10 Big Wrestling Matches With Terrible Botched Finishes

1. The 2005 Royal Rumble

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WWE.com

There have been plenty of grand mess-ups throughout the Royal Rumble's long history, but the finish to the 2005 match stands as the most spectacular. This was a botch of epic proportions, and by the time it was done, WWE's signature 30-man battle royal had descended into slapstick comedy.

The match came down to Batista and John Cena, with 'The Animal' scripted to win. Towards the end, Batista picked his opponent up and tried to hit him with a Batista Bomb, but John's momentum played havoc. They lost their balance, and were both sent tumbling over the top rope at the exact same time. Batista was reportedly supposed to hang onto the ropes, preventing his elimination, but he couldn't do it, and confusion reigned as to who'd won.

The officials improvised well, and deliberated on who should have won the match. Vince McMahon eventually came down to fix the mess, but things only got worse as the Chairman tour both quads while entering the ring. Nonetheless, an injured Vince restarted the match from his seated position, and Batista eventually triumphed.

It was still an enjoyable Rumble, but one that's ultimately remembered primarily for this epic string of botches.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.