Every year since 1988, the Road to WrestleMania officially begins at the Royal Rumble. Thirty men and thirty women enter their respective matches, and the last person standing earns a championship opportunity at WrestleMania whether it’s the main event, co-main event, or even the opening match. Some Royal Rumbles go down as legendary, while others are remembered as complete wastes of time.
Each year, the rumors begin to swirl: who’s returning, who’s debuting, and what shocking moment will steal the show. We’ve seen John Cena break the internet with his surprise return in 2008 (which nobody saw coming and if you say you did, you’re lying), and we’ve witnessed moments like Roman Reigns and The Rock standing together in the ring as the Philadelphia crowd booed them out of the building.
Looking back at nearly 40 years of Royal Rumble history, here are my Top 10 Royal Rumble matches of all time.
Royal Rumble 1992 – Flair for the Gold
We all remember what happened at the end of 1991: the WWF Championship was vacated, and Jack Tunney announced that the winner of the Royal Rumble would become the new champion. The odds were stacked against Ric Flair, but Flair did what the Nature Boy does best. Entering at #3, he went the distance and eliminated Sid Justice (with a little help from Hulk Hogan) to become WWF Champion. With a tear in his eye, Flair cemented what many still consider the greatest Royal Rumble performance of all time.
Royal Rumble 2001 – Austin Makes It Three
This one was just pure fun. You had hardcore chaos, Honky Tonk Man, Drew Carey, and Stone Cold Steve Austin making history as the first (and still only) three-time Royal Rumble winner. Kane dominated much of the match, throwing competitors out left and right, but Austin took advantage at the perfect moment, eliminated Kane, and punched his ticket to WrestleMania X-Seven. Peak Attitude Era energy from start to finish.
Royal Rumble 2006 – Doing It for Eddie
This one ranks high for emotional reasons. Rey Mysterio entered at #2 in honor of his fallen friend Eddie Guerrero and won the entire thing in a true underdog performance. The match had a strong theme, a great mix of main-eventers and mid-card talent, and yes, even Jonathan Coachman. Mysterio broke the record for longest time spent in a Rumble match (since surpassed) and went on to WrestleMania 22, where he defeated Kurt Angle and Randy Orton to become World Heavyweight Champion.
Royal Rumble 2020 – Two Rumbles in One
This night will always be overshadowed by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, but the match itself was unforgettable. It felt like two Rumbles in one: the dominance of Brock Lesnar in the first half and the rise of Drew McIntyre in the second. Lesnar entered at #1 as WWE Champion and eliminated 10 competitors before being taken out by McIntyre. Add Edge’s shocking return at #21, and you had a modern classic. McIntyre went on to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania during the COVID-era shows, in front of no fans but with the entire wrestling world watching.
Royal Rumble 2004 – A Painful Classic
This one hurts, and we all know why. Without going into detail, this Royal Rumble still holds an important place in history. For only the second time ever, the #1 entrant went on to win the entire match. The brand split was perfectly represented with 15 RAW and 15 SmackDown competitors. Moments like Mick Foley eliminating Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar costing Goldberg the match helped shape WrestleMania XX, and gave us one of the greatest visuals in WrestleMania history, now remembered with heartbreak.
Royal Rumble 1997 – Beginning of the Austin Era
This was Austin’s first Royal Rumble victory, in front of over 60,000 fans in San Antonio. The match featured a wild mix of New Generation stars and international legends. Someone famously forgot to explain the rules to Mil Mascaras, who eliminated himself. We also got the fake Razor Ramon and Diesel, and one of the most controversial finishes ever. Bret Hart eliminated Austin, but with officials distracted by chaos on the outside, Austin re-entered and won. That confusion didn’t lead to a title match at WrestleMania 13 but instead, it led to one of the greatest matches of all time: Austin vs. Hart in a Submission Match. It’s also the first wrestling match I remember watching with my big brother.
Royal Rumble 2018 – History Is Made
For the first time ever, the women had their own Royal Rumble match. While women had appeared in past Rumbles (Chyna (1999), Beth Phoenix (2010), and Kharma (2012)) this was different. Thirty women representing the past, present, and future competed, and Asuka made history by eliminating Nikki Bella to win. Ronda Rousey’s post-match debut may have stolen some attention, but Asuka will forever be remembered as the winner of the first Women’s Royal Rumble.
Royal Rumble 2005 – Controlled Chaos
Nobody will ever forget how this Royal Rumble ended. Batista (RAW) and John Cena (SmackDown) both went over the top rope and hit the floor at the exact same time. Whether it was planned or accidental, it was perfect. Confusion reigned in Fresno, and things escalated when Vince McMahon power-walked to the ring and tore both of his quads sliding in. Sitting in the ring, Vince ordered the finish restarted, and Batista eliminated Cena to win. Batista went on to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania 21, while Cena won the WWE Championship the same night officially ushering in a new era.
Royal Rumble 1998 – Stone Cold’s Second Strike
We’ve talked about Austin’s first and third wins, now let’s talk about his second. Austin entered the match with a bounty on his head, as all 29 other competitors were tasked with eliminating him. They failed. This Rumble also gave us the iconic “Three Faces of Foley” moment, with Mick Foley entering as Cactus Jack, Mankind, and Dude Love. Austin went on to win his first WWF Championship at WrestleMania XIV, with Mike Tyson serving as special guest enforcer.
Royal Rumble 2002 – The Game Returns
It was all about The Game. Triple H returned from injury earlier that month at Madison Square Garden and declared himself for the Rumble. He went on to eliminate Kurt Angle and punched his ticket to WrestleMania X8, where he defeated Chris Jericho to become Undisputed Champion (even though many still believe Hogan vs. Rock should’ve headlined). The match also featured Tough Enough winner Maven eliminating The Undertaker in one of the most talked-about moments in Royal Rumble history.
Honorable Mentions
Royal Rumble 1994
Bret Hart and Lex Luger became the first (and only) co-winners in Royal Rumble history. Both earned title shots at WrestleMania X, where Bret Hart walked out WWF Champion.
Royal Rumble 2019 – Women’s
Becky Lynch’s journey to “The Man” was cemented when she entered the Rumble after Lana’s injury and went on to win, eventually headlining WrestleMania 35 and winning both women’s championships.
Royal Rumble 1989
The original. Pat Patterson’s innovative creation debuted with just 20 competitors. Hacksaw Jim Duggan won by eliminating One Man Gang and no, the “winner goes to WrestleMania” rule didn’t exist yet. Duggan instead defeated Dino Bravo in just over four minutes.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Royal Rumble
As we head toward the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, both the men’s and women’s matches feel wide open. That’s the magic of the Rumble, surprises, returns, and chaos. It’s the most fun match of the year. My predictions? Roman Reigns captures his second Royal Rumble win on the men’s side, while Tiffany Stratton could shock the world on the women’s side. No matter what happens, I’ll be watching.
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