This year’s edition of the Royal Rumble arrives amidst a curious period within the wrestling business. At this stage of the year, we’re usually waist-deep in discussion about Mania, and grumbling about how HHH is being set up in a title match at the big event.

However, the beginning of 2010 has seen enormous changes behind the scenes in TNA that have made that company, the main talking point of insiders, while the WWE’s biggest coup has been to bring Bret Hart back to the fold, following an absence that he had maintained since 1997.

That said, the 2010 Rumble has been built up…

So then, Monday, January 4th 2010 – the much hyped reincarnation of the famed “Monday Night Wars”. At least according to some. Much ado about nothing, I say.

January 4th was the night on which TNA fired a shot, made their intentions known and stated that they were truly serious about stepping up a notch. Meanwhile, the office in Stamford simply shrugged their shoulders. Perhaps they were right to do so, given that the ratings were in the 3.6 range to TNA’s 1.5.

But they were not right from the perspective that they believe it’s acceptable at any time to be sitting back and taking it easy…

With 2010 upon us, we thought we’d share with you our favourite moments from the MMA scene in 2009.

MMA enjoyed huge success throughout the year, with several fighters going on to become world class athletes. The highlights were endless – Team UK impressed during season nine of The Ultimate Fighter, Kimbo Slice made his UFC debut, Dan Hardy sent shockwaves through the welterweight division, Team England impressed in the M1 Challenge and Affliction suffered in similar fashion to the PRIDE organisation.

One thing is for sure however, it was an awesome year to be an MMA fan…

Michael Campbell takes a look at the world of professional wrestling in 2009, with the good – and bad – from WWE, TNA and more.

Michael Campbell recaps Ring of Honor’s Final Battle 2009 PPV which was streamed live online. Did the webcast experience work? Read on…

In another night overloaded with wacky gimmick matches, Michael Campbell recaps WWE’s Tables, Ladders, and Chairs PPV from San Antonio, Texas.

The Lo-Down: Tag wrestling used to be a strong point of the industry. Recent viewers will recall the WWE’s superb division throughout late 1999-mid 2001. Those somewhat longer in the tooth will point to the glory days of the Eighties, for more appropriate confirmation. But generally, there’s a universal consensus that Tandem action is very much lost in 2009 (aside from the likes of Ring of Honor, who take pride in promoting Main Event level tag teams). It’s so prevalent, and almost accepted in the WWE, that the hosts here, Miz and Morrison, refer to it as such today. Sad, really.

Therefore, there was certainly much demand, and interest in this release…

Part One of Michael Campbell’s look at WWE’s new three-disc ‘Allied Powers: The World’s Greatest Tag Teams’ DVD.

A look ahead to tonight’s WWE Bragging Rights PPV. iFight365.com will have live coverage tonight from 7.30pm EST/11.30pm UK time.

The Lo-Down

WWE’s Tagged Classics range is a mixed bag in many ways. Committed to re-releasing the events that existed prior to the arrival of DVD, the series is a near-miracle for those wishing to ditch their VHS tapes, but not the events on them.

On the other hand, many of said cards occurred prior to the lawsuit from the World Wildlife Fund which successfully sued the WWF for breaching the terms of their 1994 agreement (over licensing and use of the WWF logo). Hence, on these discs, we’re left with sometimes ghastly blurring of logos…

WWE present Hell in a Cell on PPV tomorrow night (Sunday) and iFight365.com will have live coverage of the show as it happens from around 7.30pm EST/12.30am UK time.

Ahead of our live coverage, here’s our preview of how we see the show panning out…

Hell in a Cell for the World Heavyweight Title: CM Punk (C) vs. The Undertaker

Michael Campbell: I cannot possibly see CM Punk winning this match. I just can’t at all. When Taker enters a Hell in a Cell, it’s to decide a feud and emerge victorious. Also, you have to factor in that the main aspect of the build-up, is that Taker…

Hard to believe, but WWE’s Hell in a Cell gimmick has been around now for 12 years.

Throughout this period, it’s seen its ups and downs, but this modern-day Cage Match has largely been an enormous success. The popularity of it in terms of contemporary gimmicks is probably only equaled by the TLC match.

It’s also succeeded the Steel Cage match as the ultimate means to ending a blood-feud (though in today’s climate, where no blood is permitted, that definition is somewhat lost), in the same manner that TLC has eclipsed the regular Ladder Match format…

A look ahead to tonight’s WWE Breaking Point PPV – live coverage here at iFight365.com!