WWE: 5 Most Historically Significant Royal Rumble Matches

3. Royal Rumble 1992, Winner: Ric Flair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP0AfWLeDok There are a number of reasons why the 1992 Royal Rumble makes this list. First, the competitors included some of the biggest stars in wrestling history. Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, The Undertaker and eventual winner, Ric Flair, all competed in this star studied version of the event. It would not be until nearly a decade later, in 2001, before such an all star cast would compete in the January spectacular. Additionally, this marked the first time that something more than bragging rights would be on the line in the Royal Rumble, namely, the WWE Championship. The stakes would be slightly tweaked the following year to give the winner a world title match at Wrestlemania, and the idea has remained unchanged ever since. Furthermore, this Royal Rumble showed fans all over the world what fans of the NWA (Flair's former place of employment and wrestling rival of the WWE) had known all along: that The Nature Boy was more than capable of wrestling in classic 60 minute matches. Entering the '92 Rumble at number three, Flair stayed in the ring for a gruelling hour and ultimately walked away with the gold. For showcasing a who's-who of the wrestling world, and upping the stakes of the thirty man battle-royale, the 1992 Royal Rumble is the third most historic incarnation of the event.