5 Royal Rumble winners who put their title opportunity at stake

#4 Randy Orton

Orton had to defend his opportunity against AJ Styles.

Randy Orton won the 2017 Royal Rumble as the part of the Wyatt Family. While John Cena was the WWE Champion at that time, it was apparent we would be getting another Cena vs Orton clash. However, at Elimination Chamber 2017, Bray Wyatt won the WWE Championship from Cena.

Thus, due to a conflict of interest, Orton decided not to pursue the WWE championship. This action forced the SmackDown LIVE commissioner Shane McMahon to conduct a Battle Royale to determine the number 1 contender to Wyatt's title. Luke Harper and AJ Styles tied in that match and Styles defeated Harper in the tiebreaker.

However, at the same time, Orton decided to change his mind and turned on Bray Wyatt. He challenged Wyatt for the WWE title at Wrestlemania 33. However, due to Styles already winning the contender's match, Orton had to win against Styles to become the number 1 contender.

Orton defeated Styles to advance to Wrestlemania as the number 1 contender to the WWE championship.