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Royal Rumble might just be the second most prestigious WWE PPV after Wrestlemania and is arguably ahead of Summerslam and Survivor Series in its importance. Royal Rumble is characterised by the 30 man over the top rope battle royal which grants the winner a shot at the WWE title at Wrestlemania.
While the Rumble winners of old were guaranteed to main event that year's Wrestlemania, the prestige has lowered in the recent years. The most recent winner - Randy Orton alongside past winners like Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio did not sniff the main event at that year's 'Mania.
That being said, competing in a Rumble match is a matter of pride for the WWE superstars and with the field being 30, almost everyone is guaranteed to be part of the card one year or the other.
This list takes a look at 5 WWE legends who have never competed in a Rumble match.
#1 Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman was one of the most exciting superstars in all of wrestling during the mid-1990s. Making a name for himself in WCW and then cementing his reputation in ECW, Pillman finally signed with the WWE in 1996. He is still considered to be one of Stone Cold Steve Austin's
Pillman was recovering from an automobile accident at the time and he opted to have surgery to repair his ankle in 1997. This meant that he was on the shelf when the 1997 Rumble came along.
Pillman would make his in-ring debut a few months afterwards and became a member of the Hart Foundation. However, by the time of the 1998 Rumble, Pillman had already tragically lost his life.
2. Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat actually wrestled in the very first match at a Royal Rumble PPV - a disqualification victory over Rick Rude at the 88' edition. However, The Dragon never competed in the Rumble match.
Steamboat would leave the WWE in 1988 and would return only in 1991. But he wasn't pushed in the same manner and never appeared at the Rumble again.
Steamboat would have classic matches with Ric Flair over the NWA Heavyweight Championship and with Randy Savage for the IC title at Wrestlemania 3, but a Royal Rumble moment would elude him.
3. Dynamite Kid
Dynamite Kid
One of the most influential wrestlers of the 80s and the mid-90s, Tom 'Dynamite Kid' Billington inspired a number of wrestlers including the likes of Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit and Jay Lethal. A stiff worker who made the diving headbutt famous, Dynamite Kid was quite temperamental outside the ring.
Having gotten into fights with the likes of the Rougeaus and Bruce Hart, his run with the WWE as part of the super popular 'British Bulldogs' was nearing its run in the late 80s.
Dynamite Kid and his partner Davey Boy Smith missed the 1988 Royal Rumble and both were out of the WWE door before the 1989 Rumble. Billington never wrestled for the WWE again, moving on to Stampede Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling
4. Scott Hall
Razor Ramon battled IRS at a Royal Rumble
Scott Hall's case of missing the Royal Rumble match is most unfortunate as he was with the WWE for four Royal Rumbles and competed in singles matches in all of them.
Hall - as Razor Ramon - would unsuccessfully challenge for Bret Hart's World title at the 1993 Rumble. The next three Rumbles would see Ramon walk in as Intercontinental Champion in singles matches.
He would beat I.R.S to retain the title in '94, but would lose his title the next two years. In 1997, Ramon would jump ship to WCW starting the nWo revolution. WWE's infamous 'fake Razor' would enter the Rumble that year.
Scott Hall would find himself with yet another opportunity to enter the Rumble when he came back to the WWE in 2002 - but his debut was on the No Way Out PPV immediately after the Rumble. Hall would be fired before completing another year in the company.
5. Shane McMahon
Shane O'Mac has never competed at a Rumble match
Shane McMahon has time on his side to break his Rumble duck - but despite being with the company for over 30 years, Shane O'Mac has never entered the marquee match as an actual participant.
But Shane has the unique record of owning an elimination in the Royal Rumble despite never competing in it. It happened at the 2006 Royal Rumble when Shane eliminated Shawn Michaels which eventually led to a Shane vs Shawn Michaels match at Main Event and a Vince McMahon vs Shawn Michaels match at that year's Wrestlemania.
Way before that, Shane was actually a referee at the 1991 Royal Rumble match.
