Smackdown Preview 07.03.09

WWE's The Bash 2009 Pay-Per-View produced several new title holders during the night for the Smackdown brand. Less than a week after WWE Chairman Vince McMahon put Smackdown GM Teddy Long on probation, Long came up big at The Bash Pay-Per-View. During the event, the Rated-R Superstar Edge complained to Long about not being part of the World Heavyweight Title match with Jeff Hardy and CM Punk. Instead of inserting Edge into that match, he was made part of a different match, as Long coupled him with Chris Jericho and made the Unified Tag Titles match a Triple Threat match. The Colons and Rhodes/Dibiase fought it out with Edge & Jericho seeming to be unable to tag in much. At an opportune moment after Carlito hit Rhodes with a Backstabber, Edge slapped Rhodes on the back to tag in. Carlito missed it and Edge hit the Spear, winning the tag titles for he and Jericho. The duo made an appearance the next night on Raw to let the WWE Universe now that the two had united to do more damage than they were separately. Their first title defense will come on tonight's show, but will these two egotistical and brash superstars be able to continue their winning ways?

Edge and Jericho's first title defense comes against the team of CM Punk and Jeff Hardy, which may have even more trouble coexisting. Punk and Hardy faced off at The Bash over the World Heavyweight Championship. It's no secret that Jeff's been unhappy with Punk and the way in which he cashed in for the World Heavyweight Title at Extreme Rules. However, CM Punk let Jeff and the WWE Universe know that he's not there to make friends when he's wrestling, he's there to win titles. Punk also questioned why the fans would be upset over who he chose to cash in against, because it certainly wasn't that way when he cashed in on Edge a year ago. Despite all that, Jeff Hardy vowed to defeat Punk at The Bash and reclaim the title. During their match, Jeff injured Punk in the eye area, and Punk ended up kicking the referee, getting himself disqualified. That move kept the belt on Punk despite giving Hardy the victory. Jeff took out his frustration by beating up Punk up the ramp until he had to be pulled away. Now with these two superstars having to wrestle as a team for the tag titles, will they be able to get on the same page? Or will this be a textbook win for Edge and Jericho?

Two other titles changed hands to Smackdown stars at The Bash as well. In a "Mask vs. Title" match, Rey Mysterio was able to outsmart Chris Jericho. Jericho managed to rip Mysterio's mask off, thinking he won the match, but Rey came prepared as he was wearing a second mask underneath. Jericho was shocked by this and it allowed Mysterio to ultimately set up the win, regaining the Intercontinental Title. In another title match, it was the interference of Alicia Fox which helped Michelle McCool hit the Faithbreaker on Melina to win the WWE Women's Title. Who will be first to step up and challenge these new title holders? Will Melina go for her rematch on Smackdown? Also, what role will Smackdown's latest acquisitions from the Donald Trump 15 Superstar trade play on the show?

Catch Smackdown tonight at 8PM EST on MyNetworkTV for all the action!