It’s January, which means it’s time for WWE fans across the world to prep for the Royal Rumble by watching every past edition of the event.
(We all do that, right?)
Anywho, I was watching the part in the 2004 edition where the Big Show gets hit by everyone’s finishers and I thought, “In wrestling reality, you can only survive a few finishers unless it’s Wrestlemania or you’re Kurt Angle. Big Show should have been stretchered out.”
Then I thought, it’d be interesting to see which winner has taken the most finishers during their time in the ring. To see what degree of punishment they went through.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. It’s not that interesting. But, here it is anyways…
Note: This write-up is not even close to being scientifically accurate. The camera isn’t always on the winner. So, someone could’ve snuck one in there. Also, I don’t know what Chainz or Timothy Well’s finishers were. Also, I’m not always the most observant person. In short, don’t use this list to settle any bets.
1988 – Jim Duggan
No Finishers Taken
Thoughts: We’re not off to a great start here.
1989 – Big John Studd
No Finishers Taken
Thoughts: C’mon, guys.
1990 – Hulk Hogan
The Perfect Plex – Curt Hennig
Thoughts: Could you imagine if the World Champion won the Royal Rumble today? The Internet would riot.
1991 – Hulk Hogan
The Earthquake – Earthquake
Thoughts: Winning the Royal Rumble give Hogan the title match at Wrestlemania. Simply being Hogan did that.
1992 – Ric Flair
Tornado Punch – Kerry Von Erich
El Paso del Muerte – Tito Santana
Figure-Four Leglock – Greg Valentine
Sleeperhold – Roddy Piper
Sweet Chin Music – Shawn Michaels
Thoughts: OK, maybe Sweet Chin Music is a stretch. But it was still Shawn Michaels throwing a superkick.
1993 – Yokozuna
Flying Elbow Drop – Randy Savage
Thoughts: I like to pretend that Randy Savage never tried to cover Yoko for a pinfall.
1994 – Bret Hart (Co-Winner)
No Finishers Taken
1994 – Lex Luger (Co-Winner)
No Finishers Taken
Thoughts: Diesel’s run in this was a thing of beauty. They’ve tried to recreated it a few times, but it’s never been quite as good.
1995 – Shawn Michaels
No Finishers Taken
Thoughts: I was so mad about the shortened entries back then. Life was different.
1996 – Shawn Michaels
No Finishers Taken
Thoughts: I was tempted to give credit to Owen Hart for using his send-Shawn-to-the-hospital enzuigiri. But ultimately decided against it.
1997 – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Running Powerslam – British Bulldog
Caribbean Kick – Savio Vega
Piledriver – Bret Hart
Chokeslam – Undertaker
Thoughts: Yeah, I know that piledriver is iffy. But Bret used to use it as a singles finisher before the Hart Foundation split up.
1998 – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Love Handle – Dude Love
Thoughts: Mike Tyson is right; Cold Stone is the man.
1999 – Vince McMahon
Stone Cold Stunner – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Thoughts: Worst Rumble ever? It’s gotta be this or 2015, right?
2000 – The Rock
Chokeslam – The Big Show
Thoughts: This will always be the Rikishi/Too Cool Rumble to me.
2001 – Steve Austin
Fameasser – “The One” Billy Gunn
Rock Bottom – The Rock
Chokeslam – Kane
Thoughts: This Rumble needs more love. It’s was action-packed from top to bottom.
2002 – Triple H
Chokeslam – Big Show
Angle Slam – Kurt Angle
Thoughts: Curt Hennig does his trademark gum spit/swat in the middle of almost being eliminated. I will never have a moment in my life that is that cool.
2003 – Brock Lesnar
Chokeslam – Kane
Tombstone – The Undertaker
Thoughts: The tombstone during a Rumble is pretty harsh, but it’s nothing compared to what Lesnar would do to himself a few months later at Wrestlemania XIX.
2004 – Chris Benoit
Chokeslam – Kane
Chokeslam – Big Show
Thoughts: I was in attendance for that one. Philadelphia went crazy. I went crazier. I actually went home and bought the Pay Per View replay so I could watch it again.
Other Thoughts: This one isn’t as much fun to watch anymore.
2005 – Batista
Spear – Edge
Thoughts: Batista and Cena both claim that the double elimination was an accident. If that’s the case, it’s a perfect accident. Watch it again if you don’t believe me.
2006 – Rey Mysterio
Back Stabber – Carlito
Thoughts: I always hated that they had Rey go wire-to-wire so close to Benoit’s 2004 effort. Fortunately, they seem to have gotten away from that in recent years.
2007 – Undertaker
Spear – Edge
Sweet Chin Music – Shawn Michaels
Thoughts: I remember thinking, “Please give us the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels in one more singles match someday.”
2008 – John Cena
No Finishers Taken
Note: If you weren’t around the Internet at this time, take my word for it that NOBODY SAW THIS RETURN COMING.
2009 – Randy Orton
Pedigree – Triple H
Chokeslam – The Undertaker
Note: Orton is the last single-digit winner. I think that’s good news because we had a period where McMahon, Benoit, Mysterio, etc. were all going the distance.
2010 – Edge
Attitude Adjustment – John Cena
Sweet Chin Music – Shawn Michaels
Note: Batista eliminating Michaels might be my favorite Rumble moments ever.
2011 – Alberto del Rio
RKO – Randy Orton
Attitude Adjustment – John Cena
Note: Shouldn’t Alberto del Rio have been disqualified for not entering the ring before the next competitor? Santino Marella is the rightful 2011 Royal Rumble winner.
Another Note: The silence during the Orton/Cena standoff always cracks me up.
2012 – Sheamus
Walls of Jericho – Chris Jericho
Codebreaker – Chris Jericho
Note: I’m really glad Sheamus’s “Great White” nickname didn’t stick.
2013 – John Cena
Walls of Jericho – Chris Jericho
RKO – Randy Orton
Note: I genuinely get uncomfortable with how excited JBL gets when Wade Barrett beats up the rookie Bo Dallas. Did a rookie kill JBL’s parents?
2014 – Batista
Superkick to Kneeling Opponent – Alberto Del Rio
Brogue Kick – Sheamus
Spear – Roman Reigns
Thoughts: So many boos. This kicked off three straight years of awkward Wrestlemania builds.
2015 – Roman Reigns
Chokeslam – Big Show
Thoughts: I was in attendance for this one too. The crowd wasn’t quite as happy as in 2004.
2016 – Triple H
Superkick – Dolph Ziggler
Codebreaker – Chris Jericho
Thoughts: Did anyone else love watching Triple H and Bray Wyatt square off? Hunter did have some of his best matches against a similarly-styled Mick Foley…
Verdict: Ric Flair was the king. That match could have been 29 people hitting their finishers while Bobby Heenan was having a fit on commentary and I would’ve loved it.
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