The Royal Rumble matches bring out the kid in every pro wrestling fan. As soon as January comes, the WWE starts the ‘road to WrestleMania’ and the first gateway to ‘Mania’ is the Royal Rumble PPV. Superstars like Hulk Hogan, Kane, Batista, and many more all have carved history on the PPV.
Since 1988, the Rumble has given the WWE Universe one of the most unforgettable moments in the industry’s history. 30 men and women battle it out inside the ring to get one shot at immortality – to main event WrestleMania.
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21st January is considered to be a pioneer date in Rumble’s history as breathtakingly historical moments were made on this very day, making the date one of the most important dates in the industry.
Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin won their respective Royal Rumble matches on this date.
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Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble for the first time
Back in 1990, Hogan set the tone for many upcoming superstars of the industry. After winning the Rumble in 1990 and 1991, Hogan became the first man to win two Rumbles.
The Hulkster also has more eliminations per minute than anyone and eventually, became the first wrestler to win the Rumble while being the WWE champion.
Hogan’s last Royal Rumble appearance came in 1992, which was eventually won by Ric Flair. However, Hogan was directly involved in the match’s outcome. With a little help from Hogan, Ric Flair eliminated Sid Justice and became the undisputed WWF champion.
Shawn Michaels won the Rumble for the second time in a row
The Heartbreak Kid created history when he last eliminated Diesel to win the Royal Rumble for the second time in a row, becoming the second wrestler to do so.
This Rumble win also marked Michaels’ elevation to main event status, and he was no longer defending the mid-card titles.
The Hall of Famer entered the match at number 22 and eliminated eight wrestlers before winning the match himself.
Stone Cold Steve Austin created history
On January 21, 2001, Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble for the third time. Hence becoming the only person to win the Rumble match three times.
Austin created history when he last eliminated Kane and became the only person to win the Rumble thrice. Notably, Austin was towards the end of his career because of his neck issues.
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Now, with Royal Rumble coming in 2022, the fans are excited to see what new records could be made, and the wrestlers from the past will show up at the event.
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Who do you think will emerge victorious at the end of the PPV? Let us know in the comments.