Traditionally, the Royal Rumble is seen as the start of the road to WrestleMania. Therefore, WWE Championship matches at the Royal Rumble have a massive significance on the title matches that could happen at the biggest show of the year.
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The likes of John Cena, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock have featured in tremendous WWE Championship bouts at the Rumble. Surprisingly, the WWE Championship has only changed hands just nine times at the Rumble. The Rock and Cena are the only men to have achieved the rare feat twice. Without further ado, let's revisit every WWE Championship title change to happen at the Rumble!
9 Sgt. Slaughter Defeats The Ultimate Warrior - 1991
Sgt. Slaughter returned to WWE as a heel and portrayed an Iraqi-sympathizer in 1990. Slaughter legitimately had death threats in real-life and had to wear a bulletproof vest wherever he went. Nonetheless, Slaughter received a push, and he challenged the Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Championship at the 1991 Royal Rumble.
It was the first time that the WWF Championship was defended on the show. Unfortunately, it was a lackluster match with neither man having an in-ring pedigree. Ultimately, Slaughter captured the WWF Championship after "Macho Man" Randy Savage interfered and nailed Warrior in the head with his royal scepter. The title change was done so Slaughter could drop the title to Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VII.
8 Edge Defeats Jeff Hardy - 2009
At Armageddon 2008, Jeff Hardy overcame all of the obstacles that he faced and finally became the new WWE Champion. He defeated Edge and Triple H in a triple threat match to begin his reign at the top. The Charismatic Enigma was extremely popular with fans, who had stuck by him throughout his incredible highs and disappointing lows.
Hardy reignited his rivalry with Edge, with who he had tremendous chemistry, dating back to their classic TLC bouts. The rematch at the 2009 Royal Rumble was a No Disqualification match that suited both men. Disappointingly, Jeff dropped the title back to the Rated-R Superstar in his first title defense. His brother Matt shockingly turned on him and hit him with a steel chair, which set up their feud for WrestleMania XXV and beyond.
7 John Cena Defeats Edge - 2006
Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on a battered and bloodied John Cena at New Year's Revolution 2006. Big Match John outlasted five other men to retain the WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber. The Rated-R Superstar seized on the opportunity, as he does regularly as the Ultimate Opportunist, by finally becoming the WWE Champion for the first time.
Edge overcame Ric Flair in his only successful title defense in an incredible TLC match on an episode of Raw. At the Royal Rumble, Cena and Edge battled for 15 minutes before Edge and Lita had a mix-up. The Cenation leader took advantage by forcing Edge to submit to the STF and clinch his second WWE Championship. It was disappointing for Edge to have a three-week reign as WWE Champion.
6 The Rock Defeats Mankind - 1999
The personal rivalry between The Rock and Mankind kickstarted at the 1998 Survivor Series when Rock defeated Mankind controversially for the WWF Championship. Nonetheless, Mankind regrouped as he captured the WWF Championship from The Rock on the January 4, 1999 edition of Raw.
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At the Royal Rumble, the Corporate Champion was determined to regain his title from Mankind in an "I Quit" match. Rock and Mankind brawled around the arena, and it was an entertaining affair. Unfortunately, Rock delivered numerous sickening chair shots to Mankind's head with his family in attendance. Under a pre-recording of Mankind's voice saying "I Quit" that was played in the Arrowhead Pond, Rock regained the WWF Championship.
5 Triple H Wins The Royal Rumble Match - 2016
For the second time in WWE history, the WWE Championship was contested in a Royal Rumble match in 2016. Reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns had to go the distance if he was going to retain his championship by entering at number one.
The Big Dog eliminated five superstars and lasted just a minute shy of an hour. The 2002 Royal Rumble winner Triple H was the 30th entrant, and he received a big cheer from the crowd when he eliminated Reigns. Moreover, the Game was in the final two with Dean Ambrose, who was tantalizingly close to winning the title. Ultimately, the Game headlined WrestleMania 32 as he eliminated Ambrose and thus became a 14-time World Champion.
4 John Cena Defeats AJ Styles - 2017
John Cena and AJ Styles were no strangers to each other when they clashed at the 2017 Royal Rumble. They had two outstanding encounters in 2016. Styles' WWE Championship was at stake but history was on the line for Cena, who was looking to capture a 16th world championship, which would tie him with Ric Flair.
It was Styles' first anniversary, who debuted at the previous Royal Rumble. The Phenomenal One was a full-fledged heel, and there were no surprises that he and Cena stole the show. However, Styles was unable to mark his first anniversary in WWE with a victory as Big Match John captured a record-extending 13th WWE Championship, which tied him with Ric Flair for the most world championships at 16.
3 The Rock Defeats CM Punk - 2013
The Rock made it clear that he would challenge for the WWE Championship at the 2013 Royal Rumble. CM Punk took note as he was the reigning WWE Champion, and he turned heel by assaulting The Rock.
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The Second City Saint was in the midst of a 434-day reign as WWE Champion, the longest WWE Championship reign since Hulk Hogan's four year-stretch from 1984-1988. Punk and Rock closed out the show, and the winner would face John Cena, who won the Royal Rumble match in the main event of WrestleMania 29. It was an extraordinary contest, and The Rock captured his 10th World Championship, becoming the first man to win the WWE Championship twice at the Royal Rumble. The result was predictable since WWE wanted to do a Rock-Cena rematch.
2 Ric Flair Wins The Vacant WWF Championship - 1992
The controversy surrounding the WWF Championship between The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series and This Tuesday in Texas 1991 forced WWF President Jack Tunney to vacate the title. However, Tuney came up with a great solution by making the upcoming 1992 Royal Rumble match for the vacant WWF Championship.
Ric Flair entered the match at number three, and he went the full distance. Naitch put on a magnificent performance as he eliminated The British Bulldog, The Texas Tornado, Big Boss Man, Randy Savage, and Sid Justice, with some assistance from Hulk Hogan, who was already eliminated. Flair captured his first of two WWF Championships in the WWE, and his after-match promo was memorable, "A tear in my eye." Just shows how great Flair was.
1 Shawn Michaels Defeats Sycho Sid - 1997
Sycho Sid ended Shawn Michaels' 231-day reign as WWF Champion at the 1996 Survivor Series. Michaels was booed out of the building from the tough crowd at Madison Square Garden. However, the 1997 Royal Rumble was all about Shawn Michaels.
The Heartbreak Kid invoked his rematch clause in front of his hometown crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The jam-packed attendance was 60,477 and Michaels' parents were in attendance to watch the drama unfold. The match itself was not the best WWF Championship match in Royal Rumble history but it is undoubtedly, the greatest WWE Championship change to happen at the Rumble. Michaels celebrated with his family, and fans in one of the most memorable moments at the Royal Rumble.
NEXT: 10 Best WWE Championship Matches In Royal Rumble History
