10 Most Exciting WWE Royal Rumble Finishes
Who was the last man standing?
The Royal Rumble is unlike any other match in pro wrestling. The fact that 30 separate men get entrances and that some of the competitors are kept secret means that there are always exciting surprises, but it's more than that - the ultra-careful booking of the bout ensures that there are tons of clever spots and that fans get to see superstar interactions that don't usually happen.
Another element of the Rumble match that makes it - and all battle royals - uniquely exciting is that in order for a wrestler to be eliminated, he doesn't need to be pinned or submit. All it takes is being tossed over the top rope, which means it doesn't take a signature move and it can happen at any time. All of these elements make for a chaotic environment that only builds up into a true frenzy as the match goes on.
The Royal Rumble is always exciting, but which ones boasted the most compelling finishing stretches? When were all of the ingredients there to leave fans biting their fingernails and anxiously awaiting the crowning of a new WrestleMania main-eventer?
10. The Ultimate Underdog - 2011
The 2011 Royal Rumble was the largest in history, boasting 40 men for the first and only time. The match was even more grueling than usual for both the wrestlers involved and the fans - which is to say, it certainly dragged in some places. There were some big names in the Rumble - like CM Punk, John Cena, and Daniel Bryan - but they were all gone before the end.
The final four men in the bout were Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, Santino Marella, and Randy Orton. Marella was knocked to the outside without being eliminated, while Orton tossed Barrett out. That left Del Rio and Orton, and when Del Rio eliminated "The Viper," he thought he had the whole thing won.
Del Rio started to celebrate, but the fans knew his evening wasn't over. Marella got back in the ring and roused his Cobra behind Del Rio's back, then planted the aristocrat with a strike. As the fans roared, Marella attempted to throw Del Rio from the ring, but the WWE rookie managed to reverse the momentum and throw the former Intercontinental Champion out of the ring, avoiding a true upset.