List of Royal Rumble 1988 Match Results
A complete match-by-match results list for the inaugural Royal Rumble on January 24, 1988 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada — broadcast live as a television special on the USA Network.
The inaugural Royal Rumble on January 24, 1988 was broadcast live as a free television special on the USA Network rather than pay-per-view — making it the only Royal Rumble not on PPV or streaming. The event took place at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and featured a 20-man Royal Rumble match (not the standard 30) won by Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The tag team match between The Islanders and The Young Stallions was the main event. The Royal Rumble match concept was created by Pat Patterson.
| # | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Duggan & Bret Hart vs. Harley Race & Dangerous Danny Davis Tag Team Match — Pre-Show/Undercard |
| 2 | Ricky Steamboat def. Rick Rude — Singles Match The Dragon vs. Ravishing Rick |
| 3 | Jumping Bomb Angels def. Glamour Girls — WWF Women's Tag Championship Women's Tag Title Changed Hands |
| 4 | The Islanders def. Young Stallions — Main Event Tag Match Haku & Tama vs. Paul Roma & Jim Powers — Main Event |
| 5 | Hacksaw Jim Duggan won the 20-Man Royal Rumble Match Inaugural Royal Rumble — 20-Man Match — Entry #13 — Last Eliminated: One Man Gang |
This list is compiled from verified public records and reference sources. Last verified: March 23, 2026.
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