Thoughts on the 2011 Royal Rumble

Last night was 24th Royal Rumble for the WWE. This was one was unique and different to say the least. It was the largest Rumble match in history with 40 men. But before I get to the Rumble match itself there were some other matches that took place before that. The first match was the World Heavyweight Title match between Dolph Ziggler and champion Edge. This was a great match and it really showed Dolph Ziggler really belonged in the spotlight. During the match Kelly Kelly came down to stop Vickie Guerrero's interference. Vickie was taken out, the referee got knocked out out so that allowed Edge to hit the spear for the win and retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

In the WWE Title match The Miz defended against Randy Orton. As much as I don't like The Miz, he is sure over as WWE Champion right now. Orton had a great performance last night but because of the New Nexus, he didn't win the title. I think I know where this is going. I think at Wrestlemania it's going to be Randy Orton vs. CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. The Miz for the WWE Title. That's just my opinion.

Then there was the Diva's title match in which Eve won the title in a fatal four-way match against Nattie Neidhardt, Michelle McCool and Layla. Nothing special here except a crowd quieter before the Rumble.

The Royal Rumble Match saw a brawl between the Nexus and the Corre take place before the match got started. CM Punk was number 1 and Daniel Bryan was 2. The action was great between Bryan and Punk. However when four of the members OF Nexus were in there they eliminated like 10 guys until John Cena came out and eliminated three of them. One of the 10 that Nexus eliminated was the returning Booker T who looked great by the way. The best part of the Royal Rumble for me is when Diesel returned at number 32. He cleaned house for about 3 minutes until he was eliminated. Number 40 was Kane who didn't last long either. The last four men were Alberto Del Rio, John Cena, Randy Orton and Wade Barrett. Miz helped get rid of Cena. Orton got rid of Barrett and Del Rio eliminated Orton. However everyone forgot that Santino Marella was still on the outside and Del Rio eliminated him to win the Royal Rumble and go on to Wrestlemania.

It was a great Rumble last night. I don't care what anyone says about Del Rio winning the Rumble. He's a great performer, a great talent and he is very respected. It's great to see someone new get a chance.

This year I am going to bring back my Road to Wrestlemania coverage where I cover each week leading up to Wrestlemania. So tune in every week to see where the Road to Wrestlemania will taking us. It should be a good next few months for the WWE.

Stone Cold Steve Austin to Host WWE's Tough Enough

It was announced yesterday that Stone Cold Steve Austin would be returning to the WWE to host Tough Enough which begins April 4th, at 8pm on the USA Network. This is huge for the WWE. Austin still has drawing power and I think he's going to be really tough on these competitors. He knows wrestling is not a joke and takes it very seriously.

They haven't released the names of the contestants yet but I think it will be a group of guys who some wrestling experience. A lot of the guys and gals who were on Tough Enough before had no experience whatsoever so it made for great television.

From what I've been hearing it sounds like they are going to have a special guest each week to work with the contestants. They planned the return of the show perfectly because it starts that day after Wrestlemania and airs one hour before Raw, so it's a great lead-in for Raw.

WWE Tough Enough has produced great talent including the likes of Maven, Nidia, Josh Mathews, Matt Morgan, Jackie Gayda, John Morrison and the current WWE Champion The Miz. Tune April 4th to see who exactly is Tough Enough for the WWE.

Final Pro Bowl Rosters

Tomorrow is the Pro Bowl and here are the final rosters for tomorrow.

AFC

Quarterback
* Philip Rivers, San Diego
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
Matt Cassel, Kansas City

Running back
*Arian Foster, Houston
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
Chris Johnson, Tennessee

Fullback
* Vonta Leach, Houston

Wide receiver
* Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
* Brandon Lloyd, Denver
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
Wes Welker, New England

Tight end
* Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville
Zach Miller, Oakland

Tackle
* Joe Thomas, Cleveland
* D'Brickashaw Ferguson, N.Y. Jets
Matt Light, New England

Guard
* Kris Dielman, San Diego
* Logan Mankins, New England
Brian Waters, Kansas City

Center
* Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis
Alex Mack, Cleveland

Defensive end
* Robert Mathis, Indianapolis
* Jason Babin, Tennessee
Randy Starks, Miami

Interior linemen
* Haloti Ngata, Baltimore
* Vince Wilfork, New England
Kyle Williams, Buffalo

Outside linebacker
* Cameron Wake, Miami
* Terrell Suggs, Baltimore
Shaun Phillips, San Diego

Inside/midde linebacker
* Ray Lewis, Baltimore
Jerod Mayo, New England

Cornerback
* Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets
* Devin McCourty, New England
Champ Bailey, Denver

Free safety
* Brandon Meriweather, New England
Michael Griffin, Tennessee

Strong safety
* Eric Berry, Kansas City

Punter Shane Lechler, Oakland
Placekicker Billy Cundiff, Baltimore
Kick returner Marc Mariani, Tennessee
Special teamer Montell Owens, Jacksonville
Long snapper John Denney, Miami

NFC

Quarterback
* Michael Vick, Philadelphia
Matt Ryan, Atlanta
Drew Brees, New Orleans

Running back
* Michael Turner, Atlanta
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Steven Jackson, St. Louis

Fullback
* Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta

Wide receiver
* Roddy White, Atlanta
* Calvin Johnson, Detroit
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
Miles Austin, Dallas

Tight end
* Jason Witten, Dallas
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta

Tackle
* Jordan Gross, Carolina
* Tyson Clabo, Atlanta
Donald Penn, Tampa Bay

Guard
* Jahri Evans, New Orleans
*Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants
Carl Nicks, New Orleans

Center
* Andre Gurode, Dallas
Ryan Kalil, Carolina

Defensive end
* Julius Peppers, Chicago
* John Abraham, Atlanta
Justin Tuck, N.Y. Giants

Interior linemen
* Jay Ratliff, Dallas
* Justin Smith, San Francisco
Darnell Dockett, Arizona

Outside linebacker
* DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
* Brian Orakpo, Washington
Jon Beason, Carolina

Inside/midde linebacker
* Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans
London Fletcher, Washington
E.J. Henderson, Minnesota

Cornerback
* DeAngelo Hall, Washington
* Brent Grimes, Altanta
Antoine Winfield, Minnesota

Free safety
* Antrel Rolle, N.Y. Giants

Strong safety
* Adrian Wilson, Arizona
Roman Harper, New Orleans

Punter Mat McBriar, Dallas
Placekicker David Akers, Philadelphia
Kick returner Devin Hester, Chicago
Special teamers Eric Weems, Atlanta
Long snapper Zak DeOssie, N.Y. Giants


The following players will not play in the Pro Bowl because of injury: Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders; Tom Brady, Patriots; Lance Briggs, Chicago; Dwight Freeney, Colts; Antonio Gates, Chargers; DeSean Jackson, Eagles; Andre Johnson, Texans; Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars; Nick Mangold, Jets; Shaun O'Hara, Giants; Jason Peters, Eagles; Ed Reed, Ravens; Asante Samuel, Eagles; Richard Seymour, Raiders; Ndamukong Suh, Lions; Brian Urlacher, Bears; Patrick Willis, 49ers.

The follow player will not play in the Pro Bowl because of personal reasons: Kevin Williams, Vikings.

The following players will not play in the Pro Bowl because they are participating in Super Bowl XLV: Chad Clifton, Packers; Nick Collins, Packers; James Harrison, Steelers; Greg Jennings, Packers; Brett Keisel, Steelers; Clay Matthews, Packers; Troy Polamalu, Steelers; Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers; Tramon Williams, Packers; Charles Woodson, Packers.
Rosters by team

* Asterisk denotes starter

Chad Ochocinco and Coach Marvin Lewis in a Steel Cage?

For the last few years the ongoing battle between player and coach. Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Ochocinco and coach Marvin Lewis have had their issues on and off the field. Now TNA Wrestling has offered to let the player and the coach settle their differences in a Steel Cage and TNA's most brutal pay-per-view of the year which is called Lockdown. Lockdown is a pay-per-view event where every match takes place inside a steel cage. This in my opinion is the best show of the year for TNA and if Ochocinco and Lewis decide to take part in it, it could be huge.

If Ochocinco and Lewis do decide to take part in this even it wouldn't be the first time that a big NFL star would get in the ring. Here just some of the names that have gotten into a pro wrestling ring. Those names include Kevin Greene, Bill Fralic, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Steve "Mongo" McMichael, and even William Perry.

A lot of big stars in pro wrestling tried making in football in some form or another and here just some of the names who made it big after football didn't work out. Those names include Brian Pillman, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Lex Luger, Paul Orndorff, Ron Simmons, Bill Goldberg, "Dr Death" Steve Williams, Vader, Ed "Wahoo" McDaniel, Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, and "Bronko" Nagurski.

There has always been somewhat of a cross promotion between football and pro wrestling. A lot of football players would do great in pro wrestling because of their attitude and charisma but in recent years NFL teams have not allowed players to participate in pro wrestling events due to risk of injury.

However if this match does indeed take place it could create so much publicity for not only the NFL, but TNA Wrestling as well. Stay tuned for more on this story.

New Rules for NASCAR

Today the new points system was released for NASCAR starting this year. I've criticized NASCAR over the last few years about the Chase for the Cup and how it's all one sided. I've also stated that I have lost my interest in NASCAR over the last few years. Now with this new points system maybe I will regain my interest and there won't be on one person dominating the sport and winning a championship five times in a row.

Here is what the new system looks like.

-Drivers will be awarded 43 points for first place, 42 for second place and one point less for every following position down to last place.

-The winner will receive three bonus points.

-One bonus point will be awarded for leading a lap, as well as for leading the most laps.

-The winner would receive a minimum of 47 points and a maximum of 48. Second would receive a minimum of 42 points and a maximum of 44.

I like how they put more of an emphasis on winning and leading laps. It should have been this way all along. Maybe there won't be any dispute who the champion should be. Keep staying tuned for more as the NASCAR season begins very soon. Daytona here we come...

AP NFL All Pro Team Released

Yesterday the AP NFL All Pro Team was released and I was serious shocked at who made it and not by surprised by others. Here are the names that made it this year. I would hate to see an actual team like this if their ever was one.

OFFENSE

QB: Tom Brady
RBs: Arian Foster, Houston; Jamaal Charles, Kansas City.
FB: Vonta Leach, Houston
TE: Jason Witten, Dallas
WRs: Roddy White, Atlanta; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
OTs: Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Jake Long, Miami
OG: Jahri Evans, New Orleans; Logan Mankins, New England
C: Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets
K: Billy Cundiff, Baltimore
KR: Devin Hester, Chicago

DEFENSE

DEs: Julius Peppers, Chicago; John Abraham, Atlanta
DT: Haloti Ngata, Baltimore; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit
OLBs: Clay Matthews, Green Bay; James Harrison, Pittsburgh.
ILBs: Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 28; Jerod Mayo, New England, 21
CBs: Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland; Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets
S: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh; Ed Reed, Baltimore
P: Shane Lechler, Oakland.

Stay tuned for more awards as their given out by the NFL.

NFC and AFC Championship Recap

This past weekend, four teams met and two have have moved on to the Super Bowl. In the NFC Championship the Packers traveled to Chicago to take on the Bears. Green Bay got off to an early 14-0 and never looked back. Before the first half was over, Jay Cutler went down with an injury. A lot of people at first criticized him for not trying to come back in during the second half. His MRI showed a torn MCL on Monday and those who talked their trash about him including myself are backtracking. Todd Collins wasn't getting the job done so they put in third string Quarterback Caleb Hanie. He got them within a touchdown but the final score ended up being 21-14 and the Packers are in their 1st Super Bowl since 1997.

In the AFC Championship game, the Jets traveled to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. The first half was all Pittsburgh. The Jets couldn't stop the run to save their lives. It was 24-3 going into halftime and all seemed lost for the Jets. However a couple of big plays and a safety allowed the Jets to get back within 5 points. The problem is that the Jets took too much time deciding what plays they were going to go for. So now for the third time in their recent history, the are going to Dallas to compete in the Super Bowl.

So it's the Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 45. These are two of the more historical teams in the NFL's history. It's going to be a great game and I will have my prediction next week for you.

Even More Baseball Offseason News

I already posted once this week on the baseball signings because their were so many. Here are some more signings that took place throughout the week.

-San Fransisco Giants agreed to terms with OF Andres Torres on a one-year contract. Also agreed to terms with LHP Javier Lopez on a one-year contract.
-L.A. Angels acquired OF Vernon Wells from the Toronto Blue Jays for C/1B Mike Napoli and OF Juan Rivera.
-St. Louis Cardinals agreed to terms with INF Nick Punto on a one-year contract.
-L.A. Dodgers agreed to terms with OF Marcus Thames on a one-year contract.
-Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with RHP Carl Pavano on a two-year contract.

It also appears if the Tampa Bay Rays have signed Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez to one year deals. If so that sort of makes up for the loss of Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Joaquin Benoit, Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls. Ok maybe it doesn't make up for those losses but I was trying to be nice to them for trying.

Keep checking back for more updates because I am sure more more will happen before Spring Training starts in a few weeks. Let's play ball.

More Names for the Royal Rumble

As of last night there were more names added to the Royal Rumble. Those names added are in bold. Here is the updated list and matches.

40-Man Royal Rumble Match - Winner gets a main event title match at WrestleMania:
John Cena
CM Punk
David Otunga
Husky Harris
Michael McGillicutty
Sheamus
Daniel Bryan
John Morrison
Ted DiBiase
Mark Henry
Alberto Del Rio
Cody Rhodes
Darren Young
David Hart Smith
Primo
R-Truth
Rey Mysterio
Tyson Kidd
William Regal
Yoshi Tatsu
Zack Ryder
Ezekiel Jackson
Heath Slater
Justin Gabriel
Wade Barrett

- World Heavyweight Title Match: Edge (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
- WWE Title Match: The Miz (c) vs. Randy Orton

Keep checking back as names and matches are added. It's time to Rumble, it's time for the Royal Rumble.

Early Wrestlemania 27 Predictions

It's that time of year when Wrestlemania rumors fly around like crazy and here are just some of the rumors I have heard. WWE supposedly was trying to land Brock Lesnar for Wrestlemania but it's a no go. Now they possibly want Kimbo Slice to appear at Wrestlemania and possibly wrestle. It has been confirmed though that Bob Barker will be at Wrestlemania 27. Here are some of my predictions for Wrestlemania 27 in terms of matches.

WWE Championship Match
Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena vs. The Miz

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Edge (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio

Wade Barrett vs. The Undertaker (Special Guest Referee, Shawn Michaels)

Six man Tag Match
Nexus vs. The Core

United States Championship Match
Daniel Bryan vs. Alex Riley

Triple H vs. Sheamus

Those are the matches that keep going on in my mind but who knows. WWE always changes their minds on things. Stay tuned throughout the next three months to see how Wrestlemania 27 turns out. It should be really great.

Lots of Offseason Baseball Moves

Usually I wait until the end of the week to discuss what teams have done over the week but there have been a lot of signings, and roster moves over the last two or three days. So here is the run down of things.

-Oakland A's agreed to terms with OF Josh Willingham, OF Conor Jackson, LHP Dallas Braden and 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff on one-year contracts. Also agreed to terms with LHP Brian Fuentes on a two-year contract.

-Atlanta Braves agreed to terms with RHP Jair Jurrjens, RHP Peter Moylan, LHP Eric O'Flaherty and LF Martin Prado on one-year contracts.

Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with SS J.J. Hardy, OF Adam Jones, OF Felix Pie and RHP Jim Johnson on one-year contracts.

-Milwaukee agreed to terms with 1B Prince Fielder and LHP Manny Parra on one-year contracts.

-Boston Red Sox agreed to terms with RHP Jonathan Papelbon and CF Jacoby Ellsbury on one-year contracts.

-Detroit Tigers designate RHP Armando Galarraga for assignment.

-Cincinnati Red agreed to terms with 1B Joey Votto on a three-year contract.

-Tampa Bay Rays agreed to terms with RHP Kyle Farnsworth on a one-year contract.

So as you can see there has been a lot of wheeling and dealing going as of late. Spring Training is coming very soon so expect a lot more signings to be made of the next few weeks. I will keep you posted.

Royal Rumble Increses to 40

Yesterday in what was monumental news the WWE announced that the Royal Rumble match will now have 40 participants which is 10 more then the traditional 30. Two men will start out and every 90 seconds a new person will come in. The last one remaining will go on to headline Wrestlemania 27 with a championship match of their choosing. Here are the list of participants who are in so far:

-Alberto Del Rio
-C.M. Punk
-Cody Rhodes
-Daniel Bryan
-Darren Young
-David Hart Smith
-David Otunga
-Husky Harris
-John Cena
-John Morrison
-Mark Henry
-Michael McGillicutty
-Primo
-R-Truth
-Rey Mysterio
-King Sheamus
-Ted DiBiase
-Tyson Kidd
-William Regal
-Yoshi Tatsu
-Zack Ryder

That makes 21, with 19 left to be named. I have a feeling there are going to be some huge surprises. Here are the other two matches that have been announced

The Miz (c) vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship
Edge (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler for the World Heavyweight Championship

Stay tuned for more on the Rumble because I am sure their will be more names announced. It's time to rumble

The Nexus Splits Into Two

The more I keep watching the WWE, the more I noticed similarities between the Nexus and the n.W.o from the late 90's. They both started off as really dominating groups and then they had their problems and split into two separate faction. I remember back then you had n.W.o Hollywood, and then the Wolfpac.

Now there is CM Punk's Nexus comprised of David Otunga, Michael McGuillicutty, and Husky Harris who all had initiation's into the group on Monday. On Friday, Wade Barrett's Nexus formed and it now has Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater and Ezekiel Jackson.

Now the rumor is at Wrestlemania 27, CM Punk will take on John Cena and Wade Barrett will take on The Undertaker. With that being said, I also believe their will be a 6-man tag pitting Punk's Nexus vs. Barrett's Nexus. Both sides got great talent and it's a good combination for both. Both Punk and Barrett are getting the pushes they deserve.

Wrestlemania 27 is just 3 short months away and I will be curious how the Nexus storyline plays out in the end. Everyone involved with both groups have great ring presence and I look forward to seeing how they do. Stay tuned for more.

NFC and AFC Championship Predictions

Next Sunday the road to the Super Bowl gets narrowed down to two as the NFC and AFC Championship games are decided. Both number 1 seeds are gone so it will be interesting to see who will be the favorites in each game. Here we go with the predictions.

No. 6 Green Bay Packers (12-6) at No. 2 Chicago Bears (12-5)
Soldier Field, 3 p.m. ET, Fox
I believe because the Bears failed to beat the Packers in the final game of the regular season, it's going to come back haunt them. The Bears had the opportunity to keep Green Bay out of the playoffs and they didnt. The Bears special teams and defense are good but the Packers offense behind Rodgers and the defense are playing great. Packers win by atleast two touchdowns and go on to the Super Bowl

No. 6 New York Jets (13-5) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4)
Heinz Field, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Well I am going to say it and people may not like it but the Jets will be the Steelers for a second time this year. It's going to tough, and it's going to be close but the Jets will win by three to go to Dallas and play in the Super Bowl. Big Ben has taken a lot of hard hits but hits are going to keep coming against Jets. The Jets have talked a lot of trash but have backed it up for the most part.

So my Super Bowl Prediction is, Green Bay Packer vs. New York Jets. Tune in Sunday to find out if they go.

NFL Week 2: Divisional Round Recap

In what turned out to be a crazy weekend we are now down to the final four. Yesterday saw two very interesting games. The first game was between the Ravens and Steelers. The Ravens really took it to the Steelers in the first half but the Steelers came back in the second half to win the game. The Steelers did have a few calls in their favor that were in absolute joke but that's the game.

The nightcap proved to be very surprising. The Falcons did not look the team they have been all season as the Packers won easily in Atlanta. Someone said it best, and that is the Packers are peaking and at the right time. Green Bay looked phenomenal and they have a good chance at making it to Dallas

On Sunday, the Bears completely demolished the Seahawks and it proved after all that the Seahawks were not the team that should have been there. The Bears are moving and now they play their division rival, the Green Bay Packers.

The second game featured a lot of trash talking before the game even started and the was between the Jets and Patriots. I will be honest, I thought the Pats would win easily because of what they did to the Jets the first time but Jets defense really stepped up today and the run game proved to be valuable again.

It's now down to four teams and all four teams have played hard to get into their respective championship games. Stay tuned because the excitement has just begun.

More Baseball Offseason News

Well it's time for weekly update on who has signed with what team. Their have been some interesting moves made so here are just some of the notable moves made this week in baseball.

-Kansas City Royals agreed to terms with LHP Jeff Francis and OF Alex Gordon on one-year contracts.
-Minnesota Twins agreed to terms with DH Jim Thome on a one-year contract.
-Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with RHP Kevin Gregg on a two-year contract.
-Cincinnati Reds agreed to terms with SS Edgar Renteria and OF Fred Lewis on one-year contracts.
-Detroit Tigers agreed to terms with OF Ryan Raburn on a two-year contract.

It should also be noted that the Tigers and pitcher Brad Penny have agreed to a deal bringing Penny to the Tigers for a year. The Yankees also signed a great pitcher in Rafael Soriano. Speaking of the Yankees, it has been reported that Andy Pettite is not coming back.

Their are also some big names who filed for salary arbitration this week. Some of those names include Prince Fielder, AL MVP Josh Hamilton, Jose Bautista, and Jonathan Papelbon. All of these situations could turn out very interesting and I will keep you posted.

The Hardys Reunite on TNA Impact 1/13/2011

Well if I could start by saying that Thursdays Impact was fun to watch that would be an understatement. The show kicked off with the the new TNA Heavyweight Champion, Mr. Anderson making his proclamation about things. Thad led to Jeff Hardy appearing on screen which then led a massive brawl with RVD and the rest of Immortal backstage. It was then announced Mr. Anderson and RVD would take on Matt and Jeff. But before that happened Anderson and RVD beat the crap out of Beer Money after their match.

Abyss vs. Matt Morgan was a decent match which saw Morgan get beat down by Abyss, Ric Flair and Rob Terry. After Abyss' match he was then attacked by Crimson(Amazing Red's brother) and Crimson told Abyss that "They" were coming. Another "They" is coming on February 3rd. Also on February 3rd Hulk Hogan is said to be making his return to the Impact Zone. All in all Impact should be a big night that night.

In the Main Even the Hardys took on RVD and Mr. Anderson. The match was good and it was really different seeing the Hardys as heels. I believe it might be the first time ever that they are both heels on the same team. The match ended in a no contest when Immortal beat the crap out of RVD and Anderson. That's how the show ended and I will be curious to see how all of this plays out. Great to see the Hardys back together even if they and their friend are all on drugs. They still have the ability to draw a crowd. Team Extreme is in TNA.

Tag Team Dream Match to Take Place in UK

On January 28th, a wrestling dream match is taking place for the first time ever. It's going to be The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) vs. Motorcity Machine Guns. This is huge and it will probably be the best match on tour. Look the resumes of both teams.
 

The Hardys are former WCW Tag Team Champions, and six time WWE Tag Team Champions. Both Matt and Jeff have held numerous singles titles. They have competed in some of the greatest tag team matches of all time including TLC matches with Edge and Christian and Team 3D. The Hardy's have been wrestling since they were teenagers in high school, and even lied about their age so they could get dark matches with WWE.

Both Matt and Jeff have been involved with some controversial things in their careers but no one can deny both men have great ability in the ring. Jeff is a daredevil, a high risk taker and leaves it all in the ring every time. Matt on the other hand is more technically sound in the ring but can be a daredevil as well if he needs to be.

The Hardy's are one of the greatest tag teams of all times and it's great to see them reunited again even if it's for one night only in England. I know they will be used together again on TV but we don't know how often. It all depends on what the writers want. The Hardy's are back together and this time it may be for good.

Now you have the Motor City Machine Guns who are young and haven't even made it into their prime yet. Together they have won AAW Tag Team Championship, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Championship, and TNA World Tag Team Championship. While together they have also each held the TNA X Division Championship on one occasion. They have had some outstanding matches with Beer Money, Team 3D, Generation Me, British Invasion and The Latin American Xchange.

I have seen the Machine Guns live before and I can tell you this much, they bring it every time they go out into that ring no matter how big the crowd is or if their on TV or not. They have reinvented tag team wrestling into what it hasn't been in a long time. Fans in the UK are going to see the best tag team of the late 90's and early 2000's take on the best tag team of right now.  Even though they don't have the gold right now the Machine Guns are what makes tag team wrestling go in TNA. They are the heartbeat of the tag team division in TNA. This will be a true test for them to see how truly great they are and how far they have come.


The matches announced for the “TNA Maximum iMPACT! 2011” Tour – which takes place from January 21-29 – include:
 
Friday January 21 – Lyon Halle Tony Garnier
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
• TNA X Division Champion Kazarian will defend the gold!
• Also Appearing: “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, Matt Hardy, TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne, Douglas Williams, Mickie James, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Angelina Love, Tara, Mark Haskins and more!

Saturday January 22 – Paris Le Zenith
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• Genesis Re-Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Matt Hardy
• TNA X Division Champion Kazarian will defend the gold!
• Also Appearing: “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne, “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero, Douglas Williams, Mickie James, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Angelina Love, Tara, Mark Haskins and more!

Monday January 24 – Dublin National Stadium
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy vs. “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• Genesis Re-Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Matt Hardy
• TNA Knockouts Tag Team Action – TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne & Tara vs. Mickie James and Angelina Love
• TNA X Division Champion Kazarian will defend the gold!
• Also Appearing: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero, Douglas Williams, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Mark Haskins and more!

Tuesday January 25 – Berlin Le Zenith
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• Tag Team Action - Rob Van Dam & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan vs. Matt Hardy & “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
• TNA X Division Champion Kazarian will defend the gold!
• Also Appearing: “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne, Douglas Williams, Mickie James, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Angelina Love, Tara, Mark Haskins and more!

Thursday January 27 – Glasgow Braehead Arena
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
• Tag Team Action - “Nature Boy” Ric Flair & Kazarian vs. Douglas Williams & Matt Morgan
• Genesis Re-Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Matt Hardy
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• Special Challenge Match - “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett vs. Scotland’s own Lionheart with special guest referee Greg Hemphill
• Also Appearing: Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero, Mickie James, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Angelina Love, Tara, Mark Haskins and more!

Friday January 28 – Manchester Evening News Arena
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
• First Time Ever! Tag Team Dream Match - The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• TNA X Division Champion Match - Kazarian w/ “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Douglas Williams & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan
• “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett has issued an open challenge!
• Also Appearing: Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne, Mickie James, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Angelina Love, Tara, Mark Haskins and more!

Saturday January 29 – London Wembley Arena
• TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match - Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
• TNA World Tag Team Championship Match - Beer Money, Inc. vs. Motorcity Machine Guns
• First Time Ever! - “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Douglas Williams
• Genesis Re-Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Matt Hardy
• Special Challenge Match - “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett vs. England’s own Johnny Moss
• TNA X Division Champion Kazarian will defend the gold!
• Also Appearing: Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne, “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero, Mickie James, “Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore, Angelina Love, Tara, Mark Haskins and more!


Remember cards subject to change but this looks like it's going to be a great tour for TNA and the fans in the UK are going to see some of the best wrestling they have ever seen.

If anyone from the UK is reading please post your thoughts on the shows below. I would like to know how they went. Thank you.

Shawn Michaels to be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame

This past Monday Night WWE announced their first person to be inducted in the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame and it was none other then the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. People are saying it's too soon for him to be inducted but he should have been inducted before he retired because he was that good. Shawn Michaels has had an illustrious career that spanned over 25 years.

My first memories of Shawn Michaels were when he teamed with Marty Jannetty as The Rockers. They were the first of their kind, and such a dynamic team. He broke off from Jannetty in late 1991 and became The Heartbreak Kid and started what was to be one of the greatest singles career in the history of pro wrestling. He won his first Intercontinental Championship in 1992 defeating the British Bulldog. His greatest accomplishment was at Wrestlemania 12 when he took on Bret Hart in a 60-minute Iron Man Match and won his first WWE Championship. He had a great two year run on and off as champion but in 1998 he was forced to quit wrestling because of a severe back injury. His last match was against Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14 or so we thought.

After having over four years off and overcoming drug and alcohol addictions Shawn returned at Summerslam 2002 and had phenomenal match with Triple H. This match marked the beginning of Shawn's last run in the WWE which last 7 and a half years. In that time he had so many great matches with so many young stars. Some of the matches that stick out in my mind that a lot of people have forgotten about involved him wrestling Rey Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, Edge, Randy Orton, and Hulk Hogan.

My favorite time in Shawn's career was in 2006, when he and Triple H had their second run in the WWE as Degeneration X. It was some of the funniest television I've ever seen. Not to mention they had some really great matches that year. It was one of my favorite years in wrestling because I never laughed so hard in my life. I have no doubt in my mind that Triple H will be the one to induct Shawn into the WWE Hall of Fame.

This is very well deserved and it couldn't come at a better time. Shawn is a legend, an icon, and the greatest in-ring performer of all time including being better then Hogan, Flair, or anyone else you want to throw out there. Shawn will always be the Showstopper, and Mr. Wrestlemania. He will always have the respect of fans and wrestlers a like. Congratulations to Shawn Michaels, the newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame.

NFL Playoff Predictions: Divisional Round

This week is the divisional round for the playoffs and their are some fantastic games on this week. Let's start with Saturdays games which will start off with a bang.

No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (13-4) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Heinz Field, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
I truly believe that the Ravens will win this game. Their defense is strong, motivated and their offense looks great. They have a lot of weapons this year and have all the tools it takes to win the Super Bowl. Big Ben has taken a lot of shots this year and I am not sure he can hold up with that foot injury. The Steelers Defense has been somewhat inconsistent this year and I believe the Ravens will take advantage that on Saturday.

No. 6 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
Georgia Dome, 8 p.m. ET, FOX
Well I am going with the Falcons on this one. The Packers had to play a very tough team last weekend the Falcons have had time to rest. The Falcons have dominated this year and their losses haven't been by much. They know how to win tight games and game that really count. I think the roads ends here for Green Bay and Atlanta marches on to the NFC Championship.

No. 4 Seattle Seahawks (8-9) at No. 2 Chicago Bears (11-5)
Soldier Field, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
The first game on Sunday is an interesting one. The Bears have played really decent football this year but Seattle is totally unpredictable. It should be noted that they did beat Chicago in week six and it was at Soldier Field. The other unpredictable factor in this game is Jay Cutler. One week he plays good, and the other week he throws a lot of interceptions. I am going with the upset and saying Seattle meets Atlanta in the NFC Championship game.

No. 6 New York Jets (12-5) at No. 1 New England Patriots (14-2)
Gillette Stadium, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
The game everyone is talking about and it's going to be a good one. In week two, the Jets beat the Patriots 28-14 at home. However in week thirteen, the Patriots beat the Jets at home 45-3. I hate to say it because I am a Jets fan but I believe the Patriots will meet the Ravens in the AFC Championship game. The Patriots are just playing too good right now.

So there you have it, my predictions for this weekend.

NFL Wildcard Weekend Recap

This week was the craziest of weeks in the Wildcard weekend for the NFL. The first game was between Seattle and New Orleans and my goodness did that go completely different then what everyone thought. Seattle ended up shocking the world by beating the Saints in a very high scoring game. I am sure the Saints had a long plane ride home.

On the other hand the Indianapolis Colts did not have a long plane ride home after their loss to the Jets. This was a very tight game and both teams didn't play their greatest football. However Ladanian Tomlinson played his heart out and that's what got the Jets over the edge.

On Sunday the day started with the Ravens dominating the Chiefs in their typical fashion. The Chiefs kept it close in the first half but in the second half the Ravens ran away with it. The second game on Sunday featured the Packers and Eagles. The Packers defense really did a nice job of keeping the Eagles at bay long enough for Aaron Rodgers to get out a 14-0 lead. The Eagles tried making a comeback but the Packers were too much for Vick and company.

Only one home team won this weekend and that was Seattle which I am sure people will be talking about for a long time to come. It was proven this week that home-field doesn't mean a whole lot sometimes. Any team can win on any given day. It all matters on who wants it most. Stay tuned for this weeks playoff games. They should be good.

Matt Hardy debuts at TNA Genesis and more

Last night was a great night for TNA Wrestling to start 2011. The biggest highlight of the night was Matt Hardy debuting in TNA taking on RVD. Hardy won a controversial decision but that wasn't the last time we saw him during the night. He tried interfering in his brothers impromptu match with Mr. Anderson. He was caught off by RVD allowing Mr. Anderson to this the Mic-Check and win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

Immortal had won all the titles until the point in the night. Abyss defeated Douglas Williams with some help from A.J. Styles. Beer Money defeated the Motor City Machine Guns for the Tag Titles in a great match. Then what started the night, Kazarian beat Jay Lethal for the X-Division Title. So up until the end it was a great night for Immortal.

It was also a good night Madison Rayne who retained her Knockouts title against Mickie James. Bully Ray and Devon ended in DQ which I am sure will make the feud go on longer. It should also be noted that before Anderson fought Hardy, he had to wrestle Matt Morgan and won with an inside cradle. Morgan, Eric Bischoff, RVD, Foley, Flair and Matt Hardy interfered in the match between Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson. All in all it was a great PPV last night and look for TNA to continue their momentum throughout the year.

More on the Future of WWE.

Earlier this week I expressed how I am little bit more satisfied with WWE on how they pushed their younger talent on Raw this past week. Well it turns out they did the same thing on Smackdown this week. Smackdown had a different vibe this week for me then it usually does. The show started out with two prime veterans in Kane and Edge. They fought in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Title. Edge won and retained the title.

The second match highlighted two of the stars of the future, Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Title. Kofi won then beat Dolph in an immediate rematch.

The match that stood out to me the most is the fatal four way between Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. Dolph won with a little help from another youngster Wade Barrett who is now on Smackdown.

The Main Event was a 2 out of 3 falls match between Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio. Mark my words, Del Rio will be a World Heavyweight Champion eventually. He's one of the best pure wrestlers I've seen in a long. He reminds me a lot of JBL but better in terms of wrestling skills.

Both Smackdown and Raw have some great young talent and it's wonderful to see them starting to utilize their younger talent. I expect some great things out of WWE this year even if it is PG. Stay tuned, because the Road to Wrestlemania begins soon.

Bowling for a Cause

On January 15th, friends and former students of Patrick Coughlin will be joining together at Airport Lanes in Wayland Michigan to participate in a Bowl-A-Thon. Coughlin passed away at the age of 39 on Christmas day and left behind a wife and four kids. His loss has effected thousands around the Wayland area and many more that are unheard of. For those of you who don’t know who Patrick Coughlin was. He was a principal, former teacher, high school football coach, and big part of the community in Wayland Michigan.

One of my fondest memories of Coughlin is one of the reasons I am participating in this event. In December of 1997 when I was in 6th grade I was also on a bowling league in Middleville at the Midvilla. At the time I was only carrying a 90 average and I wasn't very good. On December 13th 1997, Mr. Coughlin the teacher came to watch his student bowl. I was really shocked by this and realized at the time that Patrick was no ordinary teacher or human being. He wanted to bring out the best in people who he knew and cared about it. The final game I bowled that day, I ended bowling a 177 which was my highest game at the point in my life. I've always told myself when Mr. Coughlin showed up that day something in me switched and I became more motivated then ever. I still have the plaque that I received from bowling that game. It sits proudly on my window seal and it's something I will never ever forget.

We are putting on this Bowl-A-Thon for a wonderful man who touched a lot of peoples lives. We are accepting two types of donations. We are accepting flat donations or if you would like to donate per pin. If you would like to donate per pin we would ask that you be at the bowling alley the day of the event so we can keep track of the money we are earning. If you don’t have cash, or can’t make it to the event, please make checks out to the Patrick Coughlin Memorial Fund. Thank you for your continued support to the Coughlin family.

The address to the bowl alley is:
Airport Lanes
1095 137th Avenue
Wayland MI 49348

The Bowl-A-Thon starts at 4pm on January 15th.

Even More Baseball Offseason News

Well not much has gone down since Christmas in the baseball word but their are some notable deals that went down. Here are the most recent deals that have gone down.

-Texas Rangers agreed to terms with 3B Adrian Beltre on a six-year contract. Also agreed to terms with RHP Brandon Webb and LHP Arthur Rhodes on a one-year contracts.
-Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with INF Cesar Izturis on a one-year contract. Also agreed to terms with 1B Derrek Lee on a one-year contract.
-Toronto Blue Jays agreed to terms with RHP Octavio Dotel on a one-year contract and Claimed LHP Wilfredo Ledezma off waivers from Pittsburgh.
-New York Mets agreed to terms with LHP Chris Capuano and RHP Taylor Buchholz on one-year contracts.
-San Diego Padres agreed to terms with INF/OF Brad Hawpe on a one-year contract.

I have to say that the Rangers are really trying to make up for the loss of Cliff Lee. They have gotten some great young guys and crafty veterans to add to their roster. Because their division is weak, they have a great shot at winning their division again and making a playoff run. Spring Training is just a few weeks away so stay tuned for any last minute deals.

Thoughts on the Detroit Lions 2010 Season

Many have asked me to give my thoughts on the Detroit Lions 2010 season so here it goes. I knew from the moment they got Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams, Chris Houston, and drafted Ndamukong Suh I knew they were on to something. Then to top it off they took a chance on drafting Jahvid Best who had some shining moments this year. They also went out and signed Nate Burleson who I didn't think deserved the money he got but I was wrong. He played just as good as Calvin Johnson did.

The Lions went 5-11 this year ending the season on a four game winning streak. Out of those 11 loses, 8 of them were decided by 10 points or less. Many teams came to realize the Lions were a joke no more. I applaud Jim Schwartz and his staff for being ready to play each week. They earned the respect that has been given to them and probably deserve more.

In my opinion, the Lions need to keep Shaun Hill and get rid of Matthew Stafford and Drew Stanton. At this point Hill gives the Lions the best chance to win. During the draft I would work on the offensive line and possibly get 1 or 2 offensive weapons. I would also draft an upstart QB like Ryan Mallett if you can get him. I also think that Dave Rayner is a must keep. I love Jason Hansen and have all the respect in the world for him, but I think it's his time to step down. He's had a great 20 year career and has nothing left to prove.

My prediction is that the Lions will be in the playoffs next year and not as a Wildcard. They will win the NFC North and make some noise in the playoffs. They are good quality football team and not the butt of every football joke anymore. Those are my thoughts and I hope I've satisfied you.

2011 NFL Draft- First Round Order

Well after yesterday a good portion of who will in order of the first round of the NFL Draft has been determined. Here is the current order for the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Please note, that the teams in the playoffs aren't set in stone yet. Those are marked by an Astrix.

1. Panthers
2. Broncos
3. Bills
4. Bengals
5. Cardinals
6. Browns
7. 49ers
8. Titans
9. Cowboys
10. Redskins
11. Texans
12. Vikings
13. Lions
14. Rams
15. Dolphins
16. Jaguars
17. Patriots (from Raiders)
18. Chargers
19. Giants
20. Buccaneers
21. Seahawks*
22. Chiefs*
23. Colts*
24. Eagles*
25. Packers*
26. Saints*
27. Bears*
28. Jets*
29. Ravens*
30. Steelers*
31. Falcons*
32. Patriots*
*Position can change based on playoff advancement
**Combined W-L of all opponents played this season

The word on the street is that the Carolina Panthers plan on picking Andrew Luck, the Quarterback out of Stanford as the first overall pick. Luck has yet to declare for the draft. Keep checking back for more on the 2011 NFL Draft.

The Future of the WWE

Last night on the first episode of Monday Night Raw of 2011 two matches really stuck out in my mind. The first match was the Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWE Championship between The Miz and John Morrison. I have to say it was a tremendous match that highlighted the future of the business.

The other match that highlighted the future was the triple threat steel cage match between Randy Orton, Wade Barrett and Sheamus. Orton is in his prime right now and probably won't slow down for at least five more years. They are making use of their younger guys like Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, and Jack Swagger. WWE.com even had a list of 11 guys to look forward to in 2011. Here is the list from WWE.com.

11. Ezekiel Jackson
10. Tyson Kidd
9. Tamina
8. Alex Riley
7. David Otunga
6. Drew McIntyre
5. Skip Sheffield
4. Cody Rhodes
3. Dolph Ziggler
2. Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson for you indy fans)
1. Alberto Del Rio

As you can see this list full of young and great talent. Also in 2011, is the return of Tough Enough which is a lot better then NXT. Here are some of the names who've been through Tough Enough:

Christopher Nowinski, # Josh Lomberger (a.k.a. Josh Mathews), Maven Huffman, Nidia Guenard, Matt Morgan, John Morrison, Jacki Gayda, The Miz, and Marty Wright (a.k.a The Boogeyman)

So as you can see by bringing Tough Enough, the future is bright for the WWE. I for one am looking forward to it. It premiers on USA the night after Wrestlemania. Things are looking up for WWE so stay tuned for more.

NFL Wildcard Weekend Predictions

What a final week it was in the NFL. The Lions go out on a 4 game winning streak. Green Bay makes into the playoffs barely. Brett Favre says he's done for good but we will see how long that lasts. Lastly the Seahawks make it into the playoffs with a 7-9 record. What a bunch of craziness. Here are the match up's coming up this weekend in the first weekend of the playoffs.

Sat., Jan. 08, 8:00 PM ET NBC
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
Well the Jets had a less tougher of an opponent and got to rest their starters for most of the game on Sunday. Even Mark Brunell threw a touchdown pass. Indianapolis has barely hobbled into the playoffs but somehow Peyton Manning seems to get the job done. As great as Indy is, I do not think they can withstand the overwhelming presence of the Jets defense. It's going to be a close but I am going with the Jets.

Sun., Jan. 09, 1:00 PM ET CBS
Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
Ravens have always prided themselves on having a great defense and they still do but with Joe Flacco and all the offensive weapons he has makes them a real dangerous team to face. The Chiefs have had a remarkable turn around season from the last few years. The Chiefs will continue to be a force to reckon with but the Baltimore defense is too experienced for a lot of teams to handle. Baltimore wins and moves on to play the next week.

Sat., Jan. 08, 4:30 PM ET NBC
New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks
This one is way too easy. As much as I don't like them, the Saints will win hands down. Seattle or St. Louis for that matter has no business being in the playoffs with all the great teams in there this year. New Orleans has an easy road to the next week.

Sun., Jan. 09, 4:30 PM ET FOX
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
The first time these two teams met, the Packers won but almost lost when Kevin Kolb got injured and Michael Vick came into the game. This is a hard one for me because Michael Vick has been playing outstanding this year but the Packers have one of the best defenses and offenses in the league. I think the Packers will beat the Eagles but rest assure it won't be easy.

So there you have it my predictions for the first week of the playoffs. On the NFC side of things Atlanta and Chicago have the byes. On the AFC, New England and Pittsburgh have the byes. Stay tuned for more.

Edgar and Maynard Fight to a Draw at UFC 125 and More

Last night a rare thing happened and that is a title fight went to a draw. I really thought Gray Maynard won the fight but the judges saw it differently. They fought to a split draw (48-46, 46-48, 47-47). Other bouts that took place include:

-Lightweight bout: Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi
Guida defeated Gomi by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:27 of round 2.

-Welterweight bout: Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Kim defeated Diaz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

-Light Heavyweight bout: Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva
Silva defeated Vera by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).

-Middleweight bout: Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann
Stann defeated Leben by TKO (strikes) 3:37 of round 1.

You can bet down the road Edgar and Maynard will fight again but until then there are some more great fights to look forward to in 2011. Here's the rundown for the next few months.

UFC 126
-Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva (c) vs. Vitor Belfort
-Light Heavyweight bout: Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin
-Light Heavyweight bout: United States Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader
-Bantamweight bout: United States Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos

UFC 127
-Welterweight bout: BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch

UFC 128
-Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Maurício Rua vs. Rashad Evans
-Heavyweight bout: Mirko Filipović vs. Brendan Schaub
-Bantamweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland

UFC Fight Night 24
-Light Heavyweight bout: Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Tito Ortiz

UFC 129
- Welterweight Championship bout: Georges St-Pierre (c) vs Jake Shields
-Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida

So these first few months of the year we have a lot to look forward to in the UFC. The addition of Jake Sheilds and the WEC fighters are going to make the UFC a powerhouse in 2011. Stay tuned as more fights are announced.