WWE Week In Review XXXVI

Welcome to the thirty-sixth edition of the WWE Week In Review. Feel free to contact me on TWO or Wrestling 101 anytime with comments, questions, and anything in between. Also, check out my blog on Wrestling101.com.

The First RAW of 2009 came to you, live, from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, LA. Confirmed for the big night in the "Big Easy" was CM Punk challenging William Regal for the Intercontinental Title, World Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison facing Rey Mysterio & Kofi Kingston in a non-title match, Glamarella Vs. Goldust & Melina in a Mixed Tag Match, & Kelly Kelly Vs. Jillian.

RAW kicked off with Chris Jericho & Randy Orton in the middle of the ring. Jericho revealed that the two were out there to protest what occured last week on RAW, stating that they have filed a formal protest. Jericho stated that the rules of a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match are that it is every man for himself and that JBL and Shawn Michaels were in collusion. Jericho & Orton demanded that JBL be stripped of his #1 Contendership and that Shawn Michaels never get a World Title opportunity again. JBL interrupted and got out of his limousine with none other than his relunctant employee Shawn Michaels. JBL argued to Orton & Jericho that regardless of how it was done, JBL won that match last week and therefore is the #1 Contender. JBL said that Orton & Jericho would have done the same if they had the resources. Jericho denied it, saying that they are honest and would not do such things. Jericho turned his attention to Shawn Michaels and told HBK that he was right about Michaels all along, that he is a sell-out. They then informed both JBL & HBK that the decision will be overturned tonight. This brought out Stephanie McMahon, who informed Jericho & Orton that Shawn Michaels did not lay down for JBL and that JBL hit his finisher and pinned HBK, meaning that the decision stands. She then stated that Jericho & Orton should take solace in the fact that they are both in the Royal Rumble Match. A disgusted Jericho scoffed at the idea of the two of them being in the Rumble Match is some sort of prize. Jericho then demanded that Shawn Michaels not be allowed in the Rumble Match. JBL intervenes and says that HBK will not be in the Rumble Match, because he will be in JBL’s corner when JBL faces John Cena for the World Heavyweight Title. Stephanie accepts JBL’s decision and states that she could make JBL & HBK Vs. Orton & Jericho the main event, but decides to see "how much integrity Michaels has left". She then announced that JBL’s employee Shawn Michaels will team with World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, the man that JBL will challenge for the World Title at the Royal Rumble.

The opening match of the night was a Mixed Tag Match that saw the team of Goldust & Melina defeat Glamarella that saw Melina pin the Women’s Champion just three weeks before the two face off for the gold. After the match, Melina was again attacked by Rosa Mendes and Melina fought Rosa back and security seperated the two and once again dragged Rosa out of the arena. Stephanie McMahon later announced that Rosa is banned from WWE Live Events in the future, much to the dismay of Santino Marella, who believes she is infatuated with him.

The Intercontinental Title was on the line as William Regal defended the gold against #1 Contender CM Punk. CM Punk had the champion up for the GTS, but Regal grabbed the referee and got himself disqualified, thus saving his title. Immediately following the contest, Stephanie McMahon announced that William Regal will again defend his title against CM Punk on next week’s RAW, but this time, if Regal gets disqualified, he loses the title.

It was announced prior to their tag team match that both Rey Mysterio & Kofi Kingston will compete in the 2009 Royal Rumble Match.

In a non-title match, World Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison defeated the team of Rey Mysterio & Kofi Kingston. After the match, Mike Knox against assaulted and laid out Mysterio.

Kelly Kelly was also in action, defeating Jillian. After the match, Jillian assaulted Kelly Kelly, but fleed after Kane made his way to the ring. "The Big Red Monster" informed Kelly Kelly that he has a match against her former love interest Randy Orton next week and that she is "welcome to watch".

Earlier in the night, Randy Orton had a talk with Cody Rhodes & Sim Snuka and told them that they won last week, meaning they will move to "Phase 2" en route to being part of "The Legacy". Orton told them that they must win their tag team match tonight or they will no longer be a part of "The Legacy". Rhodes & Snuka pulled off the win over Cryme Tyme with Cody Rhodes getting the pin over JTG. Backstage, Orton congratulated Rhodes, but then Orton ousted Sim Snuka from the group saying that he was out of the group because he did not score the pinfall in the match and that Snuka was the "weak link" of the two.

In a stunning announcement made by Chris Jericho to Stephanie McMahon, "The Boss" returns in two weeks as Vincent Kennedy McMahon himself returns to the WWE after a six month hiatus.

The tag team main event saw World Heavyweight Champion John Cena & Shawn Michaels defeat the team of Randy Orton & Chris Jericho. HBK had several opportunities to do JBL’s bidding and soften up "The Champ" for the Rumble, but Michaels did not do that, instead, Michaels laid out both Jericho & Orton with Sweet Chin Music. After the match, JBL said that Michaels "looked great" out there. He then revealed that on next week’s RAW, Shawn Michaels will go one-on-one with John Cena and that JBL will be in Michaels’ corner.

The First ECW of 2009 came to you from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, LA. Confirmed for the evening was ECW Champion Matt Hardy taking on Mark Henry in a rematch from last week, the #1 Contender for the ECW Title Jack Swagger would also take on Finlay and Katie Lea Burchill would take on Alicia Fox.

The opening match of the night saw the #1 Contender for the ECW Title Jack Swagger defeat a bloody Finlay, despite Hornswoggle trying to help his father, which resulted in Swagger slamming Hornswoggle’s head into the barricade. Swagger will get his ECW Title Match when he faces Matt Hardy for the title next week.

The Divas were also in action as Katie Lea Burchill defeated Alicia Fox.

The Boogeyman dominated and defeated Bret Barnes.

The main event of the evening saw ECW Champion Matt Hardy defeat Mark Henry in a non-title match. Will Matt have the same luck when he is challenged by Jack Swagger for the title next week?

The 491’st edition of WWE SmackDown came to you from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Confirmed for SmackDown was Triple H being forced, by General Manager Vickie Guerrero, to compete in "Triple Jeopardy" that would see Triple H compete in a Tables Match, a Handicap Match, & a Last Man Standing Match all on the same night against unknown opponents. Also, the WWE Tag Team Titles would be on the line as Primo & Carlito defend the titles against The Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel Jackson.

The show opened with the shocking news that WWE Champion Jeff Hardy and his girlfriend, Beth, were the victims of a hit and run incident earlier that morning. Exclusive footage from the responding police officer’s dash camera and comments by Jeff would be heard later in the night.

The opening match of the night was the first stage of "Triple Jeopardy" for Triple H (implemented by GM Vickie Guerrero after Triple H humiliated her last week) as he would compete in a Tables Match against one-half of the World Tag Team Champions John Morrison. Triple H would win a hard-fought battle over Morrison, but after the match, Morrison’s tag team partner The Miz distracted "The Game" and Chavo Guerrero entered and put Triple H through a table set up in the corner. We would later find out that Triple H injured his left arm when going through the table.

Two participants in the 2009 Royal Rumble Match also competed as The Undertaker took on United States Champion Shelton Benjamin in a non-title bout. Benjamin put forth a great effort, but "The Deadman" was able to seal the deal with the Tombstone for the win.

After the exclusive footage of the aftermath of Jeff Hardy’s hit and run incident, video was shown of Tazz interviewing Edge earlier in the night. At first, "The Rated-R Superstar" was offended that Tazz came to him as if to blame Edge, but then Edge said that he felt sorry for the WWE Champion and that both Jeff Hardy and his girlfriend would be in his prayers.

The Divas were also in action as The Bella Twins defeated the team of former Divas Champion Michelle McCool & former Women’s Champion Victoria. After the match, McCool brutally assaulted and laid out Victoria, just like she did to Maria & Eve over the last couple of weeks.

Triple H then prepared himself for stage two of "Triple Jeopardy"- a Handicap Match against the other half of the World Tag Team Champions The Miz & the man that Triple H called a "gopher" a couple of weeks ago- Chavo Guerrero. After Chavo backed away from a tag by The Miz, Triple H pedigreed Miz to survive the second of three matches. GM Vickie then appeared and dropped a bombshell on "The Game", informing Triple H that he will face none other than "The World’s Largest Athlete" Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match.

A visibly depressed MVP hosted "The VIP Lounge" and his guest was star of the newly-released DVD movie, "Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia" and MVP’s antagonist as of late- Mr. Kennedy. Kennedy told MVP that "The Ballin’ Superstar" was really mad at himself for being on a losing streak and that Kennedy has been trying to inspire MVP so that MVP would quit "whining" and "losing". MVP says that his career is in shambles and Mr. Kennedy is out here making jokes. As MVP said this, a crew came in and started repossessing the furniture that compiles "The VIP Lounge". Kennedy tells MVP that things are bad, but they could be a lot worse. Well, things got a lot worse for MVP, as The Boogeyman appeared and laid out MVP.

The victim himself, Jeff Hardy, spoke on the hit and run accident early Friday morning and said that the car in question side-swapped Jeff and ran him into the ditch. He said that both he and his girlfriend, Beth, are banged up, but no one was hospitalized. The WWE Champion stated that he would return next week on SmackDown and that he will still defend his WWE Title against Edge at the Royal Rumble.

In a match for the WWE Tag Team Titles, Primo & Carlito were able to retain against The Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel Jackson.

In the main event, Triple H had to compete in the third and final stage of "Triple Jeopardy" in a Last Man Standing Match against fellow Royal Rumble Match participant, Big Show. Big Show dominated a weakened Triple H for most of the match, but "The Game" was able to make a comeback on a couple of occasions and almost win the match with a Pedigree. However, after Big Show chokeslammed Triple H onto the announce table and Triple H got back up, Big Show used his lethal right hand to completely KO "The Game" and win the match, much to the delight of SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero. What kind of shape will Triple H be in to compete in the 2009 Royal Rumble Match in just a couple of weeks? For that matter, what kind of shape will the WWE Champion Jeff Hardy be in for his title defense at the Rumble?

Superstar of the Week: Triple H