<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> 01! 1 </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> Duggan, Jim Jim Duggan </Td> <Td> 13! 13 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 02! 2 </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> Studd, Big John Big John Studd </Td> <Td> 27! 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 03! 3 </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> Hogan, Hulk Hulk Hogan </Td> <Td> 25! 25 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 04! 4 </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! 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 05! 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> Flair, Ric Ric Flair </Td> <Td> 03! 3 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 06! 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 </Td> <Td> Yokozuna </Td> <Td> 27! 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 07! 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 </Td> <Td> Bret Hart Lex Luger </Td> <Td> 27! 27 23! 23 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 08! 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 </Td> <Td> Michaels, Shawn Shawn Michaels </Td> <Td> 01! 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 09! 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! 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10! 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> 05! 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11! 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! 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12! 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 </Td> <Td> Mr. McMahon </Td> <Td> 02! 2 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13! 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 </Td> <Td> Rock, The The Rock </Td> <Td> 24! 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14! 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 </Td> <Td> Stone Cold Steve Austin </Td> <Td> 27! 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15! 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 </Td> <Td> Triple H </Td> <Td> 22! 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16! 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 </Td> <Td> Lesnar, Brock Brock Lesnar </Td> <Td> 29! 29 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17! 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 </Td> <Td> Chris Benoit </Td> <Td> 01! 1 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18! 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 </Td> <Td> Batista </Td> <Td> 28! 28 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19! 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> Mysterio, Rey Rey Mysterio </Td> <Td> 02! 2 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20! 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 </Td> <Td> Undertaker, The The Undertaker </Td> <Td> 30! 30 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21! 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 </Td> <Td> Cena, John John Cena </Td> <Td> 30! 30 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22! 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 </Td> <Td> Orton, Randy Randy Orton </Td> <Td> 08! 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23! 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 </Td> <Td> Edge </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24! 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 </Td> <Td> Del Rio, Alberto Alberto Del Rio </Td> <Td> 38 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25! 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 </Td> <Td> Sheamus </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26! 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> Cena, John John Cena </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27! 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 </Td> <Td> Batista </Td> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28! 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 </Td> <Td> Reigns, Roman Roman Reigns </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29! 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! 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 </Td> <Td> Randy Orton </Td> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31! 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 </Td> <Td> Shinsuke Nakamura </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Asuka </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 32! 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 royal rumble at number 1