The Royal Rumble has created a variation of historical moments in sports entertainment history, as the iconic match remains one of the showpieces on the calendar year. The Main Event to the first annual Pay-Per-View is the beginning of the long road to Wrestlemania. But which ones should every fan take the time to divulge themselves in?
Since it’s inception in 1988 the Royal Rumble match has gone from a symbolic Battle Royale to become a match that can elevate the next young star into the main event stage for the first time in their career.
Throughout the years, competitors such as Shawn Michaels, Yokozuna, Brock Lesnar, Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio have catapulted themselves into the Wrestlemania main event stage, following their exploits in the Royal Rumble.
Whether it be from their strong wrestling style, crowd jerk moments and the ability to capture the imagination, some matches have historically become some of the most infamous battle royal matches of all time.
Having said all that, let's look back at the top five matches every hardcore WWE fan should watch. Which one is your favourite?
#5 1992
If you’re looking nostalgia, then look no further than the Royal Rumble in 1992. For fans of Wrestling during the 1970's, and more so in the 1980's, Ric Flair in the WWE in the 1990's was everything dreams were made of.
The former NWA and WCW champion, Flair, joined Vince McMahon in late 1991, following a dispute with the WCW hierarchy who requested he take a pay-cut - yeah, not likely to happen, knowing the "Nature Boy"'s ego.
But Flair's return in 1991 came just in time for the January 1992 Rumble match. With the victor of the contest ready to claim the WWE title, fans were beyond joyous when Flair swept all before him to claim it.
Many fans were under the impression it would lead to a Wrestlemania main event with Hulk Hogan - and imagine the historical status of Wrestlemania VIII had that occurred, and egos not overtaken each other's judgement.
#4 1994
In a time in WWE history that remains overcast with a dark cloud of shambolic characters, two of the best in that era, Bret Hart and Lex Luger, were crowned joint winners of the Royal Rumble match.
With Vince McMahon unsure who should main event Wrestlemania X alongside Yokozuna (who was the company's top heel and Champion at the time), McMahon used the Rumble to decide the company's top babyface ahead of the tenth anniversary of the 'granddaddy of them all'.
The match was historic due to the fact both men won the match as they were both eliminated at the same time, with both men's feet touching the ground at the same time. Both Luger and Hart went onto Wrestlemania, but it was, in fact, Hart who was pushed all the way to Championship victory as his support undeniably overshadowed Luger's.
Every fan should take the time out to watch this historic moment in Rumble history and think what could have been, if Luger was used correctly during his tenure with the WWE.
#3 2008
For shock factor alone, not many Rumble matches could come close to emulating the 2008 match in New York City. It was the twenty years since the establishment of the Pay-Per-View and back in Madison Square Garden, the stage was set for a symbolic moment.
That particular moment occurred when the 30th participant’s music started to play, and the crowd popped beyond belief. John Cena’s entrance music created one of the most iconic moments in sports entertainment when Cena stood in his usual pose only for the camera to show a stunned Triple H standing in the ring.
The match itself was particularly enjoyable but the return of Cena, who was expected to be out for months following a knee injury, added that shock factor.
Not only this, Cena was a fan favourite unlike now.
#2 1995
For many fans, this Royal Rumble contest in 1995 remains one of the most symbolic and historic matches, as it kick-started the career of the legendary Shawn Michaels.
Many may say Michaels was already a star within in the business at this point, but the Rumble victory in 1995 kick started his main event career. As a result, Michaels went onto the semi-main event of Wrestlemania, where his match with Diesel was the only positive of a shambolic Wrestlemania at the Civic Centre - famously headlined by Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam Bigelow
Michaels was the first competitor to enter the Rumble as number one and win the contest by eliminating the British Bulldog for a finish.
When you consider no competitor had every lasted the length of time Michaels did in 1995, it remains a must watch for all fans. The feat has only been achieved once since when Rey Mysterio emulated Michaels’ success in 2006, but the magic factor was diminished when Rey achieved similar success.
#1 2001
Fan of the WWE and not seen the 2001 Royal Rumble? Maybe you should either re-evaluate things or else just start watching this historic event. The match saw a record eliminations (at that time) for a competitor when Kane took out 11 contestants during the one-hour spectacle.
It's difficult to describe how incredible this match is and it's undeniably the best Rumble match ever formulated in its 30-year history. With Stone Cold Steve Austin victorious, he set up a main event with The Rock at Wrestlemania X7. The Wrestlemania many consider the greatest of all-time.
The end of the Attitude Era saw Austin victorious in the match when ironically it was Austin's victory in 1998 that saw the dawning of the era just three years before. Sit back and just look upon this event with awe if you're not old enough to remember the brilliance of this time.
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