It’s January, which means it’s time for WWE fans across the world to prep for the Royal Rumble by watching every past edition of the event.

(We all do that, right?)

Anywho, I was watching the part in the 2004 edition where the Big Show gets hit by everyone’s finishers and I thought, “In wrestling reality, you can only survive a few finishers unless it’s Wrestlemania or you’re Kurt Angle. Big Show should have been stretchered out.”

Then I thought, it’d be interesting to see which winner has taken the most finishers during their time in the ring. To see what degree of punishment they went through.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. It’s not that interesting. But, here it is anyways…

Note: This write-up is not even close to being scientifically accurate. The camera isn’t always on the winner. So, someone could’ve snuck one in there. Also, I don’t know what Chainz or Timothy Well’s finishers were. Also, I’m not always the most observant person. In short, don’t use this list to settle any bets.

1988 – Jim Duggan

No Finishers Taken

Thoughts: We’re not off to a great start here.

1989 – Big John Studd

No Finishers Taken

Thoughts: C’mon, guys.

1990 – Hulk Hogan

The Perfect Plex – Curt Hennig

Thoughts: Could you imagine if the World Champion won the Royal Rumble today? The Internet would riot.

1991 – Hulk Hogan

The Earthquake – Earthquake

Thoughts: Winning the Royal Rumble give Hogan the title match at Wrestlemania. Simply being Hogan did that.

1992 – Ric Flair

Tornado Punch – Kerry Von Erich

El Paso del Muerte – Tito Santana

Figure-Four Leglock – Greg Valentine

Sleeperhold – Roddy Piper

Sweet Chin Music – Shawn Michaels

Thoughts: OK, maybe Sweet Chin Music is a stretch. But it was still Shawn Michaels throwing a superkick.

1993 – Yokozuna

Flying Elbow Drop – Randy Savage

Thoughts: I like to pretend that Randy Savage never tried to cover Yoko for a pinfall.

1994 – Bret Hart (Co-Winner)

No Finishers Taken

1994 – Lex Luger (Co-Winner)

No Finishers Taken

Thoughts: Diesel’s run in this was a thing of beauty. They’ve tried to recreated it a few times, but it’s never been quite as good.

1995 – Shawn Michaels

No Finishers Taken

Thoughts: I was so mad about the shortened entries back then. Life was different.

1996 – Shawn Michaels

No Finishers Taken

Thoughts: I was tempted to give credit to Owen Hart for using his send-Shawn-to-the-hospital enzuigiri. But ultimately decided against it.

1997 – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Running Powerslam – British Bulldog

Caribbean Kick – Savio Vega

Piledriver – Bret Hart

Chokeslam – Undertaker

Thoughts: Yeah, I know that piledriver is iffy. But Bret used to use it as a singles finisher before the Hart Foundation split up.

1998 – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Love Handle – Dude Love

Thoughts: Mike Tyson is right; Cold Stone is the man.

1999 – Vince McMahon

Stone Cold Stunner – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

Thoughts: Worst Rumble ever? It’s gotta be this or 2015, right?

2000 – The Rock

Chokeslam – The Big Show

Thoughts: This will always be the Rikishi/Too Cool Rumble to me.

2001 – Steve Austin

Fameasser – “The One” Billy Gunn

Rock Bottom – The Rock

Chokeslam – Kane

Thoughts: This Rumble needs more love. It’s was action-packed from top to bottom.

2002 – Triple H

Chokeslam – Big Show

Angle Slam – Kurt Angle

Thoughts: Curt Hennig does his trademark gum spit/swat in the middle of almost being eliminated. I will never have a moment in my life that is that cool.

2003 – Brock Lesnar

Chokeslam – Kane

Tombstone – The Undertaker

Thoughts: The tombstone during a Rumble is pretty harsh, but it’s nothing compared to what Lesnar would do to himself a few months later at Wrestlemania XIX.

2004 – Chris Benoit

Chokeslam – Kane

Chokeslam – Big Show

Thoughts: I was in attendance for that one. Philadelphia went crazy. I went crazier. I actually went home and bought the Pay Per View replay so I could watch it again.

Other Thoughts: This one isn’t as much fun to watch anymore.

2005 – Batista

Spear – Edge

Thoughts: Batista and Cena both claim that the double elimination was an accident. If that’s the case, it’s a perfect accident. Watch it again if you don’t believe me.

2006 – Rey Mysterio

Back Stabber – Carlito

Thoughts: I always hated that they had Rey go wire-to-wire so close to Benoit’s 2004 effort. Fortunately, they seem to have gotten away from that in recent years.

2007 – Undertaker

Spear – Edge

Sweet Chin Music – Shawn Michaels

Thoughts: I remember thinking, “Please give us the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels in one more singles match someday.”

2008 – John Cena

No Finishers Taken

Note: If you weren’t around the Internet at this time, take my word for it that NOBODY SAW THIS RETURN COMING.

2009 – Randy Orton

Pedigree – Triple H

Chokeslam – The Undertaker

Note: Orton is the last single-digit winner. I think that’s good news because we had a period where McMahon, Benoit, Mysterio, etc. were all going the distance.

2010 – Edge

Attitude Adjustment – John Cena

Sweet Chin Music – Shawn Michaels

Note: Batista eliminating Michaels might be my favorite Rumble moments ever.

2011 – Alberto del Rio

RKO – Randy Orton

Attitude Adjustment – John Cena

Note: Shouldn’t Alberto del Rio have been disqualified for not entering the ring before the next competitor? Santino Marella is the rightful 2011 Royal Rumble winner.

Another Note: The silence during the Orton/Cena standoff always cracks me up.

2012 – Sheamus

Walls of Jericho – Chris Jericho

Codebreaker – Chris Jericho

Note: I’m really glad Sheamus’s “Great White” nickname didn’t stick.

2013 – John Cena

Walls of Jericho – Chris Jericho

RKO – Randy Orton

Note: I genuinely get uncomfortable with how excited JBL gets when Wade Barrett beats up the rookie Bo Dallas. Did a rookie kill JBL’s parents?

2014 – Batista

Superkick to Kneeling Opponent – Alberto Del Rio

Brogue Kick – Sheamus

Spear – Roman Reigns

Thoughts: So many boos. This kicked off three straight years of awkward Wrestlemania builds.

2015 – Roman Reigns

Chokeslam – Big Show

Thoughts: I was in attendance for this one too. The crowd wasn’t quite as happy as in 2004.

2016 – Triple H

Superkick – Dolph Ziggler

Codebreaker – Chris Jericho

Thoughts: Did anyone else love watching Triple H and Bray Wyatt square off? Hunter did have some of his best matches against a similarly-styled Mick Foley…

Verdict: Ric Flair was the king. That match could have been 29 people hitting their finishers while Bobby Heenan was having a fit on commentary and I would’ve loved it.