WWE Royal Rumble 2007

WWE Royal Rumble 2007

San Antonio, Texas - January 2007

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into the show, the WWE Champion was John Cena, Batista held the World Heavyweight Championship, and Bobby Lashley was the ECW Champion. The WWE's Women Champion was Mickie James, the Cruiserweight Champion was Gregory Helms (nearing the end of a 385 Day reign, by the way), the Intercontinental Champion was Jeff Hardy, and the US Title was held by Chris Benoit. The WWE Tag Team Champions were Kendrick and London and the World Tag Team Champions were Rated RKO, Orton Edge.

In the opening contest, MNM take on The Hardys. A month prior, during a previous match between the two teams, Joey Mercury had suffered an absolutely nasty injury that left his face a bloody mess and his eye swollen shut. In retalliation, Mercury and Nitro attacked Matt Hardy on SmackDown and attempted to smash his face in. As JR notes on commentary, these teams were actually split up at this point - with Matt Hardy and Joey Mercury on the Blue Brand and Jeff and Johnny on RAW. This match is an absolute war with both teams getting in plenty of signature offense. There's urgency throughout and both teams bring the intensity and violence that they should. This is not just an exhibition of high spots or a "fun little tag," it is a real battle. Because of this, the fact that Melina's contributions are limited doesn't seem like a misstep - this is a match about two teams trying to wreck each other and there's no room for comedy or even much trickery by this point. At the time, I don't remember people really raving too much about this match but I'd consider it one of the better tags I've seen in recent months. (3.5/5)

After a backstage segment involving the team of Rated RKO, King Bookah, and Kelly Kelly, we get our ECW Championship Match - Bobby Lashley defending against Test. Joey Styles and Tazz are on commentary for this and are working hard, but by this point I'm figuring that they weren't super happy about having these two guys representing the ECW brand they once helped build. That being said, as a WWE style match, this one isn't too bad and, though watching Test and Lashley work an armbar isn't the most riveting action I've ever seen, its not like they're just sitting there either. They lay their moves in, Lashley looks impressive throughout, and Test brings plenty of energy (maybe figuring that a good performance here might finally get him noticed for a legit push)...only for the match to end with one of the all-time worst finishes I've ever seen. Spoiler alert: Test walks out of the match for no reason, essentially giving up despite the fact that, up to that point, it hadn't really been all that one-sided. Was this done to keep Test from getting pinned? From being submitted? Walking out (or attempting to walk out of the match) makes him look way worse! It also doesn't help Lashley at all as he didn't get a clean pin on his rival. So stupid. (1/5)

Backstage, Vince McMahon checks on John Cena, who is getting a check-up from the staff doctor. McMahon basically says that he "can't see" John Cena walking out of the show tonight as the WWE Champion.

Next up, Batista defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Mr. Kennedy. Kennedy became the Number One Contender by winning a Beat the Clock Challenge, drawing the ire of the Undertaker in the process. The commentators note that, over the past year, Kennedy holds victories over 6 former World Champions - including The Undertaker and Batista. I'm not sure how clean those were, but it just goes to show how much Kennedy was being pushed and hyped as a future main eventer. Kennedy gets plenty of time on top, too, really controlling this physical match despite suffering a busted nose early on. It's also refreshing to hear JBL and Cole actually "talk up" the blood flowing out of Kennedy's nose (which isn't that gratuitous anyway) instead of ignoring it the way the commentators do today. Kennedy attacks Batista's knee and lower back with a half-crab and, moments later, a chopblock. Batista attempts a spinebuster, but can't make the cover due to his damaged leg. Batista counters Kennedy's attempt to regain control with a back body drop and a clothesline in the corner. Batista then lands a samoan drop and calls for the Batista Bomb. Kennedy attacks the knee, though, then hits a low blow before hitting a reverse neckbreacker. He gets the visual pin on Batista, but the referee is out (Batista had accidentally elbowed him into the corner)! Shouldn't that be what the babyface gets? Kennedy wakes up the ref and hits a DDT, but only gets 2. A noticeable portion of the audience is now chanting for Kennedy, which makes total sense because, though he did hit Batista with a blatant low blow, he did pin the champion. The momentum shifts when Kennedy incredulously attempts an axehandle from the second rope and Batista hits his powerbomb to get the W. Its been so long since I've watched a Batista match from this era that I definitely forgot how serviceable he was as a monster babyface. Kennedy is pretty good as the sneaky heel too. Not a classic or anything, but definitely above average. (3/5)

Umaga challenges John Cena for the WWE Championship in the next contest. The crowd is red hot for Cena, which is a bit surprising as I thought early 07' was still a time when the anti-Cena sentiment was strong. Cena comes in selling damage to his sternum, setting the table for a "Man vs. Monster"-type match. Umaga controls the early going and attempts to bring in the steel steps. He unwisely tosses them into the ring and Cena lands his first big strike by sending them right back onto Umaga on the outside in a great spot. Umaga won't stay down, though, and the steps end up back in the ring where both guys use them to their advantage. The crowd wants tables, but Umaga and Cena milk the suspense, keeping things simple and basing the big moments around the steps. Cena attempts an Attitude Adjustment, but is too weakened and ends up getting his head sandwiched between Umaga and the steel. When Cena gets back to his feet, he's a bloody mess. The classic "Let's Go Cena/Cena Sucks" chant begins as Cena rallies, but Umaga catches him with an absolutely nasty Samoan Drop. Umaga calls for the Samoan Spike, but Cena blocks it. Umaga drops him with a headbutt and then sets him up in the Tree of Woe. Umaga attempts a leaping headbutt but misses and Cena hits his patented leg drop from the top. He sends Umaga into the ring post and grabs a TV monitor. The camera angle doesn't really capture the strike too well as Cena bashes Umaga in the skull with the thing. Umaga won't stay down, though, and the fight continues on the outside of the ring where Cena gets driven into post back-first. Umaga sets Cena face-down over one of the three announce tables and runs across the other two for a splash - but Cena moves and Umaga goes through it! The crowd counts along, but Umaga somehow manages to get on his feet at the count of 9. Umaga makes his way back into the ring as Alejandro Estrada (Umaga's manager) disconnects the top rope from the ring post. Umaga prepares to bash Cena in the skull with the steel spike from the turnbuckle, but Cena catches him with the AA and then uses the weapon himself. In one of the most vicious finishes I've seen in quite awhile, Cena then uses the ring rope to choke Umaga out, putting so much might into it that he himself collapses at one point and has to reapply the hold. It all makes for an amazing visual that culminates with Cena actually looking distraught with how far he had to go to defeat Umaga. While I'm not sure I'd rank this as an all-time classic the way others have, it is obviously well above-average and a true "must see" for any fan of Cena or modern WWE in general. (4/5)

Main event time - the 2007 Royal Rumble Match! This edition was hyped as the most star-studded edition of the Rumble ever, though I'm not sure how true that is. I recall there being some question regarding who might win the Rumble as Triple H was the favorite in late 06' but got injured and, for whatever reason, Randy Orton was not automatically pencilled in to take his spot (though Cena and Orton would feud extensively later in the year). I think Orton's slight "de-push" (if one can even call it that) had to do with behavioral issues, but then again, his 60-Day Suspension happened in April 06', almost a full year before WrestleMania 23 and, in that time, he was still in the upper midcard (and even faced Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam that year). Anyway, Ric Flair and Finlay start things off, followed by Kenny Doane, Matt Hardy, and Edge at #5. Edge delivers a whole bunch of spears but Matt Hardy dodges one and hits a Twist of Fate on his longtime rival. Flair rolls to the outside and searches under the ring for some chairs. Flair looks to set up a Con-Chair-To, but Edge tosses him over the top rope and then tosses Kenny too. Tommy Dreamer is in at #6 and a loud ECW chant starts up. Sabu, Greg Helms, and Shelton Benjamin all come in to mild reaction. Sabu had set up a table on the outside, so there is some extra suspense on that side of the ring, a nice touch. Kane comes in at #10 and tosses out Dreamer. He attempts to send Sabu out of the ring, but Sabu fights away. Sabu tries to clothesline Kane over the top, but Kane back body drops him onto the apron and then chokeslams him through the table on the outside! CM Punk comes in at #11 to a pretty loud response and immediately goes after Edge. King Booker comes in at #12, Sharmell at his side. Super Crazy and Jeff Hardy come in, but the coolest entrance up this point is The Sandman's as he arrives from the audience with a beer (and his Singapore Cane) in hand. Sandman is eliminated almost instantly, though, which gets booed. Orton comes in and starts working with Edge to clear the table a bit. Chris Benoit enters next and the commentators hype the fact that he won the 2004 edition. #18 is Rob Van Dam, who gets a huge response before cleaning house. Kane eliminates King Booker, but Booker is incensed and comes back in to take Kane out. This led to these two men feuding and squaring off at the next PPV, but I don't think it went anywhere beyond that. Viscera and Johnny Nitro come in, followed by Kevin Thorn at #21. Hardcore Holly is in at #22 and, man, I really forgot how dull a Rumble could be without all the surprise entrants, dance breaks, and comedy spots that the Rumbles of today tend to cram in. Shawn Michaels comes in #23 to the biggest reaction yet, unsurprising considering he's the hometown hero. Michaels eliminates Finlay and then teams with a number of other superstars to send Viscera over the top. At #24, Chris Masters enters and immediately goes after Chris Benoit. Johnny Nitro gets eliminated by Benoit when he attempts a move from the second rope, taking a great spill onto the floor. Chavo Guerrero enters at #25 as Benoit eliminates Kevin Thorn. MVP comes in at #26 looking like a blueberry race car driver. Chris Masters gets dropkicked out of the ring by RVD as Cole notes that, in every Rumble that he's been in, RVD has ended up in the final 6. In the corner, CM Punk brawls with Randy Orton, somehow managing to survive despite being on the wrong side of the ropes. Carlito comes in at #27. At #28, The Great Khali comes in and proceeds to dominate everyone in the ring with headbutts and chops. He eliminates 5-6 guys with ease, including The Miz (who comes in at #29) and then hits Michaels with a big chokeslam. The Undertaker comes in at #30 to a huge pop and stares down Khali. Taker dodges a Khali punch and hits him with a bunch of big rights of his own. Taker and Khali trade blows and the Deadman clotheslines him over the top (barely)! The Undertaker then hits an Old School on MVP, a move that makes little sense to bust out in a Rumble, but whatever. MVP tries to come back in with a chair but gets stopped by the ref. Orton grabs the chair and brings it right down on Taker's skull. Edge sets up to spear his tag partner, but Orton turns around and catches him. Orton hits an RKO on Michaels, who rolls to the outside, and Edge and Orton continue to bicker. Rated RKO decide to double-up on the Undertaker, beating him down in the corner. The Undertaker, now bloodied, rallies though, attempting to double chokeslam the champs. Instead he settles for a double clothesline and then hits Edge with the Snake Eyes into the Big Boot. The Undertaker attempts a chokeslam on Orton, but Edge hits him with a huge spear. Edge then waffles Taker with another big chair shot to the head and grabs a second chair, setting Undertaker up for a Con-Chair-To. Michaels comes in and eliminates Orton and then hits Edge with a Sweet Chin Music to send him out too! Michaels collapses and both men are down. Undertaker sits up first, but Michaels kips up too in a classic WWE moment. Michaels and Taker immediately show off their chemistry, with Michaels ping-ponging around the ring with gusto just like it was 97' and not 07'. Undertaker ends up on the apron and Michaels tries to eliminate him with a driving forearm but it's not enough. Taker attempts a back body drop, but Michaels counters it and delivers a neckbreaker. The two legends trade strikes in the middle of the ring, but Taker eventually drops HBK with a big boot. The San Antonio crowd is definitely behind Michaels, but it's not like their outright booing the Deadman. Taker tries to eliminate him with a front suplex, but Michaels fights out of it. They end up fighting on the top turnbuckle with Taker eventually dropping back into the center of the ring. Michaels hits his patented elbow and then calls for Sweet Chin Music, but its unclear how this would help him win the match. Taker catches him, though, and drops him with a chokeslam! Taker attempts a Tombstone, but Michaels escapes and hits him with a superkick! Once again both men are down, but Michaels is up first. He attempts another Sweet Chin Music, but this time Taker catches him and tosses him over the top! Not an all-time great Rumble, though the final 5 minutes were excellent. Unfortunately, if you're going to devote 60 minutes to a match, you'd want more than 12% of it to be interesting. (2/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.7-out-of-5, the 2007 edition of the Royal Rumble could never be considered a start-to-finish blockbuster, but it does contain one excellent match (Cena/Umage), one very good-to-great match (the opening tag bout), and an arguably underrated above-average title match (Batista/Kennedy). If only the Rumble match itself featured a few more surprises, an inventive spot or two, a memorable through line. The final 5-6 minutes are undeniably great, but Orton and Edge's partnership isn't emphasized strongly enough in the preceding hour to unify the Rumble's various storylines into a memorable, recognizable whole. Granted, very few Rumbles do check that box - Flair's big victory in 91', the unforgettable Steve Austin/Bret Hart-shouldered edition in 96', Vince McMahon's victory in 99' - but that doesn't make the viewing of the 07' Rumble any more worthwhile. 

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand