Raw Races to the Rumble...

Monday Night Raw produced some interesting revelations and results which seem to carry implications not only for the 2009 Royal Rumble, but also Wrestlemania 25. The final match of the night, the Fatal Fourway produced a surprising victor and finish, as Shawn Michaels simply allowed JBL to deliver a clothesline and then pin him, after minutes of non-action. In this situation the fans may be punished twice, because it appears we are heading towards Shawn Michaels vs. JBL at Wrestlemania 25. Not the most entertaining show for the Showstopper, and having JBL as Cena's opponent is also a case of "been there done that". The buildup of JBL's character within the Raw ranks hasn't been done well enough to warrant this situation. With Batista out of action (he seemed the likely opponent for Cena), you might think that Randy Orton would be next in line for a title shot, after Jericho. Instead, the WWE threw a slight curveball, but only momentarily. Expect Shawn Michaels to somehow cost JBL the title, and to escalate a feud for Wrestlemania 25. JBL is deifnitely playing a similar role to the Million Dollar Man of years ago who tried to buy the WWE title from Andre the Giant.

WWE Raw also saw crazed super-fan Rosa rush out of the audience to push Melina off Beth Phoenix tonight. Security hauled her out of the arena promptly with Santino marella pretending he'd never seen her before. This angle is looking a lot like the way Mickie James got her start, as the crazed fan of Trish Stratus. Possibly Rosa sticks her nose in at the Rumble match, either costing Beth the title or helping her preserve it?

More interesting moments came with Randy Orton's proposed "Legacy" stable, and his telling Manu, Cody Rhodes & Sim Snuka they needed to win tonight or would be tossed out of the group. Rhodes won due to countout, check. Snuka wins by pinfall over Haas impersonating the senior Snuka. But Manu got the toughest draw of the night in ECW Champ Matt Hardy. Manu comes up on the losing end, but then again so did Randy Orton in the Fatal Fourway. Will Orton really have any ground to stand on for tossing Manu out of this new stable?

And Orton wasn't just part of the Fourway and this stable situation, but was also revealed as Kelly Kelly's love interest. Definitely a surprise here, and this looks to set up Kane going after Orton in the Rumble, and maybe the two of them fighting at Wrestlemania? Interesting developments on Raw, but note to the Creative Team: Find a new opponent for John Cena, soon.

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