Summary
TheRoyal Rumblematch has been a fan-favorite tradition in theWWEsince its debut in January 1988. In fact, even those who aren’t interested in professional wrestling tend to get a kick out of Royal Rumbles, both on TV and intie-in video games. Royal Rumble matches feature 30 competitors who attempt to throw their opponents out of the ring over the top rope, with the winner being the last wrestler standing. The winner’s prize is an opportunity to compete for a championship atWrestleMania.
TheRoyal Rumblepay-pay-view is one of the WWE’s biggest alongsideSummerSlamandWrestleMania, and there have been some incredible events over the years.
While the Rumble matches hold more weight than any other contests on these cards, the focus is on the quality of the full PPVs. Dave Meltzer’s star ratings have also been included as a reference.
Updated July 09, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Royal Rumble season is almost here, with WWE’s event being scheduled for June 27, 2025. As the first PPV following WWE’s Netflix debut, the show will be readily available to watch on the streaming platform (not counting Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXVIII). Beyond that landmark, the event will be John Cena’s final Royal Rumble, which is a huge deal for anyone who has been watching the product for the last two decades. Hopefully, it will be better than 2024’s version. To help pass the time until February 2, this is the perfect opportunity to rewatch thebest WWE Royal Rumble PPVs.
12Royal Rumble 2002
Star-Studded Rumble & Underrated Title Match
A predictable finish can hurt a Royal Rumble match, but sometimes there is simply only one correct winner. After suffering a serious injury that left him out of action for roughly nine months,Triple Hmade his in-ring comeback at 2002’sRoyal RumblePPV, and the crowd popped big for the wrestler.
The Royal Rumble is primarily remembered for this moment, which is unfair since it is generally a great match. Steve Austin gave a performance that compares favorably to any of his three wins, Mr. Perfect made a surprise return and looked sharp in the ring, and Maven eliminated The Undertaker, a decision that had no consequences.
Otherwise, this PPV is largely forgettable. The only other bout that is really worth seeking out is Chris Jericho versus The Rock for the Undisputed WWF Championship, which is the best match of Y2J’s disappointing title run.
Winner/s
Wrestling Observer Star Ratings
WWF Tag Team Championship– Spike Dudley & Tazz (c) VS The Dudley Boys
11Royal Rumble 2005
Really Fun Rumble With An Iconic Ending
2005’sRoyal RumblePPV has one of the most infamous mistakes in not just Royal Rumble history but in WWE history, period.John Cena and Batistawere the last men standing and, in what appeared to be an incredible moment of timing, both men simultaneously fell out of the ring with their feet hitting the floor at the exact same time.
However, it turned out that Batista wasn’t supposed to fall out of the ring and the pair falling in sync was just a bizarre coincidence. Believe it or not, the worst was yet to come, as Vince McMahon charged down to the ring to improvise a finish but miraculously managed to tear both of his quads, forcing him to sit on the ground while barking orders like a child throwing a tantrum. The match was restarted, and Batista finally got his win.
Although the botch is what most people remember, the Royal Rumble match was otherwise a blast, highlighting WWE’s stacked line-up at the time. The rest of the card is a mixed bag, although Shawn Michaels and Edge got things off to a strong start. Triple H and Orton’s title bout has little heat since it basically marked the end of the latter’s poorly received face run, but the match itself is fine and much better than theirWrestleMania 25fight.
10Royal Rumble 2019
The Height Of The Man
The 2019Royal RumblePPV is difficult to rank since most of the matches are good but fall short of greatness. The best bout on the card is the main show’s opener, Asuka versus Becky Lynch, which is probably still the pair’s most memorable encounter. Later in the night, Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey came close to matching the opening bout, crafting a match that is still among the latter’s strongest in WWE. While Daniel Bryan against AJ Styles is technically immaculate, the match is heatless due to its placement on the card; meanwhile, Brock Lesnar and Finn Balor’s WWE Universal Championship match is short but sweet.
Neither of the Royal Rumbles are amazing, but they are both above average. The women’s match is primarily remembered for Lynch’s unexpected appearance, a decision that gave fans exactly what they wanted at the time. Seth Rollins' Rumble win was also the right call.
Asuka
3.75 Stars
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship– The Bar (c) VS The Miz & Shane McMahon
9Royal Rumble 1992
A Classic That Mostly Holds Up
Unlike the vast majority of Royal Rumble matches, where the prize is a title match atWrestleMania, the 1992 show saw the men competing for the vacant WWF World Heavyweight Championship. The match is considered by some to be the best Royal Rumble match in history, thanks in no small part to Ric Flair, who would go on to win the match after entering third.
The PPV also featured a Tag Team Championship match between The Natural Disasters and The Legion of Doom, as well as an Intercontinental Championship match between Roddy Piper and The Mountie. Outside the Rumble match itself, the rest of the card is largely lacking in memorable encounters, and it is not helped by the inclusion of three tag team bouts.
The Beverly Brothers
1.5 Stars
WWF Tag Team Championship– The Legion of Doom (c) VS The Natural Disasters
8Royal Rumble 2000
Mostly A One Match Show, But What A Match
Unlike most of the PPVs on this list, where the Royal Rumble match was the highlight,Royal Rumble 2000is best remembered for the show-stealing match between Triple H and Cactus Jack. The pair contested in a bloody Street Fight for the WWE Championship that cemented Triple H as atop star. The show also featured the debut of Tazz, who defeated Kurt Angle to a huge pop from his home crowd, and an excellent tables match between The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz.
Unfortunately, the Royal Rumble match holds the PPV back as it is one of the weaker efforts of the early 2000s. Although not terrible, the Rumble predominantly consists of mid-carders who have no hope whatsoever of winning, and there is little excitement until The Rock’s arrival at the 24th spot and almost no tension during the final stretch of eliminations. That said, as the climactic spot was mistimed, Big Show technically won this match.
The Hardys
3.25 Star
Undisputed WWF Intercontinental Championship– Chris Jericho (c) VS Chyna (c) VS Hardcore Holly
Chris Jericho
1.25 Stars
WWF Tag Team Championship– The New Age Outlaws (c) VS The Acolytes
4.5
7Royal Rumble 2018
A Few DUDS Aside, A Consistently Good Show
The 2018Royal Rumblewill forever be an important one, as it was the first to feature a women’s Royal Rumble. 30-women competed in the main event for the chance to compete for either Alexa Bliss’ Raw Women’s Championship or Charlotte Flair’s SmackDown Women’s Championship. The match surpassed even the highest of expectations, and many fans were happy to see Asuka win. The match was topped off by a debut appearance from Ronda Rousey, who would go on to compete at that year’s WrestleMania.
Elsewhere on the show, Shinsuke Nakamura won a thrilling men’s Royal Rumble that, at the time, felt like the start of a new era. It also set the stage for AJ Styles and Nakamura to face off atWrestleMania, a dream match that did not quite meet expectations. Brock Lesnar beat Braun Strowman and Kane in an underwhelming Triple Threat match that went viral when Brock Lesnar intentionally threw a real punch at Strowman.
WWE Championship, Handicap Match– AJ Styles (c) VS Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
AJ Styles
3.5 Stars
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship– The Usos (c) VS Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
Shinsuke Nakamura
4.25 Stars
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship– Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) VS Sheamus & Cesaro
Sheamus & Cesaro
2.25 Stars
WWE Universal Championship– Brock Lesnar (c) VS Kane VS Braun Strowman
6Royal Rumble 2008
The Ultimate Rumble Return
2008’sRoyal Rumbleis best remembered forJohn Cena’s shock return, as he somehow managed to recover from a torn pectoral muscle injury in just three months. Cena had spent much of 2007 getting booed by WWE crowds, though Madison Square Garden erupted when his music played for the 30th competitor. This return has lived on in legend, and it is arguably one of Cena’s greatest moments. The rest of the match is also great, and it gets off to a fantastic start with The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. There are even a few surprise returns like Roddy Piper.
Elsewhere on the show, Randy Orton beat Jeff Hardy in a decent WWE Championship match, and Edge retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Rey Mysterio. Neither of these contests are must-watch, but they are more than serviceable undercard options for this type of PPV.
5Royal Rumble 2007
Ending On A High Note
The year before Cena made his shock return to win the 2008 Royal Rumble, The Undertaker and Shawn Michales had a memorable one-on-one contest as the last two competitors of 2007’s Royal Rumble match. The incredible fight had fans begging for a WrestleMania match between the veteran pair, a contest that would indeed happen atWrestleMania 25and is today considered by many to be thebest match in WrestleMania history.
Prior to the Royal Rumble match, Batista defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Mr. Kennedy in a forgettable match, while the WWE Championship was on the line in a Last Man Standing match between Cena and Umaga. A vicious and violent epic, the latter was one of Cena’s best matches up to that point in his career, and arguably the highlight of Umaga’s tragically short run in WWE.
Batista
WWE Championship, Last Man Standing Match– John Cena (c) VS Umaga
4Royal Rumble 2023
A New Era
The first Royal Rumble of the HHH era was a blockbuster that largely lived up to expectations, even if it had a few low points. While the rumble matches naturally attracted attention, the main talking point coming out of this PLE was Sami Zayn turning on Roman Reigns and the Bloodline after the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship title match, a decision fueled by the group’s violent assault on Kevin Owens. This moment was so huge that it necessitated that Reigns and Owens' bout end the show, which is something that rarely happens at the Royal Rumble. In 2023, the Bloodline story was the best thing in WWE and, arguably, all wrestling, and one of its best beats happened atRoyal Rumble 2023. The match itself was good, although nothing too special.
The Rumble matches were both very good, with their predictable winners being their only major downside. Rhea Ripley not only won the Women’s Rumble but also put on a fantastic iron woman performance by lasting the whole match. On the men’s side, Cody Rhodes booked his ticket toWrestleMania 39, eliminating Gunther along the way. The latter also lasted the full match.
The event was somewhat let down by its two undercard bouts. Bianca Belair defended her title against Alexa Bliss in a forgettable fight that was held back by an underbaked story that failed to inject any tension into the feud. Bray Wyatt’s final match before his tragic passing also happened atRoyal Rumble 2023, and it was unfortunately not great. That said, this match takes absolutely nothing away from Wyatt’s legacy.
3.5
3Royal Rumble 2017
All-Around Fantastic Show, Let Down Slightly By An Uninspired Rumble Winner
Sometimes, an underwhelming conclusion can cast a shadow over everything that came before it, especially an event like theRoyal Rumble,which is generally remembered for the quality of its eponymous match. Now, to be clear, 2017’s bout is mostly enjoyable, with a very strong first half. However, Randy Orton did not need the win in 2017, and this result just ended the night on an unexciting note. This also paved the way for a dreadful match at the nextWrestleMania.
However, moving past the Rumble’s conclusion,Royal Rumble 2017is arguably one of the most well-rounded entries in the genre, especially if the pre-show matches are ignored. Charlotte Flair versus Bayley and Neville versus Rich Swann are pitch-perfect undercard matches, and both of them are given enough time to tell good stories. All four wrestlers have had much better matches, but they did not have off-nights either.
Royal Rumble 2017should be defined by its men’s title matches, which are both spectacular and also wildly different from each other. Kevin Owens defeated Roman Reigns in an over-the-top NO DQ bout that is the epitome of sports entertainment. As good as that contest is, the match of the night was undoubtedly John Cena versus AJ Styles, who finished their trilogy with arguably their strongest showing yet. For about 25 minutes, they put on an absolute clinic without leaving the ring.
Charlotte Flair
WWE Universal Championship, NO DQ– Kevin Owens (c) VS Roman Reigns
