Ranking EVERY WWE Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View From Worst To Best
6. 2004
The Good: If Chris Benoit hadn't done all the awful things Chris Benoit did, the 2004 Royal Rumble is the best ever. That he did reduces its impact exponentially, but it's an artistic triumph even without his remarkable coast-to-coast journey. WrestleMania matches are crafted throughout, with just about every single performer serving a purpose beyond being a warm body. The Big Show Versus The World being used as a closing act was remarkably logical use of the giant that fed well into an absorbing conclusion.
The Bad: SmackDown had the task of getting to Eddie Guerrero Vs Brock Lesnar at February's No Way Out as quick as possible, so feuds with Chavo Guerrero and Hardcore Holly respectively were rather abruptly paid off here. Quick matches are often welcome underneath the Royal Rumble, but these feuds deserved slightly more for the television time invested.
The Ugly: Rey Mysterio and Jamie Noble got an insulting three minutes for their Cruiserweight Championship match. This was par for the course but the lightweights would look less like losers if they weren't on the show altogether rather than being slotted in just to be so underserved.