Royal Rumble Since 1988

Every year since 1993, the winner of the Royal Rumble has been granted a WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania, the “Grandest Stage of Them All”.

The Royal Rumble was invented by WWE’s first Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson in 1988. The concept, a battle royal type match that starts with two competitors and another wrestler entering ever so many minutes, was at first, presented as a bragging right to the other wrestlers, saying you were the best at that match. In 1993, the winner, Yokozuna, was given the chance to win the WWE championship at Wrestlemania IX against then champion Bret “Hitman” Hart.

The inaugural Royal Rumble was held on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan as the first winner. The first Rumble was a live television event and not a Pay-Per-View on the USA Network. The following event was featured as a Pay-Per-View and became part of the “Big Four” Pay-Per-Views along with Wrestlemania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series.

With no real rules, the most important rule in the Royal Rumble is that a competitor must be thrown over the top rope with both feet touching the floor to be eliminated.

List of All Royal Rumble winners since 1988

1988: Hacksaw Jim Duggan – inaugural winner.

1989: Big John Studd (eliminating Ted DiBiase).

1990: Hulk Hogan (eliminating Mr. Perfect).

1991: Hulk Hogan (eliminating Earthquake).

1992: Ric Flair (eliminating Sid Justice).

1993: Yokozuna (eliminating Randy Savage).

1994: Bret Hart/Lex Luger. Both men eliminated each other at same time to become co-winners.

1995: Shawn Michaels (eliminating British Bulldog).

1996: Shawn Michaels (eliminating Diesel).

1997: Stone Cold Steve Austin (eliminating Bret Hart). Bret Hart originally eliminated Austin when officials were not looking but Austin rolled back in and continued the match to eliminate Hart.

1998: Stone Cold Steve Austin (eliminating The Rock).

1999: Vince McMahon (eliminating Steve Austin).

2000: The Rock (eliminating Big Show).

2001: Stone Cold Steve Austin (eliminating Kane).

2002: Triple H (eliminating Kurt Angle).

2003: Brock Lesnar (eliminating The Undertaker).

2004: Chris Benoit (eliminating Big Show).

2005: Batista (eliminating John Cena).

2006: Rey Mysterio (eliminating Randy Orton).

2007: The Undertaker (eliminating Shawn Michaels).

2008: John Cena (eliminating Triple H).

2009: Randy Orton (eliminating Triple H).

2010: Edge (eliminating John Cena).

2011: Alberto Del Rio (eliminating Santino Marella).

2012: Sheamus (eliminating Chris Jericho).

2013: John Cena (eliminating Ryback)

Royal Rumble Facts

Most Royal Rumble Wins:

1. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (3) – 1997, 1998, 2001

2. Hulk Hogan (2) – 1990, 1991

Shawn Michaels (2) – 1995, 1996

John Cena (2) – 2008, 2013

Shortest Time Spent In The Royal Rumble:

2009 – Santino Marella (one second)

1989 – The Warlord (two seconds)

1995 – Mo (three seconds)

1995 – Owen Hart (three seconds)

1991 – Bushwhacker Luke (four seconds)

1997 – Jerry Lawler (four seconds)

Most Eliminations in a Single Royal Rumble:

2001 – Kane (11)

1989 – Hulk Hogan (10)

1987 – Steve Austin (10)

1996 – Shawn Michaels (8)

1999 – Steve Austin (8)

Divas in the Royal Rumble:

Equality started in the WWE Royal Rumble in 1999 when Chyna entered the Royal Rumble at number 30 and was eliminated by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. She was in the Royal Rumble in 2000 as well. Beth Phoenix entered in 2010 and most recently, Kharma entered in 2012.

Total Eliminations

With the Royal Rumble being held for twenty years, one has to wonder who eliminated the most wrestlers in the history of the event. Shawn Michaels has eliminated the most talent with thirty nine wrestlers. The monster Kane has eliminated thirty eight wrestlers and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin eliminated thirty seven. To round out the top five is The Undertaker with thirty five eliminations and Hulk Hogan with twenty seven.

Most Appearances in the Royal Rumble:

 Kane (16)

Shawn Michaels (12)

Rikishi (10)

The Undertaker (10)

Big Daddy V (9)

We have also featured the ten smallest wrestlers and wrestling women.