Ranking Every WWE Title Match At Royal Rumble - From Worst To Best

23. Royal Rumble 1991 - Ultimate Warrior Vs. Sgt. Slaughter

WWE Royal Rumble 1991 Sgt Slaughter Ultimate Warrior
WWE

The 1991 Royal Rumble was the first time the WWF World Title had been on the line at the January PPV, with Hulk Hogan previously competing in the Rumble while being the WWF Champ in 1990.

Having dethroned Hogan at WrestleMania 6, Ultimate Warrior's 293-day reign as WWF Champion came to an end here at the hands of the nefarious Sgt. Slaughter.

By Warrior's standards and those of the aging Slaughter, this was a solid affair that was helped out by a white-hot crowd. After all, Sarge was the Iraqi sympathiser who had turned his back on the USA during this period, whilst Warrior was undoubtedly the hottest babyface in the company.

Shenanigans ensued throughout this contest, with 'Macho King' Randy Savage and Queen Sherri constantly getting involved to attack the Ultimate One after he'd refused Savage a title shot. And thus, a sceptre shot to the head from Macho was enough to daze Warrior long enough for Slaughter to pin the Ultimate Puke.

While this title switch was done so that Sarge could drop the WWF Title to the flag-wearing, all-American hero Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 7, it also nicely lined Ultimate Warrior up to face the Macho King at that year's Grandaddy of Them All. To his credit, Savage dragged a magnificent 'Mania match out of Warrior, which was immediately followed by the hugely emotional post-match reunion of Macho and Miss Elizabeth in one of WrestleMania's greatest-ever moments.

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