How Things Have Changed - This Day in WWE 2 Years Ago

It's amazing to check into the past and see what happened exactly two years ago to the day. Using the Internet Wrestling Database link at the top of the page, I did just that. Here is the Monday Night Raw card for 1/26/2009 (the day after the Royal Rumble) and my comments about where those Superstars are now.

Match 1 - Miz & Morrison defeat Cryme Tyme (2:57)

Miz & Morrison were the World Tag Team Champions at this time. It's a little funny to see actual tag teams in WWE that weren't just thrown together like most of them are today. If they hadn't split Shad and JTG up, Cryme Tyme would probably have had multiple tag title reigns as of now. The Miz obviously has exceeded all expectation and is the current WWE Champion and John Morrison is on perhaps the biggest current push of any Superstar in the company. While Shad is out of the company and JTG only makes occasional appearances.

Match 2 - Kofi Kingston defeats Kane (2:04)

This was a short match that seems to have just been added into the card to fill it out. Kofi was inbetween US and Intercontinental Title reigns and Kane was in the middle of a title drought after losing the ECW Title. Both men have done much better for themselves in the past 2 years. Kofi has won a US Title and 2 Intercontinental Titles since then and Kane finally won the World Heavyweight Championship (which was long overdue).

Match 3 - John Cena defeats Shawn Michaels (13:09)

Interesting that this was the 3rd match and not the main event. This was when HBK was under JBL's control due to monetary issues - not the high point of Michaels' Hall of Fame career. John Cena was the World Heavyweight Champion at the time, a belt that he has worn for only a fraction of the time he has had the WWE Title. Luckily, Michaels got out from under JBL in time to face Undertaker for the first of two times at Wrestlemania before he ended his storied career. Cena has won 5 World Championships since that date. It's safe to say he has done ok for himself.

Match 4 - Beth Phoenix & Jillian defeat Kelly Kelly & Melina (2:38)

Not much to say here. Just a Divas match thrown in the undercard like usual. The only noteworthy item would be that Melina had just won the Women's Title from Beth Phoenix the night before at the Royal Rumble. Not much has changed in the Divas Division. Jillian is the only one of the four who has been taken off the active roster.

Match 5 - Rey Mysterio defeats William Regal (3:42)

Strangely enough, this match was actually between two men vying for the Intercontinental Championship. Regal had just lost the Title a week prior and Mysterio would go on to defeat JBL for the belt at Wrestlemania in 21 seconds and force him into retirement. This marked the end of Regal's career highlights as he is winding down with age. Mysterio has had a fruitful 2 years since this night winning the Intercontininental Title twice and the World Heavyweight Championship once.

Main Event - Chris Jericho defeats CM Punk (3:28)

Two of my favorite Superstars collided on this night two years ago. CM Punk had just won the Intercontinental Title a week before. Chris Jericho had (not surprisingly) just been fired and rehired within a two week span. There wasn't too much at stake on this night, just two excellent grapplers going at each other. Perhaps the reason this match was made was because Jericho had won the World Title from Punk in a scramble match a few months earlier, so they had built somewhat of a rivalry. Punk was on the verge of winning his second consecutive Money In The Bank match, while Jericho was getting ready to begin his assault on the WWE Legends. In the time since, Jericho has won a World Heavyweight Championship, an Intercontinental Championship, and also had a long run as Unified Tag Team Champion alongside Big Show (after Edge was injured). Punk, meanwhile, has added 2 more World Heavyweight Titles to his name.

It just goes to show you that 2 years doesn't seem like a very long time, but when you look at exactly what happened 2 years ago to the day, many things have changed.