Royal Rumble (2005)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Royal Rumble (2005)


tagline=All the rumbling, minus the dancing and singing [cite web|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/img/ad-rr05a.jpg|title=Royal Rumble 2005 poster|publisher=Hoffco, Inc.|accessdate=2008-04-19]
theme="Find The Real" (Alter Bridge) [cite web|url= http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2005/articles/1107126642.php|title=WWE Velocity 1/29/05 - The Eve of the Royal Rumble|first= Billy|last=Arceneaux|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2005-01-30|accessdate=2008-01-02]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown!
date=January 30 2005
venue=Save Mart Center
city=Fresno, California
attendance=12,000
lastevent=New Year's Revolution (2005)
nextevent=No Way Out (2005)
event=Royal Rumble
lastevent2=Royal Rumble (2004)
nextevent2=Royal Rumble (2006)

Royal Rumble (2005) was the eighteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on January 30 2005 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California and featured talent from both the Raw and SmackDown! brands. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02262007/articles/savemart|title=Arena Report - Save Mart Center|first=Noah|last=Starr|publisher=WWE|date=2007-02-26|accessdate=2008-01-02] cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/royalrumble05.html|title=Royal Rumble 2005 results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-01-09]

The main event was the annual 30-man Royal Rumble match, which featured performers from both brands. Batista, the twenty-eighth entrant, won the match by last eliminating John Cena, the twenty-fifth entrant. The predominant match on the Raw brand was Triple H versus Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship, which Triple H won by pinfall after executing a Pedigree. The primary match on the SmackDown! brand was a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship involving champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), Kurt Angle, and The Big Show. JBL won the match and retained the title after pinning Angle following a Clothesline from Hell.

Background

The main feud heading into the Royal Rumble on the Raw brand was between Triple H and Randy Orton over the World Heavyweight Championship. Their feud started on the August 16 2004 edition of "Raw", when Orton was kicked out of Evolution by Triple H. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2004_/articles/1092718163.php|title=WWE Raw Report 8-16-2004|first=Steven|last=Schaeffer|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2004-08-17|accessdate=2008-01-02] The following month, at Unforgiven, Triple H defeated Orton to win the World Heavyweight Championship. [cite web|first=Chris|last=Sokol|date=2004-09-13|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/09/13/788802.html|title=Unforgiven a good night for HHH|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-05-20] At Survivor Series, Team Orton (Orton, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Maven) defeated Team Triple H (Triple H, Edge, Batista, and Snitsky) in a four-on-four Elimination match. Orton won the match for his team by last eliminating Triple H. [cite web|first=Chris|last=Sokol|date=2004-11-15|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/15/723410.html|title=Orton survives at Series|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-05-20] Two months later, at New Year's Revolution, the pay-per-view three weeks before the Royal Rumble, Triple H won an Elimination Chamber match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H won the match by last eliminating Orton following outside interference from Evolution members Batista and Ric Flair. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/newyearsrevolution/history/2005/mainevent/|title=New Year’s Revolution 2005 Main Event|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-02] The night after on "Raw", Orton defeated Batista to become the number one contender to the title at the Royal Rumble. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2005/articles/1105417221.php|title=Raw Results - 1/10/05|first=Bill|last=Watson|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2005-01-10|accessdate=2008-01-02] The following week, after a verbal confrontation between the two in the arena, Triple H ambushed Orton backstage. They fought until Orton tried to use a steel chair, and Triple H hightailed. [cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30888/411s-WWE-Raw-Report-01.17.05.htm|title=411's WWE Raw Report 01.17.05|first=Alex|last=Obal|publisher=411mania|date=2005-01-17|accessdate=2008-01-09] On the January 24 edition of "Raw", Orton faced off against Ric Flair. During the match, as the referee was knocked down, Triple H came in and attacked Orton along with Flair. Orton, however, fought off both men and won the match. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2005/articles/1106626835.php|title=Raw Preview - 1/24/05|first=Bill|last=Watson|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2005-01-24|accessdate=2008-01-02]

The main feud on the SmackDown! brand was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), The Big Show, and Kurt Angle, with the three feuding over the WWE Championship. On the December 16 2004 edition of "SmackDown!", Angle challenged JBL to a match for the WWE Championship. The Cabinet (Orlando Jordan, Doug, and Danny Basham) interfered and attacked Angle, causing the match to end via disqualification. They continued to attack Angle after the match until The Big Show came out, beat down everyone, and signaled to JBL that he wanted the title. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2004_/articles/1103258236.php|title=WWE Smackdown Results 12-16-04|first=Brandon|last=Berthelot|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2004-12-16|accessdate=2008-01-02] In the weeks that followed, a Triple Threat match for the title between the three was booked for the Royal Rumble. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2004_/articles/1104463704.php|title=WWE Smackdown Results 12-30-04|first=Brandon|last=Berthelot|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2004-12-30|accessdate=2008-01-02] Following this, JBL set up Angle to anger The Big Show, but Angle angered JBL in response. After realizing this, JBL aligned himself with The Big Show and confronted Angle; however, JBL turned on Big Show and beat him down with Angle. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2005/articles/1106277123.php|title=WWE Smackdown Report 1-20-05|first=Brandon|last=Berthelot|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2005-01-20|accessdate=2008-01-02] On the January 27 edition of "SmackDown!", SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long booked a Last Man Standing match between JBL and Angle for later that night. The two eventually turned on each other, and the match ended in a no-contest. It was later revealed that the match was Big Show's idea. [cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2005/articles/1106881090.php|title=WWE Smackdown Report 1-27-05|first=Brandon|last=Berthelot|publisher=Lords of Pain|date=2005-01-27|accessdate=2008-01-02]

Another feud heading into the event from SmackDown! was between The Undertaker and Heidenreich. Their feud first started in 2004 at No Mercy, the pay-per-view in October. Heidenreich helped John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) defeat Undertaker in a Last Ride match by attacking Undertaker and putting him in the hearse. At Survivor Series, Undertaker defeated Heidenreich by pinfall after executing a Tombstone Piledriver.

Event

Kurt Angle returned to the ring after being eliminated, and eliminated Shawn Michaels.

Scotty was attacked by Hassan before entering the match, and never competed.

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811/ Official 2005 Royal Rumble website]