Wrestler with Most Eliminations from Every WWE Royal Rumble from 1988 to 2024

The Royal Rumble, one of WWE’s most anticipated annual events, has been thrilling fans since 1988. A key aspect of this match is the number of eliminations each wrestler achieves. Let’s dive into the history of the Royal Rumble and explore which superstars dominated each year with the most eliminations.

The Early Years (1988-1995)

The Royal Rumble’s inaugural year in 1988 saw One Man Gang leading with 6 eliminations1. Hulk Hogan then took center stage, dominating 1989 with 10 eliminations and maintaining his stronghold in 1990 and 1991 with 6 and 7 eliminations respectively.

As the 90s progressed, new stars emerged. Sid Justice matched Hogan’s 6 eliminations in 1992, while Yokozuna raised the bar with 7 in 1993. Diesel and Lex Luger shared the spotlight in 1994, each eliminating 7 opponents.

The mid-90s belonged to Shawn Michaels, who set a new record with 8 eliminations in both 1995 and 1996.

The Attitude Era (1996-2001)

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin defined this era, setting a new record with 10 eliminations in 1997 and following up with 7 in 19981. Austin’s dominance continued into 1999 with 8 eliminations.

The new millennium kicked off with Rikishi eliminating 7 in 2000, but it was Kane who shattered records in 2001 with an impressive 11 eliminations.

The Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2008)

This era saw more balanced competition. Austin and The Undertaker shared the top spot in 2002 with 7 eliminations each. Chris Jericho led 2003 with 6, while Chris Benoit matched this in 2004.

Batista and Rey Mysterio continued the trend of 6 eliminations in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The Great Khali surprised many with 7 eliminations in 2007, while Triple H maintained his consistency with 6 in 2008.

The PG Era (2009-2013)

Triple H and The Big Show shared the spotlight in 2009 with 6 eliminations each1. Shawn Michaels matched this in 2010, while CM Punk and John Cena both eliminated 7 in 2011.

Cody Rhodes led 2012 with 6 eliminations, while 2013 saw Ryback and Sheamus tie with 5 each.

The Reality Era (2014-2016)

Roman Reigns burst onto the scene in 2014, setting a new record with 12 eliminations. Bray Wyatt followed with 7 in 2015, while 2016 saw Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns tie with 5 each.

The New Era (2017-2024)

Braun Strowman dominated 2017 with 7 eliminations. 2018 saw a tie between Finn Bálor and Roman Reigns with 4 each. Strowman returned to form in 2019 with 6 eliminations.

2020 marked a historic moment as Brock Lesnar shattered the record with 13 eliminations. 2021 saw a three-way tie between Big E, Damian Priest, and Seth Rollins, each with 4 eliminations.

AJ Styles led 2022 with 6 eliminations, while 2023 saw Cody Rhodes and Gunther tie with 5 each. The most recent Royal Rumble in 2024 had Bron Breakker and Cody Rhodes sharing the top spot with 4 eliminations each.

Notable Records and Statistics

• Kane holds the record for most total eliminations across all Royal Rumbles with 46.
• Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman share the record for most eliminations in a single match with 13.
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has the highest average eliminations per Rumble at 6.

The Royal Rumble continues to be a showcase of WWE’s top talent, with each year bringing new surprises and record-breaking performances. As we look forward to future Royal Rumbles, fans eagerly anticipate which superstar will dominate the ring next and potentially set new elimination records.