Netflix is set to air its first Royal Rumble extravaganza on February 1st, 2025. It will be the 38th Royal Rumble premium live event promoted by WWE.
Since 1993, the match has played a major role in the promotion for WrestleMania, with the winner being granted a World Title bout at the company’s flagship event. Since 2018, WWE’s female performers have also competed in the Royal Rumble.
Several performers have stood out for their epic performances in the over the top rope challenge by spending over an hour in the gruelling encounter. This features looks at the five wrestlers who have spent the longest time in the ‘Rumble match over the past four decades.
#5 Naomi – Women’s Royal Rumble Match (January 27, 2024) – 62.03
Naomi entered the 2024 ‘Rumble match as the number two entrant. Her appearance was her surprise return after 18 months away and following a successful stint in TNA.
The former Women’s Champion impressed with a sterling performance, outlasting the field and making it to the final six, before she was eliminated by Jade Cargill.
Naomi survived for 62 of the bout’s 65 minutes and put in a hugely impressive performance, managing to eject two opponents, before she was eventually slung over the top rope.
#4 Rey Mysterio – Royal Rumble Match (January 29, 2006) – 62.12
Rey Mysterio entered the 2006 Royal Rumble with a groundswell of crowd support. Mysterio had dedicated the match, to his friend, Eddie Guerrero, who had tragically passed away just two months earlier.
Mysterio entered the match as the number two entrant, which was presented as a trick that ‘Latino Heat’ had played on him from Heaven.
The five feet two inch Superstar was the ultimate underdog in a field filled with giants.
However, against the odds, he would survive to the final three, where he acrobatically eliminated both Triple H and Randy Orton to claim victory and break a ‘Rumble longevity record which would stand for over a decade.
#3 Bayley – Women’s Royal Rumble Match (January 27, 2024) – 63.03
Bayley entered the 2024 ‘Rumble as the number three participant and she and Naomi (number two) lasted until the final throes of the match-up.
The former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion eliminated seven opponents en route to victory.
Lasting just over 63 minutes, Bayley broke the record Naomi had set less than a minute earlier, as the longest time spent by a woman in the Royal Rumble.
Bayley would go on to WrestleMania and defeat Iyo Sky to win the SmackDown Women’s Title.
#2 Gunther – Men’s Royal Rumble Match (January 28, 2023) – 71.40
When the 2023 Royal Rumble match ended, then-Intercontinental Champion, Gunther had set a new longevity record for a 30-person Royal Rumble match.
The Austrian entered the bout as the number one entrant and ejected five participants from the bout as he fought for well over an hour to make the final two.
However, it was there that Gunther came unstuck and was eliminated by the fresher, number 30 entrant, Cody Rhodes who earned his first Royal Rumble victory.
Gunther had to settle for the runner-up prize, with the longevity record of 71.40. However, although that set a record for the 30-person ‘Rumble, it is still bested by one more wrestler in all Royal Rumble contests.
#1 Daniel Bryan – Greatest Royal Rumble Match (April 27, 2018) – 76.05
WWE produced two ‘Rumble matches in 2018, the second of which took place at the inaugural premium live event from Saudi Arabia. Hailing from Jeddah, the over the top rope extravaganza, for the first time consisted of 50 WWE Superstars.
As a result, the match-up lasted a colossal 77 minutes. Daniel Bryan, who entered the bout as the number one entrant lasted a whopping 76 of those 77 minutes.
He eliminated Mark Henry, Viktor and Dash Wilder, but was finally ejected by the eventual runner-up, Big Cass.
Will anyone break Bryan’s long-standing record during the 2025 Royal Rumble?
You can watch all of these Royal Rumble events and the 2025 Royal Rumble on Netflix.