WWE Royal Rumble rules, explained: A complete guide of rules, records and past winners of pro wrestling match

The Royal Rumble match was created in 1988, with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan credited as the first winner. Since then, it has gone from a creative contest to determining the future stars of WWE.

Pat Patterson helped create the match. It has been won by a who's who of WWE stars, from Hall of Famers to future legends. Even the former boss, Vince McMahon, won one. The Royal Rumble is considered to be one of WWE’s “Big Four” events and the first stop on the road to WrestleMania. The winner receives a championship opportunity at "The Showcase of the Immortals."

This year, WrestleMania 40 is in Philadelphia. To get there, WWE heads to Tropicana Field in Tampa on January 27. The Royal Rumble event airs on Peacock in the U.S. and the WWE Network outside it.

What exactly are the rules of the Royal Rumble match? What records attempt to get broken every year, and who has won the match?

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The Sporting News breaks down all you need to know about the Royal Rumble. 

WWE Royal Rumble format & rules

• 30 participants
• Two participants start the match
• A new participant enters every 90 seconds or two minutes until all 30 participants have entered
• Elimination occurs when someone is tossed over the top rope and both feet hit the floor
• The winner is the last person standing

To enter the Royal Rumble match, 30 wrestlers are assigned a spot in the match at random. The first two participants kick things off, and after 90 seconds or two minutes (it can vary by year), another wrestler comes out. That continues until all competitors have entered the match.

There are no pinfalls, DQs, or submissions. To eliminate an opponent, you must toss them over the top rope and both their feet must touch the floor. The only way to win is by being the last person in the ring by the night's end.

Why must both feet touch the floor in the Royal Rumble match?

To determine the winner of the Royal Rumble match, it has to be definitive. That includes how a wrestler gets eliminated. The 1995 Royal Rumble saw Shawn Michaels and The British Bulldog as the final two participants in the match. Davey Boy Smith appeared to have eliminated Michaels, but only one of his feet touched the floor. Michaels got back into the ring and eliminated Smith to win the match.

It was an unofficial rule at the time that had fans confused. Michaels’ efforts were used as an official rule that must be followed. It changed the match forever.

Since then, several stars have followed Michaels’ lead. Kofi Kingston, John Morrison, Naomi, and Katana Chance are just a few names who have found creative ways to remain in the Royal Rumble match, from doing handstands, laying on their backs, or using chairs. 

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Royal Rumble records

Men's Royal Rumble match

• No one has more Rumble wins than "Stone Cold" Steve Austin who has the record at three
• The number 30 spot won the most Royal Rumble matches for male wrestlers, with five winners coming from that spot.
• Gunther has spent the most time in a traditional Royal Rumble match at 1:11:40 in 2023. That broke Rey Mysterio's record in 2006 (1:02:15) 
• Santino Marella (0:00:01.9) holds the record for shortest time in the match
• Chris Jericho has spent the most amount of cumulative time (4:59:33) in a Royal Rumble match
• Kane holds the record for most eliminations at 46

Women's Royal Rumble match

• The spot with the most winners (two) in a women's Royal Rumble match is 28
• Rhea Ripley has spent the most amount of time in a Royal Rumble match at 1:01:08 in 2023
• Charlotte Flair has spent the most amount of cumulative time in a women's Royal Rumble match at 2:22:30 
• Chelsea Green (0:00:05) holds the record for shortest time spent in a women's Royal Rumble match
• Rhea Ripley holds the record for most eliminations at 20

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Who has won the men's WWE Royal Rumble match?

Who has won the women's WWE Royal Rumble match?