Vince McMahon is known for his authoritative and charismatic persona, as well as his involvement in some of the most memorable and controversial moments in wrestling history. One such moment occurred at the 2005 Royal Rumble, when McMahon suffered a bizarre and painful injury that left him and the fans in disbelief.
One of the wrestlers who witnessed the incident from backstage was Edge, who had been eliminated from the match earlier. On an exclusive interview the Rated R superstar shared the story of what had happened in the backstage after the botch.
Edge provided unknown details of Vince McMahon quad tear aftermath
The Royal Rumble is an annual event where 30 wrestlers compete in a battle royal, with the winner earning a title shot at WrestleMania, the biggest show of the year. The match is usually filled with surprises, drama, and excitement, as wrestlers enter the ring at regular intervals and try to eliminate each other by throwing them over the top rope. The last man standing is declared the victor.
Edge, who is a WWE Hall of Famer and one of the most popular and successful wrestlers of all time, recently shared his perspective on the botched moment in an exclusive interview with Inside The Ropes.
“Royal Rumble, right? This infamous Royal Rumble. Now everyone remembers that John Cena and Batista were in there last, right? And everyone remembers that they went out at the same time and it’s like, ‘Uh-oh.’ What you might not remember is I was the third last competitor in there.” Edge recalled. “So, I get eliminated. I’m starting to get up and go down the ramp, and I see them both land, and I went, ‘Oh sh*t”.
“So, I get through the curtain and all I see is [Vince McMahon] go to dive in, go to stand up, and just [fall]. I go, ‘This is odd’. Those guys are standing in the ring now he’s sitting there. Go to get up, [he falls again]. He tore both quads. Yeah. Nobody knew at that time. I just remember like, ‘Oh man, I am getting out of dodge. That was a surreal little moment,” the Hall of Famer concluded.
Edge, who also shares a close friendship with the WWE boss, said that he quickly got out of the way when he saw McMahon enter the ring, as he sensed trouble. He also said that nobody knew at the time that McMahon had torn both his quads, and that he was amazed by his determination to walk on his own, despite his injury, to the car in the hallway. He said that the whole experience was surreal and unforgettable.
Botched Royal Rumble finish drew Vince McMahon to the ring
The 2005 Royal Rumble did not go as planned. The match came down to two final competitors: John Cena and Batista, two rising stars who were both favorites to win. As they fought on the ring apron, they both tumbled over the rope and landed on the floor at the same time, creating confusion and uncertainty. The referees did not know who to declare as the winner, as the finish was not supposed to be a tie.
This prompted McMahon to storm into the ring, furious and frustrated. He wanted to restart the match and settle the dispute. However, as he slid into the ring, he tore both his quadriceps muscles in his legs, rendering him unable to stand up. He sat on the mat, visibly in pain and angry, and tried to bark orders at the officials, Cena, and Batista. The scene was surreal and comical, as McMahon looked helpless and ridiculous in front of millions of viewers.
However, McMahon’s injury was not only a source of amusement, but also a serious setback for his health and business. McMahon underwent surgery to repair both his quadriceps muscles. The rehabilitation proved to be a lengthy and arduous process. Typically, the recovery timeline for a single quad tear ranges between 6 to 8 months.
McMahon’s botch at the 2005 Royal Rumble is one of the most notorious and hilarious moments in WWE history. It shows the unpredictability and risk of live entertainment, as well as the passion and pride of McMahon, who refused to let his injury stop him from running his show.
