WWE’s Most Iconic Royal Rumble Moments

The WWE Royal Rumble is one of those events that wrestling fans wait for with anticipation. One of the most unique formats for the industry and a hotbed of entering moments, it has cut some of the most prominent tales in the history of WWE. This piece looks at some of the most iconic Royal Rumble moments, analyzing events that have distinctly left their mark on the wrestling world.

The Birth of the Royal Rumble (1988)
The outbreak of the first Royal Rumble was on January 24, 1988, just when the concept of the Rumble match was being introduced to the WWE Universe. Designed by WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, the Royal Rumble match is a particular type of match that involves 30 men entering the ring in particularly timed intervals. The objective of a Royal Rumble match is to throw opponents over the top rope so that both feet touch the floor.
The first-ever Royal Rumble match was won by “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan after he managed to throw out One Man Gang. That established an annual WWE event, capturing the hearts of fans indeed everywhere.

Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, 1990

One of the most classic face-offs ever in Royal Rumble was in 1990 when Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior had a moment against each other in the ring. Both of them were baby faces and high rollers in the WWE, so their very encounter was fire-pumping.

Yet when the crowd erupted, Hogan and Warrior were ensnared in a test of strength and athleticism. Each was a winner in the outcome of that – though Hogan would go on to capture the Rumble, defeating Mr. Perfect – the blueprint for their battle at WrestleMania VI was already drawn. That event would culminate in Warrior’s victory over Hogan for the WWE title.

Ric Flair’s Legendary Victory (1992)
The 1992 version that was locally held is said to be among the best Rumble matches ever conducted, keeping up with the awe-inspiring performance by the one and only Ric Flair. This was one particular Rumble match where the WWE Championship was on the line, all the more reason to grab the same.

At the number three entrance, Flair went on to win the match, outlasting 29 other competitors, some all-time greats from Hulk Hogan to Randy Savage to The Undertaker. Flair lasted over an hour in the game, primarily because of loads of bravado and cunning tactics, with his most significant and final elimination being that of Sid Justice with an assist from Hogan, which saw him capture the WWE Championship. Flair’s post-match promo declaring himself “the man” is still remembered as one of the more memorable promos in WWE history.

Shawn Michaels’ Unprecedented Feat (1995)
History was made in 1995 during Shawn Michaels’ performance at the Royal Rumble, which made him the first superstar to win when he entered the coveted number one spot. He emphasized the win, thereby demonstrating just how resilient and athletic an individual could be coupled with that unmatched ability to thrill an audience.

In the course of the contest, Michaels showed off his signature style. Ultimately, it boiled down to a two-horse race with the British Bulldog and Shawn Michaels. Bulldog looked to have emerged victoriously, but Michaels’ feet, it seemed, touched on just one foot, thus gaining him the opportunity to re-enter the ring and eliminate Bulldog to guarantee a victory. Already, in doing so, he had claimed his place as “The Heartbreak Kid” and a top-main-star event.

Dominance of Stone Cold Steve Austin, 1997
“The Stone Cold” Steve Austin performed in the 1997 and 1998 Royal Rumble, solidifying his legacy as one of the all-time greats in WWE. What defined Austin’s win in the 1997 Royal Rumble was him being so defiant in slipping out of that match—throwing Bret Hart out of the ring—after being eliminated by Hunter Hearst Hemsley. Nobody saw Austin eliminated, so he sneaks himself back in and gets a second chance at his rightful Royal Rumble win.

In 1998, Austin became the favorite and turned the promise into tangible results, capturing his second Royal Rumble in a row. That victory set the stage for arguably his best-ever match at WrestleMania XIV, where he would supplant Shawn Michaels for his very first WWE Championship. Those back-to-back victories not only changed the paradigm but set in stone Austin as a wrestling legend.

The Rock vs. Mankind (1999)
The 1999 Royal Rumble contained an angle that could arguably be considered the most physical and emotional match in the WWE: The Rock vs. Mankind in an “I Quit” match for the WWE Championship. This, however, isn’t inside a Rumble match per se, but it is one of the most memorable moments therein.
The Rock and Mankind brawled badly, both men taking a fortune of physical punishment. Finally, The Rock played a tape of Mankind previously saying “I Quit” to make the victory unreal. The match is famously remembered for its brutality, including the unprotected chair shots to the head of Foley, and remains a very controversial and iconic moment in WWE history.

John Cena Returns (2008)
The most breathtaking moment in the history of the Royal Rumble came when John Cena returned in 2008. He had a torn pectoral muscle; he was to be out for a few months and, nevertheless, was not even in consideration. Then, really shocking is that the 30th participant during the Royal Rumble comes forward, and everyone is floored by disbelief.

Cena’s return ultimately fired up the audience at Madison Square Garden. He cleared the ring and eventually won after eliminating Triple H. This moment alone is one of those that carried on to be characteristics of Cena—never say die—but also further built him into one of WWE’s top superstars.

The Triumphant Return: Edge (2010
Another old comeback or return that will not be forgotten is Edge’s in the 2010 Royal Rumble. The Rated-R Superstar had been out of action for almost a year due to an Achilles tendon injury, and it was one of the best-kept secrets within WWE.

Edge caught quite a pop where support for him as a 29th participant in the contest was loud. He, though, made some even more significant gains right out of the gate in eliminating several other wrestlers, including his recent tag team partner, Chris Jericho. The victor of this year’s Rumble was Edge, with the last throw of the dice, eliminating John Cena, marking his victorious return for a championship match at WrestleMania XXVI.

Roman Reigns’ record-breaking performance —2014
Roman Reigns wrote his name with as much strength as athletics in the record books for the 2014 Royal Rumble. Off the 15th entry, he scored 12 eliminations over the old record of Kane.
Reigns put up a good show when he eliminated stars like Kevin Nash, Sheamus, and Dean Ambrose. Even without the victory, as he placed Batista later, Reigns’ performance here solidified his future as a main event guy and set the wheels in motion for his eventual rise to the top in the WWE.

Triple H Becomes WWE World Heavyweight Champion – Royal McSeeCs
The 2016 Royal Rumble match held an unheard-of stipulation: the WWE Championship was on the line, with Roman Reigns, defending champ, made to protect against 29 other participants. A match so full of detail, high stakes, and, at the same time, exciting drama.
As the 30th entrant, Triple H out of the Blues returned to the match and became its dominant force quickly. During the last moments, Triple H threw Dean Ambrose out of the ring. To become the Royal Rumble victor holding the WWE Championship. That win made it the 14th world title for Triple H and added a twist to the drama as both were on an inevitable course to face each other after an expensive elimination for free on FloSlam.

AJ Styles’ Debut in WWE, 201
The last point of the 2016 Royal Rumble was important because people were not just excited about whether Triple H would win but also because everyone was eagerly waiting for the commencement of the World Wrestling Entertainment organization of AJ Styles. Styles is perhaps one of the most enigmatic and magnetic wrestlers, with a long history of excellence in multiple promotions. He started number three in the Rumble.

The sale for Styles in some circles, the favorite, coming in should immediately turn into fan goodwill. He performed solidly in his debut, navigating close to a half-hour and eliminating a few challengers. In many minds, Styles marked the changing times in WWE, becoming instantly noticed as one of the very top stars in the company within a very short while.

Becky Lynch Double Champ (2019)
Becky Lynch capped her rapid ascension to the top of WWE with the 2019 Royal Rumble. Lynch had already taken part once, and facing Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Title, she lost. Then, Lana got injured, which forced an opening in the women’s Royal Rumble.

As this was a last-minute add-up, Lynch convinced the officials to let her in for Lana. She went on to win the Rumble; the championship match was scheduled for WrestleMania 35 after eliminating Charlotte Flair. The game meant a step in her career, as that led to her winning the championship in WrestleMania’s main event and becoming the first woman ever to hold both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships simultaneously. The Redemption of Drew McIntyre,

Drew McIntyre’s golden ascension to the very height of the WWE was realized with a career-defining win at the 2020 Royal Rumble. At number 16, lighter and disposing of everybody, Drew McIntyre turned in a virtuoso performance in the match, punctuated by eliminating Brock Lesnar, who had been on just an absolute tear, laying waste to 13 competitors.

The match’s turning point occurred when McIntyre threw Lesnar out of the ring supporting WWE tri banders. In the last minute, McIntyre threw out Roman Reigns to confirm the victory in the Rumble and championship contest into WrestleMania 36. It was supposed to be the atonement verdict and elevation of McIntyre into the main event, going to the extent of winning against Lesnar to win the WWE Championship.

Edge’s Emotional Comeback (2020)
The 2020 Royal Rumble also had the much-awaited emotional return of Edge, who had to retire in 2011 because of a neck injury that threatened his career. His return was very secretive, so he came out as the twenty-first entrant in the match, which was predicted enough. Certainly among the most genuine moments – not only for fans in the Royal Rumble but also in wrestling. When it came to wrestling in the ring, he seemed to be quite OK without any rust. He wrestled well, just like he has ever been, eliminating quite a good number of others, including his former tag team partner Randy Orton. Though he didn’t win, the fact of Edge returning itself became proof of his resilience and his love for wrestling, creating a base for more storylines and matches.

Main Event: Bianca
Bianca Belair solidified her position as one of the biggest stars in WWE after her performance in the 2021 women’s Royal Rumble match. She was the third entry in the game and displayed a high level of athleticism and endurance as she hung on to the game for almost 57 minutes. Belair performed superbly, showing strength and athleticism from an engaging finale with Rhea Ripley. In the end, Belair finally sent Ripley over the top rope to win the match for a title opportunity at WrestleMania 37. This would be big for her career and reflect that WWE is finally pushing new talent.

Conclusion
The WWE Royal Rumble has given the world of professional wrestling countless classic moments. It’s made history with some of the greatest moments: from historic victories and miraculous comebacks to intense battles and emotional comebacks; the Royal Rumble leaves the fans glued and thrilled with action and surprises. The Royal Rumble still has groundbreaking moments with the evolution of WWE and the arrival of new superstars that would configure the future of wrestling. These memorable moments throughout the years build a legacy that appeals the Royal Rumble last long and firmly establishes it as one of WWE’s most favorite events.