WWE: The Most Interesting Royal Rumble Match Facts

WWE Royal Rumble is a few weeks away, so in that spirit, let’s look at some of the most fascinating facts in the match’s history.

The Royal Rumble event is only a few weeks away. The anticipation is building on WWE programming every week leading up to the event itself. In that vein, I recently took some time to rewatch all of the Royal Rumble matches, from the first one in 1988 to the most recent one in 2020. That is a ton of hours, I tell you. While watching, I gathered some interesting facts about the Royal Rumble match that I would like to share.

Shawn Michaels is the only person to compete in the Royal Rumble match in four decades

It is insane to think that Shawn Michaels entered the Royal Rumble match in four different decades. The very first one he competed in was in 1989 as the ninth entrant. Michaels also won back-to-back Rumble matches in 1995 — the first to do so as the number one entrant — and in 1996, competed in several Rumbles in the 2000s, and made his final appearance in the match in 2010.

10 Superstars won the match at their first attempt

Going through all of the Royal Rumble matches, I realized that only 10 WWE superstars have won it on their first attempt: nine men and one woman. The only woman to win the Royal Rumble match on their first try is Asuka. For the men, we have Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Ric Flair, Yokozuna, Lex Luger (co-winner with Bret Hart), Mr. McMahon, Brock Lesnar, Chris Benoit, Alberto Del Rio, and Shinsuke Nakamura. The odds of winning the entire match are against you and these 10 are lucky to have done it.

Before 2018, Chyna was the only woman to enter the match two times

Chyna is the first woman to ever compete in this match, as she entered the 1999 Royal Rumble match as the 30th and final entrant. What is forgotten, however, is that she did it again in 2000. This significant fact is often left out in the WWE history books as the majority of fans only knew that she entered only once.

After the 2021 event, the state of Florida will have the record for the most winners in that state

That’s right, when you look in the history books after this year’s event — which emanates from Tropicana Field in St. Petersberg, Fla. — you will see that the state of Florida has produced the most winners. Within Florida, the previous wins happened in Orlando, Miami, and Tampa.

The number 30 entrant has entered the match as part of the final four once in history

Looking back at the 2010 Royal Rumble match, it was a match that was booked pretty strong. From CM Punk dominating the first half of the Rumble to the storytelling of Shawn Michaels wanting to face The Undertaker, to Beth Phoenix becoming the second woman to compete in the match, and to Edge’s return from injury, it is one of the strongest Rumble matches of the 2010s. A small detail that I liked in this match that happened towards the end occurred with the number 30 entrant, Batista. Batista was not only the final entrant, he was also part of the final four due to simply entering the match. Although Edge ultimately won the 2010 Royal Rumble match, this significant fact is something I do not think that will ever happen again.

Matt Bloom has participated in the most matches without eliminating anyone

Matt Bloom has entered the Royal Rumble match with several gimmicks over the years. Whether it was Prince Albert, A-Train, or Tensai, the result remained the same for the five Royal Rumble matches he entered: Not a single time he has eliminated anyone. It is reasonable for this to happen once or maybe twice, but five times is a surprise.