2009 Royal Rumble Matches

The 2009 version of WWE's Royal Rumble will ring in the New Year for wrestling Pay-Per-Views on January 25th. This is considered one of the "Big Four" PPV's along with Summerslam, Survivor Series and of course, Wrestlemania. The focus of the event is the Royal Rumble match itself, which is always compelling and entertaining to witness. In the match, a total of 30 wrestlers come to the ring in intervals based on a random drawing. The superstars come from the Raw, ECW & Smackdown brands. The Rumble rules are simple: get tossed over the top rope and hit the floor outside and you're out. This goes on until there's one clear winner left in the ring. That winner gets themselves a title shot, usually at Wrestlemania. Last year's winner was John Cena who made a surprise return to the Rumble at #30 and won it, then became part of the main event title match at Wrestlemania.

There's several title matches already scheduled for the event to accompany the Royal Rumble match. Here's a look at the full card for the 2009 Rumble, so far. Check back as more matches are added to the event!

JBL vs. John Cena
World Heavyweight Title Match

With JBL money seems to get him just about anything he wants. Towards the end of 2008, he bought Shawn Michaels as his personal employee. It was a smart business move by JBL, the self-proclaimed "Wrestling God", because Shawn Michaels is the reason JBL is now #1 Contender for John Cena's title. In week 1 of Raw's Race to the Rumble tournament, it was HBK who yanked JBL out of the ring before he received a 619 from Rey Mysterio. HBK then slapped his employer in the face, and that gave JBL the win due to interference. In the Fatal Fourway to determine the #1 Contender, it came down to employer vs. employee. JBL simply ordered Michaels to be clotheslined, and the vicious move allowed JBL to take an easy pinfall victory.

Now JBL returns to face John Cena, a man he feuded with many times in 2008. The two previously engaged in a Parking Lot Brawl where JBL gained the upperhand after tossing Cena through a windshield. Just when it seemed like the two might be finished with business, JBL manages to reclaim his spot as Top Contender and now will look to re-claim the World Heavyweight Title he once wore. Meanwhile, John Cena looks to continue to successfully defend his gold as he tries to reclaim his status as Top WWE Superstar for 2009.

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Edge vs. Jeff Hardy
WWE Title Match

The Rated-R Superstar, Edge, seemed to have an up and down 2008, but then again so did the current WWE Champ, Jeff Hardy. Edge was a World Heavyweight champ several times and a WWE champ briefly. But he also was dumped by fiancee Vickie Guerrero at their wedding and sent straight to Hell by The Undertaker. As for Jeff, he's faced suspensions by WWE, dealt with a bad fire which burned down his home, and struggled to climb to the top and finally grab the gold. It seemed that once again at Survivor Series 08' Jeff was struck by more bad luck. An incident was reported where Jeff had been viciously assaulted in his hotel room and left unconscious.

Unable to compete in the WWE Title match at the PPV, Jeff still showed up and tried to prevent Edge from winning. While he was unsuccessful there, Jeff managed to defeat Edge at the following Pay-Per-View. During a Triple Threat match, Jeff hit the Swanton heard round the world, and captured the WWE title. Edge continues to make claims that the title was stolen, but who's he kidding? Edge is certainly no stranger to winning in any manner he can, including using look alikes, cheap shots and the power of his wife, Smackdown GM Vickie Guerrero. Now at Royal Rumble these two superstars will fight it out for the Ultimate prize, the WWE Championship.

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Melina vs. Beth Phoenix
Womens Championship

Melina won a brutal Over-the-Top-Rope Battle Royal on the last Raw of 2008 to qualify for this match. Melina's a previous Women's champion, but hasn't had the best of luck against The Glamazon. In fact the Glamazon has been blamed for Melina's injury that had her off Raw for several months. But now, Melina's made her return to Raw and has looked better than ever in action. Will 2009 be Melina's time to shine and re-claim the Women's Title? Or will Beth Phoenix, last year's Diva of the Year Slammy winner, continue her dominance of the WWE divas division?

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Matt Hardy vs. Jack Swagger
ECW Title Match

Jack Swagger has already blossomed into one of the top superstars in all of the WWE after entering ECW and going on an impressive undefeated streak. That streak continued all the way up to an ECW title match against champion Matt Hardy. The match went back and forth throughout, but a smart Swagger was able to tear off a turnbuckle cover before Matt Hardy could Powerbomb him. Later in the match that exposed turnbuckle came in handy as it provided a spot for Swagger to drop Hardy chin first into the exposed metal. After the Gut Wrench Powerbomb, Swagger collected a pinfall victory and the ECW belt. Now the face of ECW has changed as a cocky, arrogant young champion has been crowned, who also has yet to lose. Will Matt Hardy have what it takes to overcome this scorching hot superstar? Or will Swagger once again prevail, continuing his impressive undefeated record?

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30 Man Royal Rumble Match

The traditional match of this Pay-Per-View card involves 30 men competing in an over-the-top-rope battle royal. Two men start the match and then a new wrestler enters randomly after timed intervals. This continues until all 30 men have become participants in the match. The rules of the match are simple; once a man is tossed over the top rope and his feet hit the floor, he's eliminated from the contest. The match continues until there's just one man left in the ring. That man will become #1 Contender for a championship and headline Wrestlemania 25. Which brand will take the prize this year and will their representative be able to achieve glory and gold at Wrestlemania?

See the names of the 2009 Royal Rumble Participants here.