Smackdown Recap 06.26.09

Smackdown Recap from Milwaukee, WI:

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon came out to open Smackdown. Vince had Smackdown GM Teddy Long come to the ring. Vince asked Teddy to inform him and the fans how he's going to entertain them all tonight with Smackdown. Teddy announced tonight's main event tag team match with Chris Jericho and Edge facing Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy. The fans went wild. Vince said it might be good enough for the fans, but it's not good enough for him. Teddy said it won't be a typical match, because it will be a "Rage in the Cage" match with a special guest referee, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. Vince said rather than firing him on the spot tonight, he's putting Teddy on probation just like every fan's boss has done to them at one point or another. Teddy was in shock as Mr. McMahon made the announcement.

R-Truth vs. Shelton Benjamin

Truth came out with his "What's up?" rap and chant prior to the match. Shelton made fun of Truth before getting the match started saying he never got a real education yet Shelton went to college. Shelton said the truth is R-Truth is an underachiever who he's going to remove from WWE and his life. Truth took exception as he started to attack Benjamin from the start. Shelton eventually recovered after knocking Truth to the outside of the ring. After a commercial, Shelton remained in control in the ring for some time as he drove a knee into Truth's back.

Later on, despite Shelton slamming Truth back into a pinfall, R-Truth escaped. After catching Shelton's foot on a kick attempt, Truth made his comeback. Truth eventually hit his finisher the "Lie Detector" to knock Shelton out on the mat for the pinfall victory.

Winner: R-Truth wins via pinfall over Shelton Benjamin.

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A backstage segment was shown featuring Vince McMahon, GM Teddy Long & Rey Mysterio.

John Morrison vs. CM Punk was announced as a match for later during Smackdown.

Michelle McCool & Alicia Fox vs. Melina & Gail Kim

Michelle McCool and Alicia Fox worked on Melina early on, with Michelle choking Melina against the ropes. A-Fox came in to continue the punishment as she kept Melina down in various submission holds. Gail Kim eventually tagged in to go up against Alicia. Gail was able to avoid Alicia in the corner using her boot to Alicia's face, then jumped off the corner ropes for a flying bodypress. Gail continued to stay in control and was about to set up Alicia in a finishing move, but Alicia made a tag to Michelle without Gail seeing it. Michelle rushed in and grabbed Gail from behind to hit her with the Faithbreaker to win it.

Winners: Michelle McCool & Alicia Fox win via pinfall over Gail Kim & Melina.

A backstage segment featuring Vince McMahon & CM Punk was shown.

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Dolph Ziggler versus The Great Khali in a no-disqualification match was announced for The Bash this Sunday.

John Morrison vs. CM Punk

Last week John Morrison fought valiantly but came up short against former World Heavyweight champ Edge. Tonight, Morrison got to tangle with current champ CM Punk in a non-title bout. The match included Punk and Morrison trading momentum, with Morrison flipping onto Punk outside the ring at one point. Back in the ring, Morrison hit a high double kick to take Punk to the mat. CM Punk had John Morrison sruggling in a Sharpshooter late in the match. Morrison managed to grab the bottom rope and break the hold, and eventually countered Punk to roll him into a surprise pinfall.

After an impressive non-title victory by Morrison, Punk offered a handshake. The two men shook, but Punk quickly grabbed Morrison and hoisted him onto his shoulders then hit the GTS to make a statement prior to the Bash.

Winner: John Morrison wins via pinfall over CM Punk.

Josh Matthews interviewed Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho backstage.

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Jim Ross & Todd Grisham ran down this Sunday's PPV matches for "The Bash".

Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio vs. Edge & Chris Jericho
Steel Cage Match

To win the "Rage in a Cage" the team could win by pin, submission or escaping the steel cage. Late in the match, Edge threw Rey into the corner where Jericho was. Rey Mysterio hit an impressive Hurricanrana on Jericho off the corner, followed by a pinfall attempt. Punk counted it but Jericho kicked out before 3. Jericho responded to take control of Rey as he catapulted him face first into the cage wall, then eventually tagged Edge in. Punk warned Edge about choking Mysterio against the ropes. The heels kept Rey away from tagging Hardy in. Jericho sat Mysterio on the corner then climbed up and tried to pull his mask off. Mysterio shoved Jericho off then tried to leap off at him, but Jericho jumped up and kicked him down in the air.

Jericho grabbed Rey's leg to prevent him from the tag, but Rey flipped back to kick Jericho away. Eventually, Jericho made the tag to Edge, but he stopped Rey short from tagging out. Edge put Rey on one shoulder to battering ram his head into the cage wall. Rey stopped Edge from a second one and DDT'd him. Jericho tagged in yet again to start taunting Rey about his mask. At one point, Jericho flung Rey towards the wall, so Rey jumped up and started to make a climb to escape. Jericho jumped up to pull him back down, so Rey jumped off to dropkick Jericho. Finally Rey tagged in Hardy, as Jericho tagged Edge in. Hardy had serious momentum as he threw Edge into the cage walls then did a double groin leg drop.

Punk counted a near pinfall by Hardy on Edge. Hardy avoided a Spear attempt by Edge by leapfrogging Edge, but this made Edge spear Punk down. Jeff hit Whisper in the Wind, but Punk was still reeling from the Spear. Punk counted 2, and Hardy confronted him. Punk said it was only 2 and that he was speared. All 4 men got involved as Punk recovered in the corner. With Rey and Jericho out of the picture Jeff did a face first move to drive Edge to the mat. He turned to face Punk in the corner, and Edge was back up to quickly Spear Jeff down.

Jericho and Edge headed up the ramp after the match. Jeff was down inside the ring in the cage still holding his midsection as Punk grabbed a mic outside the ring. Punk told the fans to give his #1 Contender for Sunday a round of applause as Punk held up his Championship belt.

Winners: Edge & Chris Jericho win via pinfall over Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio.

Vince McMahon and Teddy Long were shown watching Smackdown on a flat screen backstage. Vince told Teddy it was a great match to lead into The Bash, but he expects Teddy to perform as if his job depended on it. Smackdown ended with Punk still holding up his belt and Jeff inside the cage looking out at him.