DETROIT — In the 2009 Royal Rumble, 30 men collided with the shared aspiration of performing at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania, but it was only one individual (with help from his two associates) who ascertained the opportunity to solidify his “Legacy.” That man is Randy Orton.

Days after the Legend Killer callously punted Mr. McMahon to the shock and disgust of the WWE Universe, Orton now proceeds toward the most important night of his career – ironically, at the celebration of the event birthed 25 years ago by the individual he felled on Raw, the WWE Chairman himself. (Watch: Orton punts Mr. McMahon)

Even with the seemingly infinite eyes of the WWE Universe narrowed in on the Legend Killer’s every move given his actions on Monday, Orton maintained focus in Detroit, shaking off any internal crisis of conscience. And, looking at his 29 Rumble opponents – Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Big Show and surprise entrant Rob Van Dam to name a few – he truly had no other choice.


At No. 8, Orton entered the over-the-top rope struggle and was quickly followed by second-generation allies in Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes. All joining the match within the first half of its near 59-minute duration, the triumvirate changed the “every man for himself” element inherent of the Rumble and instead employed an effective collaborative strategy to eliminate the likes of Kane, Big Show and others.

Rounding out a virtual “who’s who” of WWE’s greatest Superstars (many Orton has both fought and defiled in the past), this year’s 30-man encounter boasted a WWE Tag Team Champion, as well as the Intercontinental, United States and World Tag Team Champions, not to mention four past Rumble victors – all falling short of the Legend Killer’s luster.

Among them was Triple H who mounted the last strike against all three Legacy members. In the closing moments of the collision, The Game fought off a 3-on-1 attack and ousted both DiBiase and Rhodes, only for the viper-likened Orton to slither forth and eject his former mentor to secure a World Title bout on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Twenty-five years after his father “Cowboy” Bob Orton tussled in the main event of the very first WrestleMania, the Legend Killer will give life to a new family Legacy at the silver anniversary celebration of the Biggest Spectacle of Them All. Maybe.

Though the Rumble-winning Orton’s spot in the main event of WrestleMania XXV should be soundly sealed, there still linger reparations to be made for his vindictive assault on the concussed WWE Chairman. The 2009 Royal Rumble Match winner still awaits imminent reprimand, be it a fine, suspension or possibly even termination.

A quarter-century of spectacle, pomp and gallantry will be celebrated in Houston on April 5. Typically, the question to be asked of the Rumble winner is which World Title they will opt to target on that night. In this controversy-laden scenario, however, the uncertainty lies elsewhere. Given the retribution-ridden history of the McMahon clan, will Randy Orton even be competing in WWE by the time WrestleMania XXV rolls into Reliant Stadium?

DETROIT – On a night that saw SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero inform Jeff Hardy he would defend his title in a No Disqualification Match, the biggest shock came when Hardy’s brother, Matt, violently turned his back on Jeff, costing him the title and giving Edge the WWE Championship.

The bitter betrayal rocked the WWE Universe, as it initially appeared as if Matt Hardy was coming to Jeff’s aid during the No Disqualification Match. After encouraging Jeff to deliver a Con-Chair-To to Edge, Matt administered his own twist of fate, crashing his brother’s head in with a steel chair.

Matt Hardy’s mindset was certainly shaken as of late with the loss of the ECW Championship, and his failed attempt to regain his gold earlier in the night against ECW Champion Jack Swagger – but nothing could have prepared anyone in the WWE Universe for Matt’s horrific attack on his own brother.

What will Matt Hardy have to say for his actions at Royal Rumble? How will Jeff Hardy react to being cheated out of the WWE Championship by his own brother? And what happens now that Edge has reclaimed the gold he covets?

DETROIT – Going into the Royal Rumble, JBL was intent on becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion. But despite the begrudging efforts of the self-made millionaire’s employee, Shawn Michaels, The Champ John Cena persevered, defeating the Longhorn Loudmouth and retaining his coveted title.

JBL took to the ring with his eyes on the prize, going so far as to install Shawn Michaels in his corner as extra insurance. Though HBK had been upfront about his distaste for the self-proclaimed “wrestling god,” there were two things motivating him to assist his boss. Michaels had been promised not only a hefty payment in the event of Layfield’s victory, but also a spot in the Royal Rumble if his employer were to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.

In order to earn his payday, HBK involved himself in the match while the referee was incapacitated, first performing Sweet Chin Music on his employer and then also kicking The Champ in the jaw. With both ring warriors lying prone, Michaels dragged the self-proclaimed “wrestling god” on top of Cena in order to give JBL the win. But even The Showstopper wasn’t enough to put down The Champ, who recovered and hit his signature hold to best the No. 1 contender.

Shawn Michaels’ employment with JBL had begun weeks prior, as a last ditch effort by HBK to provide for his family in the face of the collapsing stock market. Since then, Michaels has reluctantly done his boss’ bidding, disqualifying the Longhorn Loudmouth’s opponent to gain JBL No. 1 contendership – even allowing himself to be defeated by Layfield for the World Title opportunity. Having already weakened John Cena one-on-one the week before, HBK even attacked Cena at JBL’s bidding on the Raw prior to the Royal Rumble in a further attempt to put The Champ at a disadvantage. Throughout it all, however, The Showstopper has struggled to maintain his integrity.

The World Heavyweight Championship Match saw John Cena dividing his attention between the dangerous JBL and Michaels, waiting just outside the ring. But at the Royal Rumble, the self-made millionaire learned the hard way that even when the deck is stacked against him, The Champ perseveres.

DETROIT - Facing the power of Beth Phoenix in the ring must feel akin to going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Both tasks are daunting, perilous and often end with bone-crushing drops.

At the Royal Rumble, however, Melina not only survived the drop, she emerged victorious over The Glamazon to recapture her third Women’s Championship.

Capitalizing on her first opportunity at gold since suffering a broken ankle last summer, the resilient Diva countered Phoenix’s significant size and strength advantage with speed, agility and determination to put an end to the five-month reign of The Glamazon, as her boyfriend, Santino Marella, looked on in disbelief. After facing injury, adversity and underhanded attacks at the hands of Rosa Mendes, an intern-hopeful of Phoenix, Melina was able to overcome long odds to once again reign supreme.

While Melina went for nearly two years without holding the Women’s Title, judging by the resolve she displayed during her Rumble match, the Latina bombshell isn’t prepared to relinquish the gold anytime soon

DETROIT - Before a capacity crowd in the Joe Louis Arena, the undefeated ECW Champion Jack Swagger solidified his reign by successfully defending his title against former champion Matt Hardy.

The match proved to be an intense battle from the beginning, with Hardy showing tremendous intestinal fortitude as he fought through a painful left arm injury inflicted by the ECW Champion in the onset. However, Swagger eventually scored a decisive victory, countering Hardy’s Side Effect before hurling his challenger into the unforgiving steel ringpost, allowing him to hit the gutwrench powerbomb for the victory. Following the match, Hardy loomed outside the ring, with a look of absolute disappointment consuming his face.

Since his emergence four months ago as part of ECW General Manager Theodore Long’s New Superstar Initiative, "The All-American American" has quickly established himself as the new face of the Land of the Extreme. Like him or hate him, he commands the attention of the WWE Universe with a smug smile and unending confidence that is only outdone only by his uncanny ability to deliver. He quickly fought his way to the top – earning convincing victories over top-caliber Extreme Superstar contenders from ECW Original Tommy Dreamer to Finlay – before finally earning an opportunity at the gold.

From the moment Matt Hardy won the Extreme championship, he heroically pledged to be a fighting champion, taking on all comers. And he lived up to that credo until the end, battling Swagger bravely before losing the title less than two weeks ago on ECW on Sci Fi. Although Hardy looked to stand a great chance at reclaiming the gold, defeating Swagger with a Twist of Fate in tag team action on SmackDown just over a week ago, Swagger refused to be denied at the Royal Rumble.

This second victory over Hardy clearly shows that Jack Swagger has carved his place in the annals of Extreme glory. But, who will emerge Tuesday night on Sci Fi to try and take the smile off the new face of ECW?

30-Man Royal Rumble Match
ECW Champion Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. JBL
Women's Champion Beth Phoenix vs. Melina
WWE Championship: Jeff Hardy vs. Edge

Twenty-five years ago, the dream of modern-day WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon was made manifest with the birth of the squared circle’s most celebrated spectacle, WrestleMania. One quarter of a century later, 30 Superstars will have the ultimate opportunity to realize their dream of performing in the World Championship main event match on the Grandest Stage of Them All at the momentous 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.

But first, one man will need to surpass the efforts of 29 opposing competitors with the same aspiration in the 2009 Royal Rumble Match. (2009 Rumble participants)

A test of endurance, athleticism and survival at all costs, the Rumble Match is the definitive Battle Royal, where each Superstar’s prime objective is to propel their opponents over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor. Every 90 seconds, one of 30 elite ring warriors with randomly drawn Rumble entry numbers joins the fray. Though luck of the draw can be a critical factor in such a high-stakes situation (ideally, entering at No. 30 like 2007 winner Undertaker and 2008 victor John Cena), past Rumble winners have included Superstars who kicked off the Battle Royal at No. 1 (as seen in 1995 with Shawn Michaels). Still, with bodies being tossed out every moment and fresh competitors coming in at such a rapid pace, it’s really anyone’s match.

In the end, the last Raw, SmackDown or ECW Superstar standing can officially punch a gold-embossed ticket to Houston’s Reliant Stadium where they will contend for a World Title of their choosing at WrestleMania XXV.

However, as the saying goes, “You have to be in it to win it.” Tune into WWE programming and stay logged on to WWE.com as entrants are named for the 22nd annual Royal Rumble Match. Then be sure to witness this historic event live on pay-per-view on Sunday, Jan. 25, as the 2009 Royal Rumble emanates from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

ECW has a new face of the Extreme franchise – Jack Swagger. The newcomer who came to ECW four months ago as part of ECW General Manager Theodore Long’s New Superstar Initiative, defeated Matt Hardy to claim ECW gold less than two weeks before they’ll have a rematch at the Royal Rumble.

“The All-American American” shows the true swagger of a champion – he’s undefeated in singles action. The smug, young Superstar is poised for greatness in the Land of the Extreme. When he flashes his trademark wide smile, it’s no secret the Jack Swagger era has officially begun on ECW. But will Swagger hold onto the gold when he faces Hardy again at the Rumble?

Despite the backing of the WWE Universe, Matt Hardy’s nearly four-month run as ECW Champion came to an end at the hands of Swagger. Days later, Hardy defeated Swagger with a Twist of Fate in tag team action on SmackDown. Is Hardy regaining the momentum he needs to reclaim the Extreme Title at the Rumble?

Will Swagger retain the ECW Championship or will Hardy once again be the king of Extreme? Find out who will leave Detroit ECW Champion by watching the Royal Rumble, live on Sunday, Jan. 25, only on pay-per-view.

Since becoming World Heavyweight Champion for the first time at Survivor Series, John Cena has defended his title in hard-fought matches against the wily and nefarious Chris Jericho. At Royal Rumble The Champ’s title will again be in jeopardy as he faces a ring warrior who knows exactly what it takes to put down John Cena: The self-proclaimed “wrestling god” himself, JBL.

Ever since joining the Raw roster, JBL has done his best to angle for title opportunities, though championship gold itself has consistently eluded the Longhorn Loudmouth. In recent weeks, however, things have been coming up in the self-made millionaire’s favor, as he utilized the services of his employee, Shawn Michaels, to not only win a qualifying match against Rey Mysterio but also remain the last man standing in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match for No. 1 contendership.

The process to select the new No. 1 contender involved numerous former World Champions, of which JBL is one of the most notable, bearing the honor of being the longest-reigning World Heavyweight Champion in SmackDown history. The Longhorn Loudmouth also boasts extensive knowledge of the World Heavyweight Champion himself, information he learned in the field, by defeating Cena in the 2008 Match of the Year, a Parking Lot Brawl at The Great American Bash (recognized as the Slammy Award winner after JBL relieved his employee, Shawn Michaels of the honor).

John Cena has proven to the WWE Universe that since returning from his neck surgery, he is as powerful and dominant a competitor as ever, and will certainly be eager to repay JBL for heaving him through a windshield at The Great American Bash. But will even that be enough to withstand the relentless assault of a self-proclaimed “wrestling god” intent on putting championship gold around his waist? And with The Champ’s opponent not above involving his employee in his matches, what role might HBK play – against his will – in this match?

Find out who will walk away World Heavyweight Champion by watching Royal Rumble, live on Sunday, Jan. 25, only on pay-per-view.

After spending months injured and out of action, Melina has returned to the ring with one thing on her mind: The WWE Women’s Title. At Royal Rumble, the two-time Women’s Champion will finally have an opportunity to win the coveted gold as she faces off against Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix.
Since her return, Melina has spent weeks racking up victories over Raw’s impressive Divas roster. This momentum served her well as she participated in a Diva Battle Royal on Raw to determine the No. 1 contender for Beth Phoenix’s title. Though the match came down to her and another former Women’s Champion, Mickie James, Melina persevered, earning the right to face The Glamazon at Royal Rumble only a month after making her post-injury return to WWE.

Months earlier, at the 2008 WWE Draft, Melina fell from the turnbuckles, severely injuring her ankle, keeping her from in-ring competition for almost half of the year. Returning ahead of schedule in November, Melina quickly made known her intention to win the Women’s Championship for the third time by taking it from the near-unstoppable Beth Phoenix. The Glamazon didn’t take the threats well, but she was even more incensed when Melina took aim at Santino Marella, embarrassing Beth’s beau and causing the Italian Superstar to suffer multiple injuries to his family jewels.
Though 2008 Diva of the Year Beth Phoenix has cemented her reputation as one of the most dominant Divas in WWE history, Melina has returned to action in fighting form and is focused on winning championship gold. But will her ambition be enough to take down The Glamazon?
Find out who is truly the most dominant Diva by watching Royal Rumble, live on Sunday, Jan. 25, only on pay-per-view.

WWE Champion Jeff Hardy has been riding a wave of success since claiming the gold at Armageddon, and at Royal Rumble, Hardy faces a dangerous foe in former champion Edge – who is focused on taking back what he believes belongs to him.

The history between these two Superstars is well documented, and with the title on the line, Hardy can be sure that the Rated-R Superstar will do anything he can to reclaim the biggest prize in WWE. With General Manager Vickie Guerrero naming her husband Edge the No. 1 contender, the deck is stacked against Jeff Hardy, but that is when the current WWE Champion has been at his best.

As Edge tries to reclaim the gold, and, with the mystery surrounding the attack on Jeff Hardy the night before Survivor Series, many fingers have been pointing toward Edge, making this match extremely personal.

Can Edge find a way to win back the WWE Championship as the Road to WrestleMania begins at Royal Rumble? Or can Jeff Hardy continue his dream ride as WWE Champion and take the gold all the way to the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania?