Smark Out Moment

Here are some statistics and records for the WWE Royal Rumble event over the years including entrants from 2007 onward, heel/face breakdowns of the competitors, a list of all Royal Rumble winners, longest iron man times, most eliminations and some more standard occurrences that seem to show up each and every year.

TABLE OF CONTENTS - LINKS TO JUMP TO THIS SECTION:
WINNERS | ELIMINATIONS | TIME | APPEARANCES | HEEL & FACE BREAKDOWN | OTHER

ROYAL RUMBLE WINNER RECORDS

LIST OF ROYAL RUMBLE WINNERS (by year and entrant number):

1988 = Hacksaw Jim Duggan (#13)
1989 = Big John Studd (#27)
1990 = Hulk Hogan (#25)
1991 = Hulk Hogan (#24)
1992 = Ric Flair (#3)
1993 = Yokozuna (#27)
1994 = Lex Luger (#23) and Bret Hart (#27)
1995 = Shawn Michaels (#1)
1996 = Shawn Michaels (#18)
1997 = Steve Austin (#5)
1998 = Steve Austin (#24)
1999 = Vince McMahon (#2)
2000 = The Rock (#24)
2001 = Steve Austin (#27)
2002 = Triple H (#22)
2003 = Brock Lesnar (#29)
2004 = Chris Benoit (#1)
2005 = Batista (#28)
2006 = Rey Mysterio (#2)
2007 = Undertaker (#30)
2008 = John Cena (#30)
2009 = Randy Orton (#8)
2010 = Edge (#29)
2011 = Alberto Del Rio (#38)
2012 = Sheamus (#22)
2013 = John Cena (#19)
2014 = Batista (#28)
2015 = Roman Reigns (#19)
2016 = Triple H (#30)
2017 = Randy Orton (#23)
2018 [Men] = Shinsuke Nakamura (#14)
2018 [Women] = Asuka (#25)
Greatest Royal Rumble = Braun Strowman (#41)
2019 [Men] = Seth Rollins (#10)
2019 [Women] = Becky Lynch (#28)
2020 [Women] = Charlotte Flair (#17)
2020 [Men] = Drew McIntyre (#16)
2021 [Women] = Bianca Belair (#3)
2021 [Men] = Edge (#1)
2022 [Women] = Ronda Rousey (#28)
2022 [Men] = Brock Lesnar (#30)
2023 [Men] = Cody Rhodes (#30)
2023 [Women] = Rhea Ripley (#1)

• Entries in grey didn't receive a WrestleMania match, either because that wasn't a rule at the time, the title was on the line during the Royal Rumble match, or they opted for a title shot prior to WrestleMania.
• Entries in red failed their WrestleMania challenge.
• Entries in black successfully defeated their WrestleMania opponent.
  

MULTIPLE ROYAL RUMBLE VICTORIES:

• 3 wins = 1 Superstar (Stone Cold Steve Austin)
• 2 wins = 8 Superstars (Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Batista, Triple H, Randy Orton, Edge, Brock Lesnar)

LUCKY NUMBERS WITH THE MOST WINS:

• 5 wins (1) = #30
• 4 wins (3) = #1, #27, #28
  
• 3 wins (1) = #24
• 2 wins (7) = #2, #3, #19, #22, #23, #25, #29
  
• 1 win (10) = #5, #8, #10, #13, #14, #16, #17, #18, #38, #41
  

OTHER INTERESTING WINNING NUMBER FACTS:

• Batista is the only person to win from the same spot twice, at #28
• 2007 and 2008, as well as 2022 and 2023, were the only times the same number won in succession, and both were #30.
• When adjusted for inflation, Hacksaw Jim Duggan's #13 win out of 20 wrestlers instead of 30 becomes an equivalent of #19.5 (rounded up to #20) by today's standards
  
• When adjusted for deflation, Alberto Del Rio's #38 win out of 40 wrestlers translates to #28.5 (rounded up to #29) by normal standards
• When adjusted for deflation, Braun Strowman's #41 win out of 50 wrestlers translates to #24.6 (rounded up to #25) by normal standards
• If you factor in all current 44 Royal Rumble winners as of 2023, the average winning entry number is #19.37 (adjusted) and 19.81 (normal), making the most likely winning number #19 or #20.

Statistics show that entries #1-10 have produced 11 winners, entries #11-20 have only produced 7 winners, and entries #21-30 have produced 26 winners (if you count #38 and #41).

Therefore, 59.09% of the time the winner will be from 21-30, 25% of the time they'll be in the first 1-10 entrants, and 15.91% of the time the winner will be from 11-20. WWE has made a concerted effort to have more 11-20 winners from 2013 onward, as prior to that, it had only happened 2 out of 26 times.

ROYAL RUMBLE ELIMINATIONS RECORDS

LIST MOST ELIMINATIONS PER ROYAL RUMBLE (by year):

1988 = One Man Gang (6)
1989 = Hulk Hogan (9)
1990 = Ultimate Warrior (6)
1991 = Hulk Hogan (7)
1992 = Sid Justice (6)
1993 = Yokozuna (7)
1994 = Diesel and Lex Luger (7)
1995 = Shawn Michaels (8)
1996 = Shawn Michaels (8)
1997 = Steve Austin (10)
1998 = Steve Austin (7)
1999 = Steve Austin (8)
2000 = Rikishi (7)
2001 = Kane (11)
2002 = Steve Austin and Undertaker (7)
2003 = Chris Jericho (6)
2004 = Chris Benoit (6)
2005 = Batista and Edge (5)
2006 = Rey Mysterio (6)
2007 = The Great Khali (7)
2008 = Triple H (6)
2009 = Big Show and Triple H (6)
2010 = Shawn Michaels (6)
2011 = CM Punk and John Cena (7)
2012 = Cody Rhodes (5)
2013 = Ryback and Sheamus (5)
2014 = Roman Reigns (12)
2015 = Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns and Rusev (6)
2016 = Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns (4)
2017 = Braun Strowman (7)
2018 [Men] = Finn Balor and Roman Reigns (4)
2018 [Women] = Michelle McCool (5)
Greatest Royal Rumble = Braun Strowman (13)
2019 [Men] = Braun Strowman (5)
2019 [Women] = Charlotte Flair (5)
2020 [Women] = Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler (8)
2020 [Men] = Brock Lesnar (13)
2021 [Women] = Rhea Ripley (7)
2021 [Men] = Big E and Damian Priest (4)
2022 [Women] = Charlotte Flair (5)
2022 [Men] = AJ Styles (6)
2023 [Men] = Cody Rhodes (5)
2023 [Women] = Rhea Ripley (7)

MOST ELIMINATIONS (total):

Top 10 Cumulative Men's Eliminations

1. Kane (45 as Kane + 1 as Isaac Yankem)
2. The Undertaker (40) - Shawn Michaels (39 recognized eliminations)
3. Steve Austin (36)
4. Braun Strowman (34)
5. Big Show (32) - Brock Lesnar (32) - Roman Reigns (32) - Triple H (32)
6. Randy Orton (29)
7. Hulk Hogan (27)
8. Edge (25) - John Cena (25)
9. Chris Jericho (19)
10. CM Punk (18) - Cody Rhodes (18)
    

Top 10 Cumulative Women's Eliminations

1. Rhea Ripley (20)
   
2. Charlotte Flair (15)
3. Shayna Baszler (14)
4. Bianca Belair (13)
5. Nia Jax (11)
6. Bayley (10)
7. Michelle McCool (8) and Natalya (8)
8. Sonya Deville (7)
9. Asuka (6), Becky Lynch (6), Nikki Bella (6), Ruby Riott (6)
10. Alexa Bliss (5), Bri Bella (5), Dakota Kai (5), Iyo Sky (5), Lacey Evans (5), Liv Morgan (5), Sasha Banks (5)
    

MOST ELIMINATIONS (in a single match):

• Men's Record = Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar (13), Roman Reigns (12), Kane (11)
• Women's Record = Bianca Belair (8) and Shayna Baszler (8)

AVERAGE MOST ELIMINATIONS: 6+ eliminations (6.57)

FEWEST ELIMINATIONS TO WIN: Vince McMahon (1) and Randy Orton (1)

ROYAL RUMBLE TIME RECORDS

EVERY ROYAL RUMBLE'S LONGEST TIME FOR IRON MAN/WOMAN:

1988 = Bret Hart (00:25:42) - Entrant #1
1989 = Mr. Perfect (00:27:58) - Entrant #4
1990 = Ted DiBiase (00:44:47) - Entrant #1
1991 = Rick Martel (00:52:17) - Entrant #6
1992 = Ric Flair (00:59:26) - Entrant #3
1993 = Bob Backlund (1:01:10) - Entrant #2
1994 = Bam Bam Bigelow (00:30:12) - Entrant #15
1995 = Shawn Michaels (00:38:41) - Entrant #1
1996 = Hunter Hearst Helmsley (00:48:01) - Entrant #1
1997 = Stone Cold Steve Austin (00:45:07) - Entrant #5
1998 = The Rock (00:51:32) - Entrant #4
1999 = Vince McMahon (00:56:38) - Entrant #2
2000 = Test (00:26:17) - Entrant #10
2001 = Kane (00:53:46) - Entrant #6
2002 = Stone Cold Steve Austin (00:26:46) - Entrant #19
2003 = Chris Jericho (00:38:54) - Entrant #2
2004 = Chris Benoit (1:01:30) - Entrant #1
2005 = Chris Benoit (00:47:26) - Entrant #2
2006 = Rey Mysterio (1:02:12) - Entrant #2
2007 = Edge (00:44:02) - Entrant #5
2008 = Batista (00:37:42) - Entrant #8
2009 = Triple H (00:49:55) - Entrant #7
2010 = John Cena (00:22:11) - Entrant #19
2011 = CM Punk (00:35:21) - Entrant #1
2012 = The Miz (00:45:39) - Entrant #1
2013 = Dolph Ziggler (00:49:47) - Entrant #1
2014 = CM Punk (00:49:15) - Entrant #1
2015 = Bray Wyatt (00:46:58) - Entrant #5
2016 = Roman Reigns (00:59:50) - Entrant #1
2017 = Chris Jericho (1:00:13) - Entrant #2
2018 [Men] = Finn Balor (00:57:38) - Entrant #2
2018 [Women] = Sasha Banks (00:54:46) - Entrant #1
Greatest Royal Rumble = Daniel Bryan (01:16:05) - Entrant #1
2019 [Men] = Seth Rollins (00:43:00) - Entrant #10
2019 [Women] = Natalya (00:56:01) - Entrant #2
2020 [Women] = Bianca Belair (00:33:20) - Entrant #2
2020 [Men] = Drew McIntyre (00:34:11) - Entrant #16
2021 [Women] = Bianca Belair (00:56:49) - Entrant #3
2021 [Men] = Edge (00:58:28) - Entrant #1
2022 [Women] = Bianca Belair (00:47:30) - Entrant #8
2022 [Men] = AJ Styles (00:29:06) - Entrant #1
2023 [Men] = Gunther (01:11:25 reported on commentary / 01:11:40 on WWE.com) - Entrant #1
2023 [Women] = Rhea Ripley (1:01:08) - Entrant #1

TOP 20 MEN'S LONGEST CUMULATIVE TOTAL ROYAL RUMBLE TIME:  

1. Chris Jericho (4:59:33)
2. Randy Orton (4:34:08)
3. Rey Mysterio (4:14:46)
4. Triple H (4:00:50)
5. Shawn Michaels (3:47:32)
6. Edge (3:32:55)
7. Sheamus (3:26:21)
8. Cody Rhodes (3:21:53)
9. Kane (3:19:40)
10. Dolph Ziggler (3:08:39)
11. John Cena (2:48:32)
12. Kofi Kingston (2:48:15)
13. CM Punk (2:48:11)
14. Steve Austin (2:45:04)
15. Roman Reigns (2:44:06)
16. Seth Rollins (2:40:45)
17. Chris Benoit (2:37:24)
18. Undertaker (2:31:21)
19. Daniel Bryan (2:24:21)
20. Drew McIntyre (2:14:54)
21. The Miz (2:14:42)
22. British Bulldog (2:06:02)
23. Rock (1:58:02)
24. Dean Ambrose (1:55:55)
25. John Morrison (1:54:25) 

TOP 25 WOMEN'S LONGEST CUMULATIVE TOTAL ROYAL RUMBLE TIME:  

1. Charlotte Flair (2:21:28)
2. Rhea Ripley (2:19:08)
3. Natalya (2:17:43)
4. Bianca Belair (2:17:39)
5. Liv Morgan (1:51:11)
6. Naomi (1:25:19)
7. Bayley (1:15:47)
8. Shayna Baszler (1:05:13)
9. Sasha Banks (1:04:30)
10. Lacey Evans (1:02:45)
11. Ember Moon (1:00:26)
12. Becky Lynch (0:54:59)
13. Nikki Cross (0:53:14)
14. Asuka (0:52:56)
15. Zelina Vega (0:50:08)
16. Tamina (0:45:35)
17. Michelle McCool (0:43:21)
18. Mandy Rose (0:42:21)
19. Alexa Bliss (0:40:35)
20. Mickie James (0:39:01)
21. Ruby Riott (0:35:32)
22. Nia Jax (0:34:45)
23. Io Shirai / Iyo Sky (0:34:10)
24. Carmella (0:34:08)
25. Dana Brooke (0:32:41)
    

MEN'S LONGEST IRON MAN TIME:

1. Daniel Bryan (1:16:05) in Greatest Royal Rumble
2. Gunther (1:11:25 according to Michael Cole on commentary, 1:11:40 on WWE.com) in 2023
3. Rey Mysterio (1:02:12) in 2006

MEN'S SHORTEST IRON MAN TIME: John Cena (00:22:11) in 2010

LONGEST IRON WOMAN TIME:

1. Rhea Ripley (1:01:08) in 2023
   
2. Bianca Belair (00:56:49) in 2021
3. Natalya (00:56:01) in 2019

SHORTEST IRON WOMAN TIME: Bianca Belair (00:33:20) in 2020

SHORTEST MEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE TIME: Santino Marella (1.9 seconds) in 2009
SHORTEST WOMEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE TIME: Chelsea Green (5 seconds) in 2023

AVERAGE IRON MAN/WOMAN ENTRANCE NUMBER: #5
AVERAGE IRON MAN/WOMAN TIME: 00:46:06

TOTAL TIME FOR IRON MEN/WOMEN: 33:02:25

AVERAGE LENGTH OF ROYAL RUMBLE MATCHES: 58 minutes and 33 seconds

AVERAGE TIME WINNERS STAY IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE: 26 minutes and 25 seconds

ROYAL RUMBLE APPEARANCES

MOST APPEARANCES IN ROYAL RUMBLES (MEN): 

1. 18-20 appearances = Kane (18 as Kane, 1 as Isaac Yankem, 1 as Fake Diesel)
   
2. 15 appearances = Dolph Ziggler
3. 14 appearances = Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton
4. 13 appearances = Goldust, The Miz, Rey Mysterio
5. 12 appearances = Big Show, Shawn Michaels
6. 11 appearances = Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Undertaker
7. 10 appearances = Mark Henry, Rikishi
8. 9 appearances = Big E, Great Khali, Sheamus, Triple H, Viscera / Mabel
9. 8 appearances = Booker T, Cody Rhodes, Edge, Godfather, John Cena, John Morrison, Matt Hardy, R-Truth
10. 7 appearances = Baron Corbin, Billy Gunn, Bob Holly, Cesaro, Jake Roberts, Owen Hart, Rick Martel

MOST APPEARANCES IN ROYAL RUMBLES (WOMEN): 

1. 6 appearances = Dana Brooke, Liv Morgan, Natalya, Tamina
2. 5 appearances = Carmella, Naomi, Nikki Cross, Sonya Deville
3. 4 appearances = Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Mandy Rose, Mickie James, Nia Jax, Rhea Ripley, Sarah Logan, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi Blackheart, Zelina Vega
   

ROYAL RUMBLE ENTRANT HEEL & FACE BREAKDOWN

To get an estimate of who will show up when, I've broken down the past few years, writing down all the entrances and cataloging whether they were a babyface or a heel at the time.

As you can see, some trends occur. Certain spots tend to breed heels or babyfaces. #30 is always someone important (usually a big guy, too) as opposed to a low-level midcarder.

Some of these trends don't hold up with older events, but I felt as though that was unnecessary to study, seeing as how this better reflects their current mindset and the writers they use now. Back in 1988, there were only 20 people and they hadn't worked out the bugs of the system yet, but now they seem to have it down to a science in some respects.

ROYAL RUMBLE'S STANDARD EVENTS AND OCCURRENCES:

The following is a list of things that typically happen during the Royal Rumble match every year.

1) Quick Elimination = A competitor is eliminated within 10 seconds of entering the ring.

2) Comic Relief Segment = Something happens that is intended solely for comedic value and nothing else. Drew Carey's interaction with Kane in 2001 is an example, as is Ernest 'The Cat' Miller's "somebody call my momma" segment in 2004.

3) The Action Stops = For one reason or another, the action simply stops and there is only one person left in the ring. Rikishi took this time to dance in 2000. Austin used it to check his watch several times. CM Punk cut some promos in 2010.

4) Post-Elimination Elimination =  Someone that has previously been eliminated will orchestrate the elimination of someone else, normally the one who just threw them out.

5) Attacked Before Entrance = Before someone can make it to the ring, they get attacked. Oftentimes, this person will return later on to eliminate said person when THEY come out, hearkening back to #4.

6) Shock Entrance = A superstar nobody was expecting to show up is one of the participants, whether they were thought to be injured or a retiree or legend making a special appearance/return. Nobody expected RVD in 2009 or John Cena in 2008.

7) Nostalgia Competitor = A relic who isn't from the current roster competes. Oftentimes, this overlaps with #6. A great example is Piper and Snuka from 2008.

8) Tag Team Succession = Frequently, a tag team member isn't too far off from his partner in terms of entrance number. Most of the time, they're the next person or two people away.

9) Spawned Feud = This hasn't happened lately as much as it used to, but a wrestler gets eliminated by someone, then that sparks a feud between the two.

10) The Big Man Team-Up = In order to eliminate one of the giants, several people gang up on him.

11) The House Cleaner = A wrestler thins the ring out by eliminating multiple people at once. The average seems to be 3 or 4 within the span of a minute.

12) Shockingly Quick = Not necessarily the fastest elimination, but this is when someone who should have lasted much longer gets the short end of the stick and doesn't.

13) Friend or Foe = An ally turns on his friend.

If you are using any of this information, please cite this link, Anthony Mango and Smark Out Moment. A lot of time and effort went into this and it is appreciated this is not just copied without a proper reference and credit.