There’s nothing in pro wrestling quite like the Royal Rumble. While there have been and always will be other battle royals, WWE has distilled the over-the-top extravaganza into something that has withstood the test of time.
Since 1988, the promotion has had at least one Royal Rumble a year, with one for men and women held annually since 2018. Not only have fans fallen in love with the core concept, to the point that they enthusiastically count down from 10 each time a new wrestler enters the fray, they’ve also come to expect legends and surprises — which WWE generally delivers.
Another great aspect that has become part of the Royal Rumble’s DNA over time is the prize: an opportunity to challenge for a world championship at WrestleMania, making the Rumble the official kickoff on the road to WWE’s biggest show of each calendar year.
Naturally, that means it’s quite an honor to win a Rumble match. Even with the event heading toward its 40th anniversary later this decade, the list of Royal Rumble winners is still a pretty exclusive club.
Let’s take a look at every Royal Rumble winner ever, year by year.
Royal Rumble 1998 - Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Jim Duggan
Number of entrants: 20
Winner’s entrance number: 13
Winner’s time in ring: 14:44
Last opponent eliminated: One Man Gang
Most eliminations: 5 (One Man Gang)
Royal Rumble 1989 - The Summit, Houston
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Big John Studd
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 27
Winner’s time in ring: 12:21
Last opponent eliminated: Ted DiBiase
Most eliminations: 10 (Hulk Hogan)
Royal Rumble 1990 - Orlando Arena, Orlando
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Hulk Hogan
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 25
Winner’s time in ring: 12:49
Last opponent eliminated: Mr. Perfect
Most eliminations: 6 (Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior)
Royal Rumble 1991 - Miami Arena, Miami
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Hulk Hogan
Number of entrants: 29 (Randy Savage was announced at No. 18 but did not participate)
Winner’s entrance number: 24
Winner’s time in ring: 21:00
Last opponent eliminated: Earthquake
Most eliminations: 7 (Hulk Hogan)
Royal Rumble 1992 - Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner:Ric Flair
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 3
Winner’s time in ring: 1:00:02
Last opponent eliminated: Sid Justice
Most eliminations: 6 (Sid Justice)
Royal Rumble 1993 - ARCO Arena, Sacramento, CA
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Yokozuna
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 27
Winner’s time in ring: 14:53
Last opponent eliminated: Randy Savage
Most eliminations: 7 (Yokozuna)
Royal Rumble 1994 - Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winners: Lex Luger and Bret Hart(declared co-winners, with the title shot at WrestleMania not resolved until the next week on Raw)
Number of entrants: 30
Winners’ entrance numbers: 23 (Luger) and 27 (Hart)
Winners’ time in ring: 21:58 (Luger) and 15:08 (Hart)
Last opponent eliminated: Shawn Michaels
Most eliminations: 7 (Diesel)
Royal Rumble 1995 - USF Sun Dome, Tampa
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Shawn Michaels
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 1
Winner’s time in ring: 38:41
Last opponent eliminated: The British Bulldog
Most eliminations: 8 (Shawn Michaels)
Royal Rumble 1996 - Selland Arena, Fresno, CA
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Shawn Michaels
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 18
Winner’s time in ring: 26:10
Last opponent eliminated: Diesel
Most eliminations: 8 (Shawn Michaels)
Royal Rumble 1997 - Alamodome, San Antonio
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 5
Winner’s time in ring: 45:07
Last opponent eliminated: Bret Hart
Most eliminations: 10 (Stone Cold Steve Austin)
Royal Rumble 1998 - San Jose Arena, San Jose
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 24
Winner’s time in ring: 15:58
Last opponent eliminated: The Rock
Most eliminations: 7 (Stone Cold Steve Austin)
Royal Rumble 1999 - Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Vince McMahon (as Mr. McMahon)
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 2
Winner’s time in ring: 56:38
Last opponent eliminated: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Most eliminations: 8 (Stone Cold Steve Austin)
Royal Rumble 2000 - Madison Square Garden, New York City
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: The Rock
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 24
Winner’s time in ring: 14:47
Last opponent eliminated: Big Show
Most eliminations: 7 (Rikishi)
Royal Rumble 2001 - New Orleans Arena, New Orleans
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 27
Winner’s time in ring: 9:38
Last opponent eliminated: Kane
Most eliminations: 11 (Kane)
Royal Rumble 2002 - Philips Arena, Atlanta
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Triple H
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 22
Winner’s time in ring: 23:14
Last opponent eliminated: Kurt Angle
Most eliminations: 7 (Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker)
Royal Rumble 2003 - FleetCenter, Boston
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Brock Lesnar
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 29
Winner’s time in ring: 9:00
Last opponent eliminated: The Undertaker
Most eliminations: 6 (Chris Jericho)
Royal Rumble 2004 - Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Chris Benoit
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 1
Winner’s time in ring: 1:01:30
Last opponent eliminated: Big Show
Most eliminations: 6 (Chris Benoit)
Royal Rumble 2005 - Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Batista
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 28
Winner’s time in ring: 10:54
Last opponent eliminated: John Cena
Most eliminations: 6 (Batista)
Royal Rumble 2006 - American Airlines Arena, Miami
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Rey Mysterio
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 2
Winner’s time in ring: 1:02:12
Last opponent eliminated: Randy Orton
Most eliminations: 6 (Rey Mysterio and Triple H)
Royal Rumble 2007 - AT&T Center, San Antonio
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: The Undertaker
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 30
Winner’s time in ring: 13:15
Last opponent eliminated: Shawn Michaels
Most eliminations: 7 (The Great Khali)
Royal Rumble 2008 - Madison Square Garden, New York City
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: John Cena
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 30
Winner’s time in ring: 8:28
Last opponent eliminated: Triple H
Most eliminations: 6 (Triple H)
Royal Rumble 2009 - Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Randy Orton
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 8
Winner’s time in ring: 48:30
Last opponent eliminated: Triple H
Most eliminations: 6 (Big Show and Triple H)
Royal Rumble 2010 - Philips Arena, Atlanta
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Edge
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 29
Winner’s time in ring: 7:37
Last opponent eliminated: John Cena
Most eliminations: 6 (Shawn Michaels)
Royal Rumble 2011 - TD Garden, Boston
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Alberto Del Rio
Number of entrants: 40
Winner’s entrance number: 38
Winner’s time in ring: 9:33
Last opponent eliminated: Santino Marella
Most eliminations: 7 (CM Punk and John Cena)
Royal Rumble 2012 - Scottrade Center, St. Louis
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Sheamus
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 22
Winner’s time in ring: 22:22
Last opponent eliminated: Chris Jericho
Most eliminations: 6 (Cody Rhodes)
Royal Rumble 2013 - US Airways Center, Phoenix
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: John Cena
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 19
Winner’s time in ring: 26:39
Last opponent eliminated: Ryback
Most eliminations: 5 (Ryback and Sheamus)
Royal Rumble 2014 - Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Batista
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 28
Winner’s time in ring: 14:34
Last opponent eliminated: Roman Reigns
Most eliminations: 12 (Roman Reigns)
Royal Rumble 2015 - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Roman Reigns
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 19
Winner’s time in ring: 27:29
Last opponent eliminated: Rusev
Most eliminations: 7 (Bray Wyatt)
Royal Rumble 2016 - Amway Center, Orlando
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Triple H
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 30
Winner’s time in ring: 9:03
Last opponent eliminated: Dean Ambrose
Most eliminations: 5 (Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns)
Royal Rumble 2017 - Alamodome, San Antonio
Image credit: WWE
Royal Rumble match winner: Randy Orton
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 23
Winner’s time in ring: 20:52
Last opponent eliminated: Roman Reigns
Most eliminations: 7 (Braun Strowman)
Royal Rumble 2018 - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Image credit: WWE
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 14
Winner’s time in ring: 44:38
Last opponent eliminated: Roman Reigns
Most eliminations: 4 (Finn Balor and Roman Reigns)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Asuka
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 25
Winner’s time in ring: 19:41
Last opponent eliminated: Nikki Bella
Most eliminations: 5 (Michelle McCool)
Note: WWE also held the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in April 2018. While most fans don’t consider that to be part of the lineage of this show, it did include a 50-man Greatest Royal Rumble match won by Braun Strowman with 13 eliminations.
Royal Rumble 2019 - Chase Field, Phoenix
Image credit: WWE
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Seth Rollins
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 10
Winner’s time in ring: 43:00
Last opponent eliminated: Braun Strowman
Most eliminations: 5 (Braun Strowman)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Becky Lynch
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 28
Winner’s time in ring: 13:20
Last opponent eliminated: Charlotte Flair
Most eliminations: 5 (Charlotte Flair)
Royal Rumble 2020 - Minute Maid Park, Houston
Image credit: WWE
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Drew McIntyre
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 16
Winner’s time in ring: 34:11
Last opponent eliminated: Roman Reigns
Most eliminations: 13 (Brock Lesnar)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Charlotte Flair
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 17
Winner’s time in ring: 27:19
Last opponent eliminated: Shayna Baszler
Most eliminations: 8 (Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler)
Royal Rumble 2021 - WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Image credit: WWE
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Edge
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 1
Winner’s time in ring: 58:30
Last opponent eliminated: Randy Orton
Most eliminations: 4 (Big E, Damian Priest and Seth Rollins)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Bianca Belair
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 3
Winner’s time in ring: 56:52
Last opponent eliminated: Rhea Ripley
Most eliminations: 7 (Rhea Ripley)
Royal Rumble 2022 - The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis
Image credit: WWE
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Brock Lesnar
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 30
Winner’s time in ring: 2:32
Last opponent eliminated: Drew McIntyre
Most eliminations: 6 (AJ Styles)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Ronda Rousey
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 28
Winner’s time in ring: 10:16
Last opponent eliminated: Charlotte Flair
Most eliminations: 5 (Charlotte Flair)
Royal Rumble 2023 - Alamodome, San Antonio
Image credit: WWE.com
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Cody Rhodes
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 30
Winner’s time in ring:
Last opponent eliminated: Gunther
Most eliminations: 5 (Cody Rhodes, Gunther)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Rhea Ripley
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 1
Winner’s time in ring: 1:01:03
Last opponent eliminated: Liv Morgan
Most eliminations: 7 (Rhea Ripley)
Royal Rumble 2024 - Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Image credit: WWE
Men’s Royal Rumble match winner: Cody Rhodes
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 15
Winner’s time in ring: 43:21
Last opponent eliminated: CM Punk
Most eliminations: 4 (Cody Rhodes, Bron Breakker)
Women’s Royal Rumble match winner: Bayley
Number of entrants: 30
Winner’s entrance number: 3
Winner’s time in ring: 1:03:03
Last opponent eliminated: Liv Morgan
Most eliminations: 8 (Nia Jax)
