Obviously, the main attraction of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view is the Royal Rumble match. Previously people were looking forward to a cutthroat battle between 30 men, but now there is double the fun for the fans, as the women also have their Rumble.
RELATED: The 10 Best Royal Rumble Matches, According To Cagematch.net
However, there are usually other great matches on the card as well. Throughout history, there have been many fantastic matches on the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Some were even so amazing that they even overshadowed the Royal Rumble match. But which ones were the best? Would fans agree to the ratings of Cagematch.net?
10 Kevin Owens Vs. Roman Reigns - 8.10 (Royal Rumble 2017)
At Royal Rumble 2017, Kevin Owens defended the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification match.
Roman Reigns had a wonderful performance as a babyface, while Kevin Owens (and Chris Jericho) did a fantastic job as a heel, so the basic formula worked perfectly.
They both took advantage of the stipulation and delivered an awesome hardcore brawl. The crowd was hot, 100% invested in the match. The Big Dog had some huge moments, but in the end it was KO who prevailed and retained the title.
9 The Rockers Vs. The Orient Express - 8.14 (Royal Rumble 1991)
In the opening match of the 1991 Royal Rumble, The Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) faced The Orient Express (Kato and Tanaka).
It was a very exciting match with top-notch in-ring action for almost 20 minutes. There were several great spots executed flawlessly and innovative tag sequences for the time. The Rockers absolutely stole the show and got a great victory. This match took place over 30 years ago but is still worth watching.
8 Dean Ambrose Vs. Kevin Owens – 8.46 (Royal Rumble 2016)
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At Royal Rumble 2016, fans witnessed a memorable Last Man Standing match for the Intercontinental Championship between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens. Ambrose and Owens had previously faced each other at Survivor Series 2015 and TLC 2015, but those matches were disappointing.
But their match at Royal Rumble 2016 was exceptional, it was a kind of redemption for them. Intensity, violence, destruction, bumps, mind-blowing spots, resilience of both competitors, this had everything a Last Man Standing match has to have. In the end Ambrose came out victorious and retained the title. If that wasn't enough, later that night both Ambrose and Owens entered the Rumble.
7 Bray Wyatt Vs. Daniel Bryan – 8.53 (Royal Rumble 2014)
Another fantastic opening match took place at Royal Rumble 2014. Bray Wyatt and Daniel Bryan put on an excellent show. The match was perfectly paced, both had great moments to shine, the storytelling was excellent, and the structure of the match was good as well.
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Bryan worked with his flawless technique, while Wyatt showed some explosive offense.The final stretch was quite exciting with some really cool sequences. Daniel Bryan played his game and made Bray Wyatt look extraordinary.
6 John Cena Vs. Umaga – 8.94 (Royal Rumble 2007)
It seems that amazing Last Man Standing matches are a trend at the Royal Rumble. Shawn Michaels versus Triple H, Roman Reigns versus Kevin Owens, Dean Ambrose against Kevin Owens, and also this bout between John Cena and Umaga.
Umaga put on the best performance of his career, looking like an unstoppable monster, while John Cena did what he does best, meeting the challenge with his never-say-die attitude and getting the win like a superhero. The in-ring psychology and the storytelling made for a fantastic match.
5 John Cena Vs. AJ Styles – 9.01 (Royal Rumble 2017)
John Cena and AJ Styles had a trilogy for the ages, and they decided to close it on a high note with their match at Royal Rumble 2017. In this match everything was masterfully executed, as every aspect was perfect. Cena and Styles couldn't have told the story better. The moves were extraordinary and the nearfalls were extremely dramatic.
The Phenomenal One pushed The Champ to his limit, but in the end, Cena got the win and the WWE Championship. This felt like a perfect conclusion to one of the best WWE rivalries of the last decade.
4 Brock Lesnar Vs. John Cena Vs. Seth Rollins – 9.30 (Royal Rumble 2015)
Once again John Cena is involved in a classic at the Royal Rumble. This time in a Triple Threat match against Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins. This was one of the best matches of all three men's careers. It was a masterpiece.
RELATED: The 10 Best Seth Rollins Matches, According To Cagematch.net
Each did his best with his signature game plan: Brock Lesnar destroying everything in his path, John Cena being the babyface looking to win no matter the odds, and Seth Rollins using his guile as his best weapon. Every man brought something different to the match and the result was beautiful.
3 Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit – 9.31 (Royal Rumble 2001)
At Royal Rumble 2001, Chris Benoit defended the Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho in a Ladder match. This was an epic conclusion to their rivalry. Jericho and Benoit had too much chemistry, all the moves were fluid and made sense.
The storytelling was superb and there were several insane spots that made this one of the best Ladder matches in the history of sports entertainment. After an exciting match, Chris Jericho won and became the new Intercontinental Champion.
2 Triple H Vs. Cactus Jack - 9.45 (Royal Rumble 2000)
Triple H and Cactus Jack collided in a Street Fight, which turned out to be exactly what you would expect from them: a brutal, vicious, and bloody battle, the kind of matches you don't see in WWE anymore. This match is simply a reflection of the Attitude era.
Cactus Jack was a hardcore master, so it's no wonder he did a perfect job, enduring unimaginable amounts of pain. Triple H also did an admirable job, and for many, this was the night he truly became main eventer.
1 Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit – 9.47 (Royal Rumble 2003)
This is the best Royal Rumble match that isn't the Rumble itself, according to Cagematch.net. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit, two of the greatest technicians of all time, collided in a WWE Championship match.
As expected, Angle and Benoit put on a wrestling clinic, extremely intense but flawless at the same time. Excellent submissions, delightful maneuvers, insane in-ring psychology, brilliant storytelling. This match was perfect. In the end, Kurt Angle managed to defeat Chris Benoit and retained the belt.
