10 WWE Royal Rumble Wins That Became Huge Disappointments

John Cena had torn his pectoral muscle in October 2007, an injury usually requiring six months to a year on the sidelines and knocking him out of WrestleMania season. When the buzzer sounded for the thirtieth and final entrant in Madison Square Garden at the 2008 Royal Rumble three months later, it was such a genuine shock that the usually Cena-resistant New York crowd erupted.

Taking advantage of the fan support, Cena won the match, last eliminating Triple H, to book a title match at WrestleMania XXIV. The title shot would come sooner, however, Cena cashing in the shot at No Way Out in February against WWE Champion Randy Orton.

Due to that result and a non-title win in a rematch the next night on RAW, Cena was reinserted into the WrestleMania title match. Triple H was added to make it a heavyweight triple threat match that seemed set for Cena to overcome the odds and complete his unexpected comeback with another title win.

Yet come the day of WrestleMania, the triple threat match would be overshadowed by Undertaker vs. Edge, Floyd Mayweather taking on the Big Show, and Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair's emotional retirement match. That Cena also lost the match and then failed in another title shot at the following month's Backlash meant the euphoria of his return led to little, a surprising end result.