5 most controversial Royal Rumble winners since 2000

Every year, the road to WrestleMania begins at the Royal Rumble. The winner gets the opportunity at the most coveted prize in the WWE on the grandest stage, the championship match at WrestleMania.

Given the ultimate prize is on the stakes, the Royal Rumble match is often surrounded by controversies.

Here are the most controversial Royal Rumble winners since 2000.

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#5 Triple H (2016)

The "Authority" won at the Royal Rumble 2016.

This particular Royal Rumble match was more focused on crowning a new WWE Champion. Vince McMahon not only forced the WWE champion, Roman Reigns, to defend his title in the Royal Rumble match but also made him the first entry in the match.

Triple H was the last entry in the Rumble match. Notably, Triple H spent less than ten minutes in the match to win it. He eliminated Reigns at the last, who clocked 59:48 minutes.

It sets up the match between him and Reigns at WrestleMania, which the latter won to recapture the Championship.

#4 Batista (2005)

Both Batista and John Cena claimed victory as Vince McMahon tried to bring back order.

The “Animal” won the prestigious Royal Rumble match in 2005 by last eliminating John Cena. However, both he and the Leader of the Cenation fell over the top rope and hit the ground at the exact same time.

This created chaos as both were declared the winner by different referees. Both Superstars then tossed each other over the top rope and claimed themselves as the winner.

Vince McMahon had to intervene to clear the air and in the process injured himself! He ordered the match to be restarted, where Batista eliminated John Cena to pick up the win.

#3 Roman Reigns (2015)

Getting help from the Rock backfired for Roman Reigns.

Daniel Bryan was the people’s favorite at the time. He was eliminated before Reigns could enter the match, thereby mitigating the possibility of him facing Reigns.

The fans worldwide were of opinion that Reigns is being pushed “too hard” as the face of the company. The Rock “helped” Reigns to win the match, which only strengthened this theory.

This ended up in a disaster for Roman Reigns as he became the only Royal Rumble winner in the WWE history who was booed out of the arena.

#2 Randy Orton (2009)

The fans were stunned when Randy Orton attacked the boss.

On Raw’s go home show before the Royal Rumble PPV, Randy Orton punted Vince McMahon in the head. The entire roster (and the fans) were of opinion that Orton would be fired for this.

In fact, several Superstars mocked Orton on the night of Royal Rumble before his match and suggested that it would be his last night in the company.

Orton threatened that the 25th anniversary wouldn't even happen.

However, Orton won the match, and as per the rules, WWE was legally bound to give him a Championship match at WrestleMania.

Orton further threatened to sue WWE if he would be fired and deprived of this opportunity. He suggested that his lawsuit would lead to cancellation of WrestleMania.

#1 The Rock (2000)

Big Show was moments away from the victory at Royal Rumble 2000.

Before the Royal Rumble match at 2000, the Rock “promised” the fans that he would win the match. However, he botched at the final moments of the match when he and Big Show were the final two participants.

The Rock couldn’t hold the top rope as both the wrestlers fell over the top rope. The Rock was declared the winner. However, Big Show not only returned to the ring after the match but also choke slammed the Rock.

However, the videotapes from the night suggested that the Rock’s foot touched the floor before Big Show. Big Show used a similar video (shot by a fan) and demanded that he should be declared the winner of the Royal Rumble match.

It was a star-studded main event at WrestleMania 2000.

Interestingly, Triple H was feuding with Mick Foley, and he tried to force Foley into an early retirement.

The entire controversies lead to a fatal-four-way match at WrestleMania, where Triple H (c) retained his Championship against the Rock, Big Show and Mick Foley.