Are you ready to Rumble? At the very least, you'll be ready to watch the Royal Rumble after going this comprehensive list.
Unlike most of the lists on Wrestling Merchandise and Memories, this list is highly scientific. We used a mathematical formula and everything!
In counting the Top 50 Royal Rumblers, we poured through stats for the 433 different competitors that have participated in the Royal Rumble match since 1988 (including the men and women's Rumbles from the past few years and 2018's Greatest Royal Rumble). Then, we looked at three factors to give them a point score:
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How many minutes did they last? This is a running total for every Rumble a wrestler appears in. If a wrestler lasts a full minute, they get one point. Minutes are rounded to the nearest point, so a showing of 5:30 would give a wrestler 6 points, but lasting 28 seconds would give a wrestler 0 points.
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How many wrestlers did they eliminate? Each time a wrestler tosses someone out to the floor, they get 5 points. Multiple-wrestler eliminations (e.g. six guys toss out The Big Show) count as 5 points for each wrestler. But if they eliminate themselves for whatever reason, zero points for that.
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How many Rumbles did they win? Each time that happens, the winner gets 50 points. Even in 1994, when there were co-winners.
So the formula for Royal Rumble points is: Time + (Eliminations x 5) + (Wins x 50)
Of note: if a wrestler competes in a Rumble one year as someone and another year under a different name or persona - we're counting them as one person (even when WWE doesn't).
Ready? Here we go!
50.
AJ Styles / Shayna Baszler
AJ Styles and Shayna Baszler are tied for 50th place in this survey, each scoring 115 points, with four appearances apiece. The Phenomenal One made his WWE debut in the 2016 Rumble, while Baszler began in the 2020 event.
48.
Goldust
Goldust has 120 points, competing in 13 different Rumbles, more than once returning in the ring after disappearing from the business for months on end or sometimes years. Goldust competed in both the 2018 Royal Rumble and Greatest Royal Rumble during his most recent run.
46.
Rusev
Rusev has scored 127 points, appearing in five Royal Rumbles. He debuted on WWE's main roster at 2014's event (competing as Alexander Rusev), and lasted more than half an hour in 2015, eliminating six competitors.
44.
Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin (who has also competed as Happy Corbin and King Corbin) has accumulated 131 points in six Royal Rumble appearances. While none of his outings were game changers, many of them lasted more than 10 minutes.
42.
Yokozuna / Bob Holly
WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna and Bob Holly (who had also competed as Hardcore Holly and Sparky Plugg) each scored 134 points. In Yokozuna's first Rumble in 1993, he eliminated seven competitors to win the match.
40.
Rob Van Dam / Liv Morgan
WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam and Liv Morgan have more in common than being busted for pot possession. Both RVD and Morgan scored 137 points through six Royal Rumble appearances each.
38.
Rick Martel
Rick Martel scored 142 points for his seven consecutive Rumble appearances between 1989 and 1995. While he was never really a serious contender to win the match, The Model did hold the longevity record in 1991, lasting 52 minutes.
36.
Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose has scored 150 points by making five Royal Rumble appearances. The wrestler now known as Jon Moxley lasted over half an hour in 2014, eliminating three men, and lasted even longer in 2017's event.
34.
Ric Flair
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair scored 162 points over five Royal Rumble matches.... but really it all comes down to one. In 1992, The Nature Boy entered the Rumble third, lasted for nearly an hour and won the vacant WWF World Championship.
32.
Natalya
Hart Family member Natalya is on the heels of surpassing her famous uncles Bret and Davey Boy with 178 points, spread out over six Royal Rumble matches. Her finest hour was in 2019, where she lasted nearly an hour and eliminated two competitors.
30.
Bret Hitman Hart
WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart scored 180 points over five Rumble matches. The Hitman held the longevity record in the very first match in 1988, and in 1994, he and Lex Luger co-won the match after The Hitman eliminated three other men.
28.
Kofi Kingston
Not only is Kofi Kingston responsible for the craziest "near miss" spot in each year's Royal Rumble, but he has also scored 205 points while appearing in 15 of the last 16 Rumbles, hopping, handstanding and even borrowing an office chair to avoid elimination.
26.
The Big Show
The Big Show scored 220 points, thanks to appearances in 12 Royal Rumble matches in his career. His standout performance was in 2004, when he lasted nearly 23 minutes and was runner-up. He was also runner-up in 2020.
24.
Hulk Hogan
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan scored 231 points over four Rumble matches. His track record was helped by winning the Rumble for two straight years (1990 and 1991), but his other two appearances (1989 and 1992) were almost as memorable for The Hulkster.
22.
Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair has scored 253 points in just three Royal Rumble appearances. The EST of WWE has had one of the fastest rises to power in the short history of this study. In 2021, she won the Womens Royal Rumble, lasting nearly an hour and eliminating four competitors.
20.
Batista
Batista has scored 262 points with five Rumble appearances. Among his most memorable Rumbles was 2005, when he eliminated six competitors en route to winning the match. In 2014, The Animal returned to WWE, lasting 13 minutes and eliminating four men to win the match.
18.
Chris Benoit
At 277 points, Chris Benoit participated in four Royal Rumble matches. His biggest moment (and one WWE probably wishes never happened) was in 2004, where Benoit entered first, lasted 61 minutes and eliminated six competitors to win the match.
16.
Seth Freakin' Rollins
Seth Freakin' Rollins has racked up 297 points over six Royal Rumble appearances. The Revolutionary's biggest success happened in the 2019 Rumble, in which Rollins eliminated three men on his way to winning, but he also had a great outing in the 2014 event.
14.
Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar has scored 313 points, with appearances in six Royal Rumble. The Beast Incarnate was victorious in 2003, eliminating four opponents and again in 2022 after eliminating five men. It was one of the biggest time lapses between Rumble victories for anyone in WWE.
12.
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns has been in six Royal Rumble matches, with an impressive 331 points. In 2014, he lasted 34 minutes and eliminated 12 men and in 2015, he won the match, lasting 27 minutes and eliminating six. In 2016, Reigns lasted just short of an hour before losing the Rumble.
10.
Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes has 346 points over eight Rumble matches (where he also competed as Stardust). The American Nightmare had a lengthy appearance during his bout in 2012 and returned to the match in 2023, winning the entire event.
8.
Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho never actually won a Royal Rumble in his illustrious career and still earned 393 points, spread out over eleven Royal Rumbles. In 2013, he entered as number two and hung with number one for 48 minutes.
6.
Edge
WWE Hall of Famer Edge has scored 437 points (including several after he had retired). The Rated R Superstar made surprise returns in 2010 (where he won the match) and in 2020, while also winning the Royal Rumble in 2021.
4.
Triple H
WWE Hall of Famer Triple H scored 484 points over nine Rumble matches. In his first in 1996 (as Hunter Hearst Helmsley), he lasted 48 minutes. In 2002, Triple H won the Rumble match and in 2016, he was the 30th entrant and captured the vacant WWE World Championship.
2.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin scored 506 points though six Rumble appearances (including his first appearance as The Ringmaster in 1996). Austin won the match in 1997, 1998 and 2001, becoming WWE's first three-time Royal Rumble winner.
49
Ted DiBiase
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase scored 117 points over four Rumble matches. In 1989, The Million Dollar Man "bought" a high number and ended up entering second-last. Then in 1990, after drawing the # 1 spot, DiBiase lasted about 45 minutes.
47.
Bayley / Big E.
Both Bayley and Big E (who also competed in the Royal Rumble as Big E. Langston) scored 125 points. Bayley has appeared in four Royal Rumbles to date, while Big E competed in nine. In 2021, The New Day member lasted nearly 30 minutes, eliminating four men.
45.
John Morrison
John Morrison (who also competed in the Royal Rumble as Johnny Nitro) earned 129 points, appearing in seven matches between 2006 and 2021. His most successful outing was his first year, where he lasted nearly half an hour.
43.
Rusev
Who's ready for Asuka? She has scored 133 points in just two appearances. The Empress of Tomorrow won the first Womens Royal Rumble in 2018, eliminating three competitors on route to victory.
41.
Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch has scored 135 points, thanks to her appearance in three Royal Rumbles. In the 2018 Rumble, Lynch lasted more than a half an hour. In 2019, The Man was in the bout for a shorter period of time and still won.
39.
Lex Luger / The Miz
Lex Luger and The Miz each scored 141 points in the Royal Rumble. The Total Package was only in two Rumble matches, co-winning with Bret Hart in 1994, while The A Lister had 14 appearances to his credit.
37.
Rikishi
Thanks to a handful of different personas over the years (including competing in the Royal Rumble as Fatu and The Sultan), WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi scored 146 points, with eleven Rumble matches between 1993 and 2004.
35.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura has 160 points to his credit, spread over five Royal Rumble appearances. In 2018, The Artist lasted nearly 45 minutes, eliminating three men (including runner-up Roman Reigns) to win the match during his first Royal Rumble.
33.
Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt began his Royal Rumble history in 2011 as New Nexus flunky Husky Harris. Over five appearances, The Fiend scored 168 points, including his 2015 campaign, where he lasted more than 47 minutes and eliminated six men.
31.
Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan has scored 179 points, spead over five Royal Rumble appearances. However, most of his points were scored at The Greatest Royal Rumble, where Bryan started the match, lasted over one hour and sixteen minutes and even eliminated three men.
29.
Davey Boy Smith
WWE Hall of Famer Davey Boy Smith scored 191 points over over six Rumble matches. His most famous effort was in 1995, when The British Bulldog (no relation) entered the match first and lasted until the very end of the bout.
27.
The Rock
Do you smell what The Rock is cookin'? Because it's worth 219 points, spread out over four Rumble matches. Of course, The Great One's greatest one happened in 2000, when he won the match; and he aslo competed as Rocky Maivia during his first Rumble in 1997.
25.
Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler scored 227 points for making appearances in the last 14 of the last 15 Rumbles. In 2013, The Show Off had his best appearance to date, starting the match at # 1 and lasting close to 50 minutes, eliminating two competitors.
23.
CM Punk
CM Punk scored 247 points over six Rumble matches, and while he never came close to winning, he had some memorable moments. In the 2011 event, Punk entered first and lasted 35 minutes with help from the New Nexus, eliminating seven men.
21.
Charlotte Flair
Charlotte Flair has pulled ahead of her famous father in recent years, scoring 261 points over four Royal Rumble appearances. The Queen lasted nearly an hour in 2019 and eliminated four people, and eliminated just as many people in 2020 while also winning the match.
19.
Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre scored 265 points, spread out over seven Royal Rumble appearances. His most impressive performance was in 2020, when The Scottish Warrior lasted 34 minutes and eliminated six competitors to capture his first-ever Rumble win.
17.
Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley has scored a very impressive 289 points, spread out over four Rumble appearances. In 2021, The Judgment Day member lasted more than half an hour and eliminated seven competitors and in 2023, she won the entire match.
15.
Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman has scored 312 points, spread out over six appearances. The Monster Among Men's biggest moment to date was when he won the 50-man Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, eliminating 13 competitors on route to victory.
13.
Sheamus
Sheamus scored 328 points, impressive for a fella who has been in ten Royal Rumbles. The lion's share of that score comes from 2012, when The Celtic Warrior lasted about 22 minutes, eliminated three competitors and went on to (surprisingly) win that year's Rumble.
11.
John Cena
John Cena scored 338 points, spread out over eight Royal Rumble matches between 2003 and 2018. In 2008, he came in to the match at #30 as a surprise entrant and won the match. In 2013, Cena lasted 27 minutes, eliminating four men to win.
9.
Rey Mysterio
WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio scored 380 points over 13 Royal Rumble appearances. Mysterio entered the 2006 event at number 2 and lasted a record 62 minutes, eliminating six men and winning the entire match in memory of Eddie Guerrero.
7.
The Undertaker
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker scored 397 points, with appearances in eleven Rumble matches between 1991 and 2017. The Dead Man's finest hour was in 2007, when he eliminated Shawn Michaels to win the bout.
5.
Kane
WWE Hall of Famer Kane not only scored 447 points, but is also the highest-ranking wrestler to never win the Royal Rumble. The Demon has competed in 19 Rumble matches, the most of any wrestler. He tossed out 11 competitors in 2001, at the time a record.
3.
Shawn Michaels
WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels scored 502 points over 11 Rumble appearances. His best showing was in 1995, when he entered the match first, lasted nearly 39 minutes, eliminating eight wrestlers and winning the match. He replicated this in 1996, going 26 minutes and eliminating another eight to win.
1.
Randy Orton
Randy Orton is in the sole position of number one, scoring 518 points through fourteen Royal Rumble appearances, including seven of the last eight events. The Legend Killer won the Royal Rumble match in both 2009 and 2017 .