short notice resulted in him making his mark ahead of his official call-up.
Aside from Andrade's anticipated comeback, there weren't a plethora of satisfying surprises, but it's a really well-rounded Rumble on the whole.
14. 2003
13 of 26
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Runner-Up: Undertaker
Notable Moments: Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels eliminate each other to set up WrestleMania XIX showdown; first Rumble appearances for John Cena, Batista, and Brock Lesnar; Chris Nowinski suffers what would be a career-ending concussion
Graham
Brock Lesnar earning entry into the 2003 Rumble by beating Big Show at the start of the show and then coming out on top at the end of the night bookended this event nicely, but more memorable than that was Shawn Michaels' swift elimination of Chris Jericho to kick off their fantastic WrestleMania rivalry.
It's midcard mania in the middle, but John Cena lasting nearly 20 minutes in his Rumble debut was certainly notable. It was quite the clash of titans in the final four between Batista, Lesnar, Kane and the returning Undertaker.
Erik
On paper, there is nothing remarkable about the 2003 match, but its execution and showcasing of the talent that would play pivotal roles in WrestleMania XIX was impressive. Lesnar winning was no shocker, but he managed to send Kurt Angle's minions, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas, packing before eliminating longtime rival The Undertaker to win the whole thing.
Jericho was excellent as this year's longest-lasting competitor, and his betrayal of Christian, as well as Kane's elimination of Rob Van Dam, put over the "everyone for himself" theme. Throw in Undertaker eliminating Maven as an homage to the previous year's angle, and impressive showings by Cena and Batista in their first Rumble appearances, and you have a match that exceeded expectations at a time when WWE whimsically changed directions creatively.
13. 2007
14 of 26
Winner: Undertaker
Runner-Up: Shawn Michaels
Notable Moments: Only Rumble appearances for ECW legends The Sandman and Sabu; Undertaker became the first wrestler to enter No. 30 and win the Rumble; Michaels fell just short of winning a historic third Rumble
Erik
The 2007 Rumble provided fans with the blueprint for every dramatic battle of the final two competitors in the form of Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels. What was a relatively pedestrian contest to that point, aside from Edge and Randy Orton's dominant performances, was enhanced exponentially by what was essentially a mini-matchup between the Deadman and the Heartbreak Kid.
CM Punk entered at No. 11 and lasted 27:16 before being tossed by The Great Khali, and The Miz exercised futility in his seven-second appearance in what was both men's debut Rumble. Khali dominated with seven eliminations, but it was Viscera who attracted the most attention, with 10 Superstars teaming up to eliminate the big man.
Graham
The 2007 Rumble has the distinction of having arguably the best final two ever, with The Undertaker and Michaels in their home state of Texas, no less. Not only was it a mini-match, but it also served as a preview of what was to come from them at WrestleMania 25 and 26, respectively.
The Battle Royal had an interesting mix of talent from Raw, SmackDown and the short-lived ECW brand. WWE had a deceitfully deep midcard back then and the vast collection of characters filled out the Rumble effectively.
12. 2018 (Women's)
15 of 26
Winner: Asuka
Runner-Up: Nikki Bella
Notable Moments: Lita, Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, The Bella Twins, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Beth Phoenix, Vickie Guerrero, Jacqueline, and Molly Holly were surprise entrants; Kairi Sane and Ember Moon represented NXT; Sasha Banks lasted nearly 55 minutes; Ronda Rousey debuted afterward
Graham
The inaugural women's Rumble set the standard for future installments and truly has yet to be topped. The past, present and future of WWE's women's division were all represented and it was rightfully the only women's Rumble to date to close out the event.
Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch were the glue that held the Rumble together from the get-go. Trish Stratus and Lita didn't look out of place in the slightest. The then-undefeated Asuka had just debuted on the main roster mere months earlier, so her eliminating Nikki Bella to win the Rumble sent the message that the new era had officially arrived.
Erik
There was plenty of mystery and intrigue surrounding that first Women's Royal Rumble, with few knowing exactly what to expect and if the Superstars of the women's division could handle a match of that enormity. Not only could they, but they would set a bar that has proven rather difficult to eclipse in the eight years since.
A precursor for the Evolution premium live event that would follow later in the year, it masterfully paid homage to a bygone generation with appearances from legends such as Stratus, Lita, the Bella Twins, Jacqueline, Michelle McCool, and Beth Phoenix, all while looking to the future with strong performances from Lynch, Banks, Natalya, and eventual winner Asuka. A crowd-pleasing match that saw the right competitor win, followed by the jaw-dropping arrival of Ronda Rousey immediately after, it remains the best of its kind.
11. 2023 (Men's)
16 of 26
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Runner-Up: Gunther
Notable Moments: Gunther set a new longevity record for a traditional men's Rumble match (1:11:40); Rhodes' return from his torn pectoral injury; Ricochet and Logan Paul's mid-air collision
Erik
Cody Rhodes won the first of two consecutive Royal Rumbles in 2023, returning from his torn pectoral muscle to claim his throne and earn a shot at Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. He was tested right out of the gate by Gunther, who punished that injured pec with his unforgiving chops, all while setting a new record for longevity in a Rumble at 1:11:40.
The final battle between the two of them took the form of a match, with Rhodes narrowly getting the best of the Ring General in a drama-filled finish, despite his victory being a foregone conclusion. Stellar performances from company workhorses Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, and story threads sprinkled throughout, helped make the 2023 edition one of the greats and one that could easily appear higher on the list on any given day.
Graham
Although Vince McMahon still had some creative influence behind the scenes at the time, the 2023 Royal Rumble was Triple H's first at the helm and that was evident while watching the men's matchup specifically.
The Rumble has always been where WrestleMania stories start to come into focus and that's what this installment was all about. Look no further than Gunther and Sheamus waging war, Edge returning for revenge on The Judgment Day, and Logan Paul eliminating Seth Rollins.
Cody Rhodes had been out injured for many months, but showed no signs of ring rust here and eliminated Gunther in a phenomenal closing stretch for the feel-good moment.
10. 2025 (Men's)
17 of 26
Winner: Jey Uso
Runner-Up: John Cena
Notable Moments: Lucha royalty, Rey Mysterio and Penta, start the match; Bron Breakker's obliteration of IShowSpeed; Seth Rollins snapped and attacked Roman Reigns and CM Punk; Uso outlasts Cena in dramatic finish
Graham
An unpredictable Royal Rumble almost always equates to an above-average Rumble, provided that the potential winners are appealing options. The 2025 installment had more than a handful of main-event players who could realistically win, but it was Jey Uso who shocked the world when he won instead.
The backlash from fans online is still discussed, but there's no denying that it was a genuine effort by WWE to elevate Uso to the next level, and it worked for a while. The in-ring action was on point, Joe Hendry's surprise appearance was enjoyable comic relief, and all of the intertwining stories were fun to follow.
Erik
Uso paid off a journey that began four years earlier with his emergence as an opponent for Roman Reigns early in the Bloodline story, eliminating John Cena to win the 2025 Rumble. While some will look back on the victory less than fondly because of the manner in which his world title reign was ultimately handled, it was a magical victory that injected the main event scene with fresh blood.
Outside of the closing moments of the match, the interactions between CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Reigns planted the seeds for their WrestleMania 41 main event, Penta showed out in his first dance on the Rumble stage, and WWE produced a massively popular social media moment in Breakker's bulldozing of YouTuber IShowSpeed. A Rumble that, a few years removed from the polarizing Uso win, will likely be looked back on far more favorably than it is now, and with good reason.
9. 2005
18 of 26
Winner: Batista
Runner-Up: John Cena
Notable Moments: Batista and Cena botch the finish; Vince McMahon tears both quads; Daniel Puder's painful Rumble initiation; the field throws out Muhammad Hassan
Erik
In the wake of Brock Lesnar's departure in 2004, WWE desperately needed fresh new stars at the top of the card, and it set out to accomplish that in 2005 with the elevation of John Cena and Batista. There was no doubt about who the two favorites to win the contest were. Still, there was plenty of drama late when both tumbled over the ropes at the same time by accident, leading to an enraged Mr. McMahon to stomp toward the ring and blow out both of his quadriceps while berating his talent.
Batista won, ushering in his road to WrestleMania 21 and eventual ascension to the top of WWE, but Cena would get his title opportunity by way of a victory the following month. A fun elimination of Muhammad Hassan, Kurt Angle's elimination of Shawn Michaels and setup for their match at the Showcase of the Immortals, and a great one-two start featuring Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit helped make this one an elite entry in the Rumble annals.
Graham
WWE's Brand Extension was at its best whenever Raw and SmackDown were actually at odds, and the 2005 Rumble might be the only installment where it feels like brand supremacy was at stake along with the obvious title shot.
That was the theme throughout the entire bout, right down to the iconic ending with Cena barely beating Batista to punch his ticket to WrestleMania 21. The final four in general, which also included fellow future world champs Edge and Rey Mysterio, was a strong showcase of the next generation.
8. 2018 (Men's)
19 of 26
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Runner-Up: Roman Reigns
Notable Moments: Finn Balor competed for nearly one hour; Rey Mysterio's surprise return; Adam Cole and Andrade were surprise entrants; Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens attacked Tye Dillinger and the former took his spot
Graham
The 2018 men's Rumble is one of the best WWE has ever produced, hurt only by its winner, Shinsuke Nakamura, not going on to achieve main-event stardom as everyone hoped. The Philadelphia crowd popped huge for his victory and he was absolutely the right winner, but the aftermath unfortunately fell flat.
Everything else about the bout was largely great, including NXT's Andrade and Adam Cole and the returning Rey Mysterio making surprise appearances. Nakamura, Finn Balor and Roman Reigns facing off with John Cena, Randy Orton and Mysterio in the final stretch was the epitome of past versus present.
Erik
Like the women's match later in the night, the 2018 contest felt like the company's effort to look to the future. The aforementioned showdown pitting the stars of tomorrow against the Ruthless Aggression icons was great stuff down the stretch, as was Nakamura's elimination of Reigns to seal his trip to WrestleMania 38.
Balor was extraordinary in his best Rumble match to date and could have easily swapped spots with Nakamura and still sent the crowd home happy. A fun spot featuring Heath Slater, Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy's ongoing rivalry, and a nearly record-setting run for Sheamus (for all the wrong reasons) made for some entertaining moments in a match that managed to blend story threads, enjoyable spots, a great individual performance, and a surprising victory in one fantastic production.
7. 2008
20 of 26
Winner: John Cena
Runner-Up: Triple H
Notable Moments: Mick Foley, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka were surprise entrants; none were more surprising than John Cena at No. 30; Undertaker and Shawn Michaels kicked things off; Cody Rhodes' first Rumble appearance
Erik
There is something to be said about any match that takes place in Madison Square Garden, which has a certain aura that elevates it above other, perhaps better contests. That is certainly the case with the 2008 bout. Of course, it does not hurt when it has one of the most legitimately surprising moments in WWE history smack dab in the closing moments.
Some 18 years later, it is nearly impossible to explain how stunning John Cena's return at the No. 30 position was and how much that singular moment influenced the popularity of that contest. That it features fun cameos from Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, and Mick Foley, a 23-minute performance from Cody Rhodes in his first Rumble match, and a match-closing encounter between Cena and Triple H only elevates it to its spot among the greatest Rumbles.
Graham
An argument could be made for the 2008 Rumble being the best of all-time, if only for Cena's genuinely shocking return from injury and everything that unfolded from that point forward. He did go on to cash in his guaranteed title shot early and come up short, but that's always forgotten about and understandably so.
Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker opened this Rumble on a high note after closing it out the year prior, and the appearances from Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka were terrific throwbacks in Madison Square Garden. Although this cracks the top seven, more cohesive storytelling would've earned it a slightly higher spot.
6. 2004
21 of 26
Winner: Chris Benoit
Runner-Up: Big Show
Notable Moments: Mick Foley entered, intensified his rivalry with Randy Orton; Undertaker tease ruined Kane's Rumble odds; Big Show dominance; Brock Lesnar eliminated Goldberg to set up their WrestleMania anti-classic
Graham
The outcome of the 2004 Rumble is perhaps the biggest factor holding it back from being remembered more fondly or ranked higher among the other installments.
It's an extremely well-wrestled Rumble with some of the very best of the Ruthless Aggression era, but despite Chris Benoit lasting as long as he did from the number one spot, his performance and his win will never be acknowledged by WWE for obvious reasons. Mick Foley's revenge on Randy Orton still stands out and Big Show portrayed the perfect foil for Benoit before losing.
Erik
WrestleMania 20 in Madison Square Garden was set up to be one of the best and most important WWE events of all time, and the company kicked off the road to that show with one of the greatest Royal Rumble matches ever. Benoit's involvement and victory ensure some will never look back at it fondly or celebrate it, and justifiably so.
Still, it is a magnificently structured match that kicked off with the eventual world champion and Orton, featured one of the great Big Show performances of all time, and gave fans a hint at some of the high-profile matches that would take place at the Showcase of the Immortals, including Show vs. Cena, the latest chapter in Orton's feud with Foley, Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg, and Kane's impending date with the returning Undertaker. Hurt only by the dark cloud that is Benoit, there is a very real case to be made that the 2004 match is the best of them all and is still underrated at No. 6.
5. 2016
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Winner: Triple H
Runner-Up: Dean Ambrose
Notable Moments: AJ Styles' debut; The Wyatt Family eliminates Brock Lesnar; Sami Zayn is NXT's entrant; Roman Reigns loses the WWE Championship
Erik
Fans were still very much on the anti-Roman Reigns bandwagon, tired of having WWE force-feed them a babyface they had no interest in fully getting behind. It was again that backdrop that the fans in Orlando rooted for The League of Nations when they jumped him and seemingly ended his night, then booed even more passionately than before when he re-emerged late in the contest.
They rooted for the debuting AJ Styles, whose first match in WWE remains one of the highlights of his career and the company as a whole over the last decade, and even threw their support behind Triple H when he arrived at No. 30 in one last attempt to screw The Big Dog out of his WWE Championship, which had been on the line throughout. It worked, and The Game left the match the champion, setting up a big WrestleMania main event. That emotional roller coaster, coupled with a few other outstanding spots, instantly catapulted the 2016 match into the upper echelon.
Graham
It's almost unfathomable that the WWE title has only ever been defended in the Royal Rumble once (note that it was vacant going into 1992), that being at the 2016 installment. Reigns had insurmountable odds to overcome in The Authority and League of Nations but the crowd booing him regardless was great.
You also have Styles shining in his official WWE debut, lasting a whopping 29 minutes. Brock Lesnar was booked like a beast for nearly eliminating the entire Wyatt Family, and Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens rekindling their rivalry was well received by the Orlando faithful.
Triple H being the one to capture the WWE Championship was a dud of a finish, but the suspense with Dean Ambrose almost pulling off the upset made it more bearable.
4. 2010
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Winner: Edge
Runner-Up: John Cena
Notable Moments: CM Punk's Straight Edge Society rants; Beth Phoenix eliminated The Great Khali; Shawn Michaels' desperation; Edge's return from injury and win
Graham
The 2010 Rumble is widely remembered for the incredible arc with Shawn Michaels wanting to win and face The Undertaker again at WrestleMania, and that was a significant story in this match, but there's so much else to like about it as well.
CM Punk kicking it off by reciting his "straight edge pledge" as the first few entrants came out was tremendous television. Michaels sending his tag team partner, Triple H, over the top rope was a welcome swerve, given that HHH was heavily favored to have his hand raised that night.
Edge not only returning from injury but winning this Rumble was the icing on the cake. It's a very underrated installment.
Erik
2010 is not necessarily a year that most fans look back on with great fondness, but it kicked off with one of the most remarkably great Royal Rumbles in WWE history.
CM Punk set the tone with extraordinary character work, Beth Phoenix entered and eliminated noted playboy The Great Khali with a kiss, Shawn Michaels' desperation failed to net him a third Rumble victory, Edge made a surprise return from a torn Achilles, and the polarizing Cena failed to win his second 30-man extravaganza in three years.
The meshing of ongoing stories into the fabric of the match, coupled with conviction-filled performances from Punk and Michaels, made for a match that feels somewhat underappreciated. Come for the first of Edge's two Rumble returns, stay for one of the best, most overlooked performances of HBK's storied career.
3. 2001
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Winner: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Runner-Up: Kane
Notable Moments: Drew Carey enters; Kane's greatest individual performance; Triple H attacks Austin, bloodies him; The Big Show and Honky Tonk Man are surprise entrants
Erik
The 2001 match accomplished what the other Attitude Era editions of the Rumble could not: recognizing the potential for storytelling within the confines of the 30-man match.
There was a brief brother vs. brother showdown between Matt and Jeff Hardy, the brilliant use of Drew Carey as the celebrity addition in way over his head, the best performance of Kane's career, the highlighting of the hardcore division, a 38-minute performance by The Rock, Triple H's attack on Austin that created doubt surrounding the Texas Rattlesnake's ability to win a third Royal Rumble, and Stone Cold's resilient come-from-behind victory. As the company embarked on the final full year of attitude, the 2001 Rumble was the perfect showcase of all of its best stuff wrapped up in one.
Graham
Stone Cold's sheer desperation to get one last shot at world championship glory makes the 2001 Rumble, along with Kane going on an absolute tear and eliminating everyone in sight. Even Carey knew well enough to exit over the top rope before Kane could get his hands on him!
Honky Tonk Man eating a guitar shot courtesy of Kane was hilarious and The Rock coming in halfway through the bout gave it exactly the boost it needed at that point. Kane, Undertaker and Rock all gave it a valiant effort, but Stone Cold's record-setting third win was what the fans wanted to see.
2. 2020 (Men's)
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Winner: Drew McIntyre
Runner-Up: Roman Reigns
Notable Moments: Brock Lesnar's record-breaking dominance; McIntyre slayed The Beast; Edge's unforgettable return; Matt Riddle and Keith Lee were NXT entrants
Graham
It had been many years since a reigning world champion had willingly entered a Rumble match, but in 2020, Lesnar made history by doing just that. He started out to ensure no one who entered after him stood a chance, only for Drew McIntyre to blast him over the top rope in electrifying fashion.
WWE could have easily had that be it for McIntyre and gone with another winner, but they committed to McIntyre and gave him his moment in the end. Keith Lee made a fantastic first impression while battling Lesnar, and Edge's return from a career-ending injury was both emotional and amazing.
Erik
Judging from where WWE was creatively at the time, there was next to no reason to believe the 2020 Royal Rumble would be anything more than merely good. Then, the match took to the squared circle and reminded fans of the brilliance that could be achieved within the 30-man contest's confines.
Lesnar dominated with 13 eliminations until eventual winner McIntyre delivered a Claymore Kick that sent him over the top rope, to the arena floor, and set in motion the events that would lead to the WrestleMania 36 main event. That narrative paled in comparison to the emotional return of Edge, which remains one of the greatest individual moments in Royal Rumble history. Throw in another drama-filled tease of a Roman Reigns win and you have the recipe for an all-timer.
1. 1992
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Winner: Ric Flair
Runner-Up: Sid Justice
Notable Moments: Randy Savage eliminated himself while attacking Jake Roberts; Flair set the new longevity record; Hulk Hogan eliminated Sid
Erik
The legendary performance from Flair is matched only by one of the greatest calls from a color commentator ever from Bobby Heenan, whose anxiety was on full display as he watched with bated breath every time the Nature Boy faced potential elimination. He enhanced the viewing experience and added further gravity to everything the "Real World's Champion" endured in his one-hour plight.
The 1992 match was about more than Flair's first WWE Championship victory, though. It featured Randy Savage avenging the hell Jake Roberts had put him and his wife, Elizabeth, through. It saw Hogan and Undertaker vying for the title they had held just months earlier, and featured Sid Justice in his highest-profile performance to date. It ended with the crowd's first major rejection of Hulkamania after he assisted in Flair's elimination of Justice and, unbeknownst to everyone at the time, set the stage for a WWE without The Hulkster in the very near future.
18 Hall of Famers, seven former WWE champions, and over 60 minutes of elite action and storytelling make the 1992 match the gold standard for Royal Rumble matches.
Graham
Putting a vacant championship up for grabs in a Royal Rumble is going to give it an advantage right away, and in what could be considered the most star-studded Rumble in history, the 1992 Rumble definitely delivered in spades.
Flair's unprecedented performance, combined with his celebrated title win are iconic on its own, but there are also several other stories worth investing in here. Moments such as Intercontinental champ Roddy Piper going for all the gold, Flair and Randy Savage squaring off ahead of their outing at WrestleMania, and the crowd cheering Hogan's elimination all make this match legendary.
