Who Were the Runners Up in the 1997-2007 Royal Rumble Matches?

#3 Royal Rumble Runner Ups 2003-04

The Undertaker was last eliminated by Brock Lesnar at the '03 'Rumble

2003 - Undertaker

In truth, there was only ever going to be one winner of the 2003 Royal Rumble match. That 'Rumble event was built around eventual winner, Brock Lesnar. He competed against Bigshow earlier in the night to earn his 'Rumble spot and earn revenge for Show and his former manager Paul Heyman screwing him out of the title at Survivor Series.

Lesnar last eliminated Undertaker to win. At that stage of his career, 'Taker was nowhere near the headline spots and so it proved at Wrestlemania where 'Taker competed in a meaningless undercard match opposite Show and A-Train,

2004 - Bigshow

No one bought the Bigshow winning the 2004 Royal Rumble match. Show had spent the majority of the previous three years as a glorified jobber to the stars or absent from television as he struggled with his weight and a junk food addiction.

So, when he and Chris Benoit found themselves as the final two in the 'Rumble match, fan noise noticeably decreased in the arena as the real stars such as Goldberg, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam and John Cena were eliminated.

Benoit ejected Show to win the match. Show competed at Wrestlemania in the opening match where he lost to Cena. It is hard to picture Show competing in the main event, opposite Triple H and Shawn Michaels. At the time, the Benoit win was the more sensible choice although with the benefit of hindsight, no doubt WWE would prevent the Benoit win ever occurring.