Nine days before Survivor Series, the 534th edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. For the first time ever, World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker would go one-on-one with Unified WWE Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho in a non-title match. Also, John Morrison would defend the Intercontinental Title against the man who defeated him via count-out two weeks ago to earn the opportunity, Dolph Ziggler.
Quick Match Results
- CM Punk def. R-Truth by pin by sitting down on a sunset flip attempt and grabbing the middle rope.
- Natalya (with Michelle McCool & Layla) def. Mickie James by submission to the Sharpshooter.
- Finlay & Drew McIntyre fight to a Double Disqualification when the referee loses control of the match.
- Intercontinental Championship: John Morrison (c) & Dolph Ziggler fight to a Double Count-Out; John Morrison (c) retains.
- Beth Phoenix def. Lisa Taylor (jobber) by pin following the Glam Slam.
- First Time Ever: Non-Title: The Undertaker def. Chris Jericho by submission to Hell’s Gate.
Match Quality
- The Undertaker Vs. Chris Jericho
- CM Punk Vs. R-Truth
- Intercontinental Championship
- Finlay Vs. Drew McIntyre
- Natalya Vs. Mickie James
- Beth Phoenix Vs. Lisa Taylor
Detailed Results
One week after losing to R-Truth following a fast count by referee Scott Armstrong, CM Punk opened the show and revealed that he has filed a “formal complaint” to the WWE Board of Directors regarding Scott Armstrong’s actions last week! “The Straightedge Superstar” took time to insult the UK fans before facing R-Truth in a rematch from last week, but with a different referee this time around.
Contrary to what occurred last week, the referee’s decision favored CM Punk as “The Straightedge Superstar” blocked an attempted sunset flip by R-Truth and grabbed the middle rope for the unfair, but unnoticed, advantage that won him the match! What will the WWE Board of Directors decide when it comes to CM Punk’s “formal complaint” against Scott Armstrong? How will R-Truth respond to CM Punk’s use of the middle rope to win the match?
Backstage, Mickie James is heading to the ring for a match when Layla, who “suggests” that Mickie actually leave SmackDown, stops her! Mickie refused, but Layla stated that Mickie James would regret her decision. While this conversation was taking place, Women’s Champion Michelle McCool snuck into the locker room of Mickie James!
After her confrontation with Mickie James, Mickie went one-on-one with Natalya. In the middle of the match, Michelle McCool & Layla made their way to ringside holding the street clothes of Mickie James! As Mickie tried to stay focused on the match, McCool took scissors to the outfit of Mickie, cutting and ripping the clothing! This completely distracted Mickie and Natalya took advantage by locking in the legendary Sharpshooter and forcing Mickie to tap out! How will Mickie James respond to the actions of the Women’s Champion and Layla? What effect will it have in the 5-on-5 Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match where Team Mickie faces Team Michelle?
“The Fighting Irishman” Finlay was in action on SmackDown as he squared off with the man who viciously assaulted him two weeks ago, Drew McIntyre! The intensity and personal animosity between these two tough Superstars led to an old-fashioned brawl that forced the referee to call for the bell after losing complete control of the contest! Though the match was over, the fight between the two combatants were not as Finlay grabbed his trusty shillelagh to level McIntyre with, but McIntyre countered with a big boot! The angry Scotsman then grabbed the shillelagh and blasted Finlay with it! McIntyre then exited the ring, but quickly came back to deliver a second shot to the mid-section of a helpless Finlay! After Drew McIntyre finally made his exit, referees checked on Finlay and helped “The Fighting Irishman” to his feet. What is the condition of Finlay? Will Finlay seek, or be able to seek, revenge for the heinous attack?
Nine days before they would go one-on-one at Survivor Series, best friends turned personal rivals, Batista & Rey Mysterio, would make the match “official” by having a contract signing in the ring. Once both men were seated in the ring, Batista was the first to sign the contract, followed by Mysterio. Even though the contract was signed and their match at Survivor Series was official, Batista presented another document to Rey Mysterio! Batista explained that the document, if signed by Rey Mysterio, would prevent Rey Mysterio, the WWE, or anyone else from suing Batista for what “The Animal” will do to Mysterio at Survivor Series! Rey refused to sign the waiver, which angered Batista, who called his former friend a “coward” and threatens to “embarrass” Mysterio right then at the contract signing! Rey reluctantly signs the document before saying that Batista will be the one who gets “embarrassed” at Survivor Series. With that bold statement, Rey flips the table that was placed in the ring right on top of “The Animal”! Rey then exits the ring as Batista goes ballistic; destroying chairs and anything else in his path! Will Rey really “embarrass” Batista at Survivor Series? What does Mysterio have planned for “The Animal”?
The Intercontinental Championship was on the line as John Morrison defended the title against Dolph Ziggler. The title match came to a screeching halt after both men fell from the top rope onto the floor! The fall prevented either man from being able to answer the referee’s ten-count and thus both men were counted out! Though he did not look like it, John Morrison retained the Intercontinental Championship.
A little later in the night, it was announced that, on next week’s SmackDown, John Morrison will once again defend the Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler; only this time, it will be a two-out-of-three falls match! Which man will be the first to earn two falls and walk out the Intercontinental Champion?
In another dominant victory by “The Glamazon”, Beth Phoenix soundly defeated England’s own Lisa Taylor in Divas action.
Then it was time for the main event as, for the first time ever, The Undertaker would go one-on-one with Chris Jericho. Despite never facing “The Deadman” in a one-on-one match in his ten year WWE career, Jericho looked to have the upper hand on The Undertaker for a good portion of the match. This was until Undertaker was able to counter an attempt at the Walls of Jericho into the feared Hell’s Gate submission maneuver! Jericho quickly tapped out, which earned the World Heavyweight Champion the non-title victory!
After the match, some massive trouble was on the way for The Undertaker as Big Show made his way to the ring! Despite their differences in the past and the ones they are bound to have at Survivor Series, Jeri-Show double-teamed “The Phenom” and locked the champion into the dreaded combination of the Walls of Jericho and the Colossal Clutch! Fortunately for The Undertaker, his brother, Kane, came out and made the save! Big Show slowly backed out of the ring; leaving Chris Jericho alone to deal with Kane, who blasted Jericho with a big boot! As Kane & The Undertaker stand tall in the ring and Jeri-Show retreats, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon is shown backstage making a call to SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long and the two agree on a huge match for next week’s SmackDown. Just two days before the Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series, The Undertaker would reunite with his brother Kane to face Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho & Big Show! Will The Brothers of Destruction prevail or will Jeri-Show find a way to defeat the brotherly tandem?