WWF Royal Rumble 2000: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best

The WWF kicked off the new millennium with its annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view, delivering a night that would become one of the most memorable events in company history. The Rock won the Royal Rumble match in controversial fashion, punching his ticket to WrestleMania 2000, while Triple H defended his WWF Championship against Cactus Jack in a barbaric Street Fight that pushed both men to their absolute limits. From the undercard to the main events, the night featured a mix of memorable moments and forgettable filler. Here's every match from the 2000 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, ranked from worst to best.

WWF Royal Rumble 2000 Results

Match Order	Match	Stipulation	Time	Winner
1	Kurt Angle Vs. Tazz	Singles Match	3:16	Tazz
2	The Hardy Boyz Vs. The Dudley Boyz	Tables Match	10:17	The Hardy Boyz
3	Chris Jericho Vs. Chyna Vs. Hardcore Holly	WWF Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat Match	7:30	Chris Jericho
4	The New Age Outlaws Vs. The Acolytes	WWF World Tag Team Championship Match	2:35	The New Age Outlaws
5	Triple H Vs. Cactus Jack	WWF Championship Street Fight	26:55	Triple H
6	2000 Royal Rumble Match	30-Man Royal Rumble Match	51:48	The Rock

6. The New Age Outlaws vs. The Acolytes (WWF Tag Team Championship)

• The New Age Outlaws had been champions since November 8, 1999

• The Acolytes had helped Cactus Jack & The Rock in their battles against DX

• X-Pac helped The New Age Outlaws retain the championship

This was a disappointing and pointless Tag Team Championship match that barely lasted three minutes. The New Age Outlaws retained their titles with a cheap victory over The Acolytes in what felt like a complete throwaway bout. At least the WWF Tag Team Championship made an appearance on the card, even if the match itself was entirely forgettable.

• Rating: No rating (N/R)

5. Chris Jericho vs. Chyna vs. Hardcore Holly (WWF Intercontinental Championship)

• Chris Jericho defeated Chyna for the Intercontinental Championship at Armageddon 1999

• Jericho & Chyna were declared "co-champions" after a rematch ended with a double pin

• After beating both Jericho & Chyna on TV in January 2000, Hardcore Holly was added to the mix

A serviceable triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship, though nothing particularly memorable. The co-champions storyline between Jericho and Chyna was absolutely ridiculous, making Jericho's victory a welcome conclusion to the drawn-out angle.

Chyna looked noticeably sloppy throughout, including hitting one of the worst Pedigrees you'll ever see. Jericho was clearly the crowd favorite, and his win was the right decision, also signaling the end of Chyna's push as a credible singles competitor.

• Rating: *3/4

4. Kurt Angle vs. Tazz

• Kurt Angle had debuted at Survivor Series 1999, and was still undefeated

• He held an open challenge at Royal Rumble 2000 in Madison Square Garden

• This was Tazz's WWF debut match

Kurt Angle's mystery opponent was revealed to be ECW legend Tazz. And holy shit, what a debut it was. This explosive opener was the perfect way to kick off Royal Rumble 2000, with Tazz looking absolutely dominant as he choked out the undefeated Olympic Gold Medalist with the Tazzmission for a huge submission victory.

The win immediately established Tazz as a legitimate threat in the WWF and ended Angle's unbeaten streak in shocking fashion. Unfortunately, this would prove to be the peak of Tazz's in-ring WWF career, as injuries and a transition to commentary prevented him from reaching these heights again. Still, as far as debuts go, this was a memorable one.

• Rating: **1/2

3. 2000 Royal Rumble Match

Draw	Wrestler	Time In The Match	Eliminated By	Number Of Eliminations
1	D'Lo Brown	6:08	Rikishi	None
2	Grandmaster Sexay	7:42	Rikishi	None
3	Mosh	3:37	Rikishi	None
4	Christian	2:08	Rikishi	None
5	Rikishi	16:23	The British Bulldog, The Big Bossman, Test, Bob Backlund, Gangrel & Edge	7
6	Scotty 2 Hotty	1:02	Rikishi	None
7	Steve Blackman	0:44	Rikishi	None
8	Viscera	1:25	Rikishi	None
9	The Big Bossman	22:47	The Rock	3
10	Test	26:17	Big Show	1
11	The British Bulldog	15:22	Road Dogg	1
12	Gangrel	23:19	Big Show	1
13	Edge	14:48	Val Venis & Al Snow	1
14	Bob Backlund	2:00	Chris Jericho	1
15	Chris Jericho	3:47	Chyna	1
16	Crash Holly	14:54	The Rock	None
17	Chyna	0:38	The Big Bossman	1
18	Faarooq	0:18	The Big Bossman	None
19	Road Dogg	19:02	Billy Gunn	2
20	Al Snow	17:17	The Rock	2
21	Val Venis	11:47	Kane	1
22	Prince Albert	11:23	Kane	None
23	Hardcore Holly	11:48	Al Snow	None
24	The Rock	14:47	N/A (Winner)	4
25	Billy Gunn	9:38	Kane	2
26	Big Show	11:12	The Rock	4
27	Bradshaw	0:25	The New Age Outlaws	None
28	Kane	6:11	X-Pac	3
29	The Godfather	1:32	Big Show	None
30	X-Pac	3:32	Big Show	1

A solid Royal Rumble match that delivered plenty of entertainment despite a less-than-stellar roster. The early portions were highlighted by Rikishi and Too Cool dancing halfway through the Rumble Match before Rikishi turned on his partners, eliminating both Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay along with several other competitors in a dominant display.

The constant interferences from Kaientai and the Mean Street Posse added comedic chaos throughout, while Bob Backlund's surprise return provided a nice nostalgia pop. The match kicked into high gear once The Rock entered at #24, and the final stretch of the match was genuinely thrilling. The botched finish is quite disappointing, though. Overall, the WWF did an admirable job crafting a fun Rumble match with the talent available. Not essential viewing, but far from boring.

Rating: ***1/2

2. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz (Tag Team Tables Match)

• This was the first PPV match between The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz

• Both teams would face Edge & Christian in a Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000

• Despite losing, The Dudley Boyz went on to become champions at the next PPV, No Way Out

This was the first-ever tag team Tables Match in WWF history, and it absolutely delivered. Ten minutes of non-stop, brutal action that never let up for a second. The Hardys and The Dudleys unleashed an insane array of table spots and vicious chair shots to the head, some of which were genuinely uncomfortable to watch.

The finish was unforgettable, as Jeff Hardy launched himself off the balcony with a Swanton Bomb onto D-Von Dudley through a table, which was an extremely memorable spot. I'd have loved for this match to go longer, but I guess it was perfect for its length. I wasn't bored for even a single second watching this match.

• Rating: ***3/4

1. Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (WWF Championship: Street Fight)

• Triple H and Mick Foley had numerous brutal matches over the years

• They'd already wrestled in Madison Square Garden in 1997

• Triple H had defeated Mankind for his first WWF Championship in August 1999

This is one of my favorite WWE matches ever. The build-up to this Street Fight was absolutely phenomenal, and I can only imagine how electric the hype must have been at the time. Triple H and Cactus Jack delivered a masterclass in storytelling through violence, tearing the house down in an extremely brutal affair. From the iconic handcuff spot to the sickening chair shots, every moment felt significant and dangerous.

The finish was perfect as Triple H hit two Pedigrees on Cactus Jack, with the second one delivered directly onto a pile of thumbtacks for the victory. This was truly the match that elevated Triple H into main event stardom, as he defeated the hardcore legend clean without any shenanigans. A violent masterpiece that proved The Game belonged at the top of the card. Essential viewing for any wrestling fan.

• Rating: *****

And that’s all for today’s post, thank you all for reading. Stay tuned for the next post of this series where we will rank the matches of No Way Out. Have a nice day!