Royal Rumble in simple words is the survival of the best. Every year 30 men enter the ring trying to win a title shot at WrestleMania, but only the best one stays till the end.
The match is all about numbers and statistics so here I have listed the 10 best Royal Rumble participants ever based on their Rumble statistics; domination and survival instincts. I have considered only those who have participated in at least 3 Rumbles.
I have awarded points as follows:
1 point for every minute in the Rumble.
2 points for every elimination.
8 points for being the runner up.
15 points for winning the Rumble.
Let’s begin.
Honorable Mentions: #15 Big Show – 128 points, #14 Hulk Hogan – 136 points, #13 The Rock – 160 points, #12 British Bull Dog – 161 points and #11 Cody Rhodes – 162 points.
#10 Edge
Minutes: 130
Eliminations: 17 x 2 = 34
Winner: 1 x 15 = 15
Total: 179
In his 6 Rumble appearances Edge won the match once and was in the final 3 two times (2005 and 2007). He challenged Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXVI, but couldn’t win the title.
#9 Chris Benoit
Minutes: 158
Eliminations: 11 x 2 = 22
Winner: 1 x 15 = 15
Total: 195
Chris Benoit participated in 4 Rumbles and as it looks he is the best ‘survivor’ in the Rumble’s history, surviving for an average of over 39 minutes in his 4 matches. He was the 2004 Royal Rumble winner and went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XX against Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match. Despite his name being erased from WWE’s history book, Benoit will always be remembered as one of the greatest Royal Rumble participants.
#8 Randy Orton
Minutes: 147
Eliminations: 18 x 2 = 36
Runner-up: 1 x 8 = 8
Winner: 1 x 15 = 15
Total: 206
The youngest World Heavyweight Champion ever won the 2009 Royal Rumble but couldn’t win Triple H’s WWE Championship at WrestleMania 25. 7 appearances, a win and a second place aren’t bad at all. Not this year, but he can add to his Rumble achievements next year.
#7 Rey Mysterio
Minutes: 186
Eliminations: 11 x 2 = 22
Winner: 1 x 15 =15
Total: 223
Mysterio won the 2006 Royal Rumble and went on to win Kurt Angle’s World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22 in a triple threat match also involving Randy Orton. Being the smallest and entering at #1 and still surviving all of the other 29 men in the 2006 Royal Rumble surely makes Mysterio a great Rumble participant.
#7 John Cena
Minutes: 133
Eliminations: 22 x 2 = 44
Runner-up: 2 x 8 =16
Winner: 2 x 15 = 30
Total: 223
Cena has won the Royal Rumble twice, once in 2008 and the other time in 2013, he has also been a runner-up twice (2005 and 2010). His records are great for someone who has appeared only 7 times. He didn’t win the 2008 WrestleMania match but did win the 2013 one against The Rock.
#6 Chris Jericho
Minutes: 186
Eliminations: 15 x 2 = 30
Runner-up: 1 x 8 = 8
Total: 224
With an average time of 23:11, Jericho has been one of the best superstars who has never won the Rumble. A guy of Jericho’s caliber should win the Rumble once before retirement.
#5 Kane
Minutes: 153
Eliminations: 36 x 2 = 72
Runner-up: 1 x 8 = 8
Total: 233
Domination = Kane. If there is someone one should be scared of in the Rumble match, then it has got to be Kane who has wrestled 14 times in the Rumble (16 for Glenn Jacobs), the big red machine eliminated 11 other guys in the 2001 Rumble, where he came closest to a victory. With few years left in him, it seems like Kane will go down as the most unlucky Rumble participant ever.
Minutes: 143
Eliminations: 35 x 2 = 70
Runner-up: 1 x 8 =8
Winner: 1 x 15 = 15
Total: 236
Despite, being dominant in the match, it can be argued that Undertaker could have achieved a bit more in his 10 Rumble appearances. Never mind, Taker is still one of the best Rumble participants ever.
#3 Stone Cold
Minutes: 166
Eliminations: 36 x 2 = 72
Runner-up: 1 x 8 = 8
Winner: 3 x 15 = 45
Total: 291
In reality, Stone Cold is the best Rumble participant ever, but going by the statistics Stone Cold is two places away from the top mainly because of his late Rumble entries. Remove the “minutes” part and you will get the 3-time Rumble winner on the top. Standing ovation for his Rumble achievements.
#2 Triple H
Minutes: 232
Eliminations: 27 x 2 = 54
Runner-up: 2 x 8 = 16
Winner: 1 x 15 = 15
Total: 317
Domination when added with survival capabilities give you Triple H. The 2002 winner was always one of the most feared Rumble participants ever. No one has spent more time in the Rumble matches more than The Game who has been a runner-up twice (2008 and 2009).
#1 Shawn Michaels
Minutes: 223
Eliminations: 40 x 2 = 80
Runner-up: 1 x 8 = 8
Winner: 15 x 2 = 30
Total: 341
Mr. WrestleMania has also been a dominating Royal Rumble contestant, winning the match twice (1995 and 1996) and making the most eliminations (40) in its history. Michaels came close to Stone Cold’s record in 2007 when he was left with The Undertaker, but The Phenom edged him out. Despite this, Michaels leads the Rumble statistics, lets see he does it for how long.
