The 5 Best WWE Royal Rumble Runner-Ups, Ranked

“The Nightmare” Rhea Ripley participated in the 2021 women’s Royal Rumble match as the 14th entrant, hellbent on competing in a championship match at WrestleMania 37. Ripley’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. She eliminated seven wrestlers from the women’s Royal Rumble match. Toni Storm, Santana Garrett, Dana Brooke, Dakota Kai, Mandy Rose, Alexa Bliss, and two-time winner Charlotte Flair were her victims.

Ripley and Bianca Belair were the final two competitors. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans were in attendance to witness their mini-match. The ThunderDome was set up, and fans in the audience watched from their home.

Ripley and Belair went back and forth, with both women desperate to compete in a women’s world championship match at WrestleMania. However, the EST of WWE eliminated Ripley to win the 2021 women’s Royal Rumble match. It was a valiant effort from Ripley, who endured 39 minutes.

4. Steve Austin – 1999

Steve Austin was looking to make history in the 1999 Royal Rumble match as he was bidding to become the first man to win a hat-trick of Royal Rumble matches in succession.

The Texas Rattlesnake was the odds-on favorite to win the Rumble as the number one entrant. However, his rival, Mr. McMahon, put a $100,000 bounty on his head if someone could remove him from the Rumble. Golga was Austin’s first victim, but after that, he fought with McMahon outside of the ring.

The chairman of the board had a devious plan devised as The Corporation attacked Austin backstage. However, Austin returned from the hospital and wreaked havoc. He eliminated a further seven competitors from the Rumble. The former WWE Champion was public enemy number one.

Furthermore, Austin and McMahon were the final two, but the new WWE Champion, The Rock, made an appearance. He taunted Austin, which allowed McMahon to sneak up behind Austin and eliminate him to win the Rumble. Austin and McMahon both lasted 56 minutes and 38 seconds, although a chunk of it was outside of the Rumble.

3. Gunther – 2023 Men’s

The longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, Gunther, ran the gauntlet in the 2023 men’s Royal Rumble match. The Ring General entered the Rumble from the unenviable number one position, but you knew that Gunther would relish the challenge ahead of him. Gunther eliminated the New Day’s Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston from the Rumble. Furthermore, fans salivated at Gunther’s showdown with Brock Lesnar.

Gunther eliminated two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T from the Rumble, and he also eliminated former winners Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. He managed to go all the way to the final two with Cody Rhodes, who was the 30th entrant.

History was made; it was the first time that the first and final entrant were the final two participants in a Rumble. However, Gunther broke a record by lasting one hour, 11 minutes, and 40 seconds, which is a record for the longest time spent in a 30-man Royal Rumble match. Gunther, close to victory, was denied by Cody, who was one step closer to finishing the story.

2. Roman Reigns – 2014

While Daniel Bryan’s absence in the 2014 Royal Rumble match caused a ruckus, the 2014 Royal Rumble match is best remembered for Roman Reigns’ dominant performance. Representing The Shield, Reigns competed in a Royal Rumble match for the first time. The Big Dog joined the fray at the halfway stage as the 15th participant, and he wreaked havoc.

Reigns was a man on a mission, and he broke Kane’s record that stood for 13 years by eliminating 12 wrestlers in the Royal Rumble. However, fans booed violently when Reigns and Batista were the final two competitors. Bryan’s popularity in 2014 was at an all-time high, and fans would have him appear in every segment if they could.

The boos were deafening, and whilst Reigns got some cheers when he got the upper hand, fans were still displeased. Nevertheless, the Animal eliminated Reigns to win his second Royal Rumble match. Reigns’ debut in the 2014 Royal Rumble match was one to remember.

1. Kane – 2001

Unquestionably, Kane is one of the greatest wrestlers never to win the Royal Rumble match. The former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion put everyone on notice in the 2001 Royal Rumble match. Arguably, the 2001 Royal Rumble match is the greatest in WWE history. The drama was palpable, but Kane became even more dangerous when he sided with his brother, The Undertaker.

No man spent longer than Kane in the 2001 Royal Rumble match, with The Big Red Machine dominant throughout. He lasted 53 minutes and 46 seconds. Kane’s performance was brilliant to witness. The likes of the then-longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in history, The Honky Tonk Man, were one of Kane’s victims. Fans took note of Kane’s performance, and he eliminated the previous year’s winner, The Rock, from the Rumble.

The final two participants were Kane and Steve Austin. The pair had history over the WWE Championship in 1998, and both were looking to headline WrestleMania.

Austin knew that eliminating Kane was going to be a tall order. However, weapons were used throughout the 2001 Royal Rumble match, and Austin struck Kane with a steel chair. Nevertheless, Kane’s dominance was halted by Austin. Still, his performance cannot be overlooked as one of the greatest performances by a runner-up in the history of the Royal Rumble.