WWE Royal Rumble 2016: 7 Most Memorable Moments in Event's History

With shocks, twists and plenty of drama, WWE's Royal Rumble pay-per-view is one of the company's biggest and most entertaining shows.

Since the inaugural Royal Rumble, which was won by Hacksaw Jim Duggan in 1988, there have been a whole host of moments fans will never forget.

Whether it's shocking returns, major twists or surprise winners of the marquee match, there are plenty to choose from.

Will the 2016 edition offer another image that could make this list in 12 months' time? Who knows? For now, here are the seven most memorable Royal Rumble moments to date.

7. The Rumble Is Tied (1994)

There are always surprises in the Royal Rumble match, but the conclusion of the 1994 bout was one of the most controversial and memorable in history.

For the first and only time in the history of the Royal Rumble, two men were declared the winners of the match, as both Lex Luger and Bret Hart eliminated each other at the same time.

Their feet touched the floor at exactly the same time, with both eventually getting title shots at WrestleMania.

In a unique twist, though, they each fought for the WWE Championship in different matches. 

Hart would leave WrestleMania 10 as the champion.

6. The Rock vs. Mankind (1999)

The only moment on this list that isn't from the Royal Rumble match itself is the brutal and bloody "I Quit" match between The Rock and Mankind for the WWE Championship at the 1999 event.

It was a match that somewhat defined both of their careers—but especially Mick Foley's. He put his body well and truly on the line and took some incredible bumps throughout, finishing it a bloodied mess.

It's a bout infamous for featuring in the Beyond The Mat documentary, in which backstage footage of both before and after the bout can be seen.

The Rock ultimately emerged triumphant and would enter WrestleMania as the champion, but not before both men took each other to the limit in a stunning match.

5. John Cena's MSG Comeback (2008)

Back in 2008, John Cena still retained a relative amount of popularity among the bulk of WWE fans.

The Royal Rumble is all about shock returns, and even though there have been plenty down the years, Cena's comeback at the 2008 show at Madison Square Garden is one of the most memorable. 

The crowd went nuts when the doors swung open and Cena was stood there, declaring himself as the No. 30 entrant.

Triple H's face in the seconds after Cena's comeback is confirmed is also memorable, and the latter stages of the match contained a real buzz because of Cena's return.

It eventually came down to Triple H and Cena, with the latter emerging triumphant.

4. Stone Cold's 1st Rumble Win (1997)

Stone Cold Steve Austin has plenty of history with the Royal Rumble match, winning it on three occasions.

However, it's his first victory that is the most memorable, as it set Austin up for a run toward the very top of the company.

True to form, Austin effectively cheated to win the Rumble in 1997, climbing back into the ring after referees didn't see his elimination.

He hopped back into the squared circle and eliminated Bret Hart for the victory. It would, of course, set Austin and Hart up for their epic match at WrestleMania 13, which is widely attributed as the defining moment of Austin's career, when he turned babyface in dramatic fashion.

The 1997 Royal Rumble was a pivotal night in the career of Steve Austin and undoubtedly home to one of the most memorable moments in the PPV's history.

3. Vince McMahon Wins the Rumble (1999)

Early 1999 was when the Vince McMahon vs. Steve Austin feud was at its peak, and WWE pulled a major surprise at the Royal Rumble of that year by handing the titular match to an unlikely winner.

McMahon emerged triumphant after entering way back at No. 2 on the running order. Austin was No. 1.

They brawled all over the arena as the match continued, eventually coming back into the squared circle and fighting to the finish.

McMahon's victory in 1999 is one of the most unprecedented moments in the history of WWE. It is well worth a place on the top three here.

2. Shawn Michaels Goes the Distance (1995)

Shawn Michaels would win the Royal Rumble match for two successive years in 1995 and 1996, but it's the first of those two victories that stands out more.

That's because Michaels famously went the entire distance, which was unprecedented at the time.

He's no longer the only man to have done it, but being the first is a major deal.

Nobody would have ever expected someone to come in at No. 1 and outlast the other 29 competitors in the match, and it was another thing that made Michaels so huge.

1. Ric Flair Wins the Title in the Rumble (1992)

For the second time in Royal Rumble history, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship will be put on the line in the event's marquee match in 2016.

The first time it happened was way back in 1992, and it's without doubt the Rumble's most memorable moment.

Ric Flair came into the match at No. 3, just months after joining WWE, and he outlasted the rest to win the title in dramatic fashion.

This was a huge deal for the company. Never before had they pinned the title on the winner of the Rumble match, and it was a major moment in Flair's career.

The 2016 edition of the Royal Rumble will do well to match the class and entertainment 1992 provided. But for the second time in history, the winner will get the big prize.