WWE Royal Rumble 2005
My first classic review of 2005 takes place within what January and WWE has been most well known for the past 30+ years in the form of Royal Rumble. This was the 17th anniversary of the Royal Rumble but also the beginning of new stars taking the fold within the company with Edge, Randy Orton, Batista and John Cena all being showcased as mega stars alongside Triple H, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. Royal Rumble 2005 takes place from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA.
Royal Rumble video package brings up the “unpredictability” and continuation of legacy following tonight.
Tazz and Michael Cole open the show with the focus on this beginning the Road to Wrestlemania 21.
Edge vs. Shawn Michaels
This feud began in October with a disgruntled Edge costing Shawn Michaels the World Heavyweight Championship at Taboo Tuesday believing that he should have been given the opportunity and not the tag titles with Chris Benoit. This continued at New Years Revolution 3 weeks prior with special guest referee Shawn Michaels costing Edge the World Heavyweight Championship at New Years Revolution.
Michaels started the match early attacking Edge before the bell delivering a big body drop and cactus clothesline. ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ continued this momentum with chops in the corner until Edge connected with a swinging neckbreaker. This was followed up by an Edge-o-matic on the outside and baseball drop kick putting Edge in complete control of the match. Edge kept this advantage for an extended period delivering a sit down powerbomb for a two count before applying a reverse chin lock. Edge continued this control by taunting Shawn Michaels whilst keeping Michaels on the back front with a hangman and a thrust kick, this would last for a few minutes before Michaels was able to gain momentum with chops and atomic drops before getting a schoolboy for a two count.
This would lead to Edge to attempt to leave the match before connecting with a spear on the outside after a referee distraction which Michaels got back in at 9. Edge would begin to taunt Michaels again by tuning up the band before connecting a spear getting a 2.9. Michaels showed some life connecting with an elbow drop before tuning up the band, the Sweet Chin Music would be reversed into an electric chair for another two. The finish saw Edge and Michaels both attempt victory roll covers with Edge using the top rope as leverage for the win.
Backstage, Bischoff and Teddy Long with the help of Christy Hemme and Torrie Wilson help Ric Flair and Eddie Guerrero pick their numbers with Flair “Dancing all night” and Eddie being upset. After a hug Eddie stole Flair’s number leaving Flair to look like an idiot.
Heidenreich is shown backstage screaming “He hates caskets” before being confronted by Snitsky feuding with Kane who tells Heidenreich “He likes him” and that he has a plan.
Casket Match
The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich
This feud began at No Mercy 2004 with Heidenreich costing The Undertaker the WWE Championship before doing the same at Armageddon after The Undertaker defeated Heidenreich at Survivor Series. Heidenreich made the promise prior to the match that he will do anything to get out of this match.
Undertaker started the match in control with the mindgame of dragging Heidenreich to the ring before connecting with an arm drag and armbar. Heidenreich would attempt to walk out on the match before throwing The Undertaker into the casket and using the casket as the weapon. This gave Heidenreich the advantage with punches and kicks in the corner screaming “My World” at the Phenom which gave The Undertaker the opportunity to apply a triangle choke until Snitsky appeared to attack The Undertaker, the two allies would attack and roll Undertaker into the casket until Kane, (Snitsky’s enemy), appeared taking out Snitsky and making the match one on one again. Heidenreich kept control throwing Undertaker into the steel steps before throwing hands on the concrete floor and driving a casket into The Undertaker, Heidenreich put The Undertaker into the casket but be unable to keep the Undertaker in the casket twice. This led to The Undertaker connecting with a chokeslam and Tombstone for the win placing Heidenreich into the casket.
Backstage Teddy Long tries to under the pressure of Evolution get the number and then wallet of Ric Flair from Eddie Guerrero. Pressure between Triple H and Batista over the latter’s Royal Rumble appearance starts.
Christian picks his number being interrupted by Cena who plays it up with Teddy Long, Bischoff, Christy and Torrie. Christian squares up to Cena demanding a freestyle rap battle to which Tomko doesn’t do the beat for. Christian promises to eliminate Cena and go on to win the Rumble to which Cena retorts that Christian’s “Peeps are weak” and “That he can pick my number because you like playing with balls”.
WWE Championship Triple Threat Match
John Bradshaw Layfield (C) vs. Kurt Angle vs. Big Show
A key area of this match going into Royal Rumble 2005 was how Angle and JBL would be in fitness levels following their last man standing match 72 hours prior putting the Big Show as odds on favourite.
Match started with Big Show in control over the WWE Champion connecting with multiple chops in the corner before connecting with a bodyslam and leg drop, this domination continued with Angle involved taking a big boot and double clothesline to the outside. Big Show would set up the announce table to chokeslam JBL but be low blowed and hit with a camera by Angle falling through the table eliminating the World’s largest Athlete from the match.
Angle and JBL would go one on one with both countering each other’s finishers allowing Big Show the opportunity ton return and clean house again. Show delivered another double clothesline but an attempted double chokeslam turned into a chopblock/clothesline from hell combination. Big Show finally connected with a chokeslam for a near three count only for the Big Show to break the barricade with JBL. Big Show looked set to win only being stopped by Team Angle allowing JBL with help off the Cabinet to connect with the Clothesline from Hell to retain in the exact same way as Armageddon.
Carlito looks to persuade Batista to sign his fire Teddy Long petition to which Batista threatens to stick his petition up his ass. Bischoff confirms Evolution to be barred from ringside.
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Triple H (C) vs. Randy Orton
This is a feud culminating that has been occurring since the night after Summerslam with Orton being kicked out of the group for winning the World Heavyweight Championship against Chris Benoit and Triple H taking it all away. The tension between Batista and Triple H and the cracks forming in their friendship are starting to form.
Orton sends a message to Triple H before the match starts with a slap to the face before forcing ‘The Game’ to the outside following an early onslaught. Orton followed this up with a snake eyes before a second RKO attempt would see Orton thrown over the top rope onto the broken Smackdown announce table. This swung the momentum to Triple H connecting with the steel steps and choking out ‘The Legend Killer’ of the WWE before delivering a chop block to the injured right knee of Triple H. This led to an extended period of control by the World Heavyweight Champion targeting the right knee of Orton with Orton’s attempt at an inside cradle getting a 2 count. This led to Orton being put under pressure for a period until a modified backbreaker and neckbreakers got 2 counts before a powerslam for another 2. Orton came close with a crossbody before the two countered each other’s finishers before Orton seemed to suffer a ‘Concussion-esque’ injury with his head smashing into the mat. This gave HHH the opportunity to attack Orton and the referee kicking Orton in the back of the head before an attempted sledgehammer shot saw HHH be thrown into the ring post. Orton would attempt to use the sledgehammer but fail allowing the World Heavyweight Champion to hit the Pedigree for the win.
Kurt Angle bullies Nunzio for his spot in the Royal Rumble 2005 match.
Teddy Long ruins JBL and his Cabinet’s party for retaining the WWE Championship match making the next PPV No Way Out a WWE Championship match a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match vs The Big Show. A rare appearance by Amy Weber in this as well who was the fashion consultant for JBL.
Royal Rumble Match
Howard Finkel introduces the first two competitors for the Royal Rumble 2005 match. They are best friends Eddie Guerrero and the man who won it at 1 the year prior in Chris Benoit. Benoit and Eddie square off with Benoit taking down Eddie with a drag before Eddie takes advantage with some wrestling holds.
Number 3 – 2004 Tough Enough Winner Daniel Puder, Puder makes a U-turn for a microphone promising to “Make history” before entering the ring. Benoit and Guerrero double team Puder looking to outmanoeuvre each other until number 4 enters in…Hardcore Holly. Holly joins in with Benoit and Guerrero attacking Puder, connecting with an Alabama slam before throwing him over the top rope. Eddie Guerrero and Benoit would eliminate Holly before number 5 Hurricane entered the ring.
Guerrero and Benoit kept teaming until Eddie attempted to eliminate Benoit, this would lead to Benoit beating Eddie in the corner until the two worked together to eliminate Hurricane. This relationship continued under number 6 Kenzo Suzuki with number 7 Edge attacking all three participants in the ring coming close to eliminating Eddie Guerrero. Number 8 is the master of the 619 Rey Mysterio quickening the pace with a bulldog on Edge and springboard headscissors to eliminate Suzuki. Number 9 is the Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin delivering a big body drop to Guerrero and pummelling Edge in the corner. Guerrero and Benoit look to eliminate each other again but unsuccessful. Entrant 10 is Booker T attacking Edge with a standing spin kick whilst Mysterio would come close to eliminating the Intercontinental Champion.
Entrant 11 is Y2J Chris Jericho cleaning house attacking everyone in the ring with RAW GM Eric Bischoff coming down to ringside to cheer on the RAW superstars as does Smackdown GM Teddy Long. Entrant 12 is one member of Team Angle in Luther Reigns who goes straight to attacking Jericho before a RAW and Smackdown line is drawn four on four. Entrant 13 is Muhammad Hassan accompanied by Daivari whose entrance causes mass “USA” chants and the action to stop in the ring. All other 8 competitors beat up on Hassan with a 619 being used before being thrown over the top rope. Number 14 is The Cabinet’s Chief of Staff in Orlando Jordan who goes straight after Team Angle’s Luther Reigns. Number 15 is Scotty 2 Hotty who never makes it to the ring being attacked by Muhammad Hassan before making it to the ring applying the Camel Clutch.
Number 16 is Charlie Haas who attacks Benoit and Jericho before taking a spinning heel kick off of Booker T. Booker T would then eliminate Reigns and Orlando Jordan before Guerrero eliminates Booker T. Number 17 is Rene Dupree who attacks Mysterio before Haas attacks with a hotshot and double team with Benjamin. Benjamin’s athleticism would be his downfall as Edge would eliminate the Intercontinental Champion on the top rope. Number 18 is Simon Dean whose outside squats distract Eddie Guerrero who is eliminated by Edge. Number 19 is Shawn Michaels who attacks Edge straight away before clotheslining Simon Dean over the top rope, Michaels would go on to eliminate Haas before number 20 Kurt Angle came out. Angle suplexed everyone in the ring apart from Michaels who rolled through an ankle lock to hit a Sweet Chin Music and eliminate Angle.
Entrant 21 is Jonathan Coachman who grabs hold of the bottom rope before being attacked by Benoit. Entrant 22 is the other half of Team Angle Mark Jindrak, as Jindrak runs down Kurt Angle runs back into the ring and throws Shawn Michaels before going berserk using the steel steps to bust Michaels up and apply an Ankle lock. Entry 23 is Viscera and entry 24 is Paul London, Dupree is then eliminated by Jericho when attempting to do the French Tickle. Number 25 is the United States Champion John Cena who attacks anyone with a heartbeat eliminating Viscera singlehandedly.
Entrant 26 is Gene Snitsky who delivers a big shoulder tackle to benoit before eliminating London with a wicked clothesline on the ring apron. Number 27 is Kane who goes straight for Snitsky before delivering chokeslams to Edge, Benoit, Cena, Jericho and Mysterio before eliminating Jindrak. Number 28 is Batista who eliminates Snitsky straight away before staring off with Kane, Batista would deliver a Batista bomb to Kane before eliminating Jericho. Entrant 29 is Christian with his problem solver Tomko. Following a 619 Cena connected with an FU over the top rope to eliminate Kane. Entrant 30 is Ric Flair who teams up with Batista eliminating Coach before Batista eliminates Christian.
Benoit would attack Flair until a Batista spinebuster would lead to a double elimination by Flair and Batista eliminating Benoit after 47:26. Flair is next eliminated by Edge leaving us with the final four of Batista, Edge, Rey Mysterio and John Cena. Edge would eliminate Mysterio first after reversing the seated senton and spearing Mysterio who was outside the ring before being eliminated by Cena leaving us with two. Cena and Batista would square off with Cena attempting a FU multiple times before Batista’s Batista Bomb attempt led to both men falling at the same time. This would lead to multiple referees picking either Cena or Batista.
This brought out Vince McMahon who tore his quad entering the ring, the decision was to have these two restart with both attempting their finishes before Batista connected with a spinebuster and eliminating Cena to go to the main event of Wrestlemania.
Overall, WWE Royal Rumble 2005 was a fun show with a very good main event. Edge vs. Shawn Michaels is the best of the undercard whilst for characters Undertaker vs Heidenreich is a sight. Both World Title matches at Royal Rumble 2005 are better than they look on paper but don’t really stand out.