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2008 Royal Rumble (New York City, New York)
Considering the fact that it took place at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden, the stage was already set for a truly unforgettable evening. What took place during the match, most notably the ending, was the icing on the cake.
Legendary superstars The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, the final two competitors in the previous year’s Rumble, kicked off the match and delivered a highly competitive contest. Their battle lasted over 30 minutes before Michaels eliminated Undertaker, setting the bar for the intense action to continue with the other participants.
The bout included comedic relief, with Hornswoggle hiding under the ring for most of the time, but it was the star power involved that stole the show. Batista, CM Punk, Kane, Umaga, and Triple H all put on a thrilling exhibition, with legendary superstars Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and Mick Foley all making surprise appearances.
The atmosphere of MSG was already buzzing, but the crowd’s reaction to entrant number 30 was thunderous. The surprise return of John Cena is arguably one of the most shocking and electrifying moments in not just the Royal Rumble, but WWE history.
Cena had torn his pectoral muscle in October 2007, with medical experts estimating that he would be sidelined for up to a year. Despite the seriousness of his injury, Cena was able to back up his “Never Give Up” persona by quickly rehabbing and making one of the most shocking returns in the history of the sport.
The final three came down to Batista, Triple H, and Cena, with Cena eliminating Triple H to win his first Rumble of his career. The starpower, intense action, and genuine surprise appearances make this Rumble an easy selection for one of the best of all time.
