Shortly after Goldberg and Brock Lesnar announced that they would be participating in this year's 2017 "Royal Rumble," The Undertaker announced that he, too, would be a part of the main event at "Royal Rumble" 2017. The Undertaker has competed in the 30-man battle royal ten times before this year, last participating in 2009. With the WWE Universe currently getting behind many of the top New Era superstars (such as Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns and AJ Styles), and other big name veterans like Lesnar and Goldberg as part of the contest, does the 51-year-old Mark Calaway really stand a chance of winning this year's event and headlining "WrestleMania 33"?
What follows is a look at the statistics for The Undertaker's previous "Royal Rumble" entries, and what predictions can be made about the "Royal Rumble" 2017 main event based on Taker's history at WWE's annual January PPV.
'Royal Rumble' entry number
The number a "Royal Rumble" entrant draws is critical to how they do in the event. While a handful of WWE Superstars have won the "Royal Rumble" after drawing No. 1 or No. 2, they are much more likely to win if they draw somewhere between No. 24 and No. 30. It's not uncommon for bigger, popular wrestlers to get later numbers, so that they still look fresh at the end of the Rumble.
The Undertaker is the only wrestler to come in at No. 30 three times. But he's also come in at No. 1. His average entry number over the years is No. 18 or No. 19.
Length of stay and elimination order
No one has ever accused The Undertaker of having the best cardio in the business. It's no surprise that he's never competed in an Iron Man Match. That being said, it shouldn't shock his fans to learn that of his ten attempts at winning one of the WWE's most prestigious matches, he's only lasted over 15 minutes three times. The one time he was victorious in the "Royal Rumble" (in 2007), he only had to last 13:15. To his credit, his last two attempts (in 2008 and 2009) lasted over thirty minutes each.
While elimination order isn't technically important (you don't get any prizes for being the last one eliminated versus being the first), it certainly says something about how the WWE wants their fans to view a particular wrestler. Since first entering in 1991, Taker's earliest elimination was 10th (in his first attempt) and has been one of the last five on 4 separate occasions. The Undertaker's average placing is exactly 20th.
Eliminator/eliminated
Most WWE fans know that the Undertaker's brother Kane holds the record for all-time "Royal Rumble" eliminations (44 wrestlers over 19 entries) and that Roman Reigns holds the record for most eliminations in one Rumble (12 total in 2014). Taker is fourth on the list for most cumulative eliminations (35) and has maxed out in a single year at 7 eliminations in 2002.
Even so, he generally eliminates mid-to lower-card participants like Bushwhacker Butch, Jamal of Public Enemy, and Snitsky.
In fact, it doesn't necessarily require a legendary status to eliminate the Undertaker, as guys like Maven, The Giant Gonzalez and Rikishi have already accomplished the feat.
Predictions
Since he is considered one of the favorites to win this year's event, The Undertaker is likely to get a fairly late number, and still be around as part of the coveted "final four" at the end. As a late entry, he likely won't be required to stay in the ring long, probably putting in another effort of around 15 minutes. He's sure to toss a few stragglers when he first enters the match-up, but probably whoever is in the ring at the time that is least likely to win the match.
As part of the final four, if he gets eliminated, it will be by someone significant, like Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman. But with this being possibly The Undertaker's last "Royal Rumble" and last "WrestleMania," look for The Dead Man to win this year's event.
"Royal Rumble" 2017 will air live on the WWE Network on January 29.