The Road To WrestleMania always begins with the Royal Rumble, and it’s about that time again. But the Royal Rumble, of course, has a lot more going for it than just the 30-man and 30-woman battle to main event WrestleMania. Returns, surprises, and memorable moments abound all throughout the event’s rich history.

Every Royal Rumble Match Winner Who Has Never Main Evented WrestleMania

The original televised special featured Canadian Strongman Dino Bravo attempt to set a world record (albeit with some help from Jesse Ventura). The next year there was a silly posedown between Ravishing Rick Rude and The Ultimate Warrior. Even better were some of the ridiculous quick promos over the years about how such-and-such wrestler was going to win the match. Plenty of big moments over the years didn’t have a thing to do with actual wrestling.

10 The Old School Opening Video

"It's Time To Rumble, It's Time For The Royal Rumble"

• Hacksaw Jim Duggan won the first ever televised Royal Rumble.
• The match only had twenty men and on the USA Network.
• The event was created to counter-program against Crockett's Bunkhouse Stampede.

In theory, most fans have heard plenty of Vince impressions over the years and might even have one of their own. You ever get the feeling that you’re going to pop a blood vessel yelling and screaming in that guttural, gnarly growl that The Chairman does? How he never did is certainly a mystery. But it certainly made for some of the early intro videos of The Royal Rumble that much more hysterical. Sure, all he would do is call out the names of the combatants and the other matches, but doing it all with the Vince gusto makes it a hallmark of early WWE.

9 Lawrence Taylor Laughs At Bam Bam Bigelow

The Two New Jersey Stars Did Not Get Along

• The 1995 Royal Rumble was the first to have celebrity cameos; one from LT and one from Pamela Anderson.
• The winner of the Rumble also won the right to have Pam as a valet for them at WrestleMania.
• This began the push to Lawrence Taylor's first and only wrestling match.

After Mr. T at the first ever WrestleMania, the next big celebrity match to take place was Bam Bam Bigelow taking on football hero, Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania 11. At the 1995 Rumble, they began their big feud. After losing his match, LT was just a fan in the crowd laughing at The Beast From The East.

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Taylor realized he hurt the big man’s feelings and angered him. He tried to apologize, but Bigelow shoved him back into the crowd for his efforts.

8 Seth Rollins' 2022 Entrance

Seth Rollins Came Close To Dethroning The Tribal Chief

• Brock Lesnar holds the current record of title defenses at the Rumble with 5
• Roman will pass that record this year with his sixth title defense.
• Rollins' entrance at the 2022 Rumble was the last time the Shield music or gear has been used.

One of the finer aspects of Seth Rollins gimmick is his ability to get inside his opponents’ minds before the match even starts. No matter how big The Tribal Chief has gotten, The Architect has always been able to get inside Roman’s mind. At the 2022 event, when Rollins tried to take the Universal title from Roman, he tried to get in Roman’s head right from the entrance. Rollins sauntered to the ring from the crowd to their old Shield music.

7 The Undertaker Ascends To Heaven

How Many Heels Does It Take To Bury A Deadman?

• The 1994 Rumble title match was Taker's first major title match in over two years.
• Despite being bitter rivals on-screen, The Deadman and Yokozuna were the best of friends off.
• The two, along with several others formed The Bone Street Krew over their love of Dominoes.

Speaking of wrestlers who knew how to get into their opponents’ minds before the bell even rang - Yokozuna was terrified of The Undertaker. The Deadman had his sights set on the WWE Champion and the two were set to collide in a Casket Match for the title at the 1994 event. It took Yoko and about 857 heels to defeat The Phenom, but they did, and The Undertaker was shoved in a box and carted to the locker room. He instead appeared on the video wall while still inside the coffin. He proclaimed he would one day return and then ascended to the heavens. Or you know, the top of the arena.

6 Edge's Emotional Return

"On This Day, I See Clearly"

• The journey to Edge's return began when he had fallen off his bike riding with Sheamus.
• Edge supposedly was looking into signing with AEW once he was cleared before WWE agreed to a deal.
• Footage of Edge's return and fan reactions were all over social media.

There are certain emotional moments in WWE history that are ingrained in fans’ collective memories. Randy and Liz’s tearful WrestleMania reunion, for example. But as far as the Royal Rumble goes, there is only one truly emotional moment, and it’s also one of the most memorable overall. After nearly a decade of forced retirement, Edge realized he might be able to get cleared.

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He put in the grit, determination, and work to get back to where he always wanted to be. When his music hit at the 2020 match, and he had actually returned, the raw emotion on Adam Copeland’s face (and fans all over the world) was palpable.

5 The 2008 Opening Video

Commuting In New York Is A Battle

• New York, especially Madison Square Garden is long thought of WWE's home base.
• MSG has hosted both the 2000 and 2008 Royal Rumbles.
• John Cena's return at the 2008 show shocked the world, as his injury reportedly had him out for longer.

The WWE has long been known for their great video packages. The 2008 Royal Rumble was no different. Emanating from Madison Square Garden, the opening montage was very apropos of the New York commuter lifestyle. Metropolitan-based fans know full well the battle it can be hopping from train to train and here we got to see the WWE superstars experience that hellacious existence that New Yorkers suffer through every day to get to work.

4 Warrior Turns Down Sherri

One Of The Reasons Warrior's A Dum-Dum - He Said No To The Queen

• This angle began the march towards Macho King and Warrior's epic WrestleMania 7 match.
• The Macho King did not enter the Rumble this year. Announcers sold it as he was hiding from The Warrior.
• The scepter smash was so brutal that years later, Warrior wore a hat to protect his head during a similar spot with Jerry Lawler.

One of the absolute strangest promos in Royal Rumble history happened at the 1991 show. The Ultimate Warrior, then-WWE Champion was called out to the interview stage by the vivacious Sensational Queen Sherri. She dropped all of her “Scary Sherri” veneer and turned on the sultriness. It was all in the name of trying to convince the nincompoop to give a title shot to her man, The Macho Man, should Warrior defeat Sgt. Slaughter. If you don’t remember Warrior’s answer, but remember The Macho King cracking Warrior with his scepter, then you know full well how Warrior answered Sherri’s proposition.

3 Owen Kicks Bret’s Leg Out Of His Leg

Bret Was Far Too Selfish To Tag Owen In

• Re-watch this match. Owen's right - once he is tagged in, Bret never tags out.
• After several years in the company, this was Owen's big chance in a main event spot.
• Vince originally wanted Bruce Hart for the angle, Bret convinced him to use Owen.

Considering Owen Hart’s penchant for being playful, he may very well have meant to deliver this promo the way that he did. But his gaffe at the 1994 Royal Rumble led to a meme years later. The Rocket got fed up with his brother hogging the spotlight, even after being horrendously injured to the point that The Harts had to forfeit their tag title match against The Quebecers. He then berated Bret for a few moments before kicking The Hitman in his bum leg. During the promo he gave, he told his older brother that Bret was selfish and that’s why “I kicked your leg out of your leg.”

2 The 2000 MSG Set-Up

As Taste Of NYC Streets Inside The World's Most Famous Arena

• This was a very ECW influenced show - Taz debuted, The Dudleys had their first major tables match, and Cactus Jack wrestled one of the best matches of his career.
• Cactus Jack made his WWE debut in the Garden, and this was his first WWE title show as Cactus; both matches against Triple H.
• The Rock admitted in 2016 that Big Show really did win the Royal Rumble, and he should have been able to go to WrestleMania to wrestle for the title.

WrestleMania and several Attitude Era pay-per-views are known for their elaborate stage setups. But the 2000 edition of the Royal Rumble got some love as well.

10 Things WWE Fans Should Know About Royal Rumble 2000

With iconic New York Taxis hanging above the entrance, it gave the first ever Madison Square Garden Rumble a distinct feel. It gave everyone a sense of that New York grime and grit as combatants headed to the ring.

1 With A Tear In My Eye

Ric Flair Makes Wrestling History

• The 1992 Royal Rumble was the first ever Rumble where there were stakes to go to the winner, the WWE title in this case.
• Ric Flair was the first ever superstar to last over an hour.
• If you watched the show on Coliseum video, there was an interview with Flair prior to the match about he drew number three, spoiling the surprise.

In less than six months time after first showing up with big gold belt, Ric Flair found himself among the field of thirty vying for the vacant WWE title. Flair came in at number three and lasted the distance to claim his rightful place as WWE champion. He then gave what would easily be his best WWE promo ever. He declared “with a tear in my eye,” speaking about what it meant to win the WWE title and now all of the roster needs to pay homage to The Man.

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