The show opened with a Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels video... Todd Grisham and Matt Striker introduced the show and handled the call for the first match...
1. Matt Hardy defeated Mark Henry (w/Tony Atlas) and Finlay (w/Hornswoggle) and Chavo Guerrero (w/Bam Neely) and The Miz in a Championship Scramble to win the ECW Title in 20:00. Matt Hardy and The Miz opened the match. The announcers noted that Henry would retain the title if there were no pinfalls or submissions before the 20-minute time limit.
Good action while Hardy and Miz were in together. Miz hit a great neckbreaker and then showed frustration when Hardy's momentum carried him to ringside and he couldn't cover him. Chavo was out next and he immediately hit a frogsplash on Hardy to become the interim champion at 5:30.
At 9:00, Hardy fought off both heels and hit the Side Effect on Chavo for the pin. One of the announcers mentioned that fans have "waited so long" for the moment. Henry entered at the 10:00 mark and dominated the offense. Henry pinned Chavo after a powerslam at 12:00.
Finlay entered the match at the 15:00 mark and the 5:00 countdown clock started for the end of the match. Hornswoggle ran in and distracted Henry and the referee. Finlay hit Henry with the shillelagh. Hardy and Finlay dumped Henry over the top rope. Finlay hit the Celtic Cross on Hardy and pinned him. A short time later, Hardy used the Twist of Fate on Miz for the win.
Miz came up bleeding from the eye. Henry recovered and desperately tried to score pinfalls during the last two minutes of the match. However, the clock expired and Hardy walked away with the strap.
Powell's POV: Good match. The challenge for the agents will be making all three matches unique. Good start, though.
A commercial noted that WrestleMania 25 tickets go on sale Sept. 20... The announcers recapped Matt's title win... Backstage, Jeff congratulated Matt, who said it's the best night of his life. He said the only thing that could make it better is if Jeff also won gold...
Split-screen shots aired of Triple H and C.M. Punk. Jim Ross and Tazz checked in and discussed what must be going through their minds after seeing Henry lose his title without being pinned...
2. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes beat Cryme Tyme for the World Tag Titles in 11:35. Micahel Cole and Jerry Lawler on commentary. Solid tag action with the momentum building nicely. In the end, JTG had Rhodes pinned in a small package when DiBiase reversed it so Cody got the win. After the match, an unnamed man entered the ring and attacked Cryme Tyme, then hugged Rhodes and DiBiase.
Powell's POV: The mystery man is Afa Jr. from WWE developmental. He's another second generation wrestler, so it looks like WWE is moving forward with the second generation faction.
Backstage, a trainer taped up Shawn Michaels's injured arm and warned him that he could rip the tendon off the bone... An HBK vs. Jericho video aired...
3. Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels in an unsanctioned match. Jericho entered the ring and the announcers laid out while he scowled and soaked up the boos from the live crowd. HBK came out wearing a tank top, jeans, and boots. His left arm was heavily taped. HBK charged at Jericho. He took his boot off and struck Jericho with it early.
Jericho set up a table at ringside, which led to some great teases. Jericho tried to powerbomb HBK through the table, but HBK punched him in the head and Jericho fell backward and dropped HBK face first on the ring apron. Later, Jericho teased suplexing HBK off the ring apron through the table, but HBK couldn't do it.
At 9:00, Michaels set up for Sweet Chin Music. He teased it and then stopped when he could have hit the move. He looked at Jericho and shook his own head no. The announcers explained that he hadn't dished out enough punishment.
At 13:00, Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho. Michaels reached the ropes, but Jericho wouldn't break the hold. HBK reached underneath the ring and grabbed a fire extinguisher and then sprayed it at Jericho to break the hold. Michaels took control of the match and beat up Jericho at ringside.
Lance Cade ran out to help Jericho, but HBK cut him off with a couple of punches in the aisle. Cade ran at Michaels again and punched his injured arm. Cade clotheslined HBK. Jericho wrapped HBK's bad arm around the ring post and Cade ran at him and kneed his wounded wing.
Cade entered the ring and held HBK from behind while Jericho continued to attack him. Cade held Michaels's arm down and then Jericho struck it with a chair a couple times. Cade wrapped HBK's arm in a chair while Jericho climbed the ropes. HBK recovered and knocked Cade into Jericho, who fell off the second rope and through the table at ringside.
HBK grabbed a chair and headed to ringside with it. Michaels swung the chair with one arm and slammed it on Jericho twice. Jericho cried out in agony both times. HBK cleared the announcers' table and placed Cade on top of it. HBK climbed to the top rope and then stopped. He headed back to ringside and placed Jericho on top of Cade on the table. HBK climbed to the top rope and elbow dropped both men through the table.
HBK stood up and Lawler yelled: 'He's up! He's up!" HBK dragged Jericho, who was bleeding from the nose, back inside the ring. Michaels took off his belt and whipped Jericho with it repeatedly. Michaels got down on his knees, grabbed Jericho's arm and said, "An eye for an eye."
HBK locked Jericho in the STFU and punched him in the eye repeatedly. He released the hold and went back to punching Jericho's eye. The referee called for the bell, presumably because Jericho couldn't defend himself. After the match, Michaels backed off and then dove at Jericho and punched him repeatedly.
The referee tried to talk HBK into stopping. HBK stopped briefly and then hit Sweet Chin Music on the referee. A big "HBK" chant broke out as three other referees ran out. HBK continued to glare at the fallen Jericho.
Backstage, DiBiase, Rhodes, and the mystery man celebrated inside a locker room. Randy Orton entered the room. The tag champs introduced the mystery man as "Manu" and acknowledged that he is the son of former WWE star Afa. Orton said the champs were lucky and added that he was not impressed...
At ringside, Jim Ross and Tazz hyped the Motorhead theme song they used this month...
4. Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. The Brian Kendrick (w/Ezekiel) in a Championship Scramble for the WWE Title. The Brian Kendrick was in next and he debuted a new jacket. Ross noted that it was Kendrick's first WWE Title match.
Kendrick attacked Hardy with some good kicks for a couple minutes, but Hardy came back and scored the pin at 7:20 to become the interim champion. At 9:00, Benjamin hit Paydirt on Hardy, but Kendrick broke up the pin and followed up with The Kendrick for the win. "The Brian Kendrick is The current WWE Champion," Ross exclaimed.
MVP was out next. MVP took control and he went for the Drive-by kick on Shelton, but Kendrick cut him off with a great kick and then danced. Awesome. Kendrick was the interim champion when Hunter entered the match and the five-minute countdown clock started. One minute later, Hunter Pedigree'd Kendrick and scored the pin.
With three minutes remaining, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on MVP and got the pin. One minute later, Hunter hit the Pedigree on Kendrick and pinned him. Hardy came off the top with a Swanton and pinned Kendrick moments later. Hunter kicked Hardy and went for the Pedigree, but Hardy backdropped him to ringside and then dove onto him.
Hunter remained at ringside while the other guys brawled and went for covers. With 15 seconds to go, Hunter entered the ring, Pedigree'd MVP, and pinned him. Hardy also went for a cover on Benjamin with two seconds to go, but the clock expired just after Hunter scored the pin.
After the match, Hardy approached Hunter and applauded him. Hunter signified that Hardy was one-second away...
A Mr. Perfect DVD commercial aired...
Backstage, Shawn Michaels talked about going home to be with his wife. He said he's content. "Am I satisfied? Do I feel a sense of closure? No, no. If I had my choice, I would do what I did to Chris Jericho tonight every night for the rest of my life. He awoke something inside of me that I don't know if I can control and I don't know if I want to. And Chris Jericho, the worst is definitely yet to come."
Backstage, C.M. Punk's promo was interrupted by Randy Orton. Punk noted that Orton wasn't wearing his sling. DiBiase, Rhodes, and Manu attacked Punk from behind. Kofi ran onto the scene and tried to help, but the heels outnumbered him. Orton punt kicked Punk. "Now that's impressive," Orton said...
5. Michelle McCool pinned Maryse to retain the WWE Divas Title in 5:40. Early in the match, Tazz noted that Maryse likes to refer to herself as the sexiest of the sexiest. Ross asked Tazz if he tried to use that monicker earlier in his own career. Funny. At 4:00, McCool went for the heel hook, but Maryse reached the ropes.
Powell's POV: This was more entertaining than I expected it to be. Granted, a lot of that was because there were some stiff shots and missed moves, but both women tried hard and they were definitely aggressive. The live crowd grew tired of the match quickly and there was no reaction when McCool won.
77 percent of the WWE Mobile voters felt Vickie Guerrero should have given Big Show a shot in the WWE Scramble match. Ross said he was surprised by the landslide, then said he wasn't surprised by it.
Powell's POV: I'm guessing Vince McMahon didn't want Ross to be surprised by it and let him know that through the headsets.
Mike Adamle came out and said it looked like C.M. Punk would not be able to wrestle in the main event. He said they would find a suitable replacement if Punk were unable to wrestle and there would be a WWE Championship match either way...
Big Show walked to the ring for a promo. He recommended himself as a potential replacement for the Raw Championship Scramble. He said he's tired of the way Vickie Guerrero runs Smackdown and complained about her "oversight." He asked the fans if they'd vote for him to be in the match. They cheered. He said that meant a lot to him.
Vickie Guerrero walked to the ring wearing a hideous outfit. She entered the ring and chastised Show. She said he would have to deal with the "circumstances" (she must have meant consequences." She told him to get out of her ring. The Druids music played and they brought a casket to ringside. Show laughed and clapped while standing next to Vickie, which kind of killed the mood the Druids and the music were supposed to be setting.
Undertaker appeared on the big screen. He said the only question was whether Vickie would voluntarily go with him. She tried to get away, but Big Show held her arm and laughed. Taker made his full entrance. Once at ringside, Taker opened the casket and Show forced her to look inside.
Taker walked toward Vickie, who was still being held by Show. He grabbed her by the throat and then Show released her. Show punched Taker. Show dominated Taker as the brawl spilled to ringside. Taker got a couple punches in, but Show picked him up and rammed his back into the ring post.
Show picked up Taker and dropped him headfirst onto the casket. Back inside the ring, Show continued his assault on Taker. He knelt down and picked up Taker and held him in place while Vickie slapped him and spat in his face. Show and Vickie left the ring together...
Another WrestleMania 25 commercial aired... Highlights aired from Raw of the Randy Orton and C.M. Punk confrontations, followed by the attack from earlier tonight... Backstage, William Regal was wearing his wrestling gear and he tried to talk Mike Adamle into letting him wrestle. Adamle said there is still a chance that Punk will wrestle...
6. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio vs. JBL vs. Kane vs. ??? in a Championship Scramble for the World Hvt. Championship. They ran through the rules again. Batista and JBL started the match. Five dull minutes later, Kane checked in while JBL sold a knee injury on the floor. At 7:30, Kane chokeslammed JBL and pinned him. There was zero crowd reaction for the pinfall. Ouch.
The fans counted down with the time clock for the next entrant, which, not so surprisingly, turned out to be Rey Mysterio. He came out wearing an odd mohawk mask. At 10:00, Rey and Batista worked together and Rey hit a splash off Batistas shoulders. Moments later, Mysterio teased a similar move, but rolled up Batista for a nearfall.
At 12:00 (by my clock), WWEs clock counted down for the final entrant. Chris Jericho came out with a bloody nose and welts all over his back. Very nice surprise. Mysterio and Batista continued to take shots at one another in between brawling with the heels. With two minutes left, Jericho was still at ringside selling his injuries.
With 30 seconds left, Batista speared Kane and then hit the spinebuster for the pin. Mysterio springboarded off the top rope toward Batista, who caught him and turned it into a powerbomb. Meanwhile, Jericho snuck in and pinned Kane, who was still out from the Batista pinfall. Time expired about five seconds later and Jericho won the World Hvt. Title
Update on the futures of Christian Cage/Kevin Nash
Jeff Jarrett was not in favor of signing Sting last year since he didn't work house shows or international events. The decision to resign him is solely upon Dixie Carter. She views Sting as a true superstar who helps establish new business deals. Kurt Angle was viewed the same but now is being questioned since he hasn't increased ratings or PPV buyrates, and is known for being stubborn with new ideas from the creative team. The feeling is that Sting will be the ultimate decider on if he remains with the company for another year.
