Royal Rumble Winners 2005 to 2008
This year's Royal Rumble will mark the 21st edition of the annual WWE event. The Rumble is one of WWE's "Big 4" and kicks off the Pay-Per-View schedule each year. It began way back in 1988 when Hacksaw Jim Duggan won the first ever Rumble. Back then there was no prestigious title shot afterwords though. More recently, the winner of the Rumble has been allowed to get a title shot on their brand, or even in the past choose which title they would compete for. Usually that title match comes at Wrestlemania but there have been exceptions. Below you'll find a brief recap and look at the past 4 winners of the Rumble from 2005 through 2008, as well as what they did with their title shot afterwords.
In Fresno, California the 2005 Royal Rumble came down to #28 Batista and #25 John Cena from the Raw and Smackdown brands. After the two men had eliminated the Rated-R Superstar Edge, they went at each other. First, Cena attempted the FU on Batista but the move was countered. Next, Batista tried for the Batista Bomb, but Cena countered and put the headscissors on his opponent near the ropes. The two men both fell out over the top rope to the outside. Referees from both the Raw and Smackdown brands were present, each with a different view of who won. Eventually the Chairman, Vince McMahon came down to the ring and ordered a restart for the match. It was after this that Batista eventually hit a Spinebuster on Cena, then tossed him out for the win. In the weeks following the Rumble, Evolution member Batista had to decide which title he wanted to go for. It was eventually a no-brainer for Batista when he learned Triple H had faked a hit-and-run car incident with JBL. Batista then chose to go after his fellow Evolution member Triple H for the World Heavyweight title. Batista captured the title at the following Wrestlemania, and left Evolution soon after when he was attacked by his former partners.
Watch the final 8 minutes of the 2005 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2005 DVD at Amazon.com
2006 saw Rey Mysterio display an amazing amount of resilience and perseverance to win the Rumble in Miami, Florida. The "littlest big man" entered the Royal Rumble at the #2 spot arriving to the ring in a lowrider as tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio managed to last all the way to the end but had to face current Evolution heels, Triple H and Randy Orton. The duo teamed up to work on Mysterio, but Rey hit a 619 to eliminate Triple H. An angry Game beat up Mysterio on the outside, smashing him into the steels steps then throwing him back in for Orton. Mysterio was able to overcome the odds and countered an Orton move to eliminate him. A jubilant Mysterio dedicated the win to his late friend Guerrero. Mysterio would later lose his #1 Contender Status in a match to Randy Orton on Smackdown, then regained it. Eventually a Triple Threat match was scheduled involving the current champ, Kurt Angle, defending against Orton and Mysterio.
See the final 10 minutes of the 2006 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2006 DVD at Amazon.com
In 2007, San Antonio, Texas saw a classic showdown between two fan favorites to finish out the Royal Rumble. The hometown hero Shawn Michaels and the Phenom, the Undertaker were left in the ring after the team of Rated RKO (Randy Orton & Edge) were eliminated. Michaels and Taker gave an amazing back and forth fight, with Michaels hitting a Superkick after an Undertaker Chokeslam. Michaels went for a second Superkick but Undertaker avoided this one and eliminated Michaels over the top rope. Taker of course went on to Wrestlemania 23 where he used his title opportunity and defeated Batista to become World Heavyweight Champion. Also notable at this Pay-Per-View, the 2007 Royal Rumble marked the first time ever that the ECW brand was included in the Rumble.
Watch Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at 2007 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2007 DVD at Amazon.com
Last year many WWE fans remember the surprise moment when John Cena showed up for the Royal Rumble at the #30 spot, after many believed he was still out of action recovering from injury. It was a secret kept under wraps from the WWE fans and Cena's fellow wrestlers making it a truly surprising moment in WWE Royal Rumble history. In the final moments it was almost like a Triple Threat as Triple H, Batista and Cena were the last 3 standing. All 3 men went at it, with Batista trying for a Batista Bomb on Cena. Cena countered and Triple H was able to quickly clothesline The Animal over the top rope. From there, Cena became the first winner to ever use his title opportunity at an event other than Wrestlemania, but unfortunately he was also the first man since 2000 not to win the title after winning the Royal Rumble.
See Cena's surprise return to the 2008 Royal Rumble!
Watch Cena win the 2008 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2008 DVD at Amazon.com
It seems as if only two of the above men will be a part of this year's Royal Rumble match. John Cena is scheduled to defend his World Heavyweight Title at the event against JBL, while Batista is currently on the shelf recovering from an injury and surgery. Rey Mysterio and The Undertaker have a shot to once again win the Rumble and create their destiny as they also look towards winning WWE gold again!
The 2009 Royal Rumble will be held in two weeks from Sunday, January 25th, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. Catch it live on Pay-Per-View and check WWE Characters the Blog for predictions before and match-by-match recaps after the event!
Related Blog Entries:
2009 Royal Rumble Participants
2009 Royal Rumble Matches
Royal Rumble by the Numbers
Recap/Results of 2008 Royal Rumble
2008 Royal Rumble entries & eliminations
2005 Royal Rumble - Batista
In Fresno, California the 2005 Royal Rumble came down to #28 Batista and #25 John Cena from the Raw and Smackdown brands. After the two men had eliminated the Rated-R Superstar Edge, they went at each other. First, Cena attempted the FU on Batista but the move was countered. Next, Batista tried for the Batista Bomb, but Cena countered and put the headscissors on his opponent near the ropes. The two men both fell out over the top rope to the outside. Referees from both the Raw and Smackdown brands were present, each with a different view of who won. Eventually the Chairman, Vince McMahon came down to the ring and ordered a restart for the match. It was after this that Batista eventually hit a Spinebuster on Cena, then tossed him out for the win. In the weeks following the Rumble, Evolution member Batista had to decide which title he wanted to go for. It was eventually a no-brainer for Batista when he learned Triple H had faked a hit-and-run car incident with JBL. Batista then chose to go after his fellow Evolution member Triple H for the World Heavyweight title. Batista captured the title at the following Wrestlemania, and left Evolution soon after when he was attacked by his former partners.
Watch the final 8 minutes of the 2005 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2005 DVD at Amazon.com
2006 Royal Rumble - Rey Mysterio
2006 saw Rey Mysterio display an amazing amount of resilience and perseverance to win the Rumble in Miami, Florida. The "littlest big man" entered the Royal Rumble at the #2 spot arriving to the ring in a lowrider as tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio managed to last all the way to the end but had to face current Evolution heels, Triple H and Randy Orton. The duo teamed up to work on Mysterio, but Rey hit a 619 to eliminate Triple H. An angry Game beat up Mysterio on the outside, smashing him into the steels steps then throwing him back in for Orton. Mysterio was able to overcome the odds and countered an Orton move to eliminate him. A jubilant Mysterio dedicated the win to his late friend Guerrero. Mysterio would later lose his #1 Contender Status in a match to Randy Orton on Smackdown, then regained it. Eventually a Triple Threat match was scheduled involving the current champ, Kurt Angle, defending against Orton and Mysterio.
See the final 10 minutes of the 2006 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2006 DVD at Amazon.com
2007 Royal Rumble - The Undertaker
In 2007, San Antonio, Texas saw a classic showdown between two fan favorites to finish out the Royal Rumble. The hometown hero Shawn Michaels and the Phenom, the Undertaker were left in the ring after the team of Rated RKO (Randy Orton & Edge) were eliminated. Michaels and Taker gave an amazing back and forth fight, with Michaels hitting a Superkick after an Undertaker Chokeslam. Michaels went for a second Superkick but Undertaker avoided this one and eliminated Michaels over the top rope. Taker of course went on to Wrestlemania 23 where he used his title opportunity and defeated Batista to become World Heavyweight Champion. Also notable at this Pay-Per-View, the 2007 Royal Rumble marked the first time ever that the ECW brand was included in the Rumble.
Watch Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at 2007 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2007 DVD at Amazon.com
2008 Royal Rumble - John Cena
Last year many WWE fans remember the surprise moment when John Cena showed up for the Royal Rumble at the #30 spot, after many believed he was still out of action recovering from injury. It was a secret kept under wraps from the WWE fans and Cena's fellow wrestlers making it a truly surprising moment in WWE Royal Rumble history. In the final moments it was almost like a Triple Threat as Triple H, Batista and Cena were the last 3 standing. All 3 men went at it, with Batista trying for a Batista Bomb on Cena. Cena countered and Triple H was able to quickly clothesline The Animal over the top rope. From there, Cena became the first winner to ever use his title opportunity at an event other than Wrestlemania, but unfortunately he was also the first man since 2000 not to win the title after winning the Royal Rumble.
See Cena's surprise return to the 2008 Royal Rumble!
Watch Cena win the 2008 Royal Rumble!
WWE Royal Rumble 2008 DVD at Amazon.com
It seems as if only two of the above men will be a part of this year's Royal Rumble match. John Cena is scheduled to defend his World Heavyweight Title at the event against JBL, while Batista is currently on the shelf recovering from an injury and surgery. Rey Mysterio and The Undertaker have a shot to once again win the Rumble and create their destiny as they also look towards winning WWE gold again!
The 2009 Royal Rumble will be held in two weeks from Sunday, January 25th, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. Catch it live on Pay-Per-View and check WWE Characters the Blog for predictions before and match-by-match recaps after the event!
Related Blog Entries:
2009 Royal Rumble Participants
2009 Royal Rumble Matches
Royal Rumble by the Numbers
Recap/Results of 2008 Royal Rumble
2008 Royal Rumble entries & eliminations
Labels: Batista, Info, John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Royal Rumble, Undertaker, WWE History, WWE PPV's
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