The Royal Rumble winner traditionally gets a World Championship title match at WrestleMania. However, there have been some Royal Rumble runner-ups, who navigated their way into the title picture at WrestleMania.
Since WrestleMania 19 in 2003, WWE had two World Championships available (except WrestleMania 30, 31, and 32), which meant that the Royal Rumble winner would choose which champion they would face at WrestleMania. That left the other reigning World Champion without a title match but logically, the Royal Rumble runner-up getting a title shot at Mania made sense.
Royal Rumble runner-ups who generally have a good performance at the Rumble, found themselves competing into a World Title match at WrestleMania, and rightfully so. They don't always win the championship at WrestleMania but some have found success.
Updated on January 8th, 2022 by Tevon King: Every wrestler that competes in a Royal Rumble match has the aspirations of winning the whole thing, and booking their place in a World Championship match at WrestleMania. However, there can only be one winner, and someone has to settle for second place. Over the years, it has been proven that the runner-up of the Royal Rumble match often winds up with a World Championship match at WrestleMania anyway. There's no denying that some runner-ups have deserved their World Championship match at WrestleMania. However, the majority can agree that runner-ups like Santino Marella, and Earthquake in their respective Rumbles would not be a good choice to be granted a World Championship match at WrestleMania. Not every runner-up who has been granted a World Title shot at WrestleMania has managed to walk out as champion but some have been fortunate enough to leave WrestleMania with gold, and done better than the Rumble winner, who may have lost their World Title match.
11 * Rhea Ripley (Vs. Asuka - WrestleMania 37)
Rhea Ripley represented NXT in the 2021 women's Royal Rumble match, and she had an outstanding performance. The Nightmare entered 14th and she eliminated seven competitors in the titular bout. However, it took Bianca Belair to halt her dominance, when they battle at the end with Belair getting the better of Ripley to win the Royal Rumble match.
Ripley put that disappointment behind her as two months later, she made her main roster debut on Raw. Ripley wasted no time in aiming for the top as she challenged Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37. Ripley and Asuka's match was steady but could have been miles better. Nevertheless, Ripley defeated Asuka on night two of WrestleMania 37 to win the Raw Women's Championship for the first time.
10 Stone Cold Steve Austin (Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania 15)
Mr. McMahon shocked the world when he eliminated Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the 1999 Royal Rumble match. However, McMahon was never going to compete for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 15. Therefore, at St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Austin defeated McMahon in a steel cage match, taking McMahon's title shot in the process.
The Texas Rattlesnake became the first Royal Rumble runner-up to challenge the WWE Champion at WrestleMania. Austin squared off with The Rock in an excellent championship match. Ultimately, Austin reclaimed the WWE Title from Rock but Austin should have won the Rumble in the first place as he would have won three Rumbles in succession.
9 Chris Jericho (Vs. CM Punk - WrestleMania 28)
Chris Jericho came up short in the 2012 Royal Rumble match with Sheamus outlasting him to win the match. In truth, Y2J should have prevailed as he had just returned to WWE, and the Rumble eluded Jericho which would have been good to have a Rumble victory on his resume.
That did not deter Jericho one bit as he found a way to get to WrestleMania 28 by winning a Battle Royal on Raw. Jericho challenged CM Punk for the WWE Championship with both men claiming that they are the "Best in the World." Jericho pushed Punk to his limit but he ultimately came up short in his quest to become WWE Champion again.
8 Randy Orton (Vs. Kurt Angle Vs. Rey Mysterio - WrestleMania 22)
The 2006 Royal Rumble match was all about Rey Mysterio, who dedicated his victory to the late great Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio entered at number two and lasted over 1 hour with a memorable performance. Moreover, he eliminated his SmackDown colleague Randy Orton to triumphant.
Disappointed with the outcome, The Legend Killer goaded Mysterio into putting his WrestleMania 22 title shot on the line at No Way Out 2006. Orton got his wish, and he defeated Mysterio to book his spot in the World Heavyweight Championship match with Kurt Angle. However, while Teddy Long could not remove Orton from the match he could add Mysterio back into it to make it a triple threat match. Orton was unable to unseat Angle as the new World Heavyweight Champion, and he took the fall with Mysterio clinching the title.
7 Triple H (Vs. Randy Orton Vs. John Cena - WrestleMania 24) & (Vs. Randy Orton - WrestleMania 25)
No man competed in more World Championship matches at WrestleMania in the 2000s than Triple H. However, at the 2008 Royal Rumble, John Cena returned entering 30th and eliminated The Game to win the Rumble. Cena cashed in his WWE Title match opportunity at No Way Out with The Cerebral Assassin winning an Elimination Chamber match earning the right to face Orton at WrestleMania 24.
It was a triple threat match with Cena included but Orton retained. A year later, The Game was second best to Orton in the 2009 Royal Rumble match. Triple H returned to WrestleMania as the WWE Champion by winning his 13th World Title at No Way Out. He had success by defeating Orton at WrestleMania 25 which was controversial but The Game was the first Rumble runner-up to have back-to-back title matches at Mania.
6 Shayna Baszler (Vs. Becky Lynch - WrestleMania 36)
Shayna Baszler had one of the most dominating performances by a Royal Rumble debutant at the 2020 Royal Rumble. The Queen of Spades tore through the field with ease by eliminating eight competitors. Unfortunately, it was not enough for Baszler as Charlotte Flair threw her over the top rope, punching her ticket to WrestleMania 36.
However, Elimination Chamber 2020 was the last chance for Baszler as she entered the Elimination Chamber match with the winner facing Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 36 for the Raw Women's Title. Baszler was dominant, and she became the first person to eliminate every single competitor inside a Chamber. Moreover, many expected Baszler to unseat Lynch as Raw Women's Champion but that failed to materialize with The Man continuing her historic title reign.
5 Shawn Michaels (Vs. John Cena - WrestleMania 23)
Arguably one of the greatest endings to a Royal Rumble match saw The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels as the final two participants in 2007. Undertaker made history as the first man from the 30th position to win the Royal Rumble when he threw over HBK.
On the February 5, 2007 edition of Raw, Michaels defeated Edge and Randy Orton in a number one contender's match to face John Cena in a blockbuster WWE Title match at WrestleMania 23. It was in the last batch of Michaels' WWE Championship matches, but he did not fail to impress in an outstanding title bout. Cena prevailed but Michaels did not make it easy for Cena in the slightest in the battle of reigning World Tag Team Champions.
4 Charlotte Flair (Vs. Becky Lynch Vs. Ronda Rousey - WrestleMania 35)
Charlotte Flair was in a prime position to win the second women's Royal Rumble match in 2019 but Becky Lynch made her presence felt by stealing an injured Lana's spot. The Man outsmarted The Queen to headline WrestleMania 35. However, Ronda Rousey was the reigning Raw Women's Champion and was due to face Lynch.
Unexpectedly, The Queen defeated Asuka on the penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania 35 for the SmackDown Women's Championship. History was made as Ronda, Lynch, and Charlotte squared off with both titles at stake in the first-ever women's main event at WrestleMania. All three pulled out the stops to make it a memorable encounter with The Man prevailing.
3 Big Show (Vs. Triple H Vs. Mick Foley Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania 16)
Big Show finished as runner-up to The Rock in the 2000 Royal Rumble match. However, Show was furious as Rock's feet touched the floor before his and he should have been victorious. Show challenged Rock at No Way Out with Rock's WWE Title opportunity at WrestleMania 16 on the line.
A returning Shane McMahon made his presence felt by turning heel and helping Show defeat The Rock. Ultimately, Show did not get a one-on-one match at WrestleMania, as Triple H defended the title in a Fatal-4-Way match against Show, Rock, and Mick Foley. A McMahon was in every corner but Show was humiliated as he was the first man to be eliminated.
2 Roman Reigns (Vs. Brock Lesnar - WrestleMania 34)
Roman Reigns is one of the most prolific Royal Rumble performers in WWE history. No man has finished as runner-up more times than Reigns but his 2018 runner-up finish was the only time that he challenged for a World Title at WrestleMania.
The Big Dog won the number one contender's Elimination Chamber match at Elimination Chamber 2018, setting up a hard-hitting affair with Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34. Lesnar systematically dominated Reigns but The Big Dog should have won the title, instead of waiting until SummerSlam to finally beat Brock for the gold.
1 John Cena (Vs. JBL - WrestleMania 21) & (Vs. Batista - WrestleMania 26)
Cena came second best to Batista in a controversial finish at the 2005 Royal Rumble. Nevertheless, Big Match John recovered from the disappointment by defeating Kurt Angle at No Way Out to face JBL for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21. Cena defeated JBL for his maiden World Championship reign.
Five years later, Big Match John found himself as a runner-up in a Rumble yet again to a returning Edge at the 2010 Royal Rumble. However, Cena regained the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match only for Batista to beat him for the title minutes later. Batista and Cena settled the score in an exceptional WWE Title match at WrestleMania 26 with Cena reclaiming the title. Moreover, Cena has the distinction of being the only man to finish as Rumble runner-up twice and successfully capture the WWE Title on both occasions.