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

The Big Dog lays claim to his yard (Royal Rumble 2017)

Reigns gave Taker his second loss at Mania that year.

The 2017 edition of Royal Rumble was probably the most star-studded edition of the pay per view in a long time. Apart from full-time performers such as Chris Jericho, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, and Randy Orton, a bunch of part-timers, including The Undertaker, Goldberg, and Brock Lesnar were also part of the match.

Aside from all the above-mentioned names, another megastar entered the match at #30, in a surprising manner. It was none other than Roman Reigns. With The Undertaker already in the ring as the second to last entrant, a memorable sequence between the two took center stage in the Royal Rumble match.

While Taker gained the upper hand in the initial exchanges, it was Reigns who had the final laugh. With The Deadman distracted after eliminating Sami Zayn, The Big Dog took advantage of the situation and threw Taker over the top rope, calling the ring his yard now. What followed was a high profile rivalry that ended in the main event of WrestleMania 33, where Reigns gave Taker only his second loss at the Grandest Stage.

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Randy Orton vs Edge (Royal Rumble 2020)

Edge's return to the ring after 9 years coincided with the beginning of this rivalry.

Edge's return to in-ring action, after a hiatus of 9 years, at Royal Rumble 2020 was one of those moments that will be remembered for years to come. It was such a big deal that one can actually make an argument that the pop Edge's entrance received was bigger than the one that Drew McIntyre received after winning the Rumble match.

Edge showed no sign of rust, as he scuffed against the likes of McIntyre, AJ Styles, and Roman Reigns. To the surprise and pleasure of everyone, Edge and his former partner Randy Orton teamed together in the match against the members of The OC, and then during the final stages of the Royal Rumble.

However, the team was short lived as Edge surprised The Viper by eliminating him from the match. The very next night on Raw, Orton tricked Edge into getting back together as a team and attacked the Hall of Famer with a chair, eventually ending with a Con-Chair-To. This was followed by a series of brilliant promos, and two matches. One of which is considered among the best of the Pandemic era.