10 WWE Royal Rumble Winners (Who Had Terrible Performances)
Ava Bailey The Royal Rumble match is one of the most prestigious gimmick matches in WWE history. Winning a Royal Rumble match can be life-changing for a wrestler's career as the winner of the Royal Rumble match goes on to challenge for a World Championship of their choosing at WrestleMania. The likes of Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin have proven to be worthy Royal Rumble match winners and there have been instances where WWE has got the Royal Rumble match winner wrong.
1:4610 Predictions For The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble
What will go down in the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble? We make our predictions for WWE's January tradition here.Some Royal Rumble match winners have had lackluster performances to win a Royal Rumble match. They may have had a short stint in the Rumble or barely eliminated anyone en route to winning the Rumble.
10 Asuka Won The 2018 Women's Royal Rumble Match
The Empress Of Tomorrow Became The First Woman To Win The Women's Royal Rumble Match
Year Won Women's Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Ember Moon, Nia Jax, Nikki Bella | 19:41 | 25 |
The inaugural women's Royal Rumble match took place in 2018 and the women had the spotlight on them as they closed out the show. Asuka entered the bout 25th which was a good number to draw.
The Empress of Tomorrow boasted an unbeaten streak in WWE, and she eliminated Ember Moon and contributed to Nia Jax's elimination alongside five other women. Asuka and Nikki Bella were the final two participants, but Asuka overcame Nikki to win the Rumble in a performance that wasn't vintage.
9 Edge Won The 2010 Royal Rumble Match
The Rated-R Superstar Returned From Injury To Win His First Of Two Rumbles
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Chris Jericho, John Cena | 07:37 | 29 |
Edge's return to WWE in the 2010 Royal Rumble match was unexpected, and the Rated-R Superstar was the 29th entrant. Edge was on the shelf for seven months after he tore his Achilles, but he was ready and raring to go.
He assaulted his former tag team partner Chris Jericho who was his Unified WWE Tag Team Championship winning partner before he tore his Achilles. While it was a good story that Edge won the Rumble by dumping Jericho and his former rival John Cena over the top rope it was a short cameo at seven minutes as he was getting some minutes under the belt.
8 John Cena Won The 2008 Royal Rumble Match
Cena Returned Ahead Of Schedule To Win The Rumble
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Carlito, Chavo Guerrero, Mark Henry, Triple H | 08:28 | 30 |
The Royal Rumble match is full of surprises, and when the clock ran down to zero and the buzzer sounded, no one expected John Cena to emerge as the 30th entrant in the 2008 Royal Rumble match. Cena relinquished the WWE Championship three months ago as he sustained a torn pec.
10 Best #30 Entrants In Royal Rumble History, Ranked By Performance
The coveted number 30 entry spot in WWE's Royal Rumble has led to some great and memorable performances over the years!Cena somehow found a way to recover quickly and in his eight-minute cameo, he removed Carlito, Chavo Guerrero, and Mark Henry from the equation. He had a stand-off with the 2002 winner Triple H and the 2005 winner Batista. The trio had some good exchanges, but it was Cena who eliminated Triple H to win his first Rumble marking a successful return to the ring.
7 Ronda Rousey Won The 2022 Women's Royal Rumble Match
The Baddest Woman On The Planet Has A Successful Return To WWE
Year Won Women's Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Nikki A.S.H., Brie Bella, Shotzi, Charlotte Flair | 10:16 | 28 |
Ronda Rousey was away from WWE for three years as she became a mother and enjoyed her time away from the squared circle. Rousey entered the 2022 women's Royal Rumble match as the 28th entrant, and there was no doubt that she was going to win the match.
Rousey was rusty but she got 10 minutes in the tank. She powered past Nikki A.S.H. Brie Bella, Shotzi, and she had a showdown with the SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. Rousey got the better of the Queen and she punched her ticket to a championship match at WrestleMania 38.
6 Randy Orton Won The 2017 Royal Rumble Match
The Viper Won His Second Royal Rumble Match
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Roman Reigns | 20:52 | 23 |
Randy Orton entered the 2017 Royal Rumble match bidding to win the Royal Rumble match for the second time in his career after he won it in 2009. The match was stacked with the likes of Roman Reigns, Chris Jericho, and The Undertaker among the field.
Orton almost lasted 21 minutes in the 2017 Royal Rumble but he only registered one elimination. It was a crucial one as he executed the RKO on Roman Reigns and dumped him over the top rope to win his second Royal Rumble match.
5 Brock Lesnar Won The 2022 Men's Royal Rumble Match
The Beast Incarnate Wasted No Time In Becoming A Two-Time Royal Rumble Match Winner
Year Won Men's Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Randy Orton, Bad Bunny, Riddle, Shane McMahon, Drew McIntyre | 2:32 | 30 |
After Brock Lesnar got screwed out of the WWE Championship at the 2022 Royal Rumble, it was obvious that Lesnar was going to participate in the 2022 men's Royal Rumble match. Lesnar was the 30th entrant, and he cleaned out the house.
Randy Orton, Bad Bunny, Riddle, and Shane McMahon were his first four victims. Drew McIntyre eliminated Lesnar in the 2020 men's Royal Rumble en route to victory, but Lesnar got his revenge by eliminating the Scottish Psychopath to win his first Royal Rumble match since 2003. His win was unnecessary and someone else could have benefitted from winning the Rumble.
4 Jim Duggan Won The 1988 Royal Rumble Match
Duggan Won The First Royal Rumble Match In 1988
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Nikolai Volkoff, Danny Davis, One Man Gang | 14:43 | 13 |
1988 was the year that the inaugural Royal Rumble match took place. It was only a 20-man Royal Rumble match, but there was no stipulation on the line. Duggan drew number 13, and he spent just under 15 minutes in the Rumble.
Every Royal Rumble Match Winner Who Has Never Main Evented WrestleMania
Royal Rumble match winners are guaranteed championship matches at WrestleMania, but not every winner automatically main events 'Mania.Duggan eliminated Nikolai Volkoff, Danny Davis, and One Man Gang en route to becoming the first winner of the Royal Rumble match. This win didn't do anything to elevate Duggan's career, and he lost to Ted DiBiase in the opening round of the WWE Championship tournament at WrestleMania 4.
3 Big John Studd Won The 1989 Royal Rumble Match
Studd Outlasted Several Major Stars To Win The First 30-Man Royal Rumble Match
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Akeem, Ted DiBiase | 12:21 | 27 |
The 1989 Royal Rumble match was the first one to feature 30 men, and somehow Big John Studd overcame a star-studded lineup that involved the likes of the WWE Champion Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Jake Roberts among others.
Studd entered the Rumble from the favorable 27th position but his victory in the Rumble is barely spoken about. Studd eliminated Akeem and the Million Dollar Man to become the winner of the 1989 Royal Rumble match in a forgettable outing.
2 Alberto Del Rio Won The 2011 Royal Rumble Match
The 40-Man Royal Rumble Match Was A Failure
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Santino Marella, Randy Orton | 09:33 | 38 |
The 40-man Royal Rumble match sounds like a good idea on paper, but it was poorly executed as it was clear that WWE was stretching to get the numbers in. Alberto Del Rio entered 38th and just five months into his WWE career he won the 2011 Royal Rumble match.
Del Rio was in the final three alongside Randy Orton and Santino Marella. Del Rio or Orton were the only two logical choices to win it, and the Mexican Aristocrat was the man who stood tall in one of the worst Royal Rumble matches in history.
1 Mr. McMahon Won The 1999 Royal Rumble Match
The Chairman Of The Board Became The Oldest Royal Rumble Match Winner
Year Won Royal Rumble Match | Wrestlers Eliminated En Route To Victory | Time Spent In Royal Rumble Match | Entry Number |
|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Steve Austin | 56:38 | 2 |
The 1999 Royal Rumble match was one of the most overbooked Royal Rumble matches in history. Mr. McMahon entered second after Steve Austin, who was gunning for his third consecutive Royal Rumble match victory.
McMahon's performance in the Rumble was one of the worst in WWE history for a Royal Rumble match winner. He undertook a stint on commentary duties, and it was a swerve that he won the 1999 Royal Rumble match as he was never going to headline WrestleMania. McMahon's victory was significant as the 53-year-old became the oldest Rumble winner.
