Overview

The Royal Rumble (2000) was the 22nd edition of WWE's annual over-the-top-rope elimination match. The bout followed the long-established Royal Rumble format in which 30 wrestlers enter at timed intervals and are eliminated when they are thrown over the top rope and both feet touch the floor. The prize for the winner was a guaranteed world championship match at the year’s major spring event, WrestleMania.

Match format and stakes

As with other Royal Rumbles, the contest combined athletic performance with storyline developments. Competitors arrive at staggered intervals, creating changing alliances and surprise eliminations. The last man remaining in the ring becomes the official winner and typically earns a title shot at WrestleMania. The match is frequently used to elevate a top star or to start long-term rivalries.

The 2000 finale and controversy

The final moments of the 2000 Rumble saw Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (The Rock) and The Big Show (Big Show) as the last two participants. In the closing exchange, The Rock reversed an elimination attempt and sent Big Show over the top rope. Big Show protested immediately, claiming that The Rock himself had been eliminated first — that Rock's feet touched the arena floor before Big Show’s. Despite the dispute and protest angle, the official result recorded The Rock as the winner and thus the challenger for the world title at WrestleMania. Following the decision, Big Show attacked The Rock in the storyline’s aftermath.

Notable aspects and aftermath

  • The victory added momentum to The Rock’s already prominent status on WWE programming and set up a championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
  • The disputed finale was played as a storyline element, with Big Show’s protest adding tension that carried into subsequent television episodes and pay-per-view storylines.
  • The Royal Rumble continued to serve as a crossroads event: it showcased rising stars, advanced feuds, and created headline angles for the road to spring’s marquee show.

Significance

Royal Rumble matches are a cornerstone of professional wrestling storytelling, and the 2000 edition is remembered for its dramatic finish and involvement of two major figures of the era. The result reinforced The Rock’s role as a top draw and used controversy to fuel television narratives in the weeks before WrestleMania. Fans and historians often cite such disputed endings when discussing how promotions balance in-ring action with ongoing character-driven plots.

Further reading

For a broader look at the event series, its rules and past winners, see the general Royal Rumble overview at Royal Rumble. Profiles and career retrospectives for the principal competitors appear at pages like The Rock and Big Show.