There's a Reason Why Jerry is King.

This episode of Monday Night Raw opened up with the winner of the 2011 Royal Rumble, Alberto Del Rio. I'm sure I wasn't the only person left scratching their head after to Royal Rumble last night. I did think it was a pretty solid pay-per-view, for only having four matches. I was hoping for John Cena to win (as I always do) but was secretly hoping for a Smackdown superstar to win. That brand deserved it, deserved a chance to show that they can stand up to the Raw brand. I just don't know what to think about Alberto Del Rio. I don't think he is that spectacular of a wrestler, maybe I'm being too picky. He is fairly new as a superstar but maybe this is the push that he needs to elevate himself to star/main eventer status. As for title bouts, he chose to go after Edge and his World Heavyweight Title. I think that is a pretty good choice and it will be a fantastic match as it will be Del Rio's first ever Wrestlemania.

His celebration was something I rolled my eyes at but was expected. He did defeat 39 other men to win this prestigious honor. Good luck to him and hopefully his first ever Wrestlemania experience will be memorable for not only him but the fans as well.

Monday Night Raw was pretty solid as a broadcast. Santino and Kozlov fought Joe Henning (I do NOT like the name WWE has him using) and Husky Harris. I'm hoping that Kozlov and Marella will hang on to the titles for a while longer and that the WWE will start beefing up the tag team division, they have had some fantastic tag team matches and some even better tag team pairings. In the women's division, Natalya and Eve faced off against Laycool in a tag team match, and of course Laycool won. What I noticed most about this match was that Natalya had no bad blood against Eve, even though she lost the title to her the night before. She shook her hand before they started and checked on her after she got kicked in the face by Michelle McCool. True sportsmanship at its finest.

Edge faced The Miz in a champion vs. champion match which was hilariously interrupted by John Cena and a "Miz is Awful" chant. One of the funniest things I have ever seen, and of course it gave Cena a chance to get back at Miz for eliminating him from the Royal Rumble. I still think that is complete and total garbage by the way, a referee had to have seen that. That added another reason as to why I do not care for The Miz that much. In the end, Edge got the upper hand and won. Giving Michael Cole one less reason to jump up and down like a fool. This also brings me to a side note, what was with him jumping up and down like a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert? Dude has issues. I don't think it is helping his image at all. It makes him look foolish and won't help him in the popularity department.

Before we get to discussing the main event, there are a few things that were announced that are worth mentioning. Stone Cold Steve Austin will be hosting Tough Enough when it premieres on April 4th, 2011, the night after Wrestlemania XXVII. I have always enjoyed Steve Austin as a wrestler, promo cutter, and actor. He can be dead serious or have you in stitches, this gig fits him like a glove and I look forward to watching the show when it premieres. I'm not too sure what channel it will be on in Canada but hopefully it's one that I get so I can cover that as well, I'm always interested in new and developing talent. Vickie Guererro also announced that Edge will defend his title in a way that it has never been defended before, a three on two handicapped mixed gender tag team match. Dolph Ziggler and Laycool will face off against Edge and his partner Kelly Kelly. I think it is a pretty interesting premise but I'm not too sure who I would like to see win, as I like both competitors. I do hope that Kelly Kelly gives Laycool what they have coming to them!

Now onto the main event of the night, the seven man Raw Rumble match. This was an ingenious idea and whoever put this together should get a well deserved pat on the back. It plays off the high of the Royal Rumble the night before and I always enjoy the crowd counting down from ten until the next competitor comes out. The entrants and who they eliminated are listed below:

1. John Morrison (eliminated by Sheamus)
2. Sheamus (eliminated by Jerry Lawler, with assistance from John Cena)
3. John Cena (eliminated by Lawler, because Sheamus shoved Lawler into Cena)
4. CM Punk (eliminated by Randy Orton)
5. R-Truth (eliminated by John Cena)
6. Jerry Lawler (WINNER!)
7. Randy Orton (eliminated by R-Truth)

I was so excited when Jerry Lawler was announced as a participant for this match. I was disappointed however when Ted DiBiase Jr. tried to buy Jerry's spot in the match, but did enjoy the slap Maryse gave him. Seriously, does Ted even have anything to do? Jerry earned this spot and has been waiting to get his hands on The Miz and hopefully it will earn him a championship reign. When he won the match I screamed and did everything short of a touchdown dance. I am greatly looking forward to seeing Jerry beat the snot out of The Miz at Elimination Chamber. I will be cheering Jerry on and I know he will win the title and eventually get his Wrestlemania moment. Good luck to you Jerry! This is the reason why they call you 'The King'.

The Road to Wrestlemania Begins This Sunday.

I love January. It's the beginning of a new year and the beginning of the road to Wrestlemania.

The Royal Rumble has expanded this year to include and additional ten superstars, bringing the total to 40. Sometimes, when it comes to wrestling, I am all for tradition. However, I think the addition of the extra ten men will bring a little zing to the show overall and provide for some very interesting moments. Now comes the speculation of who is going to win the match and the chance to have a Wrestlemania moment. It is going to be tough to pick out a definite winner this year as there are so many great competitors. I'm going to put it out there and say that I think John Cena is going to win. There are so many factors to consider including the alliances that are involved, personal rivalries, the sheer number of opponents, and the push that some people have been getting as of late. It doesn't matter if my pick is right or wrong but it is shaping up to be one of the best Rumbles in a long time. Good luck to all involved, remember that your Wrestlemania moment is at stake.

I also have two picks for surprise entrants in this year's Rumble and they are Triple H and Chris Jericho. It probably won't happen but it would be quite the comeback for either of these men. Triple H has a movie coming out on DVD around the middle of February and Jericho has a new book, this opportunity would provide either with some great publicity. They don't even have to win the Royal Rumble. If they did, they would have sufficient time to build an angle with anybody before the biggest event of the year. Hopefully one of the two (or both!) makes an appearance this year...I'll keep holding my breath!

Another reason why I love January is that the Hall of Fame nominations start to trickle in. The first official inductee for the 2011 Hall of Fame is Shawn Michaels. He's done thing I've loved, things I've hated, but he deserves this spot. He truly defines what it is to be an entertainer. He has had a storied career in the wrestling industry and it is truly saddening to see that some people (Insert Shane Helms here) are trying to sully that. I can't wait to hear his speech at the ceremony this year. As for other inductees, there isn't much concrete evidence as to who will be in. I do have a few predictions of my own that I'd like to share:

1. Arn Anderson
2. Dean Malenko
3. Ron Simmons (more than likely to be inducted by JBL)
4. Macho Man Randy Savage
5. Lex Luger
6. Ultimate Warrior

Another thing to consider is that there could be a possible WCW tie-in this year. How that will affect the Hall of Fame this year is a little iffy, I'm sure there will be more news coming out about that in the coming weeks.

This Sunday is the first step on the road to the biggest sports entertainment event ever and I know we are in for one heck of a ride.

Raw Blurbs.

Tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw started out as expected, with CM Punk and Nexus coming out and opening the show. I, for one, really am enjoying having CM Punk as the leader of the Nexus faction. He seems to have the right persona for it, as well as incredible mic skills. Not to discredit Wade Barrett, but CM Punk is excelling in this role, especially with the slow demolition of his SES. He is a leader, not a follower. This creative decision certainly has rejuvenated the storyline as it had become somewhat stale. It will be interesting to see how John Cena is incorporated into his storyline with his current injury and the fact that he has been pulled from several shows. Hopefully he will be at 100% for the Royal Rumble and able to compete at Wrestlemania.

In other Raw news, the rivalry between John Morrison and Sheamus is going quite well. Morrison is a fantastic wrestler and he is finally becoming the superstar that he deserves to be. He is being brought front and centre to showcase his abilities, and Sheamus is being given some new competition. As much as I do not like him, he is going to go far in this business and is on his way to being one of the top guys (I wouldn't consider his a top guy yet, even though he has won the title).

As I am typing this, it was just announced that Shawn Michaels is the first inductee into the Hall of Fame for 2011. His acceptance speech will certainly be epic and more than a few tears will be shed. What a fantastic honor for an amazing competitor. I may not have always liked him but he sure has provided me, as well as the millions of members of the WWE Universe, with many memorable moments. From when he descended from the roof to face Bret Hart, when he faced Ric Flair in his retirement match, fighting the Undertake in the Hell In a Cell, all his antics with DX, and when he had his ultimate Wrestlemania moment when he fought the Undertaker at WM26. There are way too many moments for me to mention them all here, all I know is that there wont be an ass in a seat when he comes out on stage to accept this prestigious honor. Congratulations Shawn, you truly have earned it.

On a side note, am I the only one that is tired of The Miz being champion? Seriously, can he and Alex Riley be any more annoying? I cannot wait until this little punk loses the title. I understand the need to get newer faces out there instead of having the same guys win the title but The Miz just irritates the hell out of me. Although I am enjoying his interaction with Jerry Lawler very much, it is always a pleasure to see such a legend take to the ring and kick some ass.

A final thought as the last match is happening, Michael Cole should be stuck backstage. I always complain about him for the simple fact that I don't like him. Every time he speaks it just irks me to no end. His whole persona at the announcing table is just unbelievable, he brings zero personality to the table. Hopefully once Lawler and Orton are done with Alex Riley and The Miz, they can take care of Cole. Now that would be a magnificent end to the Raw broadcast!

Cole, The Miz, and Monday Night Raw.

Randy Orton and Jerry Lawler have done to Michael Cole what fans have wanted to do for months.

I really, really, really do not like Michael Cole. I've always thought he was a poor announcer and should be relegated to backstage work, just so I don't have to listen to his drivel as often. He constantly is messing up, disrespecting Hall of Famers, and just annoying the hell out of everyone. I do not expect ever announcer to have the same caliber of skills as Jim Ross, Gorilla Monsoon, or Jerry Lawler. I do, however, believe that you should be able to correctly name the wrestlers and the moves they use in the ring. Hearing him say the same words over and over when he 'has received an e-mail from the Raw General Manager' is enough to make you want to rip your ears off. I know it's an angle, anything to get a rise out of fans, and it works very well. He just doesn't seem to mesh well with the other announcers on his team, maybe that will change and maybe not.

That being said, I am very glad that CM Punk is announcing, he is saying what every fan is thinking. He makes a great addition to the Monday Night Raw announce team. If we could only get Jim Ross behind the table again...

So, The Miz finally cashed in his MITB briefcase. Whoop-de-do. It was only a matter of time before this happened. It is refreshing to see someone different get the belt instead of the same rotation of top tier guys. His gimmick is entertaining, he can cut a pretty decent promo, and he has Alex Riley to use as a lap dog. His championship reign will probably be short lived, but it will be a good change of pace from what we are normally used to seeing. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out with the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania looming in the near future.

Now on to a few points about tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw...

Michael Cole came out and blah-blah-blahed. He got taken out by Randy Orton and was promptly replaced by Josh Matthews. Matthews is doing an incredible job behind the announcing desk with CM Punk and Lawler. It will be very intriguing to see if this is a somewhat permanent move or just a one night deal. Either way, he has a very promising commentating career.

Can I just say that I am so thankful that the Juan Cena character has not appeared on television (at least not yet)? I found it extremely gimmicky, stupid, weird, oddball, there are a plethora of words to describe it. I can understand their reasoning though, no Cena would cause a drop in their ratings. The Juan character is a way to work around the 'firing' of Cena while still keeping him on the television broadcasts. For the love of everything WWE, please keep that gimmick off of TV. Just keep letting John Cena have 'tickets' and taking down the Nexus one by one. This is a storyline that will come full circle probably somewhere between the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. The interaction between both Nexus and John Cena is really interesting to watch and is one of the most interesting angles that has occurred in a LONG time, especially during the PG era. When it is all said and done, I hope there isn't just a cut and dry ending to it. Maybe Wade and Cena can battle somewhere down the line and the other members of Nexus can have their own feuds with various other superstars. Only time will tell...

On a side note, I think breaking up the Hart Dynasty was a brilliant move. I was a little apprehensive at first, really taking a liking to the tag team of Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith. I think it will be intriguing to see how these two superstars develop individually as opposed to a tag team. Hopefully they will one day get back together and tag team but for now, their rivalry will greater show off their abilities as individual performers.

And the show ends with an ultimatum. Will Wade hire Cena back? Will he take himself out of Nexus? Who knows?

John Cena: Face or Heel?

There has been some industry talk about the very real possibility of John Cena turning heel. I'm not sure how much truth there is to this, and as it stands now, it is just a rumor. Would they really turn one of the biggest faces in the history of professional wrestling into a heel? Would their fan base shift? How would merchandise sales be affected? This is not a decision that will be made lightly, this could potentially change the company for a long time.

I'm not really sure how to feel about it. John Cena is one of my favorites, always the good guy, always doing what's right. He has been the face of the company for the majority of his career and is, what many would call, the modern day Hulk Hogan. He is pretty much a superhero. The kids love him, every little kid you see in the audience is covered from head to toe in Cenation gear. That brings me to my main point, the reaction of the child/youth audience to the heel turn of John Cena. They scream the loudest when he comes out and I'm not sure if they would react the same if he was a bad guy. I watched what the crowd reaction was when he was forced to join the Nexus faction. Complete and utter shock, jaws hit the floor, and they were on the verge of tears (much like myself). I honestly think that they would lose some of their youth audience. Some may hang on simply hoping that he will one day turn good again and be the Cena that we all know and love.

A heel turn would in no way be permanent for John Cena. I really don't think that the WWE would chance losing the biggest, and most popular, face that they have ever had. That being said, there are MANY people that do no like Cena at all. He has made light of the people who hate him, but I think that a heel turn would make those people into fans. It would certainly provide the viewers with something different, instead of the same guys getting the belts, the same good guys vs. bad guys, and so on. There needs to be something new and different thrown into the mix of WWE programming. Not saying that it has become stale by any means, it just needs a shake-up.

This potential (and I say potential because it is not written in stone yet) turn could go either way. There are so many variables to consider when a wrestler is making the switch from good to bad, or the reverse. Decisions like this affect every single aspect of the business, even though not everyone may realize it.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

My Favourites.

I am such a huge wrestling fan and thought it would be neat to share some of my favorite wrestling moments, personalities, and basically anything else with everyone else. This is all opinion of course, but it will be interesting to see what everyone has to say about mine/their favorite moments. Here I go...

Favorite Announcers:

• Jim Ross
• Gorilla Monsoon
• Jerry Lawler
• Bobby Heenan
• Howard Finkel

Favorite Managers/Valets:

• Paul Bearer
• Miss Elizabeth
• Bobby Heenan
• Jimmy Hart
• Sherri Martel
• Paul Ellering

Wrestlemania Moments:

• Mickey Rourke punching Chris Jericho in the ring (WM25)
• John Cena coming out as an old school gangster (WM22)
• Shawn Michaels descending from the roof to face Bret Hart (WM12)
• Shawn Michaels mouthing "I'm sorry. I love you." to Ric Flair (WM24)
• Kofi Kingston scaling a vertical ladder (WM25)

Wrestlemania Matches:

• Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels in an Iron Man Match (WM12)
• Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon in the first ever Ladder Match (WM10)
• Any Undertaker match (Do I really need to go into details? His matches are legendary.)
• Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin in a Submission Match with Ken Shamrock as the guest referee (WM13)
• Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon (WM26)

Now this part may cause a little controversy. These are my favorite wrestlers and the reasons why I have loved them for as long as I have...

Bret 'Hitman' Hart:
He has always been my favorite wrestler, for as long as I've been alive. The Hart name is something special in the wrestling industry, as well as to wrestling fans in Canada. He is dedicated and a consummate professional, something he no doubt learned from his father Stu and mother Helen. He was born into this business and never took the opportunities afforded to him for granted. His sportsmanlike demeanor is demonstrated when he shook the hand of the 1-2-3 Kid after an incredible match on Monday Night Raw. To me, Bret always seemed so authentic and real, not like he was playing a character and stayed as true to himself as anybody could, especially in the Attitude Era. He always seemed to have this enigmatic aura surrounding him. Some may say that he wasn't one of the best wrestler but I beg to differ. He is one of the greats, there is so much more to being a legend than your in-ring ability. Bret is truly the excellence of execution. The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.

Chris Benoit:
I love Chris Benoit, the wrestler. I do think it was a tragic ending to what would have been a Hall of Fame worthy career. I feel sorry for him, and especially Nancy and Daniel. However, this is going to be about the wrestler that he was, not what he will be remembered as. Benoit was one of the toughest guys ever to step in the ring. He could stand up to anybody that was put in his way, it didn't matter if he won or lost. In terms of technical ability, he was one of the best. Canadian wrestlers seem to have this grit to them, I personally believe that they work harder than anyone in the business. Training in the Hart Dungeon is probably a key factor in the wolverine demeanor of Chris. What he lacked in size, he made up for in ability, speed, and toughness. It is such a shame that he will be remembered as a monster because he could have been one of the greats. One of the best grapplers to ever be in the ring.

John Cena:
I don't think that there has ever been a superstar that divided the WWE universe as greatly as John Cena does. I love him and I don't care what anyone else says about him. Cena has mass appeal and is certainly one of the most popular WWE superstars in history. I love seeing the crowd wearing his gear because his fan base is so diverse. He has also provided us with some of the funniest moments, best Wrestlemania moments/matches, and the most tremendous feats of strength. Prime example being when he delivered an Attitude Adjustment to Edge and the Big Show....AT THE SAME TIME! John Cena seems like a regular guy with incredible strength. I do think that he could benefit from expanding his catalogue of moves, without losing his signature maneuvers. He is the current face of the company and his years of hard work have definitely secured his spot in the Hall of Fame.

The Undertaker:
Never in the entire history of the WWE, has one person been simultaneously feared and respected by everyone. Since his debut at Survivor Series in 1990, he has had a legacy like no other superstar before or after him. Undertaker has such a presence that when the lights go out and his music hits, you know that you are in for something special. His career is what legends are made of, I am speaking about his incredible streak at Wrestlemania. It is so fitting that Wrestlemania is the `showcase of the immortals`. His matches are what I (among millions of other fans) look forward to every single year. He`s called the Phenom for a reason, a nickname that this future Hall of Famer has truly earned. What more can I possibly say about one of the greatest wrestlers in history?

I truly enjoyed sharing some of my favorites with everyone. Some may agree or disagree, healthy discussion is always welcome! I hope to keep this going with new categories each time.

Hell In A Cell / Monday Night Raw.

Hell In A Cell sure was one hell of a pay-per-view.

I loved every single match. It was a solid pay-per-view that delivered a lot of twists, turns, and surprises.

There are a few points that are worth mentioning as things that stood out to me. One in particular was the match between Natalya and (essentially) Laycool. I am so sick of these two running around, flapping their lips, and offering no real contribution to the women's division. Natalya DESERVES a title, the WWE is under utilizing her full potential. She is much more than a valet or a manager, she is a part of one of the most decorated wrestling families in history. I do not like how the women's division is simply being whittled down to the same people having the belts, there needs to be some fresh blood carrying the newly unified divas championship.

Randy Orton definitely showed this Sunday that he deserved to be in possession of the most coveted item in the WWE. His match was spectacular. I was actually screaming at the TV during his match. It was a well fought victory and certainly cemented his position as one of the top guys in the company. Not to lessen Sheamus`s part in the match, he is certainly proving that he is deserving of every minute of his quick success. Even though I personally do not enjoy watching him on TV, no one can take away from his incredible talent.

Randy`s climbing of the cell was one of the most memorable moments, reminding me very much of the celebration surrounding Shawn Michaels beating Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XII in an Iron Man Match. Not quite the same scale but it sure was an amazing moment.

I am so glad that Daniel Bryan is finally getting the adulation that he deserves. The first match of the entire pay-per-view was one of the most impressive I`ve seen in a long time. Every competitor was at the top of their game and truly gave the audience a show. You can see how each wrestler is coming more into their individual styles. Bryan, the submission specialist (who reminds me an awful lot of Chris Benoit), is getting a bigger pop from the crowd and really showcasing his skills. Morrison, the high flying showman, is turning into a bigger and bigger star with each passing match and pay-per-view event. The Miz, becoming more of a heel every time i see him. I would also like to punish whoever gives that guy a microphone and lets him talk. Worst. Idea. Ever.

I just have one thing to say about the Undertaker and Kane match, I was stunned. I thought for sure that the Undertake would win. I had hear rumblings about him possibly retiring in November, 20 years after he officially made his debut in the WWE. I did not expect  Paul Bearer to turn on him but it will make the coming weeks that much more interesting.

Now on to Monday Night Raw...

I think Cena joining the very faction that he tried to bring down was a beyond brilliant move. I was SHOCKED to see him lose, of course with interference because Nexus can`t win anything on their own. I knew instantly that it was members of NXT season two. What a great way to expand the faction. Although he did lose the match, I do not see John Cena staying in that group for long. He is too huge with the little kids for the WWE to ever consider turning him heel for an extended period of time. It will be very interesting to see what direction this whole angle travels in...

You can kind of see the inner workings of the Nexus crumble with David Otunga essentially talking smack behind Wade`s back. As much as I feel this is an interesting and provocative angle for the company to turn in, I cannot wait until it starts to unravel and they being to turn on each other.

Edge got traded. Holy Jebus! It was quite the unexpected move, but with Bragging Rights and the recent debut of Smackdown on SyFy, it could bring the ratings of Smackdown up and perhaps boost the show up to the caliber of Monday Night Raw. The next three weeks will be crucial in determining how successful this trade will be. Perhaps it was a plan to help boost the ratings of the show, which have been slightly lower than usual the last few shows.

The tables certainly have been turning in the recent months. The race for the title has been amping up and in a few weeks we will be on the Road to Wrestlemania. It will be interesting to see who is being pushed and who isn`t, who is contender material, and who will have something to prove. The Road to Wrestlemania will sure be one hell of a bumpy ride but I am more than willing to buckle up for the ride.