Royal Rumble (2004)

Royal Rumble (2004) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event made by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on January 25, 2004, at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the 17th Royal Rumble event held by WWE.

 Background 
As is the case every year since the event's beginning, the event's main event was the 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal, also known as the Royal Rumble match. The match started with two wrestlers and a new one was added every 90 seconds. To eliminate an opposing wrestler he must be thrown over the top rope and have both his two feet hit the floor, this continued until there was only one man left, who was named the winner. The winner received a world championship match at WrestleMania XX. Starting this year, he was allowed choose whether he wanted to face Raw's World Heavyweight Champion or SmackDown's WWE Champion.

 Qualification matches 

 John Cena and Chris Benoit defeated The Full Blooded Italians (Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo, and Johnny Stamboli) in a handicap match – SmackDown!, January 1
 Rico defeated Tommy Dreamer – Heat, January 18
 Matt Morgan defeated Orlando Jordan – Velocity, January 17
 Rikishi defeated Scotty 2 Hotty – SmackDown!, January 18
 The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated The Basham Brothers (Doug and Danny Basham) – SmackDown!, January 15
 Nunzio defeated Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli in a triple threat battle royal – SmackDown!, January 15
 Big Show defeated Funaki – SmackDown!, January 15
 Tajiri defeated Billy Kidman – SmackDown!, January 22
 A-Train defeated Shannon Moore – SmackDown!, January 22
 Bradshaw defeated Akio and Sakoda in a triple threat match – SmackDown!, January 22

 Results 

 Royal Rumble entrances and eliminations 

  – Raw
  – SmackDown!
  – Winner

+DrawEntrantBrandOrder eliminatedEliminated byTimeEliminationsChris BenoitSmackDown!6Randy OrtonRaw19Mick Foley33:445Mark HenryChris Benoit05:141TajiriSmackDown!Rhyno and Mark Henry03:390BradshawChris Benoit00:380Rhyno14:001Matt HardyRawRené Duprée14:180Scott SteinerBooker T06:490Matt MorganSmackDown!11Chris Benoit12:14110The HurricaneRawMatt Morgan00:19011Booker T13Randy Orton09:11212KaneBooker T01:40113Spike DudleyUnable to compete00:00014RikishiSmackDown!12Randy Orton03:48115René DupréeRawRikishi00:33116A-TrainSmackDown!14Chris Benoit01:44017Shelton Benjamin15Randy Orton00:37018Ernest Miller1600:56019Kurt Angle28Big Show29:04120RicoRaw17Randy Orton01:06021Mick Foley18Himself00:43222Christian20Chris Jericho07:39023NunzioSmackDown!23Goldberg03:48024Big Show29Chris Benoit22:38425Chris JerichoRaw27Big Show14:58126Charlie HaasSmackDown!21Goldberg06:53027Billy Gunn2205:37028John Cena25Big Show07:37029Rob Van DamRaw26Big Show06:44030Goldberg24Kurt Angle02:043

 References 

Category:2004 in professional wrestling
Category:2000s in Philadelphia
Category:2004 in the United States
2004