10 Most Underrated WWE Royal Rumble Performers
3. CM Punk
In CM Punk, we have ourselves another member of the two-hour club. In fact, Punk’s total time spent in Royal Rumble matches is much closer to the three-hour mark—no small feat given that he missed the 2012 and 2013 bouts as he was busy in WWE Championship action.
His debut outing in 2007 lasted an impressive 27 minutes, and that really set the tone for subsequent appearances. Twice he’s been crowned the unofficial Royal Rumble ironman, spending more time in the match than any other entrant in both 2011 and 2014. That first occasion, after entering at number one, saw him last 35:21, and second time around he managed 49:11, again after entering at number one.
On a related note, the very fact that he’s twice been entrusted with the number one spot shows you just how valuable a commodity he’s been.
Long-story short; when Punk turns up in the Royal Rumble, rest assured he’s in it for the long haul. Which is why there’s a certain irony to the fact that the very same pay-per-view was the scene of his self-imposed wrestling exile—a decision that was made mere minutes after that battling 49-minute display at the 2014 show.