.png)
Date: January 30, 2005
Location: Save Mart Center - Fresno, California
The Rumble Match:
Entrants and Eliminations:
1. Eddie Guerrero (Entry #1, eliminated by Edge)
2. Chris Benoit (Entry #2, eliminated by Batista and Eic Flair)
3. Daniel Puder (Entry #3, eliminated by Hardcore Holly)
4. Hardcore Holly (Entry #4, eliminated by Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero)
5. The Hurricane (Entry #5, eliminated by Eddie Guerrero)
6. Kenzo Suzuki (Entry #6, eliminated by Rey Mysterio)
7. Edge (Entry #7, Batista and John Cena)
8. Rey Mysterio (Entry #8, eliminated by Edge)
9. Shelton Benjamin (Entry #9, eliminated by Edge)
10. Booker T (Entry #10, eliminated by Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero)
11. Chris Jericho (Entry #11, eliminated by Batista)
12. Luther Reigns (Entry #12, eliminated by Booker T)
13. Muhammad Hassan (Entry #13, eliminated by Booker T, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Edge, Luther Reigns and Shelton Benjamin)
14. Orlando Jordan (Entry #14, eliminated by Booker T)
15. Scotty 2 Hotty (Entry #15, Unable to compete)
16. Charlie Haas (Entry #16, eliminated by Shawn Michaels)
17. Rene Dupree (Entry #17, eliminated by Chris Jericho)
18. Simon Dean (Entry #18, eliminated by Shawn Michaels)
19. Shawn Michaels (Entry #19, eliminated by Kurt Angle)
20. Kurt Angle (Entry #20, eliminated by Shawn Michaels)
21. Jonathan Coachman (Entry #21, eliminated by Ric Flair)
22. Mark Jindrak (Entry #22, eliminated by Kane)
23. Viscera (Entry #23, eliminated by John Cena)
24. Paul London (Entry #24, eliminated by Gene Snitsky)
25. John Cena (Entry #25, eliminated by Batista)
26. Gene Snitsky (Entry #26, eliminated by Batista)
27. Kane (Entry #27, eliminated by John Cena)
28. Batista (Entry #28, eliminated by Winner)
29. Christian (Entry #29, eliminated by Batista)
30. Ric Flair (Entry #30, eliminated by Edge)
Thoughts on the Match:
The 2005 Royal Rumble featured an intense showdown between Batista and John Cena, foreshadowing the rise of two future WWE icons.
Full Event Card:
1. Maven vs. Rhyno (Maven wins)
2. Edge vs. Shawn Michaels (Edge wins)
3. The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich in a Casket Match (The Undertaker wins)
4. JBL vs. Kurt Angle vs. The Big Show for the WWE Championship (John "Bradshaw" Layfield retains)
5. Triple H vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship (Triple H retains)
6. The Royal Rumble Match (Winner: Batista)
Highlights and Aftermath:
- The final two, Batista and John Cena, simultaneously eliminated each other, leading to a controversial finish.
- The match result led to a memorable moment on Raw when Vince McMahon appeared to make a decision, leading to the famous line, "I've got an idea!"
Impact on Storylines:
- The controversial ending set the stage for a showdown between Batista and Triple H at WrestleMania 21.
- The simultaneous elimination of Batista and John Cena planted the seeds for their respective paths to championship glory.
Conclusion:
The 2005 Royal Rumble showcased the emergence of Batista and John Cena as major players in WWE. The controversial finish added an element of unpredictability, setting the tone for the road to WrestleMania.
Comments