10 Best WWE Royal Rumble Matches

Now 48, Triple H has been performing in the squared circle for the best part of three decades, but it's probably fair to say that nothing has ever come close to the euphoric high of winning the 2002 Royal Rumble after spending more than six months on the treatment table.

The long-awaited return of The Game to in-ring competition was largely what made this exciting, but by no means the only thing the match had to offer. There was also Mr Perfect's surprise run to the final three, and Maven pulling off the upset of all upsets by unceremoniously dumping out The Undertaker.

Interestingly, it's probably one of the most uneven Rumble matches they have ever put on too. Virtually all of the first 15 entrants were lower mid-carders, whilst the last five to join the ring were - in order - Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Rob Van Dam and Booker T.

But, as the first Rumble since the acquisition of WCW, this was always going to be a special one, and WWE largely delivered in getting all their stars to align, particularly during a thrilling climax in which HHH exorcised his demons to set up a date with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania X-8.