5. Chris Benoit And Rey Mysterio Go 60-Minutes To Win From 1st And 2nd Entrant Positions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ3-fu3Wsjc Shawn Michaels winning the 1995 Royal Rumble match from the #1 spot was iconic. Of that, there is no question. Closer inspection, however, reveals a 38-minute Royal Rumble match full of historical nobodies and also-rans that make reliving that moment a real chore (even for a huge HBK fan). Much more impressive were the 60-minute marathons in Rumbles full of relevant stars that led to the victories from the #1 and #2 positions, respectively, of Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio in the 2004 and 2006 Royal Rumble matches. As much as the WWE wants everyone to forget about the Rabid Wolverine (and for good reason), there were two sides of Chris Benoit the wrestler and the man. Wrestling promotions have asked fans to separate the two since the dawn of the business as we know it. So, let us attempt to merely do what we've been asked to do for one hundred years and remember Benoit as both the all-time great wrestler separate from the disturbed criminal. From the perspective of his wrestling exploits, Benoit's 2004 Rumble performance was the second best (arguably the best) in the history of the gimmick. Outside of a few internet rumors, it came as an utter shock and told an incredible story. Sadly, Benoit's final hours, in the minds of many, have overtaken all that he accomplished, at the 2004 Rumble and on many other nights. The WWE has been fortunate that Rey Mysterio bested Benoit's Rumble match time record and won in essentially the same way and via the same story in 2006 that did his 2004 counterpart. Mysterio is what the WWE says he is "The Ultimate Underdog." Even strong internet-driven suggestions to his victory were not enough to keep Mysterio's actually winning the Rumble from being a surprise. His main-event success, at his size, remains as improbable as that of any other star in industry lore. Subsequently, the WWE can use it to more or less replace Benoit's similar 2004 run. When ranking Royal Rumble match performances, it is difficult to ignore either one of them.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.