This week, we will be publishing two Royal Rumble PPV flashback reports every day going back to 1997 leading to this year's Royal Rumble PPV. At 11:00 a.m., we'll be publishing one PPV flashback. At 5:00 p.m., we'll be publishing a second PPV flashback.

Monday - 1997 Rumble
Tuesday - 1998 Rumble & 1999 Rumble
Wednesday - 2000 Rumble
Thursday - 2001 Rumble & 2002 Rumble & 2003 Rumble
Friday - 2004 & 2005 Rumbles
Saturday - 2006 & 2007 Rumbles
Sunday - 2008 & 2009 Rumbles
Sunday night - Live PPV coverage of 2010 WWE Royal Rumble PPV

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Royal Rumble PPV Flashback Report - 2004
January 25, 2004
Philadelphia, Pa.
Originally published: Torch Newsletter #795 (VIP Sign-Up)
Report by Wade Keller, Torch editor

Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, and Coach introduced the event from ringside.

(1) Ric Flair & Batista beat D-Von & Bubba Ray Dudley at 5:29 to retain the World Tag Team Titles. Batista had the house mic with him as he walked to the ring. He told the Dudleys they are the biggest losers since the Philadelphia Eagles. The Dudleys, apparently hating being linked with the Eagles, charged at Batista and Flair at ringside. Both teams battled over trying to set up tables and send their opponents through them. When it appeared the Dudleys were on the verge of victory, Coach then got up and went to ringside to try to distract the Dudleys. They yanked him into the ring and ripped off his shirt. The Dudleys signalled for D-Von's headbutt off the top rope, but Flair threw D-Von out of the way. D-Von then flew at Flair with a clothesline, barely grazing his head. Batista then slammed D-Von through the table for the win. (*)

Josh Matthews interviewed John Cena. Rob Van Dam interrupted right away and said he was going to win the Rumble. Cena told RVD he could "suck his candy cane." He closed with, "Word mother frickin' life." Frickin'? What's next, darnit? Shucks?

Ross reminded viewers that Steve Austin ordered Mick Foley to be at the event. Lawler said he had given up on Foley and called him a coward. Coach's stay at the broadcast table was certainly kept short.

(2) Rey Mysterio pinned Jamie Noble at 3:06 to retain the Cruiserweight Title. Michael Cole and Tazz took over announcing from ringside. Noble controlled the early minutes with some kicks and stomps, then went into a sitting abdominal stretch. Rey escaped and hit a spinning head scissors at 2:00. Rey went for a springboard crossbody, but Noble caught him with a knee. Nidia interfered by grabbing Noble's leg coming off the ropes, thinking it was Rey. Rey then hit Noble with the 619 and a springboard legdrop for the win. It appears, perhaps, that it will later be revealed that by this time Nidia had regained her sight and found out what Noble had been doing to her when she was really blind, so she began to sabotage him in retaliation. The match was too short for a PPV title match. (3/4*)

(3) Eddie Guerrero beat Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/Chavo Sr.) at 8:02. Another letdown due to how short it was. The action started slowly as if they were pacing themselves for 15-20 minutes and it never had a chance to shift into high gear for a sustained period of time. Eddie hit Chavo with a series of three unreleased suplexes. Eddie followed up with a top rope frog splash for a surprising sudden three count. After the match Eddie, who had kept his cool during the match, snapped and went after Chavo Jr. and Sr. He tied Sr. to the bottom rope with his neck tie, then went after Jr., who was bleeding from the forehead. Eddie continued to pound on Chavo Jr. for a minute, then returned to the back. For a climax of a feud on PPV with so much TV time invested in it, a real letdown of a match. (**1/4)

Matthews interviewed Chris Benoit. Ric Flair, Batista, and Randy Orton interrupted. Flair got in Benoit's face about never winning the big one. Flair shook up a champagne bottle and sprayed it in his own face, then let out a "whoo!"

(4) Brock Lesnar beat Bob Holly at 6:22 to retain the WWE Hvt. Title. The two went right at it at ringside before the bell, then quickly entered the ring. Brock dominated early, then went into a bearhug, then a chinlock and bodyscissors combination. The crowd wasn't into the match. Holly fought back at 4:45 with a clothesline, a dropkick, and his Alabama Slam. Then he went for his Full Nelson, but Brock fell backwards and rolled out of the ring. Holly rolled with him and wouldn't relinquish the hold. With Holly inside the ring and Brock on the ring apron, Brock broke the Full Nelson by jumping to the floor and snapping Holly's neck over the top rope. Brock then followed up with an F5 for the clean win. Nice finishing sequence. It was the first half or first third of a really good match. (*1/2).

(5) Triple H fought Shawn Michaels to a no contest at 23:05 in a "Last Man Standing" match so Hunter retained the World Hvt. Title. They opened with a big?ight?orthy staredown. Ross did a nice job setting up the match with references to history of both wrestlers in title matches at the Royal Rumble. They opened with some exchanges including the bridge into a backslide sequence that brought forth memories of Ric Flair vs. Rick Steamboat in 1989. Michaels locked on a figure?our at 3:30. Hunter screamed in pain. Ross pointed out that Hunter could tap out, but it wouldn't make a difference due to the "last man standing" rules. Michaels released the hold and let the ref begin a ten count on Hunter. Hunter rose before ten. They brawled at ringside. The crowd booed when Hunter came close to crashing through the Spanish table, but didn't. At 7:00 they returned to the ring where Hunter set up a Pedigree, but Michaels backdropped him over the top rope to the floor. Michaels went for a springboard bodyblock over the top rope, but Hunter sidestepped him, so Michaels crashed through the Spanish table. Michaels came up bleeding heavily and would sell for the majority of the rest of the match. Michaels barely beat several near ten counts over the next 10-plus minutes leading to the finish. Hunter used a chair against Michaels. Hunter began bleeding around 15:00. Michaels got a crowd pop with a late match nip up, drawing upon his energy reserves. "Are we seeing a miracle here?" asked Ross in a nice dramatic touch. Michaels stomped the match to signal for Sweet Chin Music. Hunter countered Michaels's kick with a punch to the crotch. He followed with a DDT. Hunter hit a Pedigree a minute later, but fell to the mat in exhaustion afterward. Both men got up, but barely. Michaels then hit Hunter with his superkick out of nowhere for a nice crowd pop at 22:15. A minute later, though, both men went down for a full ten count to end the match. The crowd wasn't happy with the finish. Hunter was stretchered out. Michaels was next, but then refused the stretcher and walked with help from officials to the back on his own two feet. Really nice drama for that style match. (***)

Eric Bischoff walked out to the ring and said he is the dominant G.M. in WWE. He said Smackdown's Paul Heyman may be the favorite of some fans in the Philadelphia arena because he used to run small shows in a bingo hall. Bischoff said he is the more respected figure of the two for what he has done in wrestling. (I'd say Bischoff's mistakes cost the wrestling industry a lot more than Heyman's did, although both also greatly contributed to the boom period before things went south for them.) Heyman came out and looked like he was going to return fire with some words of his own, but instead he attacked Bischoff. Sheriff Austin rode to the ring on his ATV. Heyman and Bischoff stood up and began shouting at Austin, pointing at each other for starting the whole ruckus. Austin said both were in the ring in a clear violation of the law. He asked, "Who started it it?" Heyman blamed Bischoff. Austin gave Bischoff a Stunner. Then he called for beers and began drinking. Austin even gave Heyman a beer. Heyman was thrilled to get Austin's approval. Austin, then, of course, gave Heyman a Stunner. Nice skit that gave the fans a taste of Austin and gave the G.M.s some humiliating TV time on this major PPV.

Terri interviewed Goldberg backstage. She asked him how it felt to be no. 30. Breaking Benoit's record for how quickly it took for someone to interrupt him, Brock Lesnar entered the picture before Goldberg could say even one word. Brock said no one cares what number he is. Brock mentioned the last time they crossed paths at a PPV. Goldberg said he is going to win the Rumble and regain his title, adding, "Ain't that right, Hardcore?" looking over Brock's shoulder. Brock jumped and turned to see if Hardcore was behind him. He wasn't. It was a Goldberg trick. That's a nice subtle way to give Holly his heat back after his clean loss earlier, showing that even though Brock won, he still fears him. Goldberg said, "Some people have the nerve to call Mick Foley a coward. I don't think so." Good teaser for WrestleMania's WWE Title match.

(6) Chris Benoit won the 30 Man Royal Rumble to earn a WrestleMania World Title match at 1:01:38.

-(1) Chris Benoit vs. (2) Randy Orton to start. The match began at 9:40 p.m., just over half way into the entire three-hour show. They went with 90 second intervals between entrants. Nice opening match-up between two different brands. Benoit threw a series of rapid-fire kicks and a quick snap suplex. Orton fought back with a series of kicks at Benoit in the corner. When he tried to lift Benoit, Benoit applied a Crossface, then a knee off into the gut off the ropes.

-(3) Mark Henry (w/Teddy Long) entered next. Henry methodically went after Orton, then Benoit. Not a great 90 second period, but they are sticking closely to accurate time thus far.

-(4) Tajiri came out next and went after Orton right away with a nice handspring elbow. Benoit gave Tajiri two consecutive German suplexes. Orton had Henry cornered, meanwhile, and tossed him over the top rope. Orton, though, caught himself and returned to the ring, hitting Henry from behind. Meanwhile, Tajiri and Benoit struggled in a corner.

-(5) Bradshaw came out next and nailed Orton, Henry, and Tajiri with his Clothesline from Hell. He went for one on Benoit, but Benoit avoided it and turned it into a Crippler Crossface in a nice exchange. Bradshaw lifted Benoit and tossed him over the top rope, but Benoit landed on the ring apron and tossed out Bradshaw (*1*).

-(6) Rhyno came out next. He went after Orton from behind in the ring, then attacked Benoit. Meanwhile, Tajiri put the Tarantula on Henry. Rhyno gave Benoit a Spinebuster. Rhyno went for a Gore on Benoit, but Benoit moved and ran into Henry. Tajiri was then eliminated (*2*) when Rhyno bumped into him, followed by Benoit tossing Henry (*3*).

-(7) Matt Hardy came out next. No Matt Fact for the Rumble. I was waiting for "Matt's Lucky Number is 7." Benoit quickly tossed Hardy over the top rope, but Henry landed on the apron. Rhyno had Hardy on the top rope, but Hardy stayed in the ring.

-(8) Scott Steiner came out next and clotheslined everyone in the ring. He gave Orton a t-bone suplex, an old Tazz specialty. He gave Benoit a belly-to-belly. Benoit fired back with two German suplexes on Steiner. Hardy and Orton battled in the corner. Ross said for the first time in the history of the Rumble, there are no former Rumble winners in the match. Hardy came close to eliminating Orton, but Benoit attacked Hardy to save Orton.

-(9) Matt Morgan came out, and Ross referred to him as a blue chipper. He sitdown powerbombed Benoit and then gave Hardy a big boot to the face. Some nondescript fighting took place for a minute.

-(10) Hurricane came out next and with his cape on, nailed Hardy with a crossbody. He then went to work on Morgan, who no-sold his punches. Hurricane gave him an eye poke, then dove at him. Morgan caught him and tossed him over the top rope at 13:37, drawing boos from the crowd (*4*). Morgan tossed Hardy over the top rope, but Hardy just barely held on and avoided hitting the floor.

-(11) Booker T came out next, and Ross called him one of the favorites to win. He went after Steiner at the start. He then turned to Orton and gave him his scissors kick. They were filling the ring for someone to have the honor of being the first to do a major clearing.

-(12) Kane came out next (speaking of the wrestler likely to be the first to have the honor of multiple eliminations...) Ross said he has the record for the most eliminations of a match. Booker eliminated Steiner off-camera as Kane came out, but they replayed it (*5*). Morton went for a powerbomb on Kane, but Kane escaped and chokeslammed him. Rhyno charged Kane, but Kane gave him a big boot. Orton went after Kane, but Kane chokeslammed him. Kane stood in center ring as Ross called him the "bull of the woods."

-Undertaker's music played and Kane shook his head and screamed, "no, no." Booker then attacked a distracted Kane from behind to eliminate him (*6*).

-(13) Spike Dudley then came out as the real 13th entrant. Kane chokeslammed him on the ramp before he could get to the ring. At the 20:00 mark, there were six in the ring, six eliminated, and Spike KO'd on the rampway. He never made it to the ring. (*7*).

-(14) Rikishi came out next to no pop. Benoit backdropped a charging Rhyno to eliminate him (*8*). Rikishi knocked his body into Hardy and then gave Morgan his Rumble initiation with a Stink Face for a small pop.

-(15) Rene Dupree came out next and did his silly French dance on the stage. He went after Hardy, but Hardy quickly went for his Twist of Fate. Dupree blocked it. Hardy went for a suplex, but Dupree dropped him stomach first over the top rope. Dupree then dropkicked Hardy off the ring apron (*9*). Not really a glamorous elimination for Hardy. Rikishi then sidekicked Dupree to eliminate him (*10*).

-(16) A-Train was the first to run to the ring at full speed and went after Rikishi. Benoit eliminated Morgan at 23:45 (*11*). Orton eliminated Rikishi (*12*) and then backdropped Booker over the top rope (*13*). That left Benoit, Orton, and Train as the only three in the ring.

-(17) Shelton Benjamin came out next, while Benoit eliminated A-Train (*14*). Benjamin went for a kick, but Orton eliminated him (*15*). That left just Benoit and Orton in the ring, the original two entrants. Nice booking, setting up the drama of which of the two first entrants would last the longest. The two bumped into each other and fell to the mat and lay flat on their backs.

-(18) Ernest "The Cat" Miller came out next, after an introduction from Lamont. He did a dance while Benoit and Orton attempted to regain their energy on the mat. Benoit threw out Lamont as Orton eliminated The Cat for one of the biggest pops of the night (*16*). Orton then went to work on Benoit. He showed a little too much energy considering he had just been lying on the mat for a minute exhausted from being in the match over 25 minutes.

-(19) Kurt Angle came out next, at which point Tazz reminded viewers that Angle promised he'd win and dedicated it to the troops. Benoit and Angle went at it, perhaps for the final time in a long time if Benoit indeed jumps to Raw. Orton sat in the corner recovering as Angle attempted to toss Benoit over the top rope. Orton then attacked Angle from behind.

-(20) Rico (w/Jackie) ran out next. Taz said, "Can you imagine if this guy won?" Answer: No. Orton took Rico down right away. Rico fought back against Orton and gave him a climbing roundhouse kick in the corner. Benoit began a series of three unreleased German suplexes on Angle. Angle didn't seem to be taking it easy on his neck. Orton backdropped Rico over the top at 31:00 (*17*).

-Test's music played, but he didn't walk out. They went backstage and showed Test on his back in the locker room. Austin ordered a new person to head to the ring right away as no. 21. Ross wondered who Austin was talking to.

-(21) Mick Foley's music played and he charged to the ring and went after a frightened Orton. He did the "bang bang" and then eliminated Orton and himself with a diving clothesline over the top rope (*#18, #19*). Foley choked Orton with camera cables at ringside.

-(22) Christian came out next to face the remaining two in the match - Benoit and Angle. Foley lifted the ringside stairs, but ended up mistakenly hitting agent Fit Finlay. Orton then went after Foley with a bunch of forearms at ringside. He then brawled onto the rampway and yanked Foley onto the ramp. He then wound up for a chairshot, but Foley punched Orton first and clotheslined him to the mat. He then pulled out Mr. Socko.

-(23) Nunzio walked out, and Foley turned and put Mr. Socko on him for a pop. Orton then kicked Foley from behind, then retreated to the back. In the ring, Christian and Benoit were attempting to eliminate Angle. Nunzio was on his butt at ringside and didn't enter the ring. Angle gave Christian and Benoit back suplexes as Nunzio continued to just sit at ringside. Tazz said that is one of his keys to victory - not entering the match.

-(24) Big Show came out next, at 38:30. Ross pointed out that big guys who get late entrants tend to win, pointing out that Yokozuna and John Studd won in the past as no. 27.

-(25) Chris Jericho came out next to a nice pop. He went right after Angle. Show knocked the heads of Christian and Jericho together. Then he headbutted Jericho as soon as Jericho tried to fight back. He threw a big chop on Jericho in the corner. Christian attacked Show from behind with a choke. Angle, Benoit, Jericho, and Christian all tried to eliminate Show. They weren't able to.

-(26) Charlie Haas came out. Jericho and Christian worked together to suplex Haas. Nunzio remained at ringside on his ass, not budging. Jericho eliminated Christian at 42:45 (*20*). Not the most dramatic angle they could have come up with to add tension to the Christian-Jericho situation.

-(27) Bill Gunn ran out and gave the Famasser to Jericho and Angle, then punched away at Show and Haas. Tazz asked Ross, "Have you ever been married to a guy?" It's not what he said, it's how he said it, as if he thought Ross just may have been at one point. Funny. Gunn, Haas, Angle, Jericho, Benoit, and Show were in the ring at this point with Nunzio still legal at ringside.

-(28) John Cena came out next and showed great energy and fire on his way to the ring. He noticed Nunzio at ringside and stopped to check on him. Nunzio asked Cena to be quiet and just go into the ring. Cena instead rolled Nunzio into the ring and attacked him. With Show's help, Nunzio stomped away at Cena. Show then chopped Cena in the chest and ripped off his shirt. Nunzio attempted to eliminate Show, but didn't move Show an inch. Cena fired back with punches at Show.

-(29) Rob Van Dam had the "second luckiest draw" of the match. He rolled into the ring and went after Show with a series of punches and a jump reverse sidekick. He then attempted to lift show. Jericho attacked RVD. RVD fired back with a jump spin wheel kick on Jericho. Nunzio attempted to eliminate RVD as Haas and Nunzio battled, Gunn and Show battled, and Angle and Cena battled. Cena gave Angle an FU.

-(30) Goldberg entered next, as designated beforehand. He gave a Spear to Show, then Gunn to start the match. Goldberg punched Angle, then Jericho, then RVD, then Cena, then Haas. Nunzio jumped on Goldberg's back. Goldberg shoved Haas over the top rope while Nunzio was riding his back (*21*). RVD kicked Goldberg. Goldberg speared Nunzio, then clotheslined Gunn over the top rope (*22*) Goldberg pressed Nunzio and tossed him to the floor (*23*). Goldberg set up Show for a Jackhammer, but Brock entered the ring illegally and gave him an F5. Then he bailed out with a look of satisfaction on his face. That left Goldberg, Benoit, Angle, Cena, Show, RVD, and Jericho in the ring. Goldberg called him a "son of a bitch." When he got up, Angle eliminated Goldberg (*24*). Angle battled Jericho, Cena battled Show, and RVD battled Benoit in various corners. All five went after Show and tried to lift him over the top rope. Show shoved them all down. They all bumped for him Dusty Rhodes style. Show lifted Cena, but Angle clipped Show from behind. RVD then gave Show a sliding legdrop. RVD then hit a five-Star Frogsplash on Show. Cena did a first drop. Benoit did a top rope headbutt. Then they all tried to lift Show. Ross suggested a forklift would be necessary. Tazz said he was deadweight. They couldn't get a grip on the sweaty Show. He shoved them all off again. Show then eliminated Cena who then reached for his knee immediately (*25*). RVD went for a monkey flip on Show, but Show tossed him over (*26*).

It was down to Jericho, Show, Angle, and Benoit. Show threw Jericho over the top rope, but Jericho skinned the cat back in. Jericho then threw a forearm on Show. Trainers came to ringside to check on Cena. Jericho put Show in the Walls of Jericho. Show tapped out, but it didn't matter. Angle went after Jericho, then Show lifted Jericho with one arm and threw him over the top rope (*27*). Show chokeslammed Benoit in center ring. Angle then set up Show for a back suplex, but Show escaped. Angle did manage to give Show an Angle Slam, sending a message that his neck feels all right (well, at least until tomorrow morning). Angle then gave Benoit an Angle Slam. Angle dropped his strap and asked the crowd which of the two fallen foes he should go after. Show went for a chokeslam, but Angle escaped and rolled into an Anklelock. Show tapped out frantically, but it didn't mean a thing. Benoit was facedown on the mat and not moving at this point. Show managed to eliminate Angle by flipping out of the Anklelock (*28*). Show ended up over the top rope, but on the ring apron. Benoit went to the top rope and came off with a forearm to the back of Show's neck, sending Show flipping back into the ring at 58:33. Show went for a chokeslam, but Benoit escaped and went into a Crossface. Ross said the record for longest stint in the Rumble is 64 minutes from Flair in 1992. Benoit ended up outside the ring on the apron with a Crossface on Show. He dragged Show over the top rope with him. Show flipped over and landed with a thud at 1:01:38 (*29*). Really nice finish, especially after having firmly established during the match how difficult it was for even five or six men to eliminate Show. Benoit celebrated as the show ended and Ross sold it as "Benoit is headed to WrestleMania." (****1/4)

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