The first ever Royal Rumble was held in 1988 and since then it has become one of the greatest and biggest events in WWE’s event calendar. The winner of the Royal Rumble match is always awarded a title match at WrestleMania. Going forward, winning the Royal Rumble became even more important. The competitor who has the best chance of winning the Royal Rumble is the one who enters the match at number 30. There have been many #30 entrants who put up impressive performances and made the most of their luck.
10) Crush in 1995
Brian Adams, also known as “Crush,” had various stints in the WWF. His performance in the 1995 Royal Rumble was one of the best. Coming in at number 30, Crush managed to eliminate five competitors in just nine minutes. He made it to the final three contestants before being eliminated by the eventual runner-up, the British Bulldog.
9) Randy Savage in 1993
One of the most popular wrestlers in the early 90s, “Macho Man” became more of an announcer in 1993. However, this didn’t stop him from entering the 1993 Royal Rumble match at number 30 and giving fans an entertaining watch. Randy Savage made it to the final two against Yokozuna. He hit the “Giant Kokina” with an elbow-drop finisher and inexplicably went for the pin. Eventually, Yokozuna would kick and eliminate Savage, giving fans a memorable moment.
8) Chyna in 1999
Even though Chyna’s performance in the 1999 Royal Rumble match was not impressive, as she only lasted 35 seconds, that didn’t stop her from making history. That year, “The Ninth Wonder of the World” became the first woman to compete in the Royal Rumble match. She actually managed to eliminate Mark Henry during her short stint in the match. 1999 turned out to be a great year for Chyna, as she won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and became the number-one contender to the WWE Championship.
7) Nia Jax in 2019
In 2019, 20 years after Chyna entered the men’s Royal Rumble at #30, Nia Jax beat up R-Truth and secured her spot as the 30th entrant in the Royal Rumble. While “The Irresistible Force” lasted three minutes in the match, it was definitely entertaining. Jax eliminated Mustafa Ali before getting a 619 and RKO and eventually getting eliminated by Rey Mysterio. It’s definitely hard to think of any diva who performed better in the men’s Royal Rumble match.
6) Randy Orton in 2006
Randy Orton is one of the most interesting and entertaining heels in the history of WWE. The 14-time world champion is one of the seven performers to win the Royal Rumble match twice. In the 2006 Royal Rumble, when “The Viper” was still looking for his first ever Royal Rumble win, he entered the match as the number 30 entrant. Orton gave an impressive performance for 13 minutes before eventually getting eliminated by Rey Mysterio.
5) Triple H in 2016
Triple H has always been an entertaining wrestler for WWE fans. He has main evented multiple WrestleMania’s and is a 14-time world champion. Triple H entered the 2016 Royal Rumble as the number 30 entrant and eliminated four competitors, including Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, to win the WWE Championship. This was the last time Triple H won the WWE title and participated in the Royal Rumble.
4) The Undertaker in 2007
By the year 2007, only one thing was missing in The Undertaker’s illustrious WWE career and that was winning the Royal Rumble match. That year, “The Deadman” entered the Royal Rumble at number 30 and lasted 13 minutes before eventually winning it. He eliminated three competitors on his way to victory. However, his final elimination was the most difficult. Shawn Michael gave The Undertaker a tough fight, but in the end, it was Taker who headed to WrestleMania.
3) Brock Lesnar in 2022
In the 2022 Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar entered the Royal Rumble at number 30 and put up an impressive show. It took only 2 minutes and 32 seconds for “The Beast” to eliminate five competitors and head to WrestleMania. This was one of the most impactful performances in a Royal Rumble match by a #30 entrant. The last wrestler to get eliminated by Lesnar was Matt Riddle, who missed the opportunity to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.
2) Cody Rhodes in 2023
In 2022, Cody Rhodes made an unlikely return to WWE, but unfortunately, due to a torn pectoral tendon, he was out of action for nine months. He made his return at the 2023 Royal Rumble, entering at number 30. The wait didn’t go in vain, as Rhodes eliminated five competitors in 15 minutes to win the Royal Rumble. His final few minutes against Gunther put Cody’s performance on top. Cody’s performance at this Royal Rumble is one of the best of his career.
1) John Cena in 2008
Over the years, many WWE stars have made surprise comebacks during the Royal Rumble match. While the 2008 Royal Rumble match featured surprise appearances from various legends, it also included a major return. Coming at number 30, John Cena made an unexpected return from a torn pectoral muscle ahead of the schedule, surprising everyone. When his music hit, the crowd went crazy and wild. Within 8 minutes, Cena eliminated four competitors, won the Royal Rumble and advanced to WrestleMania.
