By Robin Scannell, PWTorch Specialist

PWTorch specialist Robin Scannell's new Storyline Tracker feature will also track the Top 10 storylines/feuds of the week from WWE Raw, TNA Impact, and WWE Smackdown.

(1) The Nexus vs. John Cena (Raw)

Nexus and Cena have now been feuding for 32 weeks, although, the latest incarnation of the heel faction, as led by C.M. Punk, has only been feuding with Cena for four of those weeks. We know that the members of Nexus are going to try to help Punk win the Royal Rumble. Punk leads the group in a David Koreshian-like manner, but it’s not clear what the motivation is for the members in Nexus. Remember, Nexus are the group that fired Cena and then brought him back. They brought him back so that he would leave them alone, and yet they’re still feuding with him. The ironic thing is that bringing Cena back was supposed to result in Cena leaving Nexus alone, except for Wade Barrett. Now, Barrett is on Smackdown, and Nexus is still fighting Cena.

It’s clear that C.M. Punk dislikes Cena, but it’s a little surprising that Nexus would happily go along with Punk after the last few months they’ve had. This week saw the debut of Mason Ryan, a new member of Nexus, who interfered in Punk and Cena’s match this week.

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(2) Royal Rumble Hype (Raw & Smackdown)

There are currently 25 Superstars confirmed for this year’s Royal Rumble, which will have 40 participants. This list of 25 includes Nexus members, John Cena, Sheamus, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio, and Corre members. As both Nexus and Corre are in this Rumble, we can expect to see some kind of clash between the groups. It’s important to note that, although it is the aim of Nexus to ensure that C.M. Punk wins, The Corre is not backing any one member of the group, and so, if it it comes down to two members of the group at the end of the match, don’t expect either member to willingly eliminate himself.

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(3) Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett (Impact)

In October, Jeff Jarrett brought up Kurt Angle’s ex-wife (now Jarrett’s wife) during Kurt Angle’s retirement speech. Over the next weeks, Jeff Jarrett developed an MMA fighter gimmick, where he held MMA Challenges. Angle interrupted one of these challenges, and signed a contract for an exhibition at the Genesis pay-per-view, however the match was thrown out due to Jarrett blinding Angle with an unknown substance. Since then, Angle’s ex-wife, Karen Jarrett has talked about exposing Kurt Angle for who he really is. However, Angle attacked Jeff Jarrett before Karen had a chance to reveal what she was going to say.

Gap in the Story: I failed to mention this in my Impact Story Tracker, but after Kurt Angle’s opening promo on Impact, he was escorted from the Impact Zone by police officers. He then managed to get into the building again. The police officers did not come looking for him again despite him standing in the ring and shown backstage twice more that night.

***

(4) The Miz (w/Alex Riley) vs. Randy Orton (Raw)

Since The Miz successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Orton for the WWE Title, he and Orton have been feuding for the title. This week, Orton got a win over Dolph Ziggler in a number one contender vs. number one contender match. After the match, The Miz and Alex Riley attacked Orton. This attacked ended with a spot where Orton was thrown into the barricade next to the announce desk. The Miz looked like a real threat and danger to Orton in the assault. Orton should be selling the effects of the beat down next week.

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(5) The Corre (Smackdown)

Since being exiled from The Nexus, Wade Barrett, along with Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, and Ezekiel Jackson, have formed a new stable. The group consist of four equals; there is no leader, so they say. Last week, they took out Big Show. Barrett’s reasoning for this was that Big Show is the biggest and the baddest there is. This week, Justin Gabriel beat Edge via interference from The Corre.

Reax: As I stated in my Smackdown Storyline Tracker column, the stable didn’t seem overtly heelish as they spoke. Barrett gave an honorable reason for attacking Big Show and all members were smiling this week. Other things of interest are that Ezekiel Jackson has been working as a face recently, Heath Slater has his ‘one man rock band’ moniker again, which he used when he was a cocky babyface on NXT, and Justin Gabriel is now saying that he will now call Smackdown his home to display the "most spectacular move in WWE," the sternum-crushing 450 splash.

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(6) Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler (w/Vickie Guerrero) (Smackdown)

Since becoming number one contender for the World Heavyweight Title, Ziggler has appeared on the Cutting Edge and been on commentary for one of Edge’s matches. There is conflict between the two as Edge was once involved with Vickie Guerrero. On the Cutting Edge, Ziggler said that Edge should be grateful that Vickie always stood by his side, and that, at the Royal Rumble, he will pull the plug and watch Edge’s title reign flatline. This week, Ziggler entered the ring and stood with one foot on top of Edge after Justin Gabriel defeated him.

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(7) They vs. Immortal (Impact)

Last week (Jan. 13), Crimson choked Abyss and warned him that on February 3, "they" would be coming for Immortal. This continued this week when Crimson choked A.J. Styles backstage and said that A.J. has two weeks, as they are coming on February 3. Then, at the end of the show, while Angle was getting beaten down by Immortal, Abyss appeared at the top of the stage with his arms outstretched. He fell to his knees and then onto his front, and it is revealed that Janice is in his back. Crimson walks out and reminds Immortal that they are coming on Feb. 3.

Gap in the Story: We won’t know what has happened to Abyss until next week, so for now I’ll leave you with a Tweet by Sean Waltman, who summarized the potential issues with what happened on Impact: "Is Abyss dead? Is someone going to jail? Who was that guy? No one seemed too worried about Abyss's life. Abyss is dead, We'll see u nxt week."

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(8)Theodore Long’s Health (Smackdown)

Theodore Long was knocked unconscious by someone on Smackdown and was taken to hospital in an ambulance. The Corre have stated they had no part in the attack. It is perhaps notable that Vickie Guerrero was very affected by what had happened to Theodore Long.

Reax: I took a look at the Smackdown roster, and the only person I could feasibly see being the assailant is Tyler Reks, unless they’re bringing someone up from FCW, such as Seth Rollins (Tyler Black).

Gap in the Story: Todd Grisham was going to give some information on Theodore Long’s condition in a backstage segment. However, he was interrupted by The Miz and Alex Riley. After they left, why did the camera cut away? WWE still has not provided information on Long’s condition.

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(9) Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy (Impact)

Putting this in the Top Ten makes me feel like I’m doing more to build up their upcoming title rematch from Genesis than TNA is. This week on Impact, there was a backstage segment between Mr. Anderson, RVD, and Tommy Dreamer. Anderson talked about putting the title on the line in two weeks. RVD was unhappy that he hasn’t been allowed anywhere near Jeff Hardy. Tommy Dreamer said that he would get the job done when he faces Jeff Hardy later on. Jeff Hardy beat Dreamer clean, and Beer Money beat Mr. Anderson and RVD in a tag match that saw Jeff ditract RVD while Matt ran in and hit the Twist of Hate. There was reasonable build-up to their re-match in two weeks time. However, this angle was overshadowed by the Jarrett-Angle feud.

***

(10) Drew McIntyre vs. Trent Barreta (Smackdown)

Drew McIntyre is 2-1 against Trent Barreta in this interesting mid-card feud. Drew McIntyre wants to be with Kelly Kelly, but she doesn’t like his aggression. This week, after McIntyre beat Barreta, he went to shake his hand, but Barreta punched McIntyre, who fell out of the ring. McIntyre went back into the ring and attacked Barreta and set up for the Future Shock, but Kelly came out to the ring and told McIntyre to stop. McIntyre released Barretta and tried to explain what happened as Kelly went to the aid of Barreta. Kelly shouted at McIntyre to leave him alone.

Gap in the Story: Why did Kelly Kelly take Trent Barreta’s side when Barreta had just slapped McIntyre when McIntyre wanted to shake hands?

Honorable Mentions: The Miz vs. Edge hyping their upcoming match on the Jan. 24 edition of Monday Night Raw.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould/Neal Obermeyer (c) PWTorch.com]

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