Throwback Thursday: 2004 WWE Royal Rumble Review
The 2004 Royal Rumble featured the surprise Main Event push of Hardcore Holly in his feud with WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar.
The 2004 Royal Rumble changed the landscape of the WWE for years to come. It was the start of a star rise for two longtime wrestling veterans; Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. Eddie was starting to break away from the Tag Team division and his nephew Chavo. Chris Benoit was on the precipice of getting the biggest Main Event push of his wrestling career.
But, perhaps the biggest surprise of them all, was the brief and, surprise Main Event push of Hardcore Holly. Hardcore Holly’s surprise Main Event push would be the highlight of his career and a well-deserved token of appreciation by the WWE for his 10 prior years of service with the company.
In this review well take a look back at each match on the card and give it a rating on a scale of 1–10 (1 being the worst, and 10 being the best).
Please note that only the match card will be reviewed. Any miscellaneous non-wrestling match performances, such as backstage interviews, superstar promos, etc., will not be reviewed. Each match will be reviewed in the order in which it is presented on the show (from first to last/Main Event).
1. Opening Match: Evolution (Batista and Ric Flair) (C) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) — Tables Match for the World Tag Team Championship
The first match on the card was very short and quick to the point and finish. It was still entertaining though in my opinion. The crowd was into it and it was a good starter to the show. Ric Flair in particular had the crowd going early with multiple chest chops to D-Von and Bubba. Batista was dominant and looked like a star.
The Dudley’s looked strong up until the end and worked a really good match with very short time constraints. For a match that was so short, there was a lot of exciting action, but of course, the Dudley’s were one of the most Legendary Tag Teams of all time, and they never disappointed. The only thing keeping the rating down for this match is just the short time it was given.
Result: Evolution (Batista and Ric Flair) retain the World Tag Team Championship
Rating: 7
Timing: 4:23
2. Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Mysterio (C) vs. Jamie Noble (with Nadia)
Not the most entertaining match in my opinion. Jamie Noble just never seemed to be a credible contender for any title. There were better options in my opinion for Rey Mysterio to defend his Title against, such as; Tajiri or Chavo, but both weren’t available. Chavo was in a feud with uncle Eddie, and Tajiri was a participant in the 30 Man Royal Rumble Match.
This match was very rushed and it showed. Mysterio kept this very short match from being a total bore and displayed some of his trademark aerial moves. He made short work of Noble and easily retained his Title.
Result: Rey Mysterio retains the Cruiserweight Championship
Rating: 3
Time: 3:12
3. Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero (with Chavo Guerrero Sr.)
Eddie Guerrero was one of the greatest performers I’ve ever seen. He had it all. Except for height. This match, however, with Chavo, wasn’t the most exciting or entertaining. There was an interesting storyline though and that's what keeps this match from getting a below-average grade. Eddie hits the frog-splash on Chavo at the end for the 1–2–3 count, then starts to pummel Chavo Sr. and Chavo after the match.
This was the ending and final chapter in the break-up of Eddie and Chavo as former Tag Team partners. Eddie would be “hot-shotted” to the Main Event soon after this Royal Rumble match.
Result: Eddie Guerrero defeats Chavo Guerrero
Time: 8:03
Rating: 5
4. SmackDown Main Event: Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Hardcore Holly — WWE Championship
Not the most memorable match on the card. However, Holly’s name being in the Main Event of an “A” level PPV was very memorable as it was the biggest push of his WWE career. The back story between Holly and Lesnar stemmed from a legitimate neck injury to Holly from Lesnar on a September 2002 episode of Smackdown. Holly would be out for a year and returned in October 2003, promising revenge on Brock. This was the first and only Main Event push of Holly’s career as he and Lesnar would have multiple run-ins with each other before their WWE Championship Match at the 2004 Royal Rumble.
The build to this match was pretty good, but the pay-off and actual match at the Rumble didn’t meet expectations. Part of the problem was the amount of time. At the last second, right before Lesnar and Holly went out for their match, they were informed that their match would be cut down from 15 to 8 minutes. This was done so that the Raw Main Event could get more time as it was a Last Man Standing match. This upset Holly, and rightfully so.
Brock Lesnar dominated the majority of the match, with about 4 minutes of him having Holly in some boring rest-holds. Holly made a brief comeback towards the end and even executed his finisher; The Alabama Slam. Instead of going for the pin on Brock right after his finisher, Holly inexplicably went for a full nelson to try and break Brock’s neck. About 45 seconds later Holly tries another full nelson. Brock flips Holly to the floor. Holly gets up and subsequently runs into an F-5. 1–2–3. Match over. Lesnar retains in a somewhat dominating fashion.
This was very disappointing. I was 9 years old at the time and a huge Hardcore Holly fan. I was hoping he’d at least stay in the Main Event picture for a longer sustained period and that this would just be the beginning of his push. That didn’t happen though. Holly ultimately was just a savvy veteran used to give Brock Lesnar “something to do” before Wrestlemania. He stepped up to the challenge and spotlight in his brief run at the top of the card and did his best with what he was given in this storyline.
The timing, result, and actual match showed the WWE’s lack of confidence in Holly as a main eventer. It was the biggest match of his career though, at one of the 4 biggest PPV’s of the year. After the match, Lesnar walks up the ramp and the cameras quickly cut away to Triple H, as he gets ready to defend his World Heavyweight Championship.
Result: Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Championship
Time: 6:30
Rating: 5
5. Raw Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (C) — Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
You can never go wrong with a Triple H and Shawn Michaels match. It was one of the best rivalries of the Ruthless Aggression Era. This match wasn’t their best, especially the disappointing ending, but it was still a worthwhile watch and the Sweet Chin Music by Michaels that ended the match was legendary.
The crowd was into it and Michaels got a huge pop at the end, before the 10 count, where both men failed to stand. This draw would set the stage for Michaels to co-main event WrestleMania 20, with Triple H and Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship. One of the best WrestleMania Main Event matches of all time.
Result: Draw — Triple H retains World Heavyweight Championship
Time: 22:46
Rating: 7.5
6. Main Event: 30-Man Royal Rumble match for a World Championship match at WrestleMania XX
It was a long time coming for Chris Benoit, and despite the tragic tragedy that would later stain his career and the WWE, it was well deserved at the time. That’s very hard to say considering that we all know what Chris Benoit did. Still, this review is objectively and strictly about the 2004 Royal Rumble.
The ending of this match was surprising and exciting. Big Show, Kurt Angle, and Benoit were the last 3 contestants. At first, it felt like Kurt Angle would win the match. He made Big Show tap out and seemed like he was in control. However, he was ultimately eliminated by the Big Show. At this point, it was no longer a surprise as to who would win the Royal Rumble. Benoit made Big Show tap out to the cross-face. Big Show eventually fought out of it and the two would go back and forth until Benoit made the final elimination to win the match.
It was the well-executed Royal Rumble match in which the underdog won. Benoit would switch over to the Raw brand, where he chose to Challenge Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 20 along with Shawn Michaels.
