Who Has Won the WWE Royal Rumble? Complete Royal Rumble Winners List (1988–2026)

The WWE Royal Rumble is one of the most important matches in professional wrestling history. Since 1988, the Royal Rumble winner has earned a guaranteed championship opportunity at WrestleMania, often shaping the entire WWE calendar for the year ahead. From breakout stars to established legends, winning the Royal Rumble has repeatedly proven to be a career-defining moment.

This page serves as the complete Royal Rumble winners list, covering every winner in WWE history across the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches. Below, you’ll find Royal Rumble winners by year, separate tables for men’s and women’s winners, runner-up details, and a ranking of Royal Rumble victories based on entry number difficulty. The list is updated after Royal Rumble 2026 winners were declared.

Royal Rumble Winners by Year (1988–2026)

Since the inaugural Royal Rumble match in 1988, WWE has crowned one Royal Rumble winner each year, with the exception of 1994, which produced joint winners. This Royal Rumble winners list shows every winner by year, along with the final superstar eliminated to secure victory.

Royal Rumble Runners-Up (Final Eliminated WWE Superstars)

The final eliminated superstar—often referred to as the runner-up—has played a major role in Royal Rumble history. Many runners-up later became world champions or future Royal Rumble winners themselves, making this final elimination one of the most important moments in each match.

Men’s Royal Rumble Winners List

The men’s Royal Rumble match has delivered some of WWE’s biggest WrestleMania main events. From early-entry endurance wins to dominant late-entry victories, the list of men’s Royal Rumble winners highlights just how difficult it is to outlast nearly 30 competitors.

Women’s Royal Rumble Winners List

Introduced in 2018, the Women’s Royal Rumble quickly became one of WWE’s most important annual matches. Winning the women’s Royal Rumble guarantees a championship opportunity at WrestleMania and often reshapes the entire women’s division. Here’s a look at the Women’s Royal Rumble winner’s list.

Royal Rumble Winners Ranked by Difficulty (Entry Number)

Not all Royal Rumble wins are equal. Entry number plays a massive role in how difficult a Royal Rumble victory is, with early entrants forced to survive far longer against fresh competitors. This ranking shows Royal Rumble winners by entry number across both men’s and women’s matches.

Royal Rumble Records and Notable Facts

• Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin are tied for the most men’s Royal Rumble wins (2 each).
• Only two Royal Rumble winners have entered at #1 and gone the distance: Shawn Michaels (1995) and Chris Benoit (2004).
• The 1994 Royal Rumble remains the only match with joint winners.
• The Women’s Royal Rumble was introduced 30 years after the men’s match.

Royal Rumble 2026 Winners (Live Update Section)

Men’s Royal Rumble 2026 Winner

Roman Reigns won the Men’s Royal Rumble 2026 by last eliminating Gunther, earning his second Royal Rumble victory and punching his ticket to WrestleMania 42.

Reigns entered the match late and dominated the closing stages, surviving a physical final sequence against Gunther before eliminating him to seal the win. With this victory, Roman Reigns now secures a guaranteed world championship match at WrestleMania 42, immediately reshaping WWE’s main-event picture heading into Las Vegas.

Women’s Royal Rumble 2026 Winner

Liv Morgan won the Women’s Royal Rumble 2026 after eliminating Rhea Ripley in the final moments of the match.

Morgan outlasted the field in a marathon contest that ran over an hour, delivering one of the strongest performances in Women’s Royal Rumble history. Her victory earns her a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42 and firmly positions Liv Morgan as a central figure in WWE’s women’s division heading into WrestleMania season.

WATCH Every Royal Rumble Match Ending From Last 20 Years

For complete coverage of WWE’s next premium live event, visit our Royal Rumble 2026 hub for updates on match cards, entrants, predictions and results.