6 Best Traditional WWE Royal Rumble Alternatives

6. 40-Man Royal Rumble (WWE)

The period between 2009-2012 was a bit of a strange one for WWE, as the promotion didn't seem totally sure how to produce a product that catered to longtime fans whilst staying true to the PG format. Even the Royal Rumble suffered, and management decided to try and re-energise the match by beefing it up to 40 entrants in 2011.

Moving rapidly, this 40-man affair felt a little too quick. The extra 10 wrestlers tagged on didn't add much to the overall experience, meaning Alberto Del Rio's eventual win was more of a relief than truly exciting. Despite the souped up numbers, the Mexican's victory didn't feel any more gruelling than a regular Rumble.

Still, WWE had to try this new direction to find out if it would work or not. The match, flaws and all, is still worth a watch for those who haven't seen it. Particularly enjoyable was CM Punk's takeover of the Rumble (backed by The New Nexus) and Booker T's crowd-pleasing entry at #21.

Consider this a soft approach if you're looking for something different from the standard 30-man Rumble experience.