10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2005 Facts
8. Chris Benoit Was The First To Back-To-Back Duration Titles
Benoit's 61-plus minutes in the 2004 Royal Rumble were necessary, as WWE wanted to tell the tale of a strong-willed wrestler that would fight insurmountable odds into order to achieve his championship dream. Benoit, of course, had the finesse and endurance to make such a performance possible.
The following year, Benoit, from the number two spot, survived for more than 47 minutes before finishing in sixth place. That made him the first wrestler to be the longest-lasting entrant in back-to-back Rumbles, and the only one to date.
For what it's worth, Benoit also fared very well in the 2006 Rumble. He posted the fourth-longest duration of 30 minutes and 31 seconds, still finishing well behind Rey Mysterio and Triple H's hour-plus each.