MATCH 1
Edge +Shelton Benjamin v Mr Kennedy +Christian Cage
(Tag Team)
Benjamin and Kennedy begin in the ring, and they circle each other. Kennedy talks some smack and shouts his name, but Benjamin lands a cheap punch to his jaw. Benjamin then clubs him in the back of the head, before kneeing him in the gut. He whips Kennedy into the ropes and goes for a lariat, but Kennedy ducks under and runs back, only to be hit with a hard elbow and sent to the floor. Benjamin smirks and taunts Kennedy by shouting his name, before tagging Edge in. Edge stomps on him, before kicking him in the back, causing him to cringe in pain. He lifts Kennedy up and pushes him into the turnbuckle. He hits a few punches to the cornered Kennedy, before whipping him into the opposite turnbuckle and hitting a corner spear. Edge covers, 1…..2….. Kennedy gets his hand on the ropes. Edge picks him up and whips him into his own corner. He runs and hits a flying elbow to his jaw, before tagging in Benjamin. Benjamin uppercuts Kennedy in the mouth before landing a spinning jawbreaker. He picks up Kennedy and pushes him to his waist, before picking him up and delivering a powerbomb, sending Kennedy’s back straight into the turnbuckle. He covers him, 1…..2….. Kennedy kicks out, and Benjamin is livid, and he kicks him in the head. He then puts Kennedy in a sleeper hold, draining the blood from his head. Kennedy stays strong though and fights to his feet, but then Shelton lands a snapmare while keeping Kennedy in the hold. Kennedy really appears to be fading as he is on his knees and drooping. The referee notices this and raises Kennedy’s hand but it falls to the ground. He raises it again but it too falls after a brief attempt at holding it up. The referee raises it a third time, but the hand stays in the air! Kennedy then drops to the ground and wraps his arm around Shelton, hitting him with a huge stunner! Kennedy and Benjamin both fall to the ground and they crawl towards their tag team partners. Christian Cage is tagged in but when Edge sees this, he refuses to tag Benjamin in. Cage looks frustrated but he starts the offense on Benjamin, kicking him in the stomach before delivering a DDT. He picks Shelton up and punches him hard in the face, before backing him into a corner. He mounts himself on the turnbuckle, and hits ten hard punches to the face of Benjamin. He smiles and taunts Benjamin before hopping off. He turns around, only to be caught by a huge Spear from Edge. After this illegal move, the referee herds Edge off while Benjamin struggles over to cover Christian. 1…..2….. Cage musters a kick out. Edge suddenly waves his hand out madly and Benjamin manages to tag him in. Edge rushes to Cage and stomps on him many times before dropping a knee on his kidneys. Edge then hooks Christian’s leg and twists around, putting him in the Edgecator. Cage fights the submission, but Edge then drags him into the middle of the ring. He lifts his arm up to tap, but then stops, suddenly turning over and kicking Edge off him. Edge quickly rushes back to him, but he takes a boot to the stomach, followed by a leg sweep, all while Christian is lying on the ground. The brothers get up simultaneously and go for clotheslines, and they both take each other down at the same time. Then they both decide against further battle and reach for tags. Shelton and Kennedy are then tagged in and run in. Kennedy takes him down with a lariat before hitting another after he gets up. He whips Shelton but is pulled through and is whipped himself. Shelton bends over for a back body drop but Kennedy reads it and stops, before kicking Shelton in the face. However, his foot is grabbed by Benjamin. He momentarily hops on one leg before raising the other and kicking Benjamin in the face with a Spinning Dragon. He covers, 1…..2….. Benjamin kicks out. Kennedy gets up and goes for the Mic Check, but Shelton pushes him off and goes for the Paydirt, but that too is reversed. Kennedy hits Shelton with a European Uppercut before throwing him into the turnbuckle. He walks over and places Shelton on top, before ascending the turnbuckle himself. He picks up Shelton for the Green Bay Plunge, but then Edge runs across the apron and punches Kennedy in the face, causing him to drop Shelton onto the apron below. Christian then runs in and knocks Edge off the apron, before hitting a Springboard Frog Splash to the outside, to many cheers from the crowd. In the ring, Kennedy goes for the Kenton Bomb, but Benjamin gets up after the long delay and runs at the turnbuckle, before jumping up with one swift leap. He goes for the Exploder Suplex off the top, but Kennedy hooks his head and smashes it into the top of the corner post. He then picks him up onto his shoulders and jumps down, hitting the Green Bay Plunge. Christian slides back into the ring as Kennedy covers, 1…..2…..3
WINNERS- Mr Kennedy +Christian Cage by PINFALL in 13:44
Foley- Wow, we just witnessed an electric match there to start off Smackdown with a bang!
JR- Edge wanted nothing to do with Christian for most of that match; it looks like a rivalry will be apparent here.
Foley- Jim, we will see in due time how this turns out.
***COMMERCIAL***
Josh Matthews is backstage with the Big Show.
Matthews- So, how does-
Show- It feels absolutely great to be getting the recognition I finally deserve. I beat everyone Smackdown threw at me and I even had to rub the boss the right way, but what I have done has paid off.
Matthews- Now I under-
Show- That’s right, this is the first time that I have gotten a shot at the WWE title in months, and it has been a long time coming. I don’t care how I have to get to that title, whether it is a tournament, elimination chamber, or a Blue reverse battle royale. I don’t fight for the right, I fight for me. And trust me, I will prevail and walk out of tonight’s main event one step closer to being WWE Champion. And Triple H… well he better watch himself.
Foley- Big Show acted almost too confident there.
JR- You can’t underestimate the Game, Mick.
MATCH 2
The Great Khali v James Curtis
(Single)
Curtis cowers as Khali menacingly glares at him. Ranjin Singh calls him over at the ropes and whispers to Khali. While he is distracted there, Curtis uses the opportunity to start hammering away on Khali. He hits a flurry of punches, but then Khali uses his strength to throw Curtis half way across the ring. Khali runs for a clothesline but Curtis runs under his arm, before bouncing off the opposite ropes and hitting a missile dropkick. The blow does not faze Khali and when Curtis gets back up, he takes a huge chop to the head. Khali then menacingly glares at Curtis, before picking him up and throwing him into the corner turnbuckle. Curtis falls to the floor as Khali hits him with a brutal leg drop. He cockily puts one foot on him for the pin. 1…..2….. The referee stops counting as Curtis has his hand on the rope. Khali is outraged and stomps on Curtis’ head. He then pulls him to his knees, and clasps his huge hands around his head. Curtis is powerless to resist and quickly succumbs to the submission by passing out. The referee calls for the bell as Khali picks Curtis up and delivers a huge Khali Bomb to him.
WINNER- The Great Khali by KNOCKOUT in 2:19
JR- The poor kid, he had no chance.
Foley- Khali just decimated him.
JR- Yes, the towering Indian showed no remorse tonight.
***COMMERCIAL***
MATCH 3
Number One Contender to the WWE Tag Team Championship
Curt Hawkins +Zack Ryder v Homicide +Hernandez v DH Smith +TJ Wilson v Jesse +Festus
(Fatal 4-Way Tag Team)
DH Smith, Homicide, Zack Ryder and Festus begin in the ring. They all stay in their respective corners but then the bell rings and Festus goes mental, taking out all three other legal participants. He even goes as far as to knock Curt Hawkins off the apron. Zack Ryder gets annoyed at this and comes behind Festus, low blowing the corn fed colossus. Festus falls to the ground, as Ryder tags Hawkins in, who stomps on Festus. Homicide and DH Smith lock up, and Smith gets the upper hand, forcing Homicide to his knees before clotheslining him to the floor. Hawkins then tries to pick up Festus, but he reverses it into a body slam and he throws Hawkins right onto Homicide. He tags in Jesse who hits Hawkins and Homicide with a springboard leg drop coming off the apron. Jesse gets up but it immediately hit with a quick back suplex from DH Smith. Smith moves over to the recovering Jesse and hooks his arm behind his leg, placing him into a standing abdominal stretch. They are next to the ropes, but Jesse is facing inside the ring and he only has one free hand. He attempts to reach at the ropes, but he can’t and gives up. He fades but then Smith suddenly releases the hold and an oncoming and tagged in Hernandez clotheslines Jesse over the rope accidentally, taking himself with him. TJ Wilson is tagged in, and he immediately focuses on the wounded Hawkins. He picks him up, and Irish whips him into the turnbuckle, TJ the runs and goes for a splash. Hawkins dodges, but then in one swift motion, Wilson pulls himself onto the top turnbuckle using his already outstretched arms. Hawkins then turns around, and is hit by a huge missile dropkick from TJ Wilson covers, 1…..2….. It is broken up by Hernandez, who has re-entered the ring. Hernandez throws Wilson off Hawkins and he goes and tags in DH. In the meantime, Jesse attempts to get back into the ring but Zack Ryder jumps off the apron and slams him into the barricade, sending him falling back to the ground. In response to this, Festus charges at Ryder on the outside, but as he is running he is hit with a drop toe hold, sending his face and chest right into the steel steps! Ryder then gets back on the apron before being tagged in after Hawkins pokes Hernandez in the eye. Hernandez composes himself, and in a furious rampage, delivers a clothesline to Ryder and then a massive spear to Smith, sending him rolling out of the ring. Hawkins then runs at him, but he is hit with a lariat as well. Hernandez tags in Homicide, who turns around to find TJ Wilson flying at him with a springboard lariat. He thinks quickly and moves forwards, grabbing TJ mid-air and hitting him with a running spinebuster! Homicide covers with Hernandez guarding him, 1…..2….. Ryder sneaks past Hernandez and breaks it up. Hernandez then notices Ryder, picks him up and goes for a powerslam, but he slips off his back and dropkicks the big man over the top rope. Hawkins then enters the ring, but gets hit with an elbow from Homicide. Homicide goes for an Irish whip but Hawkins reverses it into a whip of his own, and Homicide is sent right into a DDT from Ryder. They celebrate, but when they turn around they see a furious Festus standing in the ring. The corn fed colossus delivers a double clothesline, before running for another. He hits Hawkins but Ryder dodges backwards and uses Festus momentum against him, hitting a flapjack. He is about to cover him, but out of nowhere Jesse has recovered and is on the top rope. He jumps and hits a diving fame asser on Ryder, before springing off the opposite ropes and hitting a seated senton on Hawkins. Jesse covers Ryder, 1…..2….. Ryder kicks out, but then DH Smith boots Jesse in the face, busting him open, and rolls him out of the ring. Smith picks up Ryder and places him on his shoulder. He then measures his distance, before crushing Ryder with a running powerslam. He covers, 1…..2….. Hernandez breaks it up, before picking him up and Border Tossing him right off the apron and to the outside, right onto Festus. Homicide also enters the ring, but Hernandez alerts him to TJ Wilson who is on the apron. Wilson jumps, facing the crowd and aims for a huge back elbow on Homicide. Homicide however ducks a bit and turns around, and Hernandez lifts Wilson slightly, allowing Homicide to amazingly turn the move into a Cop Killa. Hernandez launches a suicide dive at a recovering Hawkins and Ryder on the outside as Homicide covers Wilson. 1…..2…..3 The LAX win!
WINNERS- Homicide +Hernandez by PINFALL in 15:13
JR- So from the chaos that was there in that match, the LAX were the ones that came out victorious.
Foley- Men were flying everywhere in that match.
JR- And this means we will see the Latin American Xchange take on The Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel at Backlash.
Foley- I am already eagerly anticipating that match, JR.
***COMMERCIAL***
Triple H is walking backstage when he sees Jeff Hardy tying up his bootlaces, so he goes to talk to him.
HHH- Hey, Jeff, are you getting ready for your tag title match tonight? Hope it goes well for you and your bro.
Hardy- Yeah, Matt and I are hoping to make this Hardy Boys reunion a successful one. And good luck for you too in your match with the Big Show in the championship tournament.
HHH- Thanks, I look forward to seeing you in the tournament as well. But if we ever do cross paths, don’t expect me to show any mercy. I don’t care who you are or what you do. On order to receive the WWE title that is rightfully mine, I will beat you.
Hardy- Don’t worry there is no need to worry about me. In the same way you can’t fear a hurricane, you may as well not fear me because I will prevail, and nobody can change that fact. What I want here on Smackdown is the WWE title, and the tag titles are just the icing on the cake. From now on, I will not settle for second best, and once everything is said and done, and the championship tournament is over, I will be the WWE Cha-
Jeff is suddenly attacked from behind by the Great Khali. Khali beats Hardy down until HHH makes the save and separates Khali from Jeff, before pushing him into the wall of the corridor. Khali falls forward, before Jeff gives him a huge Twist of Fate! Khali rolls out of view and away from the screen.
HHH- What was that about?
Hardy- I honestly don’t know, maybe I am a marked man. I wouldn’t be surprised that as I am who everybody wants to be on Smackdown.
HHH- Were you the man who fought in the main event of Wrestlemania 25 last night?
Hardy- No, but I wasn’t the man who lost either.
Triple H goes to punch Hardy, but instead stops himself.
HHH- Lets keep our issues to ourselves and settle them in the ring, we have matches tonight, and we can worry about them.
Hardy- Sure man, but don’t forget, I will be champion.
Jeff holds out his hand and HHH shakes it, smirking. Hardy then walks off and HHH turns to leave, but he is clocked out of nowhere by a huge punch from the Big Show, almost knocking him out. Show laughs and walks off happy with himself.
Foley- What the hell was going on back there?
JR- First we saw some tension between Jeff Hardy and Triple H, and the Khali interfered, although he was quickly taken care of, which doesn’t usually happen to the 7 ½ footer.
JR- It just shows how tough Jeff Hardy is.
Foley- And don’t forget Triple H, if he wasn’t there then Hardy would have been done for.
JR- I guess the Game was trying to send a message to the Big Show for their match tonight.
Foley- But the Big Show got the last laugh with that KO punch.
JR- Gee, I’m confused.
MATCH 4
Natalya +Victoria v Torrie Wilson +Michelle McCool
(Tag Team)
Victoria and Michelle begin in the ring, and they lock arms. Victoria uses her size and power advantage to force Michelle to her knees. She then slaps Michelle in the face and pulls her hair, throwing her by it across the ring. This illegal move angers the ref, who argues with Victoria. While she is distracted, Michelle dropkicks Victoria in the back before hitting a one handed bulldog for a quick count. Torrie Wilson is tagged in and the Diva’s champion drops an elbow on Victoria before running and knocking Natalya off the apron. Torrie picks Victoria up, but she gets thrown into the ropes. She rests against the ropes, until Natalya pulls her downwards, sending her springing into a lariat by Victoria, who tags Natalya in afterwards. Natalya puts the champ in a camel clutch and hooks Torrie’s arms. Torrie screams from the pressure but she manages to wriggle one of her arms free and hit Natalya in the face with her forearm, causing her to break the hold. Natalya picks up the leg of Torrie, but she uses her free leg to kick her away. Torrie struggles to her feet but is met with a cross hand strike from Natalya, who tags Victoria in. Victoria goes to hit Torrie in the jaw, but the champ blocks the punch and hits a Tornado DDT out of nowhere. She crawls over to her corner, and tags in Michelle, who grabs the heel of Victoria and hooks it into her submission finisher. Victoria fights the hold, but then Natalya comes in and kicks Michelle off her. Torrie Wilson then runs in and goes for the Nose Job on Natalya, but she blocks it and throws Wilson over the top rope. Natalya gets back on the apron before Victoria tags her in. She gets in the ring and immediately applies the Sharpshooter to Michelle, making her tap out at once.
WINNERS- Natalya +Victoria by SUBMISSION in 5:50
Foley- Wow, Natalya just proved how dominant she really is.
JR- Torrie better watch out, if she accepts that challenge that is.
Foley- I would be reluctant to, knowing how good Natalya is.
JR- Now now, you know that the Champion is not one to back down.
Foley- True, but maybe now she’s met her match.
***COMMERCIAL***
MVP gets in the ring with a microphone in hand.
MVP- People please, calm down. I know you are all excited to see me here, but I have more important matters to tend to than you. Vickie Guerrero for one, who do you think you are? I beat seven other superstars at the granddaddy of them all, Wrestlemania. And I don’t even get to cash in my new shiny briefcase? How does that work, are you discriminating? Are you that stupid as to not give me the WWE Championship? I carry this brand, and for three years I have been Smackdown’s MVP. Even the stupid hicks in the crowd know that I, Montel Vontavious Porter, should be the WWE Champion.
Vickie Guerrero’s music plays and she walks onto the ramp.
Vickie- MVP, who do you think you are? You barge out into the ring and starts badmouthing me? What are you doing, are you crazy?
MVP- I’m not crazy, I am-
Vickie- Don’t cut me off again or you’ll be fired. Now there is one thing I can be gracious about and that is the fact that you brought this briefcase to Smackdown and gave it some pride. That, along with the Smackdown versus Raw match, really put Smackdown in front.
MVP- You’re wrong, I alone put Smackdown in front.
Vickie- Arguable as that may be, I’m going to give you something to smile about by placing you in the WWE Championship tournament.
MVP- That’s what I like to hear, Vickie. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to pack my bags and leave so I can go train for my big match.
Vickie- Montel, there’s no need to leave, or even get out of the ring, because your match is now!
MVP- So this is how you reward me, with an impromptu match?
Vickie- Yes and it will be against the United States Champion R-Truth, with the winner advancing in the tournament!
Foley- MVP doesn’t know how to feel right now. He can’t cash in his briefcase on the vacant title, but got a spot in the tournament.
JR- And it’s against his long time rival, R-Truth!
MATCH 5
WWE Championship Tournament
MVP v R-Truth
(Single)
The bell rings as MVP stretches his wrists, and mocks Truth. Truth responds with a loud ‘What’s Up?’ call which the crowd replies to. They lock up in the centre and MVP takes control with a snapmare. Truth gets back up and goes for a punch, but MVP blocks it and hits another snapmare, this time continuing the headlock. Truth tries to get back to his feet, but MVP pulls his head back and slams it into the ground, before kicking him viciously. MVP sets up for an early drive by kick, but as he lunges with his boot, Truth moves out of the way and MVP gets his leg hung up awkwardly on the bottom rope. As MVP begins to unhook his leg, Truth runs at him but the ropes are pulled down and Truth falls over the top rope. MVP then goes under the ropes onto the apron but he forgets his leg is still tangled, and he trips over, falling right onto Truth on the floor below. Both men are down on the outside and the referee counts. 1…2…3…4… MVP gets to his knees. 5…6…7… R-Truth gets to his knees as well. 8… MVP gets up completely and he throws Truth into the ring before slipping in himself. MVP goes to attack Truth, but he suddenly gets up and tackles MVP to the ground. The two brawl and roll around, punching and elbowing each other in the face. The referee orders them to separate, and they do, but as they get up MVP boots Truth in the chest while the referee is subduing him. The ref warns MVP, who shrugs him off and goes over to Truth, who is difficultly getting to his feet. MVP hits Truth with a lariat to the back of the head, bending him over. From there, MVP hooks his leg around Truth’s neck and goes for the Playmaker, but it is reversed into a leg drag take down. Truth then gets up while holding his neck and grabs MVP’s hurt leg. He then twists it around and locks in a half Boston crab. The hold wears down the leg of MVP but Truth then twists his leg back around so MVP is on his back again. He then lets go for a second before leaping and hitting the Scissor Spin on the injured knee! Truth picks up the leg and hooks it into a pin. 1…..2….. MVP uses his healthy leg to kick Truth away and off the pin. Truth gets back up and so does MVP, but he buckles under his knee, allowing Truth to take control and hit a leg lariat. He picks MVP up for a vertical suplex, and goes to continue it into a cutter, but MVP shifts his weight and counters it into a reverse DDT. Both men get up very wearily and tiredly, and MVP needs to use the ropes for support. He walks over to Truth and shoves him. Truth retaliates with an attempted shove but MVP grabs his hands and pulls him into the turnbuckle. He then runs for the Playa’s Boot but his bad leg stumbles along the way and Truth capitalizes with a lariat. He picks MVP up and nails him with a German Suplex. He then picks him up and kicks him in the gut to bend him over. Truth then bounces off the ropes to attempt the Scissor Spin, but before he can, MVP quickly jumps at him and whips him into the corner, before quickly doing a limped run and hitting him with the Playa’s Boot. Truth’s head makes contact with the post and he collapses to the ground. MVP covers, 1…..2….. Truth gets his foot onto the bottom rope. MVP is extremely angry and goes crazy, booting Truth in the face repeatedly. He goes for the Drive by Kick but can’t run very well and trips over. He uses the ropes to regain his balance but when he goes to pick up Truth, he takes a punch to the abdomen. Truth hits him again and gets up before hitting a heel kick to the bad knee of MVP. He gasps in pain, as a dropkick hits him in the same area. MVP doubles over under the pain of his leg and R-Truth uses the opportunity to bounce off the ropes to go for the Scissor Spin. He jumps, but apparently MVP is playing possum as at the last second he moves and as R-Truth’s legs hit the ground he rolls them up with a handful of tights. 1…..2…..3 MVP wins and also progresses in the tournament!
WINNER- MVP by PINFALL in 12:39
Foley- What a fitting climax to that rivalry, JR.
JR- MVP played possum to gain the sneaky win.
Foley- There’s nothing wrong with that.
JR- True, and now he progresses in the tournament.
***COMMERCIAL***
The Brian Kendrick walks down to the ring with Ezekiel by his side.
Kendrick- I want to address a few current issues so let’s have a little shut up and listen shall we? Now, first of all, I just thought that I would point out that my man Zeke and I are the current WWE Tag Team Champions here on Smackdown. And that, if I am not mistaken, makes me a three time champion. Now, even if you are all dumber than us, you can all still realize that this is an accomplishment that the whole locker room can be envious of.
Ezekiel- The whole WWE roster is jealous of us.
Kendrick- True they are, but I’ll get to the point. You see, after almost two whole months of looking glamorous in these titles, it seems Vickie Guerrero had to make a match to find a team to be the number one contenders. Now me and my man, we intently watched this match earlier on Smackdown, and we gotta say, the best team won. It’s just a pity that even the best team out of four contenders can not even hold a candle to the champions. The Latin American Xchange, now these guys have partnered together for quite a while. Apparently they were a pretty feared tag team outside of the WWE, but that doesn’t mean that they can mingle with the big guys here on Smackdown.
Ezekiel- They can’t even touch us!
Kendrick- No they can’t, and that’s why we have brought the prestige back to these titles. What, you may say that the tag division of Smackdown is forgotten? Well, rest assured, me and Zeke will put it back onto the map. And now, onto our second issue which is one that we will confront very soon. You see, finding number one contenders were not enough for Vickie and apparently she needed to make us put our titles on the line as well. Now, our challengers are the Hardy Boys, who will be reuniting for tonight only unless they happen to win the titles… which they won’t. Jeff and Matt are brothers which means they know each other front to back and can read each other in a match like a book. But all that experience won’t help them tonight. Me and my man, we are the blueprint of a tag team. We have the perfect blend of speed and strength with an award winning look to top it all off. I don’t blame the Hardys if they are scared right now, I mean, who wouldn’t be-
Matt Hardy’s music plays and he and Jeff walk down to the ring.
Matt- You have got to be kidding me. Us, scared? Do you honestly think that we are scared of you? Even ‘your man’ Ezekiel can’t intimidate us. We know what we are capable of and we know that we are capable of beating you two tonight for the titles.
Jeff- We know that we will beat you two tonight for the titles!
Kendrick- That’s cute, you pushovers honestly think you can beat us. Wow, you’re about as stupid as you are talent less and unworthy.
Jeff- You think that we are the pushovers? What have you two done as WWE Tag Team Champions? We all saw you win those titles; we all saw that chair shot. Jesse and Festus were proud champions and you couldn’t beat them so you had to cheat. I hardly consider that a title run worthy of praising?
Matt- And what have you exactly done since winning the titles? Oh you won in your rematch; well you cheated in that too! And that was over a month ago, and you haven’t even defended your titles since then. Maybe you have forgotten what competition means, well guess what, if that is the case then we’re gonna remind you!
Ezekiel- Enough of this banter, do you think you can take us? Then take us in the ring and not on the microphone. Let’s get this squash over with!
JR- Cockiness shown by the champions there, how dare they.
Foley- They’re the champions JR, they can afford to be cocky.
JR- Well let’s see if they can back up their words.
MATCH 6
WWE Tag Team Championship
The Brian Kendrick +Ezekiel © v Jeff Hardy +Matt Hardy
(Tag Team)
The Hardys high five each other at the apron but Ezekiel clubs Matt in the back of the head and the match officially starts. Ezekiel picks up Matt and throws him across the ring onto the mat where he holds his back in pain. Ezekiel then picks up Hardy and throws into his own corner, where Kendrick punches him in the back. Ezekiel runs straight into the corner and clotheslines Matt, before tagging his partner. Kendrick and Ezekiel double team Matt, simultaneously kicking him, before Ezekiel raises him for a flapjack and Kendrick connects Hardy with a jumping roundhouse kick mid-air. Zeke steps back on the apron as Kendrick applies a head scissors submission on Hardy. Kendrick tightens his legs around the head and neck of Hardy but Hardy manages to stand up. Still applying the submission, Kendrick goes for a hurricanrana, but Matt reverses it by grabbing Kendrick’s arms and hitting a Styles Clash. Matt then keeps Kendrick in the position, before sitting up abruptly, sling-shooting Kendrick into the turnbuckle. Hardy then gets up and hits the corner clothesline, before hitting the bulldog and tagging in Jeff in the process. Jeff immediately springs off the ropes and lands a leg drop to Kendrick. He covers, 1…..2….. Ezekiel breaks up the count. Jeff dropkicks him, but Ezekiel shrugs off the blow. He then picks up Jeff and throws him into his own corner, knocking Matt off the apron. As the referee is busy shepherding him out of the ring, Kendrick takes the covering off the turnbuckle and smashes Jeff’s head into it. As Jeff recovers, blood begins to drip from his forehead and Kendrick lands a dropkick to the back of his head in the corner. He rolls Jeff up as he falls backward. 1…..2….. Jeff kicks out, to the anger of Kendrick who tags Ezekiel in, telling him to finish the job. Ezekiel picks Hardy up, before locking him in a sleeper. Hardy can’t fight off the sleeper and begins to fade. The referee checks to see if he can still compete and raises his arm. The first time, it almost instantly falls to the ground, and the second time there is no improvement. The referee is about to check the final time, but then an ‘Aaah’ is heard from the turnbuckle. A furious Matt Hardy has recovered from being knocked to the floor and delivers and elbow to the back of Ezekiel’s head. The Kendrick comes to save his partner and goes for a lariat on Hardy but it is reversed into a Side Effect. He gets back onto the apron, and Jeff crawls to the ropes and pulls himself to his feet. Matt climbs to the top rope, while Jeff crawls back to the body of Brian Kendrick. Matt does the V1 taunt and hits the diving leg drop as Jeff hits the split leg drop and it is Poetry in Motion. Matt rolls out of the ring but then Ezekiel spins Jeff around. He goes to pick Jeff up but Jeff spins around to behind his back and when he turns around he hits the Twist of Fate on Ezekiel! He is about to cover him but then the Great Khali’s music plays and he runs down to the ring, before booting Matt Hardy in the face and delivering a Khali Bomb to him on the outside. Jeff then rushes to his brothers’ aid and launches himself over the top rope. However, Khali moves out of the way and Jeff crashes and burns. Khali rolls him into the ring where Ezekiel just manages to drape an arm over him. 1….. Kendrick also jumps onto the pin, adding his own weight, oblivious to the referee, 2…..3 The tag champs retain!
WINNERS- The Brian Kendrick +Ezekiel by PINFALL in 10:04
JR- Khali again? What is he targeting Jeff Hardy for?
Foley- Maybe he has beef with him JR. Who knows?
JR- And then the cheating at the end. What a sickening way to retain the titles.
Foley- They’re just resourceful JR, that’s all.
JR- Nevertheless I am not pleased.
***COMMERCIAL***
MATCH 7
WWE Championship Tournament
The Big Show v Triple H
(Single)
Triple H looks up at Show and catches him with a quick punch to the jaw, catching him off guard. Triple H then catches Show with some more punches and then an uppercut. The Big Show regains his balance and goes to fight back against HHH, but he blocks it and thumbs Show in the eye. HHH tries to get in control with a knee lift, but Show grabs him and pushes him across the ring. He then runs right into Triple H and hits him with a body charge, sending him to the ground. HHH slowly gets to his feet, and Show goes for a clothesline, but HHH moves and he falls into the turnbuckle. HHH then runs at Show, but he is caught and then slammed into the corner. The Big Show then hits a splash in the corner before standing in front of HHH. Show then motions for the crowd to be quiet, before delivering a massive open handed chop to the chest of HHH that is heard throughout the arena. HHH slumps down to a sitting position, and Show mudhole stomps him. He keeps hitting HHH’s throat with his massive boot so the referee orders him to get off him. Triple H sinks to the ground, and Show steps on his chest with the large boot. He presses all his weight on HHH before the ref counts to make him stop the illegal move, 1…2…3… Show steps off, but once more stomps on HHH’s ribs before backing away. Triple H pulls himself weakly to his feet, but the Show charges at him. He runs, but the ropes are pulled down, sending him to the outside. HHH then rolls out of the ring and walks to Show but the world’s largest athlete runs him into the apron. He then picks him up in a bearhug, and runs him into the ringpost. He rolls him into the ring so he is hanging over the apron, and drops an elbow on his overhanging upper body, sending him crashing upwards like a slingshot into the ropes in the ring, and bouncing back, landing awkwardly. Show rolls back into the ring and covers HHH. 1…..2….. HHH gets his hand on the ropes. The Big Show gets up and outstretches his arm, signaling for the Chokeslam. He waits for him to get up, and grabs his throat. He raises him into the air, but his arm is batted away, and HHH uses the opportunity to hit a spinebuster. Both men are sprawled out in the ring so the referee begins to count, 1…2…3… Both men begin to stir. 4…5…6…7… They get to their knees. 8…9… Both men are up, and they go at it in the centre of the ring. They trade punches, and Show goes for a headbutt but it is reversed into a jawbreaker. HHH approaches the winded Big Show, but is then almost KOed by a huge right hand. HHH is almost unconscious on the floor, but instead of making the cover, Show kneels down and puts HHH into a sleeper hold. HHH shows no signs of fighting back and his limbs are not moving. The referee is about to call for the bell, but then HHH raises his left arm and starts batting away at Show’s skull. He gets to his feet and clubs Show with a standing double axe handle. He runs to the ropes and rebounds, going for a knee lift, but Show reverses it with a headbutt. The Big Show whips HHH into the corner and the impact causes him to stumble forward, right into Show’s grasp. Big Show then flips HHH over into position for the Final Cut. He brings his huge arm up, but then HHH twists it and spins around, before reversing the move into a Pedigree! He falls into the cover, 1…..2…..3
WINNER- Triple H by PINFALL in 10:08
JR- So Smackdown ends with a big win for the King of Kings.
Foley- He deserved it, and after a back and forth match he took the victory from right under Triple H’s nose.
JR- Which means he will face MVP in the semi finals in two weeks time which should be an intense match.
Foley- The tournament continues next week.
JR- And we’ll see you there!
