Breaking Spoilers: New World Heavyweight Champion Crowned at Smackdown Tapings

**Spoiler warning: don't read this post if you want to be surprised**

With The Rock returning Monday on RAW, the early "Road to WrestleMania" vibe is already in the air which means you can expect the unexpected for the next few months.  That very vibe was evident tonight as the World Heavyweight Championship changed hands at the Smackdown tapings when Alberto Del Rio defeated The Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match for the title.

With Del Rio recently turning face and Ricardo Rodriguez being used to help get him over as a good guy, defeating the Big Show will definitely propel Alberto back to a top spot in the company.  This title change really comes out of the blue, since it seemed Big Show was in the midst of a long reign that would go until at least WrestleMania.  All this could be to set up a rematch at The Royal Rumble that would see Show regain the title after claiming he wasn't actually pinned or submitted in the Last Man Standing match.  There was some early buzz that Ryback would take on Show at WrestleMania, but this title change may turn things more toward an Alberto vs. Dolph Ziggler title match at 'Mania.

Things are heating up in WWE right now, and they are making an effort to bring back some "must see TV" since the ratings have been low the past few months.  Alberto's title win will air this Friday on Smackdown, along with The Rock's first appearance on the show in 10 years.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show Set for Wrestlemania 24, in SOME Fashion!

In a matter of about 3 days, suddenly Big Show is back in WWE, and somehow feuding with pro boxer Floyd "Money" Mayweather. My first impression of all this was that I hated how fast this was set up. Big Show coming down the aisle 100 pounds lighter, was great to see, made it seem like he was fresh and ready to make an impact for the first time in years. So he does his promo, cool enough. Then he sees Rey Mysterio at ringside, and decides to kick his ass, uh, just because he's taking away from his return, makes sense. From there things got weird, as suddenly Floyd Mayweather of all people is coming to Rey's rescue. So Big Show throws Mayweather's ass out of the way with ease, being Mayweather is about 1/8 Show's size. Then Big Show gets on his knees to balance out the height difference, then suddenly Mayweather EXPLODES shoot punches onto Big Show, breaking his nose in a matter of 2 seconds, then high tailing out of there. So we get a Big Show return, an attack on Mysterio (who had just wrestled Edge for the World Title,) and a confrontation with Floyd Mayweather, all in a span of minutes. All of this could've happened over at least 3 weeks if you ask me, but that's todays wrestling for you.

Now Monday night, we saw Big Show call out Mayweather, and "apologize" for his actions....then proceeded to tear Mayweather up, for even stepping in "Big Shows ring." So basically the challenge was laid down, Mayweather accepted, and we have ourselves a Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather match of some sort. The fans stood up for wrestling here, and boo'd Mayweather for coming into the wrestling world saying he was the best fighter in the world, coming off as a great heel, although I'm not sure if he was meant to come off as a heel or face. So although I didn't like the rushed nature of this whole angle, as Big Show was already in the big swing of an angle his first night back on RAW, overall, i think this was well done, and gives the fans something cool besides the typical crap we've been getting on RAW lately. People will be talking about this one, the best pound for pound boxer vs. the giant pro wrestler. It's something casual fans will be interested in, and a realistic story (complete with broken noses!) Now this will probably be a 1 shot deal at Wrestlemania, and could be anything from a wrestling match, to a boxing match, with the possibility of it being Rey Mysterio (depending on his injury) with Mayweather vs. Big Show and Shane McMahon. So far, this angle going into Wrestlemania 24 intrigues me more than Cena vs. Orton vs. H. I mean, we've seen Cena, Orton, and H wrestle each other a hundred times, and now this match is supposed to feel like a WrestleMania main event? Sorry, not feeling it. Mayweather vs. Show will not be a great contest, but brings the much needed "unique" feeling that Wrestlemania needs, which has previously been brought by such classics as the WWF vs. NFL Battle Royal at Mania 2, LT vs. Bam Bam at Mania 11, and the Gimmick Battle Royal at X-7. Let's hope they go for the shoot boxing match, so Show can break Mayweathers nose right back!

The Big Show Returning?

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We reported earlier that The Wrestling Observer Newsletter had noted a big name of WWE's past - a multi-champion superstar was set to return with the company.

The January 14th edition of the Newsletter confirms that former multi-time WWE Champion Paul Wight - The Big Show - has either signed with the company or has agreed to a deal, and will be starting full-time very soon.

Big Show is down to 440 lbs after leaving pro wrestling to rest, and pursue a possible career in boxing, which obviously included boxing training that got him in quite a good shape. Dave Meltzer also mentions in the Observer that a part of his boxing deal was that Hulk Hogan was to be his "front man" acting like a manager in wrestling for him by doing promos and appearances. This was also the main reason many boxing promoters were actually interested in Big Show and paying him so much money to learn the sport. These plans, however, fell apart at some point, and Show realized that at his age, boxing might not be the right direction to go anyway. There have also been no recent updates or even talks of Hogan doing his own wrestling tour - a very discussed topic of the past. Hence with nothing on the horizon, Big Show is back with WWE.