10 Best Wrestling Matches That Went Over 45 Minutes

For many fans, Ric Flair vesus Ricky Stemboat was the wrestling rivalry that defined much of the 1980s, and this - rated five stars by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter - was just about their best ever effort.

Where Iron Man affairs have the added drama of the clock ticking silently away in the background, two out of three falls matches - which have disappointingly gone out of fashion over recent years - have one obvious advantage: you never quite know when they are going to end.

Having taken the lead around the 20-minute mark with a roll-up pin, the uncharacteristically complacent Nature Boy was pegged back a quarter of an hour later when Steamboat scored a submission fall of all things against the Dirtiest Player in the Game.

The pair battled a further 20 minutes - for arguably the best third of the match - and then: just as it looked as though we might not see a winner, the Dragon lucked out. The referee counted three with both men's shoulders seemingly pinned to the mat, Steamboat - as replays showed - wiggling free at the very last second.