WWE Royal Rumble: 10 Winners with the longest stay in the match

#9 Shawn Michaels - 38:41 (Royal Rumble 1995)

Shawn Michaels became the first superstar to win from the #1 slot.

WWE's decision to reduce the time interval between participants to 60 seconds instead of 90 in the 1995 Royal Rumble match is often remembered in a polarized way by the fans.

However, one can't argue with the fact that the match was presented and brought up in the best possible way. Shawn Michaels and The British Bulldog, the number one and number two entrants in the match, were also the last two participants and this led to some great storytelling.

Michaels was the real highlight, though, eliminating eight superstars from the Royal Rumble match during his stint of 38 minutes and 41 seconds. The way he saved himself from elimination by only touching the floor with one foot set the precedent for several future saves.

Even though Davey Boy Smith spent an equal amount of time in the match, it was Michaels who emerged as the biggest superstar from the match as he became the first performer to start the Royal Rumble and win the match; A feat that has been repeated only three times in the subsequent 26 years.