FINAL CARD for WWE Royal Rumble (LEAVE PREDICTIONS) Date: January 30, 2005 Location: Save Mart Center; Fresno, California Theme Song: “Find the Real”; Alter Bridge
30 Man Royal Rumble Match –WINNER RECIEVES MAIN EVENT TITLE SHOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 21– Batista,Big Show, Billy Kidman, Booker T, Carlito, Christian, Chris Jericho, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Eddie Guerrero, Eugene, Kane, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Conway, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Shawn Michaels, Stevie Richards, Tajiri, Triple H, Tyson Tomko, The Undertaker, William Regal
WWE Championship Match John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship Match Randy Orton vs. Edge
Intercontinental Championship Match Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Tag Team Championships Match Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio vs. The Dudley Boyz
Question 1: Who will have the best performance in the Rumble Match but not win it? Kane's gonna be the man to beat, I think, but he won't win it, maybe runner-up
Question 2: What will be the SPOT of the night? Frog Splash Through Table
Question 3: What match will open the show? IC Title Match
Question 4: Will there be ANY surprises in the Royal Rumble Match? Naturally
Question 5: How long will the Royal Rumble Match last? (Person who has the closest time wins this one) 1 hour 20 mins
Heading into the Royal Rumble Match this Sunday, it is a particularly interesting toss up going around the creative team. The top name being discussed to win the Rumble from the RAW side is Batista, while Smackdown's 'pick' seems to look like it will either be The Undertaker or Kurt Angle. Creative heads have been butting heads lately and there really is no clear winner as of yet, and we are just a few days away from the event. Expect a lot of chaos and unpredictability in this Rumble Match.
A lot of questions are now going into the Randy Orton/Edge title match, as to who will be coming out of it victorious. Surprisingly enough even after coming just under three weeks of winning the strap, there is talk of Edge picking it up. Creative has been high on him, with the recent push he has garnered over the last few months, so to some it may not be a shock to see Edge 'shock the world' and win the World Title, but take it for what it's worth.
And in terms of the WWE Championship Match, this match has also been changed numerously. While some firmly believe he will be heading to 'Mania as the Champion, the new kid on the block [Cena] may surprise a lot of people and win the title. But take that with a grain of salt.
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Rumble posted Sunday. Mark your calendars kiddies.
~ I was pretty surprised to see that Triple H wasn't one of the favorites for the RR match. I can see 'Taker winning but not Angle or Batista.
~ Orton should retain the title because you don't want his second WHC reign to be even shorter than his first. Edge is good ... but it is not his time yet, imo.
~ JBL needs to retain because someone like Cena has to win his first major title at a WrestleMania.
I will be reading and reviewing for sure
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AS LONG AS IT MAY TAKE ... NOT REMOVING UNTIL
THE CHICAGO CUBS WIN THE WORLD SERIES
FINAL CARD for WWE Royal Rumble
(LEAVE PREDICTIONS)
Date: January 30, 2005
Location: Save Mart Center; Fresno, California
Theme Song: “Find the Real”; Alter Bridge
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
–WINNER RECIEVES MAIN EVENT TITLE SHOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 21–
Batista, Big Show, Billy Kidman, Booker T, Carlito, Christian, Chris Jericho, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Eddie Guerrero, Eugene, Kane, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Conway, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Shawn Michaels, Stevie Richards, Tajiri, Triple H, Tyson Tomko, The Undertaker, William Regal
WWE Championship Match
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Randy Orton vs. Edge
Intercontinental Championship Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Tag Team Championships Match Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio vs. The Dudley Boyz
FINAL CARD for WWE Royal Rumble
(LEAVE PREDICTIONS)
Date: January 30, 2005
Location: Save Mart Center; Fresno, California
Theme Song: “Find the Real”; Alter Bridge
FINAL CARD for WWE Royal Rumble
(LEAVE PREDICTIONS)
Date: January 30, 2005
Location: Save Mart Center; Fresno, California
Theme Song: “Find the Real”; Alter Bridge
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
–WINNER RECIEVES MAIN EVENT TITLE SHOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 21–
Batista, Big Show, Billy Kidman, Booker T, Carlito, Christian, Chris Jericho, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Eddie Guerrero, Eugene, Kane, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Conway, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Shawn Michaels, Stevie Richards, Tajiri, Triple H, Tyson Tomko, The Undertaker, William Regal
WWE Championship Match John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship Match Randy Orton vs. Edge
Intercontinental Championship Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Tag Team Championships Match Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio vs. The Dudley Boyz
Hey man. It'ss been a while. Anyway, I am here to support you BTB and try to get some points. Good luck with the Rumble, I'll definatly read and review it for ya, pal.
FINAL CARD for WWE Royal Rumble
(LEAVE PREDICTIONS)
Date: January 30, 2005
Location: Save Mart Center; Fresno, California
Theme Song: “Find the Real”; Alter Bridge
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
–WINNER RECIEVES MAIN EVENT TITLE SHOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 21–
Batista, Big Show, Billy Kidman, Booker T, Carlito, Christian, Chris Jericho, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Eddie Guerrero, Eugene, Kane, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Conway, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Shawn Michaels, Stevie Richards, Tajiri, Triple H, Tyson Tomko, The Undertaker, William Regal
WWE Championship Match
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship Match Randy Orton vs. Edge
Intercontinental Championship Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Tag Team Championships Match Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio vs. The Dudley Boyz
FINAL CARD for WWE Royal Rumble
(LEAVE PREDICTIONS)
Date: January 30, 2005
Location: Save Mart Center; Fresno, California
Theme Song: “Find the Real”; Alter Bridge
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
–WINNER RECIEVES MAIN EVENT TITLE SHOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 21– Batista, Big Show, Billy Kidman, Booker T, Carlito, Christian, Chris Jericho, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Eddie Guerrero, Eugene, Kane, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Conway, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Shawn Michaels, Stevie Richards, Tajiri, Triple H, Tyson Tomko, The Undertaker, William Regal
WWE Championship Match
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Randy Orton vs. Edge
Intercontinental Championship Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Tag Team Championships Match Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio vs. The Dudley Boyz
Hope the PPV goes all and well for you JayBeeLooser
Well, being as I have just realized I'll have no time to post it tomorrow, I must post this today. I look at this as a milestone for me, as after this is the long road to WrestleMania, which I have extensively planned. I hope to make the best of this thread, to really make a name for myself here and not be known as one of those guys who couldn't ever get it done. Reviews for this show will be greatly appreciated, AND WILL BE RETURNED. I can promise that, and I apologize tho those who I have not reviewed yet that I have promised, my social life has been a bit of a zinger lately.
But anyway, here's the Rumble. Enjoy it.
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The video package opens inside of a police station. A scrambler is heard, discussing certain things going on in the town we’re located in.
Officer 1 {Looks like John Cena}: Officer Brown, what’s the status report?
Officer 2 {Looks like Randy Orton}: Nothing right now Bradley.
‘Officer Bradley’ exhales a deep breath, and then paces around the station. Suddenly something comes into the scrambler.
Scrambler Voice: All units, all units, report of a rumble in Fresno. A rumble in Fresno.
‘Bradley’ shoots his head back as ‘Brown’ listens in.
Officer Bradley: Let’s go!
The two officers rush out of the station, and into the police car in the parking lot outside. They speed out of the lot, and start driving.
Officer Brown: Took long enough for this report to come in.
Officer Bradley: We’ve been waiting for weeks for this.
Officer Brown: Let’s hope this isn’t out of control.
We zoom out of the cop car, and see it drive into the city of Fresno, California. It drives around, before we come back into the car.
Officer Bradley: There! Right there!
The car puts its sirens on, as it rolls up to a parking lot, which is gathered with many people. The officers get out of the car.
Officer Brown: Hold it! Hold it. Before anything gets started here, what seems to be the problem?
Person 1 {Looks like Christian}: Oh there isn’t a problem officers…
Person 2 {Looks like Rey Mysterio}: We’re just getting ready to rumble…
Officer Bradley: Now wait just a minute. The only rumbling around here is the rumbling of all of you when we put you in our car.
???: That ain’t happenin’ on my watch!
The camera moves over, and we see someone who looks a LOT like John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield holding a gun up. The officers then bring out their guns steadily.
Officer Bradley: Drop…the gun…
Suddenly, a man looking an awful lot like Shawn Michaels jumps on top of the man looking ike JBL and the gun is dropped and begins fighting with him!
And everyone begins fighting!!!
The officers cannot control it all, as they too begin fighting with the people gathered in this parking lot. Suddenly numerous other sirens are heard, and more cop cars rush in. Out of one car, comes a man looking a hell of a lot like Vince McMahon, who fires a warning shot into the air, which gets everyone to stop and look over.
Person: Gentlemen…if a Rumble’s what you want, then follow me…
The people along with the officers all jet into their own cars, and follow the force of police cars, all the way to the outside of the Save Mart Center! The car comes to a full stop in the parking lot, along with the others, as they all come out of their cars.
Person: Gentlemen… THIS. Is the ROYAL…Rumble…!!
We see the people behind him all smile and clap, as they all run into the arena…
…and we fade into a dark wrestling ring, with images then appearing of some of the greatest moments at the Royal Rumble shown.
Jim Ross: It has been Royal Rumble, 3:16!!
Shots of Stone Cold Steve Austin’s victory in the Royal Rumble match in 2001
Jim Ross: The Game! The Game! The Game!
Shots of Triple H’s win in 2002 after being injured for months
Narrator: It is the beginning of the Road to WrestleMania…
Slow motion images of fireworks going off at the past few WrestleMania’s
Narrator: And is the beginning…of the dream…
Slow motion shots of Chris Benoit, Brock Lesnar, The Rock, and Shawn Michaels all celebrating their victories in their respective Royal Rumble match victories.
Narrator: For some the dream will be realized…
Shot of Triple H, Shelton Benjamin, and Rob Van Dam
Narrator: But for others…it will die…
Shot of Kurt Angle losing in 2002, The Big Show falling off the apron last year, and Stone Cold being pushed over the top rope in 1999 at the hands of Vince McMahon
Narrator: No matter the dream… some will realize that tonight.
Shot of Edge, and John Cena, who have title matches tonight where they could win their first major singles titles
Narrator: Tonight…it begins…
Shot of many superstars being tossed over the top rope, and then ends with the WrestleMania 21 logo being shown…
***
Narrator: And now! RAW and SmackDown! Present…
WWE ROYAL RUMBLE
Inside the arena, fireworks set the stage ablaze, which is set up very nicely. Afterwards, we pan around the arena, seeing the capacity crowd inside the Save Mart Center standing on their feet, stead fast in anticipation for the night to begin.
Jim Ross: 12,000 plus fans have jam-packed the Save Mart Center, in Fresno, California…for the 18th annual Royal Rumble!!! Tonight one man’s dream will be realized, as one man will earn himself the dream of a lifetime – to main event WrestleMania 21! Hello everyone, I’m Jim Ross alongside Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, set to bring you all of the RAW action tonight. And King, we’ve got two big matches set on the table tonight don’t we?
The King: Oh for sure JR! Shelton Benjamin defends the Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho, and of course – the World Heavyweight Championship match with Randy Orton and Edge! But it doesn’t get any bigger than the Royal Rumble match.
Jim Ross: You’re absolutely right King and that of course is much later on tonight. And we’re going to send it over to our friends from SmackDown!, Michael Cole and Tazz take it away!
Michael Cole: Thanks JR and yes ladies and gentlemen I’m Michael Cole he’s Tazz, and we’re ready to bring you all the action here tonight for the SmackDown! side of things, and we’ve got some big matches ourselves don’t we partner?
Tazz: We’ve got rocketbusters galore here tonight for the SmackDown! side of things. I cannot wait especially, for the WWE Title match later on tonight, with John Cena and JBL.
Michael Cole: That could be the most anticipated match of the night Tazz especially with how things have been lately on SmackDown! Plus, the WWE Tag Team Titles are on the line as the Dudleys challenge RVD and Rey Mysterio. But right now, we have to send it up to Lillian Garcia, for RAW’s first match of the night.
Lillian Garcia: This is the opening contest, at the 18th annual Royal Rumble!!! And it is scheduled for one fall, and is for the Worldddd Heavyweight Championship!
“YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME?”
*Metalingus* Edge walks out to a phenomenal mixed reaction from the crowd, as he bounces up and down through the smoke. He then walks down to the ring on the long entrance ramp, and slides in and bounces up and down on the ring.
Lillian Garcia: Introducing first the challenger, from Toronto, Canada weighing in at 243 pounds…EDGE!!
Jim Ross: Well King Edge has said over the past couple of weeks that he has waited for this moment for a long time. Eight years in fact, that he’s waited for a World Title shot. And now tonight at the Royal Rumble, he’ll be getting that shot at the richest prize in the game.
The King: Well JR you and I have both sat here on RAW and watched Edge’s ego change over the past few months. And it has made him a better competitor than he’s ever been. I think he’s gonna do it tonight JR. I think we’re gonna see a NEW World Heavyweight Champion.
Jim Ross: Well King you might just be right. But to do it, Edge has to face a hell of a champion in this man.
“…HEY!”
*Burn in My Light* The crowd gets on their feet as the World Heavyweight Champion arrives, with the title strapped around his waist. He garners elbow pads and white wrist tape along with new black and gold tights, as he does his destiny pose at the top of the ramp. A golden shower rains down behind him, as he makes his slow walk to the ring, looking sharply composed and ready to defend his title.
Lillian Garcia: And making his way to the ring his opponent! From Saint Louis, Missouri…weighing in at 245 pounds…he is the WORRRRRLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONNNNNN!!!! Randyyyyy ORTONNNN!!!
Jim Ross: Well ladies and gentlemen, the last time Randy Orton stepped into the ring as the World Heavyweight Champion in a championship match, he lost that very title at the hands of ‘The Game’ Triple H. But Randy has made vast improvements in his game since then, and this may be his defining moment as the World Champion tonight, if he can defeat a man who has been on quite a roll lately, in the challenger.
The King: Let’s see who’s got enough to be the World Champion. And we may very well see the winner of this match go on to WrestleMania in three months as the champion as well!
Jim Ross: A precursor of WrestleMania 21. How are you going to top this as the opener of the show?
World Heavyweight Championship Match Randy Orton vs. Edge
The crowd settles in as the first match of the night at the 18th annual Royal Rumble is about to begin. Orton slowly unstraps his title belt, and hands it to referee Mike Chioda, who flashes it to both men and holds it up in the center of the ring. The bell then sounds, as he hands it off to the stage hand on the outside. ‘Let’s go Orton’ chants begin coming off the Fresno crowd, as Edge looks bitter in his corner. He tells the fans to shut up, which gets most of them to boo him, while Orton just stays attentive in his corner, not letting his emotions get the best of him unlike his opponent.
The two men then begin to circle the ring, matching one another step for step, not moving their eyes off each other. They then lunge to the center of the ring and lock up, and Orton gets the better of it. The crowd cheers as Orton takes Edge down keeping his arms locked around his head. The challenger attempts to bide out of it, but Orton rolls on his back, back up to his feet and sends him off to the ropes. Edge rebounds, and Orton knocks a good one in his mouth via his right elbow. He shakes his arm as he comes off the ropes and jumps over Edge who rolls on to his stomach, and Orton sprints hard to Edge and hits a powerful clothesline nearly turning his opponent inside out.
Orton shakes his arm loose, and comes off the ropes with a knee drop. He forces his shoulders down and makes the cover, first of the match. 1…2…Kick out. Orton isn’t going to win that early, and he knows it, as he mounts over on top of the challenger. He hits a clean shot to his jaw with his right hand, and then picks the back of his head up and hits another clean shot. He lifts him up, and goes for a suplex, but Edge sticks his leg between Orton’s, blocking the attempt. The Legend Killer then hits a punishing knee to the sternum, and then hits the suplex he was looking to hit. Orton gets up to a nice ovation from the crowd, as he does his ‘destiny’ pose, getting more of a pop.
Orton takes a moment to breathe in the corner, as Edge stirs. The Champion sizes up his opponent, before charging ahead, and clotheslines him out to the outside! Edge hits the mat with a lot of force, and Orton is seen climbing to the outside of the ring. He stomps on Edge’s back, and grabs him by his hair. He drags him up to his feet and smacks him clean with his right hand, and clenches his fist and goes for another right but Edge backdrops him over the barricade!!! The crowd lets out an OH as Edge now has time to recuperate. He gets up to a lot of heat from the crowd, as he flips his head up getting the hair out of his face, and then turns his attention back to the World Champion, who’s laid out on the floor underneath a couple of fans.
Edge reaches over and grabs the Champ, and hip tosses him over the barricade and onto the padded floor! Orton screams in agony as he holds his back, and Edge adds to the punishment by kicking him HARD. Orton grimaces in pain as he tries to get away, but the challenger is in hot pursuit. Grabbing him up he hits a right hand, causing Orton to barrel into the ring post. Edge then grabs Orton’s head and slams it on the apron, and trips him up grabbing both of his legs. The crowd boos as Edge taunts them, before CATAPULTING ORTON FACE FIRST INTO THE RING POST!!! Orton SMACKS his forehead into it, and staggers backward afterwards and crumbles down on the floor.
The referee tells the men to get back into the ring, threatening a double count out after coming to the count of eight. Edge grabs Orton’s head and rolls him into the ring. Orton is rolling on the canvas, as we see his head has been busted open, and Edge pushes down his forearm on the cut as he makes the pin. 1…2…Orton gets the shoulder up. Edge frustrated, slaps the mat and tells the referee to count faster the next time. He pulls him up then and backs him into the corner, where he then goes off on him with repeated right hand shots to the cut on his forehead.
Edge then pushes up his hair and walks to the center of the ring and runs forward, but Orton moves!! Edge hits the turnbuckles, and staggers into a picture perfect dropkick from the World Heavyweight Champion!! Orton pulls himself off the canvas and hooks Edge’s legs up for a pin. 1…2…Kick out! Orton holds onto the bottom rope, and grabs the second rope and brings himself up to a vertical base. He kicks Edge, and then goes for an inverted backbreaker, but Edge SOMEHOW bides out of it and hits a COMPLETE SHOT! Edge bounces up off the mat, and his arm falls over the chest of Randy Orton, and the ref drops down! 1…2…Kick out!!
Randy’s face is trickling with blood as he slowly gets up to his feet and blocks a right hand from a staggering Edge and hits a right of his own. He goes for another but Edge blocks this time, and Edge hits one of his own. Orton staggers into the ropes, and Edge goes over and rakes the eyes of the Champion, and the challenger begins clubbing on his back with his forearm. He does this numerous times before sending him off to the ropes. Orton rebounds off and Edge hits him with his elbow. Edge then walks around the ring taunting the crowd, getting a lot of heat from the fans.
Edge then heads to the corner and looks as if he’s going for the Spear! The crowd gets up to their feet anticipating it, as Orton stirs. Edge waves him up, looking to uncoil, and as Orton gets up to both feet, Edge WALKS over, kicks him in the gut, and hits a DDT!! Orton holds his head in pain, as Edge then locks in a head lock. Applying the pressure, Edge wrestles his head around, trying to get all of the blood that is still trickling out of his head to come out at a faster rate, to possibly make the Champion pass out.
The crowd is starting to get in Orton’s corner so to speak as they begin chanting ‘Orton’ which gets Edge fired up. He applies more pressure to his head, as Orton’s life is being squeezed out of him. The referee asks him if he’d like to give up, but Orton shakes his head left and right, signaling “no” to the referee. The crowd begins stamping their feet as Edge looks around, with a sickening smile across his face as he continues to try and get the pressure centered around his head here. Orton’s fading, as he tries to fight off the challenger, but he is growing weaker and weaker.
Orton’s eyes begin to roll in the back of his head, as the blood is pouring from the cut now as his head is being squeezed by the ego-minded challenger. The referee then grabs a hold of Orton’s arm, by judgment, and lifts it up in the air. It falls, one! The crowd chants loudly ‘Let’s go Orton’ as Edge applies more and more pressure. Orton’s arm is lifted again and falls – NO!! ORTON KEEPS IT LEVEL!! The crowd cheers as Edge’s stunned look on his face tells the entire story. Orton begins to rise slowly, and Edge is beginning to lose grip.
The Legend Killer is on his feet now, and pulls back on Edge’s head, and snap mares him over onto his back!! Fresno cheers, as Orton steps back, and kicks Edge HARD. An agonizing scream comes out from the challenger, as Orton hits a HUGE right hand down on Edge knocking him down on the canvas. He begins to stomp forcefully over his adversary, over and over again before the referee butts in and stops him threatening to disqualify him. Randy walks back over, and picks him off the mat up to a vertical base by his hair. He throws his knee into his sternum, and levels the back of his head with his elbow.
Edge is on all fours as Orton then runs to the ropes, and comes back driving his boot straight into Edge’s temple. The challenger collapses, and Orton drops down making the lateral press. 1… 2… Kick out! The champion exhales, and then eyes the corner. He heads toward it, and exits the ring and steps onto the apron. The champion begins to scale the ring post, heading up to the top rope. The fans begin to rise up to their feet as Orton balances himself on the top. He raises his head up looking at Edge who is stirring, and slowly gets to a standing position on the top rope.
Edge is back up to a vertical base, and turns around, as Orton leaps off the turnbuckle looking for a cross body block, BUT EDGE LEAPS COHERENTLY IN THE AIR HITTING A DROPKICK STRAIGHT TO ORTON’S CHEST, WHO BURNS AS HE HITS THE CANVAS!!! The crowd roars as Edge’s athleticism flourishes in that moment here in this championship match. Both men however are down and out in the ring sprawled out on the mat, and Chioda begins the ten count.
1! …No movement… 2! …No movement… 3! …Edge shows signs of life… 4! …Edge begins to roll over… 5! …Edge is digging into the mat… 6! …Orton is still down, and Edge pushes up on the mat… 7! …Edge covers! … 1…2… SHOULDER UP!!
The crowd booms as the match will continue! Nearing the ten minute mark the two competitors have nearly given it all they have here. The crowd begins to chant for Orton, who is still shaken up from the dropkick from Edge and has not moved. The challenger slowly gets up to his feet, and heads to the corner. He looks ready to uncoil, possibly looking to hit the Spear. Randy Orton is stirring in his corner, as the World Heavyweight Champion doesn’t know what’s about to tear him in half. The crowd is stirring as well, as The Legend Killer is up to both feet, trying to maintain himself in the corner, while an exuberant and anxious Edge wants to hit Orton with everything that he has.
The challenger is panting, as Orton finally turns around, AND EDGE COMES CHARGING FORWARD, AND LOOKS TO HIT THE SPEAR. BUT ORTON DROPS DOWN AND EDGE IS TRIPPED AND EATS THE SECOND TURNBUCKLE!!! The crowd cheers as Edge holds his mouth in pain, while Orton is crawling away from the corner. Edge grabs onto the ropes and uses them to assist him in getting up, and he walks into Orton who clotheslines him hard down onto the mat. He falls himself, and then gets back up and poses for the crowd, getting a huge ovation.
Orton bends down and stalks Edge, possibly looking to hit his finisher, the RKO. But Orton instead walks over and begins clubbing him repeatedly over his back in the corner. He grabs a hold of his waist from behind and drags him to the center of the ring, and then puts his arm around his neck, and drops him down with his signature inverted backbreaker!! Orton falls on his knees, growing tiresome from the match, and he grabs his right leg and pulls it over while leaning on his stomach, making the cover. Can Orton retain? … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … NO! Edge kicks out!! Orton frustrated puts his head in his hands as he rolls onto his side. He grabs the ropes which help him up, and swings at a now standing Edge, who ducks it however, AND PULLS DOWN ORTON WITH THE EDGE-O-MATIC!!! Edge hooks the far leg towards him, keeping Orton’s shoulders down on the mat! CAN EDGE WIN THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HERE? … …1… …………………….. ...2… ………...... … NO! NO! Orton kicks out!! The crowd goes bananas as Edge holds his head in dire frustration of thinking about what he needs to do to get Orton down. The challenger gets up and grabs a hold of The Legend Killer, pulling him off the ground, WHEN SUDDENLY ORTON SURPRISES HIM BY JUMPING UP AND BRINGING HIM DOWN WITH THE RKO!!! OUT OF NOWHERE ORTON HITS THE RKO!!! The crowd creates a deafening reaction for the surprising usage of the RKO, as Orton and Edge are both down on the mat.
The referee checks on both men as we then see Orton showing some signs of life. He pulls himself over Edge, and the count is made! … …1… ……………………….. …2… ………...... … KICK OUT! KICK OUT! EDGE KICKS OUT OF THE RKO!! The crowd creates an overwhelming OOHHHH as the challenger kicks out of The Legend Killer’s deadly finishing maneuver. The Champion is floored, as he slowly gets up, and calls on Edge to get up as well. Wanting to deliver another punishing blow, Randy is getting very impatient and heads over to Edge, who strikes him in the gut! Orton holds it in pain, as Edge then gets back up to his feet, AND CHARGES AT ORTON HITTING THE SPEAR AS HE TURNS BACK AROUND!!! Edge exhales as he then falls on top of Orton. NEW CHAMPION!?!?!?!?!?!?!? … …1… ………………………….. …2... ………...... … NO!!!!!!!!!!! ORTON GETS A SHOULDER UP SOMEHOW!!! The crowd goes crazy with a booming pop, as Edge goes crazy at the referee. He gets up and starts mouthing off to him, before the referee starts showing some authority and tells him that he can disqualify him if he really wants to. Edge is then incited by an ‘Orton’ chant, and goes over to The Legend Killer and begins stomping the hell out of his back. Stomp after stomp… after stomp… after stomp… he keeps on going!! He picks him off the ground and sends him off to the ropes, BUT ORTON COUNTERS MID-SWING, and Edge is sent to the ropes!
Edge rebounds off and Orton goes for a clothesline, but Edge ducks it and comes off the ropes with a cross body but Orton thinks the same and hits a cross body block of his own!!! Both men crash and burn down on the ring mat, taking a lot out of themselves after both hitting the exact same move at the same time, as the crowd cheers their efforts so far in this match. Mike Chioda looks over them, and starts the ten count. … 1! ...No movement from both competitors… …… 2! …No movement… ……… 3! …Both men are stirring… ………… 4! …Still stirring… ……………. 5! …Edge is on a knee… ………………… 6! …Orton is on all fours… ……………………….. 7! …Edge is up… ………………………………. 8! …Orton is up to a knee in the corner…
Edge walks over and grabs Orton by his back and rakes his back with his fingers. Orton lets out a scream in agony, as he then turns him around. He hits a scintillating chop across his chest, as the crowd pumps out a WOOOOOOOOO for it. The egotistical challenger hits another chop, echoing around the arena, with another gathering of a WOOOOOOO from the Fresno crowd, as Edge then props Orton up on the top turnbuckle. Edge gets up on the second rope, and begins to rain down his right hands… hitting them over and over again… before ending at the ever famed ten mark.
Edge takes time to taunt the crowd, shouting things at them which gets them to bring heat down on him. SUDDENLY, Orton reaches underneath him, almost in powerbomb position, AND LIFTS HIM UP IN THE AIR AS ORTON LANDS DOWN ON HIS FEET ON THE RING MAT, AND EDGE HITS THE TOP TURNBUCKLE FACE FIRST!!! Orton then grabs the back of his head taking him out of the corner, and then shoves him back into it. He wipes away some of the blood that still remains on his face, and then hits a powerful right hand that nearly knocks a tooth out of Edge’s mouth. Orton then pushes Edge’s head down and locks it to the side of his body, and then grabs the right side of his tights and props him on the second rope in the corner.
Orton drags him out, leaving his boots at the end of the ropes, as an expressionless look has come over his face, AS HE DROPS EDGE WITH A PUNISHING DDT FROM THE SECOND ROPE!!! The crowd OOOOOH’S with astonishment, as Edge is out COLD in the middle of the ring now after damn near getting concussed from the DDT from The Legend Killer. Orton leans over and looks at Edge, who is down on the mat, as the crowd is chanting for the Champion, who looks out at them, and then pushes Edge over onto his back and hooks both legs, creating a pin. … …1… ………………………. …2… ………...... … …3… !!!!!!!NOOO!!!!!!!! EDGE KICKS OUT FROM THE DDT!! SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, EDGE STAYS IN THE GAME! Orton is astonished. He pleads with the referee that it HAD to be a three count, but the referee tells him it wasn’t. Edge is getting up on spaghetti legs, and the brash champion stalks every single one of his movements. Never leaving his sight, Orton turns Edge around as he gets up, AND GOES FOR THE RKO, BUT EDGE PUSHES HIM OFF INTO THE REFEREE!!! The crowd boos, as Orton can’t take the momentum and bumps into Chioda who crashes down onto the mat. Orton turns back around – RIGHT INTO A SPEAR!!! SPEAR!!!
But since there is no referee, NOBODY CAN MAKE THE COUNT!! Edge takes this into account, as after taking so much and giving so much, he falls onto his back. He then turns his attentions to the outside, and rolls himself out of the ring. He tells Lillian Garcia to get out of his way, and grabs not one, but TWO steel folding chairs!! He slides them into the ring, and then climbs back inside the squared circle, and surveys the scene. He kicks one of the chairs away to the center of the ring, and then turns his attention to the still fallen champion.
The maniacal challenger picks Orton up by his arms and drags him on top of the steel chair in the center of the ring. He then turns his attention back to the other steel chair, as the crowd now rises to their feet. A ONE MAN CON-CHAIRTO? IT MIGHT JUST HAPPEN! Edge begins to seethe at the mouth, as he slowly brings up the chair above his head… as Orton is showing NO signs of movement. The crowd hushes as JR and The King denounce the challenger, WHO BRINGS THE CHAIR DOWN – AND MISSES ORTON!!! ORTON MOVES AT THE VERY LAST SECOND!!!
The crowd goes ape shit as Edge feels the sting from hitting the chair against the other chair, as Orton is somehow quick back up to his feet. He grabs the steel chair that he was just laying on, turns toward Edge who turns back around, AND CRACKS THE CHAIR ACROSS HIS FACE WITH AN ECHOING THUD! Edge crumbles to the ground, as Orton does as well. The Legend Killer falls on top of him, creating a pin. IS ORTON STILL THE CHAMPION? … …1… ……………………………… …2… ………...... …3… THE REFEREE STILL ISN’T UP!! THE CROWD IS COUNTING ALONG!! Orton rolls slowly off of Edge, and begins to get up. The crowd is still hot, and Orton on spaghetti legs gets up – AND IS BOOTED!! BY TOMKO!! The crowd boos the shit out of one half of the World Tag Team Champions, who came out of NOWHERE and BOOTED THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! Tomko grabs a hold of Edge’s arm, AND PLACES HIM ON TOP OF THE CHAMPION!! He then grabs a hold of the referee, shakes him and plops him on the ground, which wakes him up!!!
The crowd is ticked as they boo the living hell out of the scene at hands, which the referee now sees. He raises his arm up, about to begin the count! … …1… ……………………………… …2… ………...... …3… … …!!!NOOO!!!!!... ORTON KICKS OUT!! UNBELIEVABLE, AS TOMKO IS LIVID ON THE OUTSIDE! He slaps down on the apron, calling on Edge to get up, as the crowd is still creating an astounding reaction! Edge begins to get up to his feet, still in a daze, and now notices Tomko on the outside. Edge tells him something, and Tomko races over to the time keeper’s table, and grabs the World Title belt. He slides it into the ring, and Edge clutches it as he is back up on his feet. He turns around, AND SWINGS AT ORTON – WHO DUCKS – AND DROPKICKS EDGE CAUSING HIM TO LOSE THE GRIP ON THE TITLE BELT!!! Edge is barreled into the corner, while Orton steps up moments later to a vertical base.
He looks over at the referee who still isn’t in great condition, and grabs the championship belt. Tomko then gets onto the apron at the same time, but the champion notices this and runs over and BLASTS HIM WITH THE BELT!!! Tomko is hurled off the apron and smacks onto the RAW announce table which stays in good condition, while behind him Edge is getting back into good shape!!! Edge looks like he’s going to hit the Spear, and Orton does not even realize it!! The Legend Killer turns his attention back to Edge, WHO IS BLAZING FORWARD, LOOKING TO HIT HIM WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS…
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…AND HITS THE RING POST!!! The crowd booms as Orton dodges a BULLET. And the challenger hit his shoulder BADLY on the ring post. Orton goes over to his adversary, and grabs him from underneath and rolls him up cleanly!! The referee is getting up and sees this!! … …1… ……………………………… ...2… ………...... …3… NO! NO! NO! NO! EDGE STILL KICKS OUT!! WHAT IS IT GOING TO FREAKING TAKE!?!? The crowd is going ballistic, and it’s still the opening match! Both men are on the ground, looking up at the top of the arena, wondering what it’s going to take to get the other to lose. They both use the ropes to assist them in getting up, and the challenger goes over and grabs him by his shoulders turning him around.
BUT THE CHAMPION NAILS HIM WITH AN EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!! Edge staggers to the center of the ring, holding his jaw, WHEN THE LEGEND KILLER SPRINTS FORWARD, GRABBING ONTO HIS HEAD ON THE WAY, LEAPING UP THEN, AND SCORING WITH THE RKO!!! The crowd pops larger than they have for the entire match, as Orton hooks the leg Orton-style a la Summerslam 2004, as Chioda makes the count! … …1… ……………………………… …2… … ………...... … !!!!!THREE!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WINNER, AND STILL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: RANDY ORTON at 19:24
The crowd cheers HUGELY, as Orton rolls onto his stomach, panting heavily with the blood still coming out of his forehead. He helps himself to his feet, and the referee still a bit out of it, raises his hand in victory as the crowd booms again.
Jim Ross: Orton’s done it! Orton has survived a hell of a slobberknocker ladies and gentlemen, and is still the World Heavyweight Champion! I don’t believe what kind of match we’ve just witnessed here in the BEGINNING of the show!
The King: Well even though I don’t really like it JR, I must say that was a hell of a performance by not only Edge, but Randy Orton as well. If the type of match we’ve just seen is what’s going to come while Orton is the champion, we may be in store for a hell of a ride here on the way to WrestleMania.
Jim Ross: And King you’re absolutely right. Randy Orton ladies and gentlemen has just proved he’s the type of champion to head into WrestleMania. But the question is, will his opponent at WrestleMania be found out later on tonight in the Royal Rumble Match?
The King: Well that’s for us to find out JR.
Orton is now on the outside, with his elbow pads down as he raises his right hand in victory while holding the World Heavyweight Championship with his left on his shoulder. He backs up the long entrance way, while Edge in the ring has a very disappointed look in his face. The crowd however shows their appreciation for both men, as ‘Orton’ and ‘Edge’ chants are heard from the capacity crowd here at the Rumble.
Jim Ross: And King, Edge should sure as hell not be disappointed in himself. He gave a hell of a fight, and this won’t be the last time we see him in this main event level.
The King: I completely agree JR. Edge is an ego-minded son of a gun, and I’m sure he’ll be craving another title shot very soon.
Orton stops before heading behind the curtain, and poses for the fans one last time. The crowd cheers, and Orton then turns his back and heads to the backstage area.
***
Backstage, in the GM’s office, both Theodore Long and Eric Bischoff are standing near the tumbler where the Royal Rumble entrant numbers are held inside.
Eric Bischoff: THAT, Teddy… is why RAW is the superior brand. And is exactly why a RAW superstar will win the Royal Rumble Match tonight.
Theodore Long: Well playa’, you can believe that. But the fact is: the last two Royal Rumble winners, have represented SmackDown!.
Eric Bischoff: Well if I’m not mistaken…YOUR winner, came to MY brand last year. But tonight, RAW will prove why it IS the best brand in sports entertainment, {looks over to the door} and here’s one of the reasons why.
‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair comes into the picture, and the crowd lets out a grand ‘WOOOOOOO’ as they see him.
Eric Bischoff: The sixteen time… Heavyweight…Champion…of the World, Ric…Flair.
Ric Flair: …WOO!! Eric, it’s gonna be a pleasure to represent this brand well tonight in the Rumble Match.
Eric Bischoff: You see Teddy, OUR superstars are proud to represent their brand. None of them are going to pull any switches on me. Unlike, {laughs} your show.
Ric comes over, reaches into the tumbler, and picks out his ball. He opens it up, and reads the number, and smiles.
Ric Flair: Like I said Eric, we may not see eye to eye, and I may hate your guts. But to be here at the Rumble, and to whoop ass for RAW, is all…The Nature Boy needs…WOO!!
Ric bobs his head around, as he turns around – INTO KURT ANGLE!! The crowd pops, as Angle and Ric lock eyes, for the first time in a long, long time.
Kurt Angle: So you think that you’re going to whoop ass in the Royal Rumble Match…? NEWSFLASH, I’m in the Royal Rumble Match, and that means that I Kurt Angle, will personally throw YOU and the other 28 superstars in the match over the top rope and open up more cans of whoop ass than ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin!
The crowd exuberantly pops for the Austin mention, as Angle is still playing that tweener role.
Kurt Angle: And then I’m gonna win the Royal Rumble Match, for the first EVER time in my career. And then I’m going back to WrestleMania baby, and THIS TIME I’m gonna win the WWE Championship for the fifth time in my career! But Ric… all that you’re probably gonna do at WrestleMania, is escort big nose to the main event, if he even gets to WrestleMania. Because if I lock eyes with him… I’m gonna break his freaking ankle baby… YEAH!
Crowd cheers again, as Flair looks stunned.
Ric Flair: You’d better pray to the lord above…because if he hears about what you just said, he’s going to make you SUFFER!
Kurt Angle: Oh yeah? With what? One of his boring run-on promos he cuts every single week? Or make me sit through one of his unbearable to watch matches?
Crowd pops, while Flair gets another stunned look on his face.
Kurt Angle: And oh yeah… one more thing. If I were you, and you can tell Hunter this too. I’d watch out for Dave Batista, because he’s probably wanted to chop you and Hunter off the bit for the longest time. Isn’t that right Dave?
Flair nervously turns around, but doesn’t see anything, and turns back to Angle, who’s serious face remains. He then starts cackling.
Kurt Angle: Gotcha.
***
“Yeah…we’re coming now”
*Turn the Tables* Bubba Ray and D-Von, The Dudley Boyz make their way to the ring ready to attempt to gain more championship gold to add to their illustrious history of being a tag team. They are received with a slight mixed reaction, although they haven’t been on the fans’ side over the past few months.
Tony Chimel: The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall… and it is for the WWE Tag Team Championships!! Introducing first the challengers from New York City, at a combined weight of 585 pounds… D-Von – Bubba Ray… Theee Dudley Boyzzz!!!
Michael Cole: Tazz it’s gonna be hard to top that last match that we just saw between Randy Orton and Edge, but if there’s two tag teams that can attempt it, it’s the two we’re about to see in the upcoming contest.
Tazz: Well my hat goes off to both Edge and Orton. That was a hell of a match. But now we’re turning to two of the best tag teams in the game today, and these guys the Dudley Boyz, Cole, could make history tonight.
Michael Cole: Absolutely right Tazz. They very well could be the night The Dudley Boyz capture their unprecedented TWENTITETH Tag Team Titles.
*619*
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PYRO
*One of a Kind* The Tag Team Champions, Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio walk out to a great ovation from the crowd. Rob Van Dam has his title around his shoulder while Mysterio carries his around his waist, as they walk up the ramp and high five many of the fans on the aisle way.
Tony Chimel: And their opponents, at a combined weight of 402 pounds. They are the WWE Tag Team Champions… Rey Mysterio, and Robbb… Vannnn… Dam!!
Michael Cole: Well the Tag Team Champions could not get the best of The Dudley Boyz’s hand-picked opponents this past Thursday on SmackDown!. But Tazz they look as confident as ever as they walk to the ring right now.
Tazz: Well Cole everyone knows that Rob Van Dam is always calm, cool and collected. And Rey Mysterio looks to be ready to fight. This should be a good one.
WWE Tag Team Championships Match Rey Mysterio & Rob Van Dam vs. The Dudley Boyz
Bubba Ray and RVD remain in the ring while D-Von and Rey Mysterio head to the apron in their corners as the bell sounds. The crowd is not intensely into things as they gave a lot of their energy out in the previous match. The two ECW alumni lock up in the center of the ring, both driving out equal amounts of pressure. RVD switches over to a side headlock, trying to wrench the neck of Bubba Ray. He however is pushed into the ropes, and off of the grip of Bubba Ray, who knocks Van Dam down with a right hand as he rebounds off the ropes.
Ray drops down and makes the first cover of the match, 1…2…Shoulder up. Van Dam looks for the corner, but his opponent follows him, leaving him no time for a breather. Ray begins hitting repeated shots to the forehead, before the referee steps in to break the two men apart. He talks with Ray, who comes back over, and grabs his right hand sending him sharply into the opposite corner. Van Dam hits the corner hard, and Ray hits a clothesline as he staggers toward him. Bubba drops an elbow onto his chest, and gets back up and hits another. He gets right back up, rolls his arms and grabs his crotch and goes for a third elbow, but Van Dam gets out of the way!!
Bubba Ray holds his elbow in pain, as Van Dam runs to the ropes and stalls, before dropping his leg down onto his neck in a guillotine-like way. Van Dam gets up to a resounding pop, and then grabs Bubba’s arms dragging him into his corner. He tags in Mysterio to a nice pop, who then ascends to the top rope. Van Dam stands in the corner, as Mysterio steps onto his right shoulder, and then on his left and crouches down. Van Dam puts his arms up and Mysterio locks hands with him, AS VAN DAM FLIPS HIM OVER, CAUSING MYSTERIO TO HIT A SENTON SPLASH ON BUBBA RAY!!! The unique tandem offensive maneuver is loved by the crowd, as Van Dam exits the ring and Mysterio makes the cover. 1…2…Kick out.
Mysterio gets right back up and slides into his body, rolling him out to the outside. Bubba lands with a thud, as Mysterio preps himself in the middle of the ring. Bubba slowly gets back up, coughing as Mysterio eyes him. He suddenly sprints to the ropes, comes off, sprints to the edge of the ring, grabs onto the top rope, which he uses to catapult himself into the air, and spins and comes down on Bubba Ray!!! The crowd cheers for the first spot of the night that should be followed by many more in this match.
Rey is quick up to his feet, as he pulls Bubba Ray up and throws a few rights backing him into the apron. D-Von comes off the apron in his corner, but Mysterio sees this coming, AND SPRINTS AND GRABS ONTO THE RING POST, SWINGING HIM AROUND HITTING A MODIFIED 619 ON D-VON DUDLEY!!! The crowd roars, as Mysterio helps himself onto the apron, and sees that Bubba is walking over. He leaps off, landing on Bubba’s shoulders, and follows through hitting a hurricanrana!!
The crowd is cheering, and starts a ‘Rey’ chant, as Mysterio points up to the sky as he gets up to his feet. He heads onto the apron back into the ring, as Bubba slowly gets back up to his feet. Rey runs to the ropes and ATTEMPTS THE 619, but uses it as a SCARE tactic!! Bubba falls back on his ass, as the crowd laughs as well as Tazz and Cole, as Mysterio points to his head knowing he outsmarted him there. Bubba gets back up in fury, and runs into the ring and Rey waits in the middle of the ring. Bubba comes charging up, and Rey meets him with a kick to the gut, followed by leaping over him and rolling through with a Sunset Flip!! 1…2…Kick out!
Mysterio rolls on his back and races to his feet, but Bubba Ray clotheslines him as he runs forward, possibly stopping the momentum he was gaining in this match. He picks him up and backs him into the corner, where begins to stomp all over his upper body, taking him off his feet and causing him to slump down in the corner. Bubba then goes over and tags in his brother D-Von who is back on the apron, and the two men head over to the corner. Bubba grabs Mysterio, pulling him out of the corner, and the two shove him back into the ring post shoulder first!!!
Mysterio groans in pain, as D-Von heads to work while Bubba argues with the referee for a few seconds about not being the legal man in the equation. He turns him out of the corner, and sends him into the other corner. D-Von follows in and squeezes him against the turnbuckles, before scooping him up and driving him down with a running powerslam! D-Von hooks the leg. … …1… …………………… …2… ……………. Van Dam comes in and stomps on D-Von’s back breaking the cover!! The crowd cheers as he then heads over to his corner, and this gives Mysterio some time to recuperate. D-Von eventually reaches his feet, and goes to pick Mysterio up, and sends him into the ropes. Rey rebounds, but slides underneath D-Von, and runs to the ropes and jumps on the middle one, and flies back hitting a cross body! Mysterio hooks the leg in transition, but Bubba Ray comes in before a count can even be made! This gets Mr. Monday Night to jump into the ring, and go after Bubba Ray, and Van Dam begins throwing wild rights in the corner. Van Dam steps back, before jumping and flying his knee into his face, before D-Von comes over and clubs him in the back.
Mysterio gets into the thick of things by throwing a right at D-Von, and then sending him to the ropes. He rebounds and Mysterio jumps up and goes for a dropkick, but D-Von holds onto the ropes!! Mysterio lands on his back, as D-Von then walks over and scoops him up and slams him down on to the ground. At that moment, Bubba Ray had just clotheslined Van Dam over the top rope, and then looks over at the scene in the middle of the ring. He heads up to the top turnbuckle then, and does the “WASSSSSSUPPPPP” as D-Von does it as well, and Bubba comes off with the diving headbutt between the legs!!!
D-Von drops down and makes the cover, as Bubba counts along with the referee. New Tag Team Champions!? … …1… …………………… …2… ……………. NO!! Mysterio kicks out, and Bubba looks stunned. He tells the referee that it was a three, but the referee pushes back and says that it was only two. D-Von then comes over and gets into the referee’s face, bumping him a bit, as we see Mysterio getting up. Bubba turns his attention to him, and taps D-Von on the shoulder as they get in position for the Dudley Death Drop. Mysterio is still stirring, as he helps himself up with the ropes, and walks into Bubba who lifts him up and D-Von drops him down!! 3-D! 3-D! D-Von makes the cover by hooking both legs. … …1… …………………… …2… ……………. …3… !!!!!!NO!!!!!!! Mysterio kicks out of the 3-D!! D-Von is LIVID as well as Bubba, and the two men once again get in the face of the referee. Suddenly, RVD COMES OFF THE TOP ROPE WITH A FLYING KICK THAT CONNECTS WITH BUBBA RAY!! The former ECW alumni crashes down, as D-Von looks to try and surprise Van Dam, but he has it scouted and fights him off with a couple of rights and lefts. Van Dam knees him in the gut, and then powers him onto his shoulders and drops him with a Death Valley Driver!
Van Dam is scorching, as he comes off the ropes, flips down on the mat, AND HITS THE ROLLING THUNDER SPLASH!!! Mysterio then gets up to his feet, and runs over D-Von, and then hits a standing moonsault, and makes the cover afterwards!! … …1… …………………… …2… ……………. …3… SHOULDER UP!! D-Von manages to still get the shoulder up, and we see Bubba Ray on the outside about to get up into the ring. Mr. Monday Night however comes off the ropes and hits a baseball slide sending him barreling into the barricade. Van Dam heads to the outside and works on him, while still in the ring, Mysterio is looking on closing the match. D-Von still has some fight in him, heatedly exchanging rights and lefts with Mysterio in the center of the squared circle. D-Von goes for a big swing, but Mysterio dodges it, goes behind, and dropkicks him in the back sending him staggering onto the second rope!!! The crowd cheers as Mysterio runs off the ropes, and comes over and HITS THE 619!!!
Van Dam on the outside sees, and then climbs onto the apron, and up to the top rope. He looks around, before LEAPING OFF THE TOP, AND HITS THE FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH ON D-VON DUDLEY!!! Van Dam holds his stomach in pain, while on the outside apron, Mysterio grabs the ropes, jumps on the top, AND DROPS THE DIME!!! Rey makes the cover, as the crowd has become unglued! … …1… …………………… …2… ……………. … …….. !!!!!THREE!!!!! WINNERS, AND STILL WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: REY MYSTERIO & ROB VAN DAM at 8:00
Mysterio helps Van Dam up to his feet as the referee awards them with their Tag Team Title belts as they raise them up high while getting their hands raised in victory.
Michael Cole: The Tag Team Champions retain! What an exciting match that was!
Tazz: Cole that match was filled with non-stop action. I can not believe how hard these two teams worked to get the Tag Team Titles, but the champions just had the better edge tonight. Big ups to Rob Van Dam and Rey Mysterio for retaining against the Dudley Boyz, a very formidable opponent.
Michael Cole: Tazz you’re absolutely right about that one. The Dudley Boyz are definitely headed back to this point very soon after this performance, but it just wasn’t enough. Instead as we can all see, the Tag Team Champions retain, and the celebration has begun.
Tazz: But keep in mind Cole, the Royal Rumble Match is later on tonight, and both of these men are involved in that very match. So they may not wanna do a lot of celebrating, because despite this win, a championship shot at WrestleMania is all that more important.
RVD & Mysterio head up the ramp shaking hands with the fans as The Dudleys recuperate in the ring and try to figure out just what went wrong. The Tag Champions give one last salute to the fans, before heading to the backstage area.
***
WWE Armageddon 2004: Now on DVD
Featuring: Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship John Cena vs. Jesus in a Street Fight Big Show vs. The Angle Alliance PLUS The Dixie Dogfight – Finals of Tough Enough
***
Backstage, at an interview set, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield the WWE Champion is standing, looking VERY focused.
Josh Matthews: Ladies and gentlemen joining me right now is the man who later on tonight will be defending the WWE Championship against the current United States Champion John Cena – John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield. And JBL, going into what may be your toughest challenge yet, what are your thoughts knowing that your Cabinet has been barred from the ringside area? And should they interfere, you will be stripped of the WWE Championship.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: My thoughts…? You wanna know my thoughts Josh? My thoughts, are that this is the biggest travesty, in WWE history!
Heat.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: This is a damn travesty, and a clear set up to try and take this title that’s held on my shoulder and, and has been so for the last six months and put it around the waist, of someone that is not even in my damn league! Theodore Long, the SmackDown! General Manager, should be tried for conspiracy, and robbery! Because that is what this match tonight represents – highway robbery! Never has my Cabinet ever been banned from the ringside area, until tonight. Until the night that I face, the public’s biggest rising entity, since Hulk Hogan. And that of course, is John Cena…
BIG pop for the mention of Cena.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: John you wanna go ahead and question my abilities? Look at the facts. Every single time someone has stepped in the ring with me for this very belt, they have fallen at the feet, of the man who has carried SmackDown! on my back for the last half of the calendar year! Eddie Guerrero, the man who took the title, off of that damned traitor, Brock Lesnar, fell at my feet at the Great American Bash. The Undertaker, the biggest Phenom, quite possibly the greatest of all time, ALSO fell at my feet. Booker T, someone who was on the biggest roll of his career, back at Survivor Series… fell…at my feet…
More heat, as JBL is talking with more confidence.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: And last month, at Armageddon. I faced all three of those men, and what happened? What happened John? I’ll tell you what happened! I outlasted them all! I am a survivor! I am SmackDown’s greatest superstar. I am, without a shadow of a doubt, and I don’t say it because it’s a cute little catchphrase. But because it’s a damn fact, that I am – A WRESSSSTLING AH… GAWWWWD…
Boos from the crowd, as JBL seems to not be done yet.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: And that’s the difference between you and me. Look at what the two of us have done in the last few months. I’ve beaten legends, you’ve beaten curtain jerkers. I beat one of the greatest of all time, you beat a kid with an afro and a guy who probably got in this country illegally. And we haven’t heard from him since December…
…And you’ve had the audacity, the AUDACITY, OF QUESTIONING MY ABLILITIES! YOU JOHN CENA ARE THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE QUESTIONED! You’ve disgraced the United States Championship, something held by some of the greatest men to ever lace their boots, into a bling bling sideshow! And you couldn’t even hold half of their jockstraps.
More heat, as JBL seems to be tearing it up.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: But tonight… tonight’s gonna be the reality check John. And let me tell you it isn’t gonna be one with a ribbon and wrapping paper either. It’s gonna come at you with full force, smacking the damn taste out of your mouth. And you’re going to realize there’s a reason… why I’m the greatest WWE Champion in the last decade. And John… it’s the truth. And as it’s been said, by Jack Nicholson, one of the greatest actors of all time… you can’t handle the truth…
Camera closes in on JBL’s face, which has a fierce demeanor written all over it.
***
*5...*
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PYRO!
“Come on! You know I got cha… yeah…”
*Break the Walls Down* Chris Jericho enters the arena to a slight mixed reaction. Not really helping his cause he does not high five the fans on his route to the ring. He instead gestures that the Intercontinental Title will be around his waist at the end of the upcoming match.
Lillian Garcia: The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the Intercontinental Championship!! Introducing first, the challenger. From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, weighing in at 225 pounds, Y…2…J… Chrissss Jerichooo!!!!!
Jim Ross: Well ever since Chris Jericho lost his Intercontinental Championship to Shelton Benjamin at Taboo Tuesday in October, Jericho has shied away from it and concentrated on becoming the World Heavyweight Champion. But after New Year’s Revolution, Jericho once again turned toward a title he has held on seven different occasions. Tonight he looks to make it eight.
The King: But JR, there isn’t a doubt in Jericho’s mind, or anyone’s mind that the Intercontinental Champion is a hell of an athlete, and a hell of a champion.
Jim Ross: May be the greatest athlete to ever step between the ropes, in the Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin. But he’s going to be defending the title against one of the best we’ve ever seen in the ring. And I can’t say it enough that I’m excited for this match.
“AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ ME... NAHHHH!”
*Ain’t No Stopping Me* The Intercontinental Champion enters the Save Mart Center to a great ovation. He has the title strapped around his waist, as he walks down the run way pulling his elbow pads, while Jericho in the ring paces around waiting for him to climb inside the ring.
Lillian Garcia: And making his way to the ring. From Orangeburg, South Carolina, weighing in at 237 pounds…he is the Intercontinental Champion… Sheltonnnn Bennnjaminnnn!!!
Jim Ross: Shelton is a hell of an athlete, no doubt about it. But going into his first defense against the man he won the title from, can he get the advantage over the more experienced Chris Jericho? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Jerry Lawler: Well Shelton looks focused here and ready to go, as he should be. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him walk out of Fresno as the Intercontinental Champion.
Jim Ross: This should be a good one folks, sit back and relax for this one.
Intercontinental Championship Match Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
Benjamin stands in the center of the ring along with his opponent, who does not back down from him and begins talking trash. The two keep on exchanging words with one another, UNTIL JERICHO SLAPS BENJAMIN ACROSS THE FACE!! The crowd ushers in an ‘OOOOOOOOOOO’ as Benjamin holds his mouth. The challenger begins laughing, as does Benjamin for some reason – but Benjamin suddenly slaps Jericho!!! The crowd cheers and lets out another long ‘OOOOO’ as Benjamin begins bouncing around, feeding the energy off the crowd who begin chanting ‘Shelton.’ Jericho was sent into the corner from the slap, and is checking his lips for blood. He doesn’t find any, and heads back to the middle of the ring and SHOVES BENJAMIN!!
Benjamin’s eyes widen as he’s sent in the corner and Jericho flexes his muscles to a lot of heat from the Save Mart Center capacity crowd. He shouts at him to come on, and Benjamin bides in the corner for a couple of seconds, before finally walking over and giving Jericho a shove in the chest himself!! Jericho hits the corner fairly hard from the shove, and the crowd is then beginning to get hot again, firing off a split chant…
“LETS GO SHEL-TON! LETS GO JER-I-CHO!! LETS GO SHEL-TON!! LETS GO JER-I-CHO!!!”
The atmosphere is becoming undeniably incredible with the dueling chants, as Benjamin then calls Jericho over for a test of strength. Jericho obliges with a slight bit of reluctance behind it, not knowing if the Intercontinental Champion has something up his sleeve. The two slowly lock finger to finger, hand to hand with their right hand, and then do so with their other hand at almost the same pace, as the crowd seriously wants some action to start. The two duke it out in the strength battle, and Benjamin seems to be winning. Jericho goes for a cheap shot by releasing from the grip and looking to hit Benjamin’s mouth, but the Intercontinental Champion swiftly ducks – AND HITS A SPINNING HEEL KICK ON THE SEVEN TIME INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION!!
The crowd cheers as the champion quickly gets up and plays to the crowd, who are clearly in his favor, as he bounces up and down around the ring, waiting for his opponent to get up to his feet. When he finally does, he staggers over into the corner to try and catch his breath. This turned out to be costly, as Shelton charges over and leaps, hitting the Stinger Splash!! Benjamin lets him stagger, before surprising him with a roll up!! 1…2…Kick out! Jericho won’t give up that easily this early into the match, but Benjamin is still in the midst of feeling it here in this match. The young star gets up and kicks a running Jericho in the gut, before setting him up for a suplex. He nails it, and fluidly mounts himself on top of The King of the World.
He begins to rain down rights and lefts, before Earl Hebner tells him to get off explaining that he will be disqualified. The Champion not wanting to risk that gets off of him and picks him up off the mat. He hits a right hand, and then sends him into the ropes. Jericho rebounds and Benjamin quickly drags him down to the mat by hooking his arm under Jericho’s and pulls him down to the mat. Fluidly, Benjamin applies an armbar, showing the wrestling skills that made him an All-American at the University of Minnesota. The referee goes down to the mat and checks on Jericho, who doesn’t seem to be in any shape or form to want to quit here as the match as really only begun.
Benjamin switches to a hammerlock, as Jericho lets out an agony-wrenched scream from his mouth. Benjamin keeps it forcefully applied, as he slowly gets up, bringing Jericho along with him. He turns him around with the lock still applied, and kicks him in the sternum. He undoes the submission hold, and slams his forearm down on his shoulder, still working on the area. Jericho holds the area, but the IC Champion is far from done. He brings him over to the ropes, and puts the arm down on the middle rope. Benjamin puts his leg over the second rope, and then jumps up and jumps down on his shoulder. Jericho falls down on his back holding his shoulder, and Benjamin seizes the opportunity by going for a pin, hooking both legs and putting his leg inside his. 1…2…Kick out.
The Orangeburg native is frustrated, and he grabs Y2J by his hair and brings him back up to a vertical base. He sizes him up, before teeing off with a right hand… and hits another… and another… and sends him to the ropes. Jericho counters mid-swing, and Benjamin hits the ropes. He rebounds and leaps into the air as Jericho bent down, and Benjamin rolls into a Sunset Flip! 1…2…Jericho kicks out and creates his own! 1…2…Benjamin rolls into another pinning predicament. 1…2…JERICHO ROLLS INTO A SUNSET FLIP! 1…2…BENJAMIN KICKS OUT!! The crowd roars for the pin exchange, as the two get up quickly. Shelton looks for a clothesline, but Jericho ducks, and flies hitting a standing enziguri!!
Jericho crawls over and makes the cover, making the lateral press. 1…2…Benjamin’s shoulder goes up!! Jericho shouts “damn it” as he brings him up looking to go back to work. He backs him in the corner, and FORCEFULLY lights him up with a chop across the chest. Raring his hand back, he hits a second … and sizes him up for a third! Multiple WOOOOOs are garnered by the crowd, as Jericho lets out one of his own in Benjamin’s face, which stimulates a pop from the Jerichoholics in the crowd. The Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rolla then sends Benjamin into the other corner, and follows in and clotheslines him. He staggers, and Jericho runs off the ropes and grabs his head hitting a bulldog!
Chris does not take the time to pin, but to instead play off to the crowd, and taunt them as well. The Jericho fans in attendance cheer, while the Benjamin faithful boo the hell out of him. Y2J then sprints ahead, kicking Benjamin in the chest as he was just getting up. He wraps his arms around his chest, exhaling deeply and repeatedly after being kicked in the chest. Jericho turns him over and makes the cocky cover, putting his boot over his chest and flexing his muscles. 1…2…Benjamin kicks out. Jericho shouts at him, “Stay down you sonnovabitch!” and then stamps down on his chest, once again hitting the area he just damaged with a strong kick.
Y2J looks over in the corner, and then approaches the area. He heads onto the apron, and then begins his ascension to the top rope. Looking to go for it all, The King of the World may be one big move away from putting the Intercontinental Champion to bed after he may have injured his chest. Jericho gets onto the top rope, and turns back toward Shelton, WHO IS RUNNING UP TO THE TOP, LEAPS CLEAR INTO THE AIR AND ONTO THE TOP ROPE WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE AT ALL, GRABS JERICHO, AND FLIPS HIM OVER WITH AN OVERHEAD BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX OFF THE TOP ROPE!!!! The crowd goes APE SHIT, as the TREMENDOUS athleticism of the Intercontinental Champion was just displayed in quite possibly the biggest way imaginable.
A ‘Holy Shit’ chant begins to dawn, as both men are down and out. A quick ‘Double Shot’ replay is shown of the tremendous move, as Benjamin begins to crawl over. Jericho is still laid out in the middle of the ring, looking up at the arena ceiling. The referee has a ten count going, and is up to five, when Benjamin lays his arm down on Jericho’s chest, just 3 seconds away from remaining the Intercontinental Champion. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... ... NO! Jericho remains in the thick of things, getting his shoulder just off the mat as the referee’s hand was a few inches away from hitting the mat. Benjamin slowly stirs back up to a vertical base, and goes to grab Jericho by the hair. He hammers him with a right hand, and then goes to kick him. Jericho though counters this, and swings him around AND BENJAMIN GOES FOR A SPIN KICK, BUT JERICHO EVADES! Y2J then scrappily goes over and grabs his legs and looks to lock in the Walls of Jericho!!! The crowd cheers as Benjamin uses all of the effort he has to fight out of it. But Jericho keeps on pushing him over!
Benjamin however IS able to get out of it, as he uses his feet to push Jericho down onto his back. The Champion gets up, as Jericho is surging ahead, and he ducks a clothesline attempt, and locks his arms around his waist and hits a release Northern Lights suplex. Benjamin then gets up and doesn’t cover, but instead walks over to the other corner on the other side of the ring. He ascends to the top, as Jericho is slowly returning to a vertical base. The IC Champion gets up to his feet on the top rope, and as Jericho walks over, flies off hitting a clothesline!! Benjamin transitions over and makes the cover, hooking his far leg over. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … KICK OUT!! Benjamin distraughtly holds his head in his hands, trying to figure just what exactly will put Jericho down. He returns to a vertical base, and then heads for the corner. He does not head up to the top rope, but rather waits for Y2J to get up. He looks about ready to uncoil, and then lunges forward as Jericho is back up to a vertical stand, and goes for a SUPERKICK, but Jericho ducks underneath, grabs his neck, and brings him down with the FLASHBACK!! Half of the crowd busts a nut, as Jericho then rolls on Shelton’s chest on his back, creating the pin. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … BENJAMIN GETS A SHOULDER UP!! Jericho slams on the mat in frustration, nearly throwing a damn tantrum, as the frustration seems to be settling in. He fans the hair out of his face in the corner, as he then charges over and kicks Shelton low in his stomach, nearly in the groin, and then underhooks his arms. He brings him up in the air, and then DOWN onto his knee with a backbreaker. Y2J frustratingly makes the cover, pushing down on Benjamin’s face with his forearm and hooks both legs over. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … !!!!!KICK OUT!!!!! The crowd is amazed, as Jericho asks the referee if it was three. He says it was only two, and Jericho begins backing him in the corner. He tugs onto his shirt, before the referee shoves him away!! He threatens to disqualify, and Jericho just stands still in the middle of the ring. Suddenly, Benjamin walks over, but Jericho sees it coming and tries to throw him into the referee, but the referee breaks away! Benjamin instead hits the corner, and Jericho is steaming. He rares back and hits a chop across Benjamin’s chest, the fourth of the match, and then positions him on the top turnbuckle. He climbs up to the top, and hits a right hand… followed by another… another… another… another… another… another… another… another… and another!
Jericho successfully nails the ten punch combo, and then taunts the crowd. He then sets up for a superplex, but Benjamin blocks it!! Jericho keeps on trying, but Benjamin pushes him off! Benjy stays still on the top, and leaps into the air and SOMEHOW LOCKS HIS ARMS AROUND JERICHO’S HEAD ON THE WAY DOWN, FLIPPING OVER AND HITTING A NECKBREAKER!!! The crowd is AMAZED at the athleticism and the spot just seen, and the Champion rolls over and covers! … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … NO! Jericho kicks out! Half of the crowd boos while the other cheers, as both men have put out so much energy so far they can barely get up. On spaghetti legs the two begin to stir, and Shelton looks to strike first, but Jericho dodges, trips him up and locks in the Walls of Jericho!!! He gets it in quicker than most would think he would, as Benjamin is centered in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go!! Benjamin tries to claw and claw, but he cannot do so with there being obscene amounts of pressure being applied down onto his back from the King of the World.
Jericho leans back, making life difficult for the Intercontinental Champion, who may be about to lose his title to the man he won it from last October. Benjamin pushes his arms up in excruciating pain, trying his best to get to the ropes, as the Jerichoholics loudly state their opinion, chanting ‘Y2J’ over and over… and over! Benjamin’s title reign may be about to end as it looks like he will tap as the pain grows and grows. Benjamin pushes up once more, reaching out for the ropes, as he is inching closer – BUT DOESN’T HIT THEM AND JERICHO BRINGS HIM BACK OVER TO THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!!
The Jerichoholics roar, as he pulls back as far as possible, damn near breaking his back. Benjamin digs down deep in his heart, not wanting to give up the title like this … and digs into the canvas … crawling … and crawling … towards the ropes …
…
…and reaches out…
…
AND GRABS THE BOTTOM ROPE!!! The Save Mart Center comes alive, those who are in Benjamin’s favor, as Benjamin’s reign as Intercontinental Champion has not ended just yet! Completely gassed, Jericho falls onto his knees, and is visibly frustrated that he couldn’t get Benjamin to submit to the Walls of Jericho. He heads over to the corner and begins to untie the top turnbuckle. The referee comes in and tells him if he uses that he’ll be disqualified, but Jericho doesn’t seem to care. He brushes past the referee, and grabs Benjamin’s legs again and drags him near the corner. The referee warns him again, but Jericho instead flips him off, and CATAPULTS BENJAMIN … BUT BENJAMIN JUMPS ON THE TOP ROPE!!
Jericho thinks he’s done the damage, but in reality Benjamin has clearly landed on the top rope! Everyone in attendance besides Y2J knows this, and Benjamin gets off the top rope and climbs down onto the apron. He walks over to the middle, as Jericho is still walking around like he’s done a number on him. Benjamin then springboards into the ring, and comes down on Jericho hitting a bulldog by surprise!!! Jericho never sees it coming, as the Intercontinental Champion turns him over on his back, and hooks both legs! … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … !!!!!THREE!!!!! WINNER, AND STILL INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: SHELTON BENJAMIN at 12:28
The crowd becomes ecstatic as Benjamin gets up to his feet and has his hand risen by the referee. He is given his Intercontinental Championship belt, and celebrates in the ring.
Jim Ross: Benjamin has done it! Shelton Benjamin, has successfully defeated the man he won the Intercontinental Championship from, in an extraordinary match King!
The King: Well you can say that again JR, because that was one hell of a match! And as much as I’d like to say I wanted Jericho to win, and thought he was going to win when he had the Walls of Jericho locked in on Shelton, it was a mistake for Jericho to think he had the job done when in reality he really didn’t.
Jim Ross: That probably was the turning point in this match King. And Benjamin remains the Intercontinental Champion in the process. What a night this has been.
The King: And it’s FAR from over JR.
Benjamin heads up the ramp high fiving fans, while Jericho in the ring looks very disappointed that he let it all slip away from him.
***
Backstage, we see Theodore Long and Eric Bischoff once again.
Eric Bischoff: Do I need any more proof as to WHY RAW is the superior brand?
Theodore Long: Eric, you better remember you saying that. Because after this next match playa, you’re gonna be eating those words.
Eric Bischoff: Oh what? You honesty think YOUR title match is gonna out-trump mine? Gimme a break.
Eddie Guerrero walks in, of course after the encounter we saw him have with Batista earlier tonight.
Theodore Long: Eddie Guerrero, how you feelin’ tonight dawg? Ready to represent SmackDown! PROUDLY in the Royal Rumble Match?
Eddie Guerrero: Well yeah of course I am Teddy. I mean would I REALLY want to represent a guy like this man over here? I don’t think so.
Eric Bischoff: Eddie, enough with the crap about the past. You had problems back in WCW, don’t go holding a grudge against me for that.
Crowd boos the reference to Eddie’s past.
Eddie Guerrero: Oh I’ve completely forgotten about that essa. What I’m talking about is the crap you put people throw nowadays on RAW. {Crowd cheers} I’m fine on SmackDown!, and if I win the Rumble Match tonight, I’m not gonna jump to YOUR show and get treated like crap in the process.
Crowd cheers, and an ‘Eddie’ chant again.
Eddie Guerrero: Now if you’ll excuse me… I have to pick my number.
Eddie walks past both Bischoff and Long, and Bischoff gives him a bit of a look. Eddie reaches into the tumbler, and picks out his number, and exhales. Suddenly, SHAWN MICHAELS comes into view, and he’s behind him, looking over his shoulder at his number and shaking his head.
Eddie turns around, and the two greats look each other dead in the eyes for the first time EVER, as the crowd is obviously going ballsy for this stare down. Shawn then pats Guerrero on the shoulder.
Shawn Michaels: Good luck with that champ.
***
We look into John Cena’s locker room, which causes a HUGE REACTION from the fans, as we can see him tying his trademark Reebok Pumps. Suddenly, a knock on the door is heard.
John Cena: Come in.
BOOKER T comes into the picture, who is greeted with a slight reaction.
John Cena: What do you want?
Booker T: Look man. Now I know we haven’t exactly seen eye to eye in the last few months. In fact a few months ago the two of us were beaten the hell out of each otha’ for that title right there. {Points to United States Championship belt, in Cena’s locker} But the fact is, I’m in here to give you some advice.
John Cena: {Trying not to laugh} And what advice would that be Booker?
Booker T: Watch… ya damn… back… JBL, he ain’t gonna care if his Cabinet if his Cabinet is barred from ringside. Hell he’s probably already scheming with somebody to take you out in, or before that match. So since I know from experience… don’ trust no one… but the Five Time, Five Time, Five Time, Five Time, Five TIME – DUBYA SEE DUBYA CHAMPION!
Crowd pops, as Cena smiles and laughs.
John Cena: Booker, thanks for the advice. But I can take care of myself. I know JBL’s tricks, all of them. I’ve watched too. And tonight I’m gonna counter every single one he has… and dethrone him as the WWE Champion, and achieve the dream I’ve had since I was five years old.
Crowd cheers again, as we get a close shot of Cena.
***
We’re outside the Save Mart Center.
Michael Cole: You are looking live outside the Save Mart Center, home of tonight’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. And Tazz, it’s been an exciting night hasn’t it?
Tazz: Oh no doubt about it Cole. One of the most exciting and greatest Royal Rumbles in history so far. And it’s far from over.
Michael Cole: That’s right Tazz two more matches to go here tonight, and one of them is right now. The WWE Championship… is on the line. The Champion JBL, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield defends against the hungry challenger, the United States Champion John Cena.
Tazz: I can honestly say, that I’ve been waiting for this one ever since it was announced man. Cena – JBL, the WWE Championship, it doesn’t get any bigger than this.
Michael Cole: And Tazz I understand you’ve created three keys to victory for John Cena tonight.
Tazz: That’s right I have Cole. Number one, Cena’s gotta use what he’s always used. He shouldn’t go for anything he’s never tried before, and should use the fighting style that’s made him one of the top superstars in the game today. Two, he’s gotta hold his ground. No doubt about it, JBL’s a physical S.O.B. and is probably going to use all of that physical ability to attempt to over power Cena in this match. And to win, Cena’s gotta be able to take all of it and turn it into momentum for him to overcome and become the Champ. And finally, like Booker T said, Cena’s got to watch his back. JBL has a helluva lot of tricks up his sleeve, and will go to the lengths to use ‘em all. Cena’s gotta know what’s comin’, and if he does, we may have ourselves a new champion on SmackDown! Cole.
Michael Cole: Well the fans want it, and so does the challenger. JBL, John Cena, the WWE Championship. It’s next.
***
WWE Championship Match Video Package: Clips of JBL, Kurt Angle, and The Big Show walking to the ring on the January 13th edition of SmackDown!.
Tony Chimel: The following triple threat match is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the WWE Championship!
Michael Cole: 3 men, one title.
Tazz: This may become the biggest match in SmackDown! history.
Clips of that very match, and the three men going through hell during its entirety.
Tazz: These guys are pushing themselves to the limit for the title.
Michael Cole: And that’s what it’s all about.
The ending of the match is shown.
Michael Cole: Clothesline from Hell!
Tazz: Don’t tell me he’s gonna do it again!
Michael Cole: I cannot believe this!! JBL ever the opportunist strikes when the time was right, and retains his title!!!
Tazz: Well you gotta reward JBL for that Cole. No outside help, just smartness. Wow what a match!
JBL celebrates in the ring, after outlasting the other two men and gaining the victory, once again retaining his title. Theodore Long then comes out.
Theodore Long: JBL… first of all, I’d like to wish you congratulations, on your victory here tonight.
However JBL, that is not all that I’m out here for.
Royal Rumble logo flashes.
Theodore Long: You see… in 17 days JBL, the Royal Rumble is going to be taking place.
And after tonight’s events,
Flashing image of John Cena spinning the United States Title, then JBL in the ring on SmackDown!
there isn’t a man on this planet,
Flashing image of John Cena hitting the F-U on Carlito, then back to JBL.
more than worthy of facing YOU JBL
Flashing image of John Cena beating his chest, and back to JBL who’s eyes have widened.
for the W-W-E Championship, at the Rumble.
Flashing image of the WWE Championship, then back to JBL in the ring.
And that man… well John… he’s right behind you playa.
Layfield looks confused… as he TURNS AROUND INTO THE WWE TITLE BELT BEING SMASHED IN HIS FACE…
…
…
…
…IT’S JOHN CENA!!!
Tazz: WHOA!
Michael Cole: I can’t believe what I’m seeing! JOHN CENA – IS THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER!
The crowd goes bananas as Cena stands over JBL, who had taken so much energy out of himself in the match that ended just about a minute ago, as Cena then pulls Layfield up to his feet, and pulls him on his shoulders, AND HITS AN F-U IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING!!
Michael Cole: F-U! F-U!! JOHN CENA, HITS AN F-U, ON THE WWE CHAMPION!!
Tazz: I can’t believe what I’m seein’ Cole!
Michael Cole: John Cena, will get the chance, to become the WWE Champion, in 17 days at the Royal Rumble!
The next week…
John Cena: Last week, was undoubtedly the greatest night of my life.
Shot of Cena last week playing to the crowd in the ring, and holding up JBL’s WWE Title belt in the air, getting up on the second rope in the corner, and beating his chest, as he also holds up the United States Championship.
John Cena: Not only, am I the number one contender, for the WWE Championship. But I’m also given the opportunity… to dethrone John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield.
Clips of some of the tomfoolery in JBL’s Championship matches over the last few months.
John Cena: For seven months, JBL has screwed challenger… after challenger… after challenger… of becoming the WWE Champion. Well JBL I can proudly say that you won’t be screwing me at the Rumble. Because there will be NOoutside interference!!
And I am confident, that at the Royal Rumble, I will create the defining moment in my career. When I beat you in the middle of this ring, one… two… three… and become the WWE Champion for the first time in my career!!
And JBL… you’re nothing but a joke, and a cowardly champion…
These words bring out Layfield to the ring.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: Did I hear you right boy…? Did you just call me, the greatest WWE Champion in history, A JOKE!? Kid, you better look yourself in the damn mirror when you say that, because YOU are the one that’s a joke. Look at what you’ve done to the United States Championship, a title that once was proudly owned by some of the greats in this business.
Shots of the men who have had the United States Championship.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: And you have now transformed it, into a bling-bling sideshow! And I am a smarter champion, than you will ever be. That’s how I win my damn matches! Because I am cunning, clever, and I have intelligence. Something you Cena quite frankly… do not have.
John Cena: Well JBL… there’s one way I can respond to this… and this is it.
Cena responds… BY THROWING HIMSELF ONTO HIM!! Fists fly, as The Cabinet then rolls down to the ring, when Cena high tails it and points to his head as he backs up towards the dressing room area up the ramp. He gestures that the title will be around his waist very soon, as JBL is furious never the less in the middle of the ring.
“Find the Real” begins playing.
Michael Cole: John Cena, has made it known he’s coming for the title!
Tazz: This is gonna be big.
“Stuck in the middle, I burrow inside”
Shot of Cena pointing to JBL from the corner of the ring.
“Back to the cradle”
Shot of JBL and his Cabinet backing away.
“Away from the burdens, of all my crimes”
Shot of Cena walking down to the ring, and then a shot of JBL hitting Eddie Guerrero with a steel chair at Judgment Day last year.
“Before it’s fatal”
Shot of JBL hitting the Clothesline from Hell on Kurt Angle.
“Well it seems I’ve finally,”
Shot of Cena waving his hand in front of his face.
“Thought of…everything”
Shot of JBL raising his WWE Championship in the air.
“I wanna know”
Shot of Cena hitting the F-U on Doug Basham.
“I wanna feel”
Shot of Cena hitting an F-U on Orlando Jordan through the announce table.
“Find peace”
Shot of Cena roaring.
“Find the real”
Shot of Cena and JBL staring off.
“I wanna know”
Shot of JBL hitting Cena with the title belt.
“I wanna feel”
Shot of JBL pulling on the rope tied around Eddie Guerrero’s neck at The Great American Bash.
“Find peace”
Shot of JBL making a throat slash.
“Find the real”
John Cena: Come the Royal Rumble, it will be MY TIME! MY TIME, TO BECOME THE WWE CHAMPION!
Shot of Cena making the double horns.
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield: Kid… you’re not gonna know what’s coming to you…
Shots of Cena over the past year doing major things, and then shots of JBL in the same fashion.
Michael Cole: John Cena, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
Shot of Cena, JBL, and the WWE Title belt.
Tazz: A guaranteed rocketbusta.
Michael Cole: And that’s what it’s all about.
Once again, a shot of JBL and John Cena staring down one another in the middle of the ring.
***
Backstage, we see John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield walking alone towards the ring. He must go it alone tonight, being that outside interference in this match has been barred. We see him turn a corner.
And we then see the challenger, the United States Champion walking down a corridor, with a huge pop going around the arena. John Cena looks composed and focused, ready for the biggest opportunity of his career, here and now.
Tony Chimel: The following contest is scheduled for one fall… and it is for the WWEEEE CHAMPIONSHIP! {Crowd cheers} Now in this match, JBL’s Cabinet has been barred from ringside, as well as ALL other outside interference…
…
…
…
“So, you think you’re untouchable?”
*Basic Thuganomics* The crowd gives their BIGGEST pop of the night, to the challenger and United States Champion John Cena!! Cena passionately strikes his chest as he comes out, wearing a maroon jersey with his name etched on the back of it with the number 54 on it, of course being the number he wore playing high school football.
Tony Chimel: Introducing first he is the challenger. From West Newbury, Massachusetts, weighing in at 248 pounds… he is the United States Champion… JOHHHHHHHNNNNNN CEEEEEEEEEEENAA!!!!
Michael Cole: This crowd has become unglued, for the challenger for the WWE Title!!
Tazz: The roof just blew off this place Cole! Oh my God!
Michael Cole: Tazz, in a little over a year, John Cena has become one of the most beloved and fan favored superstars in several years. We’ve seen him flourish on SmackDown! for the near three years that he has been on the show. But I have never. And I can say this honestly – I have never seen him look more focused and ready to go than right here tonight in this WWE Championship Match.
Tazz: I gotta agree with you Cole. Cena said it was gonna be his time tonight, and it may very well be. He has improved dramatically since the first match he had with Kurt Angle three years ago. Cole, I hate to say it, but JBL might be in trouble.
Michael Cole: And with this gathering here tonight in Fresno, California 100 percent behind Cena, it may very well be too much for the WWE Champion.
Cena stands in the middle of the ring, with his jersey and hat still on, as he puts the United States Championship on his shoulder, and spins it and raises it high. The crowd is thundering, as the audio fades out to listen in…
“LETS GO CE-NA!! *CLAP CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP* LETS GO CE-NA!! *CLAP CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP* LETS GO CE-NA!! *CLAP CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP*”
**STOCK MARKET BELLS**
…
*Longhorn* The WWE Champion, and possibly most hated man in the WWE, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield comes into the Save Mart Center to INCREDIBLE heat. In the ring, Cena cannot seem to contain himself, as he takes his hat off now, and also his jersey.
Tony Chimel: And his opponent, from New York City, weighing in at 295 pounds… he is the WWE Champion… Johnnnn Bradshawww Layyfielddddd… J – B – L!!!
Michael Cole: For seven months, JBL has been the WWE Champion. For seven months, he’s beaten challenger, after challenger. For seven months, JBL has used his Cabinet to his advantage. But now, after seven months, JBL’s Cabinet is barred from ringside, and he may very well be facing his toughest opponent yet.
Tazz: Cole this match is about to be jump started!!
Cena walks down the ramp, and Layfield stops in his tracks, and unzips his jacket, BUT CENA LUNGES AT HIM TAKING HIM DOWN WITH A WILD RIGHT HAND!! The match has jump started, but not officially as of now. Cena keeps the offense going, throwing more right hands, one after another … and another … and another … and another!! They are now near the stage, and Cena picks JBL up, and biels him into the fencing on the set!
JBL is down, and Cena raises his hands up, getting the crowd even LOUDER, as he then walks over and grabs a pipe. He clangs it on the ground, getting a reaction, as he turns his attention back toward the WWE Champion. Cena then puts on JBL’s ten gallon hat, and mocks the champion, spewing off laughter from the crowd, as he creeps up to him, and as he turns around, SMACKS THE PIPE INTO HIS STOMACH, AND THEN ON HIS BACK! The crowd is thunderous, as Cena then hurls the pipe away, and picks JBL up by his head. He grabs his hair, and now walks him over towards the runway.
The Doctor of Thuganomics begins walking him down to the ring, as the crowd is still chanting ‘CE-NA’ loudly. Cena sets his sights on the ring, but then looks over to the left. He spots the steel steps, and points to them, instantly creating a reaction from the crowd. He asks them if he should throw JBL into the steps, and a definitive ‘YESSSS’ comes from them, and Cena then listens to them, AND SENDS JBL BARRELING INTO THE STEEL STEPS!! The crowd goes ape shit, as Cena once again raises his hands in the air, as he is DOMINATING JBL, and the match hasn’t even officially begun!
Cena then grabs hold of the WWE Champion, and FINALLY tosses him into the ring.
***BELL RINGS***
WWE Championship Match John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield vs. John Cena
Cena climbs into the ring, and immediately makes a cover!! 1…2…SHOULDER UP! Cena is not frustrated, but the crowd seems to very much be. He lifts him up, and backs him into the corner and begins to tee off on him with lefts and rights. Hitting all areas of the body, The Doctor seems to be doing a lot of good work on the self-proclaimed Wrestling God, and he then sends him across the ring into the opposite corner. JBL staggers out, and Cena lifts him up in the air!! THE F-U IS COM- NO! JBL gets off his shoulders and pushes Cena into the ropes. JBL rolls out of the ring to get his breath, and the crowd immediately boos. They start a loud ‘coward’ chant, as Cena looks outside at him, shying away in the corner area of the barricade.
The United States Champion looks around the ring, and puts his hands on his sides, and shakes his head left and right, before sliding out of the ring! JBL sees this, and begins walking away, but Cena is in pursuit!! Layfield quickens his pace, but Cena quickens it more, as the two go around the ring. The Champion goes to roll inside the ring, and does so effectively. He tries to get away, but Cena comes over and grabs him by his shoulders. He turns him around, kicks him in the gut, and comes off the ropes hitting the THROWBACK! Cena lands cleanly, and steps up intensified, getting a SUPERCHARGED reaction from the fans in attendance, as Cena is fired up.
He stalks Layfield, who is slowly creeping up to vertical base. Never leaving his sights, the Champ continues to match each move he makes, never letting him get in front of him. The Wall Street Billionaire is finally up, but not for long, as Cena lifts him up, AND HITS THE KILLSWITCH!!! The crowd is going nuts, as Cena steps up, and looks out at the crowd, who are in an absolute FRENZY. Cena throws his right hand up in the air, getting them even LOUDER THAN BEFORE, and then wags it in front of him, saying along with the crowd, “YOUUUU CANNN’T SEEEEE MEEEEEEEE!!!” and then rebounds off the ropes, stops, brushes his shoulder off, and drops down hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle!
The crowd once again gets loud, as The Doctor of Thuganomics walks up to his feet, and puts both hands in the air, and then pumps up his Reeboks!!! He then turns back around, as JBL was getting up, AND CENA ONCE AGAIN PRESSES HIM ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!!! Cena has him ready, AND JOHN CENA PLANTS JOHN ‘BRADSHAW’ LAYFIELD WITH THE F-U!!! The crowd is rocking, as John Cena hooks both legs!! NEW CHAMPION IS COMING! … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … KICK OUT OF THE F-U!!! JBL HAS KICKED OUT OF THE F-U!! Even being three minutes into the match, JBL had taken a large brunt of punishment in the match so far, and BEFORE the match started. Cena is amazed, as is the rest of the crowd. He now knows he’s going to have to do a hell of a lot more work than he thought. He gets JBL up to a vertical base and once again backs him into the corner. Cena tees off again with a right hand, and then kicks him in the gut. He hits a left hand, which is followed by a chop across the chest. Cena grabs him by the head and slams his face onto the turnbuckle. He picks it up and does it again … and again … and again … and again … and again!
Layfield collapses down on all fours, as Cena then wraps his arms around him from a go behind, and then moves his arms up near his neck, and brings him back down to the ground with a Russian leg sweep, a move which Cena rarely does. He climbs back up to his feet and comes off the ropes and goes to drop a knee, but the Champion moves! Cena holds his leg in pain, as this now gives The Wrestling God time to recuperate. The crowd is not all for this, as Cena gets back up to his feet. At the same time however, JBL does as well and meets Cena with a kick, and then a vicious club on to his back with his forearm.
Cena falls to his knees, and the WWE Champion pulls the ropes underneath him, using them to choke him. The referee counts off to him before he’s disqualified, and Layfield lets go at four. He stomps on his back, and Cena favors the area, and The Wrestling God mouths off to the crowd, who proceed to boo the hell out of him. Layfield then gauges Cena up, bending down across from him, as we see him slowly rising to his feet holding his back. The crowd tries to tell Cena that he’s there, but to no avail, he can’t hear them, and JBL runs to the side ropes. He comes off, AND LOOKS FOR THE CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL – BUT CENA COUNTERS IT INTO A SIT OUT HIP TOSS!!
Cena gets up afterwards and hits a short arm clothesline, followed by another. John Cena is feeling it, as he lifts a standing JBL in the air, and brings him down with a Spinebuster!! Cena flattens his body and covers. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … KICK OUT! JBL won’t go down, and Cena frustratingly gets to his feet. He waits for JBL to get up, and hits a right hand on his face when he does. JBL staggers into the ropes, and uses them to bounce back to hit a right of his own. The crowd boos the right from JBL, but cheers the right from Cena! Right from JBL – boo! Right from Cena – cheer!! Right … boo …. right … cheer … right … boo … right… cheer… right … boo … boo … right … cheer … cheer … cheer … CHEER!!
Layfield goes against the ropes and heads to the other side. Cena ducks underneath and tries to get him up for ANOTHER F-U, but JBL gouges the eyes, and comes off the ropes and hits Cena with a big boot. JBL drops down and covers, his first cover of the match. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … Cena kicks out!! Frustrated, JBL yells out an expletive, and mounts over Cena. He rains down his right hand, before going for another, and hitting it. He hits it again … and again … and aga – CENA BLOCKS!! Cena hits a right into his gut, and then grabs his head and hits him with a BIG right hand nearly taking him off his knees. The Doctor of Thuganomics gets out of the mounted position, and stands vertical as he runs JBL into the corner hard. Cena then strikes his shoulder into his stomach, repeatedly doing so. He then grabs his head, and hits it with his forearm.
Cena then walks over to play to the crowd, but this turns out costly, as JBL comes forward hitting him with his knee in his gut. Cena falls to his knees, as the Champion now can pick apart the scene. He lifts John up, and stomps at his knee, and then scoops him up. He keeps him horizontal, walking around with him in the ring. He makes a salute, and then hits a fallaway slam!! Layfield then crawls over and hooks Cena’s legs, looking to secure the pin and the victory. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … SHOULDER UP! JBL is getting teed off, as he gets up, and drops an elbow onto his chest. Once again, he gets back up, and hits another elbow … and another … and another … and another!! JBL covers once again! … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … BUT CENA KICKS OUT, YET AGAIN! The crowd goes in-SANE as JBL is pissed off. BUT CENA – WILL – NOT – GIVE – UP! Layfield gets up and argues with the referee that it should’ve been a three, but the referee argues back saying that it was a two. Layfield grabs onto the referee’s collar in the corner, when suddenly CENA ROLLS HIM UP!! … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … KICK OUT!! JBL kicks out of the surprise roll up, and stops all momentum from a Cena comeback by hitting a short arm clothesline as Cena was charging ahead. JBL stands and looks out at the crowd, before heading back to work. He picks Cena up by the head, and then locks in a sleeper hold. Cena tries fighting out of it, but Layfield’s arms are much to big for him to get out of. Cena, trapped, tries desperately to push JBL’s arms off of his neck, but his attempts are looking futile. The Champion applies more and more pressure, as Cena’s face is turning whiter, and is losing oxygen.
The crowd is behind Cena, chanting “LETS GO CE-NA” at extreme volumes, but the challenger is fading and fading fast. Layfield cracks a smile, as he’s got Cena right exactly where he wants him – in the position to give up. Cena drops to a knee, as JBL still stands over him with the lock applied. The referee drops down, and asks him if he wants to give up. There is no response, as Cena looks ready to pass out. He lifts his arm up … it falls! ONE! A stead fast “CE-NA” chant starts up and the crowd begins to stamp their feet, as the referee once again lifts the arm … it falls again! TWO!! JBL squeezes with every single bit of effort and with all the fibers in his body, as the referee raises Cena’s arm again … … … … … … … … CENA KEEPS IT LEVEL!!!!
The crowd explodes as Cena begins to wag his finger telling JBL he’s not quitting yet, as Layfield looks like he’s seen a ghost. Cena begins showing super-human abilities {foreshadowing?} as he begins pushing up Layfield’s arms of his neck!!! The crowd is going crazy, as are Cole and Tazz who cannot BELIEVE that Cena is doing this. JBL’s grip and momentum may be leaving him for the Champ, who GETS HIS ARMS OFF OF HIM!!! Cena runs to the ropes and leaps into the air catching JBL with his shoulder, taking him clear off his base and down on the ring mat.
Cena then rises up and scoops JBL in to the air and drives him down with a powerslam. Fired up as he can be, Cena gets the crowd up on their feet, as he then charges to JBL – WHO HITS HIM WITH THE CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL!! The crowd boos, as Cena crumbles to the mat, after JBL used every fiber in his being to bring out the Clothesline from Hell! Layfield scratches over and covers Cena, looking to put the hungry challenger away right here after hitting his finishing maneuver. … …1… …………………….. …2… ………...... … THREE – NO!! NO!!!
Cena SOMEHOW kicks out of The Clothesline from Hell! The crowd gives an INCREDIBLE reaction to the near fall, while JBL looks up to the ceiling of the Save Mart Center, wondering what in the hell he has to do to put him away. He then rolls out of the ring, and pushes past many of the people near the time keeper’s area, and grabs his title belt. He rolls into the ring, brushes past the referee, and goes to hit Cena, but CENA LIFTS HIM UP ON HIS SHOULDERS!!! THE CROWD EXPLODES, AS HE HAS HIM IN POSITION – GOES FOR IT – AND HITS THE F-U!!! By far the LARGEST reaction of the night echoes around the arena, damn near breaking the sound barrier {not really }, as Cena takes a breath before hooking JBL’s far leg! … …1… … …………………….. … …2… ………...... … ……… … THREE! NEW CHAMP – NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! JBL KICKS OUT OF THE F-U AGAIN!!! The crowd explodes again, this time in all boos, as Cena looks extremely disappointed. He gets up to his feet, and heads to the corner, thinking about what he needs to do. He looks up at the crowd, who are chanting “ONE MORE TIME” and Cena starts to get a smirk on his face. He turns his attention back to JBL, and grabs his right arm, BUT JBL PULLS IT BACK AND CENA IS FLUNG INTO THE CORNER!!! Cena hits the ring post shoulder first HARD, as the crowd boos the SMART counter from the WWE Champion, as Tazz briefly explains. The Wrestling God stirs back up to his feet and Cena finally staggers out of the corner, and JBL meets him with a kick and a DDT!! Cena holds his head in pain, while JBL makes a throat slash gesture, and gets up to his feet.
The WWE Champion sizes the challenger up, watching him move slowly on the mat. The crowd is chanting ‘J – B – L – SUCKS,’ and the New York City native tells them all to shut up, to which they respond with tremendous heat. Cena is getting up, and JBL grabs a hold of him and locks him between his legs. He makes a salute, before lifting him onto his shoulders, AND SLAMS HIM DOWN ONTO THE MAT WITH A JACKNIFE POWERBOMB!! The Champion grins as Cena hit the mat in an uncomfortable fashion, and is out cold in the middle of the ring. JBL drops to his knees slowly, and makes the lateral press, with the crowd starting up a ‘CE-NA’ chant. … …1… … …………………… … …2… ………….. … ……… …THREE – NO!!!!! CENA GETS A SHOULDER UP!!! The Save Mart Center explodes, as JBL looks to be in EXTREME disbelief. He is EXTREMELY pissed, and argues once again with the referee that it HAD to be a 3. The referee however tells him it was just two, and JBL is LIVID. He strikes Cena with aggression, stomping him out on the ground. He picks him up, and sends him off the ropes, and comes off the opposite side looking for the Clothesline from Hell again, BUT CENA DUCKS – AND PRESSES JBL ONTO HIS SHOULDERS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN THE MATCH – AND THROWS HIM OFF – AND PLANTS HIM WITH THE THIRD F-U OF THE MATCH!!! THE CROWD IS GOING APE SHIT. CENA HAS DONE IT, AND HE HOOKS THE LEGS!! … …1… … …………………… … …2… ………….. … ……… …THREE… NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! JBL KICKS OUT OF 3 F-U’S!!! Cena looks intensified, and angry as well that he could not do it. He sees the corner, and darts for it. He climbs up to the top, no one knowing what he’s going to do. He balances himself at the top turnbuckle, AND FLIES OFF LOOKING FOR A LEG DROP … … … … … … … … BUT CRASHES AND BURNS!!! JBL moved at the last second, and Cena holds his lower back in pain, as he gets up AND IS HIT WITH THE CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL!! JBL rolls back over, and secures both legs!! … …1… … …………………… … …2… ………….. … ……… … … !!!!!!!!!!!!!!THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WINNER, AND STILL WWE CHAMPION: JOHN ‘BRADSHAW’ LAYFIELD at 14:43
JBL escapes the ring, after going through a WAR with Cena, and is given the WWE Championship as he heads up the ramp.
Michael Cole: I do not believe what I have just seen. JBL kicked out of 3 F-U’s, and is STILL the WWE Champion!
Tazz: Cole JBL might just be what he says he is, a damn survivor. Wow, what a freaking match that was.
Michael Cole: Tazz John Cena gave everything he had in that match, but if it wasn’t for going for it all in the closing minute of the match, we may have had a new WWE Champion.
Tazz: Cole I think everyone in this building wanted a new champion, and now I think JBL knows that if Cena didn’t go for it all, he might have lost his championship.
Cena helps himself up with the ropes, and INSTANTLY, the entire crowd stands up and applauds the United States Champion. Cena is nearly crying, as he beats his chest and gives the double horns and rolls to the outside. He goes over and hugs his father who is at ringside, as Cena begins to break down. Knowing he came just three seconds away from becoming the WWE Champion, The Doctor is becoming emotional here at the Rumble. He breaks off the embrace, and touches knuckles with many of the fans at ringside, as he walks up the runway.
Michael Cole: An emotional United States Champion Tazz.
Tazz: No doubt about it Cole. Countless, countless times in this match up I started thinking that John was gonna do it. But God he put up the performance of a lifetime in this match. No doubt about it, Cena’s gonna be back one day.
Michael Cole: And that one day will come Tazz, and I guarantee you this. John Cena will be WWE Champion one day, but tonight – he gave it his all, but could not secure it. But one day, we will see John Cena with the WWE Championship around his waist.
Cena gives one last salute, as the fans are chanting “CE-NA” loudly and proudly, with some “Thank You Cena” chants mixed in as well. John heads for the back, as the screen fades to black.
*** WRESTLEMANIA GOES HOLLYWOOD IN – 63 DAYS
***
Backstage, we see Evolution in their locker room, all prepared to head into battle moments from now.
Ric Flair: Fellas… it’s show time! WOO!
A ‘WOO’ from the crowd follows, as Triple H and Batista get up.
Triple H: Everyone knows, what we’re gonna do, right? All that you two have to do, is make sure that I get the easiest luck in the match after you two get the dirty work done. Because I’m gonna be damned if I get screwed out of a World Title shot, because of something screwy that happens. So nobody had better mess up the plan.
Batista: Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Hold on a second big guy. Now I know, that two weeks ago, yeah it was a hoax. But I’m gonna be damned if I don’t get the World Title shot that I damn well deserve.
Crowd cheers
Triple H: Dave… your whining is starting to piss me off. You’re worse than me, and I complain too damn much for me to say anything. But the fact is, you and you Ric, you’d better stick to the damn plan.
Batista: Who said?
Crowd lets out an ‘OOOO’ as Batista comes up to Triple H, as Flair steps in between.
Ric Flair: Enough! Enough you two.
Batista: One more thing… if it comes down, to me and you Hunter. And I’m staring across from you, with a WrestleMania main event spot on the line… it sure as hell isn’t gonna be me going over that top rope…
Crowd cheers, as Triple H looks pissed.
Batista: Relax… you have this in the bag.
Batista walks out of Evolution’s locker room, as soon Flair and The Game also leave.
***
To the ring, where we see Lillian Garcia.
Lillian Garcia: Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to hand over the microphone, for the Royal Rumble Match, to legendary ring announcer … HOWARDDD FINKEL!!!
Crowd pops for The Fink.
Howard Finkel: Thank you Lillian, and good evening everyone. It’s been a great night night …
…
But…
…
It is now time… FOR THE ROYALLLLLLL… RUMBLEEEEEE… MATCH!
Crowd cheers.
Howard Finkel: Here are the rules. In just a few moments, the individuals who drew numbers one and two, will make their way to the ring, and the match will begin. Then, every ninety seconds another superstar will enter, until all thirty men have entered the match. For eliminations to occur, an individual, must go over the top rope, and both feet must touch the floor. The last man standing, will be the winner, and will earn a championship main event shot at WresstleManiaa… 21!!!
…
…
…
“VIVA LA RAZA”
ENTRANT #1: Eddie Guerrero
*I Lie, I Cheat, I Steal*
The crowd is sent into a frenzy, as the number one entrant in this year’s Royal Rumble is none other than Eddie Guerrero!! Guerrero rides out in the patented low rider, and bounces it up and down, before coming down to the ring.
Howard Finkel: Introducing the participant who drew number one … representing SmackDown! … Eddie Guerrrrerooo!!
Tazz: You wanna talk about a way to kick off the Rumble, there’s no better way to kick it off better than with Eddie Guerrero.
Jim Ross: Well Tazz Eddie Guerrero wasn’t in last year’s Royal Rumble Match. But just a month afterward he became the WWE Champion for the first time in his career. And ever since then Eddie has been craving for another shot at the gold. But tonight he’ll have to go coast to coast if he wants to do that.
…
…
…
*Medal*
ENTRANT #2: Kurt Angle
The Olympic Gold Medalist makes his way out as the number two entrant in the Rumble. Angle looks at Guerrero from the top of the run way, as the two have a tremendous amount of history dating back to last year.
Howard Finkel: And now, the participant that drew number two! Also representing SmackDown!... the only, Olympic Gold Medalist in WWE history … Kurrrrt Angleeee!!!
Jim Ross: Well these two certainly don’t have any love lost with each other Tazz.
Tazz: No way JR. These two battled in a CLASSIC last year at WrestleMania. And now they’re starting off the Rumble Match. This should be a hell of a 90 seconds JR.
***Bell Rings***
30 Man Royal Rumble Match –WINNER RECIEVES MAIN EVENT TITLE SHOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 21– Batista, Big Show, Billy Kidman, Booker T, Carlito, Christian, Chris Jericho, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Eddie Guerrero, Eugene, Kane, Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Conway, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Shawn Michaels, Stevie Richards, Tajiri, Triple H, Tyson Tomko, The Undertaker, William Regal
Angle and Guerrero come face to face in the middle of the ring, with the deep enriched history between protruding the emotions inside of them. The crowd begins a dueling chant, as there are both Angle and Eddie fans in attendance tonight. The two exchange some words in the middle of the ring, before Angle tees off and hits a right hand! Eddie hits one of his own and the two begin a hot exchange in the middle of the ring. Angle backs Eddie into the corner, and lights him up with a chop across the chest. A ‘WOOOO’ is gathered, as Kurt rares back and hits a second chop, echoing around the arena and another ‘WOOOO’ is gathered from the Fresno crowd.
Kurt pushes up on his neck with his hand, but Eddie is quick to scratch the eyes of the Olympic Gold Medalist. Eddie then walks over and kicks him in the gut, before whipping him to the ropes. Angle rebounds, and ducks a clothesline attempt from Eddie, goes behind, and floats him over with a German! Angle gets up and lets out a roar, as the fans in attendance create a loud ovation. Kurt goes back to work, picking Eddie up and tries to eliminate him! But Eddie holds onto the ropes for dear life, as Angle tries to get him to lose his grip. The attempt is futile, as Eddie kicks him in the gut giving him time to recoup. Eddie gets back in the ring, and runs over and clotheslines Angle down onto the mat.
Latino Heat grabs Angle, getting him up to a vertical base slowly but surely, and applies a front face lock before hitting a suplex. Eddie on the ground pops his hips, and hits a second suplex.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Delirious*
ENTRANT #3: Mark Jindrak
A member of the Angle Alliance, Mark Jindrak runs down to the ring, looking to make an impact tonight in the Rumble, and in to help out his leader, Kurt Angle.
Jim Ross: Well there’s strength in numbers Tazz and the numbers might be in favor of the Olympian after the young Mark Jindrak hits the ring.
Tazz: You’re probably right about that one JR. And this kid is a diamond in the rough. Look out for him in this thing. He’s gonna want and make an impact.
Jindrak slides into the ring, and immediately goes for Guerrero, who was looking to eliminate the Olympic Gold Medalist. Jindrak begins hitting repeated shots from his forearm down onto the back of Eddie Guerrero, before pulling him away from the ropes. He grabs onto his hand, and pulls him in and clotheslines him HARD, and then taunts the crowd getting a lot of heat. Angle gets back up to his feet, and sees Jindrak in the ring, and the two pair up on the former WWE Champion. They pull him up, and send him to the ropes, and the two lock hands and as Eddie rebounds, the two meet him in the center of the ring with a double clothesline.
Jindrak drops down with an elbow drop, as Angle then stamps down on his face. Guerrero holds the areas in pain, and the two let him up, before they begin talking over something. They then grab him by the tights, and run over to the edge of the ring and look to throw him over the top!! BUT GUERRERO HANGS ON!!! The two members of the Angle Alliance begin beating down on him, and he finally falls on to the apron, and Kurt begins to stomp heavily on his ribs, trying to get him off the apron. Eddie however sneaks into the ring, and Angle looks fiercely disappointed in himself.
Angle grabs his right ankle and brings him to the center of the ring and now has the Ankle Lock locked in!! The crowd pops as Eddie quickly rolls through and Angle bumps into Jindrak!! Jindrak is hurdled into the ropes and falls over the top of them!! He’s elim- NO!! Close call!! Jindrak falls onto the apron, and grabs the middle rope to help him up.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Just Close Your Eyes*
ENTRANT #4: Christian
Captain Charisma makes a slow walk to the ring, playing off to the ‘Peeps’ in the crowd, as he looks to earn himself a spot in the main event of WrestleMania 21.
Tazz: Hey I like this guy Christian JR. He’s a real cool kind of guy.
Jim Ross: Well say what you want about his ego and his attitude, but there’s no denying Christian has tremendous wrestling abilities, and this may be the night where he finally earns a championship shot at WrestleMania.
Jindrak, nearly being eliminated, is back over with Angle fighting off Eddie who is beginning to tee off on the two members of the Angle Alliance. Christian steps into the ring, and shies away from the battle going on in the corner. Meanwhile Eddie is now in the center of the ring with Angle, and he hip tosses him over his shoulder, and then drop toe holds Jindrak down onto Angle’s groin!! The crowd lets out an ‘OOOOO’ as Eddie now sets his sights on Christian, who calls him out. Christian begins slapping his chest, as the ‘Peeps’ get behind him now. Eddie asks if it’s gonna be like “that,” and then begins shimmying, getting the crowd of their seats and on their feet.
Christian is ticked, and then charges over, but Eddie has him outsmarted, as he kicks him in the gut, and suplexes him. Guerrero gets up and slaps his own chest, before going out onto the apron. He climbs up the turnbuckle rather quickly, risking Angle or Jindrak pushing him off, and flies off and hits the Frog Splash on Christian!! The crowd cheers, as Eddie holds his ribs as it took something out of him to hit the high-flying maneuver. All four men seem to be out of commission, but just as that is said, the Olympian begins to get to his feet. He spots the weakest man of the bunch, Christian, on the ground and pulls him up and hits him with a chop that brings him back down onto his back.
He brings him back up, and sizes him up, before hitting a big European uppercut, derailing him into the corner, and Angle hits another forceful chop. Christian’s chest reddens, as Angle then tries to eliminate him from the corner.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“I’LL SHOW YOU, YOU’LL SEE!”
ENTRANT #5: Stevie Richards
*Generic Music* Good old Stevie Richards sprints down to the ring, tirelessly trying to prove he’s still pretty good. {And not jobber material, imo}
Jim Ross: Well here comes a guy that is still to this day wants to prove he’s the real deal. Stevie Richards.
Tazz: Hey this guy was somethin’ back in ECW JR, don’t kid yourself. I wouldn’t question his raw abilities, no pun intended by the way.
Stevie comes into the ring with “ruthless aggression” as he jumps onto Angle in the corner with Christian. He holds onto his neck, trying to lock in a sleeper, but Angle snap mares him over his shoulder. Angle then grabs onto his head, and runs him over to the ropes and sends him flying over them, and Stevie lands on the outside!!
ELIMINATION #1: Stevie Richards by Kurt Angle at 6:15
The first elimination of the match occurs with Stevie lasting a mere 43 seconds. Angle is then caught by surprise from behind by Eddie Guerrero, but Angle holds on! Angle mule kicks Guerrero below the belt, and staggers into Christian who kicks him in the gut, and then hits the Unprettier! Payback from the Frog Splash, Christian slaps his chest and spits in his face, showing the lack of respect he has. Christian then turns to Angle, who stares at him from his side of the ring. From the side Mark Jindrak comes in and takes Christian off his feet, and shoves him into the corner, and begins to lay into him. Angle comes over and the two begin to both stomp down on him. Angle pulls him up, and hits a big uppercut, which Jindrak follows with an elbow to the face.
They both whip him to the other side of the ring into the other corner, and go for a double clothesline, but Christian ducks, and runs off the ropes and hits a clothesline on the both of him himself!! Captain Charisma then gets up, and heads to the corner to catch his breath, and looks up at the clock which is ticking down…
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“OH! OH! SHAWN!”
ENTRANT #6:Shawn Michaels
*Sexy Boy* The Heartbreak Kid, winner of 2 Royal Rumble matches, makes his way down to the ring for his first Rumble Match in two years.
Jim Ross: The names just keep getting bigger! Here comes a 2-time winner of the Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels!!
Tazz: Things are gonna explode here!
Michaels gets into the ring, and immediately dukes it out with Christian, as the two exchange rights in the middle of the ring. Michaels gets some chops mixed in, and sends Christian to the ropes. Christian is back dropped then, and Michaels follows it with a flying forearm. Michaels gets up to a round of applause, and hits Christian with a right hand backing him into the ropes. Michaels hits another right hand, before backing up, and looking for Sweet Chin Music, but Christian evades!!! Michaels is saddled on the top rope, and falls onto the apron but not on the floor. Kurt Angle makes his way back up to his feet, and strikes Christian in the back, taking him off his feet.
Kurt picks him back up, and goes for a German, but Christian counters and turns around. Captain Charisma goes for the Unprettier, but Angle counters in the last second, and hits a German suplex sending Christian HARD INTO THE CORNER!!! Christian hits his head on the top turnbuckle, and crumbles to the mat as the crowd generates a loud ‘OOOOOOH’ in concern for the former multiple time Intercontinental Champion, who is down and out in the middle of the ring. Angle pays no attention, and helps Jindrak up to his feet. Jindrak points out Michaels getting up, and Kurt tells him “I’ll take care of this.” The Olympic Gold Medalist walks over to the fallen Showstopper, who is still getting up. Angle grabs him, and uppercuts him, striking him in the chin, and nearly jarring him out of the ring.
Coming back into the frame work is Eddie Guerrero, who turns Angle around and knocks him down with a chop. He keeps on going, working him into the corner, and then charging his shoulder into his gut, and then trying to take him over the ropes.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“UH OHHHHH”
ENTRANT #7: Orlando Jordan
*Do What I Want To* ‘The Chief of Staff’ heads down to the ring for his first Royal Rumble Match.
Tazz: Well here comes a guy who’s made a name for himself on SmackDown! being the Chief of Staff for JBL, Orlando Jordan.
Jim Ross: There’s a lot of potential in his hands Tazz. He may make a huge impact tonight.
Jordan slides into the ring, and starts an attack on Eddie, slamming down on his back with his forearm. He goes to eliminate him, but Eddie hangs on. Jordan beats down on him with his right hand on the ropes, trying desperately for him to get out, but he comes up short as Eddie sneaks back into the ring. He turns around into Mark Jindrak, whom he kicks in the gut, AND DROPS WITH THE COMPLETE SHOT!! Jordan gets up, and Angle comes charging in with a clothesline, but Jordan ducks that, and goes for ANOTHER Complete Shot, but Angle elbows out, and when Jordan comes back over, lifts him up and brings him down with the Angle Slam!!! The crowd cheers as Angle gets back up and roars, but turns into CHRISTIAN who’s back up after the German suplex, and begins teeing off on Angle in an attempt at retribution.
Angle’s backed into the corner while on the other side, Eddie and Michaels are now going at it. Michaels is hitting a barrage of chops, as is Latino Heat, as the two greats in the ring are going at it for the very first time! Michaels has Eddie against the ropes, and goes to clothesline him, but Eddie flips him over!!! MICHAELS HOLDS ON THOUGH! Eddie goes to strike, but Michaels goes underneath and hits him in his gut, and then floats over rolling through and hitting Eddie with a sunset flip! But since there are no pinfalls in the Royal Rumble, it really came to no effect. Over back in the corner, the members of the Angle Alliance are double teaming on Orlando, keeping him neutralized and unable to do any damage after doing some in the beginning of his stint in the match.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*You Can Run*
ENTRANT #8: Billy Kidman
The talented Billy Kidman sprints down to the ring, hoping to make a bit of an impact as he goes into the ring with many of the best in the WWE today.
Tazz: Well this guy Billy Kidman has had a bit of an attitude change, but I like him JR.
Jim Ross: A former Cruiserweight Champion Tazz. Billy Kidman has a lot to prove tonight if he wants to go to WrestleMania.
Kidman comes into the ring, and spins Eddie around, and takes him down with a right hand. Michaels goes for one of his own, but Billy ducks that, and plants a dropkick onto his chest. Christian then comes charging in for his shot, but Kidman kicks him in the gut, and then hits the BK Bomb!! Kidman gets out of the position, and walks over and turns Kurt Angle around, and hits a big right on him, taking him off his feet. He then goes after Mark Jindrak, backing him in the corner, and then splashes onto him squeezing him against the turnbuckles. He attempts to eliminate the big man, but Kurt Angle comes over, helping out his partner, and German suplexes him!! Kidman lands hard on his back, as Angle walks over and grabs him by his head. He calls over Jindrak, and the two grab onto him, and send him flying over the top rope and onto the ring floor!!
ELIMINATION #2: Billy Kidman by Kurt Angle and Mark Jindrak at 12:22
The Angle Alliance stands tall in the ring, raising their arms, when Eddie and Michaels take both men down with shots to the back!! The crowd cheers as Guerrero takes on Angle, while The Heartbreak Kid works on Jindrak. Eddie whips Angle into the corner, and Michaels whips Jindrak into the same corner, causing Jindrak to squeeze onto Angle!! Jindrak staggers out, AND MICHAELS HITS HIM WITH SWEET CHIN MUSIC!!! Jindrak collapses, as Angle is worked on in the corner by Latino Heat. Guerrero grabs him by his waist and turns him inside out with a belly to belly, and then heads to the top rope. Eddie shimmies a bit for the crowd, before launching off the top, going for the Frog Splash – BUT MICHAELS MOVES ANGLE!! Eddie crashes and burns, AS MICHAELS CANNOT BE TRUSTED!!!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ ME, NAHHH”
ENTRANT #9: Shelton Benjamin
*Ain’t No Stopping Me* Shelton Benjamin, doing double duty tonight, sprints down to the ring completely intent on making a HUGE impact.
Jim Ross: The All-American from Minnesota, who already competed here tonight, is looking to make his presence known here tonight.
Tazz: I miss this guy on SmackDown! JR. He’s a hell of an athlete.
As Benjamin was making his way to the ring, Shawn Michaels had pulled Eddie up off the mat, and had eliminated him!!
ELIMINATION #3: Eddie Guerrero by Shawn Michaels at 12:35
Benjamin gets into the ring the only way he can, jumping on the apron, and then springboarding himself inside by clotheslining both Shawn Michaels and Christian!! Benjamin then goes after Christian, someone he holds a lot of history with, and backs him against the ropes with repeated right hands. He sends him off the ropes, and Benjamin goes down on the ground, with Christian jumping over him, and Benjamin hits a spin kick as he returns! The Intercontinental Champion steps up to a tremendous reaction, as he beats his chest and then sets his sights on Mark Jindrak. He locks in a front face lock, and suplexes the talented young superstar, and then walks right into KURT ANGLE!! The crowd cheers as the former members of Team Angle meet face to face for the first time since Shelton was drafted to RAW last year.
The crowd is going bananas, as Benjamin and Angle still stare down one another, before Angle starts to smirk. Benjamin does as well, and the two shake hands!! TEAM ANGLE IS BACK! They go to attack, BUT ANGLE PULLS HIM IN, AND HITS THE ANGLE SLAM! Kurt comes up to his feet and lets out an unsettling roar, as he pulls down the straps!! He grabs Orlando Jordan out of the corner, and HITS AN ANGLE SLAM ON THE CHIEF OF STAFF!! The crowd thunders, as he gets up, grabs Jordan by his mini-fro, and hurls him out of The Chief of Staff out of the ring!!
ELIMINATION #4: Orlando Jordan by Kurt Angle at 14:57
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“Wellllll, Well it’s the Big Show!”
PYRO
ENTRANT #10: The Big Show
Jim Ross: The largest athlete, in the WWE! The largest man in this Rumble Match, is headed down to the ring!
Tazz: And the only man standin’, is a man Show’s got a beef with. And that’s the Olympic Gold Medalist himself.
Big Show is walking up to the ring, which is in carnage, after Angle damn near Angle Slammed every participant in the ring!! Jindrak was standing, but was taken out by Michaels with Sweet Chin Music, but Angle followed it up with an Angle Slam and is now the only man on his feet. He calls on The Big Show, who steps over the ring ropes. There is a bit of a stand off between the two men, but Angle breaks it by going forward – BUT SHOW PUSHES HIM BACK!! The crowd explodes, as Big Show walks forward and strikes Kurt with his frying pan-like fist, taking him off his feet and onto his back. The 500 pounder picks Angle up off the ground with ease, and hurls him into the corner. Show walks over, and SLAPS down onto his chest with his hand, that nearly is the size of Angle’s chest, and creates a stinging red mark on the Olympian’s chest.
Big Show holds him down, as he quiets the crowd, and SLAPS him on the chest again. Angle crumbles onto his knees, and Show grabs him by his head, and headbutts him back down. Show plays up to the crowd, eliciting a large reaction from them, as he then looks around at the mess of the ring that it is. He sees the first soul getting up to his feet, and it’s Mark Jindrak, another man who has caused a lot of personal problems for himself. Jindrak is stirring in the corner, not realizing the 500-pound Monster is right behind him. Jindrak walks into Big Show, who then clutches the neck of the member of The Angle Alliance. Big Show then lifts him HIGH into the air, and CHOKESLAMS HIM OUT OF THE RING ONTO THE FLOOR!!
ELIMINATION #5: Mark Jindrak by The Big Show at 16:44
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“A-LEI LEEYA LA LEY LEEYA A-LEI LEEYA…”
ENTRANT #11: Muhammad Hassan
Jim Ross: Oh great. Well ladies and gentlemen, let me be really candid with you all here, and I hope this doesn’t get me fired. But I want Muhammad Hassan to get his ass kicked in this match right here.
Tazz: JR, I think you said it best.
As Hassan slowly walks down to the ring, The Big Show stands in the center of the ring, awaiting his arrival. The other four men involved in the match, Benjamin, Michaels, Angle, and Christian all get up from where they were standing, and all wait in separate corners. Hassan walks up the ramp, and takes his headdress off, before stepping inside the ropes. He looks up at Big Show, and tells him he’s not afraid, and that tonight is his night. The crowd starts a ‘USA’ chant, as The Big Show asks him if he’s sure he’s not scared. Hassan says no, and Big Show lets the dogs loose!! BENJAMIN, ANGLE, MICHAELS, AND CHRISTIAN ALL ATTACK HASSAN IN THE CORNER!! Fresno goes nuts, as they pull him out of the corner, and shove him into the big guy, who grabs his face and begins to squeeze the life out of him!
The crowd roars, as Hassan then seemingly passes out, and Big Show then pulls him up. He grabs his neck, and lifts him seven damn feet in the air, AND PLANTS HIM WITH THE CHOKESLAM!! The crowd cheers as Big Show lets out a grunt, as Shawn Michaels then comes off the top rope, AND HITS THE ELBOW DROP!! The crowd is still raucous, as Christian then pulls him up, and turns him around and drops him with the Unprettier!! The crowd then starts up an ‘Angle’ chant, as the American Hero looks down at Hassan, and then around at the crowd. He snaps, and grabs Hassan, brings him over to the edge of the ring, AND BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEXES HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE – SENDING HIM THROUGH THE AIR – AND CRASHING DOWN ONTO THE MAT – ELIMINATED!!!
ELIMINATION #6: Muhammad Hassan by Kurt Angle at 18:37
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Final Force*
ENTRANT #12: Rob Conway
Jim Ross: Another RAW superstar trying to make an impact – here comes Rob Conway.
Tazz: This guy is a blue chipper as you like to say JR. Tremendous amounts of talent.
Conway jumps onto the apron, and more ‘USA’ chants are directed at him. Conway mouths off to the crowd, who boo him, and he goes to come in, BUT SHELTON BENJAMIN COMES OVER AND SUPERKICKS HIM OFF THE APRON!!! The crowd cheers loudly, as Conway never gets into the ring, and instead is laid out on the outside! Benjamin is then attacked from behind by Kurt Angle, but he elbows out of the predicament, and then goes for a kick. But Angle blocks it, and swings him around, AND BENJAMIN CONNECTS WITH THE DRAGON WHIP!! The crowd cheers, as Shelton is beginning to pull out all the stops. Christian comes charging over, but Benjamin low bridges the ropes and Christian goes flying!
ELIMINATION #7: Christian by Shelton Benjamin at 19:31
Benjamin gets up with the ropes, and back drops a charging Shawn Michaels, and then kicks him in the gut as he returns to his feet, and he hits the T-BONE SUPLEX!! The Intercontinental Champion is feeling it, as he gets up and invokes a reaction out of the fans, before he stands across the ring from The Big Show!!! Shelton gulps, as the crowd is behind him, loudly chanting “SHEL-TON” as The Big Show challenges him. Benjamin digs down deep, and charges over and jumps on Show!! He wildly throws lefts and rights at the Giant, who then throws him off of him down onto his back hard! Benjamin however will not quit, as he now goes low, and charges his shoulder into Show, who AGAIN throws him away. The Big Show finally grabs his neck as Benjamin comes charging in, and brings him in the air – BUT BENJAMIN HOOKS HIS LEGS AROUND BIG SHOW’S NECK, AND SOMEHOW EXECUTES A HURRICANRANA!!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Break the Walls Down*
ENTRANT #13: Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho, looking for revenge from earlier on tonight, runs down to the ring in pursuit of the Intercontinental Champion who is just getting up from delivering a hurricanrana to The Big Show.
Jim Ross: Well retribution is on Chris Jericho’s mind, after losing to Shelton Benjamin earlier on tonight.
Tazz: Jericho’s my dark horse pick in this one JR. Better watch out for him in this one.
Y2J comes into the ring quickly, and stomps on Shelton Benjamin just as he was getting up. He piles on the forearms to the back, before turning him around and slapping him!! Benjamin falls on all fours, and Jericho takes him by the head and goes to eliminate, but Benjamin counters at the last second and JERICHO IS GONE!!
ELIMINATION #8: Chris Jericho by Shelton Benjamin at 21:10
Jericho slaps on the floor in CLEAR frustration, as Shelton Benjamin has evaded elimination again!! Jericho is livid, as he walks up the ramp, kicking the steel steps in the process and turns his back on the fans completely. The crowd boos his exit, as Benjamin looks on in near laughter. Behind him, Shawn Michaels is waiting to hit Sweet Chin Music, and Benjamin turns around, and dodges it, and then pulls Michaels up onto his shoulders and drops him with a Samoan drop!! Benjamin has been putting on quite a performance so far, as this match is nearly at its half way point. The Intercontinental Champion walks up to his feet, and goes after Angle, who meets him with a right. Benjamin follows that up with one of his own, and Angle then locks his arms around his waist and hits a belly to belly!! Kurt gets up, and grabs at his leg, trying to lock in the Ankle Lock, but Benjamin pushes him off of his leg and gets up.
Benjamin goes for a kick, and Angle spins him around and Benjamin looks to hit the Dragon Whip on Angle AGAIN, BUT ANGLE DUCKS DOWN! Benjamin hits the mat, and Kurt locks in the Ankle Lock!!! He immediately grapevines it, and Shelton has nowhere to go!! Shelton’s ankle is going to snap – but Michaels kicks the head of Angle, making him break the hold.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“CAN YOU DIG IT, SUCKA?”
ENTRANT #14: Booker T
*Rap Sheet* Booker T makes the slow walk to the ring, as the 5 Time WCW Champion looks to head to WrestleMania 21.
Tazz: Oh yeah baby! Here comes one of SmackDown’s best.
Jim Ross: Well Booker T will be looking to add to the list of accomplishments he has, by winning the Royal Rumble tonight if he can go the distance from here on out.
Booker enters the ring, and kicks a charging Kurt Angle in the gut, and comes off the ropes and hits a Scissors Kick!! Booker T then gets back up, and ducks a clothesline from Benjamin, and then hooks his arm up under his arms, and hits the Book End! Booker holds his hand up to his face, and turns around into Eddie Guerrero, who goes for a right, but Booker blocks it with a knee to the gut, and runs off and hits the Scissors Kick again!! The crowd is going wild as Booker gets back up again, and hits a side kick to an oncoming Shawn Michaels!! Booker is cleaning house!!!
The 5-Time WCW Champion sets his sights on the only man up in the match now, that being The Big Show. He looks over to his right however, and sees Rob Conway getting back up, as he was never really entered in the match. He walks over, and reaches through the middle ropes and grabs him and brings him up on the apron. He hurls him inside, and Conway lands on his back. Booker T then takes him by his head, AND THROWS HIM RIGHT BACK OUT!!!
ELIMINATION #9: Rob Conway by Booker T at 23:46
Booker T then sets his sights on the 500-pounder, daring enough to grab him forcefully in the gut. Booker then runs off the ropes, leaps HIGH into the air, AND COMES DOWN WITH THE SCISSORS KICK!!! The crowd is ecstatic, as with no one up, Booker T feels a sensation go through his veins, as he holds his hand up to his face, AND THEN DOES A ROYAL RUMBLE SPINAROONIE!!! The crowd cheers, as he gets up, but is attacked by Angle from behind! On the other side, Benjamin and Michaels are about to go at it, being it being the only possible action.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“WOOOOOOOO”
ENTRANT #15: Ric Flair
*Sprach Zarathrustra* ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair walks out to a tremendous ovation, even while still being a heel. He takes his ridiculous coat off as he walks to the ring, set to go here in the Rumble match, one he has not been involved with for almost 15 years.
Jim Ross: Well here comes a former Royal Rumble winner Tazz, none other than “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair!!
Tazz: Well The Dirtiest Damn Player in the Game today is gonna be looking to add another Royal Rumble Match victory to his long list of accomplishments here tonight.
Flair enters the ring, and goes after Shawn Michaels, who’s in the corner with Benjamin. The two begin to team up on HBK, send him across the ring into the opposite corner. Benjamin grabs onto Flair, who whips him into the Michaels and splashes onto him!! The Showstopper staggers, as Flair lights him up with a chop that careens him off his feet and onto his back! Ric stalls and calls out a ‘WOOOO’ which is answered by the fans with a ‘WOOOOOOO’ of their own. Ric slicks his hair back, before blocking an attempted shot from Kurt Angle, and digging into his skin with a chop! Ric turns around, and Booker kicks him in the gut, before grabbing his arm and going for a side kick, but Ric ducks underneath, and breaks free and hits a sharp chop to his chest!!!
Flair begins to strut around, getting a large reaction from the fans, as Big Show is seen getting up. The Nature Boy gets the attention of the boys, and points to Show. They get the idea, and everyone turns their attention to the big man. They all begin to pummel down on him, repeatedly and often. Big Show is down to a knee, as everyone gets underneath him or pushes him, trying to eliminate him!! The Big Show’s size is showing, as they cannot seem to lift him over. Everyone uses their efforts, every fiber in their being, BUT THE BIG SHOW SUDDENLY PUSHES EVERYONE AWAY!!! Everyone is sprawled out on the canvas, as The Big Show looks for time to recuperate.
He cannot get it, as The Olympian runs over and slams down on his back with his forearm. He pushes his head up, and cleanly hits a right hand in his face.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
…
…
*GONG*
…
…
*GONG*
…
ENTRANT #16: The Undertaker
*Graveyard Symphony* The entire match just STOPS, as the crowd EXPLODES for the arrival of The Phenom!!! The Undertaker makes the slow walk to the ring the only way he can, eyeing the ring the entire time.
Jim Ross: Tazz, business has just picked up! The Undertaker, has arrived!
Tazz: Look in the ring JR! The match just stopped!! Everyone’s looking at The Deadman now.
Undertaker walks up the steps slowly, as the lights go on after he raises his arms up. Inside the ring, everyone has their eyes on The Deadman, who then slowly enters the ring. Everyone begins to back up a little bit, as Undertaker turns. He takes his trench coat off, and hands it to the stage hand on the outside. He then steps back, and slowly takes his hat up off his head, and brings it down fast, and rolls his eyes back as a clap of thunder is heard, and the crowd begins a “UN-DER-TAKE-ER!” chant. He looks at everyone in the ring, and then slowly turns his head over at The Big Show. The 500-pounder calls him on, as the crowd is incited.
Undertaker then walks over, and the fight is on!!! The two brawl in the ring, exchanging lefts and rights, and Taker gets the advantage!! He begins drilling the monster in the ribs and sternum, when the 500-pounder then clutches him by the neck!!! But Undertaker kicks him low!! Big Show is then brought away from the corner, and Undertaker hits an uppercut that backs him into the ropes and nearly over – AND THE REST OF THE SUPERSTARS IN THE MATCH RUSH OVER, AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS – ELIMINATE THE BIG SHOW!!!
ELIMINATION #10: The Big Show by Booker T, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Shelton Benjamin at 27:53
The crowd cheers as the biggest man in the match is out of it, and everyone then pairs off with one another to try and do the same to each other. Benjamin and Flair begin going at it at one end, Michaels and Booker at another, and Kurt Angle and The Phenom begin going at it near the ropes.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Basham*
ENTRANT #17: Danny Basham
One half of JBL’s Secretary of Defense makes his way to the ring, sprinting from beginning to end.
Jim Ross: Well here comes a talented member of JBL’s Cabinet, in Danny Basham.
Tazz: This guy is becoming something special JR. Along with his brother, of course.
Danny slides in, and turns Ric Flair around, and hits a right. He picks him back up, and hits a second taking him into the ropes. Danny rares back, and comes charging with a clothesline, but Flair ducks under and Danny has too much momentum, and goes flying over the top rope!!!
ELIMINATION #11: Danny Basham by Ric Flair at 28:54
The crowd cheers, as Flair goes back to Benjamin, who is still in this one. Meanwhile, Undertaker and Kurt Angle are teeing off on another, with Angle still remaining into the match, the longest competitor so far coming in at number two, and lasting a half an hour so far. Kurt goes for a belly to belly on The Phenom, but he breaks out of it, and then hits a big boot. Undertaker then runs off the ropes, and goes for a flying DDT, but Angle counters it SOMEHOW, and twists his ankle around locking in the Ankle Lock!!! The crowd pops, but Undertaker is able to roll out of it and Angle goes barreling into the ropes!! A close call, as he nearly goes over them, but instead goes through the second and lands securely onto the apron.
Undertaker goes over, but is stopped dead in his tracks by Shawn Michaels, who turns him around, and connects with a right hand. Michaels goes off on a man he hasn’t stepped in the ring with in eight years, and Michaels remains unphased by that. He whips him to the ropes, but Taker counters mid swing. Michaels comes off the ropes, and The Phenom goes down, but Michaels kicks him in the face!! He staggers, and Michaels comes off the ropes with a flying forearm – and moments later – nips up!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
EXPLOSION!
ENTRANT #18: Kane
*Slow Chemical* The Big Red Machine Kane walks down to the ring, striking fear in many of the competitors in the Rumble match.
Jim Ross: Well through hell, fire, and brimstone The Big Red Machine is here!!
Tazz: I think the whole game just changed JR.
As Kane walks towards the ring, the crowd cheers, as EDDIE GUERRERO COMES THROUGH THE CROWD WIELDING A STEEL CHAIR!!! He jumps over the barricade, and climbs into the ring, AND SMACKS THE CHAIR ACROSS SHAWN MICHAELS’ BACK!!! The crowd roars, as Eddie then waits for him to turn around, as he drops the chair, and then clotheslines him out of the ring!!!
ELIMINATION #12: Shawn Michaels by Eddie Guerrero {Illegally} at 30:40
Eddie leaves the ring, and heads back through the crowd, as Shawn doesn’t look like he knows what hit him. Meanwhile, back in the ring, Kane is beginning to leave a path of destruction. He has hit numerous uppercuts to charging superstars, and then hits a Choke Slam on Shelton Benjamin!!! The Big Red Machine then begins laughing, as he backs into his brother – The Undertaker!! The crowd EXPLODES, as the two monsters who just battled last year at WrestleMania stare down eye to eye with one another. As they do so, Kurt Angle gets up, and goes after The Deadman!! The crowd boos, as Kane seemingly does nothing, and a “B – O – D” chant starts up {Brothers of Destruction} as Kane still remains at a stand still.
Angle is about to hit the Angle Slam, WHEN KANE COMES OVER AND BOOTS HIM IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD!!! The crowd is sent into a frenzy, as Undertaker lands on his feet after the boot to Angle, and looks a bit shocked. Kane then shakes his head, as Taker now knows what’s up, and the Brothers of Destruction have reunited!!! They approach Shelton Benjamin in the corner, both hitting big rights, and then take him out of the corner. They clutch onto his neck, AND LIFT HIM UP – AND CHOKE SLAM HIM OUT OF THE RING ONTO THE RING FLOOR!!
ELIMINATION #13: Shelton Benjamin by The Undertaker and Kane at 31:53
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Buzzsaw*
ENTRANT #19: Tajiri
Tajiri, the occupier of the famed green mist, sprints to the ring in an attempt to head to the main event of WrestleMania.
Jim Ross: Well now Tajiri must enter a land of two giants Tazz.
Tazz: This doesn’t look good for my boy here.
Tajiri climbs inside and evades the Brothers of Destruction, and instead goes after Ric Flair. He lands a couple of good kicks in, before Flair gouges his eyes. Booker T goes to grab him, but Tajiri fights away and SPITS THE MIST! The crowd pops, as Booker doesn’t know where he is, and turns around into a lightning-like kick from Tajiri, and The Undertaker clotheslines him over!!
ELIMINATION #14: Booker T by The Undertaker at 32:33
Tajiri shakes his head up and down, when suddenly, Kurt Angle comes from out of nowhere, and German suplexes Tajiri clear over his body and he lands HARD on his face!! Angle is not done, as Kane goes for a swing, but Angle executes a German to him!! The Olympian gets up, and Ric Flair tries to get a swing in, but Kurt blocks it, and hits the Angle Slam!!! Angle beats his chest, as he then comes to the point where he’s locking eyes with The Deadman. The crowd booms, as Angle and Taker look at each other across the ring, AND THEN LUNGE FORWARD AND BEGIN GOING AT IT!! Angle gets the better of it at first, but Taker climbs back into it, and gouges the eyes of the Olympian. He presses him onto his shoulder, and walks over to the corner, and drops him down on the top turnbuckle, and runs to the ropes, and hits the flying DDT!!
Undertaker is down and out seemingly – but The Phenom sits up!! The crowd is raucous, as the only man standing is The Deadman, who picks apart the scene, and decides to work with Angle again. He tries to throw him over, but the fight in Angle hasn’t left yet, despite being in for over half an hour.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Bad Man*
ENTRANT #20: Luther Reigns
A member of the Angle Alliance, ‘The Beast’ Luther Reigns runs down to the ring as his superior strength and stamina may help him out at the 20 position.
Jim Ross: Well Kurt needs all the help he can get right now, and this might be the man to help him out.
Tazz: Luther Reigns is a beast JR, Angle definitely has some help now.
Immediately, Reigns darts for The Phenom, as he begins clubbing him repeatedly on the back. He then scoops him up, and runs into the middle of the ring and drives him downward with a powerslam. Reigns lets out a grunt, which gets the crowd to boo, WHEN UNDERTAKER SITS BACK UP! Reigns doesn’t realize it, but The Deadman waits in the center, and grabs Reigns by the throat!! Angle tries coming in, but he’s grabbed as well. Taker brings them over to the center of the ring AND THEN THROWS REIGNS OVER TO KANE!!! Kane looks at him with a sadistic look on his face, AND UNDERTAKER AND KANE BOTH CHOKE SLAM THE MEMBERS OF THE ANGLE ALLIANCE!!
The crowd roars, and meanwhile on the other side, Tajiri is going at it with Ric Flair. Flair is trying to fight of The Japanese Buzzsaw, but he’s becoming a bit of a pest for Naitch. Tajiri goes for the MIST again, but Flair dodges it, and then pushes him over the top rope to eliminate him!!!
ELIMINATION #15: Tajiri by Ric Flair at 34:59
Flair lets out another WOOOOO before turning around, and looks across the ring at the BOD. He puts his hands up, trying to tell them to back off, as the crowd now begins to chant for them again. Taker and Kane look at one another, as Flair is now on his KNEES, begging them not to attack him. The Brothers of Destruction look disappointed, BUT THEN WALK FORWARD!! They begin to beat down on the 16 time World Heavyweight Champion in the corner, aggressively throwing soup bones and vicious uppercuts. Taker lifts him up and drops him with Snake Eyes, before coming off the ropes and hitting a big boot.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
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*Unleashed*
ENTRANT #21: Batista
The crowd generates a HUGE OVATION for Evolution’s Animal, Batista!! Big Dave sprints down to the ring, intent on main-eventing WrestleMania 21.
Jim Ross: And here he comes! Evolution’s Animal, “The Animal” himself, Batista, is number 21!
Tazz: Ho-ho-ho, this is getting good JR.
Batista dives into the ring, and makes the save for Flair!! He clubs onto the back of Kane, before kicking him in the gut. He brings him over to the turnbuckle and slams him head first onto it. He then brings him into the center of the ring, and lifts him up and plants him with the Spinebuster!!! The crowd explodes as he gets up, AND THEN WALKS INTO THE UNDERTAKER!! The crowd becomes unglued, as two of the biggest superstars in the WWE meet eye to eye, AND THEN GO AT IT!!! Undertaker hits multiple soup bones to the face and gut, but Batista finds a way to fight them off, and throw him off to the ropes and hit the Spinebuster on him!!! Big Dave then walks over and assists Flair to his feet, which generates a nice pop.
Dave then walks over and kicks a charging Luther Reigns in the gut, and locks him between his legs. As Angle is being paired off with The Nature Boy, Batista grabs Reigns around the waist, lifts him up on his shoulders, AND POWERS HIM DOWN WITH THE BATISTA BOMB!! Batista gets up and roars, giving a big performance in the opening seconds of his entry, as he beats down on his chest, and then walks over to Naitch. Himself and The Dirtiest Player in the Game begin working on Angle, and it looks more and more like the plan is coming into fruition, despite the confrontation between Batista and Triple H beforehand. Naitch and Dave try to eliminate Angle, but the Olympian is still fighting it off, still in this match nearly forty minutes later. Kane is back up, and Batista charges over and gives him a bone-crunching SPEAR!!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
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*Stay in the Shadow*
ENTRANT #22: Paul London
Paul London sprints down to the ring, as the high-flyer looks to generate something in his first Royal Rumble match.
Tazz: This kid right here has a heck of a lot of talent JR. Paul London is someone who could make some noise.
Jim Ross: He has a lot of indy wrestling experience Tazz. He’s a very good talent, you’re absolutely right.
London slides in, and dropkicks Ric Flair in the chest! Flair is sent barreling into the corner, AND LONDON CHARGES AT HIM WILDLY!!! London flails his left and right hands all over Flair’s upper body, before Batista comes over and grabs him by the back. He flings him into the ropes HARD, and London holds his body in pain. Batista walks over and stomps on his ribs, before picking him up, setting him against the ropes, and clotheslines him out to the outside, BUT LONDON HANGS ON and falls back into the ring! Batista is a bit ticked, as he gives him another stomp for good measure, before heading back over to Luther Reigns. He pulls him up, but at that second, Kurt Angle jumps up, AND FROM BEHIND LIFTS HIM UP, AND HITS THE ANGLE SLAM!!! Kurt gets up and beats his chest and roars, getting a HUGE reaction from the fans, as he then goes over and chops the hell out of Ric Flair!!!
Angle shouts a ‘WOOO’ at Flair’s face, before lifting him up and hitting ANOTHER chop! Flair fires back with his own!! Flair shows him how its done, and takes a breath, and as he comes back, gives a long, loud ‘WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO’ THAT GETS ANGLE TO FALL DOWN IN SHOCK!!! Flair laughs, as he slicks his hair, and then heads over to Paul London. He goes to eliminate him, but London hangs on. Flair tries to get him off the ropes, but a couple of kicks from London gets Flair to stagger away. London gets on the apron, and then springboards into the ring and hits a cross body on The Nature Boy!!! London then runs over to The Undertaker, and kicks him in the chest and does a back flip, before leaping up and dropkicking him!!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
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“WHO’S THAT JUMPIN’ OUT THE SKY? R-E-Y…”
ENTRANT #23: Rey Mysterio
*619* Rey Mysterio, in his second match of the night, is ready to go in the Rumble Match as the 23rd entrant as he sprints down to the ring pointing his index finger up.
Tazz: And here comes San Diego’s greatest export JR, Rey Mysterio.
Jim Ross: The high-flying Rey Mysterio is competing in HIS second match of the night, and look at this!!
Mysterio jumped onto the apron, and now springboards inside, hitting the West Coast Pop on London!! Mysterio then runs to the ropes, and hits a 619 on a standing Batista!! Mysterio then springboards once again, and drops the dime on him taking Big Dave down on the mat! The crowd cheers, as Rey Rey then gets up, and kicks Ric Flair in the gut. He begins firing off right hands, and then runs up to him and leaps onto his shoulders, and hits a hurricanrana that NEARLY eliminates him!!! Flair however SOMEHOW hangs on, and Mysterio is on the ground when he does, so he cannot take advantage of it. Big Dave sees this, and is back up to his feet, and walks over and picks Mysterio up, and lifts his knee into his gut. He brings him into the corner, and begins to charge his shoulder into him roughly, and then goes for a Batista Bomb, but Luther Reigns comes over and attacks him with his forearm.
The Angle Alliance then begins to take shape, as The Olympian is back up to his feet and him and Reigns begin to attempt to take out Dave. They go to eliminate him, but Batista hangs on, as the BOD are back into things, working over Flair on the opposite side of the ring. Undertaker piles on the right hands, while Kane repeatedly pummels him with his right knee. They try to ship him out, but Batista had broken free of the Angle Alliance, and jumps for the save!! He brings Kane over and slams him on the turnbuckle, and then tees off on The Phenom. He then shoots his shoulder into his sternum, before throwing him off to the ropes. Undertaker comes off, and flies into the air and hits a flying lariat!!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
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“TIME TO PLAY THE GAME…”
ENTRANT #24: Triple H
*The Game* Triple H walks down to the ring, as the Rumble approaches its tail end. Hunter is intent on going to WrestleMania, and of course has instructed Evolution to take care of the ‘dirty work.’
Jim Ross: Well business might’ve just picked up here Tazz, because here comes the Cerebral Assassin himself, Triple H.
Tazz: This could get real interesting JR.
Hunter climbs into the ring, and immediately goes after The Deadman, who was working on Batista. He grabs him by the back, and kicks him in the gut, before putting him between his legs. He under hooks his arms, but Undertaker powers out before Triple H can go for the Pedigree. Triple H is dropped onto his back, and as he gets up Undertaker delivers a powerful boot to his face, and Triple H crumbles to the mat. Batista bides in the corner, not doing anything, almost reminiscent of the events at New Year’s Revolution. Undertaker now goes to attack Kurt Angle, who had been teaming up with Luther Reigns on his brother Kane. He turns Angle around, and delivers a powerful uppercut, and then throws a soup bone at Luther. He delivers more and more, before stepping back, AND BOOTING HIM – OVER THE ROPES – AND OUT OF THE MATCH!!!
ELIMINATION #16: Luther Reigns by The Undertaker at 42:22
The crowd cheers, as Taker turns around, and grabs a charging Paul London, who was going to take him by surprise, by the neck, and scoops him up onto his shoulders. He then lets him fall into position, AND DROPS HIM WITH THE TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!!! The crowd explodes, as Taker gets up, and looks at the scene, and then goes back over to Triple H in the corner, and throws a right at him. Meanwhile, Kane is dealing with Batista now, and Flair and Angle are now going at it. London is down and out in the middle of the ring, and doesn’t look to be moving, and Kane picks up on this. After taking down Batista with numerous shots to the leg, Kane picks London up, and grabs him by the neck, AND HURLS HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE AND ONTO THE FLOOR HARD.
ELIMINATION #17: Paul London by Kane at 43:08
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Basham*
ENTRANT #25: Doug Basham
The final member of The Cabinet involved in tonight’s Rumble Match, Doug Basham makes his way to the ring to try and make it a Cabinet Night at the Rumble.
Jim Ross: Well Doug Basham will probably look to make it 2 for 2 for The Cabinet, but his chances right now don’t look so good.
Tazz: You can say that again JR.
Doug sprints in, and goes after Angle, and tries to eliminate him. However, Angle kicks him below his waist in his groin, and then comes back into the ring, and hits a belly to belly suplex!! Kurt is still giving a HELL of a performance, being the number two entrant and still being involved in the match. Angle gets up, and stomps down on Doug Basham, before lifting him up, and uppercutting him in the jaw. This takes him down, as Angle then looks around the ring. A charging Batista comes forward, and Angle grabs him by his waist, and gives HIM a belly to belly!! Flair then walks over, in an attempt to surprise him, and lets out a ‘WOOOO’ as he does – but this time Angle doesn’t fall!! Instead Angle kicks him in the gut, walks over, AND HITS THE ANGLE SLAM – TOSSING HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE, GAINING ANGLE’S FIFTH ELIMINATION OF THE NIGHT!!
ELIMINATION #18: Ric Flair by Kurt Angle at 44:22
Behind Angle, Kane is waiting, with his hand up in the air, and Kurt after playing off to the crowd, turns into his hand, and it looks like he’s about to be chokeslammed! BUT ANGLE KICKS HIM IN THE GUT!! This staggers The Big Red Machine, and Angle charges ahead and clotheslines him – over the top – and Kane slowly comes over – onto the apron - … AND ONTO THE FLOOR!!
ELIMINATION #19: Kane by Kurt Angle at 44:45
Angle has been dominating in the Royal Rumble, garnering 6 eliminations, as he then heads to the corner away from all the action to take a breather. Meanwhile, Batista is paired off now with Doug Basham, and The Game is with The Undertaker still.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
PYRO
ENTRANT #26: Rob Van Dam
*One of a Kind* Rob Van Dam makes his way down to the ring to try his luck in winning the Rumble match.
Jim Ross: Well here comes one of your favorites Tazz.
Tazz: You’re damn right JR, Rob Van Dam is here ba-bay!
RVD comes into the ring to a lot of ‘RVD’ chants, and Van Dam heads over to Batista, and begins throwing rights at The Animal. Triple H is now charging over, BUT VAN DAM MOVES AND HHH RUNS INTO BATISTA!! The crowd pops, as Van Dam waits and waits, and then delivers a spin kick to The Game as he turns around! Rob gets up and does his patented thumb taunt, before turning around, and seeing Doug Basham slowly getting up. Van Dam walks over, and throws a few right hands, before scooping him up and slamming him down on the mat. RVD then runs off the ropes, goes down on the mat, tumbles, and hits the Rolling Thunder Splash!! Van Dam holds his back in pain, while we then see The Undertaker battling with Kurt Angle in the corner, attempting to eliminate the Olympian. But STILL, almost fifty minutes in, ANGLE remains in the match!
Meanwhile, Batista is recuperating after being bumped by Triple H, and as Triple H gets up, Batista confronts him!! Batista asks him what that was, and Triple H says it was Van Dam’s fault. Batista doesn’t seem to believe him, and Triple H fires back by getting in the face of The Animal!! THE CROWD IS EXPLODING, AS THESE TWO MEN ARE ABOUT TO GO AT IT – WHEN BATISTA CHARGES FORWARD AT DOUG BASHAM, CLOTHESLINING HIM, ELIMINATING HIM FROM THE MATCH!!
ELIMINATION #20: Doug Basham by Batista at 46:31
The crowd thunders, as Batista then goes after The Deadman, who was being worked on by Kurt Angle. The two men whip Undertaker forward, and then slam him back into the turnbuckles! Undertaker crumbles, while Angle and Batista look at one another – before striking each other!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*Child’s Play*
ENTRANT #27: Eugene
The loveable Eugene’s music hits, as the crowd awaits the arrival of the sensation from RAW.
Jim Ross: Well Tazz Eugene is coming at an awfully lucky number.
Tazz: That’s right JR, four men have won the Royal Rumble from the number 27 spot. But where is he?
Suddenly, the camera goes backstage, and we Eugene by the guerilla position, with William Regal.
William Regal: Eugene, are you sure you want to do this?
Eugene: Ye- yes yes William, it it’s the right thing.
William Regal: Alright. Go! Go take his spot!
Regal and Eugene both leave, as the crowd is left confused as to who is taking his spot.
Jim Ross: What in the world? Who’s replacing Eugene?
Tazz: I, I don’t know JR. Was that planned?
Jim Ross: Not to my knowledge it wasn’t.
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“So, you think you’re untouchable?”
ENTRANT #27: ENTRANT #27: JOHN CENA
THE CROWD DAMN NEAR BLOWS THE ROOF OFF THE SAVE MART CENTER, AS JOHN CENA IS IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!!! CENA IS RED-HOT, COMING OUT TO THE BIGGEST REACTION OF THE NIGHT, AS HE BEATS HIS CHEST WILDLY, AND SPRINTS TO THE RING!
Jim Ross: WHAT THE HELL!? IT’S JOHN CENA! I DON’T BELIEVE THIS!!
Tazz: Gotta be kidding me! Holy crap!
Cena ROLLS into the Rumble Match on all cylinders, going after absolutely everyone involved. He picks apart Van Dam, as well as Rey Mysterio. He then walks over and hits a BIG right hand to Batista, and then hits one to Triple H! He stands tall, shouting at the crowd, when he directs his attention to Kurt Angle! Angle surges, but Cena hip tosses him!! Cena rolls up, and The Undertaker comes forward going for a big boot, but Cena ducks it, and hits a right hand, followed by another … and another … and ANOTHER!! Cena rares back, AND CLOTHESLINES UNDERTAKER OVER THE ROPES – AND DOWN TO THE FLOOR!! UNDERTAKER IS ELIMINATED!!
ELIMINATION #21: The Undertaker by John Cena at 48:31
Cena is shocked at the work he’s done, and turns around right into Rob Van Dam, whom he lifts onto his shoulders!!! He brings him over, AND THROWS HIM OFF HIS SHOULDERS – INTO THE AIR – AND ONTO THE FLOOR!!
ELIMINATION #22: Rob Van Dam by John Cena at 48:45
Cena then beats his chest, as Mysterio then tries to get involved, coming off the top rope looking for the West Coast Pop, but Cena evades and Mysterio crashes and burns!! Cena then grabs hold of him by the head, and sends him flying over the top rope!! CENA IS CLEANING HOUSE!!!
ELIMINATION #23: Rey Mysterio by John Cena at 49:03
Cena has just eliminated 3 of SmackDown’s best in a matter of 32 seconds!! He turns around, and stands across the ring from the VERY best from SmackDown! that is still in this match – Kurt Angle, who is LIVID that Cena has come in and has done what he’s done. Angle roars, and charges ahead and the brawl is on!
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
*We Salute*
ENTRANT #28: Tyson Tomko
Christian’s problem solver runs down to the ring, trying to make an impact late in this match.
Jim Ross: Well Christian’s problem solver can’t help him out now because he’s eliminated, but he can help himself out by winning the Royal Rumble tonight.
Tazz: But after what we’ve just seen, it might be hard to do with John Cena in the ring.
Tomko comes into the ring, and charges and goes for a boot on Cena, but he evades and hits Kurt Angle!!! Cena then comes from behind, and lifts him high in the air, and hits the Killswitch!! Cena rises up, as the ring is still in ruin, as Cena stands over Tomko, and waves his hand in front of his face, yelling “YOUUU CAN’T SEEEEE MEEEEEEEEEE” and runs off the ropes, and hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle!!! Cena rises up, but is kicked in the gut by Batista!! The Animal locks him between his legs, and lifts him up, AND POWERS HIM DOWN WITH THE BATISTA BOMB!!! Batista gets up and roars, as he then goes over to Kurt and picks him up and shoves him in the corner. Batista throws a right hand, followed by another, and Triple H then comes over to the area. Batista looks at him, and tells him to go take care of Cena, which takes The Game by surprise.
Batista just keeps working on Angle, and Trips then goes over and stomps on Tomko. Batista looks over, and sees him working on Tomko, and goes away from Angle and shoves The Game down to the ground!! The crowd explodes, as Big Dave asks him why he isn’t working on Cena, the obvious man on fire now in the Rumble, and Triple H gets up with authority and butts heads with The Animal. The crowd is becoming unglued, as Evolution seems to be exploding before our very eyes! Frustration is being built up, as both men are shaking and yelling – AND BATISTA STRIKES HUNTER!!! HHH falls to the mat after a HUGE RIGHT HAND from Dave, who lets out a long roar, as the crowd is now one hundred percent behind The Animal.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
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*Born Naughty*
ENTRANT #29: William Regal
The Blackpool native runs down to the ring, as the 29th man in the Rumble match.
Jim Ross: Well Tazz here comes William Regal, and we’re down to the final man after this.
Tazz: And it’s obvious who that’s going to be now JR.
Regal enters the ring, and turns Batista around and chops him, BUT BATISTA NO SELLS!! The crowd pops, as Regal looks stunned, and Batista roars, and hits him with a POWERFUL clothesline! He then picks him up, and then sends him flying back over the top rope where he came from, eliminated after only lasting a few seconds.
ELIMINATION #24: William Regal by Batista at 51:53
Meanwhile, Kurt Angle and John Cena are working TOGETHER now on Tyson Tomko, as Triple H then begins to get up. Unrelenting anger comes over him, as he ROLLS out of the ring, not being eliminated, and goes underneath the ring. He then pulls out the SLEDGEHAMMER, and rolls back into the ring. The crowd is booing, as he sneaks up on The Animal, AND GOES TO HIT HIM, BUT BATISTA TURNS AROUND AT THE RIGHT TIME TO SEE IT COMING, AND HITS THE SPINEBUSTER!!! The crowd goes APE SHIT, as Batista grabs the sledgehammer out of his hand, and the crowd is cheering even more. Batista ponders what to do with it, and then slams it down on the mat, and waits for HHH to get up. Wielding it, he waits in the corner for him to get up, as we then see on the other side, John Cena and Kurt Angle locking arms and CLOTHESLINING Tomko over the top rope and onto the floor!
ELIMINATION #25: Tyson Tomko by Kurt Angle and John Cena at 52:45
Triple H then finally gets up, AND DAVE RUNS OVER AND SWINGS LOW WITH THE SLEDGEHAMMER HITTING THE GAME IN THE RIBS!! The crowd is still going ape shit, as he then tosses the hammer out of the ring, and sees The Game staggering away. He gets up, and Batista comes charging over and CLOTHESLINES HIM OUT OF THE RING!!!
ELIMINATION #26: Triple H by Batista at 53:07
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… *BUZZER*
…
“I SPIT IN THE FACE, OF PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT TO BE COOL”
ENTRANT #30: THE RETURNING Carlito Caribbean Cool
The final entrant in the Rumble Match and the RETURNING Carlito walks down to the ring, as the ring separates, with their being three men left in the equation, something that does not normally happen in Rumble Matches. But this one, is not the case.
Jim Ross: Well here we go ladies and gentlemen. The final man in the Rumble Match, Carlito will step in a ring with John Cena, Kurt Angle, and Batista. All vying for one shot, one chance to main event WrestleMania 21.
Tazz: This is going to be a HELL of an ending JR.
Carlito isn’t afraid to walk in, and does so and stays in the corner. Every man left in this match stands in respective corners. John Cena, the man who surprised EVERYONE by coming into the match despite not being initially qualified for it, and taking Eugene’s spot. Kurt Angle, the man that’s been in it from the very beginning, coming at the number two spot and lasting the entire match as of now. And of course, The Animal, the man who turned on Triple H just a few minutes ago, the now former Animal of Evolution, Dave Batista. The crowd splits into fours, with some EVEN cheering on Carlito. The camera focuses on John Cena, who looks around the ring, at a man he’s rivaled with in the past, a man he’s never faced, and a man whom he still holds a grudge against. Cena walks up to the center of the ring, and waves his hand in front of his face telling them all they can’t see him!!
The crowd explodes, as he heads back to the corner. The camera then focuses in on Angle, who is biding with intensity. He pulls up his straps, and shakes his head feverishly, and lets out a primal roar, and the fans in attendance pulling for him cheer at their loudest volumes. Over in Batista’s corner, the fans now cheer on him as they see him come on screen, and rises his head up slowly. His face expressionless, as he spreads apart his arms, and gives the thumbs up sign. Slowly, those thumbs go down, reminiscent of the signal Triple H gave to Randy Orton last August, AND BATISTA LETS OUT A ROAR OF HIS OWN, as he’s ready to go!!! Carlito in his corner, takes an apple out of his tights, and begins chewing it. He tosses the apple into the crowd, and goes up to Cena, AND SPITS IT IN HIS FACE!!!
CENA THEN TACKLES HIM AND THE FIGHT IS ON!!! Angle and Batista tee off on one another, while Cena is wildly throwing his hands on Carlito, who has guarded up his face. The Doctor of Thuganomics pulls him up and attempts to eliminate him, but Carlito hangs on!! He boots him in the face, and then walks over and grabs onto his back and brings him down on his legs with a DEVASTATING backbreaker!!! Carlito pulls out a move the likes of which we have not seen before, as he gets up to a lot of heat for taking Cena down. He grabs Cena by the head, and looks to dump him over the top rope, but Cena holds onto the ropes with all his might. Carlito keeps on trying, but John begins to fight back. He kicks him away, and then starts a right hand combo, backing Carlito up into the ropes, and then comes charging and clotheslines Carlito over the top – BUT CARLITO STICKS!
Cena tries to do the same thing Carlito was doing to him but to no avail, Carlito sneaks back in the ring. Meanwhile, Kurt Angle and The Animal Batista are still going at it. Batista is hammering onto Angle’s back near his neck, knowing its history of surgeries, and he tries to toss him over, but Angle holds onto Batista while doing so, and the ropes, and Dave cannot get him over. Batista pulls Angle back into the ring, and goes for the Batista Bomb, but Angle grabs at his right leg, and trips him up!!! He turns him over, and locks in the Ankle Lock!! The crowd pops as Batista screams in agony as his ankle is being wrenched and wrenched by the Olympic Gold Medalist, who doesn’t look to be letting go any time soon. Angle then drops down and grapevines it, and continues to wrench it. It’s damn near about to break, as Batista is tapping!!! BUT THERE ARE NO SUBMISSIONS IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH DAVE! TAPPING WON’T MATTER!!!
Angle keeps on wrenching it, and wrenching it, AND WRENCHING IT! The crowd is split, as Dave is nearly CRYING in pain. Angle is screaming with intensity, damn near foaming at the mouth, as he FINALLY releases. He gets up, and heads over to Cena and Carlito who are still going at it. He turns John Cena around, and CHOPS the holy hell out of him, knocking him off his ground. He then goes after Carlito, chopping the hell out of him as well, but doing it more and more!!! He’s backed into the corner, and Angle HEADBUTTS him, and goes underneath, AND GOES FOR THE ANGLE SLAM OVER THE ROPES, BUT CARLITO HOLDS ONTO THE ROPES!!! Carlito is hanging, as Angle thinks he’s eliminated him, BUT THE SOUTHPAW SKINS THE CAT AND IS BACK IN THE RING!!! He turns Angle around, and knocks him down with a left hand, and then picks him up and knees him in the face.
Angle falls to his knees, as Carlito goes for that backbreaker again, but he misses it!! Angle does not fall, and he turns around and grabs Carlito by his afro. He lands a HUGE uppercut, backing Carlito into the ropes. And he staggers back, AND ANGLE LIFTS HIM UP IN THE AIR AND HITS THE ANGLE SLAM!!! The crowd is raucous, as The Olympian gets back up, and takes a breath, before grabbing Carlito again, and tosses him over the top rope to the floor below!!!
ELIMINATION #27: Carlito by Kurt Angle at 58:21
Angle looks down at Carlito, and behind him, we can see John Cena is back up to his feet. He waits and waits for Angle to turn around, as the Pittsburgh native seems to be taking a lot of time. He finally does, and Cena meets him with a kick, before going off the ropes, and leaping in the air hitting the Throwback!! Cena lands cleanly, and then runs to the ropes, and comes back dropping a big knee onto Angle’s head. Cena gets up, when he’s suddenly SPEARED BY BATISTA!!! The Animal comes out of NOWHERE, after being down for so long after Angle had the Ankle Lock locked in on him, and SPEARS THE DOCTOR OF THUGANOMICS!! The crowd generates an ENORMOUS reaction, as all three men are now sprawled out on the ring canvas.
The crowd begins dueling chants of “LETS GO AN-GLE,” “LETS GO CE-NA” and “BA-TIS-TA,” as Angle is the first to get up. He walks over to Batista, and stomps on his leg. He stomps away, and away, and then lifts him up, and hits a German suplex! Angle gets up, and pulls the straps BACK down, and lets exhales. Suddenly, JOHN CENA COMES FROM BEHIND, AND GRABS HIM BY THE UNSTRAPPED SINGLET, AND RUNS HIM OVER TO THE EDGE OF THE RING – THROWING HIM OVER – AS ANGLE GOES THROUGH THE AIR – DOWN TO THE GROUND – AND HITS IT! ANGLE IS ELIMINATED, AFTER NEARLY GOING ONE HOUR IN THE MATCH!!
ELIMINATION #28: Kurt Angle by John Cena at 59:37
The crowd has now become COMPLETELY unglued, and there isn’t a person sitting down in the Save Mart Center, as we are down to the final 2!! John Cena, a man not even supposed to be in the Royal Rumble, and Batista, the man who’s gone through so much to get to this point already. Batista can barely stand, as he gets up and realizes he’s in the last leg of the Rumble. Cena is still in shock, that he has come all this way, to get to this point. From his corner, he looks up at the WrestleMania 21 logo, as a “LETS GO CE-NA” chant starts up. The Doctor of Thuganomics, turns and looks at Batista in his corner, as the atmosphere is electric. JR and Tazz fade out, as we get a listen in…
“LETS GO CE-NA! BA-TIS-TA!!! LETS GO CE-NA!!! BA-TIS-TA!!!! LETS GO CE-NA!!! BA-TIS-TA!!!!”
…John Cena begins saying things to Batista, who also exchanges words with the current United States Champion. Cena then points to the logo at the top of the arena ceiling, and says it’s his time. Batista shakes his head, and says it’s HIS time, and roars. The crowd nearly creams themselves, as an epic encounter is going to finish out this great Royal Rumble Match, and this great evening. Cena mouths that he can’t see him, while Batista pulls a page out of The Rock’s book, and motions his hands towards him, telling Cena to “just bring it.” Cena asks him if he’s for real, and Batista shouts at him “COME ON!” AND JOHN CENA SURGES FORWARD, AND HERE WE GO!!!
The Doctor of Thuganomics shows no fear, and JUMPS ON BATISTA IN THE CORNER!! A surprising tactic that takes The Animal by surprise, as Cena wildly throws left and right hands everywhere. Every fan in capacity is still soaking in the entire atmosphere, as Batista is taking a brunt of punishment right now, and finally guards up. Cena backs away from him for a second, and goes for a clothesline, but Batista evades him nearly on one knee. Batista then charges forward levels him with his shoulder into the sternum, striking him forcefully and multiple times at that. Batista then gets up from the position, and goes to eliminate Cena, but he hangs on!! He tries desperately to dump him over the top, but Cena kicks and kicks, taking Batista away from him.
John comes forward with a clothesline, taking a lot out of him as he has used SO much energy tonight. He breathes heavily as he gets up to his feet, and waits for Batista to get up. He stalks and stalks, before he finally gets up to his feet, and Cena presses him up!!! F-U’S COMING!!! BUT HE CAN’T GET HIM OFF!!! Batista is hanging on for his damn dear life, and gets off of his shoulders!! Cena is surprised, and turns around into a SPINEBUSTER!!! Batista falls onto his back after hitting the move, and holds his ankle painfully, as he landed awkwardly on it just now and after the damage it took from Kurt Angle, it might not be in the best condition. But he wills himself on, as he uses the ropes in the corner to help him up to a vertical base!!
The Animal limps over, and grabs Cena and drags him up. He positions him between his legs, AND LIFTS HIM UP FOR WHAT LOOKS TO BE THE BATISTA BOMB, AND HE WALKS OVER TO THE ROPES! A BATISTA BOMB ELIMINATION!!??!?!? NO!!!! CENA PUSHES HIMSELF OFF AND LANDS ON HIS FEET BEHIND HIM!! Cena turns around, and Batista misses a clothesline, and Cena looks to back suplex him out of the ring!! BUT BATISTA BALANCES ON THE APRON!!! Cena got him released, BUT BATISTA SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY LANDED ON THE APRON FEET FIRST!!! Cena comes charging ahead, hitting a right hand – BATISTA’S OFF – NO!!! HE HANGS ON!! The crowd is on their fucking feet, watching these two men giving every fiber in their WELL BEING to earn a shot at WrestleMania 21.
Cena hits ANOTHER SHOT, BUT DOESN’T KNOCK HIM DOWN! Cena then runs to the other side, and looks for another shot, but Batista gets enough time to come in the ring, AND SPEARS THE UNITED STATES CHAMPION!!! Batista lands flat on Cena’s body after the Spear, and the crowd is still going absolutely fucking ape shit. The two men are still sprawled over each other, and begin to stir. Half of the crowd willing on Cena, the other half willing on Batista, IT’S ANYBODY’S BALLGAME! JR and Tazz are going flat out bananas, with JR getting very worked up over the environment and the action going on in the ring. Both men are back up, on spaghetti legs at that, and hit each other with BIG blows to the face. Cena works up the game, getting more shots in than The Animal, backing him into the ropes, and Cena goes for a clothesline, BUT MISSES!!
Batista comes over and goes to dump him, but Cena elbows out furiously. He then walks over, and vaults him on his shoulders!! HE HAS HIM UP, AND PLANTS HIM DOWN ON THE MAT WITH THE F-U!!! Cena has nearly taken HIMSELF out, using so much energy, as he can now barely stand. He stirs very slowly, as the crowd is still going fucking wild, and Cena drags the wounded Animal to his feet. He grabs him by his head, AND RACES HIM OVER – THROWING HIM OVER THE TOP – BUT BATISTA AT THE LAST SECOND GRABS A HOLD OF CENA’S HEAD – AND CENA GOES FLYING – BATISTA AS WELL – BOTH ARE IN THE AIR…
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CENA GRABS THE TOP ROPE, LANDING ON THE APRON – BATISTA HITS THE FLOOR!!! JOHN CENA HAS WON THE 2005 ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ELIMINATION #29: Batista by John Cena at 64:33
HEADED TO WRESTLEMANIA 21 AS THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER, AND THE 2005 ROYAL RUMBLE WINNER: JOHN CENA at 64:33
JOHN CENA rolls into the ring, slamming onto the ring mat in disbelief that he’s DONE IT! HE HAS WON THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!! The referee on the outside helps him up to his feet and raises his hands, as he breaks away, and on one leg almost, heads up to the second rope in the corner and raises his arms up, and beats his chest, before pointing down at the ground and shouting "ITS MY TIME BABY!"
Jim Ross: CENA HAS DONE IT!!! After not even being entered in the Royal Rumble officially, John Cena has won, AND IS GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA!!
Tazz: I’m in absolute shock JR. The fact that John Cena shocked the world by entering the Rumble not even being initally entered - and then WINNING it is absolutely amazing!! What a night it's been.
Jim Ross: We thank you ladies and gentlemen for joining us here tonight, as we begin the road to Los Angeles, and WrestleMania 21 in 9 weeks. For Jerry “The King” Lawler, and for Michael Cole and Tazz, this is JR saying … GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY!!
The lasting image of the night is Cena in the corner, with fireworks going off and confetti flying down from the rafters, as the screen fades, and the WWE logo flashes.
To obtain, something of equal value must be lost..
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amestris ?
Posts: 8,487
Re: WWE 2005: A Fresh, New Start
Since nobody else has reviewed so far. I'll post this. My first post in the BTB section in god knows how long
Royal Rumble 2005 Review
~ Very good concept for the opening video package, especially for a Royal Rumble. The good thing about the concept is that it allows the writer to completely mould the character and not stick with what the WWE has already established. John Cena, Randy Orton and JBL were prime choices. Christian and Mysterio are good fillers too. Very good way to open the show
~ Opening with the World Heavyweight Championship match was completely unexpected but this being the Royal Rumble, you can pretty much experiment with anything. I personally, much like most I assume, would've liked the Tag Team match to open the show or the Intercontinental title match. This match was off the hook though. Orton and Edge didn't stray too long from their styles so good for you there. Orton being busted open early was another surprise, which you seem to be full of
I'll just say that the best thing about your matches are the false finishes. On several occasions, I thought Edge would win the World Championship but I'm glad that Orton retained as he didn't need another one month joke of a title reign. Tomko's interference pretty much guaranteed a new champion. I like how you pulled more than 1 swerve. Too good a match to open the show but it will get the fire burning. I understand why this wasn't in the main event though. Both Edge and Orton are relatively new to the main event and realistically they were given a chance to showcase what they could do with PPV time. Safe to say they succeeded
~ Good promo backstage with Kurt Angle and Ric Flair. But it wasn't anything outside the ordinary Rumble promos. Writing was done well, nothing else to comment on...
Not a big fan of the dudleys and glad that Rey and RVD retained. I'd just like to say that with 4 title matches, atleast one of them should change hands. A pretty good tag team match. Did I mention, I don't like tag team wrestling
~ Armageddon 2004 on DVD? I already have it...
Classic heel laundry list promo by JBL. I have a feeling that you might be bringing back Brock Lesnar to the thread as JBL mentioned his name. I'd say that it would be realistic too as there was a Lesnar's return possibilty in 2005 IRL
~ Great Intercontinental title match. They had a classic at Backlash 2005 but this one seemed just as good. Good way to keep the pace of the match high for Benjamin with Jericho essentially decreasing the pace to suit himself and remove Shelton from his comfort zone to try and win the belt back. The ending was brilliant! Something that brought down the entertainment (only by a bit) was the clarifications as to what was happening. Hit the bulldog, finish the match, then clarify what exactly happened. It would make things more intriguing when you're caught in the flow of the match. Great that he didn't use his finisher for the win to who that the match could literally end at any time
~ I knew that you would be going for Eddie/Shawn rivalry when you started this thread. I personally don't think it will be as big as Shawn/Angle was but it will be a treat to read. Only crituque I can give is to make this feud personal as Eddie feuds always get more intense when they are personal. Backstage promo was alright but just another Rumble filler. Booker/Cena on the other hand was a good promo and I would really like something to develop from this
~ WOW, the video package was extensive and top notch. Most video packages I've seen just uses bolts from their weekly shows. Good work
Here comes the match I disagree with the most. F-U lost pretty much all its credibility with this match. I thought and hopes that every F-U would finish the match but JBL kicked out of all three. Very bad move imo. Atleast Cena kicked out of the clothesline from hell but it's a clothesline for god's sake. Powerbomb was treated as another one of JBL's finisher so good that Cena kicked out of that as well. If you want a serious assesment, I think that you pulled out so many finishers because there was no other way to make a wrestling match between these two interesting or maybe you did it to push JBL as the most durable wrestler in the company. If those are the reasons, then they are respectable but if you just did it for the sake of having more finishers, pretty bad
JBL won clean!?!?! You cemented him as THE Champion and I hope you don't end his streak at Mania. Whoever he finally loses the title to is going to get a huge rub. No Booker interference was kind of a letdown as I wonder what he'll do with the US title. Maybe vacate it soon
~ Pretty much have no clue with the Evolution situation. Batista's rise to the top was done perfectly IRL but this is kind of so...so. He keeps going back and forth, don't have a clue what's going on
~ Royal Rumble Match ftw. Bear with me, I've never reviewed a Rumble before. Eddie and Angle, last year's Mania main event opens the match. Good choice. #3 is usually the comedic spot if you look at Daniel Puder and Simon Dean and Santino Marella. This is a serious Rumble
Jindrak was a good addition to Angle's dominance in the match. Christian is awesome. Push to the moon please. Something good about the Rumble is the surprise finishers you'll see during the match. Glad that you're employing it here with the Frog Splash going early on
Stevie Richards - jobber to Angle, nuff said
Michaels and OJ in. Nice to build Michaels/Eddie slow as that's what you'll see in the real WWE. I don't care for Kidman other than the shooting star press. I think you should've specified how Michaels eliminated Eddie although I can guess that he was tossed out since it is going to be such a major deal. I usually don't like the inclusion of wrestlers who already had matches in the Rumble but since they WWE do it, I guess it's okay.
I would've guessed Big Show to come in relatively late. Muhammad Hassan is the Real Deal. Push the dude. It was okay that the Arab-American got tossed out by the True American Hero. Did I mention that I like the fact that you're giving commentary at the point of entrance of each superstar. Good stuff
Benjamin gets one up on Jericho again. Poor Y2J, should be main event calibre. Booker T and Ric Flair...okay. The inclusion of Undertaker is always great in the Rumble. Anybody who eliminates him will be huge. I don't think Big Show should've lasted as long as he did before. All he does is slow the match down. Giants - out as fast as they come in - my logic (yeah it's not so great). I don't know why it took Eddie so long to come back an eliminate Shawn Michaels but atleast he gave Michaels a chance to have a good performance in the match. Just for the record, this is not personal enough! Batista and Triple H idea is taking form finally. I do however think, you should drag this a little bit further. Angle had the best performance in this Rumble bar nobody. Quite the Ric Flair and Chris Benoit(uhh....who?) like performance. Only thing I have to say about Eugene is that he isn't funny. Regal hell turn on him pls Very good that Cena stole his number...saving people from Eugene
3 Huge immediate eliminations from John Cena. Surprised that there was no aftermath to Undertaker's elimination. I think he should've beaten down on Tomko, who was coming out or pulled Cena out underneath the bottom rope and attacked him or something. Not characteristic of the Deadman to just walk away. Regal = eliminated so quick
One thing in this match I'd like to address is that there were too many eliminations by clotheslines. You need to switch it up. Triple H and Batista story evolved through the match and it was good. CCC as #30... - no chance of winning
Anyway...the ending moments were the THE SHIT. Awesome writing and an awesome finish. Same final two as IRL(how many times have I used that) was a good throwback. Great ending; trying to swerve people into thinking that it was a double elimination was good work. I wonder what will happen with the US title as I'm sure he'll be moving to RAW as Bichoff noted so much to fight Randy Orton as I don't think a gimmick rematch with JBL is the way to go
Great Show overall. Congratulations on writing this up. Looking forward to the road to WrestleMania Continue the thread pls
WWE 2005: A Fresh, New Start
Re: WWE 2005: A Fresh, New Start
Good luck with the Rumble, I'll definatly read and review it for ya, pal.
}, as Cena takes a breath before hooking JBL’s far leg!
- no chance of winning
