New Year's Revolution (2005)

The 2005 New Year's Revolution was the inaugural New Year's Revolution professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw brand division. It took place on January 9, 2005, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was WWE's first pay-per-view event held in Puerto Rico and Latin America—it was the only WWE pay-per-view event held in Puerto Rico until Backlash on May 6, 2023. Tickets for this event sold out in less than a month, marking one of the fastest-selling events in the short history of the venue.

New Year's Revolution
Promotional poster featuring Batista
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)Raw
DateJanuary 9, 2005
CitySan Juan, Puerto Rico
VenueColiseo de Puerto Rico
Attendance15,764
Buy rate270,000[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
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Royal Rumble
New Year's Revolution chronology
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First
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2006

The main event was an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship between Triple H, Randy Orton, Batista, Edge, Chris Jericho, and Chris Benoit. Triple H won the match and the championship after last eliminating Orton. One of the predominant matches on the card was between Kane and Gene Snitsky, which Kane won by pinfall after performing a Tombstone Piledriver. Another primary match on the card was Muhammad Hassan versus Jerry Lawler, which Hassan won by pinfall after executing a Reverse STO.

Production

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Background

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The event was held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) 2005 pay-per-view (PPV) calendar, they scheduled an event for January 9 titled New Year's Revolution, which was a play on the Western tradition of New Year's resolutions. They also scheduled it as a PPV produced exclusively for wrestlers of the Raw brand. It took place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico and was the first pay-per-view produced by WWE to be held in Puerto Rico.[2]

Storylines

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On the December 13 episode of Raw, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff scheduled an Elimination Chamber match between Triple H, Edge, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Batista and Randy Orton for New Year's Revolution for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.[3][4] On the December 27 episode of Raw, all of the match's participants competed in singles matches, with the length of their match determining the entrance order at the Elimination Chamber match. If any of the participants lost their matches, the person who beat them would replace them in the Elimination Chamber match. All six participants won their matches, but Batista won his match in three minutes and two seconds, which turned out to be the shortest match length out of all participants. As a result, Batista earned the right to enter the Elimination Chamber match last. That same night, Bischoff made Shawn Michaels the special guest referee for the match.[5][6] On the January 3 episode of Raw, the six participants wrestled each other in three separate matches. In the first match, Batista pinned Benoit after a Batista Bomb. Next, Edge pinned Jericho to score the victory. In the final match, Orton pinned Triple H after delivering an RKO. During the last match, the other four Elimination Chamber participants interfered when the referee was knocked out.[7][8]

 
Kane, who faced Gene Snitsky at New Year's Revolution.

On the September 13 episode of Raw, during a No Disqualification match between Kane and Gene Snitsky, Snitsky accidentally pushed Kane on top of his on-screen wife Lita, who had interfered in the match. The match came to an immediate end as trainers and Emergency medical technicians took Lita on a stretcher to an ambulance, as she needed medical attention.[9][10] In the storyline Lita was pregnant and as a result of the accident she suffered a miscarriage.[11][12] Despite Snitsky's protestations, that the miscarriage was not his fault, Kane attacked Snitsky, leading to a bloody brawl on the October 4 episode of Raw, which led to a Weapon of Choice match between the two for Taboo Tuesday. The match was voted to be a steel chain match, where the only weapon that could be used was a steel chain. Snitsky defeated Kane after locking a steel chair around Kane's neck, and jumping onto it from the top rope, causing Kane to bleed from the mouth.[13][14] In the following weeks, Snitsky would mock Lita's miscarriage before[15][16] and during matches, using a "No Babies" road sign and a baby carriage in a street fight against Eugene.[17][18] On the December 27 episode of Raw, Bischoff scheduled a match between Kane and Snitsky for New Year's Revolution.[5][6]

Lita also feuded with Trish Stratus over the WWE Women's Championship. On the October 25 episode of Raw, Stratus approached Lita backstage and told her that she had gained weight from her pregnancy, which led to Lita attacking Stratus. That same night, a match was made between the two for the Women's Championship at Survivor Series,[15] in which Stratus defeated Lita by disqualification after Lita hit Stratus with a steel chair.[19][20] On the November 22 episode of Raw, Stratus defeated Lita and Molly Holly in a Triple Threat match to retain the title. After the match, Lita attacked Stratus and caused Stratus's nose to bleed.[21] On the December 6 episode of Raw, Lita defeated Stratus in the main event to capture the Women's Championship after performing a moonsault.[22] On the January 3 episode of Raw, a rematch for the title was set for New Year's Revolution.[7][8] The same night, Kane returned after weeks of inactivity to save Lita from being double-teamed by Snitsky and Trish Stratus.[7][8]

Event

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Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English commentators Jim Ross
Jerry Lawler
Jonathan Coachman
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewer Todd Grisham
Ring announcer Lilian Garcia
Referees Mike Chioda
Chad Patton
Jack Doan
Earl Hebner
Shawn Michaels (Elimination Chamber Match)

Preliminary matches

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Trish Stratus won the WWE Women's Championship at New Year's Revolution

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, The Hurricane and Rosey defeated La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Robért Conway) in a dark match. The first match was between the team of Eugene and William Regal and Christian and Tyson Tomko for the World Tag Team Championship. Eugene executed a dropkick on Tomko to retain the title.[23][24]

In the next match, Trish Stratus faced Lita for the WWE Women's Championship. Lita suffered a legitimate injury after executing a Thesz Press off the apron on the floor, tearing her left ACL. Stratus executed a Chick Kick to win the title.[23][24]

In the third match, Shelton Benjamin faced Maven for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. After Maven taunted the fans for speaking Spanish outside the ring, Benjamin rolled-up Maven to retain the title.[23][24] Immediately after the match, Maven demanded a re-match. Benjamin executed a T-Bone suplex on Maven to retain the title.[23][24]

In the next match, Muhammad Hassan (with Daivari) faced Jerry Lawler (with Jim Ross). Lawler attempted to pin Hassan but Daivari pulled Hassan's foot on the bottom rope, voiding the pinfall. Hassan executed a Reverse STO on Lawler to win the match.[23][24]

In the sixth match, Kane faced Snitsky. Kane executed a Tombstone piledriver on Snitsky to win the match.[23][24]

Main event

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Triple H won the Elimination Chamber match to become the new World Heavyweight Champion

The main event was the Elimination Chamber match between Triple H, Edge, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Batista and Randy Orton (with Shawn Michaels as the Special Guest Referee) for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Benoit and Jericho started in the match. Triple H entered at #3 and Edge entered after Triple H. Benoit attempted to apply the Crippler Crossface to Edge but Edge countered. Triple H executed a Pedigree on Jericho before Orton entered at #5. Edge inadvertently speared Michaels, leading to Michaels executing Sweet Chin Music on Edge and Jericho executing a Lionsault to eliminate Edge. Batista entered at #6. Batista executed a Spinebuster on Jericho onto Benoit and pinned Benoit to eliminate him. Batista executed a Batista Bomb on Jericho to eliminate him. Triple H countered an RKO from Orton by throwing him into Batista. Batista attempted a Batista Bomb to Orton but Orton countered with a low-blow to Batista, as there are no disqualifications in an Elimination Chamber match, and executed an RKO to eliminate Batista. As Ric Flair distracted Michaels, Batista delivered a clothesline to Orton. Triple H executed a Pedigree on Orton to eliminate Orton and win the title.[23][24]

Aftermath

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Shawn Michaels began to feud with Edge after New Year's Revolution.

The night after New Year's Revolution on Raw, Batista faced Randy Orton in a match for the position as number one contender for Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship. Orton won the match and the right to face Triple H at the Royal Rumble,[25][26] whereas Batista would participate in[27][28] and win the Royal Rumble match. At the same event, Triple H defeated Orton to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[29][30] At WrestleMania 21, Batista defeated Triple H to capture the title.[31][32]

The feud between Kane and Gene Snitsky continued on the January 17 episode of Raw. The two competed in a No Holds barred match, which ended after Kane chokeslamed Snitsky off of the stage.[27][28] On January 31, Kane defeated Snitsky in a steel cage match after delivering a chokeslam off the cage's door.[33][34] The feud between Trish Stratus and Lita ended after the event, as Lita suffered a legit injury. On the January 17 episode of Raw, however, Stratus mocked Lita's injury, but was chokeslammed by Kane.[27][28]

Edge was dissatisfied with Shawn Michaels's officiating during the Elimination Chamber match and defeated Michaels in a singles match at the Royal Rumble.[29][30] At a house show in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Eugene (who was replaced by Jonathan Coachman after he suffered a legit ruptured left patella tendon in their match at New Year's Revolution) and William Regal lost the World Tag Team Championships to La Résistance (Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier).[35] La Résistance lost the titles back to William Regal and his new partner, Tajiri, on the February 7 episode of Raw.[36][37]

New Year's Revolution became an annual event for the promotion's Raw brand, with a second event held in 2006.[38] It would be a short-lived PPV, however, as the 2007 event was the final New Year's Revolution produced,[39] as WWE reduced the number of PPVs per year after they had discontinued brand-exclusive PPVs following WrestleMania 23 in April 2007.[40] While not part of the New Year's Revolution chronology, WWE reintroduced a New Year's-themed event, which was held on January 1, 2022, called Day 1. Unlike New Year's Revolution, Day 1 took place on New Year's Day itself.[41] The 2005 New Year's Revolution would also be the only WWE pay-per-view event held in Puerto Rico until Backlash in May 2023.[42]

Results

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No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[43][44]
1DThe Hurricane and Rosey defeated La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Robért Conway)Tag team match5:13
2Eugene and William Regal (c) defeated Christian and Tyson TomkoTag team match for the World Tag Team Championship12:22
3Trish Stratus defeated Lita (c)Singles match for the WWE Women's Championship3:46
4Shelton Benjamin (c) defeated MavenSingles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship6:13
5Shelton Benjamin (c) defeated MavenSingles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship0:05
6Muhammad Hassan (with Daivari) defeated Jerry Lawler (with Jim Ross)Singles match10:51
7Kane defeated Gene SnitskySingles match11:38
8Triple H (with Ric Flair) defeated Randy Orton, Batista, Chris Jericho, Edge and Chris BenoitElimination Chamber match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship with Shawn Michaels as special guest referee35:01
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
D – this was a dark match

Elimination Chamber entrances and eliminations

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Eliminated Wrestler Entered Eliminated by Method Time
1 Edge 4 Chris Jericho Pinfall 19:20
2 Chris Benoit 1 Batista Pinfall 26:13
3 Chris Jericho 2 Batista Pinfall 27:35
4 Batista 6 Randy Orton Pinfall 32:29
5 Randy Orton 5 Triple H Pinfall 35:01
Winner Triple H 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Widro (February 8, 2005). "[WWE] New Year's Revolution Buyrate Info, Elim. Chamber History". Inside Pulse. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Coliseo de Puerto Rico". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "WWE Raw results". Online World of Wrestling. December 13, 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  4. ^ Sokol, Chris (December 14, 2004). "Raw: Bischoff's back but still no champ". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "WWE Raw results". Online World of Wrestling. December 27, 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Tylwalk, Nick (December 28, 2004). "RAW: Tick Tock goes the clock". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c "WWE Raw results". Online World of Wrestling. January 3, 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c Tylwalk, Nick (January 4, 2005). "RAW: Elimination Chamber foes face off". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  9. ^ "WWE Raw Results". Online World of Wrestling. September 14, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  10. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (September 14, 2004). "Raw: Mr. Benjamin is back". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (September 21, 2004). "Raw: New season, same old show". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
  12. ^ "WWE Raw Results". Online World of Wrestling. September 20, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  13. ^ "WWE PPV wrestling results". Online World of Wrestling. October 19, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  14. ^ "Taboo Tuesday 2004". World Wrestling Entertainment. October 19, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  15. ^ a b "WWE Raw Results". Online World of Wrestling. October 25, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  16. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (October 26, 2004). "RAW: More talk, less action". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  17. ^ "WWE Raw Results". Online World of Wrestling. November 1, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  18. ^ Mahling, Mallory (November 1, 2004). "11/1 WWE Raw Report: Mallory's "Virtual Time" Alternative Perspective Coverage". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  19. ^ "WWE PPV Wrestling Results". Online World of Wrestling. November 14, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  20. ^ "Survivor Series 2004". World Wrestling Entertainment. November 14, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
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  26. ^ Keller, Wade (January 10, 2005). "Keller's Raw report 1/10: Ongoing "virtual time" analysis of live show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  27. ^ a b c "WWE Raw results". Online World of Wrestling. January 17, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  28. ^ a b c Tylwalk, Nick (January 18, 2005). "Raw: As Evolution Turns". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ a b "WWE PPV Wrestling Results". Online World of Wrestling. January 30, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  30. ^ a b "Royal Rumble 2005". World Wrestling Entertainment. January 27, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  31. ^ "WWE PPV Wrestling Results". Online World of Wrestling. April 3, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  32. ^ "WrestleMania 21". World Wrestling Entertainment. April 3, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  33. ^ "WWE Raw results". Online World of Wrestling. January 31, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  34. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (February 1, 2005). "Raw: Snitsky shown the door". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  35. ^ "Conway & Grenier's third reign". WWE. Archived from the original on November 25, 2005. Retrieved May 23, 2007.
  36. ^ "WWE Raw Results". Online World of Wrestling. February 7, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  37. ^ Waldman, Jon (February 8, 2005). "Raw: A Japanese Edge-ucation". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  38. ^ Sokol, Chris (January 8, 2006). "Edge surprise champ after Revolution". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
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  40. ^ "WWE Pay-Per-Views To Follow WrestleMania Formula". World Wrestling Entertainment. March 18, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2007.
  41. ^ Currier, Joseph (August 24, 2021). "WWE reveals name of New Year's Day PPV". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  42. ^ Russell, Skylar (March 8, 2023). "WWE Bringing Backlash Premium Live Event To Puerto Rico In May; Bad Bunny To Host". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  43. ^ "New Year's Revolution". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  44. ^ "WWE New Year's Revolution 2005". cagematch.net. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
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