Sometimes, even when everyone knows who is winning, it can still be a good idea if done right. This was not one of those times. Brock Lesnar winning was a foregone conclusion, making for an unexciting Royal Rumble. Then, he went on to be gifted the WWE Title so he could drop it in an underwhelming match with Roman Reigns.
Before Sheamus became a household name, Vince McMahon was intent upon making him one. Sheamus won the 2012 Royal Rumble only to go on to face Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania in a match that lasted seconds.
This isn't entirely Big John Stud's fault, but in 1989, the Royal Rumble simply had no stakes. Big John Stud is not a memorable character, nor did he do anything after his Rumble win.
To be clear, Shinsuke Nakamura was a very deserving winner in 2018. He was fresh and the fans were behind him. It was the aftermath that made his win one of the worst. Nakamura lost to A.J. Styles and then turned heel in the most boring way possible. Why have him the Rumble at all?
Lex Luger had all the physical tools to be a megastar, but was never able to put it all together. In 1994, he and Bret Hart wound up being "co-winners" of the Royal Rumble, with a coin flip to determine the Wrestlemania match. Had WWE committed to giving Luger a push, perhaps this wouldn't be on the list. But they never really seemed to believe in the Total Package.
This isn't Randy Orton's fault. His win came at a time when fans really just wanted new blood. Sick of the forced Roman Reigns push, WWE decided to give fans an alternative in Orton, who did not need the victory. He went on to win the WWE title in an underwhelming short match against Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania 33.
Having endured nearly a decade of John Cena's dominance, fans were ready for something else. Fans were genuinely cheering for Ryback, of all people, who Cena eliminated last. Then, we got a Rock vs. Cena main event one year after getting...a Rock vs. Cena main event dubbed as "Once in a Lifetime." Fans were not interested in twice.
The Mr. McMahon character was integral to the success of Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Attitude Era. Yet, at times, as Vince was wont to do, he went a big too far. Vince did next to nothing for the entire match and then managed to win it in the end, which was kind of a slap in the face to all the actual in ring talent at the time.
The mid 2010s was a rough stretch for WWE. Fans were happy to be done with the Super Cena era, but did not want a Super Reigns era forced upon them. WWE did not care. Roman Reigns won the Rumble to a chorus of boos, despite being billed as a babyface. Even The Rock's appearance couldn't turn fans' opinions.
WWE ultimately course corrected by giving Daniel Bryan his Wrestlemania moment. It just didn't have to be so difficult. Batista's return was the worst kept secret and most fans knew WWE was going to push him down our throats. Supposedly a babyface, Batista entered to a smattering of boos because fans wanted it to be Bryan. It was so bad that Rey Mysterio entering at No. 30 to one of the loudest negative reactions of all time simply because he wasn't Daniel Bryan.
