The Best Royal Rumble Matches Ever: Ranked

#7 2004 (Chris Benoit)

It’s a pity that this win, and the subsequent ‘Mania main event, have been all but forgotten by WWE.

This is the most controversial Rumble match ever. For some, the wounds from Chris Benoit’s actions still cut deep, and mentioning him in a positive light is difficult. For others, it’s important to remember that Chris Benoit the wrestler was fantastic in his field of work, and this match is a prime example of that.

At the time of this match, Benoit was still perceived as a mid-card guy who was a great wrestler but nothing more.

This match told the beautiful story of Benoit overcoming all obstacles, eventually winning in the main event of WrestleMania XX. The match also furthered several WrestleMania feuds, including Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley & Kane vs. The Undertaker.

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#6 2008 (John Cena):

For once, John Cena actually offered a positive surprise.

This Rumble match was pretty exciting, I’m not going to lie. Undertaker opening the match against Shawn Michaels was a great way to start the match. There were also more potential winners in this match than in previous years, as well as than in following editions as well.

For the first time in a long time, it was hard to predict who’d win this match.

Then, the biggest shock of the match occurred when John Cena made his surprise return at #30. He managed to shock not only the fans in attendance, but the wrestlers in the ring as well. His victory here was well-earned, which is more than what can be said about his second win, five years later.