Oh hai {again}.
FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN
The first Smackdown after WrestleMania starts off with the usual video package, which, just like RAW’s video package did, highlights the key happenings which effected Smackdown. First off, it shows the huge Money in the Bank Ladder match as it showed off the same spots which occurred, them being the three man Tower of Doom, the Nightmare on Helms Street Flying Crossbody off the ladder to Danielson who was on Matt’s shoulders, Helms running up the ladder and hitting Jericho with a Crossbody just like Shelton Benjamin did at WrestleMania 21, Helms once again dropkicking the ladder which cause Jericho and Doane to crash and burn to the outside, Rey and Kendrick flying off the ladder and going through the ladder on the outside like the previous two Money in the Bank Ladder matches, before finally, Finlay knocked Danielson off the ladder with a shillelagh before Matt nailed Finlay with a modified Side Effect off the top of the ladder as he then retrieved the coveted Money in the Bank Briefcase. Highlights of the Street Fight are then shown where JBL and his former bodyguard the Big Show went at it, where after a brutal match with chairs, trash cans, road signs and a Kendo Stick, JBL got the win after hitting his former bodyguard with a Clothesline from Hell through a table which was leaning up against the ropes. After the Street Fight is shown, the match that is to be displayed next was the Triple Threat Cruiserweight Title match, where after a high flying and tremendous affair, Bourne kept his undefeated run by pinning Noble and bringing the Cruiserweight Championship back over to Smackdown.
Another multi man match was up next, which was the Fatal Four Way Falls Count Anywhere WWE Tag Team Championships match between Lance Cade and Mark Jindrak, Jesse and Festus, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas and the WWE Tag Team Champions the Mexicools. However, after all was said and done after a somewhat of an equal affair, we saw new WWE Tag Team Champions be crowned as Jindrak pinned Crazy after a Spin Out Powerbomb and Neckbreaker combination to get the win and the championships for himself and Cade. The Brand Supremacy match was up next between RAW’s Kane and Smackdown’s Umaga as both men fought it out for Brand Supremacy in an above standard big man match, but in the end, Smackdown made it 3 from 3 in Interbrand matches, as Umaga pinned Kane following a Samoan Spike. The next match was yet another Interbrand match where rivals Triple H and Edge were on opposite sides of the ring as they teamed with RAW’s Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton respectively, and after interference from RAW’s MVP, SD took no part in the decision as Michaels pinned Orton. What followed was the huge World Heavyweight Championship vs. WrestleMania streak match between John Cena and the Undertaker, as Cena unexpectedly dominated early proceedings such as when he back dropped Taker through the announce table before he called Nash Miller for help, only for Taker to Chokeslam Miller out of the ring after he hit Cena with some brass knuckles meant for Cena, as Taker then hit Cena with a Last Ride to extend the streak to 17 and 0 and once again be the World Heavyweight Champion.
Once the WrestleMania highlight package ends, we cut to ringside where we see Smackdown announcers Coach and Tazz who talk about 5 nights ago at WrestleMania, such as how ‘they’re’ boys in Ken Doane, John Cena, Edge and Randy Orton did not manage to get the win, although JIBBLES, Umaga, and Cade and Jindrak managed to get the win in their respective wins. Coach hypes up some of the matches booked for tonight such as the rookie Evan Bourne defending his Cruiserweight Title against the Rated R Superstars in a Triple Threat match and the former World Heavyweight Champion in John Cena taking on the World’s Fattest (in the words of Coach) Athlete.
Almost in reply, ‘Crank it Up’ begins t play over the speakers to a big (no pun intended) pop, as none other than the man who lost in the Street Fight 5 nights ago in the Reliant Stadium at WrestleMania XXV in the Big Show makes his way down to the ring, looking to make amends for his loss against his former boss and perhaps looking to back up the statement that he made on WWE.COM during the week where he said that he was not done with JBL. Show has a bandage over his head after he went through the table head first after the Clothesline from Hell as Show steps over the top rope and into the ring, ready to face the man who he faced at WrestleMania XX for the United States Championship.
Once the Big Show’s music finishes and he has taken his spot in the ring, ‘Can’t Nobody Stop Me’ hits over the speakers to MASSIVE heat as a scowling John Cena emerges from the back, looking rather naked without the World Heavyweight Championship around his shoulder or strapped around his waist. Cena walks down the ramp with his eyes fixated on the ring as he makes no contact with the fans whatsoever who are shouting their abuse to the now former World Heavyweight Champion, as Cena slides into the ring and gets ready to face a man who he has faced in the ring many times before.
|Match 1|
|Singles Match|
|John Cena vs. the Big Show|
As soon as the match starts, Cena comes bursting out of the blocks as he looks to prove a statement here tonight on his face Smackdown as not the World Heavyweight Champion since the edition before No Mercy, as Cena begins to work away at Show with right and left hands, backing the giant up against the ropes. However, when Cena goes to whip Show against the ropes, the stronger Big Show manages to reverse the whip before he hits Cena with a Big Boot, thus gaining Show the advantage in the match. The advantage for Show was short lived; however, as when he went for an early Chokeslam, Cena booted Show in the gut and proceeded to hit him with a Snap DDT.
Once again, however, the momentum of Cena was short lived as after barely two minutes of being in control, Cena went to the top rope after hitting Show with a Shoulder Block which didn’t put the big man down, as when Cena leapt off, Show caught a flying Cena with a huge Clothesline whilst Cena was still in mid flight. From here on out, Show managed to maintain the advantage for the first time in the match although much to the crowd and the Big Show’s dismay, Cena managed to kick out of most of Show’s offence, including when Show hit Cena with the Final Cut. At the 7 minute mark of the match, Show hit Cena with a Reverse Powerbomb, as he signalled for the Chokeslam for when Cena got up.
Show then wrapped his large right hand around the throat of the former World Heavyweight Champion once Cena did get to a vertical base, looking for the Chokeslam for the second time in the match, but once again, Cena finds a way to dodge Show’s favourite manoeuvre, as he managed to move behind of Show once he was lifted up in the air. Cena then quickly bounced off of the ropes behind Show before the World’s Largest Athlete could react, as Cena hit the former bodyguard of JBL with a huge Throwback! The crowd gave huge heat for the former World Heavyweight Champion who took a moment to rest after enduring a lot of punishment from Show for the majority of this match.
Taking advantage of a downed Big Show, Cena quickly bounced off the ropes and hit the Big Show with a Five Knuckle Shuffle but without the theatrics, as Coach says that Cena means business here tonight which is why he did not do his signature theatrics. Show began to stir after being hit with the Five Knuckle Shuffle as Cena raised his arms in the air before spreading out his thumb and pinkie of both hands, and once Show got up, Cena lifted the 500 pound mass of the Big Show onto his shoulders as the crowd gasped at Cena’s strength (even though it’s been done before), as Cena drops Show with the FU at the 9 minute mark! Cena then climbs over for the cover and manages to get the win over the 500 pound giant.
|Winner: John Cena|
After the match Cena does not even bother to celebrate as he gets to his feet before he walks over to the corner and takes a microphone off of Tony Chimel. Cena talks about 5 nights ago at WrestleMania, but before he could continue on, the Texan crowd interrupted by giving a huge pop, as they know that Cena is talking about losing the World Heavyweight Championship. Cena scowls and tells the fans to shut up, before he says that he has a message for the Undertaker. Cena says that he will make this short and sweet, as Cena goes onto say that 5 nights ago, Taker stripped Cena of all of his dignity, which is why when he cashes in his rematch clause, Cena will regain the respect that he deserves. Cena says that if people have forgotten, Cena does have a rematch clause, and he thinks he has the perfect date to cash it in, but for now, he won’t reveal it, as the Undertaker nor anybody in this arena or the whole WWE Universe deserves to know when Cena will cash his rematch clause in as quite frankly, they just don’t deserve it. This gets cheap heat from the crowd as Cena goes on to say to Taker that it isn’t a matter of when Cena beats him, it isn’t even a matter of how he beats him: it is a matter of how much he beats him. ‘Can’t Nobody Stop Me’ then begins to play over the speakers as Cena takes his leave before we head to a commercial break.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the break, we are in the office of Theodore Long who is sitting down behind his desk; looking rather relaxed after beating RAW in 3 Interbrand matches at WrestleMania XXV. There is a knock on the door as Teddy tells whoever is behind the door to come in, as we see none other than the ‘Samoan Bulldozer’ Umaga walk in, but he is not alone, as we see that none other than ARMANDO ALEJANDRO ESTRADA walks in with Umaga, making his return to Smackdown as Umaga’s tamer/manager! AAE and Umaga walk in as Estrada introduces himself to Teddy just in case (by doing ‘My name is Armando... Alejandro... Estrrrrrrrrrada’) that Long forgot him, as Long says that he does remember exactly who AAE is, as he remembers very clearly taking the spot as General Manager over from ECW from him. Armando looks pissed at what Teddy says who takes it as though it was nothing, as the Smackdown GM begins to talk about 5 nights ago at WrestleMania and how Umaga got the win for Smackdown in the Brand Supremacy, as AAE smirked whilst Umaga walked around, seemingly looking for someone to ‘bulldoze’. Teddy says that as a reward for Umaga’s win 5 nights ago, next week right here on Smackdown, Umaga will go one on one with Gregory Helms for the United States Championship. Estrada’s smirk gets even wider as a seemingly understanding Umaga also smiles, but when they go to take their leave, Long stops them in their tracks, saying that before Umaga’s US Title match, tonight in a non-title main event, Umaga will go one on one with the UNDATAKAH! Estrada’s smile fades a little before it goes back to the usual smile, as we cut away from the office of Long.
After we cut away from Long’s office, we are still in the backstage area where we see none other than John Bradshaw Layfield standing there with a large smile on his face after his victory over the Big Show 5 nights ago at WrestleMania, although Show said during the week on WWE.COM that he still had matters to attend to with JBL. Layfield says that during the week, he returned to the place which he now thankfully calls home in New York instead of this hell hole of a place a winner (cheap heat for JBL insulting Texas), before JBL says that Sunday has come and gone even though that ‘fat oaf’ says that he still has matters to attend to with the ‘Wrestling God’, as JBL goes onto talk about how JBL is a veteran of this business, and when he retires, he said that he wanted to have a protégé to ‘carry on with his legacy’, even though this man already has a legacy to carry on with. JBL smirks as the crowd are confused as to what JBL is saying, before a smiling JBL reveals that right now, he will reveal his protégé, who is a 2nd Generation Superstar, nothing other than TED DIBIASE JUNIOR! The crowd are shocked at who JBL’s protégé is as the young DiBiase walks into the shot before he shakes hands with his mentor. DiBiase says that his father and his mentor created a legacy which he will fulfill, and next week, the Million Dollar Tag Team of JBL and Ted DiBiase Jnr. will make a BIG impact. DiBiase and JBL smirk to each other with everyone confused, as we head to a commercial break.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the commercial break, we hear the ever familiar tune of ‘Biscuits and Gravy’ hitting over the speakers which can only mean one thing, that being the arrival of the lovable tag team in Jesse and Festus. The two men from the crowd as Tazz says that this match is to be the Number 1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships which belong to Cade and Jindrak, who have a match with the Mexicools next week on Smackdown for the WWE Tag Team Titles. Coach says that ‘his boys’ in Cade and Jindrak will beat the Mexicools next week and defeat the winner of this match whenever they choose to have their match.
‘World’s Greatest’ then begins to hit over the speakers to a pop that is equal if not bigger to the previous one, as none other than the Self Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team in Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas make their way down to the ring, ready for this Number 1 Contender’s match. Benjamin and Haas walk down the ramp as they slap hands with some members of the crowd before they front flip over the top rope and into the ring once they get on the apron, as they take off their matching hoodies before giving them to a stage hand, as they get ready for this huge Number 1 Contender’s match with Jesse and Festus.
|Match 2|
|Number 1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships|
|Tag Team Match|
|Jesse and Festus vs. the World’s Greatest Tag Team {Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas}|
The match starts off with Haas and Jesse as Charlie manages to get the early advantage for his team by managing to keep Jesse grounded with his mat based wrestling techniques, getting a near fall very early in the match by hitting Jesse with an Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex in one of the few moments when Jesse was on his feet. The WGTT managed to maintain the advantage for the next few minutes but the momentum and advantage shifted towards Jesse and Festus soon after when Benjamin attempted an early Paydirt, as Jesse threw Benjamin off before he managed to get the tag to the ‘Corn Fed Colossus’ in Festus.
The seemingly more popular of the two took it to both members of the World’s Greatest Tag Team, throwing an interfering across the ring into the turnbuckle before he nailed him with a Running Corner Body Splash, as he quickly followed it up by hitting Shelton with a Running Seated Senton, dropping his 300 plus pound mass right onto the sternum of the man from Orangeburg, South Carolina. Much like the Self Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team did earlier on in the match, Jesse and Festus managed to keep their advantage by using quick tags and double team manoeuvres, as Jesse was tagged in by Festus at the 8 minute mark.
Jesse quickly pulls Benjamin into a front face lock and proceeds to hit one half of the World’s Greatest Tag Team with a Swinging Neckbreaker, but when he goes for the cover, Haas intervenes by diving on Jesse at the count of two, denying Jesse and Festus the victory for the time being. An angry Festus storms into the ring, before he backs Haas towards the ropes with right hands. He then charges at Haas and hits him with a Clothesline, but the momentum knocks both men over the top rope and to the outside mats. With seemingly no interference to be dealt with, Jesse decides to go up to the top rope in an attempt to finish Benjamin off and get his team the Number 1 Contendership.
However, once Jesse is on the top rope, Shelton kips up to his feet before he jumps at to the top rope in one fluent motion as he applies a waist lock to Jesse, looking for a Super Belly to Belly Suplex, but Jesse manages to hold onto the top rope when Shelton attempts the move, causing Benjamin to crash and burn in the centre of the ring. Jesse looks to capitalize as he positions himself on the top rope as he hits Shelton with a Diving Leg Drop, but it is only enough to get a two count. An understandably angry Jesse quickly lifts Shelton up before he whips him into the ropes, but when he attempts a Back Body Drop, Shelton rolls off of Jesse’s back. Jesse then turns around, right into a Paydirt from Benjamin out of nowhere! Shelton then climbs over for the cover and hooks both legs and gets the three count, getting him and Haas the Number 1 Contendership for the WWE Tag Team Titles!
|Winners and Number 1 Contender’s for the WWE Tag Team Championships: Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin|
After the bell is rung, Shelton gets up to his feet as he is joined by his recovered tag team partner in Charlie Haas, as Festus pulls Jesse to the outside of the ring. Haas and Benjamin link hands and raise their arms in the air, knowing that they are one step closer to winning the WWE Tag Team Championships together for the 3rd time. Haas and Benjamin then go to pose on the top rope, before we cut backstage where just like on RAW, we see the reigning Tag Team Champions in Lance Cade and Mark Jindrak watching on the screen with smirks on their faces. Cade slaps Jindrak on the back, signalling for him and Jindrak to go, as the two new champions leave their locker room, as Coach says that after the break, we will hear from the new holders of the WWE Tag Team Championships.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the break, we cut to highlights of the Falls Count Anywhere Fatal Four Way Tag Team match for the WWE Tag Team Championships, which showed Haas hitting Crazy with a Super German Suplex, Psicosis breaking up a pin on the outside with a Slingshot Leg Drop, Festus being blasted in the face with a lead pipe, Super Crazy being hit with a Spin Out Powerbomb and Neckbreaker combination by Jindrak and Cade, who went onto become the WWE Tag Team Champions. Once we return back to the arena, ‘Pure Control A’ begins to play over the speakers to huge heat as the Coach gets up off his chair and seems to be the only figure in the whole arena to be applauding, as none other than the new WWE Tag Team Champions in Lance Cade and Mark Jindrak walk down to the ring with the Tag Team Championships being proudly won over the shoulders. Cade and Jindrak collect microphones from Tony Chimel as Coach finally takes a seat and lets the new WWE Tag Team Champions have to say, as Cade takes the microphone first, waits for the crowd’s reaction to die down before he says ‘We told you so!’ The crowd begins to give heat again as Cade and Jindrak begin to smirk before they go onto talk WrestleMania XXV in Lance’s hometown, where they defeated the three teams that the no good self proclaimed fans adore. Jindrak said that he came to the WWE to make an impact with his partner Cade, and that is exactly what they did.
Jindrak says that when he returned to the WWE just two months ago, he saw what the tag team division had become: quite frankly, it sucked. The crowd gave heat for this bold statement as Jindrak says that he and Cade will revolutionize the tag team division, and they have already made their mark, becoming the WWE Tag Team Champions. Cade and Jindrak then begin to run down both the Mexicools, saying that they will defeat them next week in their WWE Tag Team Championship match, and then go onto face Benjamin and Haas; or as they here the Self Proclaimed yet definitely not the World’s Greatest Tag Team. Cade says that everyone is looking at the REAL World’s Greatest Tag Team, and they have the evidence to prove it, as they simultaneously raise their WWE Tag Team Championships high in the air. Cade says that he and Jindrak have made their mark in the Smackdown tag team division and will continue to do so until they earn the respect of Theodore Long and everyone in the WWE Universe! The crowd gives huge heat as ‘Pure Control A’ hits over the speakers to huge heat whilst the Coach and Tazz begin to clap from the announce desk as Cade and Jindrak take their leave, before Tazz says that Evan Bourne will have his first title defence against the Rated R Superstars after the break in a Triple Threat match.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the commercial break, ‘In the Middle of it Now’ begins to play over the speakers to a moderate amount of heat, as none other than the Rated R Superstars in Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder make their way down to the ring at the same time even though they will be going against each other here tonight. Hawkins and Ryder get into the ring before they pose on opposite turnbuckles as they do their mentor Edge’s ‘Corna’ hand signal, before they hop off of the second rope and await the arrival of the new Cruiserweight Champion and their opponent for the upcoming match.
‘Axeman’ then begins to play over the speakers to a big pop as none other than the man who brought back the Cruiserweight Championship to Smackdown in Evan Bourne makes his way down to the ring with the Cruiserweight Championship strapped around his waist. Bourne runs down the ramp and slaps hands with the fans as always as we cut to the end of the match from WrestleMania, where Bourne nailed London with a Springboard Hurricanrana off the top rope before he went onto hit Noble with an Air Bourne Shooting Star Press to maintain his unbeaten run and win the Cruiserweight Championship. Back in the arena, Bourne poses on the top rope with his CW Championship before he hops down and hands it to the referee, ready to defend it for the first time.
|Match 3|
|Cruiserweight Championship|
|Triple Threat Match|
|Cruiserweight Champion Evan Bourne vs. Curt Hawkins vs. Zack Ryder|
When the bell rings Hawkins and Ryder smirk as they finally get Bourne in a 2 on 1 predicament after being outsmarted numerous times by Bourne, including in the Number 1 Contender’s Battle Royal. Hawkins and Ryder glanced at each other before they charged at Bourne, only for the new Cruiserweight Champion to duck under them. The Rated R Superstars bounced off the ropes but this action was repeated by Bourne, who quickly ran towards the ropes and once they bounced off the opposite ropes once again, Bourne nailed them with a Springboard Crossbody just before the 1 minute mark of the match! Bourne smirked as he decided to first go towards Ryder, as he bounced off the ropes once again and hit him with a Tilt a Whirl Headscissors.
Bourne managed to keep his advantage somewhat against the odds as he isolated one man before going to the other, as everything seemed to be going right for the new Cruiserweight Champion. Bourne did the usual spot where he was knocked down by an opponent {in this case it was Ryder}, Bourne hit Ryder with a Kip Up Hurricanrana to a big pop from the crowd. Bourne smirked before he saw that Hawkins was beginning to get to his feet at the 5 minute mark of a Bourne dominated match, but that all changed when he charged at Hawkins, only to be nailed with a Tilt a Whirl Backbreaker, thus gaining the Rated R Superstars the advantage even though they are opponents here tonight.
Hawkins and Ryder managed to keep the advantage through using double team manoeuvres but they seemed to be incapable of deciding who would go for the pin, their selfishness and incapability to agree seemingly costing one of them the match and the Cruiserweight Championship. The crowd continued to try and get behind Bourne but it was seemingly to no avail, before an opening finally showed for Bourne after 5 minutes of being dominated when the Rated R Superstars went for a Double Clothesline, only for Bourne to once again duck under the incoming Rated R Superstars. Once Hawkins and Ryder went back to Bourne, he nailed both of them with a dropkick (one with each foot), knocking both of his challengers down, as he waited for them to get to their feet.
Bourne bounces off the ropes and runs at both Hawkins and Ryder, looking to mount a comeback in this match after he had the brief advantage at the beginning of the match, only for the Rated R Superstars to once again hit Bourne with a double team manoeuvre, hitting him with a Double Hip Toss into a Backbreaker! Bourne clutches his back in pain as Ryder drops over Bourne, only for Hawkins to pull him off and cover Bourne. Ryder pulls Hawkins off of the Cruiserweight Champion as Hawkins begins to point to himself and then Bourne, saying he should be the Cruiserweight Champion out of the two. As the two men begin to bicker, Bourne begins to get up which does not go unseen by Ryder, who points to Bourne and then the top rope, as Hawkins seemingly understands and agrees as he responds with a smirk.
Bourne is helped up by Ryder and Hawkins before he is placed on the top turnbuckle as both Hawkins and Ryder get on the middle rope, looking to hit Bourne with a Double Superplex! Bourne, however, sensed danger, as he managed to fight out of the predicament before he began to found some new life, punching and headbutting away at both Rated R Superstars. Bourne knocked Ryder down first with a right hand as Zack fell down to the mat so that when Bourne looked down at him, he was at a diagonal position. Hawkins was then knocked off as he fell down on Ryder at the opposite angle, forming an X in front of Bourne, who positioned himself on the top rope and nailed both Rated R Superstars with a Shooting Star Press! The crowd gave a huge pop for the sheer awesomeness of the move, as Bourne climbs on top of Hawkins in a double pin! 1...2...3!
|Winner and still the Cruiserweight Champion: Evan Bourne|
Bourne gets up to his feet and raises his arm in victory as the referee hands him his Cruiserweight Championship. Bourne then goes to the second rope and celebrates his first ever title defence, but what he does not see is that RAW’s JAMIE NOBLE has snuck into the ring! The crowd gives big heat for Noble who pulls Bourne off of the top rope, causing him to smash neck first into the mat! The crowd continue to pour in the heat for Noble, who lifts the new Cruiserweight Champion up and hits him with a Double Knee Gutbuster! The crowd gives huge heat once again for Noble who does not seem to be done, as he lifts up Bourne one more time, scoops him onto his shoulders, and hits him with a signature Belly to Belly Sitout Tombstone Piledriver! The crowd’s heat only gets louder for Noble who drops down to his knees as we hear him say that he wants his shot at Backlash with London out of the equation, before he slides out of the ring with a smirk on his face before we cut to the commercial break, the last vision being a smirking Noble looking back at a destroyed Evan Bourne.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the commercial break we head to a ‘Before the Break’ video package, showing RAW’s Jamie Noble showing up and assaulting Evan Bourne after he managed to retain his Cruiserweight Championship against both Rated R Superstars in a Triple Threat match after an Air Bourne onto his two stacked opponents. Once we go back to the arena, we go to Coach and Tazz who say that at the ‘B Brand’ RAW’s exclusive PPV in Backlash, we will see the new number one contender for the Cruiserweight Championship in Jamie Noble go one on one with Evan Bourne! A match graphic comes up on the screen to a mixed reaction as they would rather see a different opponent than Jamie Noble go against Bourne, as Coach and Tazz express their disgust for Bourne for trying to impress these fans by proving that he is a ‘fighting champion’, as he will lose the Cruiserweight Championship back over to RAW as he has no chance of defeating Jamie Noble. We then cut to the backstage area before we see John Cena walking in the back, as he is greeted with huge heat from the crowd. Cena continues to walk down the hallway with a purpose with a piece of paper in his hand, before with a mirror of the events that took place last week on Smackdown when Cena was still the World Heavyweight Champion, he stops at a door as the nameplate reads ‘Nash Miller’.
The crowd gives another big amount of heat for the now fully fledged heel in Nash Miller after he has helped Cena on numerous occasions, as Cena knocks on the door with his free hand. We hear the menacing voice of Miller say ‘It’s open’, as Cena opens the door. Miller comes into the shot as he gets up off his chair once Cena walks into the locker room, as Cena says that 5 nights ago at WrestleMania, Miller did not keep word on his promise of getting Cena the win. Before Miller could speak, Cena says that Miller will not get his title shot as long as the Undertaker is champion as this contract says. Cena smirks as he gives Miller the piece of paper as Cena says that that is straight from the desk of Teddy Long as per request of Cena, stating that Miller will not get an opportunity as long as Taker is champion. Cena smirks as Miller looks as though he could destroy Cena, but John says that as it also states in that contract that Miller cannot intentionally lay a hand on Cena. John smirks as he has lured Miller in, before John says that he has another plan involving Cena, Miller and the World Heavyweight Championship. Miller listens somewhat intently as Cena says that when he cashes in his rematch clause, if Miller helps him to victory, he will get his shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. Miller thinks about it for a while before he accepts Cena’s proposition, before Miller says that once Cena is the champion, he better watch his back.
We cut away from this confrontation between Miller and Cena by going back to the arena where we cut to Coach and Tazz, saying how one of the matches 5 nights ago was a fantastic match, yet the result was disgusting. An image is shown of Matt Hardy victorious up on top of the ladder with the Money in the Bank briefcase being hoisted up high in the air. As we go back to the arena, ‘SOS’ begins to play over the speakers to a moderate amount of heat, as none other than Kofi Kingston emerges from the back as the sadistic Jamaican begins to make his way down to the ring. Coach then says that after the break, we will see Kofi Kingston go one on one with Matt ‘Failure’ Hardy.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the commercial break, Kofi’s music continues to play over the speakers, and after Chimel introduces Kofi, ‘Live for the Moment’ begins to hit over the speakers to a huge pop as none other than the new Mr. Money in the Bank in Matt Hardy begins to make his way down to the ring, holding his Money in the Bank Briefcase up high in the air. Matt walks down to the ring before he poses on the top rope with one hand holding his briefcase up high in the air with the other hand doing the V1 symbol, as he hops down and places his briefcase underneath the turnbuckles before he gets ready to face the man who he defended his US Title against at Summerslam in a singles match and Unforgiven in a Fatal Four Way match and also in the MITB Qualifying match a few weeks ago.
|Match 4|
|Singles Match|
|Mr. Money in the Bank Matt Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston|
This match proved to be a relatively high paced affair with both men having good chemistry with each other as a result of facing off numerous times last year over the United States Champion. Both men fought for the advantage in the early going before the new Mr. Money in the Bank in Matt Hardy gained the advantage after he hit Kofi with a Corner Clothesline followed by a Running Bulldog after Kofi attempted a running Corner Splash. Matt managed to keep the advantage for a couple of minutes following this but was unable to put the resilient Kofi away, who managed to kick out of a Reverse DDT and a Moonsault on two different occasions.
Kofi’s resiliency only increased Matt’s impatience, who began to become too overzealous in his antics, allowing Kofi to get the advantage when Matt missed a Discus Clothesline, as Kofi followed it up with a Jumping Side Kick and then the Double Leg Drop to the sternum, but the resilient Money in the Bank holder managed to kick out at the count of two. Kofi managed to maintain his advantage by wearing the man who won the prestigious Money in the Bank briefcase five nights ago with a combination of power and high flying manoeuvres but was unable to put Matt away on numerous occasions, including when Matt managed to get his foot on the bottom rope, denying Kofi the victory!
Matt began to mount some offence in the match but Kofi managed to control the majority of the next couple of minutes, but Matt kept managing to find a way to kick out of all of Kofi’s offence. At the 11 minute mark of what had been a high paced and exciting affair, Kofi signalled for the end by going for a Jamaican Driver, but Matt rolled through for a Sunset Flip cover but only got a two count. Both men got up to their feet as Kofi went for a Clothesline, but Matt ducked under it, got Kofi from behind and hit him with a Back Suplex! Matt wasted no time in getting more offence in on Kofi, as he headed to the second rope and hit Kingston with a Downfall Leg Drop! Matt climbed over for the cover but Kofi managed to kick out at two! A somewhat shocked Matt got to his feet and signalled for the end, as Kofi began to stumble to his feet.
Matt then does his V1 taunt before he kicks Kofi in the gut and then applies a front face lock, looking to hit Kofi with a Twist of Fate, but when he attempts the cutter, Kofi pushes him into the ropes, and then hits him with another 450 Kick upon his return! The crowd gives big heat for Kofi hitting the second 450 Kick of the match, but once again, Mr. Money in the Bank manages to kick out! Kofi is once understandably pissed, as he goes for a Clothesline once Matt is up, but is hit with a Side Effect! However, unfortunately for Matt, Kofi managed to kick out just like he did with the Downfall Leg Drop, before Matt began to signal for Kofi to get up, but when Matt got impatient, he went to lift Kofi up, only to be hit with a punch to the gut.
Matt crouched down as Kofi sprung to his feet, looking to hit another 450 Kick for perhaps a third time lucky, but Matt managed to duck under the kick by Kofi, and once he turned around, Matt went for a Twist of Fate, but Kofi scooped Matt onto his shoulders. Kofi looked for the Jamaican Driver, but Matt managed to slide off of Kofi’s shoulders, apply a reverse face lock and hit a Reverse Twist of Fate! The crowd gave a huge pop for Matt who lifted up a still incapacitated Kofi, as he got him in a front face lock and proceeded to hit his nemesis from 2008 with a huge Twist of Fate! Matt climbed over for the cover, as Matt got the win in his first match as Mr. Money in the Bank.
|Winner: Mr. Money in the Bank Matt Hardy|
Matt got up to his feet as ‘Live for the Moment’ begins to play over the speakers as Matt goes over to the corner and lifts up his briefcase. Matt raises his briefcase in the air before he goes over to Tony Chimel and asks him for a microphone, which Matt then takes with his free hand. Matt talks about Monday night, where The Brian Kendrick appeared via satellite and said that after he dealt with Rey Mysterio in three days on RAW, he would be coming towards Matt since he was an undeserving holder of the Money in the Bank contract since Kendrick wasn’t there to compete for it after being taken out of the contest. This statement gets big heat from the fans as Matt goes onto say that he will go onto prove to Kendrick and all of the WWE Universe that he is worthy of holding the Money in the Bank Briefcase and of holding the World Heavyweight Championship, as he goes onto say that he will be on RAW Monday night, and will make Shane McMahon, Kendrick and Mysterio an offer that they can’t refuse. ‘Live for the Moment’ begins to play over the speakers once again as Matt Hardy makes his way to the back before we head to a commercial break.
|Commercial Break|
We go to a video package once the commercial break is over, showing last year’s Last Man Standing match between HHH and Batista where Edge made his return and assaulted Triple H. The two then began to trade blows as they faced off at No Way Out which went to a Double Disqualification, leading to the two facing off in a No Holds Barred match in the Royal Rumble where the winner would go onto compete in the Royal Rumble match, which Triple H won. After entering at Number 30, Trips looked to have the victory but Edge intervened, hitting HHH with a Spear, making HHH easy pickings for Kennedy to throw over the top rope. In the lead up to WrestleMania XXV, Edge partnered with his former colleague Randy Orton and Orton’s Two Man Dynasty counterpart Montel Vontavious Porter, who also happened to be going at it with Shawn Michaels over on RAW, leading to DX to be reunited. DX and the newly named Rated RKO Dynasty battled over the following shows but MVP was injured after HBK teamed with his protégé Paul London to go up against the Two Man Dynasty, as after the TMD won, Michaels drove MVP through the announce table with a Flying Elbow whilst HHH tended to Edge and Orton in the ring, leading to a rivalry being reborn for WrestleMania as DX would go up against Rated RKO due to MVP’s injury. We then cut to the match on RAW from the next week between mentor and protégé in Triple H and Randy Orton respectively, which Orton won after handy interference from Edge, who was in Randy’s corner.
Rated RKO fled before any further punishment could be dealt as they hosted DX on the Cutting Edge at Saturday Night’s Main Event, as they assaulted DX, leading to a Punt Kick to Michaels from Orton and a Con Chair To was delivered to Triple H from Edge. Shane confirmed two nights later on RAW that DX would make it to WrestleMania and Rated RKO would be punished that night by facing the Brothers of Destruction, but they managed to weasel out of it once again by getting Cena and Umaga to assault their respective WrestleMania opponents, but much to the surprise of Rated RKO, DX came out just two nights after the assault, making Rated RKO flee. On the Smackdown four nights later (which was 48 hours before WrestleMania), DX teamed with the Brothers of Destruction to take on Rated RKO, Cena and Umaga, as Michaels went brawling with Orton up on the entrance ramp as did Edge and Triple H, 2 days before their tag team contest. At WrestleMania XXV, Michaels got the early advantage before HHH cost his team the advantage, leading to Rated RKO dominating most of the contest but were unable to put HHH away. After HHH got the tag out to Michaels, DX got the momentum once again before MVP made his return to try and save his friends in Randy Orton and Edge, only to be hit with a Sweet Chin Music off of the apron, as Edge was subsequently hit with a Sweet Chin Music and then a Pedigree, before HHH threw him over the top rope and onto MVP, leading Michaels to hit Orton with a Sweet Chin Music and get the win.
The video package then finishes as ‘Time to Play the Game’ hits over the speakers to a massive pop, as none other than the 12 time World Champion in Triple H makes his way down to the ring with a custom shirt and blue jeans on, obviously not dressed to compete here tonight. Triple H does his water bottle schtick before he gets into the ring, and after doing his signature pose on the second rope, he gets a microphone and waits for the crowd to die down. Triple H begins to talk about 5 nights ago where DX reformed for one night only (which gets big heat from the crowd) to defeat Rated RKO, causing the heat to transform into a huge pop, the biggest of the night so far. Trips begins to talk about Edge and how he (HHH) has not forgotten how he cost him the Royal Rumble match and the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXV, meaning that ‘the Game’ still has some unfinished business with the ‘Rated R Superstar’. The crowd gives a big pop for Triple H saying that he is still not finished with Edge and wants some more of the man as to whom he has been feuding with for the past 5 months, as Triple H goes onto say that he has a proposition for the man who he defeated at the Royal Rumble and (indirectly) at WrestleMania XXV.
Triple H goes onto say that since he knows that Edge is not in the building tonight, but before he could continue, he is drowned out by a massive cheer from the fans although there is the odd smark or two giving heat, leading to Triple H getting a smile his face at this reaction for the obviously hated ‘Ultimate Opportunist’. HHH goes on with what he has to say with his so called ‘proposal’, saying that he has unfinished business with Edge, and after what happened at the Royal Rumble and 5 nights ago at WrestleMania, he knows that Edge will want a shot at Triple H also. The Cerebral Assassin says that he has a proposal for Edge and he has made his challenge known to the Smackdown General Manager Theodore Long, saying that he wants Edge once again, for the last time between the two men at Judgment Day, and he wants Edge’s answer by no later than next week! The crowd gives a big pop for the potential of another Triple H and Edge match for Judgment Day as ‘Time to Play the Game’ hits over the speakers once again before HHH drops the microphone and mouths ‘Think about it Edge’ to the camera as Coach and Tazz discuss these recent developments, before Coach says that Triple H does not know what sort of predicament he is getting himself into, saying that after Edge was unsuccessful in his previous attempts, he will demolish Triple H.
|Commercial Break|
Once we return from the commercial break, ‘Virtual Voodoo’ hits over the speakers to a large amount of heat as none other than the man who defeated Kane in the Brand Supremacy match 5 nights ago and accompanied by Armando Alejandro Estrada in Umaga makes his way down to the ring, sadistic as always. Estrada is beaming just like he used to do with his signature beige suit on with 4 cigars in his front pocket, as AAE takes his spot on the outside whilst Umaga gets into the ring and awaits his opponent in the World Heavyweight Champion the Undertaker.
After there is silence throughout the arena, ‘Rollin’’ begins to play over the speakers as the crowd give a HUGE ovation for the hometown hero, as none other than the NEW World Heavyweight Champion in the Undertaker comes down to the ring on his motorbike with his World Heavyweight Championship strapped around his shoulder. Taker does a lap around the ring with his Harley Davidson motorbike which somewhat intimidates Estrada, before Taker steps into the ring as he hands his World Heavyweight Championship to the referee whilst he does not take his eyes off of the Samoan Savage, who looks straight back at the World Heavyweight Champion.
|Main Event|
|Match 6|
|Non Title Match|
|Singles Match|
|World Heavyweight Champion the Undertaker vs. Umaga w/ Armando Alejandro Estrada|
As soon as the bell was rung to signify the start of the match, Umaga went on the offensive straight away as he surprised the Undertaker with a flurry of punches, as Taker soon retaliated with punches of his own. The match seemed as though it would turn out to be a slugfest from the get go, only for the man who won the Brand Supremacy match 5 nights ago to catch the Undertaker with a quick Side Kick to the gut, as he then elevated the Undertaker up and hit him with a huge Samoan Drop! The crowd gave heat for Umaga who has taken the advantage barely one minute into the match, and after he screams out ‘SAMOA!’, he bounces off the ropes and hits the Undertaker with a Running Splash, as the 300 plus pound mass squashes the World Heavyweight Champion!
Umaga continued to keep the advantage by working away at the Undertaker with power moves, as the ‘Samoan Savage’ looked as dominant and as sadistic as ever before with Armando Alejandro Estrada back in his corner. He continued to dominate the World Heavyweight Champion in a dominating display before he went to the high risk district as he waited for the Undertaker to get up, but before he could make his intentions known after he leapt off of the top rope, he was nailed with a huge Big Boot to a still airborne Umaga! The crowd gave a huge pop for Taker seemingly getting back into the match, as he managed to hit some of his signature moves such as a Sidewalk Slam and Snake Eyes/Big Boot combination.
At the 12 minute mark, Taker got Umaga in a wrist lock before he walked onto the top rope, looking to hit his opponent with a signature Old School, but just like 5 nights ago in the World Heavyweight Championship match, his opponent in Umaga managed to reverse it, as he nailed him with a Release Swinging Side Slam! Umaga continued with his offence on Taker after this turn of events but the World Heavyweight Champion managed to kick out, although Umaga looked very good in the process. However, both Umaga and AAE were getting very angry at Taker’s resiliency, who managed to kick out of moves such as Running Jumping Headbutt Drop when he was in a tree of woe and a Two Handed Choke Bomb from the ‘Samoan Bulldozer’.
The turning point for Taker to begin to get back into the match came when after Umaga had put in a very impressive performance, where he managed to almost put the World Heavyweight Champion away on more occasions, but when Umaga went for a Reverse STO, as Taker managed to elbow out of it and then follow it up with a Swinging Neckbreaker. Taker began to mount some offence in on Umaga who retaliated with some of his own, as the Samoan Savage took it to the new World Heavyweight Champion. Once Taker looked to have all of his momentum lost once again, Umaga went for a Swinging Side Slam once again after bouncing Taker off of the ropes, only to be hit with Taker’s unique Swinging DDT!
The crowd gave a big pop for Taker laying the new Number 1 Contender for the United States Championship out, before Taker signalled for the end by going for a Last Ride. However, Umaga was too heavy for the World Heavyweight Champion as he fell forward on the World Heavyweight Champion in a pinning predicament, only for Taker to kick out at two. Once both men got to their feet, Taker ran at Umaga, only to be hit with a Savate Kick by Umaga, yet Taker did not go down, only for Mags to lift Taker up and hit him with the second Swinging Side Slam of the match! Umaga then dragged Taker over to the corner with his head resting on the bottom turnbuckle, as the crowd gave heat for they knew what would be coming up next.
Estrada began to laugh on the outside as Umaga took some big steps backward, giving him enough room to charge forward at Taker before he nailed the new World Heavyweight Champion with a Samoan Wrecking Ball! The crowd gave huge heat for this signature move of Umaga’s but before the ‘Samoan Bulldozer’ could go to pin the World Heavyweight Champion, Estrada got up on the apron, pulled out a cigar from his breast pocket and snapped it in half, causing a sinister smirk to come over the face of Umaga. He lifted Taker up and went to hit him with a Samoan Spike, but in a reverse of the events that took place between Umaga and Taker’s brother in Kane five nights ago, Taker held onto Umaga’s hand to prevent him from hitting his signature move before he used his free hand to wrap it around his throat, as Taker hit Umaga with a Chokeslam! Taker then climbed over Umaga as the referee counted to three, giving the Undertaker the win!
|Winner: the World Heavyweight Champion the Undertaker|
As Taker gets his title from the referee after a great showing from Umaga, the crowd begins to give huge heat as the camera cuts to the entrance ramp where we see none other than Nash ‘Blood’ Miller running down the ramp, as he slides into the ring and strikes Taker in the back of the head with a right hand, knocking the World Heavyweight Champion out! The crowd gives huge heat as both champions on both brands have been assaulted after the main event, as Miller lifts the World Heavyweight Champion up and hits him with the Chokeslam Backbreaker, otherwise known as the Imprisonment (Swinging Reverse STO has been scrapped TBH)! Miller sadistically smirks down at Taker before ‘Can’t Nobody Stop Me’ begins to hit over the speakers once again to huge heat, as a clapping John Cena comes strolling down the ramp, causing Miller to scowl. Cena gets down to the ring as he smirks at Miller and then his opponent from 5 nights ago in the Undertaker, before he lifts Taker up, scoops him onto his shoulders and hits him with an FU! Cena lifts up the beloved World Heavyweight Championship which he lost 5 nights ago as he then raises it up in the air to huge heat as Cena smirks whilst Miller takes his leave after this somewhat reluctant attack, as Cena’s cockiness has seemingly come back after this assault on Taker. Cena then drops the title back onto the Undertaker as a victorious Cena stands over Taker with ‘Can’t Nobody Stop Me’ hitting over the speakers, as the first Smackdown after WrestleMania comes to a close.