Looking Back 10 Years Ago: 2008 Royal Rumble Match

[government mule]

Landlord Snitsky would have made a great New Gen dayjob gimmick. Put him in a tag team with IRS (Pay your taxes, then your rent!), then add the Repo Man into the stable and he can then repossess your house.

[thirteen3]

Watched this again not too long ago. Rather good event.

But on a bit of a morbid note, I swear there's this kid in the front row who's the spitting image of Adam Lanza.

[Jake, The Jake, Jake]

That’s, uh, a lot more “deceased” than I was expecting to see.

[Deleted]

Jan 9, 2018 0:30:46 GMT -5 Nikki Heyman said:

I was at this Rumble, and will never forget the "Holy shit it's Cena/Oh, shit it's Cena" reaction from the crowd.

People in years since really don't seem to understand that Cena's appearance here was THE single biggest shock in Rumble history. It's not even close.

He had been out for a few months at the time and was NOWHERE near his return date (I think he was due to be out for almost a year).

Whenever I see kids posting "Top Rumble surprise moments" vids on Youtube I am utterly baffled that they for the most part do NOT put this as #1. Instead, many of them put one of Jericho's returns at #1 (whatever Rumble which had Dolph at #1 and him at #2) -- Cena's 2008 return, and the guy winning at #30 AGAIN, was gigantic.

GIGANTIC!

[Deleted]

The thread for that ppv was so fun to read. Almost everyone complaining that HHH winning was a forgone conclusion and cheering for anyone else to win it. Cena returns and the forum goes apeshit. After a minute most people were cheering for HHH to win.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jan 9, 2018 14:59:15 GMT -5 @knapp said:

Jan 9, 2018 0:30:46 GMT -5 Nikki Heyman said:

I was at this Rumble, and will never forget the "Holy shit it's Cena/Oh, shit it's Cena" reaction from the crowd.

People in years since really don't seem to understand that Cena's appearance here was THE single biggest shock in Rumble history. It's not even close.

He had been out for a few months at the time and was NOWHERE near his return date (I think he was due to be out for almost a year).

Whenever I see kids posting "Top Rumble surprise moments" vids on Youtube I am utterly baffled that they for the most part do NOT put this as #1. Instead, many of them put one of Jericho's returns at #1 (whatever Rumble which had Dolph at #1 and him at #2) -- Cena's 2008 return, and the guy winning at #30 AGAIN, was gigantic.

GIGANTIC!

I mean even the "if Cena wins we riot guy" was in attendance and admitted that he cheered for Cena when he showed up.

[Nikki Heyman]

Jan 9, 2018 14:59:15 GMT -5 @knapp said:

Jan 9, 2018 0:30:46 GMT -5 Nikki Heyman said:

I was at this Rumble, and will never forget the "Holy shit it's Cena/Oh, shit it's Cena" reaction from the crowd.

People in years since really don't seem to understand that Cena's appearance here was THE single biggest shock in Rumble history. It's not even close.

He had been out for a few months at the time and was NOWHERE near his return date (I think he was due to be out for almost a year).

Funny story.... I had attended a RAW in Pittsburgh and some kid ran up to me claiming Cena was in the building (he had just left for surgery). I told the kid he was lying to me and that even SuperCena couldn't recover that quickly from his surgery.

Lo and behold, in an interview some years later, another wrestler confirmed he WAS in the building that night, "just visiting". I still owe that kid an apology.

[-Lithium-]

Great Rumble. The talent roster was stacked with star power in 2008. I hated Cena winning at the time, but looking back I kind of like it. Same with WM 22. I HATED that Triple H tapped, but looking back it made the show much more memorable. HHH celebrating a year after losing the WHC wouldn't be anything special other than a "back to status quo" thing...

[fw91]

Jan 9, 2018 13:54:22 GMT -5 xxshoyuweeniexx said:

Jan 9, 2018 4:18:19 GMT -5 TGM said:

Lmao what??

He literally kicks the babies out of his apartments before the parents.

Tenant-"My sink is leaking."
Snitsky "That's not my fault!

[CMWaters]

Jan 9, 2018 14:49:23 GMT -5 Jake, The Jake, Jake said:

That’s, uh, a lot more “deceased” than I was expecting to see.

The one that was the saddest to me was Umaga.

[Larryhausen]

Best part of that Rumble was everything else coming to a complete stop during the Piper/Snuka showdown. Punk and Morrison were in the corner fighting, and they just stop and watch, like "Dude, how awesome is this?!?"

[fw91]

Jan 9, 2018 14:59:15 GMT -5 @knapp said:

Jan 9, 2018 0:30:46 GMT -5 Nikki Heyman said:

I was at this Rumble, and will never forget the "Holy shit it's Cena/Oh, shit it's Cena" reaction from the crowd.

People in years since really don't seem to understand that Cena's appearance here was THE single biggest shock in Rumble history. It's not even close.

He had been out for a few months at the time and was NOWHERE near his return date (I think he was due to be out for almost a year).

Whenever I see kids posting "Top Rumble surprise moments" vids on Youtube I am utterly baffled that they for the most part do NOT put this as #1. Instead, many of them put one of Jericho's returns at #1 (whatever Rumble which had Dolph at #1 and him at #2) -- Cena's 2008 return, and the guy winning at #30 AGAIN, was gigantic.

GIGANTIC!

Agreed. I was there too. Not only was his return date expected to be much later, but WWE never kept something like that so secretive. There wasn't even any speculation from the dirtsheets and the usual news outlets.

[Zaq "That Guy" Buzzkill]

Jan 9, 2018 0:25:20 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

12)CM Punk: Trying to have another UFC fight (at least that's last I heard)

[Perfect Timing]

I loved that Rumble, ring filled up nicely. I miss the old school MSG entrance it made things interesting.

[GuyOfOwnage]

Jan 9, 2018 19:55:48 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

Jan 9, 2018 14:49:23 GMT -5 Jake, The Jake, Jake said:

That’s, uh, a lot more “deceased” than I was expecting to see.

The one that was the saddest to me was Umaga.

Even sadder when you consider he passed away not even 2 years later.