We’ve flipped the calendar from 2022 to 2023, and folks, that can mean only one thing: the WWE’s Royal Rumble is right around the corner. In the spirit of celebrating the occasion, I’ve decided to count down my 20 favorite matches in the show’s history. Maybe this is a hot take, but I think most Rumble matches aren’t actually any good. They’re just exciting because of the surprises, and not knowing who is going to show up. But, this particular match has been used to tell some of the most compelling stories in wrestling history and its littered with great and underrated matches outside of the main draw. Here are 20 of my personal favorites.
The Top 20 Matches in Royal Rumble History
20. Intercontinental Championship: Marty Jannetty vs. Shawn Michaels (1993) – This was the big showdown between these two that was the direct result of Michaels throwing Jannetty through The Barber Shop’s window. I had kind of forgotten about it until I picked up a tip on Twitter to watch it as one of the more underrated non-Rumble matches in the show’s history, and folks, let me tell you – it holds up.
19. Royal Rumble 1999 – I’ll level with you guys….there’s not much I actually remember about this match, but it always comes to mind when I think about the Rumble because the swerve of Vince McMahon re-entering the match, eliminating Stone Cold Steve Austin, and winning the whole damn thing is one of the most memorable moments in Royal Rumble history. It absolutely blew my 12-year-old mind.
18. WWE Championship: Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles (2019) – Super weird to watch this one back and see the prominent role that Erick Rowan played in this thing, but you just can’t beat two of the greatest of all time going at it for nearly 25 minutes.
17. WWE Championship: Chris Jericho vs. The Rock (2002) – This match might’ve been the highlight of Jericho’s first run as Undisputed Champion. One of the quintessential title matches in the show’s history.
16. Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt (2014) – Just before the Yes Movement really caught fire, these two snuck in a really good match coming off of a pretty fun little storyline. I don’t know what it was, but it felt like one of those rare moments in time when things just click. These two were firing on all cylinders.
15. Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens, Last Man Standing Match (2016) – Everyone wants to give credit to The Miz for really reinvigorating the Intercontinental Championship in 2016. But, I’m a big fan of what guys like Ambrose and Owens did to restore that prestige before Miz even won it back then. This match was an absolute banger – it went for over 20 minutes and ended with KO going through a mountain of tables.
14. Royal Rumble 1997 – You can’t have a “top Royal Rumble matches” list without mentioning the “Final Four” Rumble that had such a great finish to it. Stone Cold Steve Austin had been eliminated, but the refs didn’t see it. He snuck back in to toss Bret Hart as Hart was celebrating what he thought was a big Royal Rumble win. Because of the controversy, the Final Four match between Austin, Hart, Undertaker, and Vader was set up for the following month’s In Your House pay-per-view.
13. WWE Championship: Bret Hart vs. Diesel (1995) – It’s been 27 years since this match, but I just can’t forget the effort these two men put into their near 30-minute match. A 30-minute match out of Kevin Nash? Are you kidding me? Go back and check this one out.
12. Royal Rumble 2005 – What’s better? The good old fashioned “whose feet hit first?” ending between John Cena and Batista? Or, was it Vince McMahon tearing both quads trying to get into the ring?
11. WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Umaga, Last Man Standing Match (2007) –A hidden gem of John Cena’s career, and perhaps Umaga’s greatest match took place in 2007 as a part of the buildup to WrestleMania 23. They combined storytelling with the savage nature of a Last Man Standing Match perfectly at the Royal Rumble.
10. Royal Rumble 2002 – This was the big Triple H return Royal Rumble, and while that moment was certainly awesome, the roster was so good and deep in 2002 that it made for a highly entertaining Rumble match. Not to mention, we got Maven eliminating the Undertaker in this one.
9. WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins (2015) – This one really caught us all off guard. Remember, this was right in the midst of Lesnar’s run of dominating opponents. If you’re like me, you probably thought Lesnar was going to throw a bunch of suplexes and walk out with the strap. Wrong. What actually ensued was a lot of fast-paced action sprinkled with plenty of near falls the likes of which only a triple threat can produce.
8. WWE Championship: Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (2003) – Oops, I said the ‘B’ word. Anyway, past Royal Rumble Championship matches have been used to provide a credible opponent for a champion in order to make said champion look strong for a WrestleMania title defense. In 2003, the WWE elected to go with Chris Benoit as Kurt Angle’s opponent in his “tune-up” for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XIX. The two had faced each other on several occasions before, notably at WrestleMania X-Seven in what is widely considered one of WrestleMania’s greatest and most underrated bouts. The two had a very unique chemistry, and what appeared to be intended as an appetizer for what was to come turned out to be an all-time classic.
7. WWE Championship: C.M. Punk vs. The Rock (2013) – I still say what The Rock did with C.M. Punk was far better than either match he had with John Cena. I still say that C.M. Punk vs. The Rock should have headlined Wrestlemania 29. Regardless of what I think, the match actually happened at Royal Rumble, and it was an absolute classic.
6. WWE Championship: Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (2000) – Triple H and Mick Foley had some very special chemistry. Just one year removed from a brutal clash with The Rock at the Royal Rumble, Foley would don the flannel and battle Triple H as Cactus Jack. This match was interesting for a couple of reasons other than the impressive physicality of a street fight. First, it marked the height of Mick Foley’s popularity. Second, 2000 marked Triple H’s arrival as the top heel in the WWE. A tough match
5. Royal Rumble 2020 – I still remember the shock and awe of Drew McIntyre eliminating Brock Lesnar. Seeing him finish that run and win the match felt like an all-timer of a moment. This Rumble ended up being one of the most fun and exciting of all time.
4. WWE Championship: John Cena vs. A.J. Styles (2017) – It was a rematch from Summerslam 2016, this time for the WWE Championship. Two real icons of the wrestling industry going at it in an epic that sold both men’s abilities. It also tied Cena with Ric Flair for the record of most world championships.
3. Royal Rumble 2006 – To this day, Rey Mysterio’s win in 2006 might be the greatest Royal Rumble performance for a man not named Ric Flair. It was the ultimate underdog story, and with the recent loss of Eddie Guerrero hanging over it, it had that sentimentality factor too. It was a tearjerker…one of the WWE’s most iconic performances.
2. WWE Championship: Mankind vs. The Rock, “I Quit” Match (1999) – Mick Foley is often remembered for the heart and soul he poured into his matches. In this case, he poured about 26 chair shots to the head’s worth. Foley always wrestled with reckless abandonment, and a complete disregard for his own well-being. So, yeah – it was big. It was brutal. It was everything I loved about wrestling as a 13-year old kid.
1. Royal Rumble 1992 – It is one of the most iconic matches in pro wrestling history, Royal Rumble or any other show. Ric Flair going the distance, working his ass off, and coming out on top is the standard bearer for what a Royal Rumble match should be. I don’t think there’s any debating this one, folks.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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