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The Royal Rumble has a long history, with the event first being run in 1988. 31 years later and the tradition of the Royal Rumble appears to have been set. However, the match has seen changes in the rules from the number of entries to the gap between entries, and even to the rules of elimination, nothing appears to be set in stone when it comes to the Royal Rumble.
When the Royal Rumble first started in 1988, there was a 2-minute gap between entries for the 20 man Royal Rumble. The next year saw the participants increase to the now traditional 30. The gap between entries was shortened to 90 seconds, but this isn't kept to the second. The WWE also had a 40-man Royal Rumble in 2011, with entry 38, Alberto Del Rio coming out the winner then. They went back to the traditional 30-man format the next year and haven't strayed from that path.
The rules have also been flexible, with Andre the Giant eliminating himself from the 1989 Royal Rumble to put distance between himself and Jake the Snake Roberts' snake that he had thrown in the ring. However, when Randy Savage climbed the turnbuckle to hit an elbow drop on Jake Roberts, he was able to climb back into the ring leaving Gorilla Monsoon to clarify that Savage wasn't eliminated as he took himself out of the ring. The rules returned to normal by 1997, when Mexican luchador Mil Mascaras eliminated himself after climbing the turnbuckle to drop on to fellow Triple-A wrestlers Cibernetico and Pierroth.
You can see the other entries in this series below:
Part 1 is here; Part 6 is here; Part 11 is here; Part 16 is here; Part 21 is here
Part 2 is here; Part 7 is here; Part 12 is here; Part 17 is here; Part 22 is here
Part 3 is here; Part 8 is here; Part 13 is here; Part 18 is here; Part 23 is here
Part 4 is here; Part 9 is here; Part 14 is here; Part 19 is here; Part 24 is here
Part 5 is here; Part 10 is here; Part 15 is here; Part 20 is here; Part 25 is here
#5 Brock Lesnar (2017) - Eliminated 19th - 3 Eliminations
Brock Lesnar entered the 2017 Royal Rumble as a hot favorite, as he had previously won the Royal Rumble in 2003 during his first run in the company. With the winner of the Royal unclear, Lesnar had been dominant for the most part since once again returning to the WWE ring.
Lesnar entered the Royal Rumble and quickly eliminated Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, and Enzo Amore before coming against the only wrestler that had given Lesnar a run for his money, Goldberg. The former WCW legend, that had eliminated Brock Lesnar from the 2004 Royal Rumble, as well as having beaten Lesnar at Survivor Series in a squash match the previous year.
Lesnar was once again eliminated by Goldberg, who he would once again face at WrestleMania, this time coming away with the victory and getting his first reign as the WWE Universal Champion.
#4 The Barbarian (1989) - Eliminated 26th - 2 Eliminations
The Barbarian never had a particularly strong run as a singles competitor in the WWF, better known for his time with the Powers of Pain or on his return to the promotion as a part of the Headshrinkers.
However. during the second ever Royal Rumble and the first with 30 competitors, the Barbarian would enter the Royal Rumble as the 26th entry and make it to the final five alongside Rick Martel, Akeem, Ted DiBiase, and the eventual winner Big John Studd.
The Barbarian would last 12 minutes and 15 seconds and would eliminate Brutus the Barber Beefcake and Hercules with the help of Ted DiBiase. He would be eliminated eventually by Rick Martel before he could progress any further in the Royal Rumble.
Additionally, the Barbarian would team with his Powers of Pain tag team partner The Warlord and their manager Mr. Fuji for the Tag Team titles, against reigning champions, Demolition. The Powers of Pain would be unsuccessful in their challenge, despite their numbers advantage.
#3 Hulk Hogan (1992) - Eliminated 28th - 4 Eliminations
Hulk Hogan came into the 1992 Royal Rumble having won back to back Royal Rumbles in 1990 and 1991.
The 1992 Royal Rumble was also being contested for the belt that Hogan had been stripped off by WWF President Jack Tunney. Hogan once again entered the Royal Rumble in the 20s, having previously won the 24th and 25th entry.
Hogan managed to eliminate another former WWF Champion, the Undertaker as well as the Berzerker and the Warlord. As the Royal Rumble reached the final three, Hogan was in the ring with Ric Flair, the WCW legend that had recently crossed to the WWF, and Sid Justice, who had eliminated Hogan's former friend, Randy Savage. Sid Justice then eliminated Hogan by pushing him over the top rope from behind.
Hogan, infuriated by the elimination held on to Justice's arm and distracted him, allowing Ric Flair to eliminate Sid Justice to win the title.
#2 Kurt Angle (2002) - Eliminated 29th - 2 Eliminations
Kurt Angle is another wrestler with the WWE that enjoyed a long career at the top of the promotion, winning many titles without ever claiming victory at the Royal Rumble. Angle's best performance at the Royal Rumble was saved for the 2002 Royal Rumble when the Olympic gold medalist would finish second after being eliminated by the eventual winner Triple H.
Kurt Angle would enter the 2002 Royal Rumble as the 26th entry and would eliminate main event talents in Kane and Stone Cold Steve Austin, leaving himself in the final two against Triple H.
Angle believed he had won after he vaulted the Game over the top rope. Unfortunately for Kurt Angle, Triple H managed to hold on to the ropes and landed on the ring apron instead. Triple H would then clothesline Kurt Angle over the top rope to claim victory.
Kurt Angle would go on to face Kane at Wrestlemania XVIII that year while Triple H would defeat Chris Jericho for the WWF Undisputed title.
#1 Big Show (2000) - Eliminated 29th - 4 Eliminations
Over his 20 year history in the WWF and WWE, the Big Show never managed to win the Royal Rumble.
Despite having a decorated career, winning several championships along the way, the Giant never managed the feat during his time. He came the closest at the 2000 Royal Rumble, with the Rock being recognized as the victor, despite the fact that there was video evidence that showed the Rock's feet hitting the floor first.
The Big Show came to the Royal Rumble as the 26th entry, eliminating Test, Gangrel, Road Dogg, and X-Pac, before being left in the final two with the Rock. The Big Show threw the Rock around the ring and picked him up onto his shoulder to throw him over the top rope. However, the Rock managed to hold on to the top rope and seemed to send the Big Show over the top using the Giant's own momentum.
The Big Show would then pitch to WWF Champion, Triple H, that he was the true winner of the Royal Rumble and defeated the Rock for his spot in the title match at Wrestlemania. The Rock and Mick Foley would be added to the match to make it a fatal four-way elimination match.
