A record-breaking victory for Rey Mysterio in the 2006 Royal Rumble

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the high-stakes world of professional wrestling, the Royal Rumble offers a golden ticket to WrestleMania. At the 2006 event, Rey Mysterio defied the odds, entering as the second participant and outlasting every other competitor to secure a historic championship opportunity.

The 2006 Royal Rumble, held on January 29 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, was the 19th annual iteration of the event. Unlike a standard battle royal where all competitors start in the ring, this modified 30-man match features participants entering at timed intervals. The winner earns a choice of a world championship match at WrestleMania 22, specifically choosing between the Raw brand's WWE Championship or the SmackDown! brand's World Heavyweight Championship.

The event was notable for several storylines and shifts in brand hierarchy. Due to the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery, the titles had switched brands; the World Heavyweight Championship was now the top prize for Raw, while the WWE Championship belonged to SmackDown!. This meant the winner of the Rumble held immense strategic power. The supercard featured six matches, including a main event where Kurt Angle defended the SmackDown! World Heavyweight Championship against Mark Henry, ultimately retaining his title.

Rey Mysterio's victory was a landmark moment in the match's history. Entering at number two, Mysterio became only the second person to win the match from that starting position, following Vince McMahon in 1999. He also set a new record for the longest duration spent in the ring, lasting 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 12 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 1 hour, 1 minute, and 30 seconds held by Chris Benoit from the 2004 event. Mysterio secured the win by being the last to eliminate the 30th entrant, Randy Orton.

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