Royal Rumble 2011 Royal Rumble 2011 was the twenty - fourth annual Royal Rumble event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) . It took place on January 30 , 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston , Massachusetts . Background . The Royal Rumble featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre - existing scripted feuds , plots , and storylines that will be played out on World Wrestling Entertainment ' s ( WWE ) primary television programs . Wrestlers portrayed villains or heroes as they follow a series of events that build tension , and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches . The pay - per - view featured the annual Royal Rumble match , which has been featured at every Royal Rumble event since its inception . As opposed to the traditional thirty participants , forty entrants participated in the 2011 Royal Rumble match , the most in the history of the event . The match ends when one wrestler remains in the ring , after all 39 other wrestlers have been eliminated via being tossed over the top ring rope and having both feet touch the floor . The winner will earn a world championship match of their choosing at WrestleMania XXVII . In addition to the Royal Rumble match , the main rivalry from the Raw brand involves the WWE Champion The Miz defending his title against Randy Orton . After Survivor Series , The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated Orton to become the WWE Champion before defending it against Orton a month later at . After defeating Wade Barrett and King Sheamus , in a steel cage match on an episode of " Raw " , Orton received another opportunity at the title in a match against The Miz . The main rivalry from the SmackDown brand involves the World Heavyweight Champion Edge defending his title against Dolph Ziggler . After defeating " Dashing " Cody Rhodes , Drew McIntyre and The Big Show , Ziggler won a title opportunity for Edge ' s World Heavyweight Championship after Kane lost to Edge in his rematch . After winning his opportunity , Edge went on a campaign against Ziggler and his girlfriend , and Edge ' s ex - wife , Vickie Guerrero . On the January 28 episode of " SmackDown " , Guerrero , who was the acting General Manager in place of the injured Theodore Long , banned the use of Edge ' s Spear and would strip him of his title if he used it during his match against Ziggler . The Divas rivalry entering the Royal Rumble was between Natalya and LayCool over the WWE Divas Championship . Natalya defeated LayCool in a handicap match at Survivor Series to win the Divas Championship , and she would later team with Beth Phoenix in a victorious outing against LayCool in the first ever Divas Tag Team Tables Match at TLC . The following night on " Raw " , Melina turned heel and slapped Natalya after winning a # 1 Contender ' s Triple Threat Match against Eve Torres and Alicia Fox . After Natalya retained her title against the villainous Melina on the January 24 , 2011 edition of " Raw " , LayCool entered and announced that they will cash in their rematch clause at the Royal Rumble event . Reception . " Royal Rumble " received positive reviews . Writing for The Sun , Rob McNichol praised the event , particularly noting Alberto Del Rio ' s surprise Rumble Match victory , John Morrison ' s impressive performance : " featured arguably the spot of the decade as John Morrison was knocked from the apron to the guardrail , but avoided elimination by gripped the barrier and leaping back onto the steps . It truly had to be seen to be believed . " He further praised Dolph Ziggler ' s performance in a big - match situation , and the story the Miz - Orton match told . Overall he awarded the event 8 out of 10 . SLAM ! Wrestling writers Dale Plummer and Nick Tylwalk shared similar compliments to the event , praising the short , though crowd - pleasing appearances of Diesel and Booker T . Overall they awarded the event a score of 7 . 5 / 10 . Royal Rumble entrances and eliminations . A new entrant came out approximately every 90 seconds . ^ The Miz was not a participant in the Match .