Full Credit: James Shannon, F4WOnline.com
SmackDown! opens with Josh Mathews standing in the ring, who introduces the #1 Contender, Jeff Hardy. Hardy comes out to a very, very loud reaction. Huge reaction. They show highlights from the ladder match where Jeff won his second world title, and then they show Punk winning the title moments later. They’re all about the video recaps tonight, as they then show the closing moments of the three way from Raw: Punk hurting his leg, Hardy hitting the Swanton on Edge, and Punk pinning Edge.
After Hardy guarantees a win at the Bash, Mathews says it’s only fair to get Punk’s opinion, who comes out to very few cheers and a lot of jeers from the young Hardy fans.
Mathews says Punk’s victory on Monday was “stolen” from Hardy. Hardy had a sooky look on his face when Punk said that no where in the MiTB contract did it say that he couldn’t cash it in on Hardy. Punk’s delivery is great, Hardy’s delivery is hampered by the words: “at the Bash our differences will collide.” They’re having a conversation, who would ever phrase their speech like that during a conversation?
Mathews thanked each man for their time, then added “lets hear it for Jeff Hardy”, to a pretty big pop as if it was a Diva’s dance off contest. He then did the same for Punk, who got a really good heel reaction. Punk shone here.
Hardy stayed in the ring during the ad break, ready for his match.
Match Number 1: Jeff Hardy Vs. Chris Jericho (c), Non-Title Match.
They called this a special attraction, one fall main event. Jericho had Hardy’s signature moves scouted to start, which Grisham put over being a speciality of his.
Lots of reversals early, with a missed Lionsault, Twist of Fate, Swanton and more. Jericho finally got the upper hand when Hardy jumped off the top rope to the floor, which Jericho sidestepped while throwing Hardy’s head to the barricade. Three or four more Irish whips into the barricade later and Jericho was well on top.
Jericho throws Hardy back into the ring, and walks straight into a hurricanrana from Rey into the ring post. Mysterio was right in front of where Hardy hit the barricade the first time, next to a child in the exact same getup, making it look like a father and son.
He jumps right back into the crowd to his chair, where there are now two other Mysterios as Jericho is counted out.
Winner: Jeff Hardy, count out.
Jericho is pointing to the group of Rey’s from inside the ring, so Jeff gives him a Twist of Fate and Swanton for his troubles.
We cut to the back where Maria is trying to keep the peace between Layla and Eve who are arguing over hairspray. Dolph Ziggler walks up, saying they don’t have to fight over him. They cut him off as he’s about to introduce himself, and all get his name comically wrong. So Dolph walks off.
A video package of the Dolph Vs. Great feud is shown as Ziggler makes his way to the ring.
Match Number Two: Dolph Ziggler Vs. The Great Khali.
All Khali early before Ziggler takes out Khali’s leg to escape a choke. Dolph tampers with a turnbuckle, which brings Singh up to the apron, which distracts the ref. Ziggler quickly jumps out of the ring while the ref is with Singh, grabs a chair, jumps back in the ring and throws the chair to Khali. Khali swats it out of the air, making a loud sound.
Ziggler throws himself to the mat, feigning the chair shot. Khali picks the chair off the floor, goes to hit Dolph for real as the ref turns around and DQ’s him.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler, DQ.
Melina (with paparazzi) makes her way to the ring after a looooong Raw recap. “Smart, sexy and powerful” – Jim Ross, 2009.
Match Number Three: Melina (c) Vs. Alicia Fox w/ Michelle McCool, Non-Title Match.
Fox with a good body lock and sort of camel clutch, bending Melina in half early. “And you’ve gotta bend Melina pretty good to get her to scream,” – Grisham.
Well… everything in this match was early, couldn’t have been more than two minutes. After getting up from the camel clutch, Melina hits the Code Red for the pinfall.
Winner: Melina, Pinfall.
McCool nails Melina with a kick in her cowboy boots, sends her through the ropes, Slams her into the announce table and then gives a retched promo. This woman should never talk. She talks REALLY REALLY FAST, and then says nothing forever. Then REALLY REALLY FAST, and then nothing.
Edge is out, talking about how the “hoopla” between Punk and Hardy has made everyone overlook the fact his rematch clause wasn’t fulfilled. Teddy Long stacked the odds against him by making Monday a three way. He then starts to run down Morrison (his opponent tonight). Morrison’s music cuts him off.
Edge says he’s another kid who wants to be Edge. Morrison talks about how Edge used to be entertaining, but now he’s so predictable, Morrison has to fast forward him using his DVR. He then starts mocking his accent and relationship with Vicki. Morrison says all Edge does is complain, and that he’s going to give Edge something to complain about.
Match Number Four: Edge Vs John Morrison.
Really good match, telling a really good story and Morrison getting in quite a lot of offence.
Edge gets in a cheap shot, to which Morrison fires back, showing he won’t be intimidated. This is being hyped as Morrison’s chance to break out.
Edge wears down the ribs of Morrison, after dropping Morrison from the top of the turnbuckles to across the ropes, bouncing to the floor on the outside of the ring.
Morrison makes a comeback, selling his abs/ribs the entire time. Edge misses a dropkick, landing in a seated position, allowing Morrison to hit his stand shining wizard knee. As Edge was on the top rope, Morrison hit a Pele kick to send him outside, then a baseball slide hurricanrana into the steps (Edge was on the outside, Morrison slid from the ring to the floor.
Edge applies the Sharpshooter on Morrison, who makes the ropes. Morrison hits a side Russian legsweep, setting Edge in the position for Star Ship Pain. Edge crotches Morrison on the ropes as he jumped, and put him in the tree of woe. Morrison dodged a spear into the corner from Edge, but Edge sends Morrison into the ring post.
Morrison slowly gets up, leapfrogs Edge’s spear, then hits a springboard kick for a near fall. Edge counters the moonlight drive to hit the Edgecution. Morrison kicks out and lands on his feet after going for a second Star Ship Pain as Edge had moved. Before Morrison could look up, Edge hit a spear for the win.
Winner: Edge, Pinfall.
Ross put Morrison over hard, calling this a turning point in Morrison’s career.
Match Number Five: Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas & Ricky Ortiz Vs. R-Truth & Cryme Time.
Cryme Time come out with Truth, and echo his “what’s up”. Benjamin and Haas are already showing signs of being annoyed by Ortiz’s wackiness.
Pretty basic to begin with, good guys get the better of Ortiz, WGTT interfere when they can behind the refs back. Shad’s now having his left leg worked over, but gets a tag rather quickly.
Match breaks down very early, with just Benjamin and Truth left in the ring. Truth hits his corkscrew spinning elbow to continue Benjamin’s streak of loses.
Winners: R-Truth & Cryme Time, Pinfall.
Rey comes to the ring as they recap his attack on Jericho from earlier. Rey says that the revenge felt great, but that it isn’t over until he gets his title back. He then issues a challenge for the Bash.
Jericho comes out, but stops on the stage. Jericho says he isn’t giving Rey any more chances. Jericho gives his spiel that Rey is an addict, that his mask is his drug. Rey says he wears the mask for his heritage, for the fans and for himself.
Jericho says that if Rey wants another chance at the title, he must put his mask on the line. After hesitating, Rey says if accepting the match is the only way to expose Jericho as the hypocrite he is, he gladly accepts.
Match Number Six: CM Punk (c) Vs. Rey Mysterio feat. Chris Jericho on commentary, Non-Title Match.
Punk offers the handshake to start, which Rey accepts.
Rey focusing on Punk’s left leg, seemingly out kicking Punk early. Rey finally misses a shoulder charge in the corner, hitting the post. Punk takes Rey down and starts to focus on the shoulder.
Jericho is wildly amusing on commentary. Ross tonight has being putting over not just Rey’s quickness, but how sudden he is. Didn’t Jake Roberts used to use that for his DDT? Not just quick, it’s sudden?
Rey hits the seated senton on Punk, but Punk is back quickly with a leg lariat. Jericho continues to put over both Rey and Punk, all the while pushing that he’s better.
Punk avoids his second 619, then Rey avoids his first GTS. Punk catches a moonsault from Rey, putting him in the GTS position. Rey holds the ropes, so Punk throws him to the floor. The ref stops Punk from going outside, so Jericho gets up from the table and throws Rey into the steel ring post. Jericho was AWESOME- he runs back, sits down, and yells “Come on Mysterio, get up!” as if he was concerned for him.
He then explains he was down here to even the score, an eye for an eye. But Rey makes it in to answer the ten count, to the shock of Jericho. His revival is short lived, as Punk picks him straight up, hits the GTS, and gets the pin.
Winner: CM Punk, Pinfall.
Jericho is very happy with himself, and so is Punk, as he celebrates with the title. Hardy runs down to berate the ref for not seeing the interference. He then points at Punk, who powders out to celebrate with his title to end the show.
