Five Best Royal Rumbles of All Time

The best Royal Rumbles feature larger-than-life stars, hard hitting action, and edge-of-your-seat drama. The Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s biggest events of the year, and one of the funnest matches to watch on top of that. 

I’ve picked the best five Rumbles of all time to get you started, including shock endings, star-making performances, and unexpected twists. So sit back and find out which Rumbles you should watch first! 

1) 2005 Royal Rumble

The 2005 Royal Rumble was a great match in its own right, but the botched ending made it the most memorable Rumble ever. John Cena and Dave Bautista are two of the biggest wrestlers-turned-movie stars today, but in 2005 they were still trying to make a name for themselves. Both wrestlers put in spectacular performances and were the last two competitors standing in the ring. 

Bautista was the planned winner, but he and Cena accidentally went over the ropes together and both of their feet touched the floor at the same time. This essentially made the match a tie. Then WWE-owner Vince McMahon furiously stormed to the ring out-of-character to restart the match so the proper winner could be decided. 

Vince McMahon tearing both his quads at the Royal Rumble will always be unforgettable pic.twitter.com/N2yIOGauzi

— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) February 16, 2023

However, McMahon tore both of his quads on the way into the ring and was unable to stand up. But that didn’t stop him. Sitting on the mat against the ropes, McMahon continued to berate Cena and Bautista like nothing happened until the match was restarted and Bautista was eventually crowned victorious. 

The image of an irate McMahon chewing out wrestlers while sitting on the floor is an all-time great moment in WWE and Royal Rumble history.

2) 2018 Royal Rumble (Men’s)

The 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble had one of the biggest shock endings in recent memory. After an entertaining Rumble that saw both WWE and NXT stars battle it out, the final three came down to two WWE veterans and a relative newcomer: John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Shinsuke Nakamura. 

Shinsuke Nakamura was arguably the most popular wrestler outside of WWE, bringing a hard hitting style and undeniable charisma to the ring. Him signing with WWE was a major surprise to the wrestling world. 

2018 : Shinsuke Nakamura wins the Royal Rumble 💥 pic.twitter.com/wtS72oDkid

— Jazz (@wrestling_jazz) January 5, 2025

Most people assumed either Cena or Reigns would come out on top. But instead, Nakamura performed his patented running knee strike on Cena and threw him out of the ring. Then Nakamura did the same to Roman Reigns, becoming one of the most unlikely Royal Rumble winners ever. 

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3) 2018 Royal Rumble (Women’s)

2018 was the first year WWE held a Women’s Royal Rumble, and it did not disappoint. Headlining the event, the Women’s Rumble delivered on every level imaginable. It had up-and-coming stars, returning legends, explosive action, comedy bits, and more. For my money, it was the best Royal Rumble match ever as far as pacing, as it felt more like a series of fast-paced smaller encounters rather than a single hour-long match that endlessly dragged on.

And not unlike the Men’s Rumble earlier in the evening, the Women’s Rumble also had a surprise winner that sent fans home excited for what the future would bring.

4) 1997 Royal Rumble

The 1997 WWE Royal Rumble was a showcase that set up arguably the biggest star WWE has ever seen: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Austin had been a major heel (bad guy) in the company for some time, but his charisma was undeniable and fans had begun cheering for him despite his evil ways. The 1997 Rumble saw Austin repeatedly eliminate the other participants in the match and having to wait for the next entrant. On multiple occasions he even sat down on the top rope and looked at his watch like he was bored. 

Steve Austin was technically eliminated from the Royal Rumble that year, but he slid back into the ring before officials noticed. Austin would eliminate Bret Hart to win the Rumble, setting up one of the best WWE matches ever at that year’s WrestleMania 13. 

5) 1992 Royal Rumble

The 1992 Royal Rumble was a star-studded affair with a unique twist. The winner of the 1992 Rumble would be crowned WWE Champion, rather than earning a title shot like in most other Rumbles. It featured a who’s who list of the biggest stars of the 1980’s and 1990’s, including:

While some vintage WWE seems somewhat slow by today’s standards, the 1992 Rumble still feels largely fresh and exciting. If pre-Attitude era WWE is your thing, I highly recommend watching the 1992 Royal Rumble.  

What is the Best Royal Rumble Ever?

WWE has held the Royal Rumble every year since 1998, and both a Men’s and Women’s Rumble since 2018. While there have been no shortage of classics, the best Royal Rumble for my money is the 2005 Rumble. It made stars out of John Cena and Dave Bautista, and featured one of the most unexpected and unintentionally entertaining match finishes in WWE history. 

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