WWE is stuffed with distinctive match varieties, however none as profitable or universally adored as the Royal Rumble match. The idea is easy: 30 males or girls enter the match, one after the opposite, at one-minute intervals. Every opponent can solely be eradicated by being thrown over the rope with each ft touching the bottom. As soon as 29 Superstars fall to the bottom, the final individual standing might be declared the winner.
Once more, a easy idea on paper, however WWE treats the match as the final word check of endurance. Not solely should one competitor survive 29 others, however they have to additionally use their power to drive opponents away as their stamina continues to replenish all through the match. WWE tends to have fun a Rumble participant based mostly on the variety of individuals they find yourself eliminating throughout a Rumble match. Even when they don't handle to win all of it, WWE ensures that they'll file of their historical past books those that carry out essentially the most eliminations in a single Rumble match.
10
Bayley-7
Battle Royal 2024
Seven is surprisingly some of the widespread numbers of eliminations in Royal Rumble historical past. Hulk Hogan eradicated seven Superstars in 1991, Yokozuna in 1993, Diesel in 1994, Steve Austin in 1998, Rikishi in 2000, Nice Khali in 2007, John Cena and CM Punk in 2011, Bray Wyatt in 2015 and Braun Strowman in 2017. In the meantime , Rhea Ripley did this twice in 2021 and 2023. There isn't sufficient house to concentrate on each Celebrity who made it by way of this tie, so it's value specializing in the Celebrity who did this most just lately in 2024.
Bayley pioneered the fashionable state of girls's wrestling beneath the WWE banner (and arguably your complete trade) alongside Charlotte Aptitude, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch because the 4 Horsewomen. Bayley was one of many few Horsewomen to by no means win a Rumble match, however after eliminating seven opponents, she lastly achieved this on the best way to WrestleMania XL.
9
Nia Jax-8
Battle Royal 2024
Though the subsequent 5 contestants are tied, Nia Jax's is the newest. 4 months earlier than this Royal Rumble, Jax formally re-signed with the corporate after being launched in 2021. His second stint with the corporate noticed Jax ship the efficiency of a seasoned vet that surpasses his first stint with the corporate. His Rumble efficiency on the high of the yr is amongst his greatest.
Along with residing as much as his nickname The Irresistible Drive and throwing Superstars out of the ring left and proper, his time in wrestling is most notable for a confrontation with male competitor R-Fact, shortly eliminating him from a match that he shouldn't have carried out it. was a part of it. She's not like most ladies, as her theme tune used to repeat, however she is in an elite group of women. tied for essentially the most eliminations within the Ladies's Royal Rumble.
8
Chilly Stone Steve Austin - 8
Battle Royale 1999
The twelfth consecutive Royal Rumble pay-per-view is among the many most controversial within the historical past of the PPV franchise. Earlier within the night time, The Rock gained his second WWE Championship in an I Give up match, through which he hit Mankind with a collection of unprotected chair photographs to the pinnacle, one thing that's frowned upon right this moment because of the skilled wrestling group's understanding of concussions. Within the story, the controversy additionally got here from the truth that Mankind by no means stated "I Give up", as an alternative a recording of his phrases fooled everybody.
In the meantime, a extra history-based controversy passed off within the Royal Rumble match when WWE Chairman Vince McMahon booked himself to win the Royal Rumble match, a reserving resolution that produced blended reactions from critics. Nevertheless, regardless of the victory, Stone Chilly can be the one who would go to WrestleMania months later, deservedly so, not just for being runner-up within the match, however for eliminating eight different males.
7
Shawn Michaels-8
Royal Rumble 1995 and 1996
Shawn Michaels has the dignity of being one in all 4 males to realize consecutive Royal Rumble victories. Along with HBK, others who maintain the award are Hulk Hogan, Stone Chilly Steve Austin and Cody Rhodes, placing Heartbreak Child in good firm. Michaels first gained the Royal Rumble in 1995, arguably his most notable victory, as saving himself with one foot on the bottom established how necessary the each ft hit the bottom rule is to a Royal Rumble match. He would then fail to beat Diesel for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XI.
Michaels would get one other shot at stardom on the following yr's Royal Rumble. Along with successful the match for the second time, Michaels managed to get rid of precisely the identical variety of opponents because the earlier yr, at 8. He would go on to defeat Bret "The Hitman" Hart in an Iron Man match for WWE. Championship at WrestleMania XII.
6
Shayna Baszler / Bianca Belair - 8
Battle Royal 2020
Along with being tied with Nia Jax for essentially the most eliminations in a Ladies's Royal Rumble match, Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler tied the identical yr they broke that very same file in 2020. The principle forged viewers obtained transient glimpses of the then-contestants of the NXT constructing on the earlier yr's Survivor Sequence, the place NXT managed to defeat Uncooked and SmackDown for model supremacy.
The primary quarter of 2020 noticed Baszler and Belair formally be part of the principle roster - Uncooked and SmackDown, respectively - and to showcase their skills, each had the chance to offer excellent performances. Baszler manages to spotlight her pure ferocity as an MMA specialist, whereas Belair highlights her unmatched power and athleticism, all whereas eliminating eight different girls within the time allotted to them.
5
Hulk Hogan-10
Battle Royale 1989
1989 marked solely the second annual Royal Rumble occasion, and the primary time WWE would produce a 30-man match, increasing on the earlier 20. This may be earlier than WWE launched betting on the winner of the Royal Rumble competing for the World Championship. Title at WrestleMania. The truth is, WWE Champion Randy Savage would compete on this match as there have been no dangers within the match. If there was something at stake, it was only a matter of bragging rights.
The champion would truly be eradicated by his future WrestleMania V opponent, Hulk Hogan. Hogan is probably not as beloved by followers right this moment, however he actually was in 1989, as the Summit in Houston, Texas, broke out with all 10 eliminations. After 11 minutes, he ended up being eradicated by Akeem the African Dream and Huge Boss Man from the Twin Towers collective.
4
Kane - 11
Battle Royale 2001
In 2001, Kane was one of many greatest sights WWE needed to provide. He was already a former WWE Champion and, in 2001, one of many favorites to win the Royal Rumble Match. Though the victory went to Stone Chilly Steve Austin in one in all The Rattlesnake's greatest moments, Kane would make his presence recognized within the match by eliminating 11 different WWE Superstars, who on the time set the file for many eliminations in any Royal Rumble match.
It's additionally value noting that Kane's prominence was additionally achieved by going up in opposition to one in all America's greatest sitcom stars on the time, Drew Carey. Not solely did his string of eliminations earn him the respect of the WWE devoted, however being alongside The Drew Carey Present star allowed the mass viewers to see the Huge Pink Machine in all his glory.
3
Roman Reigns - 12
Battle Royal 2014
The 2015 Royal Rumble match is known for the group loudly booing Roman Reigns' victory, however the yr earlier than, when he was runner-up, it was a unique story. At the moment, Roman Reigns was nonetheless an lively a part of The Defend, and earlier than Seth Rollins betrayed his workforce, being within the group allowed Reigns to amplify his strengths whereas hiding his weaknesses (promotions, which might be an enormous purpose why the crowds turned on him within the following years throughout his singles push).
The highway to WrestleMania XXX noticed WWE check the waters with potential Reigns singles, first with a Sole Survivor efficiency at Survivor Sequence, then breaking the all-time Royal Rumble file. Seeing Reigns look so dominant had the group chanting for him to win the 2014 Rumble, which is ironic on reflection.
2
Brock Lesnar-13
Battle Royal 2020
It's uncommon to see the World Champion enters the Royal Rumble matchhowever one of many few exceptions got here in 2020. The story was that the WWE Champion felt nobody on the roster was worthy of difficult him for the title at WrestleMania 36, and so was attempting to get rid of all 29 opponents in an effort to offer Take an evening off for Mania. These desires of Brock Lesnar had been shattered when he was eradicated by Drew McIntyre, the eventual match winner and Brock's Mania opponent.
Earlier than being eradicated, nevertheless, Lesnar was a one-man wrecking crew in Minnesota, throwing away anybody and everybody in his path. He teased dream matches with the likes of Keith Lee, capitalized on historical past with opponents like Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston, and most of all, he merely regarded like a Beast Incarnate.
1
Braun Strowman-13
The Best Royal Rumble
When WWE landed in Jeddah for its first occasion in Saudi Arabia, they did so for the Best Royal Rumble, dubbed as such for internet hosting the most important Royal Rumble match in WWE historical past. For the primary time and the one time since then, the Royal Rumble would have 50 contributors. As a substitute of preventing for an opportunity at WrestleMania headlines, they might be competing for the Best Royal Rumble championship belt (which should not be defended) and the trophy that goes with it.
Braun Strowman greater than deserved that reward when he threw 13 opponents over the rope. The Monster Amongst Males reached participant #41 and in 22 minutes and 14 seconds had a monster trip. Even with out the Mania fundamental occasion, he tied Brock Lesnar for essentially the most eliminations in any Royal Rumble match, with Strowman holding the excellence of doing so in WWE only a 50-man present.