10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2005 Facts
The WWE of tomorrow takes shape, while Vince is going to need a hand.
TV watchers on both sides of the Atlantic may remember a comedy program called Whose Line is it Anyway?, in which improv-masters worked their way through hypothetical scenarios. One such game from the US version was called "Dead Bodies", in which one player had to act out a multi-person scene while the other actors pretended to be lifeless. To accomplish this, the "living" player would have to manipulate the appendages of his fellow performers, and speak on their behalf, playing multiple roles at once.
That little game came to mind when Vince McMahon ended up on his ass at the conclusion of the 2005 Rumble match, after a ring entry-gone-bad. Despite having just torn his quadriceps, McMahon gallantly (this can't be stressed enough) carried on with the scene, and expected John Cena, Batista, and the four referees to pretend he wasn't sitting there like someone that had just purchased a lap dance. It's one of the most unusual unintended visuals in WWE history.
That darkly-comical moment somewhat detracted from the fact that Cena and Batista were the flavors of 2005 and beyond, as reflected by their standing in the Rumble match. Overall, the 2005 Royal Rumble is a somewhat-forgotten classic, or rather a classic show that gets overshadowed by Vince McMahon's unexpected predicament.
Here are ten facts about the 2005 Royal Rumble you may not have known.
10. Filming For The Event's Commercial Was Crashed By TNA Wrestlers
The 2005 Royal Rumble featured one of the sillier, offbeat ad campaigns in WWE history. Numerous top stars from both brands dressed like the Jets and Sharks from West Side Story, and filmed their rendition of the song-and-dance prelude to the big brawl in the street. It was really something else.
The commercial was filmed in November 2004 on a soundstage at Orlando's Universal Studios. By coincidence, TNA filmed Impact and their their-now monthly pay-per-views at the same place, and some TNA performers decided to have a little fun.
The likes of Shane Douglas, Konnan, Ron Killings (R-Truth), BG James (Road Dogg), Abyss, and Traci Brooks filmed a little "welcome wagon" segment where they tried to warmly greet the WWE visitors. Rey Mysterio appeared unmasked in the footage (though his face was blurred). Additionally, Killings made off with a plate of mahi-mahi from WWE's catering spread. TNA cheerfully ran the footage during their December pay-per-view, Turning Point.