5 greatest big men in WWE to never win the Royal Rumble

Since its inception in 1988, The Royal Rumble has been one of the most prestigious pay-per-views in WWE. 30 superstars battle for the ultimate prize to headline WrestleMania and accomplish their dream of becoming world champions.

Winning this spectacle is a testament to the sheer grit, determination, and passion they have for pro-wrestling. It also shows resilience to overcome every obstacle.

On January 29, 2022, at the 35th Royal Rumble pay-per-view, 30 men and women will fight it out in the marquee event to cement their place in the main event of WrestleMania 38. It will be a tremendous watch, which the WWE Universe won't miss.

In the past, a host of greats have won this prestigious event, like Stone Cold Steve Austin (three-time winner), Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Triple H (two-time winners), The Rock, The Undertaker, and Bret Hart, to name a few.

With that being said, over the years, WWE has also seen some extraordinarily talented large athletes compete in the Rumble, albeit not triumphing. In this article, we look at the five greatest big men in WWE who have never won The Royal Rumble:

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#5. WWE Hall of Famer – Andre The Giant

WWE Hall of Famer, the late Andre The Giant, was one of the biggest superstars to step foot in the squared circle.

Standing at seven-feet tall, he was referred to as The Eighth Wonder of the World. The giant participated in two Royal Rumble matches in 1989 and 1990 but didn't win the event.

In 1989, he eliminated himself out of fear of Jake Roberts' snake after lasting a good 15 minutes in the ring. In the 1990 event, he was eliminated by the WWE faction Demolition.

#4. WWE Hall of Famer – Mark Henry

WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry was one superstar the WWE Universe wanted to see win the Royal Rumble with his brute strength and large frame. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

Despite participating in a host of Rumble Matches, The World's Strongest Man wasn't able to conquer a place in the main event of WrestleMania.

His best performance came in his first Royal Rumble appearance at the 1998 event, in which he entered at #21 and lasted a little over 19 minutes.

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#3. WWE Hall of Famer – Kevin Nash

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash, in his Diesel character, was one of the most successful superstars in WWE in the mid-90s but could never win the Royal Rumble.

Big Daddy Cool made his Royal Rumble debut in 1994 and showcased an impressive performance eliminating seven superstars. In the 1996 event, Diesel was the last man to be eliminated by Shawn Michaels, lasting 18 minutes in the ring.

The former WWE Champion also made a surprise entry in the 2011 Royal Rumble match before he was eliminated by Wade Barrett.

#2. Former two-time WWE Champion – Big Show

The Big Show has been one of the most powerful men to step foot in a WWE ring.

Having held most championships in WWE, an esteemed accomplishment that eluded the World's Largest Athlete was being a Royal Rumble Winner. The Big Show came mighty close in 2000 and 2004, falling short to The Rock and Chris Benoit, respectively.

In fact, in 2000, both superstars eliminated each other simultaneously, with The Rock's feet touching the floor before The Big Show, but the former was declared the winner. The Big Show could never win the event even in the future.

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#1. WWE Hall of Famer – Kane

A superstar who has been more than deserving of winning the Royal Rumble has to be WWE Hall of Famer Kane.

The Devil's Favorite Demon had one of the most impressive Royal Rumbles with 11 eliminations during the 2001 event. The Big Red Machine was on fire, to say the least, and was tantalizingly close to winning, only to be eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin, who won the event.

While The Undertaker, his kayfabe half-brother, won the event in 2007, Kane would consider himself the most unlucky superstar when it came to the Royal Rumble event despite being so proficient.