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The Royal Rumble match guarantees its winner a match to challenge for a world championship at WrestleMania. This is a particularly difficult task, as one has to outlast 29 other superstars to achieve this feat.
Although the victor gets their opportunity at the Showcase of the Immortals, there is no stipulation as to what type of match it'll be. Usually, the Rumble winner faces the World Champion in a singles match. However, there have been several instances of Triple Threat world title matches involving the Rumble winner and even a Fatal Four Way contest as well.
In this article we will discuss the eight matches where the Royal Rumble winner competed in multi-man matches at WrestleMania.
#8. The Rock won the Royal Rumble in 2000 and faced 3 other superstars at WrestleMania
The result of the 2000 Royal Rumble was extremely controversial. The only reason it is not more contested is because it was The People's Champ who won it.
The Rock and Big Show were the last two men standing in the match. As soon as Show tried to throw The Rock out, The Brahma Bull countered and instead Big Show was eliminated. However, it was The Rock's feet that touched the ground first.
After a prolonged period of tension, both The Rock and Big Show were placed in a WrestleMania match against WWE Champion Triple H. The three superstars were each supported by a McMahon.
Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon), Big Show (with Shane McMahon) and The Rock (with Vince McMahon) battled it out before WrestleMania on an episode of SmackDown.
Triple H won the match after he pinned the Big Show. However, Linda McMahon announced that not only did Triple H need to defend the title against Royal Rumble winner The Rock and runner-up Big Show, he would also face Mick Foley.
This set up a Fatal Four Way main event at WrestleMania with a McMahon in each corner. Triple H ultimately stood tall after pinning The Rock.
#7. 2004 Royal Rumble winner Chris Benoit faced DX
Chris Benoit became the second superstar after Shawn Michaels to win the Royal Rumble after entering at number 1 in 2004. He also became the first superstar to choose which World Champion he would face at WrestleMania.
He chose to face Triple H in a bout for the World Heavyweight Championship. However, his claim was disputed as Michaels was in a feud with the World Champion at the time. A triple threat match was booked for the main event, which Benoit won.
The Rabid Wolverine made Triple H tap out, which marked the first time the WrestleMania main event ended with a submission. After the match, Benoit was accompanied by Eddie Guerrero to celebrate their victories.
#6. 2006 was the year of Rey Mysterio
In 2006, Rey Mysterio won the Royal Rumble after last eliminating Randy Orton. The Viper defeated Mysterio at No Way Out to earn a title match. Theodore Long announced that Kurt Angle would defend his title against both superstars.
The match lasted only nine minutes as Mysterio prevailed after pinning Orton. He was accompanied by Chavo and Vickie Guerrero following the match in celebration.
#5. Randy Orton defended his title against John Cena and Triple H
John Cena had one of the best returns in WWE history at the Royal Rumble in 2008. He finally eliminated Triple H to emerge victorious in the event.
Instead of challenging WWE Champion Randy Orton at WrestleMania, he used his title clause at No Way Out. Orton got himself purposefully disqualified in the match and remained champion. At the pay-per-view, Triple H also won a title opportunity after winning the Elimination Chamber match.
The match at the Show of Shows was later announced as a triple threat and Orton pinned Cena for the victory.
#4. Daniel Bryan didn't win the Royal Rumble but came out victorius
In one of the most incredible WrestleMania's in recent memory, Daniel Bryan rose to the top. Batista won the Royal Rumble in 2014 and challenged his former stablemate Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Frustrated by his treatment, Bryan demanded that Triple H give him a match at WrestleMania. After The Game accepted the challenge, the stakes were raised and it was announced that the winner would be inserted into the main event.
Bryan defeated Triple H at WrestleMania XXX and then won the main event after he made Batista tap out.
#3. The Heist of the century
Roman Reigns came out the victor of the 2015 edition of the Royal Rumble. As there was only one World Champion at the time, he challenged Brock Lesnar for the championship.
He defeated Daniel Bryan at Fastlane to remain the #1 contender for the title. The match between Reigns and Lesnar was initially a singles bout at WrestleMania. There was an intense ongoing battle between the two titans at the Showcase of the Immortals which had fans on the edge of their seats.
After a chain of Suplexes, F-5's, Superman Punches and Spears, the two superstars fell in the ring exhausted. Mr Money in the Bank Seth Rollins stormed his way to the ring and cashed in his briefcase. This turned the match into a triple threat bout which he ultimately won.
#2. Becky Lynch won the Royal Rumble and main evented WrestleMania
Making a match Triple Threat is usually a hindrance for those who are already in the match. But in Becky Lynch's case, it was a blessing. The Man entered the first-ever women's main event at WrestleMania empty-handed and returned as Becky 2 Belts.
Lynch won the Royal Rumble in 2019 and challenged Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women's Championship. She refused to be medically checked after suffering an injury and was suspended. Her suspension continued even after she was checked.
The Man was replaced in the match by Charlotte Flair. Lynch started assaulting both Flair and Rousey every week until her suspension was lifted. She was then inserted into the match on the Grandest Stage of Them All. Flair defeated Asuka for the SmackDown Women's Championship which was then also defended at WrestleMania. Becky Lynch emerged victorious and was crowned both SmackDown and RAW Women's champion.
#1. Edge's Royal Rumble victory went in vain
Edge's return to the Royal Rumble in 2020 still gives goosebumps. Although he didn't win the match, he vowed to emerge victorious at the next event.
The Rated-R Superstar entered the match at #1 in 2021 and survived for almost an hour before winning the match. He went to RAW, NXT and SmackDown to confront their respective champions. He ultimately chose his target after the Elimination Chamber when he speared Roman Reigns, The Universal Champion.
However, he was not the only superstar in a feud with Reigns. At the Elimination Chamber, Bryan won the namesake match to also qualify for a Universal Title match. Reigns entered the arena and competed with an exhausted Bryan in an immediate contest in which he stood tall.
As Edge and Bryan both had considerable claims for the match, executive producer Adam Pearce declared the match to be a Triple Threat. At the event, Reigns pinned both Bryan and Edge simultaneously to retain his title.
Which of the matches was your favorite? Comment your thoughts below!
