WWE Royal Rumble: Best Performances From Every Entry Slot
5. Stone Cold Steve Austin - 1997
In 1997, Stone Cold Steve Austin won his first Royal Rumble match, becoming the first man to win from the No. 5 spot. The Rattlesnake lasted for 45 minutes, eliminating an impressive 10 superstars on his way to victory.
Usually when a new entrant joins the fight, they have a minute or so of dominating as the fresher man. Stone Cold did not experience this, being knocked down by Phineas as soon as he got to the ring. Yet Austin would recover, hitting his opponent with a Stunner before sending him over the top rope.
This was the first of Austin's then record ten eliminations, with Bart Gunn, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, Marc Mero, Owen Hart, Savio Vega, and Jesse James becoming his next victims.
With just five men left in the ring, Bret 'The Hitman' Hart threw The Rattlesnake over the top rope and to the floor below. Yet with the referees occupied across the ring, Austin re-entered into the match unnoticed. Seconds later, he lifted both Undertaker and Vader over the ropes, and as Hart eliminated Diesel, Austin attacked the unaware Hitman from behind, sending him out of the match, claiming victory for himself.