The Royal Rumble is not just a WWE event; it has remained a culture statement to enthrall fans since it started up in 1988. This high-stakes battle royal has 30 (and sometimes even 40) competitors who compete and not necessarily eliminate each other but tell the story of many, fight for a long time, and earn the right to even have a chance to “Main Event” WrestleMania.
Some of the victors have diverted their paths and changed the course of their careers, while some cemented their legacy forever. We will really dive into the Best Ever Royal Rumble Winners of all time and dissect the moments, the drama, as well as the stories that have made them so iconic.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1997, 1998, 2001)
Why Austin is the Greatest Royal Rumble Competitor
The Royal Rumble belongs to Stone Cold Steve Austin; it is his undisputed territory. With three wins (a feat never repeated until this day) and his glorious performance on the conquest, all were significant factors of the rise of the Attitude Era- one of WWE’s most prosperous periods.
Controversially Brilliant
Austin’s first title was disgraced in a match full of drama and hullabaloo. After being eliminated by Bret Hart, Austin slid back to the ring unnoticed, only to capitalize on the confusion and eliminate Hart to win the match. Not only this brilliant victory threw Austin into the main event, but it also created the foundation of his legendary feud with Hart, leading to their famous WrestleMania 13 match.
A Loner’s Journey
Austin found himself in the 1998 Rumble marked, hunted by nearly all the participants, he would still be the last man standing, throwing as many as he could into a stunner and fighting off every challenger. A famous WrestleMania XIV match-up with Shawn Michaels would follow, the win paving the way for Austin to officially release the Attitude Era with Mike Tyson as the enforcer making it one of the Best Ever Royal Rumble Winners.
Most Perfect Rumble Performance
By 2001, he was already a veteran and a hot favorite among the audience. Entering as number 27, Austin displayed both dominance and charisma along with unmatched determination. He eliminated a malevolent Kane to claim his third and final Royal Rumble victory, demonstrating, once again, how no one truly owns the Rumble like “Stone Cold.”
Shawn Michaels (1995, 1996)
Royal Rumble was converted by Shawn Michaels from an endurance test into an athletics display. He not only won but taught lessons about storytelling and athletic prowess during his wins in 1995 and 1996.
The Iron Man’s Gamble
Michaels made it into the rumble as number one contender and fought his way up hill. He hung on to the ropes with one foot hardly off the floor and eliminated the British Bulldog soon afterwards. This finale must go down in history as one of the most suspenseful moments in WWE history.
Back-to-Back Glory
Michaels became just the second wrestler to bag two consecutive Rumbles and cemented his reputation as “Mr. WrestleMania.” His 1996 win resulted in the legendary Iron Man match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII, which is remembered for his winning of the WWE Championship and counted among the best WrestleMania matches.
Ric Flair (1992)
Ric Flair winning the Royal Rumble in 1992 has often been considered the most epic single performance in the history of the Rumble.
This was the first time a Royal Rumble had been staged for the vacant WWF Championship, making it arguably the most cutthroat Rumble yet: Flair came in at number three and outlasted all-time legends such as Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and The Undertaker for an incredible 60 minutes.
It was the fact that he was able to use his wizardry and experience to survive that made what Flair did so extra special. His later famous promo, in which he declared, “With a tear in my eye, this is the greatest moment of my life,” only solidified this legendary victory.
John Cena (2008, 2013)
His wins at the Royal Rumble reflect how resilient and pressure withstanding John Cena considers the perfect moment to shine.
Comeback that shocked everybody
When Cena returned as the number 30 entrant in the 2008 Rumble, the Madison Square Garden crowd erupted. The last place anyone expected Cena to show up so soon was at Madison Square Garden, where the crowd booed seeing the disappointing news of him sidelined for a serious injury. Cena eliminating Triple H at the last moment will go on to prove that the face of WWE is not going to disappear, really.
Road to Redemption
John’s second Rumble victory was all about redemption. After suffering a loss to The Rock in WrestleMania of the preceding year, Cena was determined to change the narrative of his legacy. His victory set him up for a rematch with The Rock at WrestleMania 29, where he reconstructed the WWE Championship.
Becky Lynch (2019)
Becky Lynch’s success at the Royal Rumble in 2019 was significant-not just for her but also for the entire industry of women wrestling.
She replaced Lana, who could not participate due to injury; she entered the Rumble with all the odds stacked against her. Battling through an injured knee, she eliminated Charlotte Flair in a dramatic finish to book her ticket to WrestleMania 35.
This victory, in fact, cleared the way for an all-woman main event at WrestleMania: in a triple-threat involving Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair, Lynch staked her claim as the first woman to hold both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships at the same time.
The Undertaker (2007)
The Undertaker made history in 2007 by becoming the first competitor to win the Royal Rumble at the number 30 spot. In a dramatic finish, he was pitted against Shawn Michaels, with the Deadman eventually winning.
This win by The Undertaker set up a match at WrestleMania 23 against Batista, where he will win the World Heavyweight Championship and extend his undefeated WrestleMania streak.
Rey Mysterio (2006)
One of the most emotional moments in the history of WWE, Rey Mysterio’s Royal Rumble victory was dedicated to his dead best friend Eddie Guerrero, entering at number two and spending more than 62 minutes in the Rumble, breaking the record for longest time in an individual Rumble match.
The fact that Mysterio later went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22 only further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest underdog stories WWE has ever told.
Triple H (2002, 2016)
The Game’s Renaissance.
Hunting after one serious torn quad injury in 2001, Triple H made a gallant return and entered the Royal Rumble in 2002. Entering as number 22, he beat down Kurt Angle and other top contenders and won the event. This victory went on to set the tone for the legendary WrestleMania 18 match that he faced against Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship, which would go on to become one of the most iconic bouts in WWE history, showing Triple H’s resiliency as one of the top stars in the company’s history.
The Cerebral Assassin
Triple H, as number 30, entered the Royal Rumble in 2016 and left the WWE Universe gaping. With the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at stake, he shocked everyone by eliminating Roman Reigns to win the title. This reflects the permanence of Triple H in WWE, proving yet again that after several years, he could still come on board and take the position when necessary.
Edge (2010, 2021)
Ultimate Opportunist
Edge’s Royal Rumble victory in 2010 served as a glorious return after months in the sidelining agony of a severing Achilles tendon. Coming as a surprise 29th entrant, he jolted the crowd and eliminated John Cena to secure victory. This established the future WrestleMania XXVI clash with Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship. Although Edge lost, he left with a searing memory, spearing Jericho into the announce table post-match.
Comeback Masterclass
One of the greatest moments in WWE was Edge making a full-time return to the ring at the 2021 Royal Rumble, ten years after retiring due to an end-of-career neck injury. Coming in at the grueling number one place, Edge displayed remarkable tenacity and outlasted 29 other competitors, defeating Randy Orton, in a final showdown to claim his second Royal Rumble.
Brock Lesnar (2003, 2022)
The Next Big Thing Shows Up
Brock Lesnar’s first Royal Rumble victory in 2003 sealed him as a once-in-a-generation talent. Lesnar had already cemented himself as a force in WWE when he entered the Rumble, which showcased his raw power and athleticism as he eliminated competitors like The Undertaker at the end. This victory assured him the key to main-event WrestleMania XIX, where he would defeat Kurt Angle to become the WWE Champion.
The Unstoppable Force
Brock made an entry into the 2022 Royal Rumble at the number 30 spot and stamped his authority on the whole thing with a sheer bulldozing performance. He head-on eliminated top stars before evicting Drew McIntyre in the very last moments before winning his second Rumble. The win furthered his cause to a marquee title match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38.
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