Highlights aired from Unforgiven of Triple H winning the Championship Scramble… The opening montage played… Jim Ross and Tazz introduced the show from ringside and hyped the four-way match between Jeff Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, MVP, and Brian Kendrick for a shot at the WWE Title…
Triple H’s music played and he walked to the ring for a promo. Hunter encouraged everyone to watch the Unforgiven DVD as soon as it comes out and not just because he gets good residuals. He put over the major events of the pay-per-view and said he was the only man to walk in as a champion and walk out as a champion.
Jeff Hardy interrupted Hunter. He said everyone in the locker room looks up to Hunter, including him. He said Hunter is like a god in the WWE Universe. Hunter insincerely talked about how much he admires Hardy for his good traits. Hunter said he admires the way Hardy comes out night after night and reaches for the brass ring and comes up one step short. “Kind of the story of your life,” Hunter said.
Hardy said maybe he’s been one step away or maybe it’s because he didn’t have the right people to push him along. He noted he didn’t have The Clique, DX, or “the family.” Hunter said maybe all that is true, while noting that Matt Hardy won the ECW Title. Hunter insinuated that Jeff hasn’t been able to stay focussed enough without Matt leading the way and mocked Jeff’s “extracurricular activities.”
Hunter sincerely stated that he respects Jeff and everything he’s done in the business. He said he hopes Jeff wins. “I will win,” Hardy said. Hunter said he hopes that Jeff proves him wrong. “Because no matter what happens, when you get to No Mercy, you’ll prove me right”…
1. Michelle McCool and Brie Bella and Maria beat Maryse and Natalya and Victoria in 4:00. There was a cool spot early where Natalya caught Maryse going for a monkey flip and reversed it by flipper her over her head. The heels roughed up Brie until she crawled underneath the ring. As usual, Brie emerged from underneath the ring with more energy and immediately pined Victoria…
2. R-Truth beat Chavo Guerrero (w/Bam Neely) by DQ in 3:25. Same entrance as last week with R-Truth walking through the crowd and singing his entrance song. Late in the match, Chavo went to the top rope for a frogsplash, but Killing caught him. Neely jumped up and pulled R-Truth down to the mat for the DQ.
After the match, Chavo and Neely bickered. Chavo was saying something about how he pays Neely and then shoved him. Neely got upset and shoved Chavo to the mat. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me,” Neely said. Truth attacked Neely and hit the ax kick. Chavo attacked R-Truth, who quickly regained control of their fight…
Backstage, Hunter interrupted a conversation between Shelton and Eve. Hunter said he’s not even sure why Shelton has to compete in the four-way match since he was the only other guy in the Championship Scramble who didn’t get pinned. Hunter got Shelton worked up by telling him that Hardy claims he’s grabbing the brass ring…
At ringside, Tazz told Ross some state about WWE having three times the viewers of some college football game on ESPN last week. Ross joked that Tazz shouldn’t make it personal…
3. Festus (w/Jesse) fought Kenny Dykstra to a no-contest in 1:00. The babyface duo came to the ring wearing “My Moving Co.” moving outfits. Dykstra cut a promo while walking to the ring and referred to himself as a 22 year-old stud. He attacked Festus before the bell. Jesse rang the bell and it was all Festus. Out of nowhere, Festus looked to Jesse, who threw him a roll of duct tape. They hogtied Dykstra and placed him on a moving cart.
After the break, Jesse and Festus had Dykstra wrapped in tape and bubble wrap. They placed a piece of tape over his mouth and then moved him backstage. I don’t even want to know.
At ringside, Ross and Tazz teased that Big Show and Vickie Guerrero would be coming out to explain why Show attacked Undertaker at the pay-per-view… Highlights aired of the Big Show angle at the pay-per-view…
Vickie Guerrero came out to mega heat and earned more with her “excuse me” line. She introduced Big Show, who said he got upset because Undertaker thinks he’s special and above the rules.
“Undertaker, you might be above many things, but no one is above me,” Show said. He claims he follows the rules because he knows what’s best for Smackdown and all the fans. He said you won’t see any wedding rings or sweet nothings. It’s strictly business. In order to get a shot at the WWE Title, he has to get Undertaker to apologize. “If you’re not sorry now, I will personally make sure you will be…
4. Vladimir Kozlov squashed Scott Goldman and Funaki in 1:00. Goldman and Funaki were both allowed in the ring at the same time. Kozlov kicked both of their asses and ended up pinning Funaki. Afterward, he said he came to Smackdown looking for a challenge. He demanded a better challenge and said he’d find one if no one stepped up…
Backstage, Triple H approached Zeke, who was reading the latest WWE Magazine. They had a brief staredown and Zeke didn’t say a word. The Brian Kendrick showed up and bragged about being the longest reigning champion in the Champion Scramble. Funny. Hunter said he was rooting for Kendrick the whole time. “Of all the losers there were that night, you were by far the biggest”…
5. Carlito and Primo Colon beat Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins in a non-title match in 6:45. A pre-taped promo aired with Primo saying he’s been dreaming about teaming with his brother. Um, didn’t he just badmouth Carlito? Carlito is wearing long pants and they don’t help with his look.
Primo showed some flash offense early, but then the match turned into a dragged out series of rest holds that drew some boos. Primo picked up the pace in the match and then Carlito hit the Backstabber on Hawkins for the win.
Backstage, Hunter questioned why MVP was in the four-way match when he didn’t do anything notable in the Championship Scramble match. Hunter said he hopes MVP doesn’t choke like he did on Sunday night… [C]
The WWE 24/7 showcase featured Ric Flair beating Harley Race to win the NWA Title… At ringside, the announcers hyped “Forever Flair” on WWE 24/7…
Ring introductions for the four-way match took place. MVP’s inflatable entrance thing was back. Hey, I don’t know what to call it. I’m just happy to see it. Shelton appeared on the big screen and said he’s called the Gold Standard because he shines brighter than anyone. Ross compared Shelton to Adrian Peterson. Shelton has a shitty coach too? Kendrick was out next. He pranced, but his dance routine was tamed down. They went to break before Hardy came out…
Jeff Hardy’s was introduced to the usual big ovation. Ross said no one gets a bigger ovation than Hardy…
6. Jeff Hardy defeated MVP and Shelton Benjamin and The Brian Kendrick (w/Ezekiel Jackson) in a four-way at 15:30 to earn a shot at the WWE Title at the pay-per-view. Kendrick ducked to ringside as soon as the bell rang. He tried to sneak in, but Hardy spotted him and he immediately darted back to the floor. At 2:30, Kendrick went for his finisher, but MVP caught him and then used him as a weapon momentarily. Nice spot. Hardy scored a nearfall on Benjamin heading into the break.
Kendrick continued to pick his spots. Zeke got involved by tossing Hardy into the guardrail while the ref was focussed on the action in the ring. MVP hit a really nice rolling throw (as the announcers called it) on Benjamin. MVP and Benjamin continued to square off while Hardy sold an injury and Kendrick picked his spots and took a cheap shot at Hardy.
Hardy finally got back in the match at 13:00. He went for a a Swanton on Shelton, but MVP pulled Shelton out of the ring. Kendrick snuck in for a cover, but MVP shoved him off and got a nearfall of his own. MVP held Hardy for Kendrick, who took the bait. MVP clotheslined Kendrick to the mat.
A short time later, Shelton hit his finisher on MVP, but Kendrick ran in and dropkicked Shelton and followed up with The Kendrick. Hardy kicked Zeke through the ropes and then hit the Swanton on Kendrick as he was going for the cover on Shelton. Hardy pinned Kendrick and received a big pop.
Vladimir Kozlov walked to the ring. Hardy ducked his first shot and landed one of his own, but Kozlov got the better of the exchange and left Hardy lying in the ring. “The ruthless Russian has just assaulted the new number one contender,” Ross said to close the show…
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |