Review of WWE: Royal Rumble 2005

Introduction

You know, if it weren`t so much fun, I could understand an apathetic response to the Royal Rumble. Conveniently held every January since 1988, it has always been abused as somewhat of a pre-cursor to March`s Wrestlemania. Take for example, Hulk Hogan`s Rumble match duels with Randy Savage (1989) & The Ultimate Warrior (1990). Tensions always seem to flare at the Royal Rumble, steadily building to a Wrestlemania showdown.

So yes, a subsidiary to Wrestlemania it may be (which event isn`t?!), but no, that doesn`t take away the fun. For those uninitiated, the Royal Rumble match is very different from its generic counterparts. 30 participants contest the event, where there are no pinfalls, no submissions, no countouts, and no disqualifications. The only way to be eliminated is to be thrown out of the ring, over the top rope, feet touching the ringside floor. The one remaining participant after the other 29 have been eliminated is declared the victor, winning the chance to star in the main event of Wrestlemania.

Got that? Are you ready? Do you think you`re tough enough?! If you are nodding right now, in the words of ring announcer Howard Finkel:

"It is now time…for the Royal Rumble!"

Video

Visuals on this DVD are consistent with all other recent WWE releases. Presented in 4:3 non-anamorphic PAL, this is only slightly better than one would expect from a digital television broadcast, a more than acceptable transfer for this genre.

Audio

Audio on this DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 format, which is comparable to the stereo track that was first broadcast for live television. There are no audio-sync issues, making this a more than acceptable audio track for a DVD of this genre.

Features

The extras on this disc are limited by the length of the main feature itself, although there is some interesting footage included. Of the five vignettes ("promos") available, those regarding the history of the Royal Rumble are the most interesting, as they feature clips of such wrestling luminaries such as Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, Randy Savage and our own Davey Boy Smith (RIP).

Also included are three short DVD exclusives, including an off-the-air confrontation between Batista and John Cena.

This is an acceptable extras package considering the length of the main feature.

Conclusion

In brief notes from the event:
Edge`s bout with Shawn Michaels was well-paced and technically sound, and included a number of gripping near-falls. The Undertaker`s Casket Match bout with John Heidenreich was a horrible affair, saved only somewhat by a surprise participant. JBL`s title defence against Kurt Angle and Big Show had moments of excitement but was spoiled by outside interference. Randy Orton`s challenge to Triple-H`s World Championship only served to prove that his good-guy persona is nowhere near as interesting as his heel persona. And the Royal Rumble match-up itself was entertainingly fast-paced, with excellent performances from Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio Jr., Batista, and John Cena.

Living up to expectations isn`t always the WWE`s strong suit, but the Royal Rumble was certainly an entertaining event which began tensions rolling for the upcoming Wrestlemania. And judging by the crowd`s reaction as the cameras went off-air, the WWE has a new superstar on its roster.