10 Wrestlers who spent the shortest time in the Royal Rumble match

The Royal Rumble match has always been one of the most exciting wrestling matches of the year. Debuting in 1989, it is currently the fourth longest-running WWE pay-per-view and there seems to be a lot of memorable moments and achievements noted every year. From spending the longest time in the Rumble match, scoring the most eliminations, to just winning the actual match, there are usually a lot of accolades to gain at a Royal Rumble match.

There is another statistic that has been noted in the Rumble matches – the least amount of time spent in the match. For every Ironman, there is always a wrestler or two every year that struggle to make any sort of impact in that match, usually leading to a quick elimination. However, there are some wrestlers that get eliminated so quickly that really rings true the term of ‘blink and you miss it’.

Some of the memorable entrants have included famous actor and comedian, Drew Carey who lasted just under three minutes back at the 2001 Royal Rumble match. In 2012, WWE commentator, Michael Cole managed to last just under a minute and a half, whilst Hornswoggle managed to also last exactly a minute at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia last year.

However, none of these entrants makes the list of the top 10 wrestlers that have spent the shortest amount of time in a Royal Rumble match, as this list consists of professional wrestlers who barely lasted in a Royal Rumble match for a few seconds.

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#10 The Godfather - 5 Seconds (2013)

The Godfather (far left) was part of The Nation of Domination

The Godfather managed to achieve some notable success tenure throughout the WWE, including becoming Intercontinental Champion and Tag Team Champion and also being a member of some memorable stables including The Nation of Domination and Right to Censor.

His entrance at #17 at the 2013 Royal Rumble surprised the WWE Universe as it was the first time in eleven years that The Godfather was participating in a match at the WWE.

Unfortunately, the ring rust showed for The Godfather, as he was dropkicked out of the ring within seconds by Dolph Ziggler, who also went on to become the Ironman of the night.

Whilst no-one expected The Godfather to win or even enter the Royal Rumble that night, it can also be argued that no-one expected him to last only five seconds in the ring either.

#9 Bushwhacker Luke - 4 Seconds (Royal Rumble 1991)

Bushwhacker Luke's appearance at the 1991 Royal Rumble went down in history for the wrong reasons.

The Bushwhackers were one of the most unique yet strangest tag teams in the early 90s. At the 1991 Royal Rumble, both Bushwhacker Butch and Bushwhacker Luke entered the Rumble match.

While Butch lasted a respectable 10 plus minute showing in the match, the same can’t be said for his partner tag team Bushwhacker Luke.

Even though Luke had entered in the Royal Rumble match at #27, it appeared entering the match later on made no improvement to his chances of winning the Rumble, as Earthquake took him from one side of the ring to throw him over the top on the other side, and cemented himself in Royal Rumble history as the second fastest elimination in a Royal Rumble match at the time.

#8 Jerry Lawler - 4 Seconds (Royal Rumble 1997)

The King had a less than memorable appearance at the Royal Rumble in 1997

Prior to working for the WWE (known as WWF at the time), Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, had wrestled in a number of wrestling promotions and winning several different titles across these companies.

Throughout Lawler’s early part of his career as a wrestler in the WWE, he found himself feuding with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. Whilst they eventually moved on and fought other superstars, it appeared they were in each other’s crossfires once again at the 1997 Royal Rumble match.

Lawler was commentating on the actual match before the #22 entrant was revealed to be none other than himself. When he entered, there were only 2 wrestlers, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart, who was still in the ring at the time to see The King enter but the lack of wrestlers didn’t stop his rapid exit of the actual match, as Hart eliminated him as quickly as he entered.

#7 Titus O’Neil - 4 Seconds (Royal Rumble 2015)

Titus O'Neil has had more than one shocking Royal Rumble.

Former Tag Team Champion and founder of Titus Worldwide, Titus O’Neil is no stranger to having embarrassing moments at a Royal Rumble match. At the Greatest Royal Rumble last year, O’Neil inadvertently created arguably the funniest moment in a Royal Rumble match when he genuinely tripped over when heading into the ring and falling under the ring.

If there is one moment that is just as embarrassing for O’Neil at a Royal Rumble or for any other moment in the WWE is when he entered as the #26 entrant in the Rumble match in 2015.

When it takes you longer to get into the ring (than to actually be in the ring) is an embarrassing moment for any wrestler, and unfortunately for O’Neil, his four seconds in 2015 before being eliminated by both Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose fits into that criteria.

#6 Owen Hart - 3 Seconds (Royal Rumble 1995)

The King of Harts didn't fare too well at Royal Rumble 1995

The King of the Ring tournament has traditionally been a tournament made to boost the winner’s career. Some of the winners that won the King of the Ring which then became the catalyst for bigger things include Stone Cold Steve Austin’s victory in 1996, Kurt Angle in 2000, and Brock Lesnar in 2002.

Another notable winner before all of these winners is none other than the 1994 King of the Ring winner, Owen Hart. After winning the tournament, he then challenged for the WWF Championship against his brother Bret Hart, and although he came up short, it was clear that Owen was going to be eventually pushed to the top. However, he did suffer a momentary blip at the 1995 Royal Rumble.

Entering at #11, he came into the ring before quickly getting flipped over by British Bulldog three seconds later. Whilst Hart eventually won a number of different titles including the Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania XI, it cannot be ignored that this super quick elimination at the Royal Rumble was a brief minor setback for the King of Harts.

#5 Mo - 3 Seconds (Royal Rumble 1995)

Mo (far right) left as quick as he entered in the Royal Rumble match.

The 1995 Royal Rumble wasn’t known for one wrestler that only lasted three seconds in the Royal Rumble match but two. One-half of former WWE Tag Team Champions, Men on a Mission's Mo had entered the match at #16 (not long after Owen Hart had already been eliminated) and burst into the ring to try and eliminate King Kong Bundy, only to be flipped over the ring a few seconds later. While his tag-team partner, Mabel entered the ring next and managed to get revenge by eliminating Bundy, it still couldn't hide how much of an embarrassing elimination it was for Mo.

Soon after the Royal Rumble, his partner, Mabel went on to become King of the Ring the same year. Meanwhile, Mo took more of a manager role to Mabel than remain as his tag-team partner, and then eventually leaving the company around six months later.

#4 Mike Kanellis - 3 Seconds (Greatest Royal Rumble 2018)

Kanellis will want to forget his appearance at The Greatest Royal Rumble

Prior to entering the Greatest Royal Rumble at 2018, Mike Kanellis was off the radar to the WWE Universe. He made his debut appearance almost 10 months earlier at Money in the Bank before having a brief feud with Sami Zayn, which he eventually lost. Since then, he’s achieved very little at the WWE.

Then he causes a surprise entrance at the Greatest Royal Rumble, entering at #6. One advantage of participating in a Royal Rumble is that a wrestler doesn’t necessarily need to win to boost their career, but a solid showing like being the Ironman of the night, or getting the most eliminations in a match would also enhance a wrestler’s career.

This wasn’t to be for Kanellis as he was confronted by the World’s Strongest Man, and former Heavyweight Champion, Mark Henry. Unfortunately, for Kanellis, there was only ever going to be one winner and only took Henry three seconds to confirm that he was always going to win that confrontation.

#3 The Warlord - 2 Seconds (Royal Rumble 1989)

The Warlord (left) held the record for the shortest time in a rumble for 20 years.

The 1989 Rumble match won't go down as one of the most memorable Royal Rumble matches. There was nothing to gain for winning the Royal Rumble, unlike the more recent matches where the winner will usually get a world title shot at WrestleMania.

Moreover, the WWE didn't capitalise on boosting the career of the winner Big John Studd, as he quit the company the same year. However, there is one thing that the 1989 Royal Rumble mat will be remembered for.

Whilst The Warlord was known in the WWE (then known as the WWF) as one half of the Powers of Pain, who once feuded with the future Hall of Famers, The Road Warriors, The Warlord will predominately be remembered for his entrance at the 1989 Royal Rumble.

Entering at #21 in the second ever Royal Rumble match back in 1989, The Warlord came to the ring, only to be eliminated by global superstar, Hulk Hogan. Following this disastrous result, this record would go on to stand for 20 years before it was finally broken.

#2 Sheamus - 2 Seconds (Royal Rumble 2018)

Sheamus was quickly eliminated by Heath Slater.

One of the biggest shocks that makes this list is none other than Sheamus. The Irishman has accomplished absolutely everything there is to accomplish in the WWE, including being a King of the Ring, a Money in the Bank winner and winning one of the primary championships on four different occasions.

In addition to this, he also won the Royal Rumble six years earlier, in 2012, when he had a very memorable final showdown against Chris Jericho.

However, Sheamus entered the match at #11 and tried to prey on Heath Slater, who was still making his way into the ring but was stopped by several wrestlers from entering, until Slater had the last laugh and delivered an unprecedented clothesline, eliminating him from the match.

What made this elimination more shocking was that Sheamus had won the Raw Tag Team Championships alongside Cesaro earlier in the night, so went from having a very jubilant night to a very embarrassing night.

#1 Santino Marella - 1 Second (Royal Rumble 2009)

Santino Marella holds the record of the shortest amount of time in a Royal Rumble match.

Prior to entering the 2009 Royal Rumble match, Santino Marella had already won the Intercontinental Championship twice, with his first reign coming on his debut match at the WWE. However, it would take less than two years from having arguably the most memorable night of his career to the least memorable when he entered the 2009 Royal Rumble match.

He entered the Royal Rumble at #28 from the 30 wrestlers and probably liked his chances before getting eliminated by Kane via a clothesline only one second after he entered the Rumble.

Even though Marella tried to save some face by becoming the Runner-Up to Alberto Del Rio two years later in the first ever 40-Man Royal Rumble, Marella, unfortunately, holds the record for the shortest amount of time in a Royal Rumble match, a record that no wrestler wants, yet also a record that may never get broken.