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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhich Royal Rumble match from the 2000s was the best? This ranking compares the ten annual matches held from 2000 through 2009, weighing the match’s story and stakes, standout performances, pacing, and historical payoff—not just who won or set a record. The order is an editorial judgment; WWE’s official pages establish results and selected statistics, but do not publish a canonical ranking of these matches.
How the ranking works
A Royal Rumble is built around a long field and a single elimination rule: WWE’s retrospective explains that a competitor must be thrown over the top rope with both feet touching the floor. Pinfalls and submissions do not count. The winner earns a World Title match at WrestleMania, giving the final stretch stakes beyond survival. (WWE’s “WWE.com’s All-Time Royal Rumble Match”.)
These matches are ranked for how effectively they turn those rules into a coherent story: memorable moments and participant performances matter, as do pacing across the field and the significance of the payoff. Official outcomes and statistics are useful evidence, but neither automatically makes a match great.
The 2000s Royal Rumble matches, ranked
1. 2007 — The Undertaker
The 2007 match earns the top spot for the way its late-stage story culminates in a meeting between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. WWE identifies The Undertaker as the first No. 30 entrant to win a Royal Rumble, making the late entry part of the match’s central payoff rather than just a statistic. The final pairing gives the finish a strong dramatic focus: two major names, one WrestleMania opportunity, and a clear closing contest. (WWE’s Royal Rumble facts retrospective.)
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2. 2001 — Stone Cold Steve Austin
Kane’s run gives the 2001 match an unusually clear force of opposition. WWE’s 2013 retrospective reports that he recorded 11 eliminations, a single-match record at the time, and reached the final two before Austin eliminated him. That combination of a dominant run and a recognizable final obstacle gives the finish a strong shape, while Austin’s victory supplies the defining payoff. (WWE’s 2013 retrospective.)
3. 2006 — Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio’s victory is the decade’s strongest endurance story. He entered at No. 2, lasted 1:02:12 according to WWE’s statistics page, and eliminated Randy Orton last. WWE’s retrospective also frames the win in connection with Mysterio’s dedication to Eddie Guerrero. The early entry, long survival, and final elimination all reinforce the same underdog narrative, rather than competing for attention. (WWE’s retrospective; WWE’s Royal Rumble statistics.)
4. 2008 — John Cena
John Cena’s return at No. 30 is the match’s defining event: he entered last and eliminated Triple H to win. The surprise appearance creates an immediate, simple question for the closing minutes—can the returning Cena overcome the remaining field? WWE says his short winning stint broke the winner-duration record at the time. That abrupt shift makes for a memorable finish, even if the late entry means the match’s main story is concentrated near the end. (WWE’s Royal Rumble facts retrospective.)
5. 2009 — Randy Orton
Orton’s victory connects the Rumble to the Legacy storyline and his confrontation with Triple H, so the match’s stakes point toward a broader conflict. WWE reports that Orton entered at No. 8 and spent 48 minutes in the match. The early entry gives him a substantial survival arc, while the Orton–Triple H thread supplies a personal focus to the finish. It ranks below the top four because its strongest appeal rests on that storyline and payoff more than on an especially distinctive Rumble-wide narrative. (WWE’s Royal Rumble facts retrospective.)
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6. 2002 — Triple H
Triple H last eliminated Kurt Angle to win the 2002 match. The result supports a return-to-the-top reading, with the final stretch providing the natural place for that story to resolve. It is a satisfying winner’s arc, but the documented facts available here establish the result rather than a distinctive match-wide feature comparable to Mysterio’s endurance, Cena’s return, or Kane’s elimination run. (WWE’s official 2002 event results.)
7. 2005 — Batista
Batista last eliminated John Cena, making the ending a direct clash between two future headliners. The finish is the match’s key asset: it turns the final moments into a contest between the winner and the runner-up rather than a simple last-man-standing formality. Its later career significance is compelling in retrospect, but that significance is context for the result, not proof that every stretch of the match is equally strong. (WWE’s official 2005 event results.)
8. 2003 — Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar’s win, sealed by eliminating The Undertaker, gives the match a consequential final pairing: an emerging star overcoming one of the Rumble’s most established names. That finish helps explain the match’s place in the decade, with the winner’s rise becoming part of its lasting significance. The available official record confirms the outcome; the ranking reflects the strength of that payoff rather than a claim of critical consensus. (WWE’s official 2003 event results.)
9. 2000 — The Rock
The Rock won by last eliminating Big Show, but WWE describes the finish as controversial. That dispute matters to the match’s standing: a contested ending can give a story extra tension, yet it can also weaken the clarity of the payoff. Here, it keeps the result memorable while preventing the finish from feeling as cleanly conclusive as the strongest matches on this list. (WWE’s official 2000 event results.)
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10. 2004 — Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit won the 2004 match by last eliminating Big Show. WWE’s official results establish the outcome, but the source material offers fewer match-specific details to support a richer ranking case. That makes this entry the least distinctive on the evidence available for comparison—not a claim that the result itself lacks significance or that no viewer could rank it higher. (WWE’s official 2004 event results.)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who won each Royal Rumble from 2000 to 2009?
| Year | Winner | Last eliminated |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Rock | Big Show |
| 2001 | Stone Cold Steve Austin | Kane |
| 2002 | Triple H | Kurt Angle |
| 2003 | Brock Lesnar | The Undertaker |
| 2004 | Chris Benoit | Big Show |
| 2005 | Batista | John Cena |
| 2006 | Rey Mysterio | Randy Orton |
| 2007 | The Undertaker | Shawn Michaels |
| 2008 | John Cena | Triple H |
| 2009 | Randy Orton | not stated |
The official results and WWE retrospective confirm the winners. The final eliminations are listed where established in those sources; the 2009 retrospective identifies Triple H as runner-up but does not state the last elimination in the cited material. (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005; WWE’s Royal Rumble facts retrospective.)
What happened in the 2006 Royal Rumble?
Mysterio entered second, survived for 1:02:12 according to WWE’s statistics page, and won by eliminating Randy Orton last. WWE’s retrospective links the victory to his dedication to Eddie Guerrero. Those elements make the match’s central story easy to follow: a competitor who entered near the beginning outlasted the field and secured the WrestleMania opportunity. The 1:02:12 figure comes from WWE’s statistics page; WWE’s separate retrospective describes his time as more than 62 minutes, so the two descriptions should not be treated as one simultaneous statistic.
Where to revisit the matches
WWE announced Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology as a 20-disc DVD box set covering the first 20 events. The announcement does not establish current stock, price, or the contents of a particular edition, so check the specific release before buying. (WWE’s 2006 anthology announcement.)
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