Smackdown Recap 07.10.09

Smackdown Recap from Bakersfield, CA:

Smackdown opened with highlights from the end of the Hardy/Punk match at the Bash. Jeff Hardy came to the ring sporting an eye patch when he came out. He cut a short promo about his eye injury being about as realistic as Punk's eye injury.

Jeff Hardy vs. Kane

Late in the match, Hardy escaped Kane's chokeslam attempt, then ran to the corner and hit Whisper in the Wind on Hardy. After a failed pinfall, Jeff hit a Twist of Fate on Kane, then climbed the corner for the Swanton Bomb. Just then CM Punk's music hit and Punk arrived to the top of the ramp. The distraction allowed Kane to walk over and grab Hardy for a chokeslam to win it. CM Punk grinned ear to ear from the ramp before heading backstage.

Winner: Kane wins via pinfall over Jeff Hardy.

Cryme Tyme and WWE Diva Eve Torres did a Word Up segment about the word "Bromance" - a close relationship between two bros. Cryme Tyme discussed examples like Barney and Fred, Siegfried & Roy, and then The Hart Dynasty. Eve asked if Cryme Tyme was a bromance, but they said it was a brotherhood. Just then, Jesse aka Jeezy aka Slim J, came out to announce he was having a party tonight. Eve pretended to be interested then pushed him behind a gate they locked shut. Cryme Tyme and Eve walked of with Jesse yelling for them not to leave him like that.

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John Morrison was backstage with Teddy Long talking karaoke. Morrison reminded Teddy he gets the title winner of CM Punk versus Jeff Hardy from Night of Champions. Teddy told Morrison to stay focused for his match against Dolph Ziggler. Long left the room, and just then Dolph Ziggler came out of a door. Morrison told him it was about time he came out the closet. Morrison left, and then Maria came out of the same room Ziggler had, giggling. Maria slapped Ziggler on the butt and wished him good luck.

John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler

Late in the match, the two wrestlers traded punches with Morrison coming back off the ropes to knock down Ziggler. Morrison stayed in control using a high leaping kick and a running knee when he came off the ropes to pin Ziggler. Ziggler kicked out and got to the corner, then avoided Morrison rushing at him in the corner. Ziggler quickly did a slam move from the corner to try a pin of his own. Morrison kicked out, and Ziggler started punching on Morrison. The two continued to trade offense, with Morrison able to avoid Ziggler in the corner and then hit a missile dropkick off the ropes. Morrison went for a DDT style move on Ziggler, and Ziggler countered it to roll Morrison into a pin. Ziggler grabbed Morrison's tights to secure the winning pinfall.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler wins via pinfall over John Morrison.

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Jim Ross and Todd Grisham introduced a piece of video about R-Truth. R-Truth was dressed up in goofy fake teeth and called himself "Pretty Ricky", telling the camera he was going to talk his way into the arena for Smackdown. Truth as Pretty Rickey kept goofing around outside the arena with fans and security personnel. At one point, Truth tried to hop onto a concession stand to get a T-shirt and the man behind the counter yelled for security to throw him out.

Eve Torres & Melina vs. Michelle McCool & Layla

Smackdown WWE Divas went at it tonight with the Women's champ and former champ on opposing sides. During the match, Eve did a sliding dropkick to knock Layla to the outside. Eve tried to get back on the apron with Layla hitting her down. Eve tried to climb up again and Michelle McCool kicked her in the head. Michelle tagged in to go up against Eve next. Michelle began choking Eve with a figure four headlock. Eve manage to turn it around and stand up to escape, then ran to bulldog Michelle down. Both divas struggled on the mat to tag in their partners. Melina came in with momentum as she took down Layla several times. Melina had control until the ref got distracted, and Layla shoved Melina towards the ropes where Michelle kicked her back. Layla had Melina up in a torture rack with Michelle screaming to break her back. Melina eventually escaped and ran over to punch Michelle on the apron, then dodged Layla as she ran into Michelle. Melina rolled up Layla for the winning pinfall.

After the match, Michelle came in to attack Melina, and the two fought outside. Melina avoided a running knee near the crowd barrier and then clotheslined Michelle into the crowd. Michelle eventually retreated up the ramp.

Winners: Eve Torres & Melina win via pinfall over Layla & Michelle McCool.

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Jeff Hardy arrived to ringside to provided guest commentary on the Punk vs. Khali match. CM Punk came out and delivered a prom aimed at Jeff, discussing how Punk is straight edged and is using a prescribed medication for his eye injury. Punk discussed having no strikes while Jeff has two strikes from the WWE. Punk said he's been to a rehab facility zero times and Jeff Hardy has zero chance of beating him at Night of Champions.

Kane vs. CM Punk

Punk hit a running knee to Khali in the corner, but Khali shoved him away after, then came back to clothesline Punk down hard. Khali gave a huge chop to knock Punk to the mat. Khali signalled for his Punjabi Plunge, and hit it throwing Punk down to the mat. Just then, a huge pyro explosion came from the ramp and Kane's music came on. Kane came walking down the ramp with a steel chair in hand. Kane entered the ring with Khali looking surprised. Ranjin Singh tossed a steel chair in the ring for Khali as well. Both men faced off with chairs in hand. Kane pretended to lower his then smashed it across Khali's arm and shoulder. Khali bent down near the ropes briefly then got angry and retaliated. After punching the chair out of Kane's hands, Khali smashed the chair on Kane causing him to roll out of the ring to leave the scene.

Winner: CM Punks versus Great Khali ruled a No Contest when Kane interfered.

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Cryme Tyme vs. The Hart Dynasty

Natalya accompanied the Hart Dynasty to the ring. The match saw JTG get worked on by the heels. After enduring some punishment, JTG escaped from the heel opponents at one point to tag in big Shad Gaspar. Shad came in to knock DH Smith around and hit a backslam. Shad had a move ready on Smith, but Tyson Kidd rushed into the ring causing Shad to go after him. The distraction allowed Smith to try a roll up pin but JTG rushed in to save. All four wrestlers were in the ring, with Natalya distracting the ref on the side apron. The ref tried to restore order to the match and sent JTG back onto the apron. JTG and the ref were still distracted by Natalya yelling outside, as the heels scored a doubleteam move on Shad called the High-Low. Smith scored the winning pinfall.
Winner: The Hart Dynasty wins via pinfall over Cryme Tyme

Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio
Intercontinental Title match

Rey Mysterio put his gold back on the line againt a spiteful Chris Jericho. Late in the match, Jericho delivered a set of running kicks to Mysterio's gut. Mysterio avoided Jericho's third running kick attempt, and was able to knock Jericho against the ropes. Mysterio hit the quick 619 and then the splash off the ropes for the pinfall victory. From there, Rey started to celebrate his victory, but Edge rushed into the ring. Mysterio avoided his ambush attempt and got out of the ring near bottom of the ramp. Unfortunately for Rey, he kept looking into the ring at Edge/Jericho as Dolph Ziggler rushed down the ramp and hit him down from behind. Ziggler tossed Rey into the ring for Edge and Jericho to Spear and then hit a doubleteam Codebreaker on.

Winner: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall over Chris Jericho to retain the Intercontinental Title.