The night Batista rose to challenge for the world championship

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In January 2005, the Royal Rumble delivered a high-stakes showdown in Fresno, California. The main event saw Raw's Batista eliminate SmackDown's John Cena to secure a choice of championship matches at WrestleMania 21. This event marked a rare moment in WWE history where no tag team match appeared on the supercard.

The 2005 Royal Rumble, held on January 30 at the Save Mart Center, was the 18th annual iteration of the event. One of WWE's 'Big Four' pay-per-views, the event revolved around the men's Royal Rumble—a 30-man battle royal variant where competitors join at set intervals. The stakes were exceptionally high: the winner earned the right to challenge for either the Raw brand's World Heavyweight Championship or the SmackDown! brand's WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21. This annual tradition has been produced by WWE every January since 1988. It remains one of the company's original four major pay-per-view events.

The night's main event saw Batista, entering as the 28th participant, emerge victorious by last eliminating John Cena, who had entered the match 25th. This victory set the stage for a massive shift in the professional wrestling landscape. Meanwhile, the SmackDown! The card included a triple threat contest for the WWE Championship, pitting current champion John 'Bradshaw' Layfield (JBL) against Kurt Angle and Big Show. JBL successfully retained his title by pinning Angle. Batista entered the match as the 28th participant to secure his win. This outcome allowed him to choose his opponent for the upcoming WrestleMania 21.

The card was notable for its composition, featuring five matches driven by scripted storylines. Notably, it was the first pay-per-view since The Wrestling Classic in 1985 to exclude a tag team match. Other key matchups included Triple H defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton, and a casket match between The Undertaker and Heidenreich, a stipulation chosen by The Undertaker himself. The supercard also featured a match between Edge and Shawn Michaels. Additionally, The Undertaker defeated Heidenreich in a casket match.

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