
Forget the World Cup, the Super Bowl, even the World Series of Darts – the Royal Rumble is the single greatest spectacle in sport. A 30-man battle royal of abject chaos, ever since its debut on 24 January 1988, each year it is nailed-on to provide a new batch of Shakespearian drama, comedy, pathos and, very occasionally, genuine slip-ups. All this, from a WWE (formerly WWF) event that isn’t even its showpiece.
What je-ne-sais-quoi does the Royal Rumble possess that WrestleMania – and all other sporting events for that matter – does not? Sheer unpredictability. You know 30 competitors will enter, one will leave victorious (rewarded with a title shot at WrestleMania) and that competitors are only eliminated once both feet hit the ground (leaving ample room for foul play), but, beyond that, what goes down is anybody’s guess.
Who competes? Who the hell knows. The potential line-up is such a lottery that last year, freshly-inaugurated US President (and WWE Hall of Fame star), Donald Trump was a 500/1 shot with certain bookies. And not to simply appear, but win.
The Royal Rumble is like Disney World – young or old, hater or believer, it is basically impossible not to get swept up in the fun. And I write this as someone that hasn’t watched any form of wrestling (Rumble notwithstanding) since 2001.
Behold 30 of the Royal Rumble’s greatest moments. Spandex and face paint is not compulsory, but is strongly advised.
30.Shawn Michaels wins by a foot (1995)
29.Ric Flair woos the title (1992)
28.‘The Man’ prevails (1999)
27.Batista and John Cena tie, by accident (2005)
26.Brett Hart and Lex Luger tie (1994)
25.Stone Cold wins by cheating (1997)
24.‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan wins the first Royal Rumble (1988)
23.Chyna breaks the glass ceiling, sort of (1999)
22.Rey Mysterio achieves the impossible (2006)
21.Hulk meets Warrior (1990)
20.The return of two golden oldies (2008)
19.Mick Foley divides three into one (1998)
18.‘The King’ is dead… scared (1996)
17.Andre the Giant narrowly escapes a snake (1989)
Seven-foot-four, 520lbs, hands the size of dustbin lids, yet runs away like a scolded child at the sight of a reptile? Pathetic. (In Andre’s defence, the snake was bloody ginormous.)
16.Drew Carey narrowly escapes death (2001)
15.Maven boots out The Undertaker (2002)
14.Kofi keeps the dream alive (various)
13.The Big Show takes on all comers, then gets eliminated ‘by thin air’ (2004)
12.The Rock clings on for the win (2000)
11.Hogan dumps his Macho friend (1989)
10.Too Cool’s dance party (2000)
9.The Godfather II (2002)
8.Edge edges out the competition (2010)
7.Triple H makes a triumphant return (2002)
6.John Cena’s awfully bad rap (2003)
5.A new giant steps up (1993)
4.Stone Cold slips up (1996)
3.Macho Man doesn’t understand (various)
2.Santino breaks the record… for fastest eliminated (2009)
1.Roman Reigns breaks the record (2014)
Get exclusive shortlists, celebrity interviews and the best deals on the products you care about, straight to your inbox.