The Big News: The Royal Rumble match itself is the primary focus of WWE’s Royal Rumble PPV build this year and Bret Hart will return next week on Raw.

Show Analysis:

DX spoke to each other and the crowd to start the show. HHH wanted to know where the leprechaun was. Shawn Michaels said he sent Hornswoggle home because this was serious business. Hooray! Michaels talked about how important winning the Royal Rumble is to him. HHH said it is important to him too. He knows Michaels wants Undertaker, but he wants a title shot. HHH said…

Full listings for the upcoming Shawn Michaels DVD from WWE.

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…

The Big News: If you want a quick explanation of what has gone wrong with WWE over the past decade, watch the way the company booked Mike Tyson in 1998 and then how they booked Tyson in 2010.

The Big News: On a night when TNA pulled out all the stops, WWE was content to stand with a pat hand.

Show Analysis:

Bret Hart came out to start the show. His entrance music was remixed and I kind of wish they’d just kept the old music. Bret looked old and not in particularly good shape. Bret said that he wanted to come back to WWE previously but Vince always said no. He said he was grateful to talk to the “WWE Universe.”

He thanked the fans and said he owes everything to the “WWE Universe”…

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

The Big News: It’s too late to apologize for Raw the last two weeks, but thankfully WWE delivered a better show this week.

The Big News: After last week’s debacle, WWE finally realized what they needed more of. Goofy comedy.

The Big News: Raw went 17 interminable hours this week, featuring the worst guest host ever.

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

The Big News: There’s a pay-per-view this weekend!

The Big News: Randy Orton finally got some payback on Kofi Kingston with a little help from his friends.

The Big News: WWE finally pushed a new guy into the immediate main event picture. For better or worse.