It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since the Royal Rumble debuted on Free TV (USA Network), and won by Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The Rumble was moved to pay-per-view the following year and is now the first of the WWE's "Big 4" PPV's. Rumble aside, there are just 4 matches on the undercard tonight from Madison Square Garden. Here's a look at the card.

WWE title: Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy.

WWE champion vs. Intercontinental champion. How much more of a selling point do you really need? Hardy would become the first man since Triple H to win the WWE title while still the IC champion with a win here tonight. He's had the drop on Orton the last few weeks, but for all the talk about momentum being on the side of the "Rainbow-Haired Warrior", including the highlight reel stunts two of the last three weeks, it's just not his time yet to be the top dog on the Raw brand. Some pundits will suggest that, yes, Hardy can win tonight, but in order to get his heat back, Orton has to win, knowing full well who's lurking on the horizon. (Hint: I already mentioned him) Pick: Orton.

WWE World title: Edge vs. Rey Mysterio.

In this writer's opinion, Edge has lost all of his cred as champion now that he has to have the Edgeheads for backup. He worked alone and hard to win his first three titles, so why have the help now? It doesn't help that Zach Ryder & Curt Hawkins only lost via DQ on Friday, being protected needlessly, given their poor tag-team record before turning heel. I can't see Rey losing here, but then, I can't see Edge's title run ending so soon. Pick: Mysterio via DQ. The Edgeheads will get caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Non-title: MVP vs. Ric Flair.

Flair's career is on the line in every match he's in, thanks to Vince McMahon, but MVP is only fooling himself if he thinks he's the guy to get the job done. Ah-ah! That's not going to happen. If Vince is smart, he'll keep the story going another two months. As I wrote when this angle began, McMahon himself should be the last opponent for the Nature Boy, because when you think about it, their careers actually parallel each other, having started in the 70's around the same time, with Vince as an announcer. Remember, too, that MVP beat Flair back in June at Vengeance, so this is payback on a grand scale. Pick: Flair (DUH!).

Chris Jericho vs. John Bradshaw Layfield.

Layfield, the Texas carpetbagger, would technically have the homefield here, since he now legit makes his home in NYC. Jericho was born in Long Island, raised in Winnipeg, and now lives in Florida. That having been said, there's that rule about hometown stars on the Raw brand doing the J-O-B in front of the homies. It happened to Mickie James on Monday, but because of his political connections, Layfield isn't going to lose clean in his first singles match back. Pick: Jericho via DQ.

The 21st Royal Rumble.

The Undertaker is the defending champion, and would be in line to repeat to get a shot at Edge at Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando. However, let's consider some other candidates:

Triple H (4-1): The Cerebral Assassin won in 2002, and is looking to duplicate his run that year, only he would be facing Orton instead of Jericho at the big dance. However, he still must deal with a McMahon blocking his path. Instead of Stephanie (now his real-life wife), it's Vince, aided by William Regal. Regal shouldn't be involved in this angle at all, except that Regal and Trip are friends dating back to their days in WCW. Familiarity breeding contempt and all that.

Dave Batista (5-1): The 2005 winner would like nothing better than to get another crack at Edge.

Shawn Michaels (10-1): HBK won in 1995-6, but has an issue presently with Ken Kennedy that will take him out of contention. Michaels was the runner-up last year, and would like to be the first man since Stone Cold Steve Austin to win 3 Rumbles.

David "Fit" Finlay (10-1): The Fighting Irishman has never been a World champion, as JBL often reminded us on Smackdown last year. His role now is as Hornswoggle's keeper/bodyguard, although I suspect that will come to an end soon. They've been a team for a couple of years, but as Shakespeare said, all good things must come to an end.

Hornswoggle (30-1): It would be just like the insane chairman to book his "illegitimate son" to be a surprise winner and continue the storyline. However, that would turn off a lot of fans, and McMahon's good at doing that.

CM Punk (15-1): The rightful ECW champion qualified last night in Providence, RI, his opportunity to avenge himself on Chavo Guerrero reduced to a qualifier, simply because they need to fill the field. Punk could lock up a spot at Mania, but it just isn't in the cards.

Dismiss the monsters in the field (i.e. Kane, Great Khali), as they're just garbagemen in this match.

The pick: Undertaker makes it two in a row, the first to do so since Austin in 1997-8.

Other stuff: In a surprise, WWE waived good-bye to ECW co-head writer Dave Lagana on Friday. On the surface, I would guess that Lagana, a disciple of Paul Heyman, was the fall guy for the travesty on Tuesday, leaving Dusty Rhodes as the head writer for ECW. If I were Vince, I'd move Dusty to Raw, have Tommy Dreamer retire from competition and take over as head writer. Meanwhile, in a move that's one for the books, former NFL player Mike Adamle, the original host of "American Gladiators", has signed with WWE and will join the Raw team as a backstage reporter, debuting tonight. Adamle was a color analyst for NBC's NFL coverage in the early 80's before "Gladiators" came along. Sounds to me like the pieces are falling into place for a Gladiators/Raw crossover involving current co-host Hulk Hogan, in time for Wrestlemania.