13 Wrestlers With The Longest Total Time Spent In Royal Rumble Matches

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The Royal Rumble match is one of the most important matches on WWE's premium live event calendar. The winner of the men's and women's Royal Rumble matches get to challenge for a World Championship at WrestleMania. Moreover, several of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history have made a name for themselves in Royal Rumble matches by going far in Rumble matches and having memorable performances, whether it be winning the Royal Rumble or eliminating the most competitors in Royal Rumble matches. Depending on when you enter a Royal Rumble match some wrestlers have shown their endurance in multiple Royal Rumble matches by going far in the match. Of course, every wrestler wants to win the Royal Rumble match, but another prize for wrestlers in a Royal Rumble match is to spend the longest time in the Rumble itself, which can be built on in several appearances by having deep runs.

Since January 1988, the Royal Rumble match has become one of the most exciting gimmick matches on the WWE calendar. The surprise returns, unpredictability, and multiple wrestlers in the ring at the same time are reasons why the Royal Rumble match has proven to be a success. Of course, not every Royal Rumble match has lived up to the hype but the majority have been barnburners.

Brock Lesnar boasts the record of 13 for the most eliminations in a single Royal Rumble match. However, there have been some iconic names who have lasted the longest in cumulative Royal Rumble matches. The biggest names are expected to reach the latter stages of Royal Rumble matches, so it doesn't come as a surprise to many to see the cream rise to the crop.

UPDATE: 2023/01/28 08:00 EST BY TEVON KING

The Royal Rumble match is one of the most important matches on WWE's premium live event calendar. The winner of the men's and women's Royal Rumble matches get to challenge for a World Championship at WrestleMania. Moreover, several of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history have made a name for themselves in Royal Rumble matches by going far in Rumble matches and having memorable performances, whether it be winning the Royal Rumble or eliminating the most competitors in Royal Rumble matches. Depending on when you enter a Royal Rumble match some wrestlers have shown their endurance in multiple Royal Rumble matches by going far in the match. Of course, every wrestler wants to win the Royal Rumble match, but another prize for wrestlers in a Royal Rumble match is to spend the longest time in the Rumble itself, which can be built on in several appearances by having deep runs.

13 Roman Reigns - 2:44:06 (6 Appearances)

Roman Reigns is one of the most prolific performers in the history of the Royal Rumble. The Big Dog has competed in six Royal Rumble matches and he has gone deep in every single one of his Royal Rumble appearances. He won the Royal Rumble match in 2015 with a chorus of boos, and he was a runner-up four times in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2020.

The Big Dog failed to successfully defend the WWE Championship in his 2016 Royal Rumble match which was the only time he failed to reach the final two. Nevertheless, Reigns has spent 2 hours and 44 minutes in Royal Rumble matches in total, and he held the record for the most eliminations in Royal Rumble matches with 12... until Brock Lesnar broke the record with 13 in 2020.

12 Steve Austin - 2:45:04 (6 Appearances)

Had Steve Austin not sustained a career-threatening neck injury at SummerSlam 1997, he would have likely had way more than six Royal Rumble match appearances to his name. Nevertheless, the Texas Rattlesnake has done an outstanding job in his six Rumble appearances.

He's the only competitor in WWE history to win the Royal Rumble match three times with his victories coming in 1997, 1998, and 2001. Austin was a runner-up to Mr. McMahon in 1999, and 2002 was his final Royal Rumble match appearance. Ultimately, Austin banked a healthy two hours and 45 minutes in his six Royal Rumble match appearances.

11 CM Punk - 2:48:11 (7 Appearances)

CM Punk is one of the best wrestlers to never win a Royal Rumble match. The Second City Saint produced two remarkable performances from the unenviable number-one position in 2011 and his final Rumble appearance in 2014.

Punk competed in seven Royal Rumble matches throughout his WWE career. It's impressive that he managed to last two hours, 48 minutes, and 11 seconds in Rumble matches. Nevertheless, Punk would have wanted a Rumble victory on his resume which would have seen him headline WrestleMania.

10 John Cena - 2:48:32 (8 Appearances)

16-time WWE World Champion John Cena has done extremely well in Royal Rumble matches over the years. Big Match John won the 2008 Royal Rumble after an unexpected return as the 30th participant. Five years later, Cena prevailed once more in 2013 to book his spot in the main event of WrestleMania 29.

Cena was often involved in the business end of Royal Rumble matches with a couple of runner-up finishes to go alongside his two Rumble wins. Moreover, since Cena was often featured in World Championship matches at the Royal Rumble, he has done well enduring two hours, 48 minutes, and 32 seconds across his eight appearances in Royal Rumble matches.

9 Cody Rhodes - 3:06:45 (8 Appearances)

Cody Rhodes may have not maximized his potential in WWE, but he still participated in eight Royal Rumble matches during his run with WWE. In 2009, he reached the final four as he aided his Legacy leader Randy Orton to win the Royal Rumble match for the first time.

Rhodes endured 37 minutes in a fine performance. However, his showing in the 2012 Royal Rumblematch was one of his best as he was the reigning Intercontinental Champion and he eliminated six competitors by lasting almost 42 minutes. Rhodes' collective time in Rumble matches is three hours, six minutes, and 45 seconds and that is a testament to his endurance.

* Cody Rhodes made his triumphant return to WWE for the first time in six years at WrestleMania 38, when he clashed with Seth Rollins. Rhodes tore his pectoral muscle in the spring of 2022, but he is set to make his return to action in the 2023 men's Royal Rumble match, and he is one of the favorites to win the Rumble and challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 39.

8 Dolph Ziggler - 3:08:39 (15 Appearances)

Two-time World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler has never won a Royal Rumble match, and he has never finished as a runner-up. However, he has the second most appearances in WWE history in Royal Rumble match with an outstanding 15 appearances to his name.

The Showoff is one of the most physically fit wrestlers on the roster, so it isn't a surprise that he has spent over three hours in his 15 Rumble appearances. Ziggler would have been a good Royal Rumble match winner but that has failed to materialize.

7 Kane - 3:19:40 (20 Appearances)

No man comes close when it comes to competing in Royal Rumble matches other than Kane. The Devil's Favorite Demon has participated in a record 20 Royal Rumble matches with Kane's first outing in 1996 as Fake Diesel, and 25 years later, Kane showed up in a Rumble once again.

Just like Punk, Kane is one of the best wrestlers to never win a Rumble. He deserved to win at least one as his performance in the 2001 Royal Rumble was nothing short of extraordinary. Kane eliminated 11 wrestlers which was a record that stood for 13 years. Ultimately, Kane's total time in Rumble matches at three hours, 19 minutes, and 40 seconds sounds short for 20 Rumble appearances, but Kane had some short stints in the Rumble.

6 Edge - 3:31:51 (8 Appearances)

The Royal Rumble match has strung up some unexpected returns and Edge has been involved in two of those moments. The Rated-R Superstar has featured strongly in his eight appearances in Royal Rumble matches.

Edge returned in 2010 from an Achilles injury, and he won the Royal Rumble match for the first time in his career. A decade later, Edge was now a WWE Hall of Famer, and he competed in his first match in nine years when he entered the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match. Edge went deep in his return in 2020 and a year later, he secured his second Royal Rumble victory from the number one position.

5 Shawn Michaels - 3:47:32 (12 Appearances)

Shawn Michaels Royal Rumble 1996 Cropped

Shawn Michaels may be Mr. WrestleMania but the Royal Rumble event has been kind to HBK. The Showstopper benefited from Royal Rumble matches as he became a certified main eventer with two wins in back-to-back years in 1995 and 1996.

Michaels has produced some memorable moments in Royal Rumble matches. His one foot dangling on the ground and hauling himself back into the ring in 1995 has become a spot that others have used in Royal Rumble matches. HBK competed in 12 Royal Rumble matches with his final appearance coming in 2010, where he failed in his bid to face The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 26, all thanks to Batista.

4 Triple H - 4:00:50 (9 Appearances)

The Royal Rumble match may not be Triple H's specialty compared to his success in Elimination Chamber and Hell in a Cell matches, but he has made a name for himself in Royal Rumble matches. The Game won a couple of Royal Rumble matches in 2002, and 14 years later, he won the 2016 Royal Rumble match which saw him capture his 14th WWE World Championship.

Triple H doesn't compete in Royal Rumble matches to make up the numbers, as he is obsessed with winning. Moreover, the Cerebral Assassin endured an hour in the 2006 Royal Rumble from the number one position. Triple H was runner-up in 2008 and 2009, and he has in total lasted four hours in Royal Rumble matches which is outstanding.

3 Rey Mysterio - 4:16:46 (13 Appearances)

Rey Mysterio will forever be synonymous with the Royal Rumble match as he took fans on an emotional rollercoaster in 2006. The master of the 619 set the record for the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match at 62 minutes and 12 seconds en route to his remarkable victory.

Mysterio lasted 38 minutes in the 2005 Royal Rumble match and 49 minutes in the 2009 Royal Rumble match as the number one participant. Moreover, the ultimate underdog has been a prolific performer in Royal Rumble matches and with four hours and 16 minutes in the bank, Mysterio is a machine in Rumble matches.

2 Randy Orton - 4:34:08 (14 Appearances)

With 14 Royal Rumble appearances to his name, Randy Orton is a specialist in Royal Rumble matches. The 14-time WWE World Champion won the Royal Rumble match twice in 2009 and 2017. The Apex Predator was a runner-up to Rey Mysterio in 2006, and 15 years later to Edge in the 2021 men's Royal Rumble match.

Orton is often involved in the home stretch of Royal Rumble matches so it isn't surprising that he has lasted four hours and 34 minutes with huge success.

1 Chris Jericho - 4:59:33 (11 Appearances)

It's a travesty that Chris Jericho has never won a Royal Rumble match throughout his WWE career. Y2J has headlined WrestleMania though but it hasn't stopped him from attempting to win the Royal Rumble.

No competitor has lasted longer in collective Royal Rumble matches than the six-time WWE World Champion. Jericho almost clocked in five hours with epic performances in Royal Rumble matches. The closest he came to victory was in 2012 when Sheamus bested him. That year, Jericho should have hands down won the Royal Rumble match, but it was not meant to be.