Dark Match:
– Beth Phoenix won a 15-Diva Battle Royal prior to tonight’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view with Chavo Guerrero as the special referee. Beth was able to get the win after Chavo Guerrero interfered and eliminated Kelly Kelly and Even. The face Divas beat Chavo up until Hornswoggle speared him and hit a Tadpole Splash.
WWE SummerSlam Opener:
– The particiapnts for tonight’s show are shown on graphics and DX is making shadow figures on it. They do a little skit where they basically announce they’re back. The pyro hits and we go to the Staples Center in Los Angeles where Jim Ross welcomes us to SummerSlam.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler
Mysterio is out first with yellow and purple gear to a big pop.
Ziggler is out to not much of a reaction at all, but he still plays up his cocky heel persona. Grisham reminds us that the last time these two met at a PPV, Mysterio came out on top with the 619. We get the opening bell and Ziggler immediately beats on Rey in the corner. Rey tries to turn the tide, but Ziggler hits a powerslam for a couple of near falls.
Ziggler stomps on Rey in the corner, but when he goes for an Irish whip, Mysterio reverses, and hits a standing moonsault off the top turnbuckle for a near fall. Myster sends Ziggler to the outside with a low bridge, and follows him out with a hurricarana to the floor. Back in the ring, the two men fight it out on the top turnbuckle, with Mysterio sending Ziggler to the mat. Rey almost botches a hurricarana, but Ziggler catches him, and powerbombs him in the corner for another near fall. Ziggler pounds on Mysterio while Mysterio lays on the mat before locking in a rear chin lock.
There’s a small Ziggler chant surprisingly. Ziggler continues to beat down on Rey landing a jumping elbow and going right back to the rear chin lock. Ziggler locks in a body scissors and Rey refuses to quit. Rey fights out of the chin lock and sends Ziggler into the corner, but Ziggler manages to catch Rey with a nasty lariat and a single leg gut buster. Ziggler goes for what has to be his tenth pinfall, but when Mysterio kicks out again, Ziggle locks in the rear chin lock with a body scissors once more.
Rey manages to fight out of the submission again and he ducks a running Ziggler, who hits the top turnbuckle. Mysterio hits a seated senton, and a kick to the side of Ziggler’s head that puts Ziggler down for a two count. Rey goes for a springboard dive, but gets caught mid-air by a dropkick from Ziggler.
Ziggler misses Rey in the corner again and almost falls victim to a roll up, but Ziggler sits down on Mysterio and gets a two count himself. Ziggler throws Mysterio into the corner and goes for the belly to back suplex, but Mysterio reverses out and hits an enzugiri. Ziggler ducks a 619 attempts and pulls Mysterio’s feet out from under him. Ziggler charges Mysterio in the corner, but Mysterio gets the boot up. Mysterio rolls up Ziggler, but Ziggler is able to kicks out at two. Dolph tries for a body slam, but Mysterio counters with a DDT, that’s good for another near fall. Mysterio sends Ziggler into the ropes and hits the 619, but Ziggler avoids the springboard splash. Ziggler pins Mysterio, but Mysterio kicks out at two.
Ziggler is getting a pretty surprising amount of love from these fans here tonight, as he hits a running kick to the side of Mysterio’s head. Both men are on the top turnbuckle. Ziggler looks to be going for a second rope gut buster, but Mysterio reverses out with a hurricarana. Mysterio pins Ziggler and gets the three to retain.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
– Jack Swagger and MVP are backstage with Josh Matthews. Matthews says some people would consider this match a culture clash. Swagger says that on one side you have the All American American, and on the other side you have an ex-con. Swagger says MVP may have some talent, but all he amounts to is a stepping stone for Swagger. MVP says he wishes he had all the things Swagger had growing up. MVP says he made some bad decisions, but he paid for that. MVP says that when Swagger was in the NCAA, he won a trophy, when MVP was in DOC, he fought for his right to live. MVP says tonight Swagger goes back to school and gets taught by MVP.
MVP vs. Jack Swagger
Jack Swagger is out first followed by MVP to a nice pop. MVP and Swagger lock up, but it’s not long before Swagger bails to the floor. MVP follows him out though with a dive over the top rope.
Swagger is able to get an advantage though back in the ring, as he press slams MVP into the top turnbuckle. Swagger sends MVP into the ropes and hits him with a couple of forearms to the lower back. Swagger locks in an abdominal stretch, pounding on MVP’s ribs to cause even more damage. MVP fights out of the hold, but gets caught immediate with a huge lariat from Swagger. Swagger tries for a pin twice, but he can only come up with a two count.
Swagger locks in an abdominal stretch, but MVP is able to stand up with Swagger on his back, and send Swagger crashing to the mat, falling on his back. Swagger and MVP duke it out in the middle of the ring with MVP getting the advantage.
MVP hits the Ballin’ elbow, and goes for the pin, but Swagger kicks out at two. MVP goes for the playmaker, but Swagger counters out and sends MVP into the turnbuckle. Swagger rolls up MVP and grabs the tights, but MVP still kicks out. Swagger goes for the Vader bomb, but MVP gets his knees up and hits the big boot in the corner. MVP hits the playmaker, covers Swagger and gets the three.
Winner: MVP
– Lawler and Cole hype the ‘celebrities’ on hand tonight like Luke Perry of 90210 fame. This leads us into a video package running down the list of celebrities that have come to host Monday Night RAW over the past few weeks. Nancy O’Dell from Access Hollywood takes a mic at ringside and thanks WWE for helping with her charitable causes. She talks to Freddie Prinze Jr. at ringside, who says he can’t wait to see John Cena take the WWE Title from Randy Orton tonight. Not a good segment on Nancy’s part.
WWE Unified Tag Team Title Match: Big Show and Chris Jericho vs. Cryme Tyme
Out first is the WWE Unified Tag Team Champions with a new, much better theme music. Jericho cuts a promo on all the celebrities in attendance and says he and Show are the biggest celebrities and most known. Out comes Cryme Tyme.
Jericho and JTG are the men that are going to start things off here tonight. The two lock up and Jericho locks in a headlock. JTG sends Jericho into the ropes, but he gets taken down by a shoulder block. JTG is quick to recover though with a spinning elbow and modified neck breaker. Jericho almost catches JTG in the walls of Jericho out of nowhere, but he can’t quite get it. He tries to slingshot JTG into the corner, but JTG lands nimbly and hits Jericho with a crossbody.
Jericho is able to make the tag to Big Show, who comes in and immediately starts dominating JTG. Show locks in a standing side headlock and buries a right hand in JTG’s stomach. Show stands JTG up in the corner and hits a huge chop, but when he charges JTG, JTG is able to get his feet up and make the hot tag. Shad comes in and cleans house on the champs, but gets caught with a spear that quickly kills his momentum. Big Show tags out to Jericho, but makes sure to get one more big chop on Shad before exiting the ring. Jericho and Show double team Shad, sending him to the mat. Jericho kicks away at Shad’s head, but when he charges Shad, Gaspard is able to get a big boot up. Jericho is able to prevent a tag, and he tags out himself to Show, who comes in and locks in a full nelson on Shad. Big Show slams Shad down to the mat, and he tags out to Jericho who comes in and promptly misses an elbow drop. Shad is still not able to make the tag though, as Jericho locks in a modified million dollar dream on Shad.
Shad is finally able to make the tag to JTG who comes in with a lot of quickness, stunning Jericho with a mug shot and even getting in a cheap shot on Big Show. JTG goes for a pin on Jericho, but Show breaks it up. Shad sends show to the outside with a big lariat, and JTG is able to get another near fall. Jericho is able to lock in the walls of Jericho and JTG will not give up. JTG reaches the ropes, but he gets caught with a big right hand from the Big Show. Jericho pins JTG and keeps him down for the three count.
Winners: Big Show and Chris Jericho
– Josh Matthews is standing backstage with CM Punk. Matthews asks him about the TLC match tonight, but Punk says he’d rather talk about something else. Punk says he found a screenplay about Jeff Hardy with an ending where Hardy ends up conquering his demons and beating Punk tonight at SummerSlam. Punk says it’s a nice story, but the only thing that’s wrong with it is that it’s fiction. Punk says that kids worship that hip cool star, and that nothing matters as much as it’s cool. Punk says they don’t make movies about guys like him because he doesn’t support their poison society. Punk says tonight he’s going to rewrite the end of the Jeff Hardy story, and it may be graphic, but it’ll have a happy ending, with CM Punk winning the Heavyweight Championship.
Kane vs. The Great Khali
We get a video showing the feud between Kane and The Great Khali. Out first is Kane followed by The Great Khali with his brother and translator, Runjin Singh.
Kane tries to avoid Khali for the first bit of the match, and when he tries for a bit of offense, Khali beats him down in the corner. Kane tries to Irish whip Khali, but Khali throws Kane over the top rope to the outside instead.
Back in the ring, Khali misses a leg drop, and Kane tries to take advantage hitting a lariat and following it up with a trio of elbows. Kane signals for the chokeslam, but Khali fights it off and tries for the choke bomb. Kane counters out of it, but gets caught with a huge clothesline. Khali pounds down on Kane and goes for a quick pin, but Kane kicks out at one.
Khali hits Kane with a big chop to the chest, but Kane fights back with a big boot. Kane goes up top and hits the leaping lariat, but when he pins Khali, he can only hold him down for two. Kane locks in a reverse chin lock and pounds down on Khali’s head with big forearms.
Khali fights his way back to his feet and sends Kane into the ropes, taking him down with an elbow and a big boot. Khali hits a chop to the top of Kane’s head, but it’s only good to keep him down for a two count. Khali locks in the vice grip but Kane is able to make it to the ropes to force a break. While he’s in the ropes, Kane grabs a hold of Khali’s brother. He uses that as an opportunity to distract Kane. Kane hits a low dropkick, follows it up with a DDT, and pins Khali for the three, and the win.
Winner: Kane
– Lawler and Cole hype more of the celebrities in attendance, Maria Menounous, Slash, and Robert Patrick. This, somehow, leads us into a video package about DX and Legacy.
DX vs. Legacy
Shawn Michaels and Triple H as DX are out first to a huge pop, lots of pyro and a new theme song. A US Army Jeep rolls out and ‘soldiers’ make their way out, ‘shooting’ up into the rafters. Hunter and Shawn finally show up at the top of the stage riding in on a tank. Wild stuff here.
Hunter and Shawn pose on the tank, which shoots it’s cannon as they do their crotch chop. DX throw out glow sticks to the crowd and they pop huge again as Lilian announces them. Hunter grabs a mic a says it’s been a long time coming, so ‘are you ready?’ he does the typical ‘for the thousands in attendance’ speech, throwing in Cody and Ted saying ‘you girls want a war, you got a war, so let’s get ready to SUCK IT’. Michaels grabs the mic and says if you’re not down with that, they have two words for you, letting the crowd finish it off. Long entrance. Legacy make their way out to the ring in much less impressive fashion. Hunter and Ted are going to be the two men to start things out tonight.
The two men lock up, going into the ropes a couple of times, forcing a break from the ref. DiBiase sends HHH into the corner, but Hunter comes right back out with a big lariat before taking DiBiase down with a suplex and hitting a running knee drop. DiBiase makes the tag, but Rhodes runs straight into a big knee from Hunter. Rhodes stands up and finds himself in between Hunter and Shawn. Rhodes slaps Michaels, prompting HBK to tag into the match. HBK takes Rhodes down immediately with a shoulder block, but Rhodes is able to duck a right hand and slap Michaels again.
DiBiase tags back into the ring, where he falls victim to chops from Michaels in the corner. Michaels is caught off guard though, and DiBiase takes advantage, sending him into the corner with a hard Irish whip. DiBiase tags out to Rhodes, who comes in and tries to make a quick pin, but can only come up with a two.
DiBiase makes his way back into the match and he locks in a rear chin lock. It’s not long though, before HBK is able to fight his way out of the submission attempt and catch DiBiase with a neckbreaker. This allows HBK to tag out to Hunter who comes in and cleans house on both members of Legacy. Rhodes is able to distract Hunter though, who falls victim to a slingshot into the corner. HHH is fast to recover though, hitting spinebusters on both members of Legacy.
DX sends Rhodes to the floor, they follow it up with HHH back body dropping Michaels over the top rope on top of Rhodes. DiBiase is able to take advantage of Hunter though while he’s distracted, and he and Rhodes double team HHH, stomping away on him in the corner. Ted locks in a rear chin lock and Michaels tries to get the crowd going. Hunter is almost able to make the tag, but Ted cinches in on the hold and takes HHH down to the mat.
Hunter is able to fight his way out of the submission attempt with a side belly to back suplex. DiBiase is able to make the tag first though and Rhodes makes his way in and hits a quick DDT on Hunter before locking in a front face lock. HHH continues to try and reach his corner but Rhodes will not let up on his front face lock. HBK is able to get the crowd behind Triple H, who lands a big overhead suplex on Rhodes. Rhodes is able to make the tag first and DiBiase runs in and quickly takes out Michaels on the ring apron.
Hunter and DiBiase trade right hands in the middle of the ring, with HHH getting the advantage by sending Ted to the outside. Rhodes sends DiBiase back into the ring where he makes the tag, but it’s too late as HHH is able to make the hot tag. HBK comes in and makes quick work of both members of Legacy. The numbers game catches up with Michaels though, as he’s caught from behind with a lariat by DiBiase.
Rhodes goes up top and tries for the flying elbow, but HBK rolls out of the way and Rhodes crashes and burns. Michaels goes up to the top himself, but he ends up getting crotched on the top turnbuckle by Rhodes. Rhodes attempts a superplex, but Michaels fights his way out, sending Rhodes to the mat. Michaels goes for the flying elbow himself, but Rhodes is able to get up his knees. Rhodes goes for a pin, but HBK kicks out at two.
HBK locks in the figure four out of nowhere, but DiBiase is able to make his way in and break it up. HHH goes for the pedigree on DiBiase, but Rhodes is able to break it up and hit a neckbreaker on Hunter. Rhodes hits the cross Rhodes on HBK, but Hunter is able to break up the pin attempt.Hunter makes his way in and hits the pedigree on Rhodes, but then Dibiase makes his way in and hits the dream street on Michaels. Hunter and Dibiase brawl to the outside where they end up on the wrong side of one of the broadcast booths. Both men are able to make it up before the ten count. HBK hits sweet chin music on Rhodes out of nowhere, he goes for the pin, and wins the match for his team.
Winners: DX
ECW Title Match: Christian vs. William Regal
Matt Striker and Josh Matthews take over commentary as the ECW Champion Christian makes his way out to the ring. Out next is William Regal and he has Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson with him.
As soon as the bell rings, Christian hits Regal from behind as he’s walking to take his coat off with the Killswitch. Christian gets the pin for the pinfall and win. Kozlov and Jackson come in the ring and the three beat Christian down. Regal, Kozlov and Jackson stand over Christian and raise their hands.
Winner: Christian
WWE Title Match: Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Cole and Lawler go over the rivalry between Orton and Cena, highlighting their tag match from earlier this week on Raw. No video package as we’re going straight into this match. Cena is out first to his usual big pop from the crowd. Out next is the WWE Champion Randy Orton.
Lillian does the formal introductions for Cena and Orton. Both men actually get a mixed reaction, with Orton getting a bit warmer of a reaction from these LA fans.Both men lock up with Cena quickly taking Orton down and locking in a front face lock. Orton is quick to get out of it though, and both men end up where they started on opposite sides of the ring. Orton catches Cena with a big fist to the face, and he follows it up by stomping down on Cena in the corner. Cena is quick to recover though as he pounds on Orton with big right hands and hits a bulldog. Cena sends Orton into the ropes, but he eats a high elbow that sends him to the mat.
Orton hits Cena with a big European uppercut and pounds down on Cena some more in the corner, sending him across the ring into the turnbuckle with a hard Irish whip. Orton kicks at Cena’s head and sends him across the ring again with another hard Irish whip. Orton circles Cena, stomping on his arms and legs. Orton hits Cena with a huge knee drop, and he goes for the quick cover, but he can only hold Cena down for two. Cena tries to get back into things with a couple of right hands, but he falls victim to an Orton backbreaker. Orton locks in a rear chin lock and we get a dueling Orton/Cena chant.
Orton continues to apply pressure by locking in a body scissors on Cena. Cena is able to fight his way out, standing up and backing Orton into the corner, forcing him to break the hold. Cena hits a couple running shoulder blocks and a side belly to back suplex. Cena hits the five knuckle shuffle and tries for the FU, but Orton fights out and hits a big powerslam that puts Cena down for a near fall. Orton stomps away on Cena’s arms and legs again before going for another knee drop. Cena avoids the knee drop this time, and tries to shift the momentum, but when he goes for a cross body block, Orton ducks the attempt and Cena flies to the outside.
Cena is able to make his way back to the ring, but Orton catches him with the rope assisted DDT. Orton pins Cena, but Cena is able to kick out at two. Orton sets up for the RKO, but Cena is slow to get up. Orton tries to punt Cena, but Cena moves out of the way. Cena hits a blockbuster and a top rope rocker dropper, but his pin attempt only gets him a two count. Cena tries for the FU, but Orton grabs onto the ropes. Cena drops Orton and both men charge into each other with clotheslines. Both men make it back to their feel before the ten count and the trade right hands in the middle of the ring with Orton getting huge cheers. Cena gets the advantage however with a big back body drop.
Orton gets himself DQed by shoving the ref, and the bell rings and Orton leaves with his belt. Lillian announces that Mr. McMahon has announced the match be restarted and if Orton gets DQed he will lose his belt, after she botches the announcement the first time. Really I don’t think anybody knows what just happened.
Cena immediately takes the fight to Orton and the fight spills to the outside. Cena sends Orton into the barricade, but Orton retaliates by sending Cena into the Steel ringside stairs. Orton sends Cena back inside and covers Cena, but Cena kicks out. Orton goes to the outside and grabs the belt, walking up the ramp and getting himself counted out. Orton makes it to the top of the ramp and the bell is rung again. Lillian announces that the match will be restarted once again with the stipulation that if Orton is DQed or counted out, he will lose the title.
Both men go for their finishers but neither are able to connect. Orton rolls Cena up out of nowhere, uses the ropes for assistance, and is able to hold Cena down for the three count. Another ref comes out and tells the first ref what happened. The first ref orders the match be restarted. Cena immediately locks in the STF, and when Orton goes for the ropes, Cena pulls him back into the ring. A fan jumps in the ring and attacks the referee, which allows Orton to roll to the outside.
Orton catches Cena with a shot to the face, enters the ring and hits the RKO for the pinfall and the win. Insane ending here.
Winner: Randy Orton
– We get a video package highlighting the feud between Punk and Hardy, focusing on the last month.
TLC Match for the World Heavyweight Title: Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk
The Title is hanging over the ring and ladders, chairs and tables are set up in intricate formations up and down the ramp as CM Punk makes him way to the ring. Out next is the World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy to a big pop. We get formal ring introductions.
Both men lock up with Punk pushing Hardy back into a corner where he beats down on him with knees and big right hands before stomping down on him. Punk sends Hardy to the outside, then goes outside himself and grabs a chair. Punk hits Hardy in the stomach with the chair before hitting him again across the back.
Punk grabs a ladder and quickly makes his way back into the ring trying to grab the belt, but Jeff is able to push the ladder over. Hardy is able to come back with some offense of his own, including a dropkick in the corner. Hardy goes for the ladder himself, but Punk makes his way back into the ring and kicks the ladder out from under CM Punk. Punk tries for the G2S, but Hardy fights out of it and shoves Punk into the ladder.
Hardy grabs a chair and sets it up in the middle of the ring. He charges Punk in the corner, but Punk catches Hardy and Slams in into the upright narrow end of the chair. Punk picks up a ladder and slams it down repeatedly on Hardy. Punk sends Hardy to the outside again, this time following him out with a suicide dive between the ropes on top of Hardy. Punk throws a chair into the ring and sets up a table beside one of the ring posts. Punk tries to wrap a chair around Hardy’s neck, but Hardy fights out, and then ducks a chair shot. Hardy tries to fights back against Punk. Hardy sends Punk into the stairs but Punk jumps up and back toward Hardy, where he’s met with a chair to the face. Hardy sets up a chair and uses it as a launching pad to hit Punk with a big kick. Hardy sets Punk up on a table on the floor and climbs up to the top rope. Hardy dives off with a big splash, but Punk rolls out of the way and Hardy falls through the table down to the floor. Punk grabs an even bigger ladder than the one already in the ring and he makes his way back into the ring. Punk sets up the ladder under the belt and begins to make his way up.
Hardy makes his way back into the ring and jumps over Punk on the ladder, almost reaching the belt. Punk tries for a G2S off the ladder, but Hardy is able to counter into a sunset flip powerbomb off the ladder. Hardy begins to make his way slowly up the ladder and he gets his hands on the title, but Punk tips the ladder over, sending Hardy into the top turnbuckle. Punk grabs Hardy by the hair and pulls him up to the top turnbuckle. Punk superplexes Hardy off the top turnbuckle with both men landing on the ladder.
Punk tries to suplex Hardy on the ladder again, but Hardy fights out and surprises Punk with a twist of fate. Hardy goes to the top turnbuckle and tries for the swanton bomb, but Punk is able to get his knee up to cause more damage to the back of Jeff Hardy. Punk hits the high knee in the corner, but when he goes for the bulldog, Hardy picks him up, and sends him to the outside, through the table that Punk set up earlier. Hardy sets up the ladder and Punk makes his way up to the ring apron. Punk springboards off the top rope and hits a flying forearm on Hardy before sending him to the outside. On the outside Punk wraps a chair around Hardy’s neck, but Hardy is able to avoid being run into the ring post. Hardy grabs a chair himself and wails away on Punk. Hardy grabs a table, and starts dismantling the ECW announce table, hitting Punk with a moniter before hitting Punk with another chair.
Hardy sets Punk up on the announce table, whacks him in the head with a chair and pulls out a HUGE ladder. Hardy climbs to the top of the HUGE ladder and jumps off nailing Punk with a sick swanton bomb.
Medics come out to the announce table area and put Jeff in a neck brace and on a stretcher. Punk makes his way back into the ring and Hardy fights his way off the stretcher. Punk starts to climb the ladder just as Jeff falls back into the ring. Hardy makes his way up on the other side and the two slug it out and both grab for the belt. Punk kicks Hardy in the ribs, punches him in the face and sends him to the mat. Punk rips down the title for the win.
Winner and NEW World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
After the match, Punk stands over Hardy and celebrates with his World Title. The lights go out and The Undertaker’s bells start tolling. The lights come back on and CM Punk is smiling with his belt. He is no longer standing over the body of Jeff Hardy – it’s The Undertaker. Taker chokeslams Punk and lays him out. The Undertaker’s music hits and he makes his way up the ramp, knocking down ladders as Punk lays in the ring. SummerSlam goes off the air.
