Two Thousand Naughty Nine: This Week in the Squared Circle

SmackDown started the year off right with a huge tag team main event! Now all three brands and TNA look to start 2009 off on a bigger foot! So what will happen this week as WWE and TNA unleash hell in the new year?

WWE RAW

For CM Punk, 2008 was the biggest year of his young career. For Punk, he spent the last two years as World Champion somewhere down the road. Two years ago, he was ECW Champion. Last year, he was Mr. Money In The Bank and later on became World Heavyweight Champion. Now he gets his chance to add his name to another list: Possible Grand Slam Champion.

This Monday night, Punk has a shot at becoming Intercontinental Champion when he faces William Regal in a match that has been over a year in the making. After losing the King of the Ring Finals against Regal last year, Punk looks to open 2009 with more than just a victory over the former GM of RAW. He's looking for retribution and the gold. Will he achieve his goal? Or will Regal and Layla continue their "reign" over RAW?

Shawn Michaels proved everyone wrong this past Monday on RAW. He spent his entire life saying "I lay down for no man." But after taking a huge dive to allow his "boss" JBL advance to The Royal Rumble to face John Cena for the World Heavyweight Championship. Now Shawn has some questions to answer as he will have to eventually face the same people who spent the majority of his career cheering him on.

But speaking of his boss, JBL is said to have some choice words for both HBK and Cena this Monday night. What will the Longhorn Jackass have to say to his "employee" and his Royal Rumble opponent?

As for the other two men who were in that Fatal Four Way, Chris Jericho fell short of his chance to regain his World Championship, and Randy Orton no longer is in the running...for now. Now that both men are out of the hunt, the closest they can get is winning The Royal Rumble match itself. But will these two be back on another collision course heading into the Rumble? That's obvious. No one arena can hold the egos of the self proclaimed "King of 2008" and leader of The Legacy.

Also, expect RAW to unveil a few names of their own to be in the 22nd Annual Royal Rumble Match.

ECW on SciFi

Last week, Jack Swagger made it clear that he wants a shot at the ECW Championship. He picked the perfect time to make that proclamation as he interfered in the main event between Mark Henry and Matt Hardy. Now Hardy has two men vying for a shot at his ECW Title. The question is, who will get the shot at the gold?

Speaking of New Superstar Initiative successes, DJ Gabriel continued his winning ways when he defeated fellow English Countryman Paul Burchill. It's only a matter of time, but when will we see this dancing superstar, along with his groupie Alicia Fox on RAW or SmackDown?

The Dirt Sheet made it clear in their final live showing of their Internet show that they intend to win every (yes, I said every) championship in the WWE in 2009. Who will be first on their list? Will we see a Dirt, Jealous A-List 2009 in our future? Or will The Shaman of Stupidity and The Guy Magnet (Thanks CTC) suffer the setback of their own egos?

TNA IMPACT!

2009 should be a good reason for the stars of TNA Wrestling to step it up another notch. Forget about the fact that they ended on such a lowpoint by not showing Global IMPACT live or having more than just one match on its last IMPACT! of 2008/first of 2009. So what will they do to open up the New Year right?

The war between the Mafia and the Front Line resumes after a vacation to Japan for Global IMPACT! And the war has a new member into the fold. After the last assault on the Front Line, Mick Foley decided that he will come out of retirement to join the Front Line to fight three members of the Mafia at this Sunday's Genesis. On Thursday night, the Mafia is expected to give an ultimatum to Foley.

Speaking of the Mafia, Kurt Angle will have to don his American tights for Thursday night. After his knockout punch to a peacekeeping BG James, Angle will face James in a grudge match this Thursday. So while his Mafia members are looking to get another notch up on the Front Line before Genesis, Angle will look to get another notch up on his opponent for this Sunday, Jeff Jarrett.

The X Division will see some action as well as Alex Shelley will face "Showtime" Eric Young for the chance to advance to the X Division Championship Final against Guns member Chris Sabin. Will this be the match that separates the real defenders of TNA from the pretenders? Again. Another no brainer.

Friday Night SmackDown

IF Triple H is the measuring stick of the WWE, he will have his chance to prove it this Friday night. Thanks to Vickie Guerrero's ruling last Friday night, and due to the racy pictures that appeared on the Internet, The Game will have to compete in a first ever Triple Jeopardy Match (Tables Match, Handicap Match & Last Man Standing Match). How will the Game survive the onslaught of SmackDown's Power couple?

Jeff Hardy now knows that he will once again lock horns with Edge for the WWE Championship at The Royal Rumble. Now that they both know what will happen at Royal Rumble, who will try to gain an advantage heading into the pay per view at the end of the month? Will Edge try to use his wife to gain control once more? Or will the Enigma find a way to keep SmackDown's Power Couple in check?

Enjoy the new week...and Don't forget to go out and grab Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia starring Mr. Kennedy! Kennedy! this Tuesday on DVD!