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Wrestling

How does the WWE Royal Rumble work? List of rules and records, history of previous winners, favorites to win the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Rumble matches

How does the WWE Royal Rumble work? List of rules and records, history of previous winners, favorites to win the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Rumble matchesDAZN
Here is everything you need to know about the Royal Rumble.
The first PPV of the year for the WWE takes place on Saturday as the Royal Rumble emanates at Tropicana Field in Florida. 

Like every year, the show is highlighted by the Men's and Women's 30-person Royal Rumble. 

There are people who are reading this article wondering how the Royal Rumble works.

Here's an explainer of how the match works, past winners, and statistics of the last 34 years.

How does the WWE Royal Rumble work?

All 30 people are picked at random. No. 1 and No. 2 kick things off. Typically, a new participant comes in every two minutes, but there have been years where it's either 60 or 90 seconds. 

There are no pinfalls or submissions. A wrestler needs toss another over the top rope and both feet must touch the floor for an elimination. The last man and woman standing their respective matches will receive a world title shot of their choosing at WrestleMania.

WWE Royal Rumble records

  • The record for most wins is "Stone Cold" Steve Austin with three (1997, 1998, 2001). Six other wrestlers have won the event twice: Hulk Hogan (1990, 1991), Shawn Michaels (1995, 1996), Triple H (2002, 2016), Batista (2005, 2014), John Cena (2008, 2013) and Randy Orton (2009, 2017).
  • The No. 27 entrant possesses the most winners at four (Big John Studd in 1989, Yokozuna in 1993, Bret Hart in 1994, Steve Austin in 2001).
  • Only three wrestlers have gone from start to finish to win the Royal Rumble (Shawn Michaels in 1995, Chris Benoit in 2004 and Rhea Ripley in 2023).
  • Batista is the only person to win from the same spot twice, at No. 28 (2005, 2014). 
  • Rey Mysterio holds the record for longest time overall in the Royal Rumble at 1:02:12 in 2006.
  • The shortest time overall is held by Santino Marella at 1.9 seconds in 2009.

WWE Royal Rumble winners

  • 1988 = Hacksaw Jim Duggan
  • 1989 = Big John Studd
  • 1990 = Hulk Hogan
  • 1991 = Hulk Hogan
  • 1992 = Ric Flair
  • 1993 = Yokozuna 
  • 1994 = Lex Luger and Bret Hart 
  • 1995 = Shawn Michaels 
  • 1996 = Shawn Michaels 
  • 1997 = Steve Austin
  • 1998 = Steve Austin 
  • 1999 = Vince McMahon 
  • 2000 = The Rock 
  • 2001 = Steve Austin 
  • 2002 = Triple H 
  • 2003 = Brock Lesnar
  • 2004 = Chris Benoit
  • 2005 = Batista 
  • 2006 = Rey Mysterio 
  • 2007 = Undertaker 
  • 2008 = John Cena 
  • 2009 = Randy Orton 
  • 2010 = Edge 
  • 2011 = Alberto Del Rio 
  • 2012 = Sheamus 
  • 2013 = John Cena 
  • 2014 = Batista 
  • 2015 = Roman Reigns 
  • 2016 = Triple H 
  • 2017 = Randy Orton 
  • 2018 [Men] = Shinsuke Nakamura 
  • 2018 [Women] = Asuka 
  • 2019 [Men] = Seth Rollins 
  • 2019 [Women] = Becky Lynch 
  • 2020 [Women] = Charlotte Flair 
  • 2020 [Men] = Drew McIntyre 
  • 2021 [Men] = Edge
  • 2021 [Women] = Bianca Belair
  • 2022 [Women] = Ronda Rousey
  • 2022 [Men] = Brock Lesnar
  • 2023 [Men] = Cody Rhodes 
  • 2023 [Women] = Rhea Ripley 

WWE Royal Rumble 2024 odds, favorites?

Odds by BetOnline

Men's Royal Rumble match

  • CM Punk + 150
  • Cody Rhodes + 275
  • Gunther + 300 
  • Randy Orton + 600
  • LA Knight + 700 
  • The Rock + 700 
  • Drew McIntyre + 1000 
  • Jey Uso + 1000
  • MJF + 1000 
  • Sami Zayn + 1400
  • Kevin Owens + 2500 
  • Solo Sikoa + 2500 
  • Brock Lesnar +3300 

Women’s Royal Rumble match 

  • Bayley + 135
  • Becky Lynch + 200
  • Jade Cargill + 300
  • Nia Jax + 800
  • Raquel Rodriguez + 900
  • Bianca Belair + 1000
  • Sasha Banks + 1200
  • Liv Morgan + 1400
  • Asuka + 1600
  • Shayna Baszler + 2500
  • Zoey Stark + 2500
  • Naomi + 2500