WWE 2008: The Aftermath of WrestleMania

ECW on Sci-fi Preview
1st January 2008

2008 will kick off in style with ECW on Sci-fi. The main event will see the ECW Heavyweight Champion CM Punk take on the man that attacked him two weeks ago, Chavo Guerrero.

Also the WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz will be in action, facing Balls Mahoney & Stevie Richards. The winning team will be enter into the 2008 Royal Rumble.

SmackDown Preview
4th January 2008

This weeks SmackDown will host the Beat the Clock Sprint. All five of tonight’s matches will be time, with the superstar who wins their match the fastest gaining a World Heavyweight Championship match at the 2008 Royal Rumble. Also, whoever comes in second will enter the Rumble itself.

Ten superstars have been named to be involved, with all the matches being randomly drawn, the superstars involved are:
Batista
Finlay
Kane
Kenny Dykstra
Mark Henry
Montel Vontavious Porter
Rey Mysterio
Ric Flair (Must win to keep his career alive)
The Great Khali
The Undertaker

SmackDown Results
4th January 2008

The show kicks off with the usual video package, followed by World Heavyweight Champion Edge and SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero making their way to the ring. Edge cut a promo about tonights beat the clock sprint. Vickie then says that it does not matter who wins, nobody can take the title away from Edge.

Beat the Clock Sprint
Ric Flair Defeated Kenny Dykstra at 13:24
A good match which saw the past meet the future. Flair was fighting for his career, and it definitely showed, as he went all out to beat Dykstra. Dykstra would not go down without a fight though, at one point nearly getting the win after a guillotine leg drop. Flair would kick out however, and roll Dykstra up for the three count.
Rating: 76%

Ric Flair runs into Batista backstage. Flair wishes Batista luck for his beat the clock sprint match later tonight. Batista wished Flair luck in keeping his career alive. As Batista walked off Flair said “The nature boy doesn’t need luck, but he does need women” before walking off.

Beat the Clock Sprint
Kane Defeated Mark Henry at 12:40
A horrible match, the crowd were completely behind Kane, but no matter what Kane did Henry wrecked the match, barely selling the whole match. Kane put Henry away with the Chokeslam.
Rating: 68%

Finlay is backstage, getting ready for his beat the clock match. MVP walks by, holding the United States Championship. Finlay and MVP squared up to each other. MVP warned Finlay that if they faced off, then Finlay has no chance of getting a World title shot.

Beat the Clock Sprint
Rey Mysterio Defeated Finlay at 15:53
An excellent match. Finlay seemed driven after MVP’s comments and he came out strong, using his power advantage to control the match. Mysterio’s quick moves would keep Finlay off guard however. Mysterio got out of a power bomb attempt, and hit the 619, followed by the dropping the dime for the pinfall victory. He was to late however to get the important first or second place time.
Rating: 82%

A promotional video is played hyping the Royal Rumble, including a WWE Championship match between Randy Orton & Jeff Hardy, and the all important Royal Rumble.

Beat the Clock Sprint
The Undertaker Defeated Montel Vontavious Porter at 10:33
An excellent match, MVP really showed that he could go toe to toe with the very best. Taker had the power advantage, and used it to dominate the early stages of this match. MVP used cheap tactics to fight back, including a steel chair shot while the referee was down. Taker fought back however, countering a playmaker, and hitting the Tombstone for the victory.
Rating: 82%

Post match Finlay jumped MVP, obviously taking offence at MVP’s comments earlier in the night. Security managed to stop the brawl.

SmackDown Co-General Manager Theodore Long is backstage, holding a briefcase. Long opens the briefcase to reveal the WWE Cruiserweight championship. Long announces that next week a new Cruiserweight Champion will be crowned in a fatal four way match between Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Chavo Guerrero & Jamie Noble.

Beat the Clock Sprint
Batista Defeated The Great Khali at 7:21
This was just horrible, Khali can not wrestle. He just lumbered in hitting power move after power move. Batista would fight back however, but would end up hitting the referee after being thrown by Khali. Batista would hit a spear, but Edge would attempt to interfere with a chair, but also received a spear. Batista would then use the chair on Khali, and would get the pin when the referee recovered.
Rating: 69%

As SmackDown comes to an end Edge stared Batista down from the ramp. Edge will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Batista at the Royal Rumble, while The Undertaker will be in the Rumble itself.

Overall Rating: 74%

RAW Preview
7th January 2008

Last week on RAW John Bradshaw Layfield and Chris Jericho exchanged words and blows. RAW will see the return of the Highlight reel, with host Chris Jericho and guest John Bradshaw Layfield.

RAW will see an Armageddon rematch as Jeff Hardy and Triple H go one on one. Can Hardy once again pull of an upset as he prepares for his WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble.

Also, the Royal Rumble Qualifiers continue, six out of the thirty competitors have been revealed, and a seventh will be added on Monday night RAW, as Carlito battles Super Crazy.

RAW Results
7th January 2008

RAW kicks off with the usual opening package, followed by Chris Jericho, who is ready to host the highlight reel. Jericho talks about last week’s alteration between him and JBL, also showing clips of the event. Jericho then introduces JBL, who makes his way to the ring. After some back and forth insults between the two it looks like the two are about to brawl. Jericho takes a step back, and challenges JBL to a match at the Royal Rumble. JBL accepts, before cheap shotting Jericho. Jericho tackles JBL and the two brawl until security breaks the two up.

DH Smith Defeated Val Venis
The match was good, but the crowd did not seem interested in this match at all. This was a short match, Smith controlled most of it, putting Venis away with the Running Powerslam.
Rating: 61%

Carlito is backstage with new RAW interviewer Eva Torres. Carlito does a promo hyping his upcoming Royal Rumble qualifier. Carlito promises that he will win his next match, and then go on to win the Rumble itself.

Royal Rumble Qualifier
Carlito Defeated Super Crazy
A surprisingly good match, both Carlito and Crazy went all out, especially Crazy, who hit a number of high spots, including a massive cross body from the top rope which nearly got him the win. Carlito would end up dodging a top rope superkick, and would then hit the Backstabber for the win.
Rating: 72%

Triple H is backstage getting ready for his match against Jeff Hardy later tonight. Vince McMahon walks up to him and the two square up. Vince hands Triple H a sledgehammer, who asks what he is meant to do with it. Vince tells Triple H that if wants to be involved in the WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble. Triple H tells him what he is up to. Vince replies “If you want in, then prove it, tonight. If you does, then you will be in”. Vince walks off with Triple H looking down at the sledgehammer.

Paul London & Brian Kendrick Defeated Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
The match itself was one of the best tag team matches in recent memory. Cade & Murdoch did not seem to be on the same page, and this is what left to their downfall. Murdoch would attempt to hit a big boot on Kendrick, who ducked, which led to Murdoch’s boot connecting with Lance Cade, who walked back into a rollup by Paul London. Kendrick would dropkick Murdoch out of the ring, while London got the three count victory.
Rating: 74%

Post Match Trevor Murdoch started shouting at Lance Cade, who just ignored him and left.

Shawn Michaels is backstage with Eva Torres. Michaels does a promo talking about his loss last week to Mr. Kennedy. Michaels says that Kennedy got lucky, and that tonight, he gets back to winning ways.

Shawn Michaels Defeated Umaga
An excellent match, the crowd really got behind Shawn in this power V. technique match. Umaga controlled a lot of the match, looking unstoppable early on. Michaels came back with some risky moves, including an elbow drop from the top rope. Michaels hit the sweet chin music but before he could go for the pin Mr. Kennedy ran to the ring with a steel chair, blasting Michaels over the head causing a disqualification.
Rating: 83%

Post match Mr. Kennedy continued the assault, grabbing a chair and repeatedly hitting Michaels with it. Kennedy shouted “It was not a fluke” before leaving.

Triple H is once again backstage. Jeff Hardy walks up to him having seen Triple H’s encounter with Vince McMahon earlier tonight. Jeff asks if everything is cool, and Triple just says “I’ll see you out there” before walking off.

Jeff Hardy Defeated Triple H
An excellent main event which the crowd really got into. Jeff really looked good, and proved that he is a capable main eventer. Triple H looked driven, really intent on winning. Jeff nearly got the win after hitting the twist of fate out of nowhere, but he only got a two count. Triple H would eventually hi the pedigree, but instead of pinning Jeff he went outside and reached under the ring, pulling out the sledgehammer Vince gave him earlier. Triple H then proceeded to blast Jeff with the sledgehammer clean across the skull, causing a disqualification.
Rating: 83%

Post Match as Jeff slowly got to his feet Triple H once again smashed him with the Sledgehammer, this time in the ribs, before smashing Jeff over the skull with it. Triple H shouted “The game is back” to the fans as Jeff laid in the middle of the ring, blood pouring out of his skull.

Overall Rating: 79%

ECW on Sci-fi Preview
8th January 2008

Last week on ECW Big Daddy V demolished CM Punk after his victory over Chavo Guerrero. This week Punk will get his chance for revenge when he takes on Big Daddy V in singles action. A win for Big Daddy V will gain him a ECW Heavyweight Championship match at the Royal Rumble.

Also, Shelton Benjamin has been on a role since coming to ECW. This week he will get a chance to enter the Royal Rumble in a qualifying match against Nunzio.