WWE Smackdown
August 28, 2009
Phoenix, AZ
Report by: Mike Tedesco of WrestleView.com
?Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event?? The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays and we?re brought into the arena with a tremendous pyrotechnics display. Jim Ross and Todd Grisham welcome us to Smackdown, emanating from the city where WrestleMania 26 will take place. Tonight we?ll see Jeff Hardy invoke his rematch clause against CM Punk in a Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Title.
Justin Roberts asks us to welcome the new and only straightedge World Heavyweight Champion in history CM Punk. CM Punk’s music hits and he comes out limping, but with a smile on his face, as the audience boos. CM Punk gets in the ring and says, ?I told you so!? Punk says he told us all he?d beat Jeff Hardy at Summerslam, and in case we were too intoxicated to remember, he?ll show us how he did it. We now see a great highlight video showcasing the tremendous TLC match from Sunday. What an awesome match that was.
CM Punk is shown watching the video with a smile. Punk says he’s never felt more alive in his entire life than he does in this moment. Punk’s positive none of us have ever felt this way because we take shortcuts. Punk says he feels every ache and pain of every table, ladder, and chair that Hardy TRIED to use to stop him from getting back his World Heavyweight Title. Punk says it was the most brutal match of his entire career but it’s the pain that makes him feel so alive. Of course he hasn?t taken a thing for it, unlike us and Hardy. Even with the smallest headache we reach for our medication, but not the regular strength ? we double up on the extra strength. If any of us felt the way he feels physically right now, we?d be on a morphine drip. Punk mentions that maybe some of us already are. Physical pain isn?t the only trauma he felt at Summerslam. After the match he was celebrating his superiority over all of us when we were all robbed of his moment by the evil incarnate himself, the Undertaker! A video is now shown of Undertaker Chokeslamming CM Punk after the match in one of the coolest surprises I?ve seen in a long time. That was a tremendous moment. I was going crazy.
After all CM Punk has been through, tonight he’s being forced to compete in a Steel Cage Match. Punk says that’s unfair and it borderlines on conspiracy because the ?higher ups? are terrified of him, just like we are. We fear what we don?t understand and we really don?t know what a straightedge world champion is. Punk says he’s a pioneer and he makes sacrifices. He is the role model we all need ? he doesn?t drink, smoke, and doesn?t abuse prescription medication like Jeff Hardy. That’s proof that straightedge means he’s better than us and Jeff Hardy, and tonight he?ll prove it once again.
Jeff Hardy’s music hits and he comes out to a HUGE reception from the Phoenix crowd! Hardy gets in the ring and soaks in the cheers from the fans. Hardy says he hopes Punk has enjoyed his reign as straightedge World Heavyweight Champion because it ends tonight. Punk comes out here on his high horse of self-righteousness, preaching as if the three most important words in the English language are, ?Just Say No,? when the three most important words tonight are, ?Steel Cage Match.?
Punk asks what Hardy took to get the guts to come down here to the ring and face him. Punk asks if it was pain killers, just like the crowd takes. Punk asks if he takes pain killers to dull his reality but he?ll give reality to Hardy and us. Punk says he’s tired of everyone booing him and seeing young, impressionable children cheering Hardy. Punk says he’s fed up with Hardy and us. Punk says one of them doesn?t belong here anymore. Punk says Hardy likes to take risks so he gives one to him now: tonight, the loser is thrown out of WWE. Punk says that means if he loses, we all never have to listen to him come down to the ring and tell the truth. Hardy says he likes that. Punk says if Hardy loses than that means his lifestyle, skills, and drug free judgment is better than Hardy’s and it means straightedge is better than him. It?ll make everyone else realize that straightedge is the way to go because Hardy won?t be here anymore.
Hardy thinks about it for a moment as the crowd chants his name. Hardy says it’s risky, crazy, and Punk is ON! Teddy Long’s music hits and he makes the match official. The loser of tonight’s match will no longer be in WWE. The person who wins will defend the World Heavyweight Championship in about two weeks at Breaking Point, where every Main Event match is a submission match. The winner will be in a submission match at Breaking Point against the Undertaker!
-Commercial Break-
The Undertaker will make his return to Friday Night Smackdown next week!
We get an aerial view of Phoenix, where WrestleMania 26 will happen. In the front row is the Arizona Cardinals.
John Morrison & Matt Hardy vs. The Hart Dynasty
The match begins and it?ll be Matt Hardy starting out against Tyson Kidd. Kidd quickly gets a waist lock on and Hardy just as quickly gets out with an arm wrench. Hardy wrenches the arm before hitting a short-arm clothesline. Hardy makes the tag to John Morrison and they hit a combination side Russian Leg Sweep and leg sweep. Nice double team move. Morrison hits a break dance leg drop for a two count. Morrison wrenches the arm and tags in Hardy. They double whip him into the ropes and hit a double back elbow. They follow that up with a combination falling fist drop from Hardy and a senton from Morrison. That’s an old Hardy Boy double team, and it gets Hardy a two count.
Hardy has Kidd in a front face lock. Kidd fights up and Hardy clubs him down. Hardy goes into the ropes and over Kidd. Natalya is on the apron to cause a distraction and Hardy turns into a roundhouse kick from Kidd. Kidd makes the tag to David Hart Smith. Kidd holds Hardy and Smith kicks him in the ribs. Smith lays in some punches and stomps him in the corner until the referee backs him up. Smith hits a nice snapmare and locks on a chin lock. Hardy fights up and punches out only to be kneed in the midsection. Smith goes for a neckbreaker but Hardy counters into a reverse DDT.
Morrison is tagged in and he snaps Smith’s neck off the top rope. Morrison ducks a clothesline and hits a dropsault. Morrison hits a clothesline and sends Smith into the ropes for a back heel kick. Morrison hits a STANDING Shooting Star Press for a near fall broken up by Kidd. Hardy comes in and throws Kidd out of the ring. Hardy gets on the apron and jumps off with a flying clothesline! In the ring Morrison bounces Smith off the top turnbuckle and goes for the Flying Chuck but Smith catches him on his shoulder. Smith goes for a Running Powerslam but Morrison sends him sternum first into the corner and hits a pele kick. Morrison then hits Starship Pain for the win!
Winners by Pinfall: John Morrison & Matt Hardy
Match Rating: **
Still to come tonight is Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk in a Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship. The loser must leave WWE.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know Smackdown was the most watched entertainment program on TV last Friday among males under 65?
Backstage Melina is talking to Maria. Melina says she saw Dolph Ziggler after Summerslam with another woman. Maria asks why no one wants her to be happy. Maria says Melina is jealous of her and asks if she has a boyfriend who cares about her. Melina says she’s sorry and walks away just as Dolph Ziggler walks up to her. Maria asks if Ziggler invited a woman backstage after Summerslam. Ziggler says he did ? his sister, who was in town for the show. Ziggler says he only has eyes for Maria and kisses her.
Newcomer (or re-debuting) Drew McIntyre is in the ring. R-Truth makes his way to the ring rapping and as he’s getting in the ring McIntyre lays him out with a vicious kick to the head! I wasn?t expecting that! McIntyre grounds and pounds R-Truth before dropping him with a vicious Double Arm DDT! McIntyre grabs the microphone and apologizes for ruining our little party. McIntyre says we like to be entertained by watching someone dance and rap to the ring. His name is Drew McIntyre, and the party is over. McIntyre drops the microphone and leaves the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see a replay of Drew McIntyre’s vicious assault on R-Truth.
Michelle McCool is at ringside on crutches. She’s wearing heels though so is her knee injury legit? McCool says the people paid good money to see her compete, and she wants to, but she was brutally attacked by Melina last week for no good reason, and now she can?t. She has an injured knee and she’s not medically cleared. Melina has ruined the night for everyone. McCool assures everyone that she has things under control, and we can trust her. McCool introduces Melina’s opponent, a dear friend of hers ? Layla.
Layla vs. Melina
They lock up and Melina grounds her for a one count. Layla hits a forearm and wrenches the arm. Layla kicks Melina in the shoulder until Melina responds with punches and kicks. Melina has a whip to the corner reversed on her and Layla charges into Melina’s boots. Melina takes her out with a second rope senton and appears to have tweaked her knee. Melina takes her down with a back elbow and a clothesline. Melina goes to pick her up but Layla dropkicks her in the knee. Layla lays the knee on the rope and comes down hard on it. Layla hits a chop block for a one count. Melina pushes her but Layla responds with a forearm. Layla goes into the ropes and Melina takes her out with the Primal Scream for the win. The exact same match up and result we?ve been seeing for months. Lame!
Winner by Pinfall: Melina
Match Rating: ? *
Melina exits the ring and pushes Michelle McCool over again. McCool grips her injured right knee in pain as Melina poses.
-Commercial Break-
Todd Grisham thanks Aerosmith for the use of the song, ?You Gotta Move,? the official theme song of Summerslam. JR thanks everyone for visiting WWE.com.
We now get a look at WWE taking over Los Angeles. They packed the place with huge stars like the lady from Access Hollywood and Mini-Me. They also show the Superstars helping out a neighborhood and WWE Fan Axxess.
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio’s music hits. They show a graphic that Rey Mysterio will face Dolph Ziggler at Breaking Point for the Intercontinental Championship, but we know that won?t happen. Mysterio will fight Kane next.
-Commercial Break-
Rey Mysterio vs. Kane
This is a non-title match.
The match begins and Kane immediately takes Mysterio down with punches and kicks. Kane stomps on Mysterio for a bit before picking him up and body slamming him. Kane drops an elbow for a one count. Kane gets Mysterio in the corner and punches him a few times. Kane backs up and walks right into Mysterio’s boots. Mysterio hits some punches and goes into the ropes and through Kane’s legs only to have his head taken off by a clothesline for a near fall.
Kane hits a nasty sidewalk slam for a near fall. Kane locks on a grounded bear hug. Mysterio elbows out of that and gets to the corner. Kane stomps him quickly there. Kane hits a snapmare and hits a low dropkick to the face for another near fall. Kane whips Mysterio to the corner and charges into the boots. Kane charges again and Mysterio avoids him. Mysterio goes into the ropes and hits a head-scissors, sending Kane face first into the second turnbuckle. Mysterio then springboards off the top rope with a seated senton before hitting a tilt-a-whirl reverse DDT for a near fall on Kane!
Mysterio goes to the top rope and jumps right into an uppercut for a near fall. Kane sends Mysterio into the ropes. Mysterio ducks the clothesline and goes for a running cross-body but Kane catches him. Mysterio attempts to counter into a DDT but Kane throws him off. Kane charges and Mysterio dropkicks him in the kneecap, putting him in position. Mysterio goes to the 619 but Kane catches him by the throat. Kane goes for the Chokeslam but Mysterio counters into a hurricanrana, putting Kane in position. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Kane quickly gets out of the ring!
Mysterio hits a slingshot baseball slide before running off the apron with a seated senton but Kane sidesteps him. Mysterio then turns into a nasty big boot on the outside! Kane picks Mysterio up and slams him gut first into the steel ring post! Mike Chioda warns Kane not to do it again so he does and gets disqualified!
Winner by Disqualification: Rey Mysterio
Match Rating: * ?
The Great Khali’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Khali goes for the Punjabi Plunge but Kane jumps over the top rope. Ranjin Singh hits Kane with a Singapore Cane but Kane no sells it. Kane grabs him by the throat and Khali hits him from behind with the stick! Khali destroys the cane over Kane’s back all the way up the ramp! In the ring Dolph Ziggler runs out and drops Mysterio with his Reverse Bulldog! Ziggler yells he?ll be the new champion and we all know it!
Still to come tonight is the Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Jeff Hardy and CM Punk. The loser must leave WWE.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know visitors spend more time per visit on WWEUNIVERSE.com than Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter?
They show the Steel Cage hanging ominously over the ring.
JeriShow’s music hits and the Unified Tag Team Champions make their way to the ring. They get in the ring and Jericho says we are looking at the most powerful team in sports today. While great teams don?t always win, they win when they have to. Just because Floyd Mayweather assisted MVP and Mark Henry in cheating to beat them on Raw does not mean they have any chance of beating them at Breaking Point. Jericho has a nasty black and blue on his jaw. Jericho says they?re going to do what great teams do ? they?ll prevail and be victorious, just like they did at Summerslam against Cryme Tyme. They try to cut the corners and skirt the system but they don?t do that. They?re men of honor, principle, and honesty, and most importantly champions. Big Show reiterates that they?re Unified Tag Team Champions!
Chris Jericho vs. Shad Gaspard
The match begins and Shad immediately drives Jericho to the corner where he delivers shoulder thrusts. Shad hits some punches and talks some trash. Shad stomps Jericho down in the corner and whips him hard into the opposite corner. Shad hits a running back elbow and takes Jericho out with a Million Dollar Knee Lift. Jericho comes back with some kicks but runs right into a gorilla press slam. Shad sends Jericho into the ropes and catches him with a powerslam. Shad covers for a near fall when Big Show pulls Jericho out of the ring.
JTG runs over and assaults Big Show. Soon everyone is fighting on the outside. Teddy Long’s music hits and he orders the referee to get them all in the ring because the match will continue as a tag team match.
-Commercial Break-
JeriShow vs. Cryme Tyme
We come back from the break and the match is in progress. JTG bounces Jericho off the top turnbuckle but has a whip reversed on him. JTG slides on his knees and uppercuts Jericho. JTG wrenches the arm and hits an over the knee neckbreaker for a near fall. JTG hits a big right hand and runs toward Jericho but Jericho pulls the top rope down and JTG flies over the top rope. Big Show puts JTG on the apron and slaps him HARD on the chest!
Jericho tags in Big Show and Show body slams him. Show drops a few elbows on JTG’s knee and wrenches the joint. JTG is almost pinned at one point. Show tags Jericho back in and Jericho kicks him in the chest before locking on an arm trap chin lock. JTG punches out and Jericho sends him into the corner. Jericho charges and JTG side steps him. Jericho hits the ring post and JTG tags in Shad.
Shad clotheslines Jericho down twice before going for a powerslam. Jericho slides off and runs right into a big boot. Shad sends Jericho into the ropes and Jericho ducks the clothesline. Big Show makes a blind tag and Shad takes Jericho down with a sidewalk slam. Shad gets up right into the Knockout Punch to give Big Show the win.
Winner by Pinfall: JeriShow
Match Rating: * ?
They show replays of that nasty right hand as JeriShow raises their titles at the top of the ramp.
We get an outside shot of the University of Phoenix Stadium where WrestleMania 26 will take place. We then see another showing of Undertaker’s surprise return at Summerslam. Undertaker Chokeslammed CM Punk. Undertaker will return next week!
Backstage Jeff Hardy is putting on his face paint. His brother Matt walks in and they hug. Matt says he wants to wish Jeff luck. Matt asks if Jeff knows what he’s doing ? he’s majorly rolling the dice, like always. Jeff’s a gambler and he respects that. Bottom line is Matt respects him. Matt says for Jeff to knock out the cage match and CM Punk, and win back his World Heavyweight Championship. In the future it’s time for the Hardys to take over Smackdown. Jeff says he lives for the moment, and the moment is now!
The Steel Cage is lowering! Our Main Event is NEXT!
-Commercial Break-
Jeff Hardy is making his way to the ring when he’s attacked from behind by CM Punk! Punk sends Hardy into the cage and hits a double leg takedown. Punk catapults Hardy into the cage! Punk hits some forearms and hip tosses Hardy on the ground! Punk picks Hardy up and suplexes him! Punk picks Hardy up and throws him into the ring.
World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage Match
Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk (c)
The loser of the match must leave WWE
The only way to win the match is by pinfall, submission, or escaping the cage with both feet touching the floor.
The match can officially start now. Punk immediately starts climbing out of the cage but Hardy gets up and pulls him down. Punk hits some punches and kicks. Punk hits a snapmare and a kick to the back. Punk goes to climb out of the cage again but Hardy grabs him by the ankle. Hardy hits some punches until Punk kicks him and suplexes him. Punk again tries to climb out and again Hardy catches him. They?re on the top rope. Hardy tries to smash Punk’s face off the top of the cage but Punk blocks it. Punk smashes Hardy’s face off the top of the cage and Hardy falls to the mat. Punk jumps off and covers for a near fall.
Punk drops a leg and goes to leave but Hardy holds on to his ankle. Punk picks him up by the hair and hits some right hands. Hardy responds with some right hands of his own. Hardy has a whip reversed on him and he goes for a cross-body block but Punk ducks him. Punk picks him up and goes to smash his face off the cage but Hardy blocks it. Hardy sends him face first into the cage three times before hitting an inverted atomic drop for a two count! Hardy stomps Punk and has a whip to the corner reversed on him. Hardy runs up the turnbuckle with Whisper in the Wind for a near fall! We?ll take our first commercial break here.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jeff Hardy attempting to escape the cage. Punk grabs him by the ankles and Hardy kicks him off. Hardy hits a cross-body block off the top rope for a near fall. Both men are down. Hardy makes his way for the door and Punk drags him away. Punk catapults Hardy into the cage but Hardy holds on and attempts to climb up by Punk catches him at the top! Punk and Hardy punch it out on the top rope. Hardy attempts to escape again but Punk catches him. Punk attempts a superplex by Hardy punches him and Punk falls crotch first on the top rope. Jeff Hardy follows up with a Swanton Bomb! Hardy can?t follow up immediately but eventually makes the pin and Punk kicks out at two and seven-eighths!
Punk is now climbing slowly from the top rope and Hardy is crawling out of the door. Punk cuts Hardy off and pulls him back in. Hardy hits his mule kick and Punk is between the ropes and the cage. Hardy sandwiches him there. We?ll take our final commercial break here.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Punk halfway out of the cage door with Hardy holding him. Punk screams that he’s out but, of course, he really isn?t. This is great stuff. Hardy viciously clubs Punk and they trade punches. Hardy comes out on top and goes for the Twist of Fate. Punk shoves him off and goes for the GTS but Hardy counters into a backslide pin for a near fall! Punk hits a double under-hook backbreaker for a near fall.
Both men are extremely battered. Punk picks Hardy up and goes for the GTS but Hardy lands on his feet and hits the Twist of Fate! Hardy slowly begins making his way up the cage and is halfway out when CM Punk gets up and grabs his ankle. Hardy kicks and punches Punk away. Hardy gets over the top and dangles over the floor. Punk pulls him back in and SUPERPLEXES him off the top of the cage!! CM Punk begins making his way up the cage. Hardy cuts him off as Punk dangles over the floor. Hardy sits on top of the cage and Punk pokes him in the eyes and smashes his face off the cage! Hardy crashes and burns to the mat as CM Punk drops to the floor to win the match and retain his World Heavyweight Championship!! Jeff Hardy is out of WWE!!
Winner & STILL World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
Match Rating: ****
CM Punk holds his World Heavyweight Championship and smiles as he waves goodbye to Jeff Hardy. The cage rises and Hardy lies in the ring as the reality of what just happened hits him. Hardy sits up in the ring and the crowd is chanting ?Thank you Jeff.? Hardy gets up and applauds the crowd. Hardy grabs a microphone and says:
?First of all I?m sorry if I?ve let anyone down. I?m sorry that you?ll now be seeing CM Punk instead of me on Smackdown. But it’s been one hell of a ride, hasn?t it? I just want to thank all of you and I want to let you know that this is not goodbye forever; this is only goodbye for now. If the time is right I?m sure I?ll see you all in the future. Thank you all. Hey, but at least Matt’s back on my side. There’s still a Hardy on this show! Yours truly Jeff Hardy ? ours truly this life!?
Jeff Hardy exits the ring and shakes the hands of the fans who thank him. Many people are openly weeping as Jeff Hardy makes his way up the ramp for the final time. Jeff Hardy turns and raises his hands one more time for the adoring crowd and all of a sudden CM Punk hits him in the back of the head with the World Heavyweight Championship! CM Punk stands over Jeff Hardy as the crowd boos and the show ends!
Quick Match Results
John Morrison & Matt Hardy def. The Hart Dynasty
Melina def. Layla
Rey Mysterio def. Kane via DQ (non-title)
JeriShow def. Cryme Tyme (non-title)
Steel Cage: CM Punk def. Jeff Hardy to retain the World Heavyweight Championship; Jeff Hardy is forced to leave WWE
Bump of the Night: CM Punk superplexing Jeff Hardy off the top of the cage!
Match of the Night: CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy ****
Mike’s Thoughts
What an emotional Smackdown tonight. This is definitely the most emotional one I?ve ever covered since I started.
Jeff Hardy finished up his contract with WWE tonight and he went out in a big way with this great cage match. I thought Hardy was done at Summerslam so anything after was just bonus and it was a tremendous sendoff. There was real emotion tonight in the match and in the crowd. You could feel it watching at home. It was great. Hardy cut a nice speech after the match. Hopefully we?ll see him sooner rather than later. Thank you, Jeff, for all the hard work and sacrifice you put in to entertain me.
I also rated this match ****, my highest rating. I gave it that high a rating not only because the match was great but the emotion was real, something that is missing from a lot of regular wrestling matches. Kudos to both men, especially Jeff Hardy!
The other big news is that another Smackdown talent will be leaving? for thirty days due to a Wellness Violation. Rey Mysterio will be out after next week’s Smackdown. I can?t even begin to express my disappointment over this. Mysterio is one of my all time favorites. He’s also a role model for many of the young fans. It’s a shame that he has to lose the title and leave fore a bit in this fashion. He should lose it when the time is right and next week isn?t that time, but what can you do? Hopefully the thirty days will go by quickly and that?ll be the end of this. Hopefully it won?t be worked into a CM Punk storyline. I?m not a fan of the Wellness Violations being worked into storyline.
The rest of the show was pretty good. You could tell it was going to be a one match show from the beginning with the long opening segment. John Morrison and Matt Hardy were good as a tag unit. I would?ve liked to have seen that match go a little longer though. All four men can really go. Hardy looks great since returning from injury. I?m hoping he and John Morrison step it up big time in Mysterio’s absence. Dolph Ziggler, of course, will.
I liked Drew McIntyre’s beat down on R-Truth. That was a refreshing alternative to the usual squash match, and a good way to get noticed. Now the next step is to get McIntyre some tights that will be flattering to him because right now he looks like a damn shaved bird.
I didn?t really like the JeriShow vs. Cryme Tyme Summerslam rematch tonight. It really lacked excitement and didn?t go long enough for me to get interested.
As a bonus, some people have asked me to provide ratings for the Smackdown matches at Pay Per Views. Here’s my rating for the Smackdown matches at Summerslam:
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rey Mysterio: *** ?
JeriShow vs. Cryme Tyme: ** ?
The Great Khali vs. Kane: ? *
Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk: ****
All in all it was a great and emotional night. I have to stress to all of you to go to Hulu and watch the Steel Cage Main Event if you missed it. It’s definitely must see TV.
Final Rating: *** ?
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out yesterday’s Superstars recap.
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