The pay-per-view took place on January 18, 1998 at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California. RAW ring announcer Lillian Garcia announced the rules of the match. It begins with the two competitors. The Superstar who gains the first decision(pinfall, submission, countout, disqualification) will take a 1-0 lead. After the first fall, both men will be given a 30-second resting period before the second fall begins. If the Superstar who gained the first fall gains the second fall, they win the match and the WWE Championship. Otherwise, the third and deciding fall will commence. Once again, the 30-second resting period will come into play. The Superstar who gains the third fall wins. Basically, the objective is to score two falls over your opponent. The San Jose crowd was firmly in Cena's corner and were hot for the match. Orton got the early advantage by targeting Cena's knee, which was weakened during the two's match at Armageddon more than a month ago. However, The Chain Gang Soldier countered the champion's Figure-Four Leglock into an STFU. But Orton reached the ropes after about a minute and a half in the hold. The first fall kind of came out of nowhere, as Cena's bulldog attempt was countered into a powerslam. The Viper then hit the RKO for the first fall. It was Orton, 1-0. Cena knew that the next fall was a must-win, so he tried everything. It almost worked when Orton tried for the RKO again and instead recieved an FU on the outside. NOTE:This same spot occurred during the two's match at Armageddon. However, the ref counted to nine when The Legend Killer slithered back in. But The Chain Gang Soldier was determined. He locked Orton in the STFU, and made sure that there was no rope break. It was useless. The Viper tapped out mercifully. It was tied, 1-1. The third fall would decide it all. Both men put all their best moves and submissions on display. Bulldogs. Jumping high knees to the skull. Spinout powerbombs. Backbreakers. Five Knuckle Shuffles. Snap powerslams. Flying clotheslines. DDT's. But nothing worked. Orton hit the RKO at about the 23-minute mark, and went for the pin but Cena kicked out. The Legend Killer was frustrated. He had tried everything. Then that look crept upon Orton's face. That creepy, sadistic, frothing look. He was about to hit the Punt Kick! The WWE Universe booed heavily as Orton positioned himself. BAM! The Viper had struck! ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! The most lethal maneuver in the WWE Champion's arsenal, and even that couldn't put the Cenation leader away. After the match, it was reported on Ring Posts that Orton reinjured his knee, which was first suffered during Cena's return match at Survivor Series. It was just a high kick to the head. If it had been the running punt to the skull, Cena would've taken time off to sell a concussion. After nearly two minutes of no action, The Chain Gang Soldier got up first and grabbed The Legend Killer for an FU. BAM! The San Jose crowd was whipped into a frenzy. Cena was about to become the new WWE Champion! Referee Mike Chioda counted the pinfall. ONE! TWO! WHAT? Chioda had been taken out of the ring and slammed head-first into the RAW announce table by...The Undertaker! The Deadman strikes again! The camouflauge-garbed warrior charged at his Death Valley cancer, but was no match for him. Chokeslam! The Phenom did the cutthroat signal, and it can't happen. NO! Tombstone Piledriver! Undertaker, like all good heels, did a hit-and-run as he went over the barricade and exited through the sea of thousands in the WWE Universe. As The Chain Gang Soldier stood up, so did The Viper. RKO! New referee John Cone counted the pinfall. ONE! TWO! THREE! Randy Orton had once again retained the WWE Championship. And with the help of The Deadman once more. The Legend Killer then mocked his fallen adversary by doing the "You can't see me!" bit and even spinning the belt right in Cena's face. And to add even more insult to injury, Orton hocked one right in the Cenation leader's eye. This moment got lots of heat and it drove the pissed-off San Jose crowd to boo the WWE Champion even more. In fact, he was jeered out of the building. The Viper once again found a way to stay on top of RAW's pecking order. Cena came close, but no cigar for the third straight time. And The Undertaker interfered yet again when a Cena victory was surefire. The big question now is:Will 1998 go down in WWE lore as the year of the RKO?