Top 10 athletes to have been victorious in WWE Royal Rumble on more than one occasion

Some WWE Superstars have made history in the wrestling world by dominating the over-the-top-rope battle royal multiple times during the Royal Rumble's rich history. These several Royal Rumble champions have not only demonstrated their tenacity but also irrevocably altered their legacy. 

Take a look at the top 10 athletes to have been victorious in WWE Royal Rumble on more than one occasion

10) Hulk Hogan (1990, 1991)

In 1990 and 1991, professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan won the Royal Rumble twice in a row. Although his 1990 victory did not result in a title chance, it did pave the way for his matchup against The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 6. The next year, Hogan made a comeback to demonstrate his supremacy in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

9) Shawn Michaels (1995, 1996)

Shawn Michaels also referred to as The Heartbreak Kid won back-to-back in 1995 and 1996. His first triumph in 1995 demonstrated his cunning when, despite appearing to be out of the picture, he came to the ring and won. Now a hero, Michaels triumphed once more in 1996, setting up an Iron Man match victory at WrestleMania XII.

8) Stone Cold Steve Austin (1997, 1998, 2001)

Steve Austin is the only athlete with three Royal Rumble triumphs. After being eliminated in 1997, he deftly made his way back into the ring, setting up the historic match versus Bret Hart at WrestleMania. He won the title and dominated the Rumble, launching the organisation into the Attitude Era. His triumph in 2001, which was met with resounding applause, came before he won the WWE Title at the most prestigious pay-per-view in history.

7) Triple H (2002, 2016)

With triumphs spanning more than 14 years, Triple H, often known as "The Game," made history. Following a quadriceps injury, he returned in 2002 and won the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania X-8 in addition to winning the Royal Rumble. After making an unexpected comeback in 2016, Triple H defeated Roman Reigns to win his 14th global championship.

6) Brock Lesnar (2003, 2022)

Less than a year after making his main roster debut, he won his first match in 2003, which helped pave the way for his incredible WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania XIX. Even though Lesnar had lost the WWE Championship previously in the evening, his contentious second victory in 2022 drew criticism because of how obvious the result was. He is always one of the favourites to win the match whenever he enters the Royal Rumble

5) Batista (2005, 2014)

The two times Batista prevailed in the Royal Rumble, the responses were radically different. His triumph in 2005 launched him into the main event scene, setting up a legendary rivalry that culminated in his victory at WrestleMania 22 for the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite criticism from the public, Batista triumphed once more in 2014, demonstrating the unpredictable atmosphere of the Royal Rumble.

4) John Cena (2008, 2013)

The WWE veteran, John Cena triumphantly made two returns to the Royal Rumble: in 2008 and 2013. His victory in 2008 was just three months after he gave up the WWE Championship and it paved the way for a crack at the title. The 2013 storyline surrounding CM Punk's title run and The Rock's pursuit of the belt depended heavily on Cena's victory.

3) Randy Orton (2009, 2017)

Apex Predator Randy Orton claimed wins in 2009 and 2017. With the help of a storied storyline involving Mr. McMahon, Orton's 2009 victory demonstrated his strength with the recently established Legacy faction. To win another Royal Rumble match, Orton defeated Roman Reigns in 2017 while allied with Bray Wyatt.

2) Edge (2010, 2021)

Edge, who is renowned for making unexpected comebacks, cemented his Royal Rumble reputation by winning twice in 2010 and 2021. His victory in 2010 signalled an incredible return from injuries. The other one marked his return to the top slot in 2021 and highlighted his path to WrestleMania ten years after his original retirement.

1) Cody Rhodes (2023, 2024)

Cody Rhodes is the first winner of consecutive Royal Rumble battles in almost thirty years. During the 2023 Rumble match, he started at number thirty and defeated Gunther to prevail in the match. during the 2024 Royal Rumble event, Rhodes started at number fifteen and persevered to the finish to defeat CM Punk in the first of his WWE-aired bout in almost ten years.