WWE Royal Rumble: A Six-Pack of Royal Rumble Snubs Throughout WWE History

The WWE Royal Rumble, in essence, is WWE's All Star Game.  The event pits the biggest WWE superstars against one another as WWE combines its top talent in battle royal for the right to go to Wrestlemania. 

The Royal Rumble occurs during a time frame similar to that of the NFL Pro Bowl and the NBA All Star game, and like its major sporting counterparts, WWE's own all-star game has come with its share of snubs over the years.

Looking through the statistics, or just using the old fashioned eyeball test, reveals a small handful of Royal Rumble participants who delivered standout performances, yet did not go on to win the match itself. 

Circumstances, timing, storylines, and a hint of politics played their frustratingly appropriate roles in each of these superstars' disappointing Royal Rumble demises.  However their efforts are not lost on this observer, and in this six pack of Royal Rumble snubs, we salute you the Royal Rumble soldier. 

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6. Chris Jericho (2003)

Brock Lesnar's Royal Rumble win in 2003, where he stayed for a cup of coffee before eliminating the Undertaker, was one of the more forgettable Royal Rumble wins in WWE history. 

However it was the performance throughout, delivered by Chris Jericho, that would have made a Jericho Royal Rumble win more of a hallmark achievement. 

Entering second, Jericho lasted for almost 40 minutes, longer than anybody else in the Royal Rumble match held in Boston, and eliminated five WWE Superstars by himself. 

Jericho was unceremoniously eliminated by Test as his incredible run in the Royal Rumble match came to a deflating end. 

5. Diesel (1994)

The 1994 Royal Rumble saw the WWF fumble to find a replacement superstar who could fill the void left by Hulk Hogan. 

They seemed to be torn between Lex Luger and Bret Hart, as the two became co-winners of the Royal Rumble match that year in the Providence Civic Center.

However one of the answers was indeed the biggest snub of 1994's Royal Rumble in Rhode Island. 

Entering seventh, Diesel eliminated seven Royal Rumble participants by his lonesome before being eliminated by three men. 

Diesel wasn't quite ready for a Wrestlemania main event match during the time of his Royal Rumble dominance, but this impressive showcase on the big stage of the Royal Rumble was a foreshadowing of things to come from a man who would go on to become of the bigger stars in wrestling history.  

4. CM Punk (2010)

CM Punk was eliminated fairly early in the 2010 Royal Rumble match, but he put on a show that was as unique as it was dominating early in the match. 

Punk found his rhythm in the 2010 Royal Rumble match when he eliminated five consecutive WWE Superstars.  Following each ring-clearing elimination, Punk would deliver one of his famous straight edge sermons on the microphone in what was essentially a Royal Rumble first. 

Despite being one of the best heels going at the time, the partisan and old school Atlanta faithful couldn't help but cheer CM Punk, and his unique Royal Rumble antics, before Triple H made his presence felt at entrant No. 8 to spoil all the fun. 

3. Hulk Hogan (1989)

Big John Studd was your unassuming victor of the 1989 Royal Rumble held in Houston, Texas, however it was the immortal Hulk Hogan who seemed as if he was on his way to a sure victory with nine solo eliminations. 

In fact, in his Royal Rumble debut, Hogan did everything but win the event as he was eventually eliminated by Akeem and Big Boss Man. 

While Hogan's elimination from the '89 Royal Rumble was indeed shocking, the popular superstar was vindicated when he went on to win the Royal Rumble match in each of the next two years. 

2. Steve Austin (1999)

For whatever reason, the 1999 Royal Rumble saw Vince McMahon reign supreme as he ducked and dodged his way to an improbable victory. 

However it was Stone Cold Steve Austin who was the most dominating superstar in that match, lasting for close to an hour and nabbing eight solo eliminations.

The story of the 1999 Royal Rumble match, in Anaheim, Calif., was Austin's hot pursuit of McMahon. McMahon tried everything to avoid Austin throughout the Royal Rumble match in a classic cat and mouse showcase. 

In the end, when Austin finally managed to get his hands on McMahon, outside interference from the Rock cost Austin a Royal Rumble victory as McMahon became the first Royal Rumble winner with only a single elimination. 

1. Kane (2001)

Kane's 2001 Royal Rumble achievements are still talked about in WWE video packages to this day as WWE heads into the tenth anniversary of the most dominating single Royal Rumble output of all time. 

With 11 eliminations, Kane still holds the record for most Royal Rumble eliminations in a single match, and the 300-pounder lasting for close to an hour is an accomplishment in and of itself. 

Kane winning the Royal Rumble that year wouldn't have created the most marketable match possible for WWE, as the promotion opted to go with Steve Austin (who won the Royal Rumble that year in New Orleans, La.) and The Rock in what was a scintillating main event at Wrestlemania X-Seven in Houston. 

Despite Austin's heroic comeback that year, where he was booked to win the Royal Rumble match after being beaten and bloodied by a revenge minded Triple H, Kane's 11 eliminations remain fresh in the minds of many wrestling fans as the more impressive and remarkable feat. 

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