The Best Non-Rumble Royal Rumble Matches
Last week we took a look at the Top 3 Royal Rumble matches in history (check that out here) and this week we will be taking a look at some of the greatest non-Rumble matches to happen at the annual January event. The Royal Rumble is generally not known for providing fans with great matches as it usually puts a greater focus on the Rumble match itself as the beginning of the Road to WrestleMania, but it has given us more than a few absolute bangers over its 30-plus years as an event. In fact, while putting this list together and conversing with Chris himself, we came to the realization of how many great matches have been in the show’s history. Join us as we take a look at some honorable mentions before diving into the greatest non-Rumble matches in history!
Honorable Mentions
The Rock vs. Mankind – WWF Championship ‘I Quit’ Match – Royal Rumble 1999 – Easily one of the most brutal matches in the history of the WWF, especially in the wake of our knowledge of CTE and brain trauma. Both The Rock and Mick Foley himself have agreed that they went overboard in this match with an absolutely ridiculous number of unprotected chair shots to the head. It was hard to watch in ’99, and even harder to watch now. The rest of the match is good but is torn down quite a bit by the screwy finish involving pre-recorded audio of Mankind “quitting.”
Bret & Owen Hart vs. The Quebecers – WWF Tag Team Championships – Royal Rumble 1994 – Not necessarily the greatest match in execution but in terms of storytelling, few are better. Bret uses his expert selling art focusing on a knee injury that leads to the referee throwing the match out. This results in Owen fully turning heel on his bigger brother for his selfishness in not tagging him into the match. While their issues began at the previous year’s Survivor Series this was the full launching pad of their iconic feud. The fact that Bret came back later that night to win the Royal Rumble (in a tie with Lex Luger) which led to WrestleMania X just makes it even better.
Dudley Boyz vs. Hardy Boyz – Tables Match – Royal Rumble 2000 - If my recollection is correct, this was the first Tables Match in WWE history. And what a match it was, as it was one of the most exciting matches in a year full of them, all while helping build towards the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000 with Edge & Christian in a few months time, which itself was the beginning of the TLC movement. Important both as a great match and as a historical moment.
Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho – WWF Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match – Royal Rumble 2001 – Undoubtedly one of the greatest ladder matches in WWE history that is forgotten for obvious reasons. But if you are one of the few of us who can still watch and enjoy Chris Benoit matches, then this is a classic. The image of Jericho locking on the Walls of Jericho across the top of the ladder is iconic while the chairshot to Benoit’s head during a suicide dive is still hard to watch regardless of your feelings on Benoit.
Chris Jericho vs. The Rock – WWF Undisputed Championship Match – Royal Rumble 2002 - These two always had great chemistry together and The Rock would be the first big title defense for Chris Jericho after becoming the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in history (you may have heard him mention beating The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in the same night at some point in his career). The Rock has always been an underrated worker who was able to put on some incredible matches when put together with an opponent who would raise his game and while maybe not as great as his underrated matches with Chris Benoit, this holds up as one of The Great One’s greatest matches.
3) Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins – WWE Championship Match – Royal Rumble 2015
The 2015 edition of the Rumble was a horribly booked and much-maligned show, but one thing that everyone agreed on was that the WWE Championship Triple Threat match was an absolute gem. Months before Seth Rollins would cash in at WrestleMania, he stole the show from two of WWE’s biggest stalwarts, both of whom had come with their working boots on. This was during Brock’s post-Streak ending reign but before he would finally take a clean loss to Goldberg and his dominance shows while Cena exists as the connective tissue between the two. An absolute banger from a horrid show, this is one that must be seen.
2) Triple H vs. Cactus Jack – WWF Championship Street Fight – Royal Rumble 2000
You had to know that this one would be on the list. Not just one of the greatest matches in Royal Rumble history, this is one of the greatest WWF Championship matches in history. Triple H was still in the early part of his main event run and Mick Foley wanted to help get him over to the next level, in the same way, he had done earlier in their careers with their mid-card run, as well as he had done with The Rock the year before. Bringing back the beloved Cactus Jack to do this and having a street fight was the perfect way to do so. Kudos to The Game for going balls to the wall along with Cactus, including a brutal spot that resulted in a nickel-sized hole in his leg that he continued wrestling through. Brutal from start to finish, this is a must-see for any wrestling fan.
1) Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit – WWE Championship Match – Royal Rumble 2003
Another overlooked classic, once again for obvious reasons. As we put together this list this was always going to be topped by this match. I remember watching this match live and just being blown away by the technical expertise of both men. For 20 straight minutes, these two tore the house down, going back and forth until Angle finally was able to make Benoit tap to the Ankle Lock. Another thing that always stuck with me is how after the match they went to a video package and upon returning, Benoit was still in the ring as the entire arena thanked him for his performance with a standing ovation. I still believe that this moment is what finally convinced Vince McMahon to pull the trigger and give him his WrestleMania moment the following year. Dave Meltzer gave this match a 4.75 Stars rating but it is an absolute 5-star classic.
Kurt Angle reflected on this match nearly two decades later in a social media post:
“16 years ago I had the privilege of defending my WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. This is how the match was explained verbally to those who haven't watched it. 'Professional wrestling in its purest form is as beautiful as ballet, as elegant as a ballroom dance and as captivating as a theater. By purest form I mean technical wrestling, which in today's world is almost non-existent. The fiery chain wrestling, involving great chemistry, in-ring psychology and dream like story telling is something that happens when all the stars align. This match was one of my best performances of my career. If you haven't seen it, give it a look.”
