No, You Can’t Bet On The Royal Rumble, But You Can Still Win Some Money
Saturday marks the 36th edition of WWE’s Royal Rumble, an often overlooked opportunity to earn a few bucks.
While Michigan sportsbooks don’t offer odds on pro wrestling in the United States, there are free-to-play pools offered as part of the Royal Rumble.
You can’t blame the Michigan Gaming Control Board for not adding pro wrestling to the list of approved events to wager on. What would be next, betting on reality shows?
Growing up as a professional wrestling fan, the Royal Rumble has always been one of my favorite events of the year.
In the land of pre-scripted stunt work, the Royal Rumble is “Avengers: Endgame.” The best of today, yesterday and the future all in one event, with a little mystery sprinkled in.
Here’s how you can spice up your Royal Rumble experience this weekend.
What is the Royal Rumble?
For those unfamiliar, the Royal Rumble is an annual event put on by World Wrestling Entertainment.
While normal singles or tag team matches take place, the event is headlined by a match indeed called the “Royal Rumble”.
In the Royal Rumble, 30 participants compete and one is crowned the winner.
A “random draw” is held (it’s WWE folks, just go with it). The participant to draw No. 1 starts the match with No. 2. After a given period of time (has varied from 60 seconds to 2 minutes over the years) the next participant joins the ring. This goes on until all 30 have entered.
Wrestlers are eliminated when thrown over the top rope and both feet touch the floor. When 29 wrestlers have been eliminated, the lone survivor is named the winner.
Since 2018 the Royal Rumble has doubled up its excitement by adding a women’s Royal Rumble as well. That’s double the intrigue and double the fun.
Royal Rumble facts and figures
- When: 8 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Alamodome in San Antonio, Tx.
- TV: Streaming live on Peacock
- 2024 Winners: Brock Lesnar (men’s); Ronda Rousey (women’s) (Full list of all-time winners)
- Most Rumble Wins: Stone Cold Steve Austin (three: 1997, 98 and 2001)
- Most Career Eliminations: Kane (45)
- Most Single Rumble Eliminations: Brock Lesnar (13 in 2020)
- Longest Rumble Survival: Rey Mysterio (62 minutes, 12 seconds in 2006)
DraftKings offering up free Royal Rumble pool
The Royal Rumble is definitely a mainstream event at this point.
DraftKings Sportsbook has gotten in on the act and is offering up a free Royal Rumble Pool you can join for the men’s Royal Rumble this Saturday.
The pool contains 20 questions for you to answer prior to the event. If you answer correctly, you can win part of the $25,000 pool.
If you’re lucky enough to win, you can collect a total of $1,000 without spending a penny.
Even if you’re not a wrestling fan, maybe this is a good way to test the waters. You aren’t going to win money by watching “Law & Order: SVU.”
How I’ve enjoyed the Royal Rumble
A fun game I’ve played during the Royal Rumble involved me and 29 others taking part in a pool where we were each randomly given a number. That number represented the wrestler that came out at that selection. If that wrestler won, we won.
Be advised though, don’t go chasing waterfalls. If you’re planning on any pools at home, check out these fantasy sports betting guidelines for Michigan.
In 2015, I got No. 17 as my Rumble number. Not a bad spot to be in. The back half tends to be when the drama picks up. Sadly, No. 17 had never won to that point (Yes, I know these things). That year, the countdown to No. 17 was never more exciting.
10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…(buzzer)
Out came Kofi Kingston. I immediately let out a vocal cuss. Nothing against Kofi, but at that time the WWE didn’t recognize his brilliance. I knew I wasn’t winning.
After missing out on the pool in 2016 because I attended the event live, the 2017 Royal Rumble was a wash before it started. I drew No. 10 and knew I had no chance. Tye Dillinger, also known as “The Perfect 10” was predictably who came out at my number. Needless to say, he was far from perfect.
In 2018, I nearly won. It was one of the few times I was openly rooting in an event I knew had been decided hours ago.
I got No. 28 and out came Roman Reigns. The WWE loved pushing Roman Reigns down our throat, so it was definitely possible he could win.
Sure enough, the last two were Reigns and Shinsuke Nakamura. As a fan, I actually wanted Nakamura to win. As a human being who enjoyed winning, I was all in for Reigns.
So you can imagine my disappointment when Reigns was tossed out and Nakamura won.
It felt like watching Aaron Rodgers hit a game-winning Hail Mary against the Detroit Lions.
I’m back at it this year. I’ve got No. 19 for the men’s rumble and No. 11 for the women’s. Sound like winners to me.
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