5 most important Royal Rumble matches in history

Stone Cold Royal Rumble 1998 — The Rattlesnake won three, but which was the most important?

The Royal Rumble is a seminal event on the WWE calendar. Since 1993, the winner of the eponymous match has usually been awarded a title shot at WrestleMania.

The match is therefore of immense importance to WWE, as it sets up the most prominent storylines on the programming going into WWE's biggest event and beyond. Royal Rumble winners have often catapulted into standard-bearing superstars for the company.

These five Rumbles in particular saw results that would echo through the company for years afterwards.

#5: 1994

Royal Rumble 1994 winner — Two winners, one outcome at WrestleMania.

Though little-remembered today, the 1994 Royal Rumble was instrumental in setting up the New Generation era in the years to come. The concept of giving a WrestleMania title shot to the winner was still a new one, having only been established a year earlier, so it was also important in setting that precedent.

The finish was muddled, as Bret Hart and Lex Luger were declared co-winners. Lex Luger would fail to claim the championship at WrestleMania, while Bret Hart would succeed. Luger would soon exit the company.

The 1994 event laid the groundwork to move on from the 80's era of larger than life wrestling physiques in favour of a more technical style. It was an era that Bret Hart would spearhead.