The Katz Files– Arnie Katz
Royal Rumble Recap & Analysis!
The Kingfish Arnie Katz reports all the highlights and sidelights of the Royal Rumble – and looks back at his predictions for the event!
The Royal Rumble is now part of wrestling history. Let’s look at what happened – and at what we can expect as we head to WrestleMania…
Royal Rumble (1/27) Recap:
The Free-for-All
After another airing of the fight-on-the-subway video, Jack Korpella took over the show and presented the usual assortment of clips about the night’s matches.
Top emphasis by far was on Randy Orton-Jeff Hardy. They showed a video about each combatant and then a third one that dealt with the feud.
The Royal Rumble promotional video emphasized the “famous numbers” associated with the match, such as Kane’s record of tossing out 11 men.
The video that opened Royal Rumble started with a little of the subway footage, but it moved on to a recap of some of the great moments of past Royal Rumbles.
Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman welcomed fans to Madison Square Garden. They immediately set up the first match, with its potential to force Ric Flair into retirement.
Ric Flair d. MVP
Career-Threatening Match for Flair
My Prediction: If Flair is heading for retirement, the logical place to have that match is WrestleMania, not the Royal Rumble. So the forecast here is for some kind of Flair victory, probably one that doesn’t make MVP look too bad. After all, he is part of the company’s future.
My Predicted Grade: B
“I want to tell you what a great honor it has been to wrestle all these years in Madison Square Garden,” said Ric Flair, after he promenaded to the ring in an especially glittering robe. He harked back to his first MSG match in 1976 and thanked fans for the respect they’ve shown him.
After some tentative circling, MVP grabbed a Side Headlock and knocked down Flair when the Nature Boy rebounded off the ropes.
MVP forced Flair into a corner with a Collar-and-Elbow, but he made the mistake of backing away when the ref called for a break. That gave Ric a chance to return to center-ring without a fight.
Flair applied a Wristlock and worked on his foe’s left arm. Flair pushed Porter into the corner and they exchanged stinging chops! MVP staggered out of range, but Flair felled him with a Shoulder Block. MVP alertly turned the tables with a Leg Trip, kicked Flair in the side of the head and took over on offense. MVP executed a Neckbreaker, but Flair kicked out at “one.”
After wearing him down a little with an Armbar, MVP rocketed Flair into the opposite turnbuckle, but Flair caught him coming in and trapped him in the Figure Four! MVP used his free leg to bust out of the hold!
Flair countered with an Atomic Drop and slapped on the Figure Four! MVP rolled through and almost surprised Flair with a quick pin! MVP whipped Flair into the ropes and Back Body Dropped him on the rebound off the ropes. His cross-ring charge ended with a knee to Flair’s jaw that turned into a near-fall cover!
After a Suplex to another near fall cover, MVP rocked Flair with a Superplex! This time, Flair barely beat the final count.
Flair blocked an attempted Fall-away Slam, but both men went down in a mid-ring collision! Flair chopped his foe twice and then pulled off a very fancy Roll-up that nearly ended the match! Flair did a Back Slide, but that didn’t result in a pin, either.
Flair chopped his way across the ring, only to take a blow to the throat and a High Knee!
When MVP attempted the Playmaker, Flair clamped on the Figure-Four Leglock! MVP tapped out quickly. Flair’s career continues.
Actual Grade: B-
Flair got a standing ovation from the Garden crowd as he stood, victorious, in the ring.
“It looks like Ric Flair’s luck continues,” Vince McMahon said to his son, Hornswoggle. He then talked about his family’s glorious tradition and the Luck of the Irish. He advised Hornswoggle to trust no one, even Finley, in the Royal Rumble
When Finley joined them, Mr. McMahon tried to spin it the other way, telling Finley he couldn’t trust Hornswoggle.
They didn’t pay him much heed and left together.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler expressed their excitement about being in New York and showed a spread in the Daily News about how Royal Rumble has taken over the Big Apple.
They introduced WWE’s newest announcer, former football player Mike Adamle. Adamle He said he was pinching himself to see if he was awake, because he saw his first card in the Garden over 30 years ago!
Adamle then cued the video that chronicles the JBL-Jericho feud.
John Bradshaw Leyfield d. Chris Jericho by DQ
My Prediction: If this isn’t just a oneshot match for JBL, the feud will climax at WrestleMania, not at this event. Both men have done great mic work, but it remains to be seen how this will come off in the ring. Assuming that John Bradshaw Leyfield is going to wrestler for a while, it would be premature to make this the decisive match. It will be grueling and hard-fought, but JBL will find a way to win that doesn’t hurt Jericho’s reputation too much (though he really does need to beat someone soon).
My Predicted Grade: B
The entrances weren’t as flashy as usual. Chris Jericho didn’t get his mammoth pyrotechnics and JBL had to come to the ring without benefit of his signature white limousine.
After a grim-faced stare-down, Jericho used a Collar-and-Elbow to force JBL into the corner. He broke cleanly – and then Leyfield wouldn’t come out and fight. Every time Jericho closed in for action, referee Chad Patton waved him off.
JBL finally decided to fight and got off a couple of good punches, but it was Jericho who banged off the ropes and connected with a tremendous Flying Forearm! Jericho had the Texas Financier down on the mat and took full advantage of it with a barrage of stomps and kicks. When JBL got back to his feet, Lionheart wrestled him to the mat and tried to apply the Walls of Jericho, but the intended victim found the rope.
When JBL left the ring, Jericho nailed him with a Baseball Slide! Leyfield blocked an attempted Suplex, but Jericho dealt him two powerful knees to the gut! Y2J sent his antagonist careening into the ring steps.
Back inside, JBL bounced Jericho throat-first across the top rope and then Clotheslined him to the mat! The Millionaire Mauler choked Jericho with the bottom rope and the catapulted Chris throat-first against the underside of the same strand! You can bet that didn’t do Jericho’s already injured larynx any good!
Jericho fought his way out of the corner only to become trapped in a Sleeper Hold. Jericho twisted into a good position and then punched out of the trap!
Jericho put everything he had into a Leaping Clothesline that put both men on the canvas! Jericho scored with a few punches, but JBL nearly broke him in half with a knee to the midsection!
Chris Jericho looked a little wobbly after he collided with the ring post and fell into the ringside area. Always an opportunist, JBL unleashed a couple of devastating knees to the body.
Jim Ross called Leyfield a bully as the big Texan targeted Jericho’s head with thudding kicks. Everything went JBL’s way until Jericho began to battle back with running punches, Flying Forearms and, finally, two Elbow Drops! He hit the Lionsault and Clotheslined him!
Both men went to the outside, where Jericho kicked his foe some more and banged his head against the announce table. Leyfield recovered enough to take off the table’s padded top, but as he turned toward Jericho, Y2J hot him with a chair! The referee rang the bell to disqualify Jericho.
Actual Grade: B (a little rust on both)
JBL’s face was a crimson mask, but that didn’t stop the revenge-minded Jericho! He threw a chair that hit HBL on the head and then followed up with punches and stomps.
Jericho got the video cable and wound it around Jericho’s neck. Then he braced his feet against a rope and pulled with all of his might in an effort to choke the life out of the man who had shamed him in front of his kids.
Ashley knocked on Maria’s dressing room door. Unfortunately, that brought out Santino Marello. He told Ashley that Maria was busy getting ready for the first WWE Kiss Cam in HD.
Rey Mysterio vs. Edge
World Heavyweight Championship
My Prediction: Logic says that one of the two heel champions should drop their strap, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Rey Mysterio will look great and come very close, but Edge will leave the arena with the strap. The most productive result, from a story standpoint, would be to have Vickie somehow screw Rey out of a win so that there must be another match.
My Predicted Grade: B+
A video recounted Edge’s rise to the title and another one showed how Rey Mysterio won the right to fight Edge for the championship.
After Edge came to the ring, Teddy Long wheeled out Vicky Guerrero. They were followed by the two Edge-alikes formerly known as the Majors Brothers.
Rey came out with a tamer-than-usual intro package. He wore an Aztec warrior helmet over his mask to emphasis the seriousness of the match.
Edge grabbed a Wristlock off the initial Collar-and-Elbow and worked on Mysterio’s left arm. The Masked Marvel kicked his way out of the hold. He jumped on the middle rope and lost his footing, but he somehow did a mid-course correction and still managed to take the champion to the mat.
Mysterio fired Edge into the ropes, but the larger man steamrollered him on the rebound. Before Edge could exploit the advantage, Mysterio brought him down with a well-timed Leg Trip. His attempted cover was premature.
Edge threw Mysterio into the ropes, but the acrobatic challenger zipped between his legs. Edge landed a kick to the stomach and sent him out of the ring! When Edge’s minions attacked, the official banished them from the ringside area.
Mysterio shouldered his way back into the ring and soon had Edge set up for the 619. His Thesz Press knocked Edge out of the ring. The Masked Marvel added a Centon, but it didn’t lead to a pin.
Mysterio charged into the corner after Edge. When he saw that the champ was ready for him, he leaped over his head! That gave Edge an opening to attack Mysterio’s highly vulnerable knee! Mysterio limped out of the ring and collapsed in the ringside area. Edge followed and hauled him back inside the ropes.
Back in the ring, Edge went after Mysterio’s left knee and stomped it relentlessly. The champion dogged Mysterio around the ring, adding more pain.
Edge applied his version of the Anklelock and twisted the leg this way and that to raise the level of agony. Mysterio kicked him repeatedly with his free leg until the Rated R Superstar gave up the hold.
Mysterio’s Enzuiguiri draped Edge over the middle rope. When Mysterio went for the 619, but Edge headed him off with a Spear that nearly won the match!
After Edge worked on that knee some more, Mysterio seemed to be so injured that he couldn’t stand properly. According to Michael Cole, he could be heard telling the referee how badly he was hurt.
Mysterio got to his feet and, despite the noticeable limp, managed to get Edge with a Wheelbarrow Suplex. Rey gave Edge a Back Body Drop. Mysterio rolled through and dished out a Two-Footed Kick. Edge kept his cool, though, and emerged with a cover that fell just short of a pin!
Rey went to the top, but Edge rushed to meet him up there. Mysterio knocked the champ to the mat and landed on him with a two-footed stomp. The pin still proved elusive.
Edge looked like he was ready for Mysterio’s Baseball Slide, but the Masked Man’s DDT caught him totally by surprise! Back in the ring, all Mysterio could get was a two count.
Rey Mysterio bounced against the ropes and then charged across the ring. Edge met him with an outstretched boot! Edge missed his next move and ended up hung over the middle rope like wet wash. Mysterio delivered the 619! Mysterio scored with a Splash from the corner, but Vickie Guerrero got out of the wheelchair and pulled the referee out of the ring before he could make the count!
Edge attacked from behind, but Mysterio had the momentum and lined him up for another 619! Vickie Guerrero jumped in the way and took the damage!
Edge Speared Mysterio and gained the pin and the win!
Actual Grade: B
“Love hurts,” said Michael Cole as a worried Edge hovered over his girlfriend.
Mr. Kennedy congratulated Ric Flair on his victory. He was starting to ask Ric about something, when the arrival of Shawn Michaels made him abruptly change the subject.
Batista and Triple H soon joined the trio and talked a little about the Rumble. They agreed that the best man will win. Michaels quipped that the best man would be the one in the new HBK tee-shirt, available at wweshop.com
Mario came to the ring in a glittering outfit and proclaimed the first WWE Kiss Cam. This consisted of training the camera on the audience and watching couples kiss.
The title of “lamest angle of the year” has a potent new competitor.
Ashley joined Maria in the ring and finally kvetched out Heffner’s offer of a Playboy shoot. That brought Santino Marello, accompanied by a squat figure in a berka, to the ring to say that Maria isn’t interested.
Maria asked the fans, who naturally want to see her naked. Se said that she would think about it. How will we all sleep until she decided?
Marello helped his mysterious companion take off the black, enveloping garment to reveal – that fat guy in the g-string. He danced around the ring until Ashley harried him from the ring by attacking with a plastic chicken in each hand.
This was not the dream of a tired recapper; it really happened.
A WrestleMania commercial parodied Baywatch.
First-night jitters made Mike Adamle fluff Jeff Hardy’s name, but he did a good job of introducing the clips that set up the WWE Championship match.
Jim Ross wondered aloud if, on this night, Jeff Hardy could become the 37th man to hold the WWE Championship.
Randy Orton d. Jeff Hardy
WWE Championship
The Prediction: A subtle shift in emphasis has occurred in this feud. It’s now less about the title than about inflicting pain and getting revenge. That fits in well with a Randy Orton victory in which Jeff Hardy gets to look very good. It might even be a Hardy loss by DQ. Whatever the actual decision, Randy Orton gets to keep his belt until WrestleMania, after which he may well resume his feud with Jeff Hardy.
Predicted Grade: A-
The two men circled each other tentatively, neither man willing to make a mistake this early in the match. They locked up, Collar-and-Elbow, and then dragged each other around the ropes as they struggled for an early advantage.
Orton cornered Hardy and, when the referee forced a break, stepped back cleanly. Hardy reached out and slapped him as a sign of his intense hatred .
Jeff took down Orton twice with Armdrags and then clamped on a Side Headlock. Orton used his long legs to Scissor his opponent and pry him off that Headlock.
The Rainbow Warrior used an Atomic Drop to a Baseball Slide to pave the way for a cover. The champion raised his shoulder before the referee slapped canvas for the third time.
The third-generation star slammed the challenger’s head against the turnbuckle a couple of times after staggering him with a roundhouse punch! The merciless title-holder beat the fan favorite down in the corner.
When Orton threw Hardy into the ropes, Jeff rebounded with a Forearm Smash, Hardy threw the champ out of the ring and nailed him with a Baseball Slide! Orton went all the way to the outer barrier and looked pretty much out of it. At the first sign of life from Orton, Hardy leaped over the top rope and pounced on him with an out-of-the-ring Splash! Randy got his championship belt, but it didn’t really come into play as the two men tore into each other in the ringside area.
Jeff Hardy threw the Legend-Killer back into the ring. He grasped the top rope and propelled himself over it, hoping for a Springboard Splash. Orton shocked hardy (and the world) by knocking Hardy out of the air with a perfectly timed Dropkick!
Orton followed Hardy into the ringside area and shook him with a Suplex! He pushed Hardy back inside the ropes, but the pin remained just out of reach.
Randy went into his version of the Garvin Stomp. He stopped to preen for the crowd, which may not have been the best strategy, since it let his beleaguered adversary catch his breath. The champion slapped Hardy around on the mat and hit him with a pair of Kneedrops.
Jeff Hardy began a comeback with punches and kicks. He threw Orton into the ropes and then Stampeded him over the ropes and into the ringside area! Hardy jumped off the apron and decked Orton with a devastating Flying Forearm! The cover didn’t work.
With Orton sagging against a turnbuckle, Hardy launched a cross-ring charge to a Shoulder Block. Unfortunately for him, what he blocked was the ring post! Orton tried for a Grapevine submission without success.
Hardy elbowed his way out of a Side Headlock, but when he resorted to the ropes, he ricocheted right into an Orton Powerslam! The official’s count stopped at “two.”
Hardy blocked Orton’s punch and then landed a couple of his own, followed by a pair of Clotheslines. Hardy came off the turnbuckle with a gorgeous Whisper in the Wind that nearly carried him to victory and the championship.
Orton grabbed Hardy’s leg during an attempted kick – and then the Rainbow Warrior kicked him with the other one! He added a two-footed stomp on Orton’s chest, but the champion moved out of range when Hardy set up for his Centon Bomb.
Orton went to the outside, but Hardy gave him no peace! His out-of-ring Moonsault leveled Orton.
Jeff Hardy swung into the Twist of Fate. Orton was one move ahead of him, though, and turned it into an RKO! He covered for the pin and the win.
Jeff Hardy got some revenge, but Orton kept the gold!
Grade: B+
Jeff Hardy spent a long time in the ring after the match, trying to collect his wits. Finally he stood and waved to the cheering crowd.
Joey Styles and Tazz temporarily took over the announcing chores to preview the Rumble match. Tazz mentioned that the last seven Royal Rumble winners had gone on to fight at WrestleMania and win the title.
They introduced the “Numbers” video that had run during the “Free-for-All.” WWE could enhance its quality image by stopping this practice. It smacks of cheapness.
It quickly became apparent that all three announce teams will provide Royal Rumble commentary.
The Royal Rumble
30-Man Reverse Battle Royal
Winner get a WM title shot
My Prediction: A subtle shift in emphasis has occurred in this feud. It’s now less about the title than about inflicting pain and getting revenge. That fits in well with a Randy Orton victory in which Jeff Hardy gets to look very good. It might even be a Hardy loss by DQ. Whatever the actual decision, Randy Orton gets to keep his belt until WrestleMania, after which he may well resume his feud with Jeff Hardy.
My Predicted Grade: A-
Michael Buffer handled the ring announcer mic for the main event, which only seemed fitting, considering his catchphrase.
He reviewed the rules before calling for the first participant.
Last year’s winner, Undertaker (1), was the first to the ring for this year’s edition. Shawn Michaels (2), whom he eliminated to win in 2007, was the second. HBK tried a few punches, but Taker was soon heaving him through the air to hard contact with the top turnbuckle!
Undertaker pulled off something that was almost a Dropkick – and it nearly sent Michaels to an early exit. Michaels fought his way out of a Chokeslam, but he took a big knee as Santino Marello (3) joined the match.
Shawn Michaels blasted Marello with Sweet Chin Music and Undertaker threw the blowhard out of the ring!
When Undertaker went Old School on JBK, the Showstoppa Armwhipped him to the mat — and then scored with a Reverse Atomic Drop and a couple of knife-edged chops! Just as Great Khali (4) plodded to the ring.
After an exchange of punches, Khali tried to Chokeslam Undertaker, but the Deadman broke it up and pushed the Punjabi Nightmare over the top rope!
Hardcore Holly (5) entered and was soon going at it with Undertaker. Holly pounded Taker into the corner, but Taker shot him into the ropes and gave him a big boot to the throat on the rebound!
Undertaker noticed that Shawn Michaels was hanging back from the action and went after him. I looked like Taker would throw him over the top rope until Holly stopped him cold with a couple of kicks to the midsection!
John Morrison (6) went right after the Undertaker, but he bit off ‘way more than he could chew! Morrison and HBK proved to be evenly matched combatants and fought fiercely almost the whole time both remained in the ring. Each man used his athleticism to escape elimination four times in the first half of the Rumble.
Tommy Dreamer (7) went right at his ECW antagonist, John Morrison. He got him as far of the apron, but he couldn’t force him the rest of the way.
Batista (8) attacked everything that moved until Tommy Dreamer attacked him. The Animal paused in his attack on Undertaker long enough to Beal Dreamer out of the ring.
Batista Speared Morrison so hard that the Matinee Idol looked like he passed out in the middle of the ring!
Hardcore Holly was hanging on like Grim Death as Hornswoggle (9) came to the ring – and then zipped under it!
Batista shook Undertaker with a Spear, but he just couldn’t seem to send the Deadman over the top rope.
Hardcore Holly looked like he had HBK ready for an early shower when the luck of the draw sent Chuck Palumbo (10) into the fight. Jamie Noble (11), Palumbo’s arch-enemy Jamie Noble (11) came into the ring next and the two slugged it out with Noble getting the better of it. Noble made a tactical error and ended up on the apron, where Palumbo sent him to the arena floor. Referee Marty Elias called for medical help for Jamie Noble after a really rough landing.
As Michaels and Morrison continued to put each other in jeopardy, former ECW champion CM Punk (12) zoomed into the ring. Undertaker may have broken Punk’s nose with a hellacious Clothesline!
A hard knee to the gut sent Chuck Palumbo home to work on one of his motorcycles.
Cody Rhodes (13) entered and immediately rushed to help his tag partner Holly avoid getting tossed by the Undertaker! Taker grabbed Rhodes by the throat, but Dusty’s Other Son broke it with punches and then blasted him with a Dropkick!
Umaga (14) had new tights, but the same old aggression. He eliminated Hardcore Holly with a Samoan Spike. Batista took up the battle against Tattooed Terror.
Snitsky (15) got into a real hammer-and-tongs battle with Cody Rhodes in the corner. Both were moving in and out of the ropes, but neither went all the way to the floor.
The Miz (16) came in next and immediately started to take punishment.
Undertaker Steamrollered Umaga to the ropes. He got the big Samoan partially over the top strand, but Umaga’s grip on the top stand couldn’t be broken.
Shelton Benjamin (17) was barely in the ring long enough for the announcers to remind us that he may be WWE’s greatest pure athlete. Unfortunately for him, those acrobatic moves didn’t mean much at this stage in the match. Benjamin crumpled to the mat due to some Michaels Sweet Chin Music! He soon found himself watching the match from the outside, a spectator once more.
Jimmy Snuka (18) was the spectre of the ring as he joined the Rumble. He gave Undertaker a couple of Headbutts, but getting him over the top rope was out of the question. Snuka turned his attention to everyone’s favorite target, the Miz and was punching him when Roddy Piper (19) paraded down the ramp.
Piper and Snuka started to fight with each other. The other performers seemed to hang back and hug the corners of the ring as these two living legends took the spotlight.
Red pyro hit for Kane (20), who lost no time putting Snuka and Piper back on the sidelines where they belong.
It looked lie brother versus brother for a second, but Kane went right past Undertaker and administered a Chokeslam to Shawn Michaels!
Carlito (21) jumped into the ring and spit apple at Cody Rhodes. The young rookie responded with a Bulldog!
Mick Foley (22) had punches for everybody in the ring, even Kane.
Time took its toll on Shawn Michaels and Undertaker, both of whom were down on the canvas as Mr. Kennedy (23) became part of the Royal Rumble. Kennedy worked over Cody Rhodes, stomping and dropping elbow and knees! Suddenly, Undertaker came back to life and Chokeslammed Kennedy!
The Deadman stacked up his rivals in the corner and dished out non-stop Shoulder Blocks. Umaga took a really vicious one.
Big Daddy V (24) threw his considerable weight around the ring. As the fresh man, he had several guys on the run, but he soon seemed to run out of steam.
Undertaker tossed out Snitsky. Then Michaels sent Undertaker tumbling to the arena floor. Mr. Kennedy immediately came up behind HBK and tossed him out! Taker took elimination very hard and vented his frustration by mauling Snitsky.
Mark Henry (25) simply bowled over people.
The Miz was leaning over the top rope when Hornswoggle came out from under the ring and pulled him the rest of the way out of the Rumble.
Chavo Guerrero (26), the new ECW Champion, entered and was joined by CM Punk (27) and they wasted no time renewing hostilities! Punk’s ground and pound attacks, punctuated by those savage kicks that carried him to the ECW title put Chavo on rubbery legs!
Kane kicked John Morrison off the apron to eliminate him after a very solid Rumble run.
Hornswoggle saved Cody Rhodes when Mark Henry was about to eliminate him. Henry turned his wrath on the little guy. He and Big Daddy V were closing in on him when Finley rushed the ring! Finley fought like a wild man against his two much bigger foes. Finley grabbed Hornswoggle and led him to the safety of the backstage area.
The referee disqualified Finley for coming into the ring out of sequence.
As Elijah Burke (28) came in, Mr. Kennedy became an unlikely savior for Kane in his struggle against Big Daddy V.
The announcers suddenly noticed that Batista was on the outside. Tape showed that the Animal had suffered a Samoan Spike and rolled out under the bottom rope, so he was still in the event!
Chavo Guerrero, standing on the ring apron, took CM Punk over the top rope, adding just a bit more fuel to their feud.
The crowd went nuts when Triple H (29) went to work. Triple H threw out Cody Rhodes and went to work on Big Daddy V. He delivered a Facebuster and somehow cranked the 500-lber over the ropes!
Mick Foley and Triple H found each other in the crowd. After they exchanged some punches, The Game sent Foley out of this year’s Royal Rumble! Elijah Burke took collateral damage and sailed over the ropes, too!
HHH took Umaga from turnbuckle to turnbuckle and tattoos met turnbuckle at every stop along the way! Umaga hit the ring post when a corner charge misfired – and then Triple H sent him right back into another brief (and painful) encounter with the same ring post!
Triple H rocked Umaga with a Pedigree! The Samoan collapsed at center-ring, raising the question of how they could lug that weight over the ropes.
The crowd went completely insane when they recognized the first few notes of John Cena’s (30) theme music! Triple H stood and watched Cena approach the ring. He could not take his eyes off the returning former champion.
John Cena rushed Mark Henry and took him down with a tremendous Forearm Smash. Cena started cleaning house and made Carlito his first elimination.
Chavo Guerrero went the same way, again courtesy of John Cena!
Cena next got rid of Mark Henry.
Cena and HHH went nose-to-nose at center-ring before The Game struck the first actual blow! They went at it without let-up, swapping sledgehammer punches. Triple H dealt Cena a Spinebuster, but Umaga shocked him with the Samoan Spike!. Barista came out of nowhere to destroy Umaga where he stood and then throw Mr. Kennedy over the top strand all the way to the outer barrier!
Cena Clothed Umaga out of the ring. Kane went for a Double Chokeslam, but Batista and Triple H deflected it and tossed the Big Red Machine out of the ring!
It was down to Batista, Triple H and John Cena. Batista shouted, “Come on!” and Cena did his “You can’t see me” gesture. The Cerebral Assassin stood in the corner and gauged his two final adversaries.
Suddenly all three men charged! Fists flew everywhere as these superstars fought for one of wrestling’s most coveted rewards – a WrestleMania main event spot!
John Cena and Triple H, unlikely allies, threw Batista into the ropes, but the Animal bounded back with a Wingspread Double Clothesline that knocked them both to the mat!
Batista hit Cena with a BatistaBomb! Triple H Clotheslined Batista over the top rope!
As Triple H and John Cena took a short breather, Triple H pointed to the WrestleMania sign above the ring. Cena recognized the meaning and pointed to both of them, It was going to be one or the other; no draws in this event!
Triple H struck first with a series of right-hand punches. Cena fought back with his own barrage of rights! They slugged it out, back and forth, neither willing to give an inch.
Cena got behind The Game and dished out a Suplex! Cena bent over him and gave the familiar gesture before administering the Five-Knuckle Shuffle!
Triple H and Cena got to their feet. Each tried to hoist the other on his shoulders, but neither could keep him there. They ran at each other and both went down as a result of simultaneous Clotheslines!
John Cena again put HHH into position for the FU. The Game not only escaped, but he rocked Cena with a DDT! First Triple H tried to pick up Cena and then Cena escaped and attempted to lift HHH!
Triple H jolted Cena with a knee to the midsection, but Cena lifted him up – and over the top rope!
John Cena is back – and main eventing in WrestleMania!
Actual Grade: B+ (excellent, with a few really bad moments0
Overall Grade for Royal Rumble: B
– The Kingfish Arnie Katz
Crossfire4@cox.net
(1/29/08)
This is column number 13 in a row as I return to my role as a daily columnist. And there’s not one single “We got” in the whole article!
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