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There have been 30 Royal Rumbles in the history of the WWE. We are well-aware the Royal Rumble is all about the numbers.
Most superstars love to avoid drawing the first or even second number (which is technically just as bad as number 1), having to compete through the whole field if they're to win.
Drawing the final number (in most cases number 30) is considered a tactical advantage of epic proportions. Of course, the statistical advantage for WWE superstars is to draw the number 27; 4 men (highest of any number) have managed to win from that position.
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Yet coming back to number 1, it's quite an interesting position. For a while, up until 2007, the number one entrant had more winners than the final number. Since then that has changed but only marginally.
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More importantly, the effort to go from start to finish is a wildly appreciated narrative by fans and contestants alike. Two people have managed to pull off that feat, a few have come oh so close while most have either wasted away or just anchored the initial portions of the match.
Number one thus proves to be a flexible number in the building of any individual Royal Rumble narrative. Let's see how all thirty entrants who drew number one stack up against one another.
(PS: This is the first part of a three-part series; here we will countdown 30-21 of number 1 entrants)
#30 I'm The Miz and I'm Awful!
The Miz was an interesting choice entrant for the number one spot in 2015, especially since no one could believe at that time that he would leave a lasting impression in the Rumble. His first opponent was former tag partner R Truth, making for an intriguing contest until the next entry.
Miz as the most despicable heel was there just so as to pop the Philly crowd with the entrance of fan favourite Bubba Ray Dudley's return and subsequent elimination of Miz, as he teamed up with R Truth for a patented 3D.
The Miz would then try to plot an unsuccessful return, using the entry of his stunt double Mizdow. However, the slow awakening of Mizdow's face turn, meant even there the Miz was unsuccessful; getting eliminated in quick fashion before he could even be counted, allowing Mizdow a measure of revenge.
Uneventful for the most see superstar in WWE history.
Eliminated by Bubba Ray Dudley
#29 Doing nothing with Flair
Ric Flair in 2007 was a shell of his former self, once a Royal Rumble winner but now one year away from "retirement". Flair had done it all in the business, could he make it to the top one last time?
Of course not.
In fact, that year at 'Mania, Ric Flair wouldn't even make it to the main card; relegated on the dark show for a tag team match with then protege Carlito. Whichever the case, Flair didn't do much in his short stay in the Rumble.
Instead, his final Rumble match only saw Flair in an eventful confrontation with his rival Kenny Dykstra before he got promptly eliminated by a vindictive Edge. This would be neither a big hoorah nor a disappointment.
Just another sign that it's time for Flair to hang his boots.
Eliminated by Edge
#28 Victim of a Punk sermon
Ziggler, like many around him during this particular Rumble match, was a victim of a fascinating early Royal Rumble choice by the WWE. Patterning the opening portions as a dominating victory run for CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler found himself quickly eliminated just after his dancing partner Evan Bourne.
Dolph and Evan started the match in spectacular fashion. Though it was believed then that Ziggler was primed for a slow burn main event push soon enough, he couldn't gather the pre-requisite Royal Rumble heat.
Instead, CM Punk's rise as the cult leader of the Straight Edge Society, and the temptation to provide him an open mic between eliminations overpowered Ziggler's lofty ambitions. Dolph would get a second chance at redemption soon enough, that too from the vaunted number one spot.
Eliminated by CM Punk
#27 The Miracle Kid gets his Heartbroken
So I know he lasted for lesser time than those before him, but this is Shawn Michaels we're talking about. Making a miraculous comeback to wrestling in 2002, after a career-ending injury; Michaels was at an all-time high.
As such Shawn Michaels came in at the number one spot in the Royal Rumble, and having been the only person at that time to have won from that spot in 1995, this was indeed a call of destiny for Shawn to do it again, in his second innings.
Of course this wasn't to be, instead fooled by the trickery of a vengeful Chris Jericho; Shawn found himself beaten and bloodied just before the match and tossed out like yesterdays garbage.
It was a disheartening move by the wicked Jericho and his partner Christian, but provided the impetus for a fascinating dream clash between the veteran and young lion. One which we'd never thought would come to fruition. Thank God for the Heartbreak Kid and his show-stopping run.
Eliminated by Chris Jericho/w Christian
#26 No special title here
Okay, so this one's interesting. I don't really have anything special to mention about D'Lo Brown, I mean who really does?
That aside why Brown makes it ahead quite a few better competition is because he at least lasted long enough not to be eliminated first in his Royal Rumble match. D'Lo Brown ended up lasting ahead of Mosh and more importantly Christian.
It adds an air of prestige to Brown, I mean as much as prestige that can be granted to someone of Brown's lowly status. Whatever the case, he lasted and that means he takes a spot just ahead of Shawn Michaels.
Welcome to the big boys club, of superstars with zero eliminations.
Eliminated by Rikishi
#25 Zero people Crushed!
He might seem intimidating, but like D'Lo Brown; Crush had a pretty much uneventful Royal Rumble from the starting position. Of all people to be eliminated by, Crush found himself eliminated at the hands of one of the Goodwin Brothers.
Despite this being the year where WWE would finally find a turnaround on it's way to the infamous Attitude Era, the 'E was pretty much in doldrums at this stage. After all, as Harvey Dent puts it; "The day is just darkest before the dawn.".
In fact, four of the thirty participants in the Rumble were from AAA, the Mexican Wrestling company then affiliated with the WWE. Eventually like Crush's tenure in the ring, the result of the match didn't matter as eventual winner Stone Cold Steve Austin didn't get his deserved (that's debatable according to Bret Hart) championship match.
So then what makes Crush the ideal candidate?
Well, he just about sneaks past D'Lo Brown and got eliminated third during the match. For that, he's here and sorry for the rest of this rant.
Eliminated by Phineas Goodwin
#24 And you can't teach royal rumbling
Last years Royal Rumble match was quite eventful. The mass ton of superstars involved in the grand showdown meant we'd see some epic clashes, especially between seven foot-ish monsters.
One of those clashes sent Big Cass rocking, as Braun Strowman went about his usual streak of havoc; destroying everyone in his path. Big Cass opened the match against the devious Chris Jericho, lasting quite a few minutes and nearly beating down Mojo Rawley.
Unfortunately, Cass couldn't cause any elimination instead losing out in the big monster showdown. Whatever the case Cass left a lasting impact in his bouts, indicating that for the superstar the future is bright.
Or at least that's what should have been, had he not been injured in the Summer. Luckily for Big Cass that could be a big boon, his heel turn and betrayal of Enzo not paying off the way the WWE would have wanted to.
Eliminated by Braun Strowman
#23 Shredded to perfection
Ax began his uneventful Royal Rumble up against his partner Smash, pretty much a tepid contest until the real challengers could make their entrance. After trying to team up with Smash against the next few entrants, including an incensed Andre the Giant, Ax found himself eliminated at the smooth hands of Mr. Perfect.
The fact that the tag team specialist lasted longer than his partner means that he gets to feel the pleasure of being in a loftier position than most on this list. He might not have eliminated a single soul, but Ax can brag to Smash about his victory over the latter who was first to go.
Nothing much else to say about this stint, notice how this list of lower rung number one entrants isn't special? Of course, that's for a reason.
Eliminated by Mr. Perfect
#22 Second time's not a Hit, Man!
The first of two opportunities Bret Hart got to open the Royal Rumble. In fact, Bret Hart was the first ever entrant in the history of the Royal Rumble match. Hart lasted a whopping 20 minutes and though having no eliminations would mean he did worse than those before him, Hart managed to survive and fight through in intriguing ways.
More importantly, Bret Hart would have a showing that proved he was soon ready to be elevated to the top of the pack. A showdown with Undertaker prior to his elimination proves that WWE was looking at Hart as one of the future cornerstones of the company.
Bret Hart would next go on to that year to have a top-class reign as the Intercontinental Champion. A year later he'd be the World Champion and then main event Wrestlemania. Such a Rumble showing no matter how unfruitful proved his mettle.
Eliminated by The Undertaker
#21 First of three faces
The 1998 Royal Rumble was a special edition, featuring not one but three versions of Mick Foley. The beloved superstar began the Royal Rumble in his hard-hitting avatar as Cactus Jack.
He managed not only one elimination along with perennial rival/friend Chainsaw Charlie, he had a hardcore fight with the man before being eliminated. Of course, Foley being Foley, he made his entrance next as Mankind throwing Charlie out in revenge.
But we're here to only discuss one persona and that is Cactus Jack. Whilst he was eliminated second in the match, his one elimination makes him a winner against the others on this list.
The perfect way to end the list as we forge ahead with superstars who will now rack up a number of grand eliminations. Stay tuned for part 2 where we see the best of number Royal Rumble entrants from Number 20 to 11.
Eliminated by Chainsaw Charlie
And also get excited to catch the reverse list of this epic Royal Rumble countdown;
Up Next: The last Royal Rumble entrant has a distinct advantage, how many of the lucky 30 have been able to mould that advantage into victory? And who of the last entrants is the best and the worst?
Royal Rumble 2018: Ranking all final entrants part 1
