I started back classes last week, so last week's version of Excess wasn't that great. For those of you still in high school or younger, enjoy that time while you can. College isn't that bad but sometimes you just get tired of school even though we just started back. The fact is, the Royal Rumble is this weekend and before you ask, no, I won't be ordering it. The place I live barely gets ESPN, let alone the capability of ordering PPVs. Anyway, that's one topic I'm trying to stay off of or I'll be ready to dropkick the people in charge here. Without further a do, here are my previews & picks for the Royal Rumble!

WWE Championship
Randy Orton © vs. Jeff Hardy
Where do I begin? Many people have considered Jeff Hardy as a mid-carder only. I remember when he first started with Matt on Heat with some crazy looking tights. Fast forward through the singles runs, the run in TNA, the drugs, etc and Jeff Hardy is main-eventing a PPV. Jeff was always my favorite Hardy, although Matt has grown on me. They've started allowing him to talk on the mic, which was always missing. He's rarely talked until the past few months. His in-ring work is excellent. He brings an exciting style to the ring with is all-out style. He puts his body on the line every match, which is one reason I've liked and respected him since he's started. Look at the stuff he's done in the ladder and TLC matches. He's never scared to take a dive off of a cage. Remember Wrestlemania 17? He did a swanton off a ladder onto Rhino and Spike Dudley. Remember this past Wrestlemania when we all though Edge was dead from a Jeff Hardy leg drop that broke the ladder? The list goes on and on. Hardy puts his body on the line and deserves a title run along with the next guy. Moving on to Randy Orton, his title reign started off slow but he's come around. He's gotten more vicious but he's not to the level Edge is yet. Orton is growing, despite his monotone robotic voice. He's having a better run as champion this time than he did in his first reign. This feud has picked up in the past few weeks, despite the crappy handshake on RAW this past Monday. That could have been done earlier in the feud with the Swanton off the stage this past Monday. This feud has been the best since Orton won the belt. I must commend the creative team on a job well done. With all that said, Hardy has momentum. I think he could win the title and then drop in within a few weeks with the Wrestlemania plans still in tact.
My Projected Winner: Jeff Hardy

World Heavyweight Championship
Edge © vs. Rey Mysterio
This feud seems like another feel good story. I seriously doubt that Mysterio ends up winning. The whole Edge-Vickie-Chavo-Mysterio aspect is just odd. I don't too much like it but I don't have a huge problem with it. If they want to do that stuff, that's fine with me. What was funny was how Vickie is going around in a wheelchair then all of a sudden she's able to get into the ring. The announcer’s didn’t play it up, if I remember correctly, so it was a screw up on her part. If that was your average mid-carder, they would be off TV for a while. Moving on, these two bring a good dynamic because Edge is a good technician and Rey is a quick high-flyer. I don't think Rey wins because of a few reasons. The first is Vince said he would never put the belt back on Rey and that his reign was a one time deal. Like people don't like Rey Mysterio. The other is with the current plans for Wrestlemania calling for Edge to defend his title belt against Undertaker, whether that happens or not, I don't know. Edge is a great heel. He's my star on Smackdown. I think he's going to keep the belt and put on one hell of a match with Rey.
My Projected Winner: Edge

Career Threatening Match
Ric Flair vs. Montel Vontavious Porter
There's a very good chance that MVP could be the one ending Flair's career. Since winning the United States Championship, he's done most everything right in his feuds. Do you realize that if he holds the title until Judgment Day, he'll have been US Champion for a year? I hope his feud with Matt Hardy is rekindled when Matt comes back. Over in the Flair camp, he's supposed to get a huge push until Wrestlemania or sometime after. While some people think that's silly, I think it's cool if it's booked the right way. Flair deserves one last big run before he retires. Having MVP beat him gives MVP even more heat and in my opinion, elevates him up to heel status with Edge & Randy Orton. With this match, I don't think Flair loses. I'm thinking a win by submission is what will happen.
My Projected Winner: Ric Flair

John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Chris Jericho
This feud is pretty intense. It all started at Armageddon with Jericho "falling" into JBL during the title match. Later on, JBL attacked Jericho and cost him the match. JBL has really come back strong, probably stronger than Jericho's return. He's brought back his snobby, rich guy image and it's great! I enjoyed the 8 or 9 pyro displays from a few weeks back. This is what Jericho needed upon his return. He hasn't lived up to expectations since coming back and part of that can be placed on the creative and Jericho himself. Some people don't remember Jericho while other are embracing him like before. I think a strong feud with JBL will put him back on the map. He needs to be put back on the map before even considering challenging for the title. One good thing to do would be give Umaga the IC title and let him & Jericho feud for a little while. Jericho shouldn't have been put right into the main event but rather be worked in there slowly. I don't know how long JBL will be wrestling on his return. He wasn't that great of a color commentator but he was good enough to get the job done. I like his hard, power style that he brings to the ring. He's a semi-big guy that can actually move. I don't think this match goes too long. The finish will probably be bloody, maybe with Jericho getting the upperhand. These two will probably feud until Wrestlemania. So far, it’s been a great feud but I don’t see a clear winner being determined in this match.
My Projected Winner: No Contest

Royal Rumble Match
The Royal Rumble match is probably my favorite battle royal-type match throughout the year. All of the other matches like this are just impersonators. TNA tries to do them and WWE might do another one throughout the year. The easiest way to figure out who will win is to take out the guys that won't win. It's a long shot if somebody already has a title can win the Rumble. So, first off, let's eliminate the title holders. Hardcore Holly, Cody Rhodes, The Miz, and John Morrison are all gone. Keep in mind as of this writing, there are 6 more slots to be filled in the Rumble. Next guys to be eliminated are the guys who are better off competing in the IC, US, or tag title divisions. Santino Marella, Carlito, Jamie Noble, Chuck Palumbo, Hornswoggle, Shelton Benjamin, and Tommy Dreamer are all gone. The next group is the guys that could get a push but probably won't get one. Kane, Finlay, and Umaga are all eliminated. The next group is the overrated guys that don't deserve much of anything because they either suck or they're over the hill. Snitsky, Big Flabby V, The Great Khali, and Mick Foley are all gone. That leaves Shawn Michaels, Ken Kennedy, The Undertaker, Batista, and Triple H. Batista just got out of the title picture so I don't see him winning. Kennedy can't stay out of trouble although he's been coming on as of late. Triple H is married to the boss' daughter and wouldn't put somebody over without making himself look good. Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were the final ones last year. Kennedy & HBK will eliminate each other to further their feud. With all that being said, I think the final two will be Triple H and The Undertaker. Where they go from there is anybody's guess. I would think Undertaker would win but remember Triple H is in the mix.
My Projected Winner: The Undertaker

2008 is starting off right with a great PPV card!

The whole stuff with Lashley was somewhat shocking. I didn't expect him to be gone from the WWE. I always figured he would be back sometime around the Rumble or at No Way Out. I saw on Kristal Marshall's MySpace that Lashley would be returning at the Rumble. I also read where she charged the WWE for being racist. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. I heard a story from Ron Killings about a few racist comments he received back in his time in the WWE. I have a hard time believing Marshall's allegations because of the pushes Booker T, Shelton Benjamin, and to a certain extent the one Cryme Tyme received. Now, I'm not here to defend or condemn the WWE as a "racist" organization. I've been called racist before on this blog and that's the furthest thing from the truth. So, what went on? I have no idea. The details will become available probably in the coming months. We probably won't know the whole story, as we never know the whole story in many instances. I don't think Lashley was going to be pushed as hard as he was because of the whole steroid thing. Then again, most guys are back on the juice anyway. Lashley was one that people thought didn't pay enough dues. Personally, I feel the same way. I don't think he had done enough before getting pushed to the top as ECW Champion. It will be an interesting next few weeks.

While I didn't like that CM Punk had lost the title on TV, instead of the PPV that was only a few days away, I think it will benefit him. They've already started planting seeds for an Edge-Punk feud, which I would mark out for. With Punk losing the belt, they could make an easier transition for him to Smackdown. A feud with MVP would be off the charts. Either way, Punk needs some more mic time. They gave him a little but he needs some more so he'll get over more with people. Giving Chavo the belt will help him but I don't know how smart it is, business wise. Chavo doesn't seem like he's a draw and I don't see him moving up to a main-event star, unless that's their plan. I just think they should have waited until the PPV to have the title change.

Excess Power Rankings
This week's ranking are frozen until after the Royal Rumble.
1. Randy Orton
2. Edge
3. CM Punk
4. Jeff Hardy
5. Triple H
6. MVP
7. Shawn Michaels
8. The Undertaker
9. Batista
10. JBL

Wrestling Autism

ECW – Tuesdays at 10PM on SciFi
Friday Night Smackdown – Fridays at 8PM on the CW

Royal Rumble – January 27 – 8PM – Only on PPV!