Every Royal Rumble requires some wrestlers who are in it for the long haul. They end up playing a crucial role in putting the entire match together, bouncing from different talents who enter, while surviving. Sometimes, it can lead to a monumental victory, and while that didn't happen this year, several wrestlers put in impressive efforts.
WWE only tends to trust top tier talent with these spots, and that was reflected by who lasted the longest this year. There are some great names in both the women's and men's matches who outlasted other competitors. It was an impressive effort by some, and that was important in making the matches entertaining.
10 Riddle (19:13)
Riddle is one of the fastest rising stars within WWE, therefore it wasn't a big surprise to see him last a long time within this match. He was given a lot of time inside the ring, and that put together some great moments. Him and Randy Orton teamed up and thrived once again, continuing their great momentum.
He was ultimately eliminated by Brock Lesnar. However, seeing him cross paths with the Beast is something that fans were extremely excited about because it is something that Riddle has legitimately wanted. While he was dominated by Brock, it was cool to see, and him staying for a long time was part of that.
9 Michelle McCool (20:50)
Michelle McCool had been pre-announced for this match, rather than being a returning legend. However, she was one of the older wrestlers to compete in the encounter, but she didn't look out of place. McCool showcased her skills, and it is fair to say she hadn't missed a step.
Her efforts proved that she could still go if another run had presented itself. She got to mix it up with a lot of the newer talent, which was exciting to see, as that is what fans enjoy the most. Her interaction with Mickie James was also cool to see, especially due to their history.
8 Austin Theory (22:10)
It was always likely that Austin Theory was going to last a while in the Royal Rumble. WWE pushed him a lot in the build-up due to his relationship with Vince McMahon on screen. Theory could have benefited from potentially being in the encounter later on in the match, but that wasn't to be as he entered early.
However, having Theory be involved as long as he was helped to develop him nicely. Theory is building his way up the card, and while winning this match was never going to happen for him, having this spot was a key moment.
7 Aliyah (22:50)
When people think about the wrestlers who could have lasted the longest in this Royal Rumble, Aliyah is not a name most people would have predicted. She is an upcoming talent that is only just starting to make a name for herself, and inside the ring, her matches have only been brief so far.
However, WWE is clearly investing in her, and that has been obvious. In the Royal Rumble, Aliyah got a long time to compete and showcase her ability. It's something that worked well for her, and from the way she operated in that time, it was obvious that Aliyah has talent.
6 AJ Styles (29:06)
AJ Styles was the first entrant into the men's Royal Rumble, and he became one of the ironmen. WWE typically starts the Rumble with someone who is going to be capable of carrying a match for a while, and Styles ticks that box. He is an excellent professional wrestler, and that is why he stuck in the match for a long time.
He is someone that was able to carry the encounter for the first half of the match, mixing it up with a lot of stars throughout. Styles did a great job, and while the Rumble itself wasn't the strongest, his performance was certainly a bright spark.
5 Rhea Ripley (30:59)
Rhea Ripley was one of the best performing talents within the Royal Rumble this year, showcasing her in-ring ability which everyone is already well aware of. However, it was nice to work as a reminder after her time working in the tag team division to showcase what a badass she still is.
Ripley went around and worked with everybody that she could within the match, getting a lot of time to be a great worker. Rhea thrived, and her interactions with Nikki A.S.H. were certainly memorable, which helped to make her time in the match even better.
4 Charlotte Flair (31:23)
While adding the SmackDown Women's Champion to the match was a strange situation, it did work well for the match. The Royal Rumble match requires great wrestlers who are able to put together fantastic moments and ensure that the match is enjoyable to watch, and Charlotte Flair was one of those.
Everyone knows that Flair is one of the best, and that was on full display at the Rumble. The fact she was able to make it to the final two helped make her a key part of the match, and anytime a wrestler is able to do that after wrestling for over 30 minutes makes for an impressive performance.
3 Natalya (36:17)
Natalya is a legend of the business at this point, and much like Charlotte Flair, she is somebody that the company can rely upon to put together great moments. In this match, Natalya worked with a variety of names from Nikki Bella to Summer Rae, and everything she did was great.
Her work helped carry the match, putting together a solid performance throughout the bout. Having been in for over 30 minutes, it was another great night for her career, and that is something that she continues to add to now.
2 Liv Morgan (37:20)
The Royal Rumble is important for establishing stars as a big name, and Liv Morgan's performance certainly did that. She is someone the audience was behind 100%, and it showcases that the fans have not given up on her. While she has tried and failed to win the Raw Women's Championship, the company is still investing in her.
That is important in order to stop her from falling away from being a top star. Her work in the Rumble was great, and while there were a lot of wrestlers who didn't look great in this match, Morgan wasn't one of those. She didn't win, but being in the match a long time helped her more.
1 Bianca Belair (47:30)
Out of everybody who competed in the Royal Rumble this year, Bianca Belair spent the most time in the ring. The EST of WWE worked for almost 50 minutes during the women's Rumble, showcasing the energy, charisma, and stamina that she has to offer. Belair was a favorite heading into the match, and people would have been happy to see her win again.
While she didn't win the match, having her be the iron woman is something that gave her a big rub. The fact that the company trusts her in such a big position showcases how bright her future is as a professional wrestler. The performance was great within this, and it allowed Belair to get a good shine, which was crucial to keeping her buzz.