• ECW Champion Christian d. Ezekiel Jackson to retain the title
• United States Champion The Miz d. MVP to retain the title
• WWE Champion Sheamus d. Randy Orton via disqualification (after Cody Rhodes interfered) to retain the title
• Mickie James d. Michelle McCool to win the Women’s Championship
• World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker d. Rey Mysterio to retain the title
• Royal Rumble match

Dolph Ziggler, Evan Bourne, CM Punk, (CM Punk eliminates Bourne, Ziggler), JTG, (Punk eliminates JTG), The Great Khali, Beth Phoenix, (Phoenix eliminates Khali), Zack Ryder, (Punk eliminates Phoenix, Ryder), Triple H, Drew McIntyre, (Triple H eliminates Punk), Ted DiBiase Jr., John Morrison, Kane, Cody Rhodes, MVP (The Miz ambushes from behind), Carlito, The Miz, (MVP eliminates himself along with The Miz), Matt Hardy, (Kane eliminates Hardy), (Triple H eliminates Kane), Shawn Michaels, (Michaels eliminates Carlito, Rhodes, DiBiase, Morrison), (Triple H & Michaels eliminates McIntyre), John Cena, (Michaels eliminates Triple H), Shelton Benjamin, (Cena eliminates Benjamin), Yoshi Tatsu, (Cena eliminates Tatsu), Big Show, Mark Henry, Chris Masters, (Big Show eliminates Masters), R-Truth, (R-Truth eliminates Mark Henry, Big Show), Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston, (Kingston eliminates Swagger, R-Truth), Chris Jericho, (Cena eliminates Kingston), Edge, (Edge eliminates Jericho), Batista, (Batista eliminates Michaels), (Cena eliminates Batista), (Edge eliminates Cena)

• EDGE MAKING AN EPIC (and early) COMEBACK TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE AND HAVE A GUARANTEED SPOT AT WRESTLEMANIA 26.  My mind was blown.  Edge is an amazing wrestler and I’ve been missing him in the ring.  However, I’m kind of worried about him coming back and working as a face.  Edge really excels at being a heel.  Either way, it’ll be nice to see Edge back in the WWE and in the title hunt again.

When WWE bought ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) and relaunched it in 2006, the history of the company was still somewhat intact.  They began with pay-per-views and then branched out and made it a full-fledged hour-long show on the SciFi channel (which is now the more “hip” SyFy channel).  However, WWE has trailed away from what the original ECW was all about…extreme wrestling.

ECW is now packaged just like Raw and SmackDown.  There  are no hardcore matches.  There is no desire to have hardcore matches or make the company anything like what it used to be.  Of course, I guess this is a throwback to WWE going TV-PG and wanting what’s best for the kids (scoff).

WWE wonders what has made the interest in ECW drop so quickly.  When WWE first acquired all of ECW and its video library, they put out a dvd, The Rise and Fall of ECW, as well as two well-received pay-per-views, which led WWE to create the weekly show.  Fans want to see blood.  They want to see people really beating the crap out of each other.  Why do you think UFC has exploded in popularity in the past few years?  The fans aren’t getting blood and beatdowns with the current ECW.

Instead of this vicious ECW, WWE has decided to make the brand a big pond for small fish with its “New Superstar Initiative,” which I feel is always a good thing.

“right now it appears that WWE wants to make the new Tuesday night brand a ‘WWE minor league’ and feature young up-and-coming stars.“

But if WWE wants to re-package ECW without using the letters and name, but keep the show going how it is currently, why not?  Why not let go of the extreme namesake that is no longer relevant and create an entirely new look for the revamped brand?

I also believe that if WWE would keep the talent where they are and not shuffle them around to different brands a couple times a year, it would make it better for ECW.

If you watch the video (the opening sequence for ECW that was used earlier this year), you’ll notice that very few of those faces are still on ECW.  John Morrison, Mark Henry, Finlay, Jack Swagger (who had an impressive and exciting feud with Christian over the ECW Championship), Hornswoggle, The Hart Dynasty, Evan Bourne, The Miz, Chavo Guerrero, Ricky Ortiz and DJ Gabriel are all no longer on the show.  With the exception of Ricky Ortiz and DJ Gabriel, all of the Superstars have moved to either Raw or SmackDown.  The only faces I saw that are still with ECW are Christian and Tony Atlas.  That’s all.

I think that if WWE would have left Swagger and Bourne (and let them fued) on ECW rather than drafting them to Raw, ECW would be getting higher ratings and both Superstars would still be featured on tv.  (It was recently announced that Swagger would not be receiving a push from the company because they feel that he is not meeting his full potential.)  While Miz and Morrison have both blossomed on their respective shows, all of the others have been doomed to work the mid-card.

The current up-and-comers on ECW are, for the most part, impressive and have promise to become future Superstars.  But why not keep those new interesting and entertaining guys, like Sheamus, on ECW to attract more viewers?  I understand that Sheamus is incredible and deserves a shot at the WWE Championship, but the guy has only been on WWE television since the summer.  Everyone has to pay their dues.  Then there are guys like Goldust who have been in the business for years and are stuck on ECW because they don’t put the butts in the seats like guys on Raw and SmackDown do.

Overall, I think that WWE has a good thing going with their “New Superstar Initiative” because it allows the fans to get a glimpse at the future of the company.  I also believe that losing the ECW moniker will allow the brand to grow into what WWE is trying to do with it.  Nostalgia aside, the current ECW is nothing like that of the past.  It’s definitely time to rename the show and let Paul Heyman live with his memories of Extreme Championship Wrestling.

(via ECW on SyFy, Extreme Championship Wrestling)

2008′s Playboy Model of the Year has been signed to WWE.  Jillian Beyor will be debuting in WWE’s developmental Florida Championship Wrestling on December 4th.

(via wrestlingtruth.com)

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This is why I don’t care for the Divas division.  WWE signs girls who are, in society’s opinion, hot.  It doesn’t matter if they can wrestle or not.

There are very few women in the Divas division who can actual wrestle.  Natalya Neidhart (daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, who was in the WWE in the late 80s and early 90s), Beth Phoenix, and Gail Kim are probably the only girls, in my opinion, who are capable of wrestling.  While Bret Hart has been singing the praises of Melina recently, I have to disagree with The Hitman.

What’s the point of getting hot girls on tv?  To get guys to watch, of course (and to make normal women feel like crap, but that’s not the point here).  Which brings me back to my post asking “What the Hell, WWE?” Getting former Playboy Playmates to work pose as wrestlers to get men to tune in and watch is like saying “bring back the Attitude Era, boys.”  We’re giving a big Stone Cold Steve Austin middle finger to TV-PG and bringing on the boobies and beer.

While WWE says they will not bring up Beyor’s past career, how is anyone not going to know?  The Internet tells all, Vince.  The Internet tells all.

Team Miz d. Team Morrison with Miz, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre left standing.  Needless to say, I was quite pleased.

Batista d. Rey Mysterio with Batista unnecessarily beating little Rey to a pulp.

Team Kingston d. Team Orton with Kofi Kingston being the sole survivor.

Undertaker d. Chris Jericho and Big Show to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. *boooooooo*

Team Mickie d. Team Michelle in the Divas match. I don’t remember who was left standing.

John Cena d. Shawn Michaels and Triple H to retain the WWE Championship. This. Match. Was. AWESOME. Starting off with HBK giving the Sweet Chin Music to his DX partner, Triple H. Triple H ended up on the receiving end of Michaels’ killer kick three times within the match. I was really enjoying this match until Cena had to go and win. Well, he did have on that new shirt that they need to push for people to buy (Just in time for the holidays!)

Now, on to what has already been announced for the next pay-per-view, TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs):

Shelton Benjamin v. Christian for the ECW Championship in a ladder match: mark my words, this will be an amazing match.  Both Christian and Benjamin have had experience in ladder matches and both are very exciting to watch in ladder matches.  However, my money is on Christian to retain the title.  Just because I don’t think WWE has enough faith in Benjamin to hold the belt.

Batista v. Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship in a chairs match: I’m curious as to what a chairs match will be like.  Unless Undertaker can somehow perform a conchairto (the one that takes two people) to Batista’s skull, I won’t be interested.

Sheamus v. John Cena for the WWE Championship in a tables match: OHMYGODYES. I am really stoked for this. I’m glad that Sheamus is getting a push and I don’t care if it’s because Triple H likes him and his telling Vince that he’s destined for greatness. I know he won’t win this match, but I’ll still be rooting for him because he’s the best thing on Raw right now.

DX (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) v. Jerishow (Chris Jericho and Big Show) for the Unified Tag Team Championship in a tables, ladders and chairs match: this match could go either way.  Both teams have had inside rumblings for the past few weeks and either team could erupt and turn on their partner.  I’d be fine with DX winning the straps.  Then maybe Jericho could move on to bigger things…but then again, I would like Jericho to have a belt on his waist at all times.  So I guess I’ll be happy with whatever the outcome is.

Last night’s episode of ECW, once again, made me cringe. Zack Ryder’s entrance music, Oh Radio, hit at the very beginning of the show and got me excited, but once Ryder got into the ring, I heard a line that I had never heard before in the song.

Gonna drink some beer tonight

Which leads me to once again ask…what the hell, WWE? Have you forgotten that your largest group of consumers are kids? What kind of a message does that send to them to say that drinking is cool and being straight edge means you’re a nerd?

Are you trying to go back to the Attitude Era and just not give a damn about anything? Are you trying to make boobs and beer the norm again? I wasn’t around for the Attitude Era because my parents felt that it wasn’t a good thing for me to be watching and I’m really thankful they did that for me.  Who knows what kind of impact that would have had on me. I know that if I had children, I wouldn’t let them watch that kind of junk.

Granted, me being a college student and (legally, even though I don’t usually act like one) an adult, I’m not personally afraid of watching this reborn WWE that condones drinking again but it does make me uncomfortable knowing that a lot of kids out there are watching crap like this…maybe I should pull a Punk and post a blog telling parents that they’re not doing their job by letting kids watch this crap.

Miz, Jack Swagger and Sheamus on one team? It’s a guaranteed victory.

I’m also looking forward to the triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Title.  Undertaker v. Chris Jericho v. Big Show.  I would love to see Jericho win, but I’m sure that won’t happen.  If it does happen, not only will I pee my pants, but I will know that it will merely be a transitional role for Jericho.  He has usually been more of a transitional holder of the belt than an actual champion.

As far as the WWE Championship match goes, I’m sure either Cena will retain or Triple H will win.  I don’t see Michaels winning the belt.

Mysterio v. Batista: Batista will win seeing as little Rey Rey has an injury.

Team Kingston v. Team Orton: I hope that Orton wins.  I’ve grown to hate Kofi Kingston lately.

Team Mickie v. Team Michelle: once again, I could not care less about the Divas division.  Everyone sucks…sans Beth Phoenix.

Punk went in to Tiffany’s office to talk with her about her choice to drink alcohol and she told him that his straight edge lifestyle was just a cover-up for him being a nerd.  She told him that he needed to lighten up and live a little…meaning drinking.

This really offended me.  Calling someone a nerd because he or she chooses not to engage in the social “norms” of smoking, drinking and doing drugs?  That is just ridiculous.  WWE should not have made that choice.

Because really, choosing to live a clean lifestyle is nerdy.  Yeah.  Sorry, I want to be somewhat healthy when I get older.   I’m straight edge for that reason, as well as some personal reasons that need not be discussed.

I’m really disappointed that WWE would make the choice to call out those who live the straight edge lifestyle as nerds.  But, if that’s the case, then I’m more than proud to be a nerd.

Chris Jericho cuts a promo before his match with John Cena at the O2 Arena in London, England last night.  He tells the fans that they “speak funny and have bad dental problems.”  One fan is, apparently, offended by this and throws his/her DX glowstick.

Jericho calls out the fan. “I’d like to see the son of a bitch that threw that at my face. I’m gonna beat your ass right now!”  Many fans begin throwing their glow sticks into the ring while Jericho avoids getting hit.

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This makes me love Chris even more than I already did…if that’s at all possible.

Chris Jericho has found himself in a difficult situation.  Two weeks ago, Jericho was at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival participating in a Q&A session.  He called the moderator of the session “Hadji”, a slur for Middle-Easterners,  several times.

After this, the moderator took Jericho’s drink and jokingly sniffed it.  Jericho quickly shot back with “it’s apple juice…fag.”  This comment infuriated GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).

Watch the video.

Jericho apologized and said this to TMZ.com:

“After seeing the video I realize some inappropriate comments were made and I apologize if I offended anybody.  Just know that everyone on stage was having a blast and we all shared a drink and a laugh after!  The good news is I got my wish of being posted on TMZ.”

However, GLAAD did not accept Jericho’s apology as simply as that:

“Just three months ago Chris Jericho’s boss and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon acknowledged to GLAAD that words matter.  There is no time, context or occasion in which it is acceptable to utter racist and anti-gay slurs.  Jericho’s hollow apology ‘if (he) offended anyone’ is a templte used by many and insincere and worn.”

(all information complied from ewrestlingnews.com, wrestlezone.com, and pwtorch.com)

Personally, I’m not a racist or anti-gay.  You are what you are.  I don’t think that Chris meant these comments in a derogatory way, even though these are extremely derogatory words.  I know Chris is a joking guy, but there are limits when you’re in the public eye the way he is.  This doesn’t make me think any less of Chris, but I do hope that he’ll watch his mouth and his drink intake in the future.

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In more uplifting Jericho news, he will be featured on the cover of next month’s Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

Apparently, all it takes to get a push is a good word from Triple H, aka Paul Levesque, aka Vince McMahon’s son-in-law.

Either way, I’m glad that Sheamus will, hopefully, be getting more exposure and not forced to be stuck in the “move from ECW to Raw” purgatory like Evan Bourne has been.

“The closest (younger star) to me is probably Sheamus, because we always train together on the road. But I try to watch all the young guys’ matches and give them advice, if they want to hear it. If they take advice to heart and really want to improve, them I am wanting to help. As for seeing some of myself in someone? That’s tough. Sheamus just the other day showed up at a show he didn’t have to be at. He does whatever he’s asked to do without complaining, he goes to every show and is always wanting to work: he does it all, goes above and beyond. That’s what I was like.”