You’ve had the good and now it’s time for the bad.
Across nearly 40 years of Royal Rumble history, not every Rumble can be a classic. Some had the wrong winner, some were built entirely around one overprotected star, and others were just a cluster that bored or outright angered fans. There are Rumbles where you knew the winner before the countdown ever started, and others where a certain music hit and you just sighed and said, “Well… that’s not it.”
Here are my Worst 10 Royal Rumbles of All Time.
Royal Rumble 2015 – Roman Reigns Drowned in Boos
Where do you even begin with this one? Roman Reigns was the guy, WWE had decided but fans felt he was being shoved down their throats. This Rumble had so many better options: Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, and of course Daniel Bryan, who was eliminated in under ten minutes. Add in Big Show and Kane eliminating fan favorites, the Rock awkwardly coming out to “save” Roman (and getting booed himself), and the Philly crowd hijacking the entire match made this an all-time dud. Yes, Roman Reigns went on to the WrestleMania 31 main but the Heist of the Century stole the spotlight, and a lot of Samoans were not happy.
Royal Rumble 1995 – Michaels Makes Quick History
Shawn Michaels made history by winning from the #1 spot. Sounds great, right? Here’s the problem: the entire Rumble was under 40 minutes. Entrants were coming faster than a nerd on prom night. The 60-second intervals made everything rushed and chaotic. Yes, the finish gave us the iconic “Shawn Michaels Rule” (only one foot touching the floor) but that’s about all this match is remembered for. Michaels didn’t even main event WrestleMania XI, and the Boyhood Dream would have to wait another year.
Royal Rumble 2011 – The 40-Man Experiment
On paper, a 40-man Royal Rumble sounded awesome. In reality? Not so much. The first half was dominated by CM Punk and the New Nexus, who wiped out half the field before Triple H returned and cleaned house. The Miz eliminated John Cena to further their Mania feud, Santino Marella almost pulled off a miracle but Alberto Del Rio won it from #38. Del Rio lost to Edge in the opening match at WrestleMania and failed to win the World Heavyweight Championship, and WWE quietly never tried a 40-man Rumble again.
Royal Rumble 1999 – No Chance in Hell
As a kid, I hated this Rumble. On rewatch, it’s… slightly better but still awful. The entire match revolved around Austin vs. McMahon, entering at #1 and #2. Austin spent most of the match “injured” while Vince hid, wore a headset, and avoided elimination. The rest of the field? Nobody who realistically felt like a WrestleMania main-eventer. Yes, history was made with Chyna (RIP) becoming the first woman to enter a Rumble which ruled. But Vince winning after The Rock distracted Austin was brutal. And no, Vince did not go on to win the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XV. He lost to Austin at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, and Austin stood tall in the main event of WrestleMania XV.
Royal Rumble 2022 – Men’s & Women’s (Tie)
I’m lumping these together because both featured two of the most unlikable winners possible at the time. Brock Lesnar lost the WWE Championship earlier in the night, entered at #30, and steamrolled the Men’s Rumble. Ronda Rousey did the same in the Women’s match. On paper, that sounds fine but coming off COVID and back into full stadiums, the timing was awful. Shane McMahon getting booed, the Women’s Rumble being loaded with part-timers, and missed opportunities hurt badly. The bright spots? Mickie James entering to Hardcore Country with the TNA Knockouts Championship, Johnny Knoxville’s Jackass stuff, and Bad Bunny’s first Rumble. Both Lesnar and Rousey would go on to lose at WrestleMania anyway, making the whole thing feel pointless.
Royal Rumble 1989 – Big John Dud(d)
With all due respect to the late Big John Studd, this Rumble came before the “Winner goes to WrestleMania” stakes existed and it shows. When you’ve got Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Mr. Perfect, and Ted DiBiase in the match, Studd winning felt weird. The most memorable moment? André eliminating himself after Jake the Snake pulled out Damian (who absolutely deserves an elimination credit). Big John Studd’s win led being the special guest referee at WrestleMania. That’s it.
Royal Rumble 2014 – NO! NO! NO!
Poor Batista. Poor Rey Mysterio. This Rumble landed smack in the middle of Daniel Bryan’s Yes! Movement, and fans wanted one thing: Bryan or bust. And it was a bust. Bryan lost earlier in the night to Bray Wyatt, but fans believed the Rumble would make it right. Instead, Bryan never entered, Rey Mysterio came out at #30 and got booed out of the building, and Batista won while flipping off the crowd in the process. Everything was fixed at WrestleMania XXX, where Bryan won it all but this Rumble was so bad that Mick Foley reportedly threw his TV out a window.
Royal Rumble 2000 – The Rock (Predictable Edition)
This one hurts to put on the list because the event itself ruled: Hardys vs. Dudleys Tables, Cactus Jack vs. Triple H Street FIght for the WWF Championship, and yes even Mae Young’s infamous moment. The Rumble match itself? Not great. Aside from Too Cool’s dance break and Taka Michinoku breaking his face, it was flat. The Rock won by eliminating Big Show despite Big Show’s feet clearly touching first and then both lost in the WrestleMania 2000 main event with the “McMahon-in-ever-corner” mess.
Royal Rumble 2021 – The COVID Rumble
I actually like this Rumble. Edge winning from #1 and Bianca Belair lasting nearly an hour were fantastic. But the Thunderdome with zero fans killed the atmosphere. No crowd = no magic. Not even the Green Shirt guy was in attendance. Held in a stadium with real people, this wouldn’t be on the list. COVID robbed it of energy, despite the great outcome. WrestleMania 37 ended well for Bianca who on Night One defeated Sasha Banks to become the WWE SmackDown! Womens Champion but for Edge he failed to win the WWE Championship in the main event, getting pinned alongside Daniel Bryan as Roman Reigns stacked them both on his way to victory.
Royal Rumble 2012 – Bodies for the Sake of Bodies
This isn’t about Sheamus winning, that was actually a fun surprise. The issue was the field: Booker T, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Epico, Hunico, Ricardo Rodriguez, David Otunga… it felt like the match was filled with placeholders. Yes, we got Socko vs. Cobra and Kharma’s shocking appearance, but Michael Cole lasting longer than six competitors is unforgivable. Sheamus winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 18 seconds at WrestleMania 28 is still hilarious, though.
Dishonorable Mentions
Greatest Royal Rumble (2018) – Good For Braun, Bad for Business.
50 men was way too many, I mean who the hell is Hiroki Sumi but Titus World Slide did make it memorable. Braun Strowman won the entire thing that night in Saudi and still is technically the longest reigning champion in WWE history.
Royal Rumble 1993 – Macho Goes Flying
Yokozuna winning after Savage leaped himself over the rope made the finish look goofy. Add on to the nonsense that ended WrestleMania IX, that Rumble didn’t work for me brother.
Royal Rumble 2025 – It’s Just Me Uce.
Jey Uso winning over Cena felt wrong. Cena was on his retirement tour, and it would’ve made Cena the second ever to win three Rumbles. But Jey Uso Yeeted himself to a victory and choked out Gunther (like a b**tch) at WrestleMania.
Royal Rumble 2013 – Second Cena Victory.
This match was entirely built to set up Cena vs. Rock II at WrestleMania. I’m being serious when I say this, Ryback should’ve won but we got Cena winning his second Rumble and going on to a Second Ever Once in a Lifetime match with the Rock.
Final Thoughts:
I rewatch every Royal Rumble in chronological order every year, and some are just hard to get through. I don’t see how 2026 could possibly land on this list the roster depth is insane but with it being in Saudi Arabia, we could still get some decisions made for the crowd in attendance rather than the fans at home. As long as they stay away from nonsense entrants (stay behind the booth, Pat McAfee), let the match breathe, and that night in Riyadh could give us two all-time great Rumbles. If not? I’ll be adding it to this list next year.
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