<P> The men's Royal Rumble match is usually located at the top of the card, though there have been exceptions, such as the 1988, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, and 2018 events . Due to the Rumble match taking up a large amount of time (most Rumble matches last roughly one hour), the Rumble event tends to have a smaller card than most other pay - per - view events, which routinely have six to eight matches per card . The 2008 Royal Rumble was the first WWE pay - per - view to be available in high - definition . The 2018 Royal Rumble was the first to include a women's Royal Rumble match, which was the main event for that year . </P> <P> The Royal Rumble is based on the classic Battle Royal match, in which a number of wrestlers (traditionally 30) aim at eliminating their competitors by tossing them over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor . The winner of the event is the last wrestler remaining after all others have been eliminated . According to Hornswoggle, who worked for WWE from 2006 until 2016 and participated in two Rumbles, participants may learn their eliminations by knowing the two wrestlers who are eliminated before them and which wrestlers are entering the Royal Rumble before and after their elimination . </P> <Table> List of Royal Rumble dates, venues, and winners <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> Event </Th> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Venue </Th> <Th> Main event </Th> <Th> Winner (s) </Th> <Th> Entry No . </Th> <Th> Ref </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1988) </Td> <Td> January 24, 1988 </Td> <Td> Hamilton, Ontario </Td> <Td> Copps Coliseum </Td> <Td> The Islanders (Haku and Tama) vs. The Young Stallions (Paul Roma and Jim Powers) in a two out of three falls match </Td> <Td> Jim Duggan </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1989) </Td> <Td> January 15, 1989 </Td> <Td> Houston, Texas </Td> <Td> The Summit </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match </Td> <Td> Big John Studd </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1990) </Td> <Td> January 21, 1990 </Td> <Td> Orlando, Florida </Td> <Td> Orlando Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match </Td> <Td> Hulk Hogan </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1991) </Td> <Td> January 19, 1991 </Td> <Td> Miami, Florida </Td> <Td> Miami Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1992) </Td> <Td> January 19, 1992 </Td> <Td> Albany, New York </Td> <Td> Knickerbocker Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for the vacant WWF World Heavyweight Championship </Td> <Td> Ric Flair </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1993) </Td> <Td> January 24, 1993 </Td> <Td> Sacramento, California </Td> <Td> ARCO Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania IX </Td> <Td> Yokozuna </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1994) </Td> <Td> January 23, 1994 </Td> <Td> Providence, Rhode Island </Td> <Td> Providence Civic Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania X </Td> <Td> Bret Hart Lex Luger </Td> <Td> 27 23 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1995) </Td> <Td> January 22, 1995 </Td> <Td> Tampa, Florida </Td> <Td> USF Sun Dome </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XII </Td> <Td> Shawn Michaels </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1996) </Td> <Td> January 21, 1996 </Td> <Td> Fresno, California </Td> <Td> Selland Arena </Td> <Td> Bret Hart (c) vs. The Undertaker for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1997) </Td> <Td> January 19, 1997 </Td> <Td> San Antonio, Texas </Td> <Td> Alamodome </Td> <Td> Sycho Sid (c) vs. Shawn Michaels for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship </Td> <Td> Stone Cold Steve Austin </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1998) </Td> <Td> January 18, 1998 </Td> <Td> San Jose, California </Td> <Td> San Jose Arena </Td> <Td> Shawn Michaels (c) vs. The Undertaker in a Casket match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (1999) </Td> <Td> January 24, 1999 </Td> <Td> Anaheim, California </Td> <Td> Arrowhead Pond </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XV </Td> <Td> Mr. McMahon </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2000) </Td> <Td> January 23, 2000 </Td> <Td> New York City, New York </Td> <Td> Madison Square Garden </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania 2000 </Td> <Td> The Rock </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2001) </Td> <Td> January 21, 2001 </Td> <Td> New Orleans, Louisiana </Td> <Td> New Orleans Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X-Seven </Td> <Td> Stone Cold Steve Austin </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2002) </Td> <Td> January 20, 2002 </Td> <Td> Atlanta, Georgia </Td> <Td> Philips Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a Undisputed WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X8 </Td> <Td> Triple H </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2003) </Td> <Td> January 19, 2003 </Td> <Td> Boston, Massachusetts </Td> <Td> FleetCenter </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XIX </Td> <Td> Brock Lesnar </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2004) </Td> <Td> January 25, 2004 </Td> <Td> Philadelphia, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> Wachovia Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XX </Td> <Td> Chris Benoit </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2005) </Td> <Td> January 30, 2005 </Td> <Td> Fresno, California </Td> <Td> Save Mart Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania 21 </Td> <Td> Batista </Td> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2006) </Td> <Td> January 29, 2006 </Td> <Td> Miami, Florida </Td> <Td> American Airlines Arena </Td> <Td> Kurt Angle (c) vs. Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship </Td> <Td> Rey Mysterio </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2007) </Td> <Td> January 28, 2007 </Td> <Td> San Antonio, Texas </Td> <Td> AT&T Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania 23 </Td> <Td> The Undertaker </Td> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2008) </Td> <Td> January 27, 2008 </Td> <Td> New York City, New York </Td> <Td> Madison Square Garden </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XXIV </Td> <Td> John Cena </Td> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2009) </Td> <Td> January 25, 2009 </Td> <Td> Detroit, Michigan </Td> <Td> Joe Louis Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XXV </Td> <Td> Randy Orton </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2010) </Td> <Td> January 31, 2010 </Td> <Td> Atlanta, Georgia </Td> <Td> Philips Arena </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVI </Td> <Td> Edge </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2011) </Td> <Td> January 30, 2011 </Td> <Td> Boston, Massachusetts </Td> <Td> TD Garden </Td> <Td> 40 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVII </Td> <Td> Alberto Del Rio </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2012) </Td> <Td> January 29, 2012 </Td> <Td> St. Louis, Missouri </Td> <Td> Scottrade Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVIII </Td> <Td> Sheamus </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2013) </Td> <Td> January 27, 2013 </Td> <Td> Phoenix, Arizona </Td> <Td> US Airways Center </Td> <Td> CM Punk (c) vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship </Td> <Td> John Cena </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2014) </Td> <Td> January 26, 2014 </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> Consol Energy Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XXX </Td> <Td> Batista </Td> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2015) </Td> <Td> January 25, 2015 </Td> <Td> Philadelphia, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> Wells Fargo Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 31 </Td> <Td> Roman Reigns </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2016) </Td> <Td> January 24, 2016 </Td> <Td> Orlando, Florida </Td> <Td> Amway Center </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship; reigning champion Roman Reigns defended the title in the match </Td> <Td> Triple H </Td> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2017) </Td> <Td> January 29, 2017 </Td> <Td> San Antonio, Texas </Td> <Td> Alamodome </Td> <Td> 30 - man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania 33 </Td> <Td> Randy Orton </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2018) </Td> <Td> January 28, 2018 </Td> <Td> Philadelphia, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> Wells Fargo Center </Td> <Td> 30 - woman Royal Rumble match for a women's championship match at WrestleMania 34 </Td> <Td> Shinsuke Nakamura </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Asuka </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 32 </Td> <Td> Royal Rumble (2019) </Td> <Td> January 27, 2019 </Td> <Td> Phoenix, Arizona </Td> <Td> Chase Field </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> <Td> TBD </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> Event </Th> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Venue </Th> <Th> Main event </Th> <Th> Winner (s) </Th> <Th> Entry No . </Th> <Th> Ref </Th> </Tr>

Who won the first ever women's royal rumble