The Royal Rumble has been one of WWE’s most unusual and unpredictable events. From what I would call the “best seat in the house,” I‘ve witnessed - and on many occasions introduced - a number of defining occurrences through the years. Therefore, as we celebrate the 25^th edition of this long-running WWE staple on Jan. 29, WWE.com revisits some of the magical moments that took place over the past 24 Royal Rumbles - some from the Royal Rumble Matches themselves, others from clashes that took place in the titularly named pay-per-view event.

CENA'S TRIUMPHANT RETURN
1/25/08 – New York, N.Y.
For a second consecutive year, the individual who drew entry No. 30 went right into the heat of battle and emerged as the winner of the Royal Rumble Match. To add further icing to the cake, John Cena was entrant No. 30, and made a successful return to action after recovering from a severe pectoral injury that forced him to relinquish his WWE Championship only months before.

SANTINO'S MOMENT ... LITERALLY
1/26/09 – Detroit, Mich.
You have the opportunity of a lifetime in front of you. Enter the Royal Rumble Match, withstand the competition, win it, then go onto WrestleMania for either a WWE or World Championship Match. On this occasion, however, the popular Santino Marella found out that achieving this lifelong dream in such a match can also turn into a record-shattering, nightmarish instant.

FIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
1/27/10 - Atlanta, Ga.
A unique aspect of the Royal Rumble Match is the element of a surprise entrant. More times than none, when that individual enters the event, the word bearing follows. Such was the case in Gate City, as The Glamazon Beth Phoenix became the second Diva in WWE history to enter the fray – and in the process eliminated The Great Khali!

THE EDGE GOES TO EDGE
1/28/11 – Boston, Mass.
A very intense, personal issue building on Friday Night SmackDown set the stage for a one-on-one encounter between Edge and Dolph Ziggler. And in one of his final pay-per-view matches, The Rated-R Superstar would successfully defend his World Heavyweight Championship against the brash, cocky Ziggler and his personal Cougar, Vickie Guerrero.

MORE ROYAL RUMBLE MEMORIES: 1988-1992 | 1992-1997 | 1998-2002 | 2003-2007