This WWE Royal Rumble winners list details every wrestler who has won the annual battle royal from 1988-2022.
WWE is the world’s largest professional wrestling promotion and is an ever-changing landscape. Things never stand still, but there are some constants.
One of these is the annual Royal Rumble event and its eponymous battle royal match. Widely considered the second most important WWE show of the year, the Royal Rumble is viewed as such due to its unpredictability and high stakes.
The Royal Rumble match itself is a modified battle royal usually featuring 30 participants. It begins with two wrestlers in the ring, with an additional superstar entering every 90 seconds.
The objective of the match is to eliminate all opponents until you’re the last one standing. To eliminate an opponent, a wrestler must throw them over the top rope with both of their feet landing on the floor.
Superstars can exit (and later re-enter) the ring themselves as long as they don’t leave by climbing over the top rope.
The match regularly features surprise appearances from returning WWE legends and wrestlers making their debut. Fans can also expect nail-biting eliminations and shock victories.
The winner of the match typically receives a world championship match at WrestleMania. This tradition began in 1993 and continues to this day, although there have been exceptions.
Because of its high-value prize, the match also has the potential to create top stars for the company. The Royal Rumble is also notable for its ability to anger fans if the winner isn’t the most popular choice.
Since 2018, WWE has held Royal Rumble matches for both men and women. It was previously a male-only match.
With the 2023 event coming up on 28 January, let’s take a look at the Royal Rumble winners list from 1988-2022.
Royal Rumble Winners List
1980s
- 1988 – Jim Duggan (only 20-man Royal Rumble match)
- 1989 – Big John Studd
1990s
- 1990 – Hulk Hogan
- 1991 – Hulk Hogan
- 1992 – Ric Flair
- 1993 – Yokozuna (first Royal Rumble winner to receive a WrestleMania world title match)
- 1994 – Lex Luger and Bret Hart
- 1995 – Shawn Michaels
- 1996 – Shawn Michaels
- 1997 – Steve Austin
- 1998 – Steve Austin
- 1999 – Mr. McMahon
2000s – Royal Rumble Winners List
- 2000 – The Rock
- 2001 – Steve Austin
- 2002 – Triple H
- 2003 – Brock Lesnar
- 2004 – Chris Benoit
- 2005 – Batista
- 2006 – Rey Mysterio
- 2007 – The Undertaker
- 2008 – John Cena
- 2009 – Randy Orton
2010s
- 2010 – Edge
- 2011 – Alberto Del Rio (first and only 40-man Royal Rumble match)
- 2012 – Sheamus
- 2013 – John Cena
- 2014 – Batista
- 2015 – Roman Reigns
- 2016 – Triple H
- 2017 – Randy Orton
- 2018 (Men) – Shinsuke Nakamura
- 2018 (Women) – Asuka (first women’s Royal Rumble match)
- Greatest Royal Rumble 2018 – Braun Strowman (first and only 50-man Royal Rumble match)
- 2019 (Men) – Seth Rollins
- 2019 (Women) – Becky Lynch
2020s
- 2020 (Men) – Drew McIntyre
- 2020 (Women) – Charlotte Flair
- 2021 (Men) – Edge
- 2021 (Women) – Bianca Belair
- 2022 (Men) – Brock Lesnar
- 2022 (Women) – Ronda Rousey
Who do you think the best Royal Rumble winner was? Who do you think will win the 2023 Royal Rumble match? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other Film & TV articles…
