Top 5 Royal Rumble matches RANKED: WWE legends' returns, shock winners, history-making moments and Covid crisis

WWE are set to host the Royal Rumble, one of their greatest pay-per-view events of the year, this Saturday at The Dome at America's Center in St Louis, Missouri.

The best of RAW and SmackDown are set to go to war in a 30 men's and women's over-the-top-rope battle royale to determine the No1 contender for each gender's top titles.

The winner will face their counterpart at WrestleMania 38 on a two-night event in April at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

What makes the Royal Rumble such a glorious event is its countless legendary moments that defined the show's legacy.

Here are the best Royal Rumble Matches in WWE history:

5. 2018 Men's Royal Rumble Match

That was a legendary Royal Rumble event as it marked a new era in pro wrestling, more about it later…

Some of NXT's most successful graduates had become main roster regulars and were joined in the ring by some of the sport's biggest legends, like John Cena, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio.

But at the end, there could only be one, and Shinsuke Nakamura won on his first ever Royal Rumble appearance by last eliminating Roman Reigns.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

Most read in WWE

BEAST INCARNATE

WWE star Brock Lesnar was even more muscly as college hulk than he is now

ROYAL SUCCESS

From Hogan eliminating Macho Man to Cena's return, 7 greatest Rumble moments

ROCK SHOCK

WWE stars put POO in Dwayne Johnson's lunchbox and warned him to not leave food

PHENOM-ENAL

Undertaker names WWE Mount Rushmore… but leaves out Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan

4. 2021 Men's Royal Rumble Match

Last year's Royal Rumble Match was completely different – and will never be replicated – as there were no fans in attendance.

That was due to Covid restrictions imposed in Florida and thus WWE superstars had to compete in front of an empty arena with fans making their presence known through LED boards, an initiative dubbed WWE Thunderdome.

But that didn't stop the performers from doing what they do best as some of the industry's top stars, like Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles and Seth Rollins, left it all in the ring.

They were joined by legends, like Kane, Christian and Edge, who won his second Royal Rumble Match after entering at No1 and last eliminating Randy Orton who was No2.

3. 2020 Men's Royal Rumble Match

This was the last Royal Rumble Match before the coronavirus pandemic took over the entire world.

We saw some of WWE's brightest starts taking it to the ring and were joined by some returning legends.

But no one put together a comeback more surprising, glorious and spectacular than Edge who returned to full-time action from a career-ending neck injury that put him on the shelf in 2011.

Plus, it was a great night for Britain as Drew McIntyre beat the odds and became the first ever Brit to win the match as he eliminated Roman Reigns at the end.

McIntyre then became the first ever British WWE Champion when he beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36.


2. 2007 Royal Rumble Match

This was advertised as the most star-studded Royal Rumble Match of all time, and boy did it deliver…

The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Edge, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Kane, Jeff Hardy, Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam and so many more participated.

And it had an amazing ending as Undertaker and Michaels were the final participants.

Taker stood tall after a fierce battle, which set up two of the best WrestleMania matches between the two legends later down the line.

1 2018 Women's Royal Rumble Match

As mentioned above, 2018 was a historic year for WWE as it catapulted women's wrestling.

And that is when the first ever women's Royal Rumble Match took place with some of the best wrestlers from the present and the past mixing it up.

Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley were joined by Hall of Famers Lita, Trish Stratus, Beth Phoenix and more.

It was Asuka who ultimately stood tall by eliminating runner-up Nikki Bella and is now remembered as the first ever female Royal Rumble winner.

That was also the night when Ronda Rousey transitioned from UFC to WWE and made her debut.

    Source: Read Full Article