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The Royal Rumble is the most exciting WWE event of the year, with a lot of potential for new stars to rise to the main event scene. This has especially been the case with Rumble matches, where a longer stay more or less ensures you a prominent role on the Road to WrestleMania.
The Superstar who spends the longest time in a particular Royal Rumble Match is known as the Iron Man (or Woman) for that year. Sometimes, the Iron Man of the match goes on to do bigger and better things due to their impressive performance at the Rumble.
There are a few stars who have repeated the feat, with one Superstar doing so three times. It is not an easy task to stay in the Royal Rumble for the longest amount of time, and those who do have truly earned their status as the Iron Men of the Royal Rumble. Here are five Superstars who have done it more than once.
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#5 Chris Benoit (WWE Royal Rumble 2004 and 2005)
The only WWE Superstar to be the Iron Man in consecutive Royal Rumble Matches, Chris Benoit showcased tremendous endurance in the 30-man match. His legacy may be tainted, but he does make his way on this list courtesy of some impressive performances.
Benoit had one of the greatest performances in Royal Rumble history when he went on to win the 2004 edition of the match, lasting over 61 minutes from number 1. He also eliminated six men, all of which were bigger than him - like Mark Henry, A-Train, and ultimately, The Big Show.
Following his victory in the 2004 Rumble, Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 20. He celebrated with WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero to end the show on an emotional note. The two of them would end up opposite each other nearly a year later.
Guerrero and Benoit kicked off the 2005 Royal Rumble Match, with the Rabid Wolverine having another marathon performance. While not as great as his showing the previous year, Chris Benoit did last over 45 minutes and reached the final six.
#4 CM Punk (WWE Royal Rumble 2011 and 2014)
CM Punk never won a Royal Rumble Match but was mighty impressive during his appearances in the 30-man melee. As an ECW star back then, the Second City Saint had solid outings in his first two Rumbles.
After a short but sweet sermon-filled appearance in 2010, Punk lasted over half an hour in 2011's 40-man Royal Rumble Match from number 1. He may not have gotten the chance to speak on the microphone, but it was still a memorable run. Punk was the leader of The New Nexus at the time.
He and his group dominated the first half of the match, with Punk himself eliminating seven men. Naturally, their run ended at the hands of John Cena. While his performances in 2010 and 2011 were brilliant, Punk's longest stay in a Royal Rumble Match came in 2014.
He was once again the first entrant and lasted longer than anybody. His 49-minute stay was ended by Corporate Kane, who was already eliminated from the Rumble at that point. That match proved to be the final one of CM Punk's WWE career, as he quit the company the following day.
#3 Triple H (WWE Royal Rumble 1996 and 2009)
One of the most accomplished Superstars in WWE and Royal Rumble history, Triple H's inclusion in this list isn't much of a surprise. He has won two of these matches and had many other impressive showings, the first of which came in 1996, back when he was Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
Triple H's Royal Rumble debut saw him last 48 minutes from the beginning. He had a much longer stay from number 1 a decade later, but Rey Mysterio topped that. Triple H lasted over an hour in the 2006 Rumble Match, only for Mysterio legend to eliminate him and win the match from number 2.
The Game did have another Iron Man performance at the Royal Rumble three years later, as he spent 50 minutes in the match from number 7. This might be his most valiant effort in Royal Rumble history, alongside his victory in 2002. Triple H eliminated six Superstars and reached the final two.
He had to contest with the entire Legacy trio - Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase Jr., and Randy Orton. Triple H eliminated Dibiase and Rhodes but was dumped out by Orton. He did win another Royal Rumble Match, coming away with the victory and the WWE Championship in 2016.
#2 Chris Jericho (WWE Royal Rumble 2003 and 2017)
As the Superstar who spent the longest cumulative time in Royal Rumble Matches, Chris Jericho might just be the greatest Rumble competitor to never win the match. He did come close on a couple of occasions. Jericho's showings ranged from impressive to impactful, as he became the Royal Rumble Iron Man twice.
The current AEW megastar might be the understated MVP of the Rumble. Jericho's first marathon run came in 2003, which began with an explosive confrontation with Shawn Michaels. He attacked Michaels from behind before eliminating HBK from the Rumble.
Jericho lasted 39 minutes and eliminated six Superstars before Michaels came back out and cost him the match. It was an impressive showing, but Y2J lasted over 20 minutes longer in 2017. Jericho was in the Rumble for 61 minutes from the number 2 position.
This was when he was the most over in WWE, with his partnership with Kevin Owens and the List of Jericho in full swing. However, despite the impression he made at the Royal Rumble, Chris Jericho remains winless in these matches. A huge shame, considering his contributions in the Rumble.
#1 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (WWE Royal Rumble 1997, 1999, and 2002)
Stone Cold Steve Austin has been the Iron Man in the Royal Rumble thrice, the same number of times he's won the 30-man match. He only won one of the matches where he was the Iron Man, though. Austin's second and third victories came from numbers 24 and 27, respectively. His first, however, came from number 5.
Austin lasted over 45 minutes in the 1997 Royal Rumble Match and eliminated a whopping 10 Superstars en route to a controversial victory. The Rattlesnake was tossed out of the match by Bret Hart but slid back in while the ringside officials weren't looking, proceeding to win it.
Another controversial Rumble match came two years later, as Austin began proceedings with Vince McMahon. They first the first two to enter, and the final two left. As a result, both Austin and McMahon were the Royal Rumble Iron Men in 1999, even if the Chairman of WWE picked up the victory, thanks to The Rock.
Stone Cold Steve Austin put in his third Iron Man performance at the Royal Rumble in 2002. Entering at number 19, his time spent wasn't particularly long. Such was the structure of the match that. Austin lasted 27 minutes and did eliminate seven men, lasting until the final four.
With such eventful spells at the Royal Rumble - with or without the victory - Stone Cold Steve Austin is the most successful Superstar in this illustrious match's history for more reasons than one. And that's the bottom line!
