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| The tiniest Iron Man Photo Credit: WWE.com |
Final four: Davey Boy Smith (2nd, 1995); Bob Backlund (3rd, 1993)
Multiple draws: Chris Jericho (2003, 2013)
Longest: Mysterio, 1:02:12
Shortest: Alex Riley (2012): 1:15.
Most eliminations: Six — Jericho (2003), Mysterio (2006)
As noted in yesterday’s post on Number 1, there have been just as many winners from the Rumble’s second spot as its penultimate. But entering at 29 is not the same as 30 — coming in at No. 2 is functionally the same as No. 1 since both positions put the contestant in the ring with all zeroes on the clock.
Yet a quick glance at the overall performance of wrestlers coming to the ring second shows a significant dropoff from those entering first. There have indeed been two winners — the less said about Vince McMahon winning the 1999 Rumble the better — and two others who made it to the final four, but chances are if you’re coming out second, you’re not held in nearly as high esteem as the guy waiting for you to hit the ring.
Eight men entering at No. 2 failed to last even five minutes. Fourteen who came in second made no eliminations. Twelve entrants managed to exceed 20 minutes, and the rest are middling in the interim. Most notable is eight No. 2 entrants have been the first eliminated on the night — surprisingly not the worst total for a given entry spot.
But when there is a top performance from No. 2, it’s something for the record books. Specifically that means Rey Mysterio in 2006, setting the all-time record for Rumble durability at 1:02:12. But don’t forget Bob Backlund in 1993 (pre Mr. Backlund) lasting 1:01:10, the third-best mark all time, and finishing third behind Randy Savage and winner Yokozuna.
Backlund had just turned 43 the preceding August. In January 2013, Chris Jericho, who had just turned 42 in November, stunned WWE fans by returning to the ring, also at No. 2. However, he logged “just” 47:53 in that Rumble. Both Backlund and Jericho managed only two eliminations despite their lengthy stays.
Jericho was more impactful entering No. 2 a decade earlier during the 2003 Rumble. He managed nearly 40 minutes in the ring but had a hand in six eliminations, tied for Mysterio for the most ever from the No. 2 spot.
Another bit of honorable mention goes to Davey Boy Smith in 1995, who entered second and was the last man eliminated. As noted yesterday, the 1995 Rumble was not only the fastest in history (entry times spaced only 60 seconds apart) but also one of the least talented fields of 30. As such, Smith’s effort pales in comparison to Backlund but also 2013 Jericho and 2005 Chris Benoit (47:26, three eliminations). In fact, Smith eliminated four men, one shy of Randy Orton in 2004 (33:43, five eliminations). Sure, Orton made it only halfway through the battle, but he made the most of his stay.
Now, who wears the hat for worst ever at No. 2? Koko B. Ware was in and out in 96 seconds in 1990. The man who eliminated him, Ted DiBiase, himself lasted only 78 second in 1992. In 1997 Ahmed Johnson eliminated himself to pursue Faarooq after only 3:02. Bull Buchanan made it 2:08 in 2001 before the Hardy Boyz dumped him. Evan Bourne endured all of 2:26 in 2010.
But let’s not just equate longevity with success. The name of the game is being the last one standing, but most guys don’t just go over the top on their own. You can’t win without eliminating at least one guy (as McMahon did in ’99, the only time a Rumble winner has made only one elimination). Finlay lasted 32:33 in the 2007 Rumble but made no eliminations the entire time — that’s good for fourth all time on the list of guys who hung around without changing the course of the match. In fact, Finlay holds the record for most cumulative Rumble minutes with no eliminations after also lasting a fruitless 29:59 in 2009.
Finlay is in line to be passed, though, if Matt Bloom (Tensai) lasts at least 15:35 in 2014 without registering a single elimination. That’s the rough equivalent of his 2001 performance as Albert (15:53). Or maybe Marc Mero could show up and last exactly 39 minutes. That would work, too.
Still, the “worst of the worst” crown for No. 2 entries probably goes to DiBiase in 1992. For starters, that Rumble doubled as a WWF Title match. The stakes had/have never been higher. Second, he was just two years removed from entering first and lasting 44:47. That’s a difference of 43:29 between those two matches, the 13th-largest two-match disparity in Rumble history. The Million Dollar Man’s four-Rumble average of 19:22 is significantly hampered by the 1992 debacle.
Also of note: Tag team partners have entered the Rumble sequentially only six times — three of them in 1989, which memorably started with Ax and Smash of Demolition. Partners would not start the Rumble again until 1998, when Cactus Jack came out first, followed by Chainsaw Charlie. That’s also the last time we’ve seen partners enter back to back, though perhaps that says more about the tag team division than the creativity of Rumble storytelling. This is one narrative device that makes sense to bring back in 2014.
Year | Wrestler | Duration | Out | Elims. | Elim. By | Elim 2. |
1988 | Tito Santana | 0:10:41 | 2 | 0 | Hart | Neidhart |
1989 | Barry Darsow (Smash) | 0:04:55 | 1 | 0 | Andre | |
1990 | Koko B. Ware | 0:01:36 | 1 | 0 | DiBiase | |
1991 | Dino Bravo | 0:03:06 | 1 | 0 | Valentine | |
1992 | Ted DiBiase | 0:01:18 | 1 | 0 | Smith | |
1993 | Bob Backlund | 1:01:10 | 28 | 2 | Yokozuna | |
1994 | Samu | 0:03:13 | 1 | 0 | S. Steiner | |
1995 | Davey Boy Smith | 0:38:41 | 29 | 4 | Michaels | |
1996 | Henry Godwinn | 0:16:24 | 2 | 0 | Roberts | |
1997 | Ahmed Johnson | 0:03:02 | 2 | 1 | (Self) | |
1998 | Chainsaw Charlie | 0:25:19 | 6 | 3 | Mankind | |
1999 | Vince McMahon | 0:56:38 | - | 1 | (Winner) | |
2000 | Grandmaster Sexay | 0:07:42 | 4 | 0 | Rikishi | |
2001 | Bull Buchanan | 0:02:08 | 1 | 0 | M. Hardy | J. Hardy |
2002 | Goldust | 0:13:00 | 4 | 0 | Undertaker | |
2003 | Chris Jericho | 0:38:58 | 14 | 6 | Test | |
2004 | Randy Orton | 0:33:43 | 17 | 5 | Foley | |
2005 | Chris Benoit | 0:47:26 | 25 | 3 | Batista | |
2006 | Rey Mysterio | 1:02:12 | - | 6 | (Winner) | |
2007 | Finlay | 0:32:33 | 12 | 0 | Michaels | |
2008 | Shawn Michaels | 0:32:39 | 12 | 2 | Kennedy | |
2009 | John Morrison | 0:19:32 | 5 | 0 | Triple H | |
2010 | Evan Bourne | 0:02:26 | 1 | 0 | Punk | |
2011 | Daniel Bryan | 0:20:55 | 8 | 2 | Punk | |
2012 | Alex Riley | 0:01:15 | 1 | 0 | Miz | |
2013 | Chris Jericho | 0:47:53 | 25 | 2 | Ziggler |
