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It is an exciting time in the WWE this week with the special Raw 25 taking place in New York City on Monday, which also serves as the go-home show to my favourite pay per view on the WWE calendar, the Royal Rumble.
This year the Royal Rumble takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the winner of this year's Rumble will be in one of the main events at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 8th.
If you have ever watched a Rumble vignette produced by the WWE, you know that the Royal Rumble is all about the numbers, and one of those key numbers is the WWE Superstar who lasted the longest in the match (also known as the Ironman).
Over the 30 matches in Royal Rumble history, six men have lasted over an hour in the Royal Rumble Match. Chris Jericho was the last to do it in 2017.
Rey Mysterio holds the record for the longest time in the match at 62:12, followed by Chris Benoit at 61:31, and Bob Backlund at 61:10. Mysterio's record was set in 2006 when he came out at #2. The first entrant that year, Triple H, also lasted over an hour (60:16).
This list is going to take a look at five WWE Superstars who could be the ironman of the 2018 Royal Rumble. Continue on to see a first-time entrant in the Royal Rumble match who I think will win it all this year...
#5 Shinsuke Nakamura
The 2018 Royal Rumble will be the first in the illustrious career of Shinsuke Nakamura. There are some that think that is a detriment to Nakamura, but I actually believe he is going to win the whole thing and give us a dream match at WrestleMania against AJ Styles.
Nakamura has an amazing ability to adapt to his opponent, or in this case opponents. Competing in lengthy matches is nothing new to Nakamura either. Nearly a year ago, he went nearly 30 minutes with Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover: San Antonio.
If Nakamura draws an early number, there is a very good chance he'll be the ironman this year.
#4 Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns appears to the WWE Superstar of this current generation to break a lot of Royal Rumble records. In 2014, he broke Kane's 13-year record for most eliminations in a single Royal Rumble match with 12.
There is no doubt that within five years he'll also eclipse Kane's record for total eliminations. After the 2017 Royal Rumble, Kane has 44 total eliminations, and Reigns has 26. The only other active wrestlers in the top ten are Big Show, John Cena, Triple H, and Randy Orton. All wrestlers who are 37 and older, while Reigns is 32.
Reigns is one of the favourites to win the Royal Rumble based on the long-standing rumours that he'll be facing Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34. It is possible that Reigns adds Rumble Ironman to his already growing Rumble resume.
#3 Seth Rollins
Members of the WWE respectfully call Seth Rollins "Crossfit Jesus" for good reason, the man is in incredible shape. He's the perfect candidate for being the ironman of the 2018 Royal Rumble Match.
Oddly enough, as long as Rollins is in the Rumble, this will be his first one since 2014. He was in the WWE Championship match in 2015, out injured in 2016, and screwed by Triple H in 2017.
I have a very good feeling that Rollins will be in the Rumble match, and even though he has a WWE Raw Tag Team Championship match against The Bar earlier in the evening, there is no doubt Rollins could be called upon for a lengthy run in the Rumble match as well.
#2 The Miz
It was a great 2017 for The Miz. I expect that momentum to carry over into 2018 when he should finally (and deservedly) get back into the world championship picture. A great start to 2018 would be a great showing in the Royal Rumble Match.
If the stars align, the Miz could enter early and then followed by his Miztourage and other allies such as Elias that can help protect him all throughout the match. Miz is a very smart wrestler. Take last year's Royal Rumble, for example, when he hung out on commentary until Brock Lesnar was thrown out.
There is a lot going for Miz as the Royal Rumble approaches, including being named Rolling Stone Magazine's Wrestler Of The Year. Those pieces could equal him being the one to last the longest in this year's match, and in my predictions I have him making it to the final three.
#1 Finn Balor
Just like Shinsuke Nakamura, this is the first ever Royal Rumble match in the storied career of Finn Balor. When it comes to a match the magnitude of the Royal Rumble, you always want to perform well in your first one.
In my article that predicted the entrants of the 2018 Royal Rumble Match, I put Balor at #2 with Kevin Owens at #1 and predicted that he would make it to the final four. If all of those pieces fall into place, he could easily become the ironman of this year's match.
I am not expecting Balor to win the Royal Rumble Match this year, but considering he never truly got a rematch for the WWE Universal Championship he lost due to injury a year and a half ago, you have to always wonder when his turn will come around again.
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