Only Real WWE Fans Know If These Wrestlers Won The Royal Rumble
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Sports
Aside from World Championships and appearing in the main event of WrestleMania, arguably the greatest achievement a professional wrestler can manage is winning the Royal Rumble. The 30-man over the top battle royal is the one chance most wrestlers have at proving their supremacy over the entire WWE Universe all at once. Since the Rumble’s inception in 1988, it’s a feat only 23 wrestlers have managed to pull off, making it a truly rare honor.
While the relatively small number of Royal Rumble winners means it’s easier to remember them all than, say, the full lineage of the WWE Championship, only a select few diehard fans have cared enough to commit all the victors to memory. This isn’t to say that someone who can’t remember who won in 1997 doesn’t actually care about the sport, but it’s nonetheless a sign of one’s dedication and love of the industry to try and commit them all to memory.
In all fairness, simply being able to name all the Rumble winners doesn’t mean much, as anyone with access to Wikipedia and a few minutes on their hands can read through the winner list in short order. However, assuming no one cheats when trying to do so, listing them all out can be as impressive a feat for a fan as winning the match can be for a wrestler. Find out if you’re a real WWE fan by taking this quiz and telling us whether or not these wrestlers ever won the Royal Rumble.
Has Hulk Hogan Won The Royal Rumble?
Hulk Hogan was a frontrunner to win the match every time he participated. That doesn’t mean he always picked up the win, though, as the leader of Hulkamania also had a huge target on his back, with every other entrant well aware he was the odds on favorite. Of course, the power of Hulkamania is not quelled easily, and it always took a serious effort to get him out of the ring. Were Hogan’s enemies always able to team up and eliminate him, or did he ever pull off a victory?
Is Vince McMahon A Former Rumble Winner?
Considering Vince McMahon is the CEO and owner of WWE, and therefore more responsible than anyone else for what happens in the company, it may be a common misconception that he invented the Royal Rumble. In fact, his good friend and occasional second-in-command Pat Patterson was the mastermind, but that didn’t stop Vince from taking all the credit for the high ratings it brought in. Knowing Vince, it wouldn’t be a stretch for him to enter the match, as well, then book himself over his entire roster. Did he ever do that?
Did André The Giant Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
André The Giant struck fear in his opponent’s hearts no matter what sort of match they participated in. Battle royals in particular were The Giant’s specialty, as he would often appear in a new territory back in the ‘70s or ‘80s simply to dominate every wrestler there in an over-the-top exhibition. Of course, the Royal Rumble is different from a regular old battle royal, with the potential for others teaming up to oust the Eighth Wonder of the World much higher than usual. Even so, did André prove he was a Giant all over again by winning one?
Was Triple H Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
The Royal Rumble is all about the game and how you play it, which is good news for master student Triple H. Even before Hunter Hearst Helmsley climbed to the top of the WWE ladder by marrying into the McMahon family, he was a fierce and destructive competitor, able to zero in on his opponents weaknesses and exploit them on the road to victory. Of course, that gets harder to do with 29 opponents, but if anyone is up to the challenge, it’s the Cerebral Assassin and King of Kings.
Has Mick Foley Won The Royal Rumble?
Crazy like a fox, Mick Foley is the only competitor in Royal Rumble history to enter a single version of the event more than once. Back in 1998, he actually entered three times, once as Cactus Jack, then Mankind, and finally Dude Love. Obviously, not all of his personas could win at once, but with this extreme level of versatility, it could be said Foley had three times as many chances as most to squeak away with a victory. Whether he entered a single time or thrice in one night, did Foley ever win the Rumble?
Is The Big Show A Former Rumble Winner?
Not only is The Big Show well known as “the world’s largest athlete” and heir apparent to André The Giant, he’s also one of the longest tenured main event stars in WWE today. These are only two reasons why Show should be a lock for the final four each time he enters the Royal Rumble, and unsurprisingly, he’s managed to last all the way to the end on several occasions. Of course, Show’s size also mean fatigue sets in for him faster than others, so it’s easy for his opponents to catch him with his guard down in those final moments.
Did “Stone Cold” Steve Austin Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
Did the most popular wrestler in WWE history have what it took to win a Royal Rumble or two? Oh, hell yeah he did. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin was in the rare class of performer who absolutely never stopped fighting, even when he was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. All that said, Austin was also the type of wrestler who made every single person he worked with hate his guts, and each time he entered a Rumble, there was a target on his back bigger than the state of Texas. Did Austin overcome the odds and win the Rumble anyway?
Has Ric Flair Won The Royal Rumble?
Styling and profiling everywhere he goes, many fans of sports entertainment will always consider “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair the greatest professional wrestler ever to live. Flair was also known as the rare class of performer who could easily wrestle for a full hour and keep on going, which more than prepared him to enter the Royal Rumble. Of course, an hour long match between two competitors is nothing like one with 29 opponents, any of whom could push Flair over the top regardless of how much energy he has. In a way, it’s not fair to Flair, but has he won a Rumble anyway?
Was John Cena Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
It’s basic thugonomics: John Cena is the most famous superstar in the modern WWE Universe, such to an extent that he’s still considered the face of the company even now that he wrestles fewer than ten matches per year. That’s all Cena needs to make fans around the world go crazy, though, and sometimes he doesn’t even need so much time—a single hour or less in the Royal Rumble can more than suffice. With the ability to hold the crowd in the palm of his hand, Cena definitely had the skills necessary to win a Rumble or two. Did he ever pull it off?
Did “Macho Man” Randy Savage Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
Mad enough to be crowned king, the “Macho Man” Randy Savage will forever be one of the greatest legends in pro wrestling history. With agility only matched by his technical prowess, Savage could break his opponents down piece by piece faster than most wrestlers could think, all the while putting on a charismatic, flashy show that audiences around the world instantly deemed unforgettable. Royal Rumble victories aren’t always part of a legendary wrestler’s resume, though; were they with the Macho Man?
Is Dean Ambrose A Former Rumble Winner?
In the professional wrestling business, crazy can actually be a very good thing, as is the case with “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose. Throwing caution to the wind, Ambrose has used every insane impulse he had to dominate the competition and rise to the top of the WWE Universe, with or without his Shield buddies at his side. The downside is that Ambrose’s madness often opens the door for little mistakes and shortcomings, which can be instantly fatal in the unrelenting Rumble. Has he ever overcome this fault and won one anyway?
Was Shawn Michaels Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
For the vast majority of Royal Rumble Pay-Per-Views, the titular match has served the main event of the evening. Therefore, it was only natural the show stopping main eventer Shawn Michaels would make an appearance in a few of them, doing whatever he could to take all the spotlight it entails. Of course, given HBK’s penchant for theatrics and flying off the top rope in dramatic fashion, it would be all too easy for an opponent to take advantage and push him outside of the ring. Has Michaels fallen victim to such a mistake, or did he manage to pull off a win?
Has Brock Lesnar Won The Royal Rumble?
As soon as he became the 1 in 21-1, it was overwhelmingly clear that Brock Lesnar was the most destructive Beast Incarnate in WWE history. Granted, plenty of fans already knew that when he left WWE for the octagon and dominated UFC with the same fervor he had done the squared circle. Of course, just like every other monster of this nature, everyone in WWE is well aware of Lesnar’s power, so the smart ones should logically all team up to try and stop him from winning a Rumble. Did that slow him down any, or did Brock pick up a victory anyway?
Is Daniel Bryan A Former Rumble Winner?
Bringing in the loudest and most omnipresent crowd chants in recent history, Daniel Bryan was destined to be a star no matter how hard Vince McMahon, Triple H, and other WWE executives tried to stop him from becoming one. Unfortunately, no matter how fervently the crowd supported him, those detractors are still in charge, so they could prevent Bryan from achieving true fame or glory, like the sort a Rumble victory would definitely allow him. Has this prevented him from winning one, or did he overcome the odds and get audiences screaming, YES! YES! YES!
Did Roman Reigns Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
Predestined as a star from the moment Vince McMahon gazed upon his thighs, Roman Reigns is one of the most privileged men in the WWE Universe. No matter how harshly the crowd rejects his every move, the Big Dog keeps getting pushed further and further up the card, already a multiple time WWE Champion despite his youth and relative inexperience compared to some of his coworkers. This might upset the average wrestling fan, but McMahon hasn’t changed his mind in the slightest, still treating Roman as his cash cow. Has he also blessed Reigns with a Rumble win?
Has Chris Jericho Won The Royal Rumble?
The moment his countdown clock hits zero, Chris Jericho is ready to break the walls down. There’s no greater wall in the WWE Universe than the Royal Rumble, when 29 opponents are doing whatever they can to stop him. Of course, Y2J has been in the game more than long enough to figure out how to take down anyone who stands against him, having toppled monsters twice his size many times over. Things get a bit harder when those monsters band up against him, though, so has he ever won a Rumble?
Was Yokozuna Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
Virtually every Royal Rumble features at least one moment when an unstoppable force comes in contact with an immovable object, yet no one beast in the WWE Universe better fits that latter term than the legendary Yokozuna. Weighing well over 500 pounds, the idea of an opponent, or even a few of them, somehow getting Yoko up and over the top rope seems genuinely impossible, but then again, superstars only a little bit smaller than him have nonetheless met such a fate. Did the unthinkable happen, and a wrestler actually managed to eliminate Yokozuna, or did he manage to win a Rumble?
Is Sheamus A Former Rumble Winner?
Even when fans couldn’t focus on anything aside from the fact his hair was once really, really stupid, Sheamus never stopped showing off his skills inside the ring. With powerful kicks to the face, destructive slams to the mat, and every other tool a wrestler could utilize, Sheamus made his way to the top of the WWE Universe several times over, making him the first Irish athlete to achieve main event status in the company. Was he also the first Irishman to win the Royal Rumble?
Did Shane McMahon Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
Okay, so Vince McMahon might be the exact sort of egomaniac who would book himself over his entire staff to win the Royal Rumble. However, his son Shane has long held a reputation as a softer, gentler, more rational human being than the old man. On the other hand, Shane is also better in the ring than his father ever was, creating brilliantly exciting matches in every scenario, with any opponent. Given this, fans may not be so upset if Shane-O-Mac picked up a Rumble win. Has he ever done so?
Has The Great Khali Won The Royal Rumble?
Of all the giant beasts in professional wrestling history, it could be argued The Great Khali looked more like a true “monster” than anyone else in the business. His elongated features and immense size made Khali look like a CGI movie villain, yet the Punjabi Playboy was all real from head to toe, which naturally included his destructive overhand chops. Of course, sheer number of giants to enter the Royal Rumble without winning prove that this alone doesn’t guarantee victory. Has Khali been able to use his size en route to a Rumble win?
Was Booker T Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
Whether or not the suckas of the world can “dig it,” Booker T was without a doubt one of the most popular wrestlers of his era. After managing to become one of the few homemade stars in WCW, the Booker Man kept the success train rolling in the WWE Universe, winning dozens of championships and standing tall against the toughest of opponents. As this quiz has proven time and again, though, resilience alone doesn’t win the Rumble. Did Booker have the other necessary skills to do so?
Is Eddie Guerrero A Former Rumble Winner?
Lying, cheating, and stealing are three generally unscrupulous activities that can nonetheless prove incredibly helpful to a wrestler who excels at them. In the history of WWE, no one athlete has been a better liar, cheater, or thief than one Eddie Guerrero, who cheated life and stole the hearts of wrestling fans all over the world. He also used these skills to become a WWE Champion and wrestle some of the best matches in history against countless opponents. Was a Rumble victory another one of Guerrero’s stolen accolades?
Did The Ultimate Warrior Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
The living epitome of unbridled energy, The Ultimate Warrior came into the WWE Universe like a wrecking ball and never once slowed down his destructive streak. Applying the logic of Alexander cutting through the Gordian knot, Warrior cut through the competition faster than any rational human being could possibly think of a way to stop him. Of course, this doesn’t quite apply in an hour long match where multiple opponents could team up on the Warrior and stop his destrucity. Did Warrior manage to win a Rumble despite everyone teaming up against him?
Has Bret Hart Won The Royal Rumble?
When a wrestler spends his entire career bragging about being the best there is, was, or ever will be, they better have a pretty impressive resume to back up these lofty claims. Luckily for Bret “The Hitman” Hart, he has exactly the sort of history that lends itself to that kind of reputation, with five WWE Championships to his name amongst dozens of other smaller pieces of gold. Of course, it’s entirely possible to achieve that status without ever winning a Rumble. Can Bret boast to having done that, as well?
Is Randy Orton A Former Rumble Winner?
As an Apex Predator, Randy Orton’s main skill is zeroing in one his opponents weaknesses, slowly breaking them down piece by piece until they become pathetic prey to his vicious Viper tendencies. Orton is also the rare talent who always manages to surprise his enemies with the patented RKO out of nowhere, which has ended matches in a heartbeat completely unexpectedly. Unfortunately for him, shock value doesn’t mean that much in the Royal Rumble, when a new opponent can surprise Orton the same time he’s smashing another’s face against the mat. Has Orton managed to win a Rumble in some other way?
Was Owen Hart Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
The moment Owen Hart realized his brother Bret was “too damn selfish,” the Rocket branched out on his own as arguably an even greater in-ring talent. Being the younger sibling, Owen always felt that he had something to prove inside the ring, especially if Bret happened to be standing in there with him. The brothers wrestled one another on countless occasions, including a Royal Rumble match or two, but did Owen ever manage to prove his supremacy over Bret by winning one?
Did Rey Mysterio Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
As one of the smallest WWE superstars ever to enter a Royal Rumble match, it could be argued the “Ultimate Underdog” Rey Mysterio never had the odds more heavily stacked against him than when 29 larger athletes stood against him as opponents all at once. Then again, another one of Rey Rey’s nicknames was “The Giant Killer,” signifying his ability to break even 7 foot tall monsters down to their knees en route to defeating them. Is the Rumble merely another giant that Mysterio managed to conquer?
Has Davey Boy Smith Won The Royal Rumble?
With a vicious bite matching his menacing bark, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith bragged about being the strongest man in wrestling for years. This status ultimately brought him greater fame in the United States than any other English superstar has managed to attain, not to mention the championship glory that comes along with it. That said, Bulldog was always at his best with a friend or family member backing him up, either in the Dynamite Kid or Hart Foundation. Did they help him nag a Rumble victory, or was he lost on his own?
Is Batista A Former Rumble Winner?
So monstrous and destructive he originally came to fame as the missing link in Evolution, Batista was one of the biggest and baddest stars in recent WWE history. Based on his impressive physique, it was clear Batista had one hell of a work ethic as well, never skipping a day at the gym en route to his sports entertainment fame. Brute strength alone won’t intimidate 29 enemy wrestlers to eliminate themselves and hop out of the ring, though. Did Batista use his power in the necessary manner to win a Rumble?
Did Diesel Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
Believe it or not, back before Kevin Nash, aka Diesel, ever became a big star in wrestling, Vince McMahon actually placed him on the chopping block for failing to get over. In a bit of perfect timing for him, the 1994 Royal Rumble changed all that, when fans went wild as Diesel destructively eliminated seven opponents in a matter of seconds. Though he didn’t go on to win that bout, it wasn’t the last time he’d try the 30-man battle royal on for size. Did his future appearances go even better for him by ending in a victory?
Has Mark Henry Won The Royal Rumble?
Splitting wigs en route to the Hall of Pain, Mark Henry is even more of a monster than his reputation as the World’s Strongest Man would imply. Of course, this isn’t to say Henry’s brute strength should ever be ignored, as a man who can lift thousands of pounds like it was nothing is obviously a serious threat inside the squared circle. If the opportunity arose, Henry could simply lift up the ring and cause his opponents to topple out the other side, making him an easy Rumble winner. Has he ever done this?
Was Jim Duggan Ever A Royal Rumble Winner?
HOOOOOOO! Truly a one of a kind performer, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan is perhaps the only wrestler in history who can head overseas and somehow get an entire crowd of Europeans, Asians, or people of any other non-American background to scream their lungs out chanting, “USA! USA! USA!” Patriotism aside, Duggan was also wild and loose inside the squared circle, one of the industry’s original madman brawlers always ready for a fight. Did he ever use his off-kilter skills to win a Royal Rumble?
Is The Undertaker A Former Rumble Winner?
From the 1990 Survivor Series onward, the scariest sound in the WWE Universe is the ethereal GONG that means The Undertaker is about to hit the ring. Of all the biggest, scariest monsters to make a name for themselves in sports entertainment, none carry the same legend, the same menacing fear as the demon from Death Valley, and the mere fact wrestlers competing in the Royal Rumble don’t need to face him alone doesn’t make it any less daunting a task. Has the Phenom cemented this reputation by winning a Royal Rumble?
Did The Rock Ever Win The Royal Rumble?
With the millions (and the millions) of fans around the world chanting his name, The People’s Champion The Rock could always make fans go wild over the scent of what he was cooking. More important than that, The Great One was always capable of backing up his popularity in the ring, a fixture in the main event WWE Championship scene from two years after his debut in 1996 to the modern day (at least when he’s not busy making movies). Of course, popularity alone won’t win a Royal Rumble, as that also takes a good deal of cunning. Did The Rock have that, as well?
Has Kane Won The Royal Rumble?
From hellfire and brimstone, the Big Red Machine has been the most destructive demon in the WWE Universe since the day he debuted back in 1997. Kane’s dominant streak is never given more attention than the Royal Rumble, where he can destroy dozens of wrestlers at the same time all without breaking a sweat. For a long time, he held the record for most eliminations in a single Rumble, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he ever won one, just that he made it easier for the eventual winner to do so.