WWE SmackDown Rebound: Momentum Is Spelled H-A-R-D-Y!

Following a recap of last week’s momentous Fatal Four Way Match from last week, SmackDown goes live with SmackDown’s GM, Teddy Long. Long then introduces Rey Mysterio to the sellout crowd. Mysterio shows his respect to the crowd in Pittsburgh, and he vows to once again be the World Heavyweight Champion. But until, he plans to defend the Intercontinental Championship against whoever wants to step up.

With that, Chris Jericho comes out and interrupts Mysterio‘s homecoming.

Jericho picks up where he left off by insulting the crowd, the SD superstars and above all else, his new boss, GM Teddy Long. He then demands an apology and an explanation from Long on why he was disqualified last week. Mysterio chimes in and stops the tongue lashing that Jericho is dishing out. After shoving him to the ground, Mysterio walks away…and Jeff Hardy steps in in his place as Jericho tries to save face.

Hardy grabs Mysterio’s mic and tells him that if he wants a match, he has to beat him to get it. He then calls Jericho the biggest hypocrite and liar in his life. He then gives him an offer he can’t refuse: Beat him tonight, and you’re in the World Championship match at Judgment Day. With that, Hardy slaps the taste out of Jericho’s mouth. Long then makes it official: If Jericho beats Hardy tonight, he’s in the main event.

R-Truth vs. Mike Knox

Despite being tenacious, R-Truth gets dropped quickly by Mike Knox. Truth recovers and hits the Scissors Kick, but Knox kicks out. Truth then delivers a missile dropkick. But Knox shakes it off and nails the Big Boot before delivering the Knox Landing to get the pinfall victory in his debut on SmackDown.

Michelle McCool vs. Gail Kim

After an arm drag, Michelle shows off with a few push ups for Steeler Nation. But Gail Kim bounces back with a leg takedown and a standing dropkick. McCool jumps out of the ring and uses Alicia as a human shield. Back in the ring, Michelle slingshots Kim off the ropes before mounting her and pounding on her. She then locks in a modified head scissors submission. Kim fights back with a set of clotheslines followed by a spear.

Kim then drops the Over Castle but is only able to get a two count, and now she gets dropped with the Fatebreaker as Michelle gets the victory over her newest foe.

In the back, Jeff Hardy makes it clear that Jericho is nothing more than a distraction, and he is completely focused on becoming the next World Heavyweight Champion. In Teddy’s office, Ricky Ortiz and Maria are shooting around wardrobe ideas when Edge comes in demanding that Jericho not get a shot at Judgment Day. His reward: a rematch with CM Punk tonight…and Punk’s bringing the briefcase with him.

John Morrison vs. Charlie Haas

Haas shows off his wrestling prowess with a set of takeovers and a huge headlock. Morrison starts to fight back with a shoulder back toss before jawing with Benjamin on the outside. But Haas fights back with a huge shot to the jaw followed by a tilt-the-world slam. He then locks in a submission. Both men get to their feet, with Morrison getting control. Morrison then lands the Corkscrew Moonsault to get the victory over Benjamin’s partner. Both men lock eyes on each other after the bell.

As the two continue jawing each other, CM Punk heads to the ring for his match with World Champion Edge.

Following a brief look at Punk’s encounter with Umaga, Pittsburgh becomes Punkburgh.

CM Punk vs. Edge

Punk gets the upper hand when he tosses Edge to the outside, and he follows it up with a suicide dive to the outside. But Edge ducks a springboard clothesline with a big boot to the mouth. Edge then locks in a modified Full Nelson, but Punk gets out of it and goes for the GTS. Edge gets out of the attempt and locks in yet another submission. Punk then uses his knees to try to get control and manages to get out of the submission.

Both men think alike as they collide in mid air. Both men get to their feet with Punk getting control with a spinning heel kick. He then delivers the Springboard Clothesline and counters an Electric Chair Drop.

He then battles out of the Edge-O-Matic and hits the knee in the corner. Edge goes for the Spear, and Punk ducks out of the way. Edge begins to walk away and tosses the match to Punk. Punk continues to call him out, but someone else has other plans. Umaga returns again and delivers a super kick to Mr. Money in the Bank. After dropping him with a Trailor Hitch, Umaga drives the Samoan Spike to the throat of Punk.

Intermission: Divas Arm Wrestling Contest with Cryme Tyme

Layla vs. Eve

After the ladies are given the rules by JTG, Shad turns into the ref. Both ladies look evenly matched, until Layla feigns an arm injury to break the first grapple. After Shad starts the second grapple, Layla looks to have the win, but Eve shows her toughness, reverses the possible loss and takes the victory from Layla. After the bout, Layla comes in between the tag team and drops Layla with a neck breaker.

In the back, Dolph Ziggler says more than his usual introduction to Jimmy Wang Yang and Festus.

Dolph Ziggler vs. The Great Khali

After Ziggler challenges anyone in the back to face him, The Punjabi Playboy steps up to the plate. After coming into the ring, Ziggler tries to beg, borrow and deal his way out of facing Khali. But Khali isn’t hearing it and tells the ref to ring the bell. Ziggler tries to charge off the ropes, but gets dropped with a clothesline for his troubles. Khali gets caught on the ropes, and Ziggler takes advantage of the handicap. After getting DQ’d for using a chair, Ziggler shows that mean streak by continuing to use the chair.

Khali gets up and looks flat out pissed off at the cocky Ziggler as Grisham and JR talk about the main event.

After the SmackDown crew gives the current rundown of Judgment Day, Edge joins the broadcast crew for the main event involving Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho.

Main Event (If Jericho wins, the WHC Match @ Judgment Day becomes a Triple Threat Match)

Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho shows his aggressive side with a series of shots, but Hardy fights back with some punches of his own. Hardy blocks a dropkick and delivers a leg drop for only a two count. Hardy goes up top for the Swanton, but Jericho decides to leave the ring…only to have Rey Mysterio come down to keep him from leaving the ring. The fight goes back to the outside with Hardy missing the Poetry in Motion on the barricade.

Hardy misses the ten count and kicks out of two straight pinfall attempts. Back in the ring, Jericho has a Crossface applied, but Hardy fights back with a modified clothesline takedown. Hardy goes for the Whisper, but he gets cut off by Jericho. After taking down Jericho, Hardy finally nails the Whisper on his opponent.

But much to the chagrin of both Edge and Hardy, Jericho kicks out of the pinfall. Jericho blocks the donkey kick and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Hardy manages to will his way to the ropes to break out of the hold. Hardy recovers enough to land the Facebuster Suplex, but he misses the Swanton Bomb.

Jericho bounces back and hits the Lionsault, but Hardy is able to kick out of the pinfall attempt. A frustrated Jericho takes the punches to his opponent, but Hardy fights back and goes for the Twist of Fate. Jericho goes for the Walls, but gets caught in an inside cradle, only to counter the cradle. Both men stagger to their feet with Hardy sending both men to the outside…right in front of Edge and Mysterio.

Jericho then tosses Hardy over the announce table and into the World Heavyweight Champion. After tossing him back into the ring, he is only able to get a two-count. Edge jumps onto the ring apron to confront Jericho.

As Jericho uses the ropes, Mysterio points it out to the ref. As Jericho fights with the official and Mysterio, Hardy nails the Twist of Fate and the Swanton Bomb to get the pinfall victory and keep Jericho out of the main event at Judgment Day. After the bell, Hardy starts walking towards the World Heavyweight Champion. As Hardy turns around and salutes the crowd, Mysterio nails the West Coast Pop onto an unsuspecting Jericho.

If you’re not figuring it out, I think we got ourselves another match for Judgment Day. Rey salutes and celebrates with the crowd as Jericho looks on and SmackDown goes off the air.