The Top 5 Royal Rumble Moments

The Royal Rumble event is one of WWE’s biggest annual pay-per-view shows. The event features two 30-person battle royals. The winner of the men’s Royal Rumble match is guaranteed a shot at the WWE Universal Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship. On the female side, the winner can choose between a crack at the Raw Women’s Championship or the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Since its inception in 1988, the Royal Rumble event has brought fans many memorable moments. It’s difficult to narrow down these jaw-dropping moments, but five of them had the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats.

5. AJ Styles Makes WWE Debut As Surprise Entrant – January 24, 2016, Amway Center, Orlando, Florida

When it was revealed that AJ Styles’ contract with NJPW was up in early 2016, it got the rumor mill buzzing. Styles had established himself as a main eventer in the wrestling industry at the time. He perhaps solidified his worth in NJPW even more than he could in his 12-year run with TNA Wrestling.

Styles entered the Royal Rumble match at number three, and fans inside the Amway Center gave him a thunderous ovation. Styles lasted almost 29 minutes in the match and secured two eliminations before being tossed over the top rope by Kevin Owens. Styles would go on to have a “Phenomenal” career in WWE, becoming a two-time WWE Champion.

4. Ric Flair Wins WWE Championship at Royal Rumble ‘92 – January 19, 1992, Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY

Despite having a stellar relationship years down the line, Ric Flair and WWE never really meshed well together in the early 90s. Flair had a short run with WWE from 1991 until 1993, and most agree that the company simply didn’t know how to utilize “The Nature Boy.” Flair ended up going back to WCW upon his WWE exit.

However, there was one moment that defined Flair’s run in WWE during that period. The Royal Rumble match in 1992 was contested for the vacant WWE Championship. The final two participants were Flair and Sid Vicious. With an assist from Hulk Hogan, Flair eliminated Sid to become WWE’s top titleholder. Flair then cut a memorable backstage promo along with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

3. Shawn Michaels Wins 1995 Royal Rumble Match – January 22, 1995, USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida

The ending to the 1995 Royal Rumble event treated fans to a false finish. Fans initially thought Davey Boy Smith, “The British Bulldog,” won the match after tossing Shawn Michaels over the top rope. The swerve was that Michaels held onto the ropes, and only one of his feet touched the floor.

This meant “The Heartbreak Kid” was still eligible for the match. As “The British Bulldog” celebrated on the turnbuckle with his theme song blaring, Michaels snuck up from behind and eliminated him from the match. It was announced that Michaels had indeed won the 1995 Royal Rumble match.

2. Batista Wins 2005 Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon Tears Both Quads – January 30, 2005, Save Mart Center at Fresno State, Fresno, California

The 2005 Royal Rumble match ended in both hilarity and infamy. Batista and John Cena, two stars who were being built as the future of WWE, were the final participants in the biggest battle royal of the year. Batista was booked to win, but a botch saw both men tumble over the top rope at the same time.

Rather than tell the referees to restart the match from the Gorilla Position backstage, WWE boss Vince McMahon stormed out to the ring demanding answers. McMahon ended up tearing both of his quads when he slid into the ring. In an embarrassing moment, McMahon tried standing up only to sit back down. While in a vulnerable state, McMahon irately told officials to restart the match. Batista quickly eliminated Cena and went on to WrestleMania 21 to defeat Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship.

1. Edge Comes Out of Retirement For 2020 Royal Rumble – January 26, 2020, Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

Back in April 2011, following WrestleMania 27, Edge was forced to retire due to a neck injury. At the time, the “Rated-R Superstar” said that if he had continued to perform inside the ring, he would’ve risked being paralyzed. Edge was the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, so he obviously had to relinquish the gold.

Fast forward nine years later, and Edge made his shocking return at the 2020 Royal Rumble match. The WWE Hall of Famer has since enjoyed a part-time schedule under the WWE banner and has been a part of some high-profile matches.

Fernando Quiles Jr.

Fernando has been covering combat sports and pro wrestling for over a decade. He currently writes for BJPenn.com and has also contributed for Sports Illustrated’s MMA Knockout. Fernando is excited to be a part of FightsATW to provide you with the latest news content in the world of pro wrestling.

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