The Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s most legendary matches, eagerly anticipated by fans every year. However, not every Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View (PPV) has lived up to expectations, with several disappointing events in recent years causing frustration and boredom among viewers. Poor match bookings and lackluster bouts have contributed to some notorious missteps.
Looking back, a few specific Royal Rumble PPVs stand out for their shortcomings, albeit for varied reasons.
In 2014, Daniel Bryan was unfairly overlooked, leading to boos as Batista, returning unexpectedly, won the Royal Rumble, creating an awkward vibe despite a somewhat decent match. Other matches on the card were inconsistent, with Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan praised, while Randy Orton vs. John Cena fell flat, and Brock Lesnar’s dominance over Big Show lacked impact.
The 2015 event was similarly disappointing, with fans rejecting Roman Reigns as the winner. Though matches like The Usos vs. The Miz & Damian Mizdow and Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena & Seth Rollins offered decent entertainment, the Royal Rumble match itself was widely regarded as one of WWE’s worst.
The 1989 Royal Rumble was weak overall, as WWE struggled with the format and Big John Studd’s victory did little to excite. The show’s highlight was a six-man tag match featuring The Hart Foundation, while other matches felt uninspired, particularly the heel vs. heel bout between King Haku and Harley Race.
In 2012, WWE’s star power was at a low, resulting in an underwhelming Royal Rumble. Matches often focused on comedy or lesser-known wrestlers rather than showcasing top contenders, though Sheamus’ win stood out as a rare bright spot. The event also featured an overbooked WWE Title match and a poorly executed John Cena vs. Kane bout.
The 1990 Royal Rumble suffered from a lackluster undercard, but the main Royal Rumble match was strong, featuring stars like The Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels, and Hulk Hogan, who took home the win. The rest of the card, including matches with the Bushwhackers and Brutus Beefcake, ranged from dull to terrible.
The 1999 Royal Rumble, during WWE’s Attitude Era, was chaotic and overly dramatized, culminating in Vince McMahon’s controversial win. While the show had a highlight with Mankind vs. The Rock in an “I Quit” match, other bouts were unremarkable and felt unfit for a major PPV.
In 2006, Rey Mysterio’s Royal Rumble victory provided a memorable moment, but the undercard was disappointing. John Cena ended Edge’s title reign, Kurt Angle’s match against Mark Henry was lackluster, and other matches failed to impress.
Lastly, the 2022 Royal Rumble is often considered the worst, marked by a disengaged fanbase and uninspiring outcomes as either part-timers Brock Lesnar or Ronda Rousey won the Royal Rumble matches. The dull event was further plagued by questionable bookings and a lack of memorable moments.
Fan Take: These disappointing Royal Rumble events serve as a reminder that even WWE’s most iconic match can falter without strong storytelling and compelling competitors. For fans, it underscores the importance of consistent quality to keep the excitement alive and maintain the prestige of the Royal Rumble in the wrestling world.
