4) Bob Backlund – 1:01:10
— 1993 Royal Rumble Match
Bob Backlund would enter the 1993 Royal Rumble in the number 2 spot, right after the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair entered at number one.
Backlund would last in the match for over an hour and one minute (1:01:10) but like Triple H in 2006, he was unable to win it.
Backlund was eliminated 28th by the eventual winner Yokozuna
Backlund broke the record that Ric Flair set a year prior for the longest time spent in a single Rumble by over a minute. This record would stand until 2004…..
3) Chris Benoit – 1:01:31
— 2004 Royal Rumble Match
The 2004 Royal Rumble marked only the second time that a wrestler has entered the match at number 1 and went on to win. The first was Shawn Michaels in 1995, the second was Chris Benoit in 2004.
Benoit entered in the number 1 spot and went on to win the match. He spent over an hour and a minute (1:01:31) in the ring on route to his big win. This broke the record set by Bob Backlund in 1993 for the longest time in the ring at that point.
He had 6 impressive eliminations, including:
- Mark Henry
- Bradshaw
- Rhyno
- Matt Morgan
- A-Train
- The Big Show.
Benoit would go on to wrestle at Wrestlemania XX for the World Heavyweight Championship. He defeated both Triple H and Shawn Michaels to win his first World Title.
Due to circumstances surrounding the death of Benoit and his family, these moments are not talked about by WWE.
2) Rey Mysterio – 1:02:12
— 2006 Royal Rumble Match
Remember how we said that Triple H entered at number 1 and lasted for over an hour in the 2006 Rumble before being eliminated by Rey Mysterio? Guess who entered the match in the number 2 spot…..
Rey lasted an impressive 2 more minutes than Triple H in the match, staying in the ring for over an hour and two minutes (1:02:12). This set the record for the longest time spent in the ring in a single Royal Rumble match.
After eliminating Triple H, it left Rey in the ring with only Randy Orton. Rey was able to eliminate Orton and win the match. He dedicated his victory to Eddie Guerrero, who passed away only a few months prior.
Rey would go on to win the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 22 in a triple threat match against Orton and Kurt Angle.
Use the buttons below for more WWE stars who spent the longest time in the ring in a single Royal Rumble match.
