WWE Royal Rumble 2025 will be broadcast live this Saturday night in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event is one of the largest shows of the company's year and will have important implications for Wrestlemania 41.
The winners of Royal Rumble's fighting will get an opportunity for the title in The Show of Shows in Las Vegas later this year. A lot of important names are ready to compete this year, and the emotion around the event is in the clouds. However, this has not always been the case, and there have been some disappointing Rumble winners in the past.
Five stars are then listed that should never have won Royal Rumble's fight.
#5. WWE Shinsuke Nakamura star should not have won the Royal Rumble in 2018
Shinsuke Nakamura won Royal Rumble's fight for men in 2018 and went on to face Aj Styles for the WWE championship in Wrestlemania 34. Many fans considered that this would be a dream fight, but did not meet expectations. Styles won the fight to retain the title, and Nakamura turned Heel when he hit The Phenomenal One with a low kick after the battle.
The king of the strong style would have been a great choice to win the fight if the company had larger plans for him. However, shortly after the confrontation he fell from the main scene, and his rivalry with Styles was a disappointment for many wrestling fans.
#4. Batista was put in an impossible situation in Royal Rumble 2014
Batista returned to the company in 2014 but did not go as planned. The Animal won Royal Rumble's fight for men and was booed out of the building after the fight. Fans were not upset with the veteran, but with combat planning.
Daniel Bryan was extremely popular at that time, so the company decided not to include it in Royal Rumble's fight for men. Rey Mysterio was also loudly booed as the 30th participant because fans hoped to see Bryan.
The company finally had to correct its mistake and allowed Daniel Bryan to make its way to the main event of WWE Wrestlemania XXX defeating Triple H in the inaugural combat of the event. Bryan continued to capture the title by overcoming Batista and Randy Orton in a Triple Threat fight.
#3. Vince McMahon should not have won the Royal Rumble in 1999
The former WWE CEO, Vince McMahon, and Stone Cold Steve Austin had one of the most iconic rivalries in the history of the professional wrestling business. His mutual hatred reached a new level at WWE Royal Rumble 1999.
Mr. McMahon competed in combat and came out victorious, thanks to The Rock's help. Finally, Austin obtained his revenge and replaced McMahon in the fight in Wrestlemania to face the town champion.
McMahon entered the fight in place #2 but spent most of the time at the comment table. It was not an entertaining fight, and not many fans believed that Vince McMahon would lead Wrestlemania after his victory.
#2. Brock Lesnar did not need to win in 2022
Brock Lesnar won Royal Rumble's fight for men in 2022 and went on to challenge Roman Reigns in a “winner's fight” takes everything ”by the WWE and Universal championships in Wrestlemania 38. Reigns came out victorious to unify both world titles at the end of the event.
Incarnation Beast is a legendary interpreter, but his victory in 2022 felt unnecessary. Many fans were not interested in seeing another fight between Reigns and Lesnar, and the company could have given the victory to a younger talent.
#1. Randy Orton shouldn't have won in 2017
Randy Orton emerged victorious in Royal Rumble's fight for men for the second time in his career in 2017. The viper went on to win the WWE championship against Bray Wyatt in Wrestlemania 33.
Orton's victory felt without inspiration since fans had already seen him before. The legends murderer did not even arrive at the main event of WWE Wrestlemania 33 after the victory, since the event was headed by Roman Reigns against The Undertaker.
