5 Changes WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match

While watching the Royal Rumble match, there are a few things that don't necessarily fit within the scheme of the action. Much of the focus is on the elimination of particular stars, so as to continue feuds or protect certain performers.

But with over 30 years of Royal Rumble matches, there are a few things that stand out for the wrong reasons. Why do some people have to qualify while others can simply declare that they are participating in the Royal Rumble match? There are some creative decisions behind these choices, but it is still a strange facet leading up to the event.

The Royal Rumble match is still one of the most exciting and most anticipated events for the WWE Universe. It sets the stage for the first half of the year for WWE, and also for two big matches for the Show of Shows.

Since the match has been around for thirty years, there are a few alterations that could be made to the contest. Here are five changes WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match, whether it involves rules governing eliminations or the outcomes of the battle royales.

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#5 Change WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match - Anyone not technically part of the match cannot interfere or cause an elimination

Rollins had a different mission last year after winning the 2019 Royal Rumble.

WWE is a company known as both pro wrestling and sports entertainment. Some of the things they book to happen are to further current storylines or start new ones. For that reason, there have been several instances of stars that are not a part of the match having a hand in the elimination of a star that is in the Royal Rumble.

There are many instances of this happening. One example from WWE history that comes to mind was the 1998 Royal Rumble. In that match, Owen Hart was eliminated by both Triple H and Chyna. Triple H was hurt and came down the ramp on crutches. The duo distracted Hart and hit him with he crutches. The actions directly caused the elimination of Hart and it continued their feud.

Neither The Game nor Chyna were actual participants in the Royal Rumble. Last year, while Seth Rollins was a part of the Royal Rumble, his minions were not and they helped cause the eliminations of Aleister Black, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens.

In Owens' case, Akam and Rezar helped pull Owens over the top rope. WWE uses the explanation that Royal Rumbles are "No DQ" so anything can happen. If that was the case, then why don't performers use weapons more? The simple point is that if someone is not a part of the proceedings then they should not be able to cause or directly eliminate a WWE Superstar that is a part of the match.

#4 Change WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match - Various time limit enforcements

The League of Nations attacked Roman Reigns outside of the ring during the 2016 Royal Rumble.

When WWE promotes the Royal Rumble PPV, if often says that "it's all about the numbers." That statement covers stars that have lasted the longest, lasted the shortest and how many eliminations a particular star has. It also Champions how certain slots have produced more winners of the Royal Rumble than other particular slots.

One thing that WWE should take advantage of is enforcing certain time limits during the match. One that should be instituted is that a participant must enter the match before the next participant. If not, they are automatically eliminated. That means that a star would have about two minutes or so to enter the ring.

Another enforcement they should use is that if a wrestler exits the ring during the match but is not eliminated, they must re-enter the ring within a certain time (perhaps anywhere from two to five minutes). They are then eliminated if they do not re-enter.

Once again, having performers roll under or through the ropes is used for storyline purposes and to protect certain stars. Roman Reigns was ambushed during the year he had to start the match from the number one spot. He spent a large amount of time in the Royal Rumble outside of the ring after an attack from the League of Nations.

Mr. McMahon and Stone Cold battled all over the arena after entering the match, but only re-entered the ring for the climax. The Miz and others have waited after their number came up and picked their moments. WWE can still play with those time restrictions to protect the stars they want, but spending most of the match outside of the ring doesn't enhance any potential win.

#3 Change WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match - Once someone is eliminated, anything they do after elimination doesn't count

Hogan helped pull Sid Justice out of the ring after the Hulkster was already eliminated.

This is hand-in-hand with the first point. Over the course of Royal Rumble history, there have been many instances of a star being eliminated. That star then comes back and has a hand in the elimination of a current participant still in the Royal Rumble match.

The most glaring example from history has to be the 1992 Royal Rumble. The final three competitors were Ric Flair, Sid Justice and Hulk Hogan. Hogan was eliminated by Justice as the match is always billed as "every man/woman for him/herself." Hogan couldn't take not winning and proceeded to grab Justice's arm.

As things played out, Flair would get up and both he and Hogan would cause the elimination of Sid Justice. The elimination technically went to Flair since he was still a legal participant and Hogan was not.

In the 2002 Royal Rumble match, Maven eliminated the Undertaker. Immediately following that moment, Taker pulled Maven out of the ring, beat the tar out of him and then tossed him over the top rope.

If someone is officially no longer a part of the match, then whatever they do following their elimination should not count. Once again, this tactic is used to further or start storylines, but if someone is "officially" no longer in the match, their actions following elimination should not be valid.

#2 Change WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match - Winners of both Royal Rumbles are the final two matches at WrestleMania

Rollins won the Royal Rumble in 2019 but opened WM 35.

One thing WWE commentators always say is that "the winners of the Royal Rumble main event WrestleMania." This isn't as much of a problem if WWE uses the two-night formula going forward. That means, in theory, one winner would headline the first night while the other winner does so on Night Two.

But different matches tend to close the Show of Shows. The Royal Rumble winner hasn't always necessarily been in the main event of Mania, despite the constant statements from commentators. Seth Rollins won in 2019, but opened WrestleMania 35. Whereas Becky Lynch - who also won a Royal Rumble in 2019 - ended up in the main event against Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair.

WrestleMania 35: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey (RAW and Smackdown Women’s Championship) [First Ever Women’s Main Event] pic.twitter.com/peW73UWK2j

— :*: ☆ 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐢 (@charshab) October 18, 2020

Since there have been two Royal Rumble winners each year since 2018, it is hard for both performers to "headline" the Show of Shows. In the past, winners like Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura, Alberto Del Rio, Flair and Asuka all won a Royal Rumble, but did not close the PPV.

It always comes down to what WWE feels is the biggest match and which one they want to go on last. Sometimes matches transcend the title bouts, like the "Once In a Lifetime" contest between John Cena and the Rock.

If the main reward for winning a Royal Rumble is simply a title match at the Granddaddy of Them All, then that's fine. But the "main event" terminology should change if it's simply not the case. It's just semantics, but words matter and some people may never get to headline a WrestleMania, even with a win in a Royal Rumble.

#1 Change WWE should make to the Royal Rumble match - Some people have to qualify while others can simply declare for the match

AJ Styles declared his entry while Drew Gulak had to qualify in order to make the 2021 Royal Rumble.

This situation has come up almost every year leading up to the Royal Rumble. Some WWE Superstars are able to simply declare that they will be in the match while others have to qualify by winning a bout. That works for any specialty match with limited spots, like the Money in the Bank Match or the Elimination Chamber. Spots are limited, so the road to get a spot should be harder. On the build to the 2021 Royal Rumble, the likes of Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Charlotte Flair, Cesaro, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke have all declared participation in the match. On the flip side, both Drew Gulak and Ricochet have had to win matches in order to earn a spot. At the time of this writing, neither did.

Because of the uncertainty as to why some get in automatically and some don't, WWE Official Adam Pearce had to clarify why this is so. He tried to explain with a tweet, which you can find below.

It’s actually pretty simple: Those that have been granted the ability to simply declare entry into the Royal Rumble *by management* are free to do so. Those that haven’t must qualify. I don’t write the rules, I enforce them. 🤷‍♂️

— Adam Pearce (@ScrapDaddyAP) January 20, 2021

Since he's been the most prominent face representing WWE management on WWE TV, Pearce had to give a reason for this double standard. His explanation, while somewhat valid, still highlights a problem for many WWE Superstars.

It makes sense for former Champions and those who have multiple title reigns. Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, AJ Styles and Charlotte Flair have all won several belts, so it's understandable that they are able to simply declare they are taking part in the Royal Rumble.

But when Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose are able to announce they are participating, it highlights the issue. Neither Rose nor Brooke are former title holders, whereas both Gulak (Cruiserweight) and Ricochet (United States) have both won titles in WWE.

In order to put the question to rest for good, the answer is simple: Everyone has to qualify for the Royal Rumble match to make it fair for the entire roster. If that isn't the case, then anyone should be able to declare for the match. If a star that declares isn't necessarily in the booking plans for the Royal Rumble, then a storyline to eliminate them from the match before hand can easily take place.

Someone could attack them so they don't show up, or they could be forced to relinquish their spot in another match. It just needs some consistency in operation in order to make things seem fair for everyone. Or at least seem fair.