Who won the Rumble - and where did it lead them?
Friday 27 January 2017 15:12, UK
Thirty of the finest wrestlers in WWE are headed to San Antonio on Sunday with one target: to win the Royal Rumble Match.
Whichever man achieves that feat will secure a title shot in the main event of WrestleMania, which this year emanates from Orlando, Florida on April 2.
Read below to see who emerged victorious from the previous 10 Rumbles, who they conquered along the way and, most importantly, whether they went on to win the big one at WrestleMania...
2007 winner: The Undertaker
The Deadman came to life in 2007, surprisingly becoming the first man to win the Rumble having entered the match at No 30. The Phenom was joined in the final four by Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and Edge, but after The Heartbreak Kid eliminated the latter duo, an epic brawl materialised.
Undertaker survived a vicious Superkick from Michaels - who he would later face at WrestleMania 25 and end the career of at WrestleMaina 26 - and eventually eliminated the Icon to book his berth at WrestleMania 23.
Taker opted to face World Heavyweight Champion Batista in Detroit and emerged victorious to claim the belt and maintain his unbeaten record at WrestleMania, which extended to 21 matches before he was conquered by Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 30 in 2014.
2008 winner: John Cena
Cena stunned a raucous WWE crowd inside Madison Square Garden by returning earlier than expected from a pectoral injury to win the 2008 Rumble.
Triple H entered the match at number 29 and went on to dominate proceedings, eliminating Big Daddy V, Batista, Mick Foley and Kane, but the tide turned when Cena entered and he registered victory after sending the Game flying to the mat.
Cena broke with tradition by choosing to face WWE Champion Randy Orton at No Way Out instead of WrestleMania, but after Orton got himself intentionally disqualified, Cena fought for the title at the Show of Shows in a Triple Threat with Orton and Triple H, which Orton won.
2009 winner: Randy Orton
Teamwork paid off for Orton in 2009 when his Legacy pals TedDiBiase and Cody Rhodes helped him outlast the competition and finally win the Rumble. The Viper, DiBiase and Rhodes joined Triple H in the final four, making a Legacy victory all but certain, but the Game found an extra gear and went on to remove DiBiase and Rhodes from the match in one move.
However, before he had a chance to regroup, Triple H was chucked to the ground by Orton, ensuring the Cerebral Assassin would take the runner-up spot for the second consecutive year.
The Superstars' feud was not over, though, and after Orton blasted Triple H's wife Stephanie McMahon with an RKO and defeated his brother-in-law, Shane McMahon, in a singles match, the Game exacted revenge at WrestleMania, beating Orton to retain the WWE Title he had plucked in an Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out.
2010 winner: Edge
Just like Cena had done in 2008, Edge emerged after an injury hiatus to win his first Rumble in Atlanta in 2010. The Rated-R Superstar entered at number 29 and delivered his trademark spear on remaining participants Chris Jericho, Michaels, Batista and Cena to become the last man standing.
Edge took his time before selecting which championship to fight for at WrestleMania, but eventually plumped for the World Heavyweight Title, held by fellow Canadian and former tag-team partner Jericho.
The Ultimate Opportunist lost to Jericho at the big bash in Arizona, but gained vengeance when he conquered the Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla in a non-title steel cage match at the next pay-per-view, Extreme Rules - Jericho had lost his title to Jack Swagger in the intervening period.
2011 winner: Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio not only won the Royal Rumble. He won the largest Royal Rumble in history. The iconic match featured 40 participants in 2011 and the Mexican Aristocrat, who had only made his WWE debut in June of 2010, bested the other 39 to secure his spot on the WrestleMania card.
Del Rio, whose victory came after he sent Santino Marella packing, battled Edge at WrestleMania for the World Heavyweight Championship in what would prove to be the latter's final match before retirement.
The Essence of Excellence fought gamely against the Rated-R Superstar, who had lifelong friend Christian accompanying him at ringside, but slipped to defeat after being hit by a Spear. Del Rio would, though, go on to win four world titles during his WWE career.
2012 winner: Sheamus
The luck really was with the Irish at the 2012 Royal Rumble, with Dublin-born Sheamus outlasting his peers to triumph.
The Celtic Warrior knocked Jericho off the ring apron to prevail - becoming the first European winner of the event - and after much deliberation elected to tackle World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania in Miami.
The Great White, whose match with Bryan for the United States Title was left off the 'Mania card in 2011, made light work of the submission specialist, catching him unawares with a Brogue Kick to earn the title in 18 seconds.
2013 winner: John Cena
Cena became a two-time Royal Rumble winner when he sent Ryback tumbling over the top rope in 2013 and, after overcoming CM Punk in a wrestling clinic when his 'Mania berth was on the line, the West Newbury native met The Rock for the WWE Title at the Show of Shows.
Cena responded to his defeat at the hands of The Great One a year earlier by emerging victorious. He has not competed in the Rumble since, though, and probably won't this year either - his Sunday-night task will be to beat AJ Styles and match Ric Flair's tally of 16 world titles.
2014 winner: Batista
Nine years after winning his first Royal Rumble, Batista edged the 30-man dustup for the second time. The Animal held his nerve to lastly topple Roman Reigns, the then-Shield Superstar who had dominated earlier in the match by eliminating a record 12 men, including third-placed Sheamus and the veteran Kevin Nash.
Unlike in 2005, Batista was not a popular winner, with fans irritated when their darling, Daniel Bryan, was prevented from competing. Bryan had the last laugh, though - firstly earning a place in Batista and Randy Orton's main event at 'Mania after beating Triple H and then winning the world title by forcing The Animal to tap out to the "Yes!" Lock.
2015 winner: Roman Reigns
2014 runner-up Reigns went one better a year later, thanks to help from his iconic cousin, The Rock, but, much like Batista 12 months previously, left WrestleMania WITHOUT the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
Reigns survived being taken to Suplex City by Brock Lesnar - the Big Dog even chuckling to himself as he was being hurled around the ring - and seemed in with a real chance of slaying The Beast.
That was until his former Shield stablemate Seth Rollins appeared, cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and pinched the title for himself.
2016 winner: Triple H
In a break from tradition, the WWE Title - not a chance to fight for it at WrestleMania - was up for grabs in the Royal Rumble Match, mainly because The Authority wished to prise the belt from Roman Reigns. The plan worked, with 2002 Rumble winner Triple H nicking his 14th world title after entering at No 30.
The Game removed No 1 entrant Reigns - who had competed for close to one hour - before seeing off a valiant Dean Ambrose to win the match. Triple H could have headed to WrestleMania without further challenge but agreed to put his belt on the line against Ambrose at Roadblock, retaining by virtue of a Pedigree.
The Cerebral Assassin was dethroned by Reigns at WrestleMania, though - The Big Dog coming through a Triple Threat against Ambrose and Brock Lesnar at Fastlane to earn a 'Mania title tilt and then downing The Game in Dallas with a spear, a move he had inadvertently struck Stephanie McMahon with earlier in the bout.
WWE Royal Rumble booking details
WWE Royal Rumble will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) from midnight Monday, January 30.
The pay-per-view will cost £19.95 for viewers in the United Kingdom and €24.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
WWE Royal Rumble will repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 10am on Monday, January 30 and 8pm on Thursday, February 2 - 8pm is the start of the final playout.
A live blog of WWE Royal Rumble will run on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app during the event, featuring text commentary, social media and short highlight clips.
You can order the show by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/?DCMP=WWERoyalRumble
You can also book the event over the phone: UK viewers should call 03442 410 888, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You will also be able to order the show via your Sky remote nearer the event:
Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Royal Rumble.
Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and then WWE Royal Rumble. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
