10 WWE Royal Rumble Wins That Became Huge Disappointments
6. Edge - 2010
Like John Cena in 2008, Edge had been out long-term with an injury that seemed to rule him out of playing a role at WrestleMania XXVI. The Rated-R Superstar had been out of action for six months when he surprised the audience in Atlanta, Georgia by entering at number 29. He would win the Rumble, last eliminating John Cena, and eventually challenge former partner Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
On a card that featured Bret Hart's return to a WWE ring for the first time since the Montreal Screwjob against Mr. McMahon, a John Cena/Batista WWE Championship match, and a hugely anticipated Shawn Michaels/Undertaker rematch, Edge and Jericho fell to the middle of the card. That Jericho then defeated Edge took away a lot of the excitement and enthusiasm that had been generated from his return. Within weeks of WrestleMania, Edge had already turned heel again and been drafted to RAW, meaning the Rumble win and Jericho feud had little lasting effect on storylines.
Compare 2010 to Edge's infinitely more shocking return at the 2020 Rumble, and his emotional victory at the 2021 event (which led to a classic WrestleMania main event against Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan), and this win pales in comparison.