The 2005’s Royal Rumble was the 18th annual Royal Rumble event and it took place on January 30th, 2005 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California with attendance of 12000. The show featured the talents from both the Raw and SmackDown brands. Total six matches took place at the show including one pre-show match.

The main event of show is 30-Man annual Royal Rumble Match that features superstars from both Raw and Smackdown brands. The main title matches are, Triple H set to defend his World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton and JBL to defend his WWE Title against Kurt Angle and Big Show.

Other matches are, Edge to battle Shawn Michaels and Undertaker vs. Heidenreich in Casket Match.

– Maven defeated Rhyno in Singles Match (Broadcasted prior the show)

– Edge defeated Shawn Michaels via Pinfall in singles match

– The Undertaker defeated Heidenreich in Casket Match. During the match, Gene Snitsky interfered and attacked Undertaker and tried to put him in Casket. After opening the casket, Kane came out and attacked both Snitsky and Heidenreich. At the end, Undertaker hit Tombstone Piledriver to Heidenreich and put him in the casket.

– John “Bradshaw” Layfield (JBL) defeated Big Show and Kurt Angle in Triple Threat Match and retained his WWE Title. During the match, onto a chair. Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak and Doug & Danny Basham attacked Big Show and Orlando Jordan helped JBL back into the ring. Then, JBL hit Clothesline from Hell to Kurt Angle and pinned to retain his title.

– Triple H defeated Randy Orton in Singles Match to retain his WWE Title. Before the start of match, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff banned Evolution (Batista and Ric Flair) from ringside. At the end, Triple H hit Clothesline to Randy Orton and referee, then, HHH took it as advantage and tries to used his Sledgehammer on Orton but he escapes. But HHH hit quick clothesline and pedigree and pinned to retain title.

– Batista won the annual Royal Rumble Match by last eliminating John Cena and earned WWE World Championship Match at WrestleMania 21.

Participants: Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Daniel Puder, Hardcore Holly, The Hurricane, Kenzo Suzuki, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, Booker T, Chris Jericho, Luther Reigns, Muhammad Hassan, Orlando Jordan, Scotty 2 Hotty, Charlie Haas, René Duprée, Simon Dean, Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Jonathan Coachman, Mark Jindrak, Viscera, Paul London, John Cena, Gene Snitsky, Kane, Batista, Christian, Ric Flair