Another potentially surprising name on this list is “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, though the first time he failed in a Royal Rumble was when he was still known as “The Ringmaster.” It’s a botch that could have completely changed the course of his career, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case. In 1996, Austin was meant to finish fourth in the Rumble match. Austin has explained in interviews that Rikishi gave him a clothesline, and the ropes were so slippery from the wrestlers’ baby oil, that he slipped and went over the top rope “way early.” Thankfully, following the Rumble botch, Austin was able to change up his persona to the “Stone Cold” character.
That wasn’t Austin’s only loss in Rumble matches, however. In 1999, Austin was eliminated by his arch-nemesis, Mr. McMahon, allowing for McMahon to win the match in shocking fashion. It all worked out in the end, however, with McMahon not going on to face The Rock at WrestleMania that year, but Austin taking his place in the match to win the WWE Title.
