It is the first Smackdown since Summer Slam and changes are a foot on Friday night. But before we move on to the new, we’ve still got a few plotlines from the big event to wrap-up. In our main event Jeff Hardy will have one final chance to take the World Heavyweight title away from CM Punk, this time in a steel cage.
CM Punk is introduced as not only the new but also the only straight edge World Heavyweight Champion in history. The champ joins us in the ring for a promo and to show us clips from his title victory at Summer Slam. He also complains about how we were all robbed of his celebratory moment at the ppv by the Undertaker. As Punk lets us know how unfair it is that he has to defend his title tonight in a steel cage, Jeff Hardy joins us for a retort. Punk tells Jeff that one of them has to go, and wants the conditions of the match to be that the loser leaves the WWE. Jeff agrees and Teddy Long comes out to make it official and to announce that the winner of the match will defend the title at Breaking Point against the Undertaker.
John Morrison & Matt Hardy vs the Hart Dynasty: The lovely Natalya is of course at ringside as Matt and Tyson Kidd start the match. We get a tag to Morrison and an interesting leg sweep/leg trip combo by the two followed by a funky legdrop by John. Matt tags back in and after a slight distraction by Natalya, Kidd takes advantage and Smith is tagged into the match and pounds on Hardy for a bit. Matt is able to get the tag and Morrison quickly takes control on Smith. As Kidd comes in to break up a pinfall attempt, Hardy dumps him over the top rope and follows him out with a clothesline off the apron. This leaves Smith and Morrison alone in the ring with “the Friday Night Delight†in control. Morrison goes for a slingshot kick off the ropes, but DH catches him in mid air. John slides out of the slam attempt and sends him into the corner and nails an enziguri. Morrison hits Starship Pain and gets the pinfall victory for his team.
When we return form break Melina and Maria are “arguing†about her relationship with Dolph. Supposedly Melina saw Ziggler with another woman after Summer Slam and Maria does not want to believe it. Eventually Dolph comes by and Melina leaves the two to chat. Ziggler explains that it was his sister and that’s good enough for Maria.
Drew McIntyre vs R-Truth: McIntyre attacks R-Truth during his entrance and this instantly makes him one of my favorite performers on Smackdown. He cuts a promo afterwards to tell us his name and tell us that “the party is overâ€. His promo was weak but I’ve wanted someone to interrupt that entrance with a beating for a year now so he still earns major points.
Melina vs Layla: Oh joy, Michelle McCool is out for a promo and on commentary for the second week in a row. Layla starts off trying to work the arm but after Melina appears to injure her knee after a dive from the top rope, she starts to work on the leg. This does not last long however and Melina hits her leg-drop reverse ddt finisher for a quick pinfall victory. Post-match Melina goes over and decks McCool for no real reason. My biggest problem with this feud is that both of these divas are the heels in the match-up. Neither is likeable beyond their attractiveness and they are both acting like bitches to other divas and each other. Smackdown badly needs a diva who can be a compelling babyface.
Rey Mysterio vs Kane: The freshly suspended but at the moment still Intercontinental Champion is not defending his title in this match, but they still hype the title shot that Ziggler earned last night on Superstars. Kane begins the match by controlling Mysterio by taking advantage of his size and power advantage. Kane gets a two count after a side slam and cuddles with Rey in a bear hug on the mat for a bit. Rey fights back with some improbable offense and tries to set Kane up for the 619 twice but Kane is ready both times. They take the fight outside and Kane lays Rey out with a boot to the grill. The ref quickly disqualifies Kane for repeatedly ramming Mysterio into the ringpost and our match ends in a DQ loss for the Big Red Machine.
Post match, the Great Khali and his brother come out to attack Kane with a singapore cane. Dolph Ziggler also joins the fun to attack Rey Mysterio. It will be interesting to see what they do with the IC title considering Rey’s suspension but there is nothing interesting about the Kane/Khali feud.
Chris Jericho vs Shad: We are sadly reminded that the champs will be defending their tag-titles against MVP & Mark Henry at the upcoming Breaking Point pay-per-view. Shad quickly lays down the verbal and physical beating on Jericho in the corner and is dominating the match. A press slam and power slam lead to a pinning attempt by Shad but Show is over to pull Jericho out of the ring. JTG also joins the fun and soon all four men are fighting outside. Teddy Long comes out to stop the madness and says the match will be restarted as a tag-team contest.
The Big Show & Chris Jericho vs Cryme Tyme: The tag portion of this battle began while we were watching commercials and when we return JTG and Jericho are in the ring. Show gets a cheap shot on JTG and tags into the match as Jericho goes over to give some commentary assistance to JR and Todd. Y2J is back in and allows the tag to Shad who picks things up where he left them earlier. Big Show makes a blind tag as Jericho gets slammed. When Shad turns around he does so right into a right hand by Show who then pins him for the victory.
Steel Cage Match for World Heavyweight Title – CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy: We are told during the introductions that the match can be won by pinfall, submission or by escaping the cage. Jeff enters first and as he does Punk runs down behind him and attacks. Punk gives Jeff a minor beating then tosses him into the ring allowing the match to officially begin. Punk tries several times to escape the cage early in the match but Jeff catches him as he reaches the top each time. Punk has been in full control so far but Jeff gains some momentum after sending him into the cage on a reversal. Hardy hits Whispers in the Wind for a two count and we go to commercial with both men down on the mat.
We return to action with Jeff climbing the cage, but being caught by Punk. Hardy is able to kick him off and follows with a crossbody for a two count. Jeff tries to climb again but Punk stops him and tries to super-plex him off the top. Hardy fights it off and hits the Swanton but Punk kicks out at 2.8. Punk tries to climb again but sees Jeff crawling for the door and stops to prevent his efforts. After Jeff splashes Punk into the cage, both men are down again and we hit another commercial break.
We return as CM Punk is crawling out of the door but Jeff is able to drag him back in from the steps. Punk goes for the GTS but Jeff reverses into a backslide for another two count. Punk hits Welcome to Chicago but hardy kicks out at 2.7. The champ goes for the GTS again but Hardy reverses again this time into the Twist of Fate but instead of the pin he starts to climb the cage. Jeff takes a long time to climb but is still over the top by the time Punk can catch him. He gets pulled back in and CM Punk hits the super-plex from the top and both men are down! Now Punk starts the slow climb and Hardy catches him as he reaches the top of the cage. The two men slug it out but Punk wins this final battle for position and Jeff goes crashing down to the mat. CM Punk drops down outside of the ring and retains the World Heavyweight Championship.
Punk hugs his title and heads back up the ramp waving goodbye to Jeff who is rising in the ring as they raise the cage. Jeff grabs a mic and says thanks to his fans and that “this isn’t goodbye forever just goodbye for nowâ€. As Jeff pose on the stage, Punk ambushes him from behind and blasts him with the title belt. The champion strikes a pose over Hardy and that’s how things end for Jeff and this episode of Smackdown.
