When it comes to gimmick matches, is there anything better than the Royal Rumble? This event has been my favorite since going up to the local video rental place (shoutout Now Showing! Video) with my dad to rent the VHS for the weekend when I was seven years old. I would be so excited to watch the Pay-Per-View and was on the edge of my seat to see who would come from behind the curtain.
Nowadays, the boys and I will pull numbers like a Bingo caller, put the cash down, and bet winner-takes-all with a few side pots. We may even have a Rumble of our own, where we create characters, act out promos, and play it out on a video game (check out @64BitLegends). So loving this event is an understatement. Here are my favorite superstars who punched their tickets to WrestleMania.
The 5 Rumble Winners
Jey Uso
Last year, some people were pissed! Don’t get me wrong, you may not see me “Yeeting” (which started in Detroit with 8 Mile) all the time, even though the song is great! I just absolutely loved a surprise ending! I dont’t think anyone thought “Main Event” Jey Uso would get the opportunity to main event WrestleMania.
I’ve always said that this match should be anyone’s game because different superstars can have different strategies. I know the winner gets a title shot at ‘Mania, which limits the predictability, but last year no one expected Uce to win!
Shawn Michaels – 1995
When you first get introduced to professional wrestling, certain people make you a fan. Shawn Michaels was one of the first stars that I saw grow from a midcard wrestler to a bona fide main eventer. From his days with Sherri Martel to seeing him even younger as a Rocker when Shawn Michaels won the Rumble after entering number one, it was awesome.
Again, after renting VHS tapes every weekend, I was a Royal Rumble expert by the time I was 8 in ’95. So when I saw Shawn Michaels dangling from the top rope, I may have screamed at my poor mother, “That’s only one foot!!!” Then he eliminated another favorite at the time, the British Bulldog, who entered number two.
Yokozuna
Even though the ending of the match was confusing because Macho Man went for a pin, it’s still one of my favorite Rumble winners. As a child, Yokozuna was larger than life! His quickness and agility for his size were amazing to watch.
I was terrified of the “Bonzai Drop.” Yoko and Owen Hart are still one of my favorite tag teams, and they don’t get their flowers. Although he isn’t Japanese and Undertaker and Kane aren’t brothers, I forgive you for the biggest lies of my childhood!
John Cena – 2008
Is this the most iconic Royal Rumble moment of all time? The Greatest of All Time, the “Never Seen Seventeen,” John Cena returning months early to surprise everyone at number thirty. Triple H’s face said it all as the crowd erupted for Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect.
Usually, you can predict a few superstars who have a chance of winning. John Cena was so far ahead of schedule coming back from injury that he shocked the WWE Universe by returning and winning the match.
Bret Hart & Lex Luger
The funny thing is, I wasn’t really a big fan of either of these guys. I didn’t care for Luger then, but I met him recently, and he’s a nice guy. Bret was ok when I was young, but now he won’t shut up about Goldberg. Anyways, this was such a unique finish that ended with controversy, done so well they only did it once more, which may or may not have been scripted.
This would also set up my first known wrestling storyline between brothers Bret “Hitman” Hart and “The Blackheart” Owen Hart. It was amazing when Owen beat Bret, but then the “Hitman” got the last laugh, winning the title with his brother looking on.
Final Thoughts
This list is in no particular order, just some of my favorite Royal Rumble winners. Some bring me back to my childhood, while others just remind me of great times with my stupid friends taking my money every year (it’s all luck by the way). Anyways, thank you for reading, and “Happy Rumble Everyone!”
