The Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s most exciting annual pay-per-view events, considered one of the company’s “big four” alongside WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. While the Royal Rumble match itself draws massive attention, a truly successful event also relies on a strong lineup of undercard matches.
Over time, several Royal Rumble pay-per-views have earned legendary status due to memorable matches, consistent quality, or unforgettable moments treasured by fans.
Royal Rumble 2009
This event was solid throughout, even though it lacked major star power. The undercard featured decent title matches, including John Cena vs. JBL, Edge vs. Jeff Hardy for the WWE Championship, and Melina vs. Beth Phoenix in a standout Divas bout. The Royal Rumble match showcased big names like Randy Orton, The Undertaker, Triple H, and Rey Mysterio, with Orton ultimately winning; it wasn’t the greatest Rumble match ever but was enjoyable.
Royal Rumble 2018
WWE achieved the rare feat of delivering two excellent Royal Rumble matches this year—the men’s match is considered the best ever, and the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble was a historic tribute to the women’s division. Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka emerged victorious. The undercard was highlighted by AJ Styles defending the WWE Title against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, and The Usos retaining their SmackDown Tag Team titles over Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable.
Royal Rumble 2021
Held without a live audience due to the pandemic, this edition still stands out as one of the best Rumbles ever. Bianca Belair’s victory in the women’s match marked her rise as a star, while Edge won the men’s match starting from number one, in a highly underrated performance. Additional highlights included a Last Man Standing match between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens and Drew McIntyre’s impressive win over Goldberg.
Royal Rumble 2008
Taking place in the iconic Madison Square Garden, this event featured memorable moments like John Cena’s surprising Royal Rumble victory and a card with solid matches, including Edge defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy facing Randy Orton for the WWE Title. The show maintained consistent quality without major flaws.
Royal Rumble 2020
Charlotte Flair captured the Women’s Royal Rumble title, but the highlight was Drew McIntyre’s men’s Royal Rumble win that propelled him to stardom. The card boasted strong undercard bouts such as a thrilling Falls Count Anywhere match between Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin, and a highly regarded match featuring The Fiend Bray Wyatt and Daniel Bryan.
Royal Rumble 2000
Though the Rumble match itself was average, The Rock’s win amid a star-studded lineup made the event memorable, especially with a hard-hitting undercard including Taz’s explosive debut, a tag team tables match between The Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz, and the legendary street fight between Triple H and Cactus Jack.
Royal Rumble 2007
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Royal Rumble matches ever, the 2007 edition featured a classic finish sequence with Shawn Michaels and saw The Undertaker winning the match. The undercard was solid, highlighted by a brutal Last Man Standing contest between John Cena and Umaga and a strong tag team win for The Hardys.
Royal Rumble 2001
Set during WWE’s peak Attitude Era, this event was monumental. Steve Austin secured his record third Royal Rumble victory, supported by a highly entertaining ladder match, a WWE Championship bout between Kurt Angle and Triple H, and a tag team clash between Edge & Christian and The Dudley Boyz. The atmosphere was electric and the quality top-tier.
Fan Take: The Royal Rumble remains a cornerstone of WWE storytelling, blending thrilling competition with career-defining moments. For fans, these events showcase the evolving landscape of wrestling, elevating new stars while honoring legends, ultimately shaping the future of the sport.
