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

***

Royal Rumble PPV Flashback Report - 2007
January 28, 2007
San Antonio, Tex.
Report by Wade Keller, Torch editor

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole & JBL, and Joey Styles & Tazz all introduced the show.

1 -- MATT & JEFF HARDY vs. JOEY MERCURY & NITRO (w/Melina)

MNM beat up Matt for a while. Jeff got a hot-tag and went for a pin on Nitro. Mercury made the save, but awkwardly late as the ref had to stop the count before the run-in. Both Hardys mounted opposite top ropes and splashed/legdropped Mercury, but he lifted his knees. At 17:00 four-way action broke out. Hardy gave Nitro a Twist of Fate. Mercury charged at Matt and drove him out of the ring. As Matt fell out of the ring, he tagged Jeff. Jeff hit a Swanton off the top rope for the three count. They aired a cool slo-mo angle of Jeff's Swanton.

WINNERS: Matt & Jeff Hardy in 18:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- A good, solid tag team opener.

-Kelly Kelly introduced herself to Edge as an exhibitionist and the official Royal Rumble tumbler. Edge made fun of her name. "Did your parents name you twice so you wouldn't forget your last name." She replied: "At least my name is real." Randy Orton walked in and drew his number. He wouldn't let Edge look at it. Edge said, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." The crowd laughed. Booker T and Sharmell walked into the picture and gave them a strange look. Booker said, "Tell me you didn't just say that."

-A cool WrestleMania commercial aired with kids dressed up as top WWE superstars.

-A video feature aired on the Test vs. Bobby Lashley match.

2 -- BOBBY LASHLEY vs. TEST -- ECW Hvt. Title match

Lashley speared Test in the opening minute and dominated the start of the match. Test threw Lashley into the ringpost at 2:00 to take over. Lashley clutched his wrist at ringside. Test settled into an armbar in center-ring. Lashley made a comeback and tried to press slam Test, but his left arm gave out. Test then gave Lashley a big boost for a convincing near fall. Lashley came back with an overhead suplex and a tight clothesline, sending Test to the floor. Test ended up counted out, intentionally. Lashley chased after Test and threw him back into the ring.

WINNER: Lashley via DQ in 7:00.

STAR RATING: * -- It was off to a passable start for them. The finish was bad. There is nothing that represents what ECW stands for about this match. It's such a pointless brand at this point, it's sad.

-A doctor was checking on John Cena backstage. Cena said there was no chance he wouldn't wrestle. Vince McMahon walked in and asked if he was fine or if he'd be forfeiting the WWE Title tonight. Cena said he was fine. Vince said he "cannot see him" as the WWE Champion after tonight. Cena stared into space intensely.

-A video feature aired on Mr. Kennedy vs. Batista.

3 -- BATISTA vs. MR. KENNEDY -- World Hvt. Title match

Batista outpowered Kennedy with some collar and elbow lock-ups. They went to ringside where Kennedy shoved Batista into the ringside stairs. Batista clutched his knee. That's too similar to the opening minutes of Test-Batista, where the heel threw the face into the ring steps to reverse momentum after the face clutched a body part (wrist/knee). Kennedy worked over Batista's knee in the ring. Kennedy applied an inverted figure-four that positioned Batista face-down on his elbows. Cool hold. Kennedy switched to another leglock. He bled from his nose and licked the blood as he flexed on the leglock. Kennedy clipped Batista's leg from behind. Batista hit a spinebuster at 8:00, but then grabbed his knee afterward, as if he blew it out. Batista stood and made a superman comeback with a clothesline and backdrop. He kept favoring his leg. he clotheslined Kennedy in the corner, then bodyslammed him. The ref went down, and Kennedy stopped Batista with a low blow. He covered Batista and had a visual pin, but no ref to make the count. He got the ref awake, then DDT'd Batista and made the cover. Batista kicked out. Kennedy came off the top rope, but Booker caught him with a clothesline. Then he gave him a Batista Bomb for the pin.

WINNER: Batista in 11:00 to retain the World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Structured well (for these two, that is, because it didn't ask too much of Batista) and Batista sold his leg convincingly, but it was too similar to the outline of the Batista-Test match. It also was Batista, which meant it was pretty clunky even when it was good otherwise. Not terrible, but below average overall. Batista is so bad these days, though, it's really time to figure out how to move past him being in main events for Smackdown.

-Backstage, Ariel and Kevin Thorn drew the number. Coach told Teddy Long there are some freaks in ECW. Then The Little Bastard ran in and began spinning the tumbler. He grunted and laughed. When Coach said, "I hope there's not a small number in there," LB jumped Coach and bit his ear. He then bumped into Great Khali and ran away. Khali reached in and grabbed a handful of balls. Coach told him he could only take. Khali dropped all but one and walked away. Kelly Kelly bent over and picked up two of them, then said, "Wow, these are the biggest balls I've ever held." She turned around and Ron Simmons was standing right there. He said, "Damn!"

4 -- JOHN CENA vs. UMAGA (w/Armando Estrada)-- WWE Hvt. Title match - Last Man Standing

The pattern continued as Umaga rammed Cena into the ringside steps in the opening two minutes. Cena clutched his mid-section. Cena came back at 4:00 and snapped Umaga's throat over the top rope, then threw the ring steps over the top rope at Umaga. Umaga blocked it with is hands, but fell down and barely stood before the ten count. The replay from the side made the stair-impact look much better. Umaga attempted to charge Cena in the corner against the ring steps, but Cena moved and threw the steps at Umaga. Umaga caught him and slammed him a minute later. Cena came back with a knee to Umaga's crotch, then slammed him into the steps in mid-ring. The ref began counting both men down. Cena gave Umaga a Five-Knuckle Shuffle as he was on the steps. Cena went for an FU onto the steps, but he fell face-first onto the steps with Umaga's weight under him. Cena came up bleeding at 14:00. Cena made a superman comeback at 15:00, no-selling Cena's punches. Cena charged at Umaga, but Umaga reversed him into a Samoan drop where Cena appeared to land awkwardly (but seemed okay afterward, just selling normally). Umaga signalled for the Samoan Spike. A very blood Cena sat up and then got to his feet at the eight count. Cena blocked the spike. Umaga headbutted him, then hung him upside down in a corner. When Umaga charged, Cena moved. Then Cena came off the top rope with a legdrop to Umaga's head. He followed by grabbing a monitor from the ringside table. He swung the monitor at Umaga's skull which was next to the ringpost. The camera angle didn't reveal whether the monitor hit Umaga or just the ringpost. Umaga fell backward, then Cena entered the ring and knocked him to the floor. Cena dove at Umaga, but Umaga caught him and rammed him back-first into the ringpost. Umaga set Cena face-down on an announce table. Umaga then used the other two tables as a runway and charged at Cena with a splash. Cena moved and Umaga flattened the announce table. Cool spot. Nice use of the rare case of three tables all lined up. The ref counted to nine, but Umaga stood just at ten. Ross yelled, "It's over!" Armando dismantled the top rope. Umaga then grabbed the turnbuckle itself to use as a very special Samoan Spike. Cena caught him as he charged and gave him an FU. Cena knocked Estrada off the ring apron, then hit Umaga with the turnbuckle, then applied an STFU while choking Umaga with the top rope. Umaga passed out as Cena yanked back and screamed. Cena let go, and Umaga began to stand up. Cena reapplied the choke with the top rope. The ref then began to count again. Cena stood slowly and looked on as the ref reached ten to end the match.

WINNER: Cena in 25:00 to retain the WWE Title.

STAR RATING: ***3/4 -- Really good Last Man Standing match. When Umaga began to stand up, it almost seemed like it might have been because he got disoriented and forgot to stay down. That choke out with the top rope looked pretty vicious. The use of the dismantled top rope and turnbuckle was memorable and novel.

-They went to a really well-produced video piece looking at the history of the Royal Rumble. These touches are really helpful in making the match you're about to watch feel significant - like history in the making.

5 -- 30 MAN RUMBLE

Cole, JBL, and Lawler joined to call the match, meaning Ross was not part of it despite his seniority. They're giving the big match spot to the announcer they believe will be around in five years still calling matches. In that sense, it's not a ridiculous decision, and Cole is certainly at least decent on commentary, but it's still a shame that the commitment to Ross isn't at the same level as his superior announcing ability at this point. It's not like he's 70 years old and slowing down or anything.

Flair and Finlay came out first. Kenny Dykstra came out next and exchanged chops with Flair. Dykstra and Finlay doubled on Flair. Matt Hardy came out for his sixth Rumble match. He gave Dykstra a side effect. Edge charged to the ring and speared Flair immediately, then Finlay, and then went after Hardy, but he side-stepped him. Hardy gave him a Twist of Fate. Flair crawled to the floor and looked under the ring for something. He came in with two chairs. Dykstra threw Flair out of the ring, then Edge immediately tossed Dykstra out. When Sabu ran to the ring, he first pulled a table out of the ring and set it up at ringside. He went after Dreamer with an odd looking springboard DDT-type move. Cole struggled to remember the Sabu catch-phrase. He called him genocidal and homicidal, but he didn't say suicidal. JBL gave him a hard time about not saying it all. Cole laughed and said JBL didn't think he knew it all. Kane tossed Dreamer, then chokeslammed Sabu over the top rope through the table at ringside. Punk charged at Edge at the start. Finlay almost knocked Punk out of the ring a few seconds later. Punk came back with a running high knee to Edge's chin in the corner. Finlay hit Punk from behind.

The Hardys double-teamed Crazy. They tried to double-team Kane, but he caught them by their throats. They came back and Jeff leaped off of Matt's back with a leg into Kane's face with Poetry in Motion. Sandman then came out through the crowd. he pounded his forehead with a beer can, then made his way to the ring. He caned several wrestlers upon entering the ring, then got tossed by Booker immediately. Orton eliminated Crazy right away. Orton and Edge worked together and eliminated both Hardys. Kane tossed Booker out. Booker couldn't believe it. Booker re-entered the ring and went after Kane, setting up their feud. Booker clotheslined Kane over the top rope to the floor. JBL said that was a legal elimination. Cole called it ridiculous. Booker pounded on Kane at ringside. Mike Rotunda, Steve Keirn, and Dean Malenko were among the agents/producers who came to ringside to get Rotunda to the back. Shelton hung on to the bottom rope with his legs bent almost touching the floor, but he pulled himself back to the apron. RVD and Viscera did a weird spot against the ropes that didn't appear to lead anywhere. When Michaels came out, everyone worked together to get rid of Viscera. RVD dropkicked Masters, who then obviously leaped over the top rope for a contender of the most clumsy and fake-looking exit in Rumble history. RVD almost eliminated Michaels at 41:00. Several wrestlers tried to kick him to the floor, but he pulled himself back in. Khali threw out Holly and Benoit, and then Miz within a couple seconds of entering. Khali gave Michaels a bit chokeslam.

ORDER OF ENTRY (Order of Eliminations)
(1) Ric Flair
(2) Finlay
(3) Kenny Dykstra
(4) Matt Hardy
(5) Edge (1. Flair via Dykstra; 2. Dykstra via Edge)
(6) Tommy Dreamer
(7) Sabu
(8) Gregory Helms
(9) Shelton Benjamin
(10) Kane (3. Dreamer via Kane; 4. Sabu via Kane)
(11) C.M. Punk
(12) Booker (5. Helms via Booker)
(13) Super Crazy
(14) Jeff Hardy
(15) Sandman (6. Sandman via Booker)
(16) Randy Orton (7. Super Crazy; 8. Jeff via Edge; 9. Matt via Randy)
(17) Chris Benoit
(18) Rob Van Dam (10. Booker via Kane; 11. Kane via Booker)
(19) Viscera
(20) Johnny Nitro
(21) Kevin Thorn
(22) Hardcore Holly
(23) Shawn Michaels (12. Finlay via Michaels; 13. Viscera via many; 14. Benjamin via Michaels)
(24) Chris Masters (15. Nitro via Benoit)
(25) Chavo Guerrero (16. Thorn via Benoit)
(26) MVP (17. Masters via RVD)
(27) Carlito
(28) Great Khali (18. Holly via Khali, 19. Benoit via Khali)
(29) The Miz (20. Miz via Khali; 21. RVD via Khali; 22. Punk via Khali; 23. Carlito via Khali, 24. Chavo via Khali)
(30) Undertaker (25. Khali via Taker; 26. MVP via Taker; 27. Orton via Michaels; 28. Edge via Michaels; 29. Michaels via Undertaker)

The final six were Khali, Michaels, Orton, MVP, Edge, and Undertaker. Cole played up the idea that Taker was the answer to Khali, who appeared to be unstoppable in the match. JBL said this was a moment going down in history as Taker battled Khali in mid-ring. Khali grabbed Taker by the throat, but Taker knocked his hands away and clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. Taker eliminated MVP. Taker almost eliminated Edge, but Edge held onto the bottom rope. Orton hit Taker with a chair. Edge then set up a Spear behind Orton. As he charged, Orton turned and held up the chair. Orton yelled at Edge for clearly not showing loyalty. Orton surprised Michaels with an RKO, then Michaels rolled out of the ring under the bottom rope. They decided to work together against Taker as Michaels remained at ringside. They pounded away at Taker two-on-one, unaware that Michaels was still legal. A bloodied Taker punched back against both, then hit opposite corner clotheslines against both. He grabbed both by the throat, but they kicked out of his grip. He came off the ropes with a double clothesline. He then lifted Edge and Snake Eyede him followed by a big boot. Taker grabbed Orton by the throat, but Edge speared Taker off of Orton. Edge grabbed a chair and banged Taker across the skull with it. Edge rolled to the floor and grabbed another chair. Meanwhile, Orton put Taker face-first over the chair. Before they could execute the conchairto, Michaels returned and backdropped Orton out of the ring and then superkicked Edge out of the ring. That left Michaels and Taker as the final two at 50:00. Both lay on their backs knocked out. After about 20 seconds, Taker sat up and Michaels nipped up.

Michaels got in early offense, but Taker shoved him away and took control. He had him leaning perilously over the top rope in the corner. Michaels survived. Michaels took the Flair flip into the corner. Taker charged Michaels with a big boot, but Michaels moved. Taker flew over the top rope to the apron. Michaels charged at Taker with a running forearm. Taker held on. Michaels charged again. Taker caught him with an elbow. Taker returned to the ring and punched Michaels to the mat. Michaels gave Taker a neckbreaker.

Taker came back with a big boot. He set up a suplex, but Michaels collapsed over the top rope and tried to leverage Taker over with him. Taker held on inside the ring. Michaels climbed to the top rope. Taker punched him. Michaels teetered on the top rope. Taker set up a superplex. Michaels fought against it. Taker headbutted Michaels. Michaels punched back and knocked Michaels to the mat. Michaels had a great facial expression and then climbed to the top rope and dove off with an elbowdrop. He played to the crowd and showed great fire while also selling his exhaustion. Michaels signalled for the superkick. Taker caught his leg and then chokeslammed him hard in center ring. Michaels slipped out of a Tombstone and superkicked Taker. Both men were down. Michaels stood up first. Taker blocked it and lifted Michaels up and over the top rope. Michaels hit the floor. Taker wins.

WINNER: Undertaker in 59:00.

STAT RATING: ****1/4 -- The body of the match for the Rumble was good, but not full of special moments. The final elimination by Taker of Michaels wasn't as smooth as they might have planned, but it looked a bit more real as a result. Absolutely great final eight minutes - the best eight minutes of the night, edging out the best of Cena-Umaga. WWE delivered a true dream match-up at the end of Rumble and generously gave away more between Michaels and Undertaker (one of the true dream singles matches left in WWE unexploited) than they had to.

[Torch art/photos (c) PWTorch.com]

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