– The following match took place on WWE Sunday Night Heat prior to Royal Rumble:
NON-TITLE MATCH
–Molly Holly vs. Victoria w/ Steven Richards
Winner: Victoria
– The match ended when Molly Holly went to the top rope, but Victoria grabbed her and connected with the Widow’s Peak to get the pin.
Full WWE Royal Rumble PPV Results – 1/25/03
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Report by: Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – TABLES MATCH
–Ric Flair & Batista (c’s) vs. The Dudley Boyz
Winners: Ric Flair & Batista
The match ended when The Coach ran down to the ring to attempt to interfere. Bubba Ray Dudley pulled Coach inside and did a big bodyslam getting him set up for the top rope headbutt by D-Von. Just as it was to go down, Flair knocked out Bubba Ray and D-Von took down Flair with a top rope elbow. Batista came in the ring and gave D-Von a big spinebuster through a table to secure the win for Flair and Batista. After the match, Flair got on the mic and told the Dudleyz that Evolution just passed them by.
Backstage, John Cena cut a rap on how he would win the Royal Rumble tonight. Just as he was finishing part of the rap, RVD came in and finished it with his intials. Cena laughed it off and promised to win and go on to WrestleMania.
WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
–Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Jamie Noble w/ Nidia
Winner & STILL Crusierweight Champion: Rey Mysterio
The match ended when Nidia tripped up Jamie Noble, allowing Mysterio to hit the 619 followed by a leg drop to the back of the head to get the pin. After the match, Noble argued with Nidia as Mysterio celebrated in the ring.
–Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero w/ Chavo Sr.
Winner: Eddie Guerrero
The match ended when Guerrero took down Chavo with numerous suplexes followed by a big frog splash off the top rope for the pin. After the match, Eddie gave Chavo Sr. a big kick to the groin and tied him up to the bottom rope. Eddie beat down Chavo Jr. in the corner and busted him open as Chavo Sr. looked on.
Backstage, Chris Benoit talked about he has 29 other men to overcome tonight in the Rumble. As Benoit continued, Ric Flair cut him off with Evolution and told Benoit that Randy Orton would win the Rumble tonight. Flair told Benoit that he has never been able to win the “big one” in his wrestling career.
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
–Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Hardcore Holly
Winner & STILL WWE Champion: Brock Lesnar
The match ended when Lesnar countered out of a submission by Holly into the F-5 for the pin.
Backstage, Triple H was shown taping up his hands for his upcoming match and heading to the ring. Shawn Michaels was shown next praying backstage in preparation for his match with Triple H for the World Heavyweight Title.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – LAST MAN STANDING
–Triple H (c) vs. Shawn Michaels
Winner & STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H
Pretty slow paced match to start off until it spilled to the outside. One of the bigger spots in the match saw Michaels go for a moonsault on Triple H, but miss and smash through the spanish announce table. Following the spot, Michaels got back into the ring and Triple H continued to beat him down, but Michaels would jump back up from the 10 count each time. Triple H eventually brought a steel chair into the ring to help keep Michaels down, but HBK wouldn’t stay down. Triple H tried to take out HBK with a Pedigree on the steel chair, but HBK countered out and launched Triple H into the corner. Michaels eventually hit a big elbow off the top and went for the Sweet Chin Music, but Triple H fell to one knee and hit a low blow. By this time, both men were busted open big time. Triple H hit a Pedigree, but HBK got back to his feet at the 8 count. Triple H charged again, but HBK knocked him out with the Sweet Chin Music. Both men stayed down as the referee made the 10 count. Howard Finkel got on the mic and declared that since both men were unable to respond to the 10 count, Triple H remains the World Heavyweight Champion.
After the match, EMT’s came out to take both men to the back on stretchers. As HBK was being taken out on a stretcher, he got off and walked away on his own.
ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
–15 RAW superstars & 15 SmackDown superstars
Before the match started, Eric Bischoff came out and said he was confident that a RAW superstar would win the Royal Rumble tonight. Bischoff ran down Paul Heyman and SmackDown, mentioning how Heyman ran ECW in Philadelphia. Paul Heyman came out and got on the mic. Heyman looked to talk, but threw the mic at Bischoff and took him down. As this went down, Stone Cold Steve Austin came out on his ATV and hit the ring. Austin got on the mic and wondered what the hell was going on in the ring. Austin said since he is the law, he wanted to know who started it. Austin gave Bischoff a Stunner and shared some beer with Heyman. As Heyman started celebrating, Austin gave him a Stunner.
Backstage, Goldberg was about to talk about how he was #30 in the Rumble when Brock Lesnar walked up. Lesnar bragged about retaining his WWE Title tonight and said the last time they confronted each other, Goldberg was a champ but he isn’t now. Goldberg said all that matters tonight is that he will win the Rumble and go on to WrestleMania. Goldberg said, “Isn’t that right Hardcore?”. Lesnar turned around quickly to look, but Hardcore wasn’t there. Goldberg called Lesnar a coward.
IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE & ELIMINATION:
1. Chris Benoit
2. Randy Orton
3. Mark Henry
4. Tajiri
5. Bradshaw
– Chris Benoit eliminated Bradshaw.
6. Rhyno
– Rhyno eliminated Tajiri.
– Chris Benoit eliminated Mark Henry.
7. Matt Hardy
8. Scott Steiner
9. Matt Morgan
10. The Hurricane
– Matt Morgan eliminated The Hurricane.
11. Booker T
– Scott Steiner was eliminated while the cameras were focused on Kane’s entrance.
12. Kane
13. Spike Dudley
– Booker T eliminated Kane when The Undertaker’s music hit and distracted Kane. Spike came out later, but Kane cut him off and gave him a chokeslam on the entrance ramp.
14. Rikishi
– Chris Benoit eliminated Rhyno.
15. Rene Dupree
– Rene Dupree eliminated Matt Hardy.
– Rikishi eliminated Rene Dupree.
16. A-Train
– Chris Benoit eliminated Matt Morgan.
– Randy Orton eliminated Rikishi.
– Randy Orton eliminated Booker T.
17. Shelton Benjamin
– Chris Benoit eliminated A-Train.
– Randy Orton eliminated Shelton Benjamin.
18. Ernest “The Cat” Miller
– Randy Orton eliminated Ernest “The Cat” Miller.
19. Kurt Angle
20. Rico
– Randy Orton eliminated Rico.
21. Test (His music hit but didn’t come out – a camera was shown backstage with Test knocked out. Austin walked up and asked if he was okay to wrestle, but the trainers said he wasn’t. Austin yelled at someone to run to the ring because he was now #21. Mick Foley’s music hits and he attacks Orton)
21. Mick Foley
– Mick Foley & Randy Orton were both eliminated at the same time when Foley knocked Orton over the top rope and went over with him. Foley continued to beat down Orton on the outside. Both men eventually brawled to the ramp and Foley brought out Mr. Socko. Foley gave Nunzio the Mandable Claw, but Orton broke it up as they headed to the back.
22. Christian
– Foley continued to beat down Orton on the outside. Both men eventually brawled to the ramp and Foley brought out Mr. Socko. Foley gave Nunzio the Mandable Claw, but Orton broke it up as they headed to the back.
23. Nunzio
24. Big Show
25. Chris Jericho
26. Charlie Haas
– Chris Jericho eliminated Christian.
27. Billy Gunn
28. John Cena
29. Rob Van Dam
30. Goldberg
– Goldberg eliminated Charlie Haas.
– Goldberg eliminated Billy Gunn.
– Goldberg eliminated Nunzio.
* Brock Lesnar ran out and gave Goldberg the F-5.
– Kurt Angle eliminated Goldberg.
– Big Show eliminated John Cena.
– Big Show eliminated Rob Van Dam.
– Big Show eliminated Chris Jericho.
– Big Show eliminated Kurt Angle.
– Chris Benoit eliminated Big Show to become the 2004 Royal Rumble Winner.
