WWE Royal Rumble: 10 Eliminations that kick-started WrestleMania rivalries

Chris Jericho blindsides and destroys Shawn Michaels (Royal Rumble 2003)

The elimination that kick-started the best rivalry of the decade

While Royal Rumble 2003 was not the first show where Chris Jericho and Shawn Michales were at odds with each other, it can still be considered the actual start of their illustrious rivalry.

Jericho wanted believed that Michaels was a washed-up performer, and, to prove it to himself, he decided to enter the Royal Rumble match at #2 along with Michaels, who was the #1 entrant. While all the fans were expecting a fun little encounter between two superstars, what transpired in-ring was the exact opposite.

With HBK waiting in the ring for his opponent, Jericho, with some help from his friend Christian, attacked him from the back with a low blow. After a chair shot and some more beating, Jericho eliminated Michaels from the match in a little over two minutes. Irate over his elimination, Michaels returned to the ring later in the match and attacked Jericho, leading to his elimination from the match and starting a rivalry that lasted for almost 7 years.

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Brock Lesnar interferes and eliminates Goldberg (Royal Rumble 2004)

Irrespective of the quality of the match, the start of this rivalry was brilliant.

Just like Michaels and Jericho from the year before, Brock Lesnar and Goldberg had only crossed paths once before Royal Rumble 2004, at Survivor Series 2003.

Given that the two behemoths were on separate brands, no one had a lot of expectations from that confrontation, even though it did generate some interest among the fans. However, come Royal Rumble in January 2004, a lot of things became abundantly clear as WWE had plans in place for a marquee Mania rivalry.

As the final entrant of the Royal Rumble match, Goldberg started wrecking havoc, eliminating 3 superstars in a little over a minute. However, this juggernaut was stopped by WWE Champion Brock Lesnar who, despite not being a part of the match, entered the ring and hit Goldberg with an F-5, resulting in his elimination from the match.

Goldberd returned the favor a few weeks later by costing Lesnar his WWE Championship, kick-starting a mouth watering rivalry. While their match at WrestleMania XX was a big dud, the beginning of the rivalry was definitely the best thing in this feud.