Royal Rumble
Promotional poster featuring various WWE wrestlers, parodyingWest Side Story and its1961 film adaption.
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)	Raw SmackDown!
Date	January 30, 2005
City	Fresno, California
Venue	Save Mart Center
Attendance	12,000
Buy rate	575,000[1]
Tagline	All the rumbling, minus the dancing and singing[2]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous New Year's Revolution Next → No Way Out
Royal Rumble chronology
← Previous 2004 Next → 2006

The 2005Royal Rumble was the 18th annualRoyal Rumbleprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV)event produced byWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion'sRaw andSmackDown!brand divisions. The event took place on January 30, 2005, at theSave Mart Center inFresno, California. As has been customary since 1993, theRoyal Rumble match winner received a world championship match at that year'sWrestleMania. For the 2005 event, the winner received their choice to challenge for either Raw'sWorld Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown!'sWWE Championship atWrestleMania 21.

Fiveprofessional wrestling matches were featured on the event'ssupercard, a scheduling of more than onemain event. The main event was the 2005 Royal Rumble match, which featured wrestlers from both brands. Raw'sBatista, the 28th entrant, won the match by last eliminating SmackDown!'sJohn Cena, the 25th entrant. The primary match on the Raw brand wasTriple H versusRandy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship, which Triple H won bypinfall to retain the title. The primary match on the SmackDown! brand was atriple threat match for the WWE Championship between reigning championJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL),Kurt Angle, andBig Show, which JBL won by pinning Angle. No tag team match was featured on the card, which made this the first PPV sinceThe Wrestling Classic in 1985 to not include one.

TheRoyal Rumble is an annualgimmickpay-per-view (PPV) produced every January byWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) since 1988. It is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along withWrestleMania,SummerSlam, andSurvivor Series, dubbed the "Big Four".^[3] It is named after theRoyal Rumble match, a modifiedbattle royal in which the participants enter at timed intervals instead of all beginning in the ring at the same time. The 2005 event was the 18th Royal Rumble and was scheduled to be held on January 30, 2005, at theSave Mart Center inFresno, California. It featured wrestlers from theRaw andSmackDown!brands.^[4][5]

The Royal Rumble match generally features 30 wrestlers. Traditionally, the winner of the match earns aworld championship match at that year's WrestleMania.^[6][7] For 2005, the winner could choose to challenge for either Raw'sWorld Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown!'sWWE Championship atWrestleMania 21.^[5]

The event comprised five matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows,Raw andSmackDown.^[8][9]

The mainfeud heading into the Royal Rumble on the Raw brand was betweenTriple H andRandy Orton over the World Heavyweight Championship. Their feud started on the August 16 episode ofRaw, when Orton was kicked out ofEvolution by Triple H.^[10] AtUnforgiven, Triple H defeated Orton to win the World Heavyweight Championship after interference from Evolution membersBatista andRic Flair.^[11] AtSurvivor Series, Team Orton (Orton,Chris Benoit,Chris Jericho, andMaven) defeated Team Triple H (Triple H,Edge, Batista, andSnitsky) in atraditional Survivor Series elimination match to earn control ofRaw after Orton last eliminated Triple H.^[12] AtNew Year's Revolution, Triple H won anElimination Chamber match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship by last eliminating Orton after interference from Batista and Flair.^[13] On the January 10 episode ofRaw, Orton defeated Batista to become the number one contender for the title at the Royal Rumble.^[14] On the January 17 episode ofRaw, after a verbal confrontation between the two in the arena, Triple H ambushed Orton backstage. They fought until Orton tried to use asteel chair, and Triple H fled.^[15] On the January 24 episode ofRaw, Orton defeated Flair, despite interference from Triple H.^[16]

The main feud on the SmackDown! brand was betweenJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL),The Big Show, andKurt Angle, with the three feuding over the WWE Championship. On the December 16 episode ofSmackDown!, Angle challenged JBL to a match for the WWE Championship.The Cabinet (Orlando Jordan,Doug, and Danny Basham) interfered and attacked Angle, causing the match to end via disqualification. They continued to attack Angle after the match until Big Show came out, beat down everyone, and signaled to JBL that he wanted the title.^[17] On the December 30 episode ofSmackDown!, atriple threat match for the title between the three wasbooked for the Royal Rumble.^[18] Following this, JBL set up Angle to anger Big Show, but Angle angered JBL in response. After realizing this, on the January 20 episode ofSmackDown!, JBL aligned himself with Big Show and confronted Angle; however, JBLturned on Big Show and beat him down with Angle.^[19] On the January 27 episode ofSmackDown!,SmackDown! General ManagerTheodore Long booked aLast Man Standing match between JBL and Angle for later that night. The two eventually turned on each other, and the match ended in a no contest. It was later revealed that the match was Big Show's idea.^[20]

Another feud heading into the event from SmackDown! was betweenThe Undertaker andHeidenreich. Their feud first started atNo Mercy when Heidenreich helped John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) defeat The Undertaker in aLast Ride match by attacking The Undertaker and putting him in thehearse.^[21] At Survivor Series, The Undertaker defeated Heidenreich after executing aTombstone Piledriver.^[22] AtArmageddon, Heidenreich once again cost The Undertaker the WWE Championship against JBL after interfering in a fatal four-way match that involvedBooker T andEddie Guerrero, allowing JBL to pin Booker T to retain.^[23] SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long let The Undertaker name the stipulation for his match against Heidenreich at the Royal Rumble. As Heidenreich mentioned his fear of caskets, The Undertaker chose to face him in acasket match for the Royal Rumble their first casket match at the event since the1998 event involved withShawn Michaels and the third occurrence the other was in the1994 event involved withYokozuna.^[24]

A preliminary Raw brand feud was betweenShawn Michaels andEdge. Their feud started atTaboo Tuesday when Michaels was voted over Edge andChris Benoit to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship while Edge and Benoit were put into aWorld Tag Team Championship match againstLa Résistance. During the tag team title match, an angry Edge abandoned Benoit, which Benoit eventually won for his team, and instead interfered in the World Heavyweight Championship match, costing Michaels the championship.^[25] At New Year's Revolution, Edge competed in anElimination Chamber match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship with Michaels as thespecial guest referee. During the match, Edge accidentallyspeared Michaels, resulting in Michaels performingSweet Chin Music on Edge, who would be eliminated byChris Jericho.^[26] On the January 10 episode ofRaw, a confrontation between Edge and Michaels ended in the two men brawling around the arena. A match between the two was then booked for the Royal Rumble.^[27]

Royal Rumble Qualification Matches

• Booker T andCharlie Haas defeatedLuther Reigns andMark Jindrak -SmackDown house show, January 9
• Shelton Benjamin defeatedMaven -Raw, January 10
• Edge defeatedRhyno -Raw, January 10
• Chris Jericho defeatedMuhammad Hassan -Raw house show, January 16
• Scotty 2 Hotty defeatedAkio -SmackDown, January 18
• John Cena defeatedRene Dupree -SmackDown, January 18
• Rey Mysterio defeatedChavo Guerrero -SmackDown, January 18
• Viscera defeatedTajiri in a battle royal -Raw, January 24
• Batista defeatedRob Conway andSylvain Grenier in a handicap match -Raw, January 24
• Muhammad Hassan defeatedVal Venis -Raw, January 24
• Kane defeatedGene Snitsky andMaven in a triple threat match -Raw, January 24
• Paul London defeatedFunaki,Shannon Moore, andSpike Dudley in a fatal four-way match -SmackDown, January 25

Before the event went live on pay-per-view, Maven defeated Rhyno in a match taped forSunday Night Heat.^[5][28][29]

The first match was between Edge and Shawn Michaels. Edge mocked Michaels by performing some of Michaels' signature taunts. Edge gained the advantage after anEdge-O-Matic on the floor. Edge performed aspear on the floor on Michaels; in the ring, Edge executed another spear on Michaels for a near-fall. After countering Edge, Michaels executed adiving elbow drop on Edge. Edge counteredSweet Chin Music into anelectric chair drop for a near-fall. Edge applied theEdgecator on Michaels, but Michaels broke the hold. Michaels attempted aroll-up, but Edge pinned Michaels with a roll-up using the ropes to win the match.^[5][28]

The second match was a casket match between The Undertaker and Heidenreich. The match started back and forth until Heidenreich sent Undertaker into the casket. Undertaker applied thetriangle choke until Gene Snitsky interfered and attacked Undertaker. Snitsky and Heidenreich attacked The Undertaker and called for the casket to be opened but Kane was revealed to be inside the casket. He attacked Snitsky and Heidenreich and fought Snitsky throughout the arena. Heidenreich sent Undertaker into the steel steps and pushed the casket into him. Heidenreich put Undertaker in the casket after applying thecobra clutch but Undertaker stopped the lid from closing. Heidenreich put Undertaker in the casket again but Undertaker countered. Undertaker executed achokeslam and aTombstone Piledriver and put Heidenreich in the casket to win the match.^[5][28]

The third match was a triple threat match for the WWE Championship between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), The Big Show, and Kurt Angle. Angle stayed on the outside of the ring as Big Show and JBL fought. After Angle broke up a pinfall attempt, Big Show attacked both men. Angle hit Big Show with atelevision monitor, causing him to fall through a broadcast announce table. Later, Big Show executed a chokeslam on JBL but JBL placed his foot on the ropes to void the pinfall. Big Showtackled JBL through thebarricade and performed aflapjack to Angle onto achair.Luther Reigns,Mark Jindrak andDougandDanny Basham attacked Big Show asOrlando Jordan helped JBL back into the ring. JBL executed aClothesline from Hell on Angle to retain the title.^[5][28]

The fourth match was between Triple H and Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. Before the match,Raw General ManagerEric Bischoff banned Evolution (Batista andRic Flair) from ringside. Orton had the advantage until Triple H countered anRKO by throwing Orton out of the ring. Triple H kept the advantage and targeted Orton's left knee until Orton knocked him into a broadcast table. Orton kept the advantage until he missed aDDT. Triple H knocked both Orton and the referee down with aclothesline and tried to hit Orton with asledgehammer but Orton pulled him into the ringpost. Triple H performed another clothesline and aPedigree to retain the title.^[5][28]

The main event was the Royal Rumble match. Before the match, Kurt Angle stoleNunzio's number and replaced him in the match. The participants divided into their brands and fought against each other, working together to eliminateMuhammad Hassan, the thirteen entrant (who had garneredheat at the time).Scotty 2 Hotty, the fifteenth entrant, was attacked by Hassan during his entrance and never entered the match. Angle, the twentieth entrant, dominated upon entering until Shawn Michaels eliminated him. Angle came back to eliminate Michaels and attacked him. The final four participants remaining were Batista, John Cena, Edge, and Rey Mysterio. Edge fought with Mysterio, executing a spear to eliminate Mysterio. Cena and Batista then eliminated Edge as he was attacking them. Cena tried to perform anFU on Batista but Batista countered. Batista then attempted aBatista Bomb, but was countered with aheadscissors takedown by Cena, sending both over the top rope and touching the floor at the same time. The referees for the Raw brand believed Batista to be the winner while the SmackDown! referees believed Cena to be winner. WWE ChairmanVince McMahon came to the ring, in the process legitimately tearing both hisquadriceps muscles when his knees were caught on the apron, with the planned finish and attempt to restart the match botched,^[30][31] and ordered the match to be restarted with the final two participants. Batista eliminated Cena following aspinebuster to win the match.^[5][28]

The following weeks onRaw surrounded Batista's choice of which champion to face at WrestleMania 21. Triple H devised a scheme to have Batista almost run over by a limousine resembling John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL)'s, so Batista would challenge JBL instead of himself.^[32] Batista became aware of the scheme and chose to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania, thus leaving the Evolution stable in the process.^[33] He won the title,^[34] and their feud continued until he wasdrafted to SmackDown! on June 30.^[35] Batista remained champion until the January 13, 2006, episode ofSmackDown! when he vacated the title due to injury.^[36]

John Cena went on to win a tournament to become the number one contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21. The tournament concluded in a match between him and Kurt Angle atNo Way Out, which Cena won after performing anFU.^[37] Following this, he began anangle with JBL. Cena defeated JBL to win the title at WrestleMania, and their feud ended after Cena retained the title in an"I Quit" match atJudgment Day.^[38] Cena would then go to hold on to the title untilNew Year's Revolution 2006 when Edge cashed in the Money in the Bank contract he won at Wrestlemania 21 and defeated Cena after an Elimination Chamber match.^[39]

Following the Royal Rumble, Randy Orton and Kurt Angle began feuding with The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, respectively.^[40][41] The Big Show faced JBL in the first everbarbed wireSteel Cage match for the title at No Way Out, which JBL won to retain the title.^[42] Orton briefly feuded withChristian before moving on to feud with The Undertaker, which spanned nine months.^[32][43] After losing his title match at No Way Out,^[44] The Big Show facedAkebono in asumo match at WrestleMania,^[45] and he briefly feuded withCarlito afterwards.^[46]

During the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery in June, the World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Championship switched brands.^[47]

  –Raw

  –SmackDown!

  – Winner

^ Scotty was attacked by Hassan before he made it to the ring, and therefore was unable to compete and never officially entered the match.

^ Kurt Angle had been eliminated by Shawn Michaels and then returned to the ring, and eliminated Michaels in retaliation.

• Official website

• Royal Rumble
• 2005 in California
• Professional wrestling shows in California
• 2005 WWE pay-per-view events
• January 2005 in the United States

• CS1: unfit URL
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from March 2015
• Good articles