During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take podcast on Thursday, WWE Superstar Seth Rollins revealed his personal ranking of the greatest Royal Rumble winners in WWE history. Citing the impact and memorable moments of these victories, Rollins named five wrestlers and one WWE Superstar in his top five list, highlighting why each finish stood out in his eyes. His picks were:
5. Rey Mysterio (2006)
4. John Cena (2008)
3. Ric Flair (1992)
2. Shawn Michaels (1995)
1. Becky Lynch (2019)
Shawn Michaels’ 1995 Victory Stands Out as an Iconic Moment
Rollins singled out Shawn Michaels’ win in 1995 as his all-time favorite Royal Rumble finish. He recounted how Michaels appeared to be eliminated when he went over the top rope but only one of his feet actually touched the floor. This technicality allowed Michaels to re-enter the match and ultimately eliminate The British Bulldog, securing his very first WrestleMania main event spot. Rollins praised the finish as a perfect example of why this Royal Rumble moment remains so legendary.
Number two, my favorite finish to any Rumble ever. The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels, 1995. Look, gets dumped over the top rope. But the rules state both feet have to touch the ground. Both feet, they didn’t. Only one foot touches the ground. Shawn comes back in, jumps Bulldog over the top rope, and he’s going to the main event of WrestleMania for the first time in his life. We love to see it.
Seth Rollins, WWE Superstar
Becky Lynch’s 2019 Win Marks a Historic Turning Point
Rollins emphasized the groundbreaking nature of Becky Lynch’s 2019 Royal Rumble victory, praising her for changing the game and helping to redefine women’s roles in WWE. He noted that Lynch’s win led to her becoming the first woman to main event WrestleMania, cementing her legacy as a true “game changer.” Rollins also offered a playful nod to Lynch as his wife and called her the greatest of all time repeatedly.
Now, Royal Rumble is about breaking new ground. Royal Rumble is about changing the game. And there is no better game changer than number one, the greatest of all time, my wife, the man big time, Becky Lynch. 2019, she wins the women’s Royal Rumble and goes on to become the first woman ever to main event WrestleMania, the GOAT time and time again. I say it, look at her. I out-kick my coverage guys.
Seth Rollins, WWE Superstar
Discussion on Paul Heyman Reveals Complex Relationship
On the My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox podcast, both Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins opened up about their interactions with Paul Heyman, an esteemed WWE manager and special counsel for Roman Reigns. Rollins described Heyman as both an adversary and a respected figure in his career. He acknowledged Heyman’s deep business acumen and longevity in the industry, explaining how Heyman’s alignment with other top stars like Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns made him a challenging presence for Rollins.
Paul’s interesting. Paul has always been a Seth Rollins guy, but he’s always in some ways been my worst enemy because you see the you see who Paul has aligned himself with in the past both onscreen and offscreen and it’s guys like Brock Lesnar and it’s guys like Roman Reigns who, when they take a top position, don’t want to let it go. And Paul is very smart. He understands business at a level that I don’t think very many people do. He’s been in this industry for I, he’s pushing 50 years now, you know, and he’s seen it all, done it all. So, he understands that part of the business. And I always felt like with him, he was, like I said, he was a thorn in my side, or he was like part of the glass ceiling that I had to try to push through at the at the upper echelon. And I was always the guy where he respected me, but he was annoyed that I was trying to take the spot from the guys that he was with. And so there was like, always a push and pull there. But at the end of the day, Paul always wants to do what is going to be best for business. He wants to do what’s going to make the most money, whether that’s for him or the business itself. And I think he sees how much I care about the industry and the future of it. And so there’s there’s definitely like a there’s a a synergistic relationship there because I think we have the same end goals, but sometimes getting to that endgame, there’s a bit of a we’re going to butt heads just a little bit to get there. So yeah, it’s an interesting relationship, but certainly one of immense mutual respect, I would say.
Seth Rollins, WWE Superstar
Lynch added that during the height of her “The Man” character, Heyman provided creative support and regularly consulted with her during his role running Monday Night Raw.
Yeah. Yeah. Well, when he was running Monday Night Raw, and that would have been at the height of like The Man character. So he would call me every week with creative, and we would discuss, and you know I would sometimes give him my very blunt, honest, sometimes fiery feedback, and he’s uh forever a diplomat, you know, so he would always try to work around it, work with me so we got a good working relationship down.
Becky Lynch, WWE Superstar
Impact and Future Expectations in WWE
The insights shared by Seth Rollins show how pivotal the Royal Rumble remains in WWE storytelling, with moments from Shawn Michaels and Becky Lynch still holding critical importance for fans and performers alike. Highlighting Lynch’s landmark win underscores the ongoing evolution for women’s wrestling in WWE and the breaking of long-standing barriers. Additionally, the candid look into Rollins’ dynamic with Paul Heyman offers a rare glimpse at backstage relationships that influence the business both on and off-screen.
As WWE continues to build toward future events, including the upcoming 2026 Royal Rumble, these reflections provide fans with a deeper understanding of why some matches become timeless. Rollins’ emphasis on memorable finishes and game-changing victories helps set the stage for new stories to unfold in the years ahead.
