5 instances when Royal Rumble winners failed to win the WrestleMania Main Event

Edge lost his biggest chance to become a champion

For the WWE fans Royal Rumble might just be an exciting pay-per-view which has a 30-man battle royal at its main highlight. But for the WWE superstars, it’s the ultimate chance to main event the granddaddy of them all, WrestleMania.

It’s because of such high stakes that the Rumble gained the popularity that it has now and the event often produces the best underdog stories as superstars are propelled from a face in crowd to title contenders at WrestleMania.

But the fact is, the road only starts at Royal Rumble. There is a lot of distance that needs to be travelled by the winner to get his hands on the gold. While most of the Rumble winners went to WrestleMania and came back with the gold around their waist, some were less fortunate and fell short of the big one. So here is a look at top five wrestlers who didn’t win the title at WrestleMania even after defeating 29 other men in the Royal Rumble.

Honorable mentions: Alberto Del Rio (2011) and Lex Luger (1994)

5- Shawn Michaels (1995)

Shawn Michaels and Pamela Anderson

In what proved to be one of the best underdog stories of the 90s, Shawn Michaels became the first wrestler to enter the Rumble at number one spot and win it. The Heart Break Kid eliminated Davey Boy Smith who entered at second in dramatic fashion to clinch the feat.

Then Michaels would earn the chance to be escorted by Pamela Anderson for his WrestleMania XI main event against WWF Champion Diesel. But the underdog story didn’t have a happy ending as Michaels fell for Diesel after interference by his own bodyguard Sid. And to add salt to the wound, Anderson decided to accompany Diesel for the match despite Michaels earning it as said earlier.

But as an aftermath, Diesel would then team up with Michaels later and the two would go on to win the tag team titles as well.

4- Edge (2010)

Edge

This was one of the prime examples of the superstar making his return and winning the Rumble. Edge was put off for almost six months due to injury and returned as the 29^th entrant of the match. He battled the lights of John Cena, Batista and Shawn Michaels in the final four and eventually won by eliminating Cena.

Edge then chose Chris Jericho as his opponent for WrestleMania after Jericho defeated Undertaker at Elimination Chamber to win the World Heavy Weight championship.

In a match were counters flew in both directions, Jericho was the man who went out with the title after a code breaker. But Jericho didn’t walk out of the arena as Edge speared him into the barricade after the match.

3- Randy Orton (2009)

Randy Orton

Back in the Legacy days, Orton had the luxury to be in the final four with Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase and Triple H. but the luxury didn’t last long as Orton’s companions were eliminated by Triple H who was desperate to level the field. However, his efforts fell short as Orton emerged victorious with a clothesline.

But Triple H- Orton story wouldn’t end there, instead it went on a more personal terms as Orton went on to abuse and attack the McMahons. Orton would punt kick both Vince and Stephanie McMahon which provoked Triple H to start a feud with Orton.

By the time Triple H started this feud he had the WWE championship around the waist and Triple H urged Orton to use the title shot against him so that they could settle the score at WrestleMania.

Both men punished each other to the limit at WrestleMania, but Triple H emerged as the winner after delivering his signature pedigree to retain the title.

2- John Cena (2008)

John Cena

John Cena was actually scheduled to be sidelined due to a torn pectoral muscle as the Royal Rumble kicked off. But in the professional wrestling business you never know.

The Cenation leader made a triumphant return at number 30 and went onto win the match by eliminating Triple H. in the process he would also set up a new record for the shortest time spent in the Rumble by the winner.

On the Raw that followed, Cena said that he can’t wait till WrestleMania and challenged Orton for a match at No Way Out. The Viper would play safe and get himself disqualified and thus retaining the title. at the same night, Triple H won the elimination chamber match for the no;1 contender spot. The two storylines culminated in the WrestleMania main event as the WWE went with a Triple Threat match.

But Orton went against the odds and retained the title after kicking Triple H in the head and pinning John Cena who was knocked out by a pedigree.

1- The Rock (2000)

The Rock

The WWE fans witnessed one of the most confusing and twisty storylines unfold in 2000. The Rock and Big Show were the final two participants of that year’s Royal Rumble and in a controversial manner Rock was declared as the winner. Meanwhile, reigning champion Triple H defeated Cactus Jack to retain his title in the same event.

But due to the controversial manner of Rock’s win, Big Show went on to feud with him saying that his feet touched the floor first which meant the giant was the winner. Show would also provide much evidence to prove his claim and force the Rock to put his title shot on the line at various occasions.

At No Way Out, Big Show would win the title shot but lose it later after The Rock was helped by Vince McMahon. At this point the match was made a triple threat match. But the twist in the tale came when Linda McMahon came and announced that the match would be a fatal four way elimination match involving Cactus Jack also, who lost again to Triple H at No Way Out.

As the fatal four way match started, Big Show and Mick Foley were the ones to be eliminated first which left The Rock and Triple H to fight it out for the title. Vince McMahon then interfered in the match hitting Rock twice with a steel chair and thus giving Triple H the win. But the Rock would have revenge after the match as he gave a Rock Bottom to Vince, Shane, and Stephanie McMahon. So much twists, turns and action, this is why the fans love the Attitude Era.