Monday, JANUARY 11 - 5:13 P.M. (CT)

-Due to the hype and execution of last week's huge head to head shows, this week feels like the week after Christmas, unless you really like New Year's, and if that is the case, it feels like the day after. Last week was a lot of fun. The weeks leading into last week's WWE Raw vs. TNA Impact battle were a lot of fun. Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan were our Christmas presents and the wrestling fans and audience are hopefully not yet bored with them.

Tonight, things get back to normal as WWE Raw runs unopposed (well, in terms of TNA, although they are running up against a Spike UFC special). Based on last Monday's Impact rating, "normal" could soon mean a permanent move to Monday nights for TNA. Last week had all of the hype and speculation, but this is a bigger week.

Heading into the Royal Rumble, how will WWE pave the road to WrestleMania? Being someone who really loved last week's Raw featuring Bret Hart, heck, even if you did not like the show or fell somewhere in the middle, how will WWE follow up with Bret tonight? It would be in their best interest to have all systems go and have Hart ready to confront Vince McMahon tonight.

On top of that, Mike Tyson is tonight's guest host. Tyson, the former undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World (in boxing), and the man that knocked out Shawn Michaels after making the three count for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV, is a big name that could keep the positive momentum going.

Last week, we knew we had Hart and Michaels to look forward to, as well as Hart and McMahon. This week, it will be nearly as interesting to see what happens when Tyson and Michaels go face to face. I hope they do not glaze over this as I think it could make for very interesting television for one night. It would be awesome to see Austin back in the ring with these two, but remember, Christmas is over now, so it's not time for pipe dreams.

Beyond that, does anyone really think Chris Jericho is gone from Raw? I'm guessing he will continue to try to get onto the show. Maybe Tyson will bring him back because of both of their histories with Michaels. John Cena will be back tonight and I'm sure they will make up for his absence last week. Sheamus needs a Rumble opponent. So, there is a lot to pique the curiosity of the viewer on Raw tonight.

-Over in TNA, the first five to ten minutes of Thursday's Impact will be very important. Of course, the word going around is that this show is not a great follow up to last week's show. Nevertheless, that is simply opinion and I'm curious to see what happens on Thursday. I am curious to see how many people out of that 1.5 will come back to watch on Thursday. Stay tuned.

One can assume that we will see a lot of Hogan's boys, but I am most interested to see how they follow up from the A.J. Styles vs. Kurt Angle main event from last week's show. I love the nostalgic reunion and surprise returns (some of them) from last week, but Styles and Angle (and a few others) should be the focus of the company.

-After a wild wild-card weekend in the NFL, I can tell you that the Jets are a damn well coached team. Anytime players support their coach like they do there, it's the start of a great formula. Throw in a great defense and running game, and they are looking good. Of course, love for a coach quickly becomes hate after a six win season, and since the Jets will not beat the Chargers, we'll see how they follow up next year.

The Cardinals won a video game like contest, the Ravens dominated the once elite Patriots, and the Cowboys continued to be the hottest team in football. I think the winner of the Vikings vs. Cowboys game will go to the Super Bowl. The Saints and Cardinals could light it up again. The Colts better come ready to play. I cannot think of a year where home field advantage meant so little in the playoffs.

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