It’s that time of year again, the Royal Rumble is upon us! For many, it’s the most looked-forward to PPV of the year. From record breaking moments to legends returning, literally anything can happen!
In this article we’re going to take a little trip down Rumble Lane, celebrating the most iconic winners and some of their most interesting Topps cards.
So while you’ll getting ready to celebrate your hero and point at that Wrestlemania sign, let’s open up the vault and see what’s inside!
1. 2025 WWE Topps NOW® Card 4 John Cena Auto-Relic 1/1
Guys, can you believe it’s Cena’s last Rumble?! This is going to be emotional.
Who remembers his first win in 2008? He’d torn his pectoral a few months earlier, and was never meant to be back in time. The look on Triple H’s face when his music dropped and he returned as the surprise 30th entrant is something that gives chills to this day!
The question is though, can he win the 2025 Royal Rumble and keep the dream alive of capturing a record-breaking 17th World Title?
Is the time finally now?
Well, the card above compliments the man himself perfectly. It hits on so many rarity levels as a collector and WWE fan. It’s a 1 of 1, with a perfectly placed ‘Last Time’ patch, with his signature and an inscription. Just like Cena hitting the AA – it’s unbeatable!
2. 2020 Stone Cold Steve Austin 3:16 Day Trading Card Set – Print Run: 137
There’s no Rumble-related list without Stone Cold! The only wrestler in history to win three Royal Rumbles, and one of only four superstars to ever win back-to-back Rumbles.
Now you might think the card above is a bit unassuming, but it’s actually got great meaning and rarity too.
In 2020 Topps released a limited set for 3:16 day containing five cards of The Rattlesnake winning championships – and it only had a print run of 137 copies!
I’ve chosen to showcase the card above because, thanks to his Rumble win in 1998, Stone Cold went on to beat Shawn Michaels for the title in an epic match at Wrestlemania XIV.
3. 2025 WWE Topps Chrome ‘Marks of Champions’ Cody Rhodes Auto 1/1
Next up we have perhaps the greatest wrestling story of the modern era. From undesirable to undeniable, Cody Rhodes fulfilled his destiny at Wrestlemania 40, beating Roman Reigns for the World Championship.
And of course, throwing CM Punk over the top rope and winning back-to-back Rumbles earlier that year is a key part of his journey.
The card above, is a beautiful 1 of 1 piece commemorating Rhodes’ rise. The inscription ‘Story Finished!’ is poignant, and shows just how far The American Nightmare developed from his Stardust days.
4. 2019 WWE Topps NOW® Card Becky Lynch
Interestingly, Becky Lynch’s story has similarities to Cody’s. Never quite seen as a top star, she had to force her way into the limelight. An unscripted incident with Nia Jax left her with a bloodied face, and set the wheels in motion for a meteoric push from mid-card to The Man.
The card above captures her 2019 Rumble win, after dumping Charlotte Flair over the top rope. Of course, she then went on to beat Flair and Ronda Rousey, and make history in the first-ever female main event at Wrestlemania.
5. 2025 WWE Topps NOW® Card Triple H
Finally, I think we’d be remiss not to mention Triple H on this list. His refreshing and forward-thinking approach to the business, means the WWE continues to thrive. A huge deal with Netflix is the latest example of this, with the card above showcasing the new era.
This year’s Royal Rumble will be shown on Netflix for the first time ever, so let’s celebrate the man who made it happen by remembering he’s a two time winner, being the last man standing both in 2002 and 2016.
So, as we approach the 38th annual Royal Rumble, the question remains, who’s going to punch their ticket to the show of the immortals?
Will the John Cena farewell tour get off to a dream start? Or will his road to Wrestlemania be bumpier than expected?
Let the countdown begin…
