Friday Night Smackdown!
Greensboro, North Carolina
April 25, 2008
results thanks to wwe.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. – With Backlash just 48 hours
away, Edge and his entourage kicked off Friday Night SmackDown with a bold
prediction – the World Heavyweight and ECW Championships would soon be returned
to their rightful owners within the family ranks. But before the titles would be
contested on Sunday, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero upped the ante in
the night’s title match between World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker and
Batista by making it a No Disqualification bout – with the winner to face Edge
at Backlash.
But as the countdown began to finding out who Edge’s Backlash opponent would be,
CM Punk entered the arena with his Money in the Bank briefcase to taunt the
Rated-R Superstar. As the two engaged in a verbal sparring bout, the GM took it
to the next level by setting up a match between her fiancé and Mr. Money in the
Bank for later in the night on SmackDown.
Despite being scheduled for a huge title match just 48 hours later at Backlash,
Edge showed no signs of taking it easy when he faced Punk. After a few near
pinfalls from both men, it was a ringside appearance from Zack Ryder which
provided the distraction the Ultimate Opportunist needed to deliver a
hard-hitting spear and get the win over Punk.
Hot streak
After a botched Reality Check from WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz, Shannon Moore
defeated the Chick Magnet – much to the dismay of Miz’s partner and guest
commentator, John Morrison. The scene was reminiscent of Tuesday night on
ECW when Jimmy Wang Yang defeated John Morrison with The Miz looking on as a
guest commentator. Do “the Redneck & the Reject” have the combo to unlock the
Palace of Wisdom?
Looking sharp
After making an impact the last few weeks on SmackDown, Natalya made her in-ring
debut. The third-generation Diva employed a wicked sharpshooter to get the
submission victory over Cherry – who she will again face in a 12-Diva Tag Team
Match at Backlash. (WATCH) Will Natalya’s winning ways continue?
Score to settle
SmackDown’s Michael Cole welcomed Matt Hardy to the ring to talk about the
heated year-long rivalry between Hardy and United States Champion Montel
Vontavious Porter. But as Hardy let our fans know his injured knee had fully
recuperated and he’s ready to face MVP at Backlash, SmackDown's Franchise Playa
interrupted and made his way to the ring. As the two aired their differences,
Hardy made it clear there would never be a return to the days when they were
friends and tag team partners. Things escalated as MVP viciously kicked Hardy’s
surgically-repaired knee and clobbered him in the head with his title. With
tensions now well past the boiling point, the two will be looking to settle the
score in a title match this Sunday at Backlash.
Start of a streak
Staying undefeated is a superhuman feat in WWE. Since debuting on SmackDown on
April 4, Vladimir Kozlov has done just that by vanquishing all of his opponents.
This week, his fourth and latest victim was Marty Garner, who was put away with
a crushing reverse DDT. Is anyone capable of stopping this Russian superpower?
Backlash bound
With CM Punk taken care of, all that remained for Edge was to learn who he would
face at Backlash – current World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker or Batista. As
The Phenom and The Animal fought it out for the title, it was a surprise
appearance from Shawn Michaels – and Sweet Chin Music – which not only enabled
Undertaker to successfully defend his title, but simultaneously ensure HBK
himself would face rival Batista at Backlash.
Matches
Shannon Moore def. WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz
Natalya def. Cherry
Edge def. CM Punk
Vladimir Kozlov def. Marty Garner
World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker def.
Batista (No Disqualification Match)