The Top 3 Best Royal Rumble Matches

The Royal Rumble. Not only does the annual January event stand as one of the most anticipated events every year for WWE, but it also signals the beginning of the much-fabled ‘Road To WrestleMania.’ It stands only second to WrestleMania as an event that is big enough for even lapsed fans to come back and watch. If we were not currently amid a global pandemic, I can assure you that many fans would be putting together Royal Rumble parties.

And the Royal Rumble match itself is arguably the biggest reason why. Perhaps Pat Patterson’s most incredible creation (read more about why Pat Patterson was the Yoda of professional wrestling here), the Royal Rumble consists of 30 men (except the 2011 event featuring 40 men and the much-maligned ‘Greatest Royal Rumble’ from Saudi Arabia) and at its best can weave several different stories into one gargantuan matchup. With over 30 Royal Rumble matches it may seem daunting to try and ascertain what the three best Rumbles of all time are, even with the shocking number of stinkers there have been. And today, we shall determine the three best Rumbles to take place. There’s a good chance you already have in mind what belongs here and which belongs at number one, so get your pitchforks ready as I determine the best. But first, a few honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

2020 Royal Rumble
Final Four: Aleister Black, Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre
While most fondly remembered for the incredibly emotional and heartwarming return of Edge to active competition after nine years of forced retirement, the 2020 Rumble told many great stories, with the first half dominated by WWE Champion Brock Lesnar before the man who would dethrone him at WrestleMania, Drew McIntyre would eliminate him, resulting in a second half of the Rumble utterly different from the first half. 

2003 Royal Rumble
Final Four: Batista, Kane, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar
While a few good stories were told throughout the 2003 Rumble, it falls short of being included in the top 3. Lesnar had already been anointed as “the guy,” which was simply a reconfirmation of that fact.

2002 Royal Rumble
Final Four: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mr. Perfect, Kurt Angle, Triple H
A vastly underrated Rumble classic. I can still fondly remember seeing the returning Mr. Perfect in the final four and throwing away any level of caring about the other three men and wanting Perfect to win the Rumble. Beyond that, the massive return of Triple H meant everyone knew he was going to win, but the story was still told wonderfully with two of his biggest rivals Austin and Angle, being there toe-to-toe with him.

Number Three

2004 Royal Rumble
Final Four: Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Chris Benoit
The forgotten and controversial Royal Rumble. For many hardcore wrestling fans at the time, Chris Benoit entering at Number One and going the distance to win the Rumble was confirmation that maybe, just maybe, WWE was finally pulling the trigger on guys who weren’t exactly in Vince’s usual wheelhouse of big muscly men, but were simply the best in-ring generals. This would be confirmed in the following months as Eddie Guerrero dethroned Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, followed by Benoit’s win at WrestleMania XX of the World Heavyweight Championship. Beyond that, this Rumble match is simply stacked with talent and managed never to be boring. If you can put aside the Benoit controversy, this is one of the best Rumble matches ever.

Number Two

1992 Royal Rumble
Final Four: Macho Man Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Sid Justice, Ric Flair
I can already feel the pitchforks being brought out for not placing this at Number One. And while there is no denying that the 92 Rumble may be the most star-studded in history and infinitely memorable. Ric Flair’s performance is incredible from his number three entry to being the eventual winner. However, I would argue that Bobby Heenan’s performance is just as crucial to the story being told. I’d argue that this match is Bobby’s finest performance as a commentator ever. Truthfully this match is damned near perfect, but the ending with Hogan essentially turning heel on Sid and being a sore loser damages it a bit, but this is made up by the Flair promo afterwards with Heenan and Mr. Perfect. You could just as quickly put this at Number One, but in my mind, one Rumble outmatches it.

Number One

1997 Royal Rumble
Final Five: Bret Hart, Diesel, Vader, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin
Possibly the closest a Royal Rumble match has come to be perfect. There were a few exceptions (mostly Mil Mascaras and a few other AAA stars), but this Rumble is stacked beyond compare. Damned near everyone in the final ten entrants is either a Hall Of Famer or will be one day. And the story told with Stone Cold Steve Austin, especially once Bret Hart enters, is pitch-perfect. Austin was still a heel at this point, but it was clear that he was on his way to being “the guy.” His response when Bret’s music hits after clearing the ring is one of the most ‘GIF-able’ moments in wrestling history. And the controversy surrounding the final five (I had to put it as five as ‘Fake Diesel’ aka Kane was in there though forgotten about) leading to the superb Final Four match the following month at In Your House was such a good story. It all led to arguably the most excellent match of all time between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. Simply put….perfection.