The Royal Rumble match is WWE's equivalent to a playoff tournament whereWWE Superstars compete in a single elimination match to determine who wins a shot at the World Championship on the Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania. Although it doesn't have the longevity of lasting multiple weeks, if not months as any post-season tournament would, the Royal Rumble is still framed as a test of endurance.

If someone can outlast 29 other Superstars, they win. While a superstar may have the luck or good timing to arrive later in the match, if they arrive far earlier though, sometimes they have to last more than an hour into the match. It's an impressive feat that not many superstars have achieved. Even if they don't win, they look impressive in defeat if they prove themselves a proverbial Iron Man or Iron Woman.

10 Chris Jericho - 1:00:13

Royal Rumble 2017

There were a lot of storylines stemming from the 2017 Royal Rumble match. Roman Reigns teased his WrestleMania main event against The Undertaker before being eliminated by Wyatt Family member Randy Orton, whose Rumble win set the stage for him to betray Bray Wyatt. There were so many stories stemming from this match that Chris Jericho's record-setting performance was overlooked entirely.

Jericho (who, himself, was setting up breaking away from then-tag-team partner Kevin Owens) was one of the first two entrants in the match, entering at number two. ittedly, despite lasting just over an hour, the performance itself was uneventful as Jericho only eliminated two people before being eliminated by Reigns. However, he brilliantly acted as the "thread", meaning that experienced veteran who directs things in what is often a chaotic match.

9 Triple H - 1:00:16

Royal Rumble 2006

As surprising as it was to see Rey Mysterio win the 2006 Royal Rumble, it was even more shocking to see Triple H as one of its losers. There was a time when it was rare to see Triple H without the World Championship around his waist, and so he was one of the favorites to win the match to get back to gold. He also had a reputation for "burying" talents. Fans savvy to that reputation expected more of the same as HHH endured just over an hour's worth of time, entering at number one.

The current CCO of WWE would be outlasted by the number two entrant, Rey Mysterio, but not before eliminating six other participants. He looked strong in defeat, but as he was still defeated, the burial narrative for The Game was not relevant on this night, much to the delight and surprise of numerous fans. It should be mentioned that WWE's priority for this match was to quickly erase Chris Benoit's record from 2004, and who better than Rey Mysterio to do it?

8 Rhea Ripley / Liv Morgan [Tied] 1:01:08

Royal Rumble 2023

Viewers who just got into WWE programming following its Netflix deal will have noticed that Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan have spent the better part of 2024 feuding with each other. Truthfully, the rivalry between the former tag team partners dates much further than this past year. Ripley first targeted Morgan in 2022, ing Judgment Day - one of WWE's greatest factions - soon after.

Their feud continued, culminating at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where both women were the first and last Superstars in the match. They entered at entrants one and two, managing to stay in the match for more than an hour. They wound up being the last two in the match, with Ripley last eliminating Morgan. The match ended with both sharing the same allotted time in the match, but more significantly, only one came out victorious while the other lost just the same as the other entrants.

7 Bob Backlund - 1:01:10

Royal Rumble 1993

The 1993 Rumble marked the first time that the stipulation was added to the match that the winner of the Rumble would challenge the World Champion at WrestleMania. To mark the occasion and make it special, the match would start with two former WWE Champions. Ric Flair entered at number one, while Bob Backlund came in at number two. Flair would be eliminated by Mr. Perfect 18 minutes later, but Backlund continued his extended stretch for more than an hour.

Backlund's performance, at the time, would stand as the record for the longest run from a WWE Superstar in a single Royal Rumble match. The record would stand for an astounding 11 years, never to be broken until 2004. In the meantime, Backlund would enjoy a career comeback as a result of this performance. Shortly after, he'd wrestle his first Mania at WrestleMania IX.

6 Chris Benoit - 1:01:35

Royal Rumble 2004

This is obviously a Royal Rumble win that WWE couldn't, wouldn't, and quite frankly shouldn't talk about anymore due to the elephant in the room regarding Chris Benoit's crimes, as well as the feelings his name alone evokes. In 2004, though, he was the closest that WWE had to a dark horse pick. Benoit had always floated around the main event picture, but never as a full-fledged main eventer. His size and stature were much too small compared to the average WrestleMania headliner.

So, when SmackDown General Manager Paul Heyman gave Chris Benoit the number one entrant on the New Year's episode, most fans didn't expect anything more than an impressive performance that wouldn't amount to a win. To everyone's surprise, Benoit would break the record at the time for the longest Royal Rumble match performance, as well as becoming the first man since Shawn Michaels to win from number one.

5 Naomi - 1:02:10

Royal Rumble 2024

Following a backstage dispute during a meeting with Vince McMahon (one which audiences still don't fully know the details about), Trinity "Naomi" Fatu and Mercedes "Sasha Banks" Kaestner-Varnado walked out during an episode of Monday Night Raw, prompting a suspension and eventual release. Trinity would subsequently sign with Total Nonstop Action, becoming a TNA Knockouts Champion in the process.

The 2024 Royal Rumble event opened shockingly as the opening match's 30-Woman bout saw the all-too-familiar "Feel the Glow" sound off throughout the arena to a raucous ovation. Trinity made her WWE return under the Naomi moniker, and whatever disrespect she suffered backstage in 2022 was water under the bridge. Showcasing her return in an Iron Man-worthy performance was a good start for WWE to give Naomi a fresh start back in a WWE ring.

4 Rey Mysterio - 1:02:12

Royal Rumble 2006

This is probably the most feel-good win for a Royal Rumble match, but it's also one of the more unexpected ones. This came at a time when WWE was hesitant about pushing someone to the main event scene who wasn't a tall heavyweight. Even with the adage of Rey dedicating his performance to the recently deceased Eddie Guerrero, no one expected anything more than a respectable performance from the Master of the 619.

Certainly, no one could have expected Rey Mysterio to carry a marathon performance, both breaking the record for all-time Rumble longevity and becoming the first to win from the number two spot. Even more shocking was seeing Mysterio last eliminate Triple H back when his Reign of Terror was still fresh in everyone's minds. WWE took a gamble on pushing Mysterio to the moon, and it paid off in a heartwarming moment, made all the more heartwarming by his Mania win.

3 Bayley - 1:03:00

Royal Rumble 2024

While WWE often finds time to praise Bayley for holding the record for the longest time spent in a Women's Royal Rumble match, it's underscored how she also holds an all-time record for the third overall time spent in any Royal Rumble match. She entered the ring as entrant number three, ing the first two entrants Naomi and Natalya. She didn't just sit around and bide her time either, as she worked throughout the bout, eliminating seven other competitors.

Bayley then used her title shot to defeat IYO SKY for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania XL. Her record-breaking performance showed that Bayley deserves to be viewed as not only one of the best women's wrestlers to ever work for WWE, but overall, one of the best wrestlers. Even Michael Cole has to give her credit.

2 Gunther - 1:11:40

Royal Rumble 2023

While not the all-time record counting every single Royal Rumble match, Gunther does hold the record officially for the longest time in a 30-man Royal Rumble match. Before 2023, the record was held proudly for 17 years by Rey Mysterio (who, ironically, was deprived of competing in the 2023 match due to a backstage attack from his son, Dominik).

The longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history walked into the match at entrant number one. In more than an hour's worth of time, he had a dream staredown with Brock Lesnar, was smashed with a guitar by Elias, and eliminated five opponents (including Hall of Famer, Booker T). The IC Champ had a bevy of memorable moments before being the last man eliminated by winner Cody Rhodes.

1 Daniel Bryan - 1:16:05

The Greatest Royal Rumble

Prior to arriving in WWE, and even after leaving, Daniel Bryan had a reputation for his Iron Man performances. Frequently as Bryan Danielson, he'd be heralded for having hour-plus-long performances in Ring of Honor matches. Post-WWE, he had an actual Iron Man match for the AEW Championship against MJF. While still a WWE Superstar in 2018, Bryan had his work cut out for him as a part of the first and only 50-man Royal Rumble match in Saudi Arabia's Greatest Royal Rumble show.

Bryan entered at number one and was the 48th man eliminated after withstanding just over 75 minutes. That's practically an entire movie's runtime! That's especially impressive keeping in mind that this was the same month he returned to the ring following a three-year hiatus after a career-ending neck injury. He showed the WWE Universe that he's still got it, most notably in a dream lock-up with Kurt Angle during the match.