15 Best WWE Royal Rumbles Ever

8. Royal Rumble 2006

One of the simplest formulas for creating a successful Royal Rumble match is to have a consistent story throughout featuring an early entrant going on to win or come up just a little bit short. Rey Mysterio, in 2006, had the added bonus of carrying Eddie Guerrero's spirit with him into the New Year. Some have argued over the years that Latino Heat's untimely passing was the only reason for Mysterio's rise, but such arguments fail to take into account all of 2005 - when Mysterio was routinely defeating Guerrero en route to advancing definitively beyond his mid-card roots and onto the cusp of the main-event scene. Entering at #2, Mysterio had to overcome the other overwhelming favorite to win that year in Triple H, who everyone had pretty much assumed since the previous summer would be wrestling John Cena for the WWE Championship. There was also Randy Orton to contend with later in the night, which would foreshadow a large chunk of the World Heavyweight Championship situation at WrestleMania 22. So, Mysterio winning was by no means a given. In fact, it was never a given for any 1st-3rd entrant who won it all. The odds so heavily stack the deck against that logically happening that, when it does, it is difficult for it not to come across as a miracle. Unpredictability was a helpful tool in elevating the overall impression left by this Rumble. Mysterio, Orton, and Trips were all there for the climax. Mysterio put in one of his all-time great performances that night.
Contributor
Contributor

"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition. Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.