10 Greatest Performances In WWE Royal Rumble History

10. Bob Backlund (1993)

Nobody expected much from Bob Backlund in the 1993 Royal Rumble. The former WWE Champion left the company in 1984, and seemed out of place when he returned in 1992. Most fans didn’t even remember who he was, and Backlund’s old-fashioned wrestling style and persona didn’t mesh with the bright, colourful characters that had risen through the Rock ‘n Wrestling Connection Era.

Backlund largely wrestled as a midcarder in the run-up to the Royal Rumble, then shockingly put in one of the most memorable performances of all-time. Entering at number two, most people thought Backlund would hang around for just a couple of minutes before being tossed by one of the match’s bigger names, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. Backlund lasted a record 61 minutes and 10 seconds, eliminating Rick Martel and Fatu along the way.

It was a great comeback story for Backlund, whose gutsy performances earned him a significant push up the card. Outlasting the likes of Mr. Perfect, The Undertaker, and Ted DiBiase, Backlund finished third overall, and shot himself back to prominence, even earning himself another run as WWE Champion the following year. The reign lasted just three days, of course, but we won’t hold that against him...