'Taker returned to the 2003 Rumble after being eliminated by Tough Enough winner Maven the previous year. Despite entering at number 30, The Deadman managed to eliminate five other superstars in just over six minutes but couldn't get past the then Next Big Thing. After a mammoth stare down, the pair traded blows with both Batista and Kane laid out on the mat. After delivering a Tombstone to Lesnar, Taker eliminated The Animal before tricking his brother and eliminating him too. Batista came back into the ring with a chair but lost control of it to The Phenom, who hit him with it, sending him flying through the middle ropes. While Taker was talking smack to the laid out Animal, Lesnar sneaked up behind him and tipped him over the top rope to claim the win. The Undertaker would finally win The Royal Rumble in 2007.