Who should have won the Royal Rumble Match each year?

1988- I'm fine with Duggan. It didn't really mean anything at this point.

1989- DiBiase buys the #30 spot and goes on to win.

1990- Warrior, last eliminating Hogan. Sets him up as Hogan's biggest threat toward Mania VI.

1991- Hogan, to build toward Slaughter, who won the WWF Title at this same event.

1992- Flair,as did happen.

1993- Savage, as originally booked.

1994- I'm fine with the Bret-Luger double winner scenario

1995- Surprise entrant Sid wins, setting up the battle of the big men at Mania

1996- Would keep it the same with HBK

1997- also the same with Austin "winning"

1998- Again,same with Austin. If he DIDN'T win here, you would've had a riotous situation like when Bryan got eliminated at last year's Rumble

1999- Surprise entrant The Rock wins, setting himself up as his own competition,since he was already the Champion,and there will be no Title match at Mania XV. HBK comes out the next night and says as Commissioner that cannot fly, and Austin, as the last entrant eliminated, gets the Mania shot. then things go as they di with austin-McMahon with the Mania shot on the line.

2000- The Rock winning was fine.

Styles was never going to win the rumble in his first match, but he should have been in the final 4. His elimination so early on REALLY pissed me off.

1988 - Ultimate Warrior

1989 - Hulk Hogan

1990 - Mr. Perfect

1991 - British Bulldog

1992 - Ric Flair

1993 - Randy Savage

1994 - Lex Luger

1995 - Shawn Michaels

1996 - Shawn Michaels

1997 - Bret Hart

1998 - Steve Austin

1999 - Triple H

2000 - The Rock

2001 - Steve Austin

2002 - Triple H

2003 - Brock Lesnar

2004 - Chris Benoit

2005 - Randy Orton (even though he had a title match in the actual RR 2005 event, he should have been in the Rumble to win that right)

2006 - Triple H (Rey clearly won it because Eddie had died)

2007 - Undertaker

2008 - John Cena

2009 - Randy Orton

2010 - Shawn Michaels (only if Edge wasn't cleared, the fact he was cleared to wrestle and won the Rumble was awesome)

2011 - John Cena

2012 - Chris Jericho

2013 - Ryback (the guy was legit over like crazy then!)

2014 - Daniel Bryan

2015 - Roman Reigns (but they shouldn't have pushed him down our throats to make us hate him during that time frame)

2016 - Triple H


For me, not a lot would have changed for the winners. Over all, I never had any real issues with the actual winners of the Rumble event anyhow.

Several Rumbles got it right. But heres the ones i would have changed. Some for personal reasons, some for better booking.

88 -Jake Roberts for sure
89 - I'm ok with Studd winning, but i think DiBiase could have benefited from the heat off of buying #30 and winning the whole thing.
90 - Ultimate Warrior
93 - Savage was the original plan. So it would either be him, or Flair as my pick. With Flair being on the way out thanks to Perfect, i think it would have made for compelling story telling to get a new #1 contender before Mania.
94 - Bret Hart
95 - Lex Luger.....heel turn
99 - Austin
2012 - Chris Jericho
2013 - Ryback
2014 - CM Punk
2015 - On one hand i go with Daniel Bryan. But knowing the health risks , i can see how that might've been a mistake. On the other hand Roman was a good choice that might have been salvaged if booked differently than it was,

Here is my list of changes.

1988 – Andre The Giant – It’s the Royal Rumble!! Andre The Giant should have drawn number 1 or number 20 and won the entire thing. Either that or Andre The Giant and the Million Dollar Man should have been the final two SuperStars in the ring, then Virgil hands Ted DiBiase a bag full of money, who then proceeds to give it to Andre to buy the win.

1989 – Hulk Hogan – This should have been the setup to the Mega Powers Exploding.

1990 – Ultimate Warrior – This should have been the first match that the Ultimate Warrior wins and Hulk Hogan loses, to plant the seeds for WrestleMania VI.

1997 – The Undertaker – Since Bret the Hitman Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin faced each other at WrestleMania 13 anyway, they should have let the Undertaker win and go on to face the eventual WWE Champion, Sycho Sid.

1999 – Stone Cold Steve Austin – There was really no point in having Vince McMahon win the Royal Rumble, but it is what it is.

'88- Ultimate Warrior (Everyone just seemed to be mid-lower mid card status and he really was the up & comer of the group)
'89- Ted DiBiase (sets up DiBiase vs Savage)
'90- Ultimate Warrior (sets up Warrior vs Hogan)
'91- Hulk Hogan (sets up Hogan vs Slaughter)
'92- Ric Flair (WM VIII would be switched to Flair vs Hogan)
'93- Macho Man (but I change the Main event of Mania to Savage vs Flair as I would have held Flair over till Summer)
'94- Lex Luger (sets up Luger vs Yokozuna)
'95- Shawn Michaels (sets up Diesel vs HBK)
'96- Shawn Michaels (sets up Bret vs HBK)
'97- Big Van Vader (sets up Vader vs HBK)
'98- Steve Austin (sets up Austin vs HBK)
'99- Steve Austin (sets up Austin vs Rock)
'00- The Rock (sets up Triple H vs Rock)

After that....I really wouldnt have cared who won

1988- The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase- With DiBiase winning I would either have him come into the first ever 20 man Royal Rumble Match either as #1 or better yet have him come out as #20 and then like whoever suggested if it is him and let's say another heel in the final 2 doesn't matter who but DiBiase basically buys the win by handing the superstar the briefcase full of money and the superstar who is in the final 2 with him sacrifices themselves by walking over the top rope and to the floor

Could you imagine the heat DiBiase would get by winning the Rumble? And not to mention at the time there was no WWF Champion if you remember because of the whole tournament thing but DiBiase he ended up in the tournament final that year at WrestleMania IV so

But as for who would be eliminated last in this match? None other than Andre the Giant

1989- Hulk Hogan by last eliminating Randy Savage in the final 2 after Hogan eliminates The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase last year's winner Savage the WWF Champion from behind tries to eliminate Hogan but Hogan sees it coming which basically sets up the tension between the Mega Powers as they then fight out with Hogan eventually eliminating his Mega Powers tag team partner and WWF Champion Savage to win it all basically setting up Hogan/Savage WrestleMania 5 for the WWF Championship

1990- Ultimate Warrior- With Warrior winning this Royal Rumble Match he would make history essentially as the first ever WWF Intercontinental Champion to win the Royal Rumble Match but who would Warrior eliminate last to win the Royal Rumble Match? He would eliminate none other than last year's Royal Rumble Match winner that being the WWF Champion Hogan and especially after the seeds were built with that iconic staredown I mean how could you not capitalize on that?

1991- Hulk Hogan- Even though on my revised list he won the 1989 Royal Rumble Match he would go on to win this one his 2nd Royal Rumble Match in 3 years by winning this one but as for who Hogan would eliminate last to win this? I would have him eliminate The Model Rick Martel who would surpass the 53 minute mark and make it all the way to the final 2 where it would like he would win it all but somehow Hogan would stay in the match with Hogan somehow skinning the cat even though Hogan is a big guy he would somehow do it and come back into the ring while Martel thinks he's won Hogan turns him around and they fight it out which eventually leads to Hogan eliminating him

1992- Flair winning was the right call because even though you had an array of talent probably the most star studded Rumble at that time and the fact that it was for the title Flair winning was probably inevitable anyway so why change it? But at the same time though instead of Flair eliminating Justice last from behind I would have had Flair eliminate Hogan from behind after Sid would basically turn heel on Hogan for eliminating him...Flair from behind takes Hogan out and not to mention with Monsoon and Heenan on commentary here I mean this match was perfect

Plus it would set up Flair as the WWF Champion going into Mania 8 but as for who would face him? Instead of it being Savage I would have had it been Hogan setting up the dream match I know we all wanted to see

1993- I would have given it to Savage hands down because not only was Savage originally booked to win the Royal Rumble Match before they gave the win practically to Yokozuna with Savage winning he would go on to WrestleMania 9 in the main event where then he would face the WWF Champion Bret Hart and I know everyone else would have rather have seen that as a main event than what we originally got in real life with Yoko/Bret and then Yoko/Hogan which was all a clusterf***

But as for who Savage would eliminate last? None other than Yokozuna

1994- Bret "The Hitman" Hart- Definitely would have given this to Bret because you would have thought that the Royal Rumble Match win would have done wonders for Lex Luger that it would have elevated him towards the title but it didn't it did nothing for Luger so that is why I would have just had Bret win it but basically have him eliminate Luger last which basically would set up Bret/Yokozuna either way in either scenario

1995- Lex Luger- I would have given it to Luger here basically to set up his redemption for last year where he was eliminated in the final 2 by Bret basically Luger would win this to eventually set up a heel turn for Luger which is what I would have done in the sense of him winning it as a babyface but making that transition into being a heel to face Diesel because Shawn at this time even though he was a rising star he wasn't ready for the Mania main event like let's be honest but I would have had Luger eliminate either HBK or Bulldog in the final 2

1996- This was always going to be the year of Shawn Michaels so why change history? But however for 1996 Shawn would be winning this for the first time but as a babyface here but I would have had Shawn come back at the Royal Rumble pay per view itself in the Royal Rumble Match but as a surprise entrant in the sense that no one hears from him for months no vignettes hyping his return just an unexpected return shocking everyone and as for who Michaels would eliminate last? None other than his best friend Diesel which I wouldn't change but it would still set up Bret/HBK either way

1997- The Undertaker- Austin as much as he deserved it even if it was under screwy controversial circumstances Austin was nowhere near ready for the main event while Taker on the other hand he was and not to mention Sid was the WWF Champion so with Taker winning the Royal Rumble Match it would have set up Sid/Taker either way while with Austin he would still eliminate Bret under screwy controversial circumstances but Taker would eliminate Austin last to win this

1998- Stone Cold Steve Austin- This was always going to be the year of Austin no matter what so why change history here? Austin being a marked man in this Royal Rumble Match was perfect but what I would have done is that I would have had Austin draw #1 and have him be the first guy out there and have him be the last man standing after all is said and done Austin would still win by still eliminating Rock but he would start out the match first pretty much making history by being the first guy to be the first one in there and being the last one to leave

1999- Stone Cold Steve Austin- Why they gave the win to Vince now that made no sense to me at all because Vince didn't need it and not to mention the Royal Rumble Match win did nothing for Vince while for Austin it would have benefited him more to win this and on my list Austin winning back to back here it would be much deserved but as for who Austin would eliminate last I would have him eliminate Vince last

With Austin winning his 2nd Royal Rumble Match here Austin would make history again because he would do it from spot #1 yet again since on my list he would have done it in 1998 as #1 and then 1999 as #1 he wins it again but eliminates Vince last basically showing us that he would have earned it

2000- The Rock winning was the right call and with Rock winning this it would set up him facing Triple H at WrestleMania 2000 for the title but as for who Rock would eliminate last he would still eliminate Big Show but no WrestleMania 2000 Fatal 4 Way nonsense

2001- Kane- This Royal Rumble Match screamed Kane's name as far as him winning it I mean come on he eliminated 11 people and not to mention Kane at this time he was a monster he was a beast so why not give him the win here? With Kane who would he eliminate last? He would eliminate Austin last but as for who it would set up Kane to face at Mania that year? Kane at Mania 17 he would have been in the main event but I would have had it been a Triple Threat Match with him, Austin and Rock

2002- Triple H winning was inevitable it was the right call so I wouldn't change anything here but as for who I would have Triple H eliminate last? Still Kurt Angle so I wouldn't change anything here

2003- Lesnar winning too was not only inevitable but it was the right call so I wouldn't change anything here either just like him eliminating Taker last I wouldn't change that either because it would still set up Lesnar/Angle Mania 19 which was a classic if you ask me

2004- Instead of Benoit winning this I would have had Jericho or Angle winning this preferably Kurt Angle by him eliminating Benoit last because Benoit he definitely did not deserve the Royal Rumble Match victory that's for sure because yeah even though he did get a push towards the title how long did his push really last? While with Angle winning this one it would have set up Angle/Guerrero either way

2005- Batista winning was the right call so I wouldn't change anything here just like how him eliminating Cena last after overtime restart I wouldn't change that either and plus it sets up Batista/HHH perfectly so

2006- Rey Mysterio whether we all like it or not him winning was the right call and I don't care what no one says because Rey deserved it I mean he spent over an hour and 2 minutes of hell here in this match especially for a guy his size to last that long in the Royal Rumble Match and especially from spot #2 no less but as for who he would eliminate last? Rather than eliminate Orton last I would have had him eliminate Triple H last because by him doing that it would basically cement Rey as a main event guy but also it would set up Mysterio/Angle/Orton either way so

2007- Undertaker winning was the right call just like how I wouldn't have changed who he eliminated last that being Shawn Michaels because it sets up Taker/Batista perfectly

2008- Cena winning was the right call because it was a surprise that no one saw coming and think about how emotional the Royal Rumble Match victory was too but for Cena I wouldn't have had him waste the shot at No Way Out I would have had him use it at Mania 24 but instead of Orton having the title at No Way Out I would have had him drop it in the RAW Chamber with having Orton to defend his title inside the RAW Chamber against Triple H, Jericho, Hardy, JBL and Umaga with Triple H coming out on top beating Orton which then would have set up Orton to have his rematch clause for Mania then throw in Cena which would have set up the Triple Threat either way

2009- Orton winning was the right call yet again given how he destroyed the McMahons on the Road to Mania but also given the fact that at this time Orton was white hot too because of Legacy being formed with Rhodes and DiBiase so giving Orton the win here was actually smart on WWE's part and him eliminating Triple H last from the Royal Rumble Match especially from behind was perfect heel tactic

2010- Edge winning was the right call but as for who he would eliminate last? Instead of him eliminating Cena last I would have had him eliminate Jericho last because I would have had them in the final 2 fighting it out with Edge still winning but then Jericho would somehow still win the title before Mania which then would set up Edge to win the title at Mania which is what I would have done

2011- Instead of Del Rio winning the 40 Man Royal Rumble Match I would have given it to Wade Barrett because at this time Barrett was white hot because not only did he have Nexus in 2010 he also had The Corre too so I would have had The Corre members helping him in this match with Barrett eliminating Orton last which would set up Barrett to face either Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship or to face Miz and Cena in a Triple Threat I would have had Barrett/Edge which would have made for a much better match

2012- Jericho should have been given the win here hell it should have been gift wrapped here because with Sheamus winning the Royal Rumble Match it didn't really do much for Sheamus while for Jericho it would have given him the heat he desperately needed especially against Punk because with Jericho winning it would have still set up him vs Punk Best in the World vs Best in the World at Mania for the title but as for who Jericho would eliminate last to win? I would have had him eliminate Orton last as revenge for Orton punting him in the skull Jericho eliminates Orton in his hometown of St. Louis at the Rumble

2013- Ryback should have won this because Ryback was not only white hot at the time but also with him winning it would have done wonders for Ryback it would have cemented him as a main event guy too think about it because with him winning Ryback could have decided to jump shows and go to Smackdown challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship which would have set up Ryback to face Big Show because I would have had Big Show still champion which would have set up Ryback to take the title from Show at Mania 29

2014- CM Punk- I would have given the Royal Rumble Match win here to CM Punk and why I say this? Because Daniel Bryan even though he was red hot at the time Bryan was competing in a match earlier on in the Royal Rumble PPV against Wyatt and not only that but it wouldn't have been realistic for Bryan to be in the Royal Rumble Match especially given that Bryan was injured concussion like symptoms from what I can remember so him winning wouldn't have been realistic

While with Punk winning it would have been more realistic because Punk he was what the #2 babyface in the company besides Bryan at the time that if he won it I don't think people would have had a problem with it and Punk winning he probably would have stayed with the company rather than going to UFC

Punk who would he eliminate last? Punk would eliminate Batista last after Del Rio would try to come back into the ring to try to attack Batista setting up a distraction which would cause Punk to take advantage therefore winning the match Punk goes on to Mania in the main event where he would face Orton and then you add Bryan into the mix

2015- Roman Reigns now that I think about it Roman Reigns winning actually kind of was the right call by WWE when you think about it but the way they went about it was all wrong but as for Reigns winning I would have delayed his return until the actual Royal Rumble PPV itself by having him return on the night of the PPV in the Royal Rumble Match as a surprise entrant and no one having any idea that he is in the match much less in the building he returns in a shocker as he still goes on to Mania but Reigns who would he eliminate last? He would eliminate Bryan last

2016- Brock Lesnar- I would have had The Beast The Conqueror win this becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion because the win here has practically done nothing for Triple H because Triple H he doesn't need to be champion but is and all to feed his own ego

While with Brock winning it would reiterate the fact that he is a Beast that he is a Conqueror and not to mention Brock winning it would set up your Mania main event with Brock eliminating Reigns last after Reigns he would eliminate Triple H as a way to stick it to The Authority

Brock from behind eliminates Reigns to win it all

How about this? Change it to the Royal Rumble winner ALSO gets a shot at WM! Even from 1988!

1988 since it was the tournament you could have Roberts win it and turn heel saying he didn´t get his shot because of the tournament. It could have been a good storyline. He was redhot then and there was talk of doing Hogan vs. Roberts.

1989 hogan- Since he did challenge Savage for the title at WM5

1990 Warrior- He challenged for the title at WM6

1991- Have Savage win it. 3 way between Slaughter, Savage and Hogan at WM7

1992- Flair all the way

1993- Yoko

1994- Love the co winners idea

1995- this one is a toughy. Lex Lugar- He turns heel right after. Would be a good WM match.

1996- Shawn Micheals

1997- UT- he did challenge SID at WM 13

1998- HAD to be Austin again.

1999- rock

Beyond those years I really don´t care.