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Headlining WrestleMania is one of the most coveted accolades a WWE Superstar can achieve. That is one of the reasons why being the Royal Rumble winner is special. According to WWE commentators, the winner of the Royal Rumble match gets to the main event of WrestleMania for the championship match of his choice.
However, most of the times, this phrase by the commentators turned out to be nothing but a blatant lie. There has been plenty of occasions where the winner of the Royal Rumble match was conveniently pushed down the cards during WrestleMania. In 2011 and 2012, the Royal Rumble winner kicked off the Show of Shows.
This list would focus on five Royal Rumble winning superstar could not headline the Showcase of Immortals in their lifetime. So without further adieu, let us begin.
#5 Sheamus
Sheamus is one of the most decorated superstars in WWE. The Celtic Warrior is a former multiple world champion, United States Champion, RAW tag team champion, and has won the 2011 Royal Rumble match, Money in the Bank briefcase and the King of the Ring tournament.
He is currently one-half of the Smackdown Live tag team champions along with Cesaro. It is safe to say that Sheamus has won every possible title in WWE except the Intercontinental championship.
However, Sheamus has never main-evented a WrestleMania, and in this stage of his career, it is doubtful if he would ever close out the showcase of the Immortals. He has been the part of a 'Mania world title match just once - in 2012.
After winning the 2012 Rumble match, Sheamus challenged the World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan. The match got the dubious honour of kicking off the show and ended in just 18 seconds.
#4 Rey Mysterio
In the 2006 Royal Rumble match, Rey Mysterio proved all of his critics wrong by showcasing his best performance in a Royal Rumble match. After drawing the dangerous number 2 position, the Luchador lasted more than an hour in the ring to outlast 29 other of his opponents.
After eliminating Randy Orton, Rey emerged as the winner of the 2006 edition of the Royal Rumble and paid homage to the late Eddie Guerrero.
After losing to Randy Orton at No Way Out 2006, Rey's WrestleMania match was converted to a triple threat match also involving the World Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle.
Even though the master of 619 was in a marquee match in that event, it did not headline WrestleMania 2006. The WWE Championship match between John Cena and Triple H got that honour. Rey could never come close to the top of the WrestleMania card.
#3 Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio is a second-generation wrestler from Mexico, and WWE pushed him immediately after his debut. He was a part of a World Heavyweight Championship match within a few months after his debut. Del Rio even won his inaugural Royal Rumble match in 2011.
The Mexican Aristocrat chose to fight Edge at WrestleMania 27 for the World Heavyweight Championship. However, similar to Sheamus and Daniel Bryan, the pair had to kick off Wrestlemania 27. Del Rio would never get a chance to main event WrestleMania, and since he is not in WWE, there are only little chances of him headlining the show of shows.
#2 Vince McMahon
Looking back to the history, it is tough to believe Vince McMahon won a Royal Rumble match. This fact is made even more bizarre by the fact that the CEO of WWE started at number 2 in the match. McMahon was the 1999 Royal Rumble winner - a time when WWE was at an all-time high.
Even though he could insert himself in every single WrestleMania main event, it would be stupid if not for any strong storyline reasons. With him being 73 years old and far from peak physicality, McMahon may not headline any WrestleManias.
#1 Ric Flair
It is astonishing to learn that the Nature Boy Ric Flair had never headlined a WrestleMania in his career. Even though he accompanied his prodigy Triple H to his WrestleMania 2005 main event match against Batista, that was the only time Flair could get to the top of the 'Mania card.
Ric Flair won the 1992 Royal Rumble after eliminating Sid Justice to become the new WWE champion (Similar to 2016 Royal Rumble, the 1992 Royal Rumble was also for the WWE championship - rather than for the opportunity to challenge the Champion at WrestleMania). Flair was the first to break the one-hour barrier in a Royal Rumble match.
However, his championship defence at WrestleMania XIII against the Macho Man Randy Savage was moved down the cards for a negatively received main event between Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice, which ended in a baffling DQ.
