How does the WWE Royal Rumble work? List of rules and records, history of previous winners

The first Premium Live Event of the year for the WWE takes place this month as the emanates from the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Like every year, the show is headlined by the men's and women's 30-person over-the-top battle royal. Where the winner receives a shot at a main event championship match at WrestleMania. 

Here's an explainer of how the match works, past winners, and statistics of the last 38 years. 

How does the WWE Royal Rumble work?

All 30 people are picked at random. No. 1 and No. 2 kick things off. Typically, a new participant comes in every two minutes, but there have been years where it's either 60 or 90 seconds. 

There are no pinfalls or submissions. A wrestler needs to toss another over the top rope, and both feet must touch the floor for an elimination. The last man and woman standing in their respective matches will receive a world title shot of their choosing at WrestleMania.

WWE Royal Rumble records

• The record for most wins is "Stone Cold" Steve Austin with three (1997, 1998, 2001). Seven other wrestlers have won the event twice: Hulk Hogan (1990, 1991), Shawn Michaels (1995, 1996), Triple H (2002, 2016), Batista (2005, 2014), John Cena (2008, 2013),  Randy Orton (2009, 2017) and Cody Rhodes (2023, 2024). 
• The No. 30 entrant possesses the most winners at five 
• Only three wrestlers have gone from start to finish to win the Royal Rumble (Shawn Michaels in 1995, Chris Benoit in 2004 and Rhea Ripley in 2023).
• Batista is the only person to win from the same spot twice, at No. 28 (2005, 2014). 
• Gunther holds the record for longest time overall in the Royal Rumble at 1:11:40 in 2023. 
• The shortest time overall is held by Santino Marella at 1.9 seconds in 2009.
• Brock Lesnar holds the record for most eliminations in a single match, getting rid of 13 in 2020. 

WWE Royal Rumble winners

• 1988 = Hacksaw Jim Duggan
• 1989 = Big John Studd
• 1990 = Hulk Hogan
• 1991 = Hulk Hogan
• 1992 = Ric Flair
• 1993 = Yokozuna 
• 1994 = Lex Luger and Bret Hart 
• 1995 = Shawn Michaels 
• 1996 = Shawn Michaels 
• 1997 = Steve Austin
• 1998 = Steve Austin 
• 1999 = Vince McMahon 
• 2000 = The Rock 
• 2001 = Steve Austin 
• 2002 = Triple H 
• 2003 = Brock Lesnar
• 2004 = Chris Benoit
• 2005 = Batista 
• 2006 = Rey Mysterio 
• 2007 = Undertaker 
• 2008 = John Cena 
• 2009 = Randy Orton 
• 2010 = Edge 
• 2011 = Alberto Del Rio 
• 2012 = Sheamus 
• 2013 = John Cena 
• 2014 = Batista 
• 2015 = Roman Reigns 
• 2016 = Triple H 
• 2017 = Randy Orton 
• 2018 [Men] = Shinsuke Nakamura 
• 2018 [Women] = Asuka 
• 2019 [Men] = Seth Rollins 
• 2019 [Women] = Becky Lynch 
• 2020 [Women] = Charlotte Flair 
• 2020 [Men] = Drew McIntyre 
• 2021 [Men] = Edge
• 2021 [Women] = Bianca Belair
• 2022 [Women] = Ronda Rousey
• 2022 [Men] = Brock Lesnar
• 2023 [Men] = Cody Rhodes 
• 2023 [Women] = Rhea Ripley 
• 2024 [Men] = Cody Rhodes 
• 2024 [Women] = Bayley 
• 2025 [Men] = Jey Uso  
• 2025 [Women] = Charlotte Flair 

 

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