Royal Rumble 1998
The night after Armageddon, it was clear:Randy Orton was not only still the WWE Champion, but he was the most over heel on RAW, SmackDown!, and ECW combined. After The Undertaker's interference in the Ambulance Match that pitted The Legend Killer against John Cena for the title, Orton came out of the PPV 24 hours later as the man who always finds a way to win, no matter what lengths. And The Chain Gang Soldier came out as the uncrowned champion who was once again screwed after coming oh-so-close. RAW General Manager Jonathan Coachman, obviously disgusted at The Phenom's actions, announced that The Viper won't slither away unscathed. At the Royal Rumble, Orton will once again defend the WWE Championship against Cena, this time in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match. Later that night, The Undertaker cut a promo from his locker room about why he did what he did one night ago. The Deadman said that the devil called, saying that he needed help, and that Undertaker was his best chance of getting that help. The Demon of Death Valley stated that he chokeslammed Edge, his longtime tag team partner, into 1,000 burning flames of fury. And that Cena was left literally in a pool of his own blood. Also, the WWE Universe will never see their hero ever again, at least that's what Undertaker stated. In the main event, Orton defended the WWE title against Shawn Michaels. If Michaels lost, he'd leave RAW. HBK was firmly in control, and was about to clinch his first-ever world championship with Sweet Chin Music. Then the gong struck and the lights went out. Obviously the work of The Phenom. When the lights returned, The Legend Killer had struck with the RKO on a confused Michaels and got the winning pinfall. Either that or Undertaker interfered again. Whatever. Loud chants of "HBK! HBK!" broke out in the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The Showstopper acknowledged the chants, and left the ring the only way he knew how:By delivering Sweet Chin Music right to Orton's jaw. After Michaels, who waved goodbye to the crowd, left, the familiar coronets and blaring of "My Time Is Now" filled the Providence air. It was John Cena! A dazed Viper didn't even notice The Chain Gang Soldier had arrived. That is, until he was on top of the Cenation's leader's shoulders, about to be decimated with a bone-crushing FU. BAM! "Cena" chants were then heard all over the place. Orton was then symbolically pinned by Cena, who said "ONE! TWO! THREE!" That was the ticket. Then The Legend Killer was locked in the unfortunate stepover toehold sleeper, better known as the STFU. Orton repeatedly tapped out, desperately screaming in agony. A fired-up Chain Gang Soldier enlightened the incited Providence crowd some more as the WWE Champion was motionless, being attended to by medical officials. If Cena could pin and force Randy Orton to submit in a premeditated assault, then Cena could finally be tasting gold once again come the Royal Rumble.