6 Best Traditional WWE Royal Rumble Alternatives

2. Aztec Warfare (Lucha Underground)

aztec warfare
El Rey Network

Lucha Underground's 'Aztec Warfare' concept is one that feeds the promotion's fast pace and over-the-top feel. Unlike a traditional Royal Rumble, entrants are mainly eliminated via pinfall or submission, making the bout more akin to a Gauntlet Match than an extended Battle Royal.

To date, the group have staged three Aztec Warfare matches. Further to the unique pinfall and submission rules, Lucha Underground have also incorporated female competitors like Ivelisse and Sexy Star as standard, adding an inter-gender attraction to the match that WWE have only experimented with on occasion over the years. Sexy Star even won the third match.

Anyone who has watched the promotion's output since 2014 will know what to expect, although those new to Lucha Underground should be prepared for some serious speed. There's always something going on in Aztec Warfare,

The main thing tying this match type to the Royal Rumble is that wrestlers enter at timed intervals. For the first and third matches, Lucha Underground had 20 entrants, and the second one housed 21. Anyone who thinks WWE's Rumble can drag after a while should check this variation out.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.