February 26, 2018 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Raw gauntlet match, brand exclusive PPVs ending, more

What can be viewed as the longest match in WWE history took place to open the 2/19 Raw show in Phoenix, a gauntlet match involving Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, John Cena, Elias, Finn Balor, The Miz and Braun Strowman.

It was really six matches in all, but the start to finish time was 106:55. Really that shouldn’t be viewed as one match, but if you did, it would beat out what was considered the all-time record set by an August 22, 1964, match in Madison Square Garden where Bruno Sammartino went to a curfew draw announced as 81 minutes with Waldo Von Erich in a WWWF title match before 16,598 fans.

Keep in mind that match, while no doubt very long and very likely the longest in WWF history, was probably not as long as indicated. WWWF would often give fake match times well into the 90s. Once a house show iron man match that was supposed to go 60 minutes was actually timed at 37 minutes. 

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