From Wikipedia: In sports, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests. Initially used in professional sports, the term is now also commonly used in amateur sports, as well as in other completely unrelated fields of endeavor such as business and music awards.

When it comes to pro-wrestling, i've decided to closely balance the kayfabed accomplishments of all the fictional characters involved in the Rumble with the accolades of their real-life performers, so this list is a mix-up of how everyone was booked and how everyone actually performed.

(Dis) Honorable Mentions:

The Miz - Entered #1 - Eliminated #25 by Big Show - Time in Match 45:40 - 2 Eliminations.

The Miz wasn't only the number one entrant this year at the rumble, he also managed to last longer than anyone else on the match, despite all of this he had absolutely no presence in this match beyond the first 7 minutes which is quite a big feat.

Big Show - Entered #30 - Eliminated #27 by Orton - Time in Match 01:52 - 4 Eliminations.

When Jericho came at #29 i was expecting something big for #30, big as in an Undertaker return a Brock Lesnar appearence or a glass shattering Stone Cold entrance. I did get something big, big as in "The World's Largest Athlete" and words cannot describe how much i hated it.

If this list was completely unbiased The Big Show would probably have made it as high as number 3, after all in less than 2 minutes he eliminated Miz, Rhodes and Ziggler who accounted for a combined 107 minutes of rumble time. Looks like he also eliminated Jack Swagger, who i don't remember being in the match at all.

Check out the list after the jump...

The Royal Rumble 2012's five most valuable players:

5.- Chris Jericho: Entered #29 - Eliminated #29 by Sheamus - Time in Match 11:34 - 2 Eliminations.

Chris Jericho was probably the most hyped Superstar in the road to the rumble, he was one of the favorites to win it and he managed to eliminate Randy Orton, the other favorite. Only 5 guys lasted longer than Jericho and he was the runner-up, that coupled with the expecations he built up are enough to earn him number 5.

4- Sheamus: Entered #22 - Winner - Time in Match 22:20 - 2 Eliminations.

While storyline wise, Sheamus was one of the top 4 picks to win the rumble (along with Jericho, Orton and Barrett). To most of us he wasn't much of a factor, Sheamus'es ring time of 22:20 was the third highest, and while i don't remember him doing much in the match before we were to the final 2, he did eliminate Kofi and Jericho both part of the select group that lasted over 10 minutes on the match, that plus the big win puts him at number 4 on this list.

3.- Alberto del Rio Ricardo Rodriguez: Entered #8 - Eliminated #5 by Santino - Time in Match 02:18 - 1 Elimination.

This might be a suprising pick considering that Ricardo only lasted 02:18 on the rumble, but he sure made the most out of it, the entrance was spectacular, the "Ri-car-do" chants heartwarming and he even got to eliminate Justin Gabriel, once again Ricardo Rodriguez shows that even when given little to work with he can elicit a big reaction from the WWE Universe.

2.- Dolph Ziggler: Entered #18 -Eliminated #26 by Big Show - Time in Match 19:48 - 3 (or 2) Eliminations.

Ziggler may have looked weak as he lost 4 times to Punk earlier in the night but he came right back up with an impressive Rumble Performance, lasting almost 20 minutes and selling like a king for everyone including the lone woman in the rumble, Ziggler got his payback by eliminating Kharma, and along with Cody Rhodes getting rid of King Bookah and Great Khali. The #HEEL continues to impress and show why he is considered one of the best workers in the industry today.

1.- Cody Rhodes: Entered #4 -Eliminated #24 by Big Show - Time in Match 41:57 - 6 (or 5) Eliminations.

If the Royal Rumble match 2012 was called the Cody Rhodes show i wouldn't have complained, Cody was the second longest participant in the rumble and it showed, he had the most eliminations and they happened to be mostly eliminations of fan favourites, legends and suprise entrants. Outside of Booker and Khali who were shared with Ziggler, Cody took care of Santino, Foley, Duggan and Lawler. For most of the match Cody was the legit bad guy and he showed excellent timing and overall ability. I was a bit dissapointed that the announcers didn't build him up more because he sure as hell deserved it.