|Date: January 27, 2008
|Venue: Madison Square Garden |City: New York, New York
|Attendance: 20,789 |Buys: 533,000
|Brands: Raw, Smackdown & ECW

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

The Royal Rumble, probably my favourite pay per view event of the year and this years edition will be one of the most unpredictable to date. The Royal Rumble match will be the jewel in the crown tonight and the line-up is the most star-studded of all time. Triple H went from losing his place in the match due to William Regal costing him a match against Ric Flair to winning his spot back in by winning an over-the-top challenge. Triple H is sure to be one of the favourites but also in the match will be the likes of Shawn Michaels, Umaga and Mr Kennedy from Raw, Batista, The Undertaker and The Great Khali from Smackdown and CM Punk, Big Daddy V and Shelton Benjamin from ECW. There are usually one or two surprises in the match too and that doesn’t include the likes of Hornswoggle and Mick Foley who qualified for the match by beating The Highlanders.

The WWE Championship is set to be defended tonight as Randy Orton defends against Jeff Hardy. Jeff beat Triple H at Armageddon to become number one contender and since then the rivalry between Hardy and Orton has gone to the next level. Orton attacked Jeffs brother Matt, punting him in the head and keeping him out of action for longer. Orton would then challenge Hardy for the Intercontinental title on Raw last week but the match never really got going. Hardy would toss Orton off the entrance stage and then go high into the lighting rig to hit a swanton bomb on Orton. It was one of the most breath-taking things I have ever seen. Tonight Jeff Hardy main events a pay per view for the first ever time, could he become WWE Champion?

The World Heavyweight Championship is also set to be defended as Edge defends against Rey Mysterio. Rey Mysterio won a beat the clock challenge to become number one contender and his victory came over Edge himself, with a little bit of help from Batista and The Undertaker. Rey feud with Edge is even more personal due to Edge’s relationship with Vickie Guerrero. Another personal feud set to be decided tonight is between Chris Jericho and John “Bradshaw” Layfield. JBL cost Chris Jericho the WWE Championship at Armageddon and then came out of retirement and joined the Raw roster. JBL would attack Jericho and choke him with cable, injuring Jericho’s throat and then taunting Jericho’s children. Tonight these two experienced veterans go one on one. Also tonight Ric Flair’s career is on the line as he takes on MVP. If Flair loses the match then his career is officially over as Vince McMahon told him that the next matches he loses, he’s done.

In a dark match prior to the event Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore defeated Deuce n Domino.

A video package kicks us off and it is a great one. Really good music and clips of Royal Rumble matches gone by. There’s no mention of the title matches, tonight it is all about the big match.

Michael Cole welcomes us to the show and it is the first time ever a PPV is broadcast in 16:9 and HD.

Ric Flair vs. M.V.P. – Ric Flair’s career on the line

This is a second pay per view match between these two men. MVP won the first back at Night Of Champions 2007. Flair cuts a promo before the match but it is interrupted by MVP. MVP is looking for a first victory on a Royal Rumble PPV tonight. He takes Flair down early but Ric is right back up. Lots of posing from MVP in the early going. Flair applies a hammerlock but MVP gets to the ropes. MVP slaps Flair so Flair hits him with chops and right hands. Drop toe hold from MVP and then a running boot. MVP hits a neckbreaker for a one count. MVP hits a snapmare and then applies a chinlock but Ric gets to his feet. MVP hits an Irish whip but Flair hits a reverse elbow and a chopblock before looking to apply the figure four but MVP kicks him off. Flair hits an inverted atomic drop and MVP then rolls him up for a two count. MVP hits a back body drop and a running boot in the corner for a near fall. The referee actually counted the three before spotting Flair’s foot on the rope.

Flair hits a schoolboy for a two count and MVP is up first and knocks Flair down with a clothesline. MVP hits a double underhook suplex for a two count and then pops Flair on the top turnbuckle. MVP hits a superplex for a near fall. The two men collide, knocking heads. They both get to their feet and Flair rolls MVP up for a two count. Flair hits a backslide for another near fall and then hits some right hands and chops. MVP hits a jawbreaker and then sets up for the playmaker but Flair counters it and locks on the figure four! MVP taps out and little Naitch calls for the bell! Ric Flair wins the match and keeps his career alive.

Rating: 6/10

Vince McMahon is backstage with his son, Hornswoggle. Vince gives Hornswoggle a pep talk for the Royal Rumble match later, telling him that he can’t trust Finlay. Finlay then arrives and takes exception at Vince telling him that he can’t trust anybody.

Jim Ross introduces the newest addition to the announce team, Mike Adamle. Adamle says that he was present for Ric Flair’s first match in 1976. Michael Cole said Flairs first match was 1972. Adamle then introduces the next VT, a hype video for Chris Jericho and John “Bradshaw” Layfield.

Chris Jericho vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield

This is a first PPV match between these two men. Two of the top stars of all time in this match and two men that have recently returned to the ring. JBL made his Royal Rumble debut in the 1998 Royal Rumble match. Jericho was in the 2000 event. Jericho hits a flying forearm and hits JBL with right hands in the early going. This match has a scrappy start with Jericho more aggressive than usual. Jericho ducks a clothesline and then locks on the walls of Jericho but Bradshaw grabs the bottom rope quickly. Layfield heads to the outside and Jericho hits him with a baseball slide and then smashes him into the exposed security barrier. Jericho rams Bradshaw into the ring apron and then the steps. Back in the ring and JBL drops Jericho on the top rope. Bradshaw then hits two big clotheslines before choking Chris on the bottom rope. Layfield slingshots Jericho into the middle rope as Bradshaw works away on the injured throat of Jericho.

Jericho fires back with some right hands but JBL applies a sleeper. Jericho gets out of the sleeper and knocks JBL down with a clothesline. Layfield fires back with a big boot and then throws Jericho into the ringpost. Jericho rolls to the outside of the ring and he is busted open now. Layfield follows him out and boots him in the head. He rolls Jericho back into ring and lays in more boots and right hands. Jericho explodes out of the corner with a big forearm before hitting two more running forearms and dropping a few elbows. Jericho then hits the lionsault and then clotheslines JBL out of the ring, going out with him. JBL smashes Jericho into the announce desk and Jericho then leathers JBL with a steel chair! The referee calls for the bell and this one will go down as a disqualification win for Bradshaw. After the match Jericho throws the chair at JBL and hits him with right hands in the middle of the ring. Jericho then chokes JBL with some cable, much like JBL did to him a few weeks ago!

Rating: 6.5/10

Ashley is backstage knocking on Maria’s door. Santino answers the door and tells Ashley that Maria is preparing for a kiss cam. Santino tells Ashley that Maria isn’t interesting in Playboy magazine and he wishes he could vote Ashley out of the WWE like they did on Survivor.

There’s a video package next showing the recent history between Edge and Rey Mysterio.

Edge (c) vs. Rey Mysterio – World Heavyweight Championship match

This is a first PPV match between these two former tag team partners. When Edge makes his entrance you can see a wheelchair behind the doors. Vickie Guerrero to get involved? Here she comes, wheeled to the ring by Teddy Long. Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins also make their way to the ring in support of Edge. Mysterio has a very elaborate helmet on as he makes his entrance. Mysterio gets quite a few boo’s as he is announced for this match and Edge gets cheered. Rey hits a springboard hurricanrana in the early going as the crowd boo him. The fans are definitely behind Edge in this one as he knocks Mysterio down. Rey hits a drop toe hold and dropkick to the head for a two count. Edge hits some right hands and chokes Mysterio on the middle rope before launching Rey out of the ring and hitting him with a baseball slide. Hawkins and Ryder then look to get Mysterio up to his feet but the referee sees it and sends them to the back.

Mysterio hits Edge with a flying head scissors and then a seated senton for a near fall. This is Edge’s first defence of his second World Heavyweight Championship reign. Edge back body drops Rey who lands on the middle rope but Edge then kicks Mysterio in the back of the knee. Edge then works away at the knee of Mysterio, applying a single leg crab. Mysterio kicks his way out and then hits Edge with an enzeguri. Edge lands nicely on the middle rope but Rey is too slow with the 619 and Edge hits him with a powerslam for a near fall. Edge goes back to the single leg crab but again Mysterio kicks his way out of it. Mysterio then hits a bulldog before hitting chops and kicks for a near fall. Mysterio heads to the top and hits a stomp for a near fall. Rey then hurricanrana’s Edge out of the ring before sliding out of the ring and hitting Edge with a DDT. Back in the ring and Rey Mysterio gets another near fall. Edge stops Reys momentum with a big boot and then Edge motions for the spear but Rey gets out of the way and Edge hits a middle turnbuckle.

Mysterio hurricanranas Edge onto the middle rope before hitting him with the 619. Mysterio hits a springboard splash and hooks the leg but Vickie Guerrero gets out of the wheelchair and pulls the referees leg! Rey can’t believe it! Edge attempts a spear but Rey gets out of the way. Mysterio tries for the 619 but Vickie Guerrero gets up on the apron and Mysterio hits Vickie! Rey then springboards off the top rope but Edge hits him with a spear which is enough for the three! Edge wins the match and retains his World Heavyweight Championship tonight! A good finish to this match.

Rating: 7/10

Ric Flair is backstage fresh from the show and MR Kennedy gives him a round of applause. Kennedy says that after he wins the Royal Rumble tonight then he’ll have time to retie Ric Flair. Shawn Michaels shows up and Kennedy has a decides against challenging Flair. Michaels congratulates Flair and Flair tells Shawn he can win the Royal Rumble tonight. Batista then shows up and Flair tells him that he meant the Raw brand. Triple H then appears and says that tonight the best man will win. Batista agrees, as does Michaels. Shawn then plugs his new t-shirt.

Maria is out for the first ever Royal Rumble kiss-cam. Three couples kiss, a fourth refuses and they get boo’d. Ashley’s music then hits and Ashley makes her way to the ring. Ashley tells Maria that she got a call for Hugh Heffner who wanted to know if Maria is interested in posting for Playboy. Before she can answer Santino makes his way to the ring with somebody who is covered under a sheet. Santino tells Ashley that the answer is no. Ashley asks Maria again, Maria asks the crowd who want to see it. Santino then unveils his guest, Big Dick Johnson.

There’s a terrible advert for Wrestlemania with Kelly Kelly and Mae Young.

Mike Adamle is ringside and introduces the next video package. He originally botched “Jeff Harvey’s” name but it has been edited out.

Randy Orton (c) vs. Jeff Hardy – WWE Championship match

This is a first PPV match between these two men. Randy Orton has lost all four of his previous matches at Royal Rumble events. Hardy is the reigning Intercontinental Champion but this is the first time ever he is involved in a WWE Championship match on PPV. The fans seem pretty split on who they’re supporting in this match. Hardy takes Orton down early and follows it up with a headlock takedown. Orton applies a headscissors whilst Hardy still has the headlock applied. Hardy hits an inverted atomic drop and then a legdrop to the sternum and a dropkick for a near fall. Randy hits some right hands but Jeff clotheslines Orton out of the ring. Jeff then hits a huge dropkick to the outside, sending Orton flying. That looked great. Only Matt Hardy has wrestled more PPV matches than Jeff without main eventing any of them. Hardy hits a cross body to the outside. Orton grabs his title and looks to leave but Hardy cuts him off and the two men slug it out.

Hardy smashes Orton into an announce desk and then back into the ring. Hardy looks to hit something but Orton dropkicks him to the outside. Orton suplexes Jeff on the outside and then rolls the challenger back into the ring. Orton stomps away at Hardy and then chokes him in the middle of the ring. Randy hits two knee drops for a near fall. The two men slug it out and Hardy throws Orton out of the ring again. Jeff then dives off the apron with a flying clothesline. Back in the ring and Hardy gets a near fall. Jeff then misses with a running shoulder block in the corner and Orton pins him for a near fall. Orton applies a chinlock which Hardy gets out of but Orton hits a powerslam for a near fall and then goes back to the chinlock. Hardy gets out of it and takes Orton down. Orton is looking for a fourth successive PPV defence of the WWE Championship. Jeff knocks Orton down with clotheslines and elbows and then whisper in the wind for a near fall.

Hardy heads to the top for the swanton bomb but Orton rolls out of the ring to the apron. Hardy dropkicks Orton off the apron and then goes up to to the top and hits a moonsault to the outside. Back in the ring and Jeff looks to hit twist of fate but Orton counters it into an RKO! Orton hooks the leg and gets the three! Randy Orton wins the match and retains the WWE Championship tonight!

Rating: 7.25/10

Joey Styles and Tazz introduce a video package about the Royal Rumble.

The 2008 Royal Rumble match

Michael Buffer is out to announce the rules for the Royal Rumble. #1 is The Undertaker. This is the man that won last years Royal Rumble. This is a big way to start off the match. And it gets even bigger as #2 is Shawn Michaels. The two final men in last years match! This is the third time Shawn Michaels has started a Royal Rumble match. He won it the first time and went out first the second time. Michaels uses his speed in the early going and hits some chops. Undertaker uses his strength and throws Michaels around the ring. Undertaker misses with a big boot in the corner and finds himself on the apron. He grabs Michaels by the throat and gets back into the ring, big booting Michaels to the mat. #3 is Santino Marella. Generally, the number three spot does terribly. Michaels hits Santino with sweet chin music and Undertaker tosses him over the top, eliminating Santino from the match! Santino continues to look for his first PPV victory.

#4 is The Great Khali. The biggest man in the match. Undertaker goes right after Khali, hitting him with lefts and rights. Khali hits Undertaker with a big chop and lays in some bots as the crowd chant “you can’t wrestle”. Harsh. Khali grabs Undertaker by the throat and Undertaker wraps his hand around Khali’s throat. Khali attempts the chop and Undertaker avoids it and then knocks Khali over the top, eliminating The Great Khali from the match. #5 is Hardcore Holly who has made plenty of Royal Rumble appearances before. He made his PPV debut in the 1994 Royal Rumble match. Undertaker goes after Holly who is one half of the World Tag Team Champions. Undertaker hits holly with a big boot and Michaels then tries to eliminate Undertaker. #6 is John Morrison who is one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions. Morrison goes after Michaels and then runs away from Undertaker. Morrison was in last years Royal Rumble match. Michaels throws Morrison over the top rope but John hangs on and gets back into the ring. Michaels slams Morrison and then heads to the top and hits an elbow drop.

#7 is Tommy Dreamer who has appeared in Royal Rumble matches before. A big “E-C-Dub” chant breaks out. Dreamer goes after everyone but walks into Undertakers boot. Tommy Dreamer very popular in New York. Morrison hits an uppercut on Hardcore Holly. Michaels lays in some boots to Undertaker. #8 is Batista one of the favourites for this match and the winner of the 2005 Royal Rumble match. Batista takes down everyone moving before going toe to toe with The Undertaker. Tommy Dreamer stops that from happening but Batista eliminates Tommy Dreamer from the match to a few boo’s. Hardcore Holly has Shawn Michaels teetering on the top turnbuckle. Batista spears John Morrison. Undertaker then lays into Batista and chokes him with his boot. #9 is Hornswoggle! Hornswoggle decides not to get in the ring, instead going under the ring. Batista hits Undertaker with a spear. Holly hits Morrison with a big chop.

#10 is Chuck Palumbo. Palumbo has been feuding with Jamie Noble as of late. Palumbo was in the 2002 Royal Rumble. He lays into Shawn Michaels as Undertaker and John Morrison go at it. Hardcore Holly has Batista grounded. #11 is Jamie Noble who limps to the ring, he’s taped up after what Palumbo did to him Friday night. He goes right after Palumbo with lefts and rights. Noble is popular in New York tonight. Palumbo hits him with a big kick, eliminating Jamie Noble from the match. Palumbo lays into The Undertaker as trainers see to Jamie Noble. #12 is CM Punk who is very popular. Punk hits everyone with running knees until Undertaker hits him with a clothesline. Hardcore Holly lays into Undertaker and CM Punk eliminates Chuck Palumbo with a big knee. Unlucky #13 is Cody Rhodes who is looking for his first PPV victory tonight. He and CM Punk go at it and Rhodes nearly eliminates Punk. Cody then goes after John Morrison but then makes the mistake of going after The Undertaker.

Rhodes knocks Undertaker down with a dropkick as Shawn Michaels lays into Batista. #14 is Umaga who is another favourite in this match. Umaga in red tonight. He beat Jim Duggan to qualify for this match. Umaga takes Shawn Michaels and Undertaker down before eliminating Hardcore Holly. Batista and Umaga then go at it which would be a good match. Cody Rhodes nearly eliminates Shawn Michaels. John Morrison then goes after Cody. #15 is Snitsky. Snitsky takes Cody down with a big clothesline and then knocks Morrison down. Cody Rhodes takes Snitsky over the top and both men scrap on the apron before getting back into the ring. Undertaker smashes Umaga into the top turnbuckle and that is a match I’d love to see. #16 is The Miz, the other half of the WWE Tag Team Champions. The Miz goes after CM Punk, hammering him. Morrison helps him out. The Miz is still looking for his first PPV victory. Undertaker nearly eliminates Umaga.

#17 is Shelton Benjamin who is an ECW Superstar these days. He leaps onto the top rope and takes out both Miz and Morrison. He then knocks CM Punk down but Shawn Michaels hits him with sweet chin music eliminating Shelton Benjamin from the match. #18 is “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka! He’s looking old. He gets a good ovation though. Snuka takes down Morrison and CM Punk. Undertaker hits him with a headbutt but it hurts Undertaker more! Snuka chops away at The Miz. We did see Snuka in a WWE PPV match last year, teaming with Sgt Slaughter against Deuce and Domino. #19 is “Rowdy” Roddy Piper who gets a huge pop! Everyone stops to watch Piper and Snuka go at it! Snuka hits chops and CM Punk is on the floor laughing. Snitsky squashes Rhodes and Miz in the corner. #20 is Kane who is wrestling in his 11th straight Royal Rumble. Kane eliminates Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka. Kane then chokeslams The Miz and lays into Umaga. Two thirds of the way through this match now. Rhodes lays into Morrison in one corner.

#21 is Carlito who spits in the face of Cody Rhodes. Carlito then lays into CM Punk, The Miz and Shawn Michaels. Carlito hits the backstabber on CM Punk but Cody Rhodes takes him down with a bulldog. Snitsky lays into The Undertaker and Kane hits Umaga with a clothesline. #22 is Mick Foley! Foley gets a good pop. Foley hits Kane, Miz, Morrison, Punk and Michaels with right hands. Mick hits a double armed DDT on Kane ad Umaga hits The Undertaker with a Samoan drop. There’s some big dogs in there. Morrison hits a springboard kick on Foley. #23 is Mr Kennedy who gets a big pop. Kennedy takes down CM Punk and The Undertaker. Lots of men in the ring at the moment. Undertaker hits Mr Kennedy with a chokeslam. Undertaker then squashes Umaga, Snitsky and Morrison in the corner. #24 is Big Daddy V who has made a lot of Royal Rumble appearances and never won. The Undertaker eliminates Snitsky, Shawn Michaels eliminates The Undertaker and Mr Kennedy eliminates Shawn Michaels! Big Daddy V takes out The Miz. The Undertaker hits Snitsky with a legdrop through the announce table!

John Morrison has now been in there the longest. Mr Kennedy nearly eliminates Cody Rhodes. #25 is Mark Henry. Henry takes Kane down. Mr Kennedy has The Miz teetering on the top rope and out from under the ring comes Hornswoggle who pulls The Miz over the top, eliminating him from the match! #26 is Chavo Guerrero who is the new ECW Champion. Chavo and CM Punk get right into it! Mark Henry and Carlito go at it. Kane eliminates John Morrison. Umaga nearly eliminates Carlito. Kane hits a big boot on Mr Kennedy. Mark Henry then drags Hornswoggle into the ring. Finlay then comes out of nowhere and hits Mark Henry and Big Daddy V with his shillalah. Finlay then takes Hornswoggle to the back! Chavo lays into Cody Rhodes whilst Mick Foley stomps away at CM Punk. Mark Henry chokes Carlito. Jim Ross tells us that Finlay has been disqualified for jumping the gun and using a weapon. #28 is Elijah Burke making his royal Rumble debut. I like Burke. He goes after Chavo. Batista is on the outside but apparently not eliminated. Chavo Guerrero eliminates CM Punk. 

Mark Henry and Big Daddy V double team Umaga. Three big guys there. #29 is Triple H which gets a big pop. Triple H eliminates Cody Rhodes. Triple H hits a facebuster to Big Daddy V and then eliminates Big Daddy V from the match! Triple H and Mick Foley go at it which is cool to see. Triple H then throws Foley into Elijah Burke, both men go over the top and both Elijah Burke & Mick Foley are eliminated! Triple H and Batista the only former winners left in the match. Triple H hits everyone with right hands. He knocks Umaga into the ring post twice and then drops him with a pedigree! #30 is John Cena! There is a huge ovation for John Cena! Nobody was expecting him back this early! Triple H can’t believe it. Mark Henry attacks Triple H and Cena knocks Henry down. Cena hits Carlito and Chavo with right hands and then eliminates Carlito, Chavo & Mark Henry! 

John Cena and triple H go face to face. They slug it out and Triple H hits a big spinebuster. There are six men left in the match with Cena, Triple H, Umaga, Batista, Kane and Mr Kennedy. Batista hits a spear on Umaga and then eliminates Mr Kennedy! Batista eliminates Umaga and Triple H and Batista then double team Kane, eliminating him from the match! We are down to John Cena, Triple H and Batista! Three of the biggest babyfaces in the company are left. Batista gives the thumbs down, Cena gives the “you can’t see me” and Triple H crotch chops both men! All three men go at it and Batista hits clotheslines on both men. Triple H and john Cena double team Batista but The Animal takes both men down. Batista hits a big spinebuster on Cena and then the same on Triple H. Batista attempts a Batista bomb on Cena but Cena back body drops him! Triple H then clotheslines Batista, eliminating him from the match!

We’re down to just John Cena and Triple H! Triple H won the 2002 Royal Rumble match, Cena has never won a Royal Rumble match before but he was runner up in 2005. The two men exchange right hands and the crowd are behind Triple H in this one. Cena hits a side slam on Triple H and then the five knuckle shuffle. Cena sets up for the FU but Triple H nips down and sets up for the pedigree but Cena gets out of that. Both men then knock each other down with clotheslines. Both men get to their feet and Cena tries for an FU but Triple H nips down and knocks Cena down with a DDT. Both men then attempt their finishers but it’s Cena who manages to FU Triple H over the top to win the match! Cena is going to Wrestlemania! Cena vs. Orton? We’ll have to find out. Cena was not scheduled back for a while but what a return!

Rating: 8.25/10

And that was the 2008 Royal Rumble event. It felt like a really solid show, there was nothing bas on it. I guess that’s what happens when there’s only five matches. The first saw Ric Flair defeat MVP to keep his career alive. I can see Flair taking the streak to Wrestlemania and bowing out then. MVP was a good opponent for him and it gave the United States Champion a nice rub. Would’ve been nice to see MVP defend the title but to be honest he probably would have been in the Rumble match. This was a decent match and there is drama with every pinfall when Flair is on his back. Flair wins though and later on they teased a match with Mr Kennedy. JBL then defeated Chris Jericho by disqualification which means that this feud is bound to continue. I think there’s definitely a gimmick match planned between the two at No Way Out and maybe even Wrestlemania but it definitely won’t end here. This was a good match but there’s potential for the two to have a very good match in the future.

Edge retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Rey Mysterio in a match with an excellent finish. Vickie Guerrero took the 619 which adds a new dimension to this feud if they choose to continue it into No Way Out. I think Edge will hold the title all the way into Wrestlemania now, I’m just not 100% sure who his challenger will be. I’d guess Undertaker as they haven’t had a one on one match yet but the triple threat with Batista would’ve been good had they not done it at Armageddon. Randy Orton then defeated Jeff Hardy to retain the WWE Championship. It was a clean as you like finish which probably means that this feud is done. Jeff is very popular and I think he’ll be back in the main event picture at some point. The Royal Rumble event is a good time to thrust a new challenger into the main event scene. They’ve done it with the likes of Razor Ramon, Mr Kennedy and Umaga in the past. I think John Cena and Randy Orton are on a collision course for Wrestlemania.

John Cena surprised the world by returning much earlier than expected and then won the Royal Rumble match. It was another good Royal Rumble match with a lot of good challengers. There was no gap in the middle like some Rumbles have, the ring seemed full for the majority of the match. I liked Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper being surprise entrants and going at it as the ring looked on. I loved the first two entries being Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, picking up where they left off last year. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Hornswoggle/Finlay bit, I thought it could’ve been done better. I then enjoyed the final three being Triple H, John Cena and Batista. Definitely the three favourites and three biggest babyfaces in the match. Along with the two men that started it. John Cena won the match and goes to Wrestlemania where he can go after Randy Orton. Great match and overall a really good show. The best quality show in three years.

Overall Rating: 70/100 (ranked joint 4th out of 220)

Match Of The Night: The 2008 Royal Rumble match
Worst Match Of The Night: Ric Flair vs. MVP
Surprise Of The Night: John Cena returns in the Royal Rumble match
Worst Booking Of The Night: The Finlay/Hornswoggle bit in the Royal Rumble
Superstar Of The Night: John Cena
Royal Rumble 2008 Will Be Remembered For: John Cena returning and winning the Royal Rumble match