Royal Rumble 2001: Stone Cold's Hat-Trick and the Return of The Game

Date: January 21, 2001

Location: New Orleans Arena - New Orleans, Louisiana

The Rumble Match:

Entrants and Eliminations:

1. Jeff Hardy (Entry #1, eliminated by Matt Hardy)

2. Bull Buchanan (Entry #2, eliminated by Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)

3. Matt Hardy (Entry #3, eliminated by Jeff Hardy)

4. Faarooq (Entry #4, eliminated by Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy )

5. Drew Carey (Entry #5, eliminated by Himself)

6. Kane (Entry #6, eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin)

7. Raven (Entry #7, eliminated by Kane)

8. Al Snow (Entry #8, eliminated by Kane)

9. Perry Saturn (Entry #9, eliminated by Kane)

10. Steve Blackman (Entry #10, eliminated by Kane)

11. Grand Master Sexay (Entry #11, eliminated by Kane)

12. The Honky Tonk Man (Entry #12, eliminated by Kane)

13. The Rock (Entry #13, eliminated by Kane)

14. The Goodfather (Entry #14, eliminated by The Rock)

15. Tazz (Entry #15, eliminated by Kane)

16. Bradshaw (Entry #16, eliminated by The Undertaker)

17. Albert (Entry #17, eliminated by Kane)

18. Hardcore Holly (Entry #18, eliminated by The Undertaker)

19. K-Kwik (Entry #19, eliminated by Big Show)

20. Val Venis (Entry #20, eliminated by The Undertaker)

21. William Regal (Entry #21, eliminated by Test)

22. Test (Entry #22, eliminated by The Big Show)

23. The Big Show (Entry #23, eliminated by The Rock)

24. Crash Holly (Entry #24, eliminated by Kane)

25. The Undertaker (Entry #25, eliminated by Rikishi)

26. Scotty 2 Hotty (Entry #26, eliminated by Kane and The Undertaker)

27. Steve Austin (Entry #27, Winner)

28. Billy Gunn (Entry #28, eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin)

29. Haku (Entry #29, eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin)

30. Rikishi (Entry #30, eliminated by The Rock)

Thoughts on the Match:

The 2001 Royal Rumble marked "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's unprecedented third consecutive victory, while unexpected entrant Drew Carey provided a memorable moment.

Full Event Card:

1. Lo Down vs. Kaientai (Lo Down wins)

2. Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz for the Tag Team Championship (The Dudley Boys win)

3. Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit for the Intercontinental Championship (Chris Jericho wins)

4. Ivory vs. Chyna for the Women's Championship (Ivory wins)

5. Kurt Angle vs. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho for the WWE Championship (Kurt Angle wins)

6. The Royal Rumble Match (Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin)

Highlights and Aftermath:

- Drew Carey's comedic appearance and self-elimination added an unexpected twist to the Rumble match.

- The ongoing rivalry between Triple H and Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship showcased intense in-ring action.

Impact on Storylines:

- "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's hat-trick Rumble victory solidified his status as one of the all-time greats.

- The events of the Royal Rumble match set the stage for key storylines leading into WrestleMania X-Seven.

Conclusion:

The 2001 Royal Rumble was a testament to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's dominance, with surprises and fierce competition shaping the landscape of WWE. As the road to WrestleMania unfolded, this event left an indelible mark on the company's history.