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 Rumble & 2005 Rumble
Saturday - 2006 & 2007 Rumbles
Sunday - 2008 & 2009 Rumbles
Sunday night - Live PPV coverage of 2010 WWE Royal Rumble PPV

***

Royal Rumble PPV Flashback Report - 2005
January 30, 2005
Fresno, Calif.
Report by Wade Keller, Torch editor

-A highlight montage aired of past Royal Rumbles. Then the West Coast Rumble commercial aired.

-Michael Cole and Tazz, the Spanish announcers, and Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler all introduced the PPV. Ross hyped that the Road to WrestleMania begins tonight.

1 -- SHAWN MICHAELS vs. EDGE

Michaels took control early. When they fought to ringside at 3:00, Edge dropped Michaels onto the back of his head to take control. He slidekicked Michaels as soon as he attempted to return to the ring. Ross said the Royal Rumble is being seen in over 150 countries (which includes 106 remote island-countries where eccentric rich guys have satellite dishes). Ross pointed out that Edge and Michaels will be in the 30-man Rumble, so they want the match to end as quickly to save their energy for the big match later. Edge went into a chinlock with a leg body vice. Ross took the opportunity to talk about how some legendary names have never main evented WrestleMania, so winning the Rumble is a ticket to immorality. At 6:30 Michaels struggled to escaped the chinlock, rising to one knee. It began to resemble the boring parts of the 60 minute draw between Michaels and Bret Hart. Edge shifted to a sleeper. Michaels encouraged an "HBK" chant. Michaels elbowed out of the hold and chopped Edge's chest. Edge yanked him back to the mat by his hair, drawing boos from the crowd. At 10:30 Michaels made a full-fledged comeback, punching away at Edge in the corner and then hitting a sunset flip for a near fall. Michaels the catapulted Edge into the corner ringpost and schoolboyed Edge for a two count. As the ref talked to Michaels at ringside, Edge surprised him with a spear. Michaels struggled to get back to his feet as the ref counted toward ten. Back i the ring Edge hit a spear and scored a very near fall at 13:45. Edge couldn't believe the kickout and pulled out some of his hair, a la Mankind. Michaels made a comeback and hit a top rope elbow at 15:00. He was slow to get up and went into mini-convulsions. He eventually did stand up and he signalled for the Sweet Chin Music. He stomped away at the mat. Edge stood. Michaels went for the kick. Edge ducked and gave Michaels an electric chair and scored a near fall. Edge applied a sharpshooter-type leglock. Michaels crawled toward the bottom rope. Edge yanked him back toward the middle. Michaels finally grabbed the bottom rope. Michaels surprised Edge with an inside cradle for a two count. He followed with a rollup for a near fall. Edge reversed it and held onto the ropes to score the pin.

WINNER: Edge at 18:29.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- Good opening match. It didn't steal the show, but it wasn't designed to, either.

-Eric Bischoff and Teddy Long talked backstage about the 30-man Rumble, with Bischoff saying he thinks a Raw wrestler will win, but even if a Smackdown wrestler wins, he is confident he'll jump to Raw anyway, so it doesn't matter. Backstage Ric Flair drew his number from the tumbler backstage and seemed very pleased. Eddie Guerrero drew his number and wasn't pleased. Eddie and Flair hugged. Flair then realized Guerrero switched numbers. Flair yelled for Guerrero and went looking for him. Funny segment.

-Backstage Gene Snitsky walked in on Heidenreich warming up. Snitsky told Heidenreich he hears he doesn't like caskets. He said he doesn't like them, either, and he has an idea. They each shared a moment and deep breathing. Another scene out of HBO's "Oz."

-Cole and Tazz wondered what was up between those two. Then they plugged the casket match.

2 -- UNDERTAKER vs. HEIDENREICH

Fifteen minutes after the previous match completed, after long ring intros, the second match began. Taker began with some armdrags. Cole said Taker was trying to hold Heidenreich near the casket to get him psyched out early. Heidenreich applied a side headlock at 0:45. Heidenreich reversed Taker at ringside into the casket. Afterward, the referees at ringside carefully and deliberately shifted the casket back into place. Taker controlled Heidenreich with an armbar. At 4:30 Snitsky clotheslined Taker. Cole asked what a Raw wrestler was doing messing with Smackdown business. They double suplexed Taker. Snitsky dropped several elbows. Because it was an anything goes match, the referees just stood by and watched. Snitsky and Heidenreich began to drag Taker toward the casket, so the refs opened the casket. Kane popped out and made the save. Kane fought Snitsky through the crowd as Taker and Heidenreich recovered at ringside. Heidenreich began shoving the casket away from ringside, but he couldn't get himself to push it with much force because he was scared of it. Taker recovered and went after Heidenreich. Heidenreich reversed Taker into the ringside steps. Taker's right knee rammed into it. Heidenreich then removed the padding from ringside and slammed Taker on it. Then he shoved the casket into Taker. It didn't look that bad since Taker ducked his head under the ring. Cole and Tazz sold it like he was hit with a Mack truck. Back in the ring Heidenreich applied a cobra clutch, but not before several failed attempts. That's not a difficult move to apply; there is no excuse for him to fumble with it that bad. Cole and Tazz should have said he couldn't concentrate because the casket was so near to cover for him. Heidenreich then quickly rolled Taker into the casket, way too soon to be convincing that the sleeper knocked him out. Taker blocked the lid from being shut, then legdropped the lid onto the back of Heidenreich's head. Taker went for a chokeslam, but Heidenreich rebounded and blocked Taker. He seemed 100 percent despite having his head just crushed in the casket. Heidenreich knocked Taker down and went for a cover, but pins didn't count. He then rolled Taker into the casket a second time. When Heidenreich attempted to close the lid, Taker reached up and grabbed his throat at 11:00. He punched away at Heidenreich, then chokeslammed him. Heidenreich didn't go up well for it. Heidenreich obviously leaped into Taker's arms for the Tombstone and was then driven head-first into the mat. Taker rolled him into the casket and closed the lid to win.

WINNER: Undertaker at 13:04.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Whatever value it had at certain points was ruined with some really sloppy spots, bad pacing, and really poorly executed moves.

-Long and Evolution approached Guerrero. Long insisted he return his Rumble entry number. Guerrero did, reluctantly. Long then asked for something else. Guerrero pulled out a wallet. Long gave it to Flair, and hadn't even realized Guerrero stole that, too.

-In the hallway, Batista said he was going to go get his number. Hunter said he needed to talk to him now about the plan for Randy Orton. Batista insisted he'd be right back. Hunter said, "Now!" They went nose-to-big-nose. Flair tried to get them to get along.

-Back in the number room. Christian quipped to Long that he just signed a petition that he just signed a petition to get him ousted as G.M. Then Christian got in John Cena's face and bragged about freestyling. Cena told him to freestyle. Christian did a brief freestyle rap. Cena wasn't impressed and implied that he and Tyson Tomko sleep together. He told Christian he can pick his number out of the tumbler because he hears he likes to play with balls. Back to that "edgy gay humor."

3 -- JBL vs. BIG SHOW vs. KURT ANGLE -- WWE Hvt. Title match

Show went to work on JBL early with slaps to the chest and headbutts. JBL caught Show with a boot to the face. When he dove at Show, Show caught him and slammed him, then legdropped him for an early two count. Angle jumped in to break up the count. Show headbutted Angle. JBL jumped in and chopped Show. When he went for a suplex, Show blocked it and suplexed JBL. He then gave Angle a bit boot as he charged at him. Angle took a flatback bump. Show then clotheslined JBL and Angle to the floor. Out of instant, Cole said, "We'll be right back after this commercial!" Or did I just imagine that out of habit? Angle tried for a German suplex on Show at ringside, but Show butt-butted out of it. Then show moved the steps in front of the announcing desk. He disassembled the desk, kindly removing the monitors as not to want to hurt his opponent too badly. Angle gave Show a low blow and then nailed him in the skull with a monitor. Show teetered and then fell back onto the table, crushing it. JBL and Angle then fought one-on-one for a while inside the ring starting at 4:30. Angle applied a keylock on the mat and drove his knee into JBL's arm. JBL fought back and went for the Clothesline from Hell at 6:00, but Angle ducked and gave him a snap German suplex. Angle then set JBL up for an Angle slam, but JBL avoided it and took Angle down with a boot to the face. Show returned to the ring and clotheslined both at once. Show slammed Angle onto JBL, then crushed them against each other in the corner. Show lowered his strap at 7:30 and signalled for a double chokeslam. Angle clipped Show's leg right as JBL nailed him with a Clothesline from Hell. With Show down, Angle gave JBL a German suplex and went for a quick pin on Show. Show kicked out. Angle hit the Angle Slam on Show. JBL kicked Angle out of the ring and made the cover on Show. Show kicked out. Show caught JBL as he charged at him with a chokeslam. JBL saved himself by draping his leg over the bottom rope. Show charged at JBL at ringside, knocking him through the barrier at ringside. Especially since that hadn't been done before, it looked pretty cool. Again, it felt as if they were about to cut to a commercial. Angle charged at Show with a chair, but Show ducked and dropped Angle face-first onto the chair. When Show went for the cover, Mark Jindrak yanked Angle out of the ring. Luther Reigns and the Bashams joined Jindrak in stomping away at Show at ringside as medics checked on JBL at ringside where he was still lying motionless. Orlando Jordan carried JBL back to the ring and threw him inside. JBL nailed Angle with the Clothesline from Hell and scored the pin. Big Show stood inside the ring with his hands on his hips as JBL, Jordan, and the Bashams celebrated in the aisle.

WINNER: JBL at 11:59.

STAR RATING: *** -- Good match. They didn't go overly long with it, and therefore it didn't have any slow spots. The gimmick of JBL ending up retaining the title undeservedly continues, something Cole sold big time. Well-constructed and executed.

-Carlito Cool approached Batista backstage and asked him to sign the petition. Batista said no. Carlito took a bite of his apple. When he seemed to be about ready to spit it, Batista asked him if he saw what he did with the flag pole last week on Raw. Carlito said he did. Batista asked him what he thought he could do with the petition. Carlito swallowed. Batista slapped him on the shoulder and smiled.

-Batista entered the room with Bischoff and Long. Bischoff told Batista he was banning he and Flair from ringside for the title match. Batista said he'd pass the message along. Long praised Bischoff for the decision.

-A commercial aired with Eugene reenacting a Forrest Gump scene with the box of chocolates. He said his mom said life is like a box of chocolates, but he thinks life is more like WrestleMania. He talked about big moments in WM history including Hogan-Andre, Hunter-Benoit, and Tyson-Michaels. He mistakenly punched out the women sitting next to him. William Regal walked up, saw that the women was out cold, and yelled, "Run, Eugene! Run!" Fun commercial. Well done.

4 -- TRIPLE H vs. RANDY ORTON - World Hvt. Title match

They opened up with high-energy, going right at each other, with Hunter scoring a near fall early with a backslide. Orton came back with a backdrop and early RKO attempt. Hunter slipped out of it and bailed out to ringside. Orton followed and threw him back into the ring. Orton hit Hunter with a dropkick. The crowd seemed to be against Orton early as there were scattered boos for his covered and no cheers. At 2:00 Orton went for another RKO, but Hunter threw Orton over the top rope to the floor as a counter. Hunter took control, choking Orton. Hunter then clipped Orton's leg from behind at 4:45. At 7:00 Hunter applied a figure-four. At 9:00 Orton forced a reversal. Hunter grabbed the bottom rope to force a break. Orton and Hunter got into a slugfest at 11:00. Orton hit a neckbreaker for a two count. He scored two more two counts in the next minute. Hunter slowed Orton with a reverse atomic drop. Orton threw Hunter off the top rope and then nailed Hunter with a top rope crossbody for a near fall. To his credit, Ross screamed, "Will it be!" rather than the usual "He's got him! It's over!" Hunter caught Orton with a face-buster kneelift. He then set up a Pedigree, but Orton escaped and catapulted Hunter into the top turnbuckle. Hunter then blocked an RKO attempt then hit Orton with a Harley Race Knee and scored a two count. They went to a close-up of Orton's bleeding lower lip. Hunter set up another Pedigree, but Orton countered with a clothesline for a very near fall that the crowd was into. Orton punched and kicked away at Hunter. Hunter was out on his feet, leaning against Orton. Hunter held onto the ropes to avoid a DDT, and Orton went down on the mat without Hunter landing hard. They played up that he suffered a concussion. At 18:00 the ref got crushed when Hunter charged into Orton in the corner as the ref was asking Orton if he could continue. Hunter kicked Orton to ringside. Hunter grabbed his sledgehammer from ringside. He approached Orton slowly, giving Orton time to recover and yank Hunter face-first into the ringpost. Hunter clutched his nose. Back in the ring, as Orton reached for the sledge hammer but was too groggy from the concussion to grip it, Hunter came out of nowhere with a vicious clothesline. Hunter then lifted the sledgehammer, but when he saw the ref coming to, Hunter threw the hammer to ringside and set up a Pedigree instead. He executed his finisher, then covered Orton for the win. Hunter looked at Orton as if he had beaten someone who wasn't able to fully fight back the last couple of minutes.

WINNER: Hunter at 21:27.

STAR RATING: ***1/2 -- Very good match, but it felt like it was in first and second gear a little too much without enough energetic kicks into high-gear. It felt like a match where the wrestlers knew they didn't have to carry the show, and thus they kept it a notch below the show-stealing level. It was a clean win considering Hunter didn't use the sledgehammer at any time.

-As Long and Bischoff chatted backstage, JBL and his crew walked into the room celebrating the title win, pouring champagne all over. JBL was in Long's face, yelling, "Holla holla holla!" Long said he wanted to let JBL know what he had planned for the next World Title defense. JBL said he was still celebrating and had an escort service to call tonight. Funny. Long said he was giving the man he didn't pin tonight a title shot. He said, "I'm gonna eat Big Show like he's gonna eat a pizza. I'm a wrestling god!" Long said there would be no outside interference at No Way Out because for the first time in the history of WWE, the match would be a barbed wire steel cage match. JBL's drunken celebration turned into a wake. Great performance from JBL.

-Tazz and Cole stammered about Long's announcement. Cole then said Tazz would be representing Smackdown while Ross would take over his chair representing Raw. Cole had said publicly that he hoped he and Tazz would get to call the Rumble this year since Ross did last year.

-Backstage, Nunzio had a Royal Rumble entry number. Angle stole it from him, making him the mystery no. 30 entry. No Brock Lesnar or other surprise, in other words.

5 -- THE ROYAL RUMBLE

---(1) Eddie Guerrero vs. (2) Chris Benoit. The match began at 10:03, 23 minutes later than last year's start time. They did some mat work.

---(3) Daniel Puder walked out, grabbed the house mic, and told everyone they are going to witness history. He said he is going to win the Royal Rumble in his first match. He got in the ring and acted cocky. Paying dues time then began and Benoit and Guerrero took turns slapping away at his chest. He dropped down and they double-suplexed him. Tazz said Puder didn't help his cause by doing mic work before the match. Ross said there is a time to talk and a time to fight.

---(4) Hardcore Holly. Perfect. Dues paying time continues. Ross said, "He hates rookies." Holly asked Benoit and Guerrero to back down and let him get at Puder. The crowd began cheering and standing. Holly nailed Puder with three very hard chops. Puder sold it like he was shot. Benoit chopped him. Ross said Puder was getting initiated "in the stiffest and most intense of ways." Benoit held him as Holly chopped him again. Benoit threw another chop. Guerrero threw another chop. Puder dropped down and screamed in pain. Holly then held Puder throat first over the top rope and then kicked him between the legs. Holly then gave him an Alabama Slam and threw him over the top rope at 6:03. (***ELIMINATION #1***)

---(5) Hurricane. As Hurricane came out, Benoit and Guerrero eliminated Holly at 6:08 (***ELIMINATION #2***). His job was done. Benoit and Guerrero took Hurricane down with double-teaming, then Guerrero tried to sneak in an elimination on Benoit. Benoit fought back. Guerrero backdropped Hurricane at 7:25 (***ELIMINATION #3***)

---(6) Kenzo Suzuki. Benoit went to work on Kenzo, giving everyone a glimpse of what could have been had Kenzo gone to Raw as originally planned last summer and headlined PPVs and house shows against Benoit in World Title matches. Benoit almost snuck in an near elimination on Guerrero.

---(7) Edge ran to the ring. He went right after Guerrero with a spear in the corner. He then knocked Kenzo down and pounded away at Kenzo and Benoit. He went back to Guerrero and tried to toss him over the top rope. Guerrero hugged the bottom rope. Edge went back to Benoit. Benoit turned and began beating him up. Kenzo then hit Benoit from behind.

---(8) Rey Mysterio ran out and went right after Guerrero. Rey took Kenzo over the top rope with a headscissors at 11:28 (***ELIMINATION #4***). Guerrero gave Benoit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

---(9) Shelton Benjamin ran to the ring and went right after Edge. As Guerrero attempted to eliminate Rey, Guerrero tried to eliminate Benoit. Meanwhile, Shelton tried to eliminate Edge. Rey nailed Benjamin from behind with a chop block. Rey took Benjamin down with a swinging head scissors.

---(10) Booker T came out next. Eric Bischoff came to ringside as everyone continued to fight. Long came out and stood on the other side of the ring.

---(11) Chris Jericho charged to the ring at full speed. Ross said he knows what it's like to headline WrestleMania.

---(12) Luther Reigns walked out next. Ross said if he won, it would "shock the world." He said his street background might help him in this type of match. The Raw and Smackdown wrestlers took sides, squaring off four-on-four with Benoit & Edge & Jericho & Benjamin vs. Rey & Booker & Reigns & Guerrero.

---(13) Mohammad Hassan (w/Khosrow Daivari) walked out. As he slowly walked to the ring, the crowd chanted "USA, USA." He bowed in the ring and prayed toward the sky. Everyone surrounded him. Jericho took the first shot. Then the other seven wrestlers joined in, stomping away at him. Rey gave him a 619 as set up by Jericho. Then threw him out at 20:10 (***ELIMINATION #5***)

---(14) Orlando Jordan walked out with a big smile on his face. More random fighting with the nine left in the ring.

---(15) Scotty 2 Hotty came out, and Hassan and Daivari attacked him in the aisle. Are they turning babyface or something? Hassan applied a Camel Clutch briefly before returning to the back. Scotty never made it into the match. (***ELIMINATION #6***)

---(16) Charlie Haas ran out and went right after Benoit and Jericho. Booker kicked him to the mat, then kicked Jordan. Reigns jumped in, but Booker kicked him too. Booker clotheslined Reigns out of the ring at 24:20 (***ELIMINATION #7***) and Jordan (***ELIMINATION #8***). Booker then did the Spinarooni to celebrate, but that left him open to being dropkicked by Rey into the ropes and Guerrero lowered the top rope, so Booker fell to the floor (***ELIMINATION #9***).

---(17) Rene Dupree. Benjamin and Haas double-teamed Dupree, reuniting their team briefly. Shelton jumped to the top rope to set up a cross bodyblock, but Edge shoved him off the rope to the floor at 27:04 (***ELIMINATION #10***)

---(18) Simon Dean walked out, but stopped at ringside and began warm-up exercises. Ross called him an idiot because he had all afternoon and evening to warm up. Edge then eliminated Guerrero at 28:15 (***ELIMINATION #11).

---(19) Shawn Michaels ran out and eliminated Simon as soon as he finally entered the ring at 29:10 (***ELIMINATION #12***). Michaels backdropped Haas at 30:15 (***ELIMINATION #13***).

---(20) Kurt Angle came out and immediately began suplexing everyone - Benoit, Rey, Jericho, Edge, and Dupree. When he attempted to suplex Michaels, Michaels blocked it. Angle went for an Anklelock, but Michaels escaped and superkicked Angle out of the ring at 31:15 (***ELIMINATION #14***).

---(21) Coach strutted out.

---(22) Mark Jindrak. Angle snuck back into the ring and eliminated Michaels over the top rope. Angle then bashed Michaels in the head with the ring stairs. Michaels bladed. Angle punched away at him, then applied an Anklelock. Officials ran out to peel Angle away from Michaels. Angle got in one last stomp. (***ELIMINATION #15***)

---(23) Viscera.

---(24) Paul London. After Dupree beat on London, he did his dance. Jericho then eliminated Dupree. (***ELIMINATION #16***).

---(25) John Cena. He tore off his shift, but Viscera grabbed him and bashed him with forearms. Cena backdropped Viscera at 39:00 (***ELIMINATION #17***). Cena and Benoit squared off in the corner.

---(26) Gene Snitsky. Long punched at Snitsky, then jumped onto his back and applied a sleeper. Snitsky tossed him over the top rope, but London stayed on the apron and elbowed Snitsky's head. Snitsky gave him a clothesline. London took a flip face-first bump onto the floor to be eliminated at 40:20. Bump of the night. (***ELIMINATION #18***). Snitsky then gave Cena a big boot.

---(27) Kane came out and began chokeslamming everyone including Cena, Jericho, and even Mysterio. London was shown being helped onto a stretcher. Kane tossed Jindrak at 42:05 (***ELIMINATION #19***). Snitsky went after Kane, giving him a pump handle slam.

---(28) Batista came out to a huge pop. Batista quickly eliminated Snitsky at 43:10 (***ELIMINATION #20***). Batista and Kane then battled. The crowd chanted "Ba-ti-sta." Batista gave Kane his sitout powerbomb. Jericho dove into Batista's arms. Batista lifted and dropped him over the top rope at 43:50 (***ELIMINATION #21***). Batista then went after Edge in the corner.

---(29) Christian (w/Tyson Tomko). Rey gave Kane a 619 and then Cena eliminated Kane at 45:13 (***ELIMINATION #22***). Cena and Rey had a discussion about working together. They went over to Coach and stomped at him in the corner.

---(30) Ric Flair walked out in a gold robe. Ross mentioned that he won the Rumble in 1992 in sixty minutes. Batista gave Coach a spinebuster. Flair then tossed Coach (***ELIMINATION #23***) Batista then gave Christian a spinebuster. Batista tossed Christian over the top rope onto Tomko at ringside at 46:55 (***ELIMINATION #24***). That left Flair, Benoit, Batista, Edge, Mysterio, and Cena. Batista gave Benoit a spinebuster. Flair then tossed Benoit at 47:30 (***ELIMINATION #25***). Flair took a cheap shot at Batista, but then denied he intended to. Rey and Edge then dropkicked Batista. Flair went after Edge, but Edge speared Flair. Edge then tossed Flair at 48:00 (***ELIMINATION #26***). Final Four were Edge, Mysterio, Batista, and Cena. Edge speared Batista, then Cena. Rey then gave Edge a 619. Edge tossed Rey over the top rope, but Rey held onto the apron. Edge then speared Rey off the apron at 49:21 (***ELIMINATION #27***). Edge went after Cena and Batista, but got backdropped by both at 49:42 (***ELIMINATION #28***). That left Cena and Batista for a staredown. Ross said his pick was Batista. They exchanged punches in mid-ring. Cena went for a quick FU, but instead walked to the ropes. Batista held onto the top rope and wouldn't go over. Batista fought out of Cena's grip and threw some knees, then set up a Batistabomb. Cena walked toward the top rope and both tumbled over the top rope and landed on the floor at the same time. Two referees from each brand declared their guy the winner. Two Raw referees held up Batista's arm. Two Smackdown refs held up Cena's arms. Vince McMahon ran to the ring and he slipped when he entered the ring and appeared to hurt his ankle. He stayed on the mat with his hands on his hips. Batista then tossed Cena over the top rope. Cena returned and threw Batista over the top rope. Howard Finkle said Vince declared that the match be restarted. At 53:30 they continued. Batista blocked an FU, hit a Batista Bomb, and eliminated Cena at 53:55. (***ELIMINATION #29***)

WINNER: Batista at 54:19.

STAR RATING: ****3/4 --- Excellent Royal Rumble. Great start, a little slower in the middle but with nice spots here and there, and a very good finish.

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