Time for the results of Royal Rumble 2008.
Special Interpromotional Dark Match
Daivari vs. Mike Mizanin vs. Funaki
Fans arriving early got to see a sample of the interpromotional matches that would be taking place later on. This match saw plenty of high flying spots from all three competitors. Ending saw Mizanin dodge a Daivari clothesline, sending him over the top. This allowed Mizanin to be in the ring alone with Funaki, whom he hit with the Mizard of Oz for the win. Score an early victory for the New Breed.
Match Quality: 74%
Crowd Reaction: 65%
Overall Rating: 69%, *3/4
Segment 1: ECW Championship: CM Punk (C) vs. Kevin Thorn
What better way to kick off the show than to showcase a match from the Extreme brand of sports entertainment. Kevin Thorn had the clear power advantage, and he made good use of it, hitting Punk with plenty of high-impact maneuvers. Punk eventually mounted a comeback, and latched Thorn in the Anaconda Vice. To Punk’s shock, Thorn managed to get out of the hold. Thorn muscled his way into setting Punk up for the Original Sin…but Punk escaped, and managed to hoist Thorn up and he surprised everyone by connecting the with the GTS for the 3 count. Punk retains.
Match Quality: 74%
Crowd Reaction: 80%
Overall Rating: 78%, **1/4
Segment 2: WWE Tag Team Championships: Matt Hardy and Finlay (C) vs. Batista and Val Venis w/ Matt Striker
Your classic tag team match here, with Matt getting to play Ricky Morton. Matt gets in the hot tag to Finlay, who clears out Batista and Matt Striker (who tried to intervene). This left Finlay alone with Val, he picked Val up and hit him with the Celtic Cross before tagging Matt back in, who immediately went up top and landed a huge flying leg drop. 3 seconds later, and the champs had retained.
Match Quality: 87%
Crowd Reaction: 81%
Overall Rating: 84%, ***1/2
Segment 3: Interview with The Corporation
Throughout the night, we see various superstars walking into McMahon’s office (where the Royal Rumble tumbler is located). We cut backstage just in time to see the New Breed pulling their numbers for the Rumble, and we see Vince nodding…something suspicious is going on there. Vince says that it will be a night for the Corporation – either Cena, Carlito, or Kennedy would win the Rumble…Booker would retain his title…and Shelton Benjamin would win the IC Title NEXT.
Overall Rating: 92%
Segment 4: WWE Intercontinental Championship: Jeff Hardy (C) vs. Shelton Benjamin
A mere few moments after Matt Hardy retained his title, Jeff managed to do the same. At one point, it seemed that Shelton all but retained the belt that was once his after he hit his patented Exploder Suplex. But, Shelton taunted to the crowd too long, enabling Jeff to kick out. Jeff went on to hit a Twist of Fate and the Swanton and retain his title. After the match, Corporate member Stevie McMahon came out of nowhere and Stevie-kicked Jeff right in the face,
Match Quality: 88%
Crowd Reaction: 79%
Overall Rating: 83%, ***1/2
Segment 5: World Heavyweight Championship: Rey Mysterio (C) vs. Edge
Since becoming World Heavyweight Champion for the second time, Rey Mysterio has stood up to all challengers. Unfortunately for him, he had yet to defend against a man who knew how to cheat as much as Edge did. Edge “accidentally” Speared the ref (he tried to play it off as though he was going for Rey), and then he went out and grabbed the title belt and hit Rey with it. The ref revived, the pinfall counted, and Edge won back the title he believed was his anyway.
Match Quality: 77%
Crowd Reaction: 91%
Overall Rating: 86%, **3/4
Segment 6: WWE Championship: Booker T vs. Randy Orton (C)
After getting off to an 0-1 start, Orton looked to hold onto his title for the Corporation against the fan-favorite Booker T. The match was tremendous, and in classic WWE fashion, featured another ref bump…prompting Orton to wave to the back. Out came Snitsky, enforcer of the Corporation…he went to Big Boot Booker, but he ducked and Orton was laid out. Booker threw Snitsky out of the ring…and shocked the world by scaling the top rope and hitting the HARLEM HANGOVER. Booker T is your NEWWWWWW WWE Champion.
Match Quality: 94%
Crowd Reaction: 95%
Overall Rating: 94%, ****1/2
Royal Rumble Match in the next post.
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