Rebel With A Cause: WWE SmackDown! Rebound

If anyone didn't have a clue about the tyranny of Vickie Guerrero, they got it in full force tonight right off the bat. It's time for the SmackDown! Rebound. And be warned: We're unleashing all the Animal's Fury tonight.

The show opens in pitch black darkness with the lights coming on to reveal the SmackDown! General Manager in the ring with the contract for Night of Champions. With that, Batista makes his first appearance of the night.

Guerrero starts off the encounter boasting about her fiancee Edge, but then goes on to raise the stakes by saying that in order for Batista to face Edge, he has to compete in one more match...against The Great Khali.

He wastes no time in accepting the challenge, but his confidence gets rattled as the GM goes on to say that if he loses tonight, like The Undertaker, he will be banished from the WWE.

First Bout: John Morrison defeats Finlay

In the opening contest, Finlay made it clear that he and his son Hornswoggle want a piece of the champs for the gold. This was a way to make their case. Finlay starts off the match with a slap, arm wrench, and body slam until Morrison slips out of the ring and takes his leg out from under him.

After Finlay takes him out with an apron check, he throws his son into a spear towards Miz. Back in the ring, Morrison gains control with a flip kick and continues the assault with some kicks to the sternum. Finlay recovers but gets dropped again with a neckbreaker.

Again Finlay recovers with clotheslines and a gut check. After a distraction from Miz, Morrison rolls Finlay up and with a hanful of tights, he picks up the win.

In the back, Edge is boasting about his easy road through Night of Champions en route to his wedding to Vickie. But he is interrupted by CM Punk who reminds him that he is Mr. Money in the Bank and could use it at anytime...say at Edge's wedding perhaps.

Second Bout: Mark Henry defeats Tommy Dreamer

As the match begins, Dreamer tries to get the early advantage, but Henry uses his brute strength to keep the ECW Original down. After a serious headbutt in the corner, Henry gets countered by Dreamer who starts fighting back.

But as he goes for his signature DDT, Henry counters the manuever into the World's Strongest Slam for the win.

In the back, MVP is out for blood and wants to renegotiate his contract. Vickie instead offers him a deal: Take out CM Punk and we'll talk about your contract. Obviously, it was a way to silence both men and focus attention on Edge.

Third Bout: Cherry defeats Maryse

In a match that the GM was watching intently in hopes of finding Natalya's opponent, Cherry started it by pouncing on her rival not once but twice. Cherry continues the assault until a quick kick gives Maryse the advantage.

After getting back into a corner, Cherry recovers and continues the punishment enough to plant the Canadien Diva with the Cherry Bomb DDT for the victory.

Fourth Bout: MVP defeats CM Punk via DQ

Punk has the early advantage, but MVP shows his technical prowess with a headlock which Punk counters with head scissors. The two men dish counter after counter until a spinning heel kick gives Punk the edge once more. Porter starts showing his aggressive side, but Punk counters again with an arm wrench.

But Vickie's assassin starts to take control with elbows to the head and an arm wrench of his own. After escaping the submission, Punk begins to build momentum with clotheslines and submission manuevers, but MVP regains control thanks in large part to the steel post.

Back from break, MVP continues the pressure on Punk's shoulder and ribs. With kicks and stomps, Porter uses another armbar to keep the Extremist grounded. As Porter goes for the 305, Punk nails a clothesline to regain control. After a trifecta of kicks to the dome, Punk drops MVP with a hurracanrana.

After a headbutt, Punk's elbow gets blocked. As MVP goes for the briefcase, he gets nailed with the turnbuckle high knee. But the ref catches Punk with the case and disqualifies Punk, giving the victory to MVP.

Back from break, Chavo and Bam Neely are in the ring. Chavo makes the announcement that he will face Matt Hardy for the United States Championship. With that, Hardy makes his way to the ring to face Chuck Palumbo.

Fifth Bout: Matt Hardy defeats Chuck Palumbo

The match begins with Hardy applying a full nelson, but Palumbo takes control with a hard boot that sends the champ outside. Back in the ring, Palumbo continues the punishment, but a miscue allows Hardy to recover and dish out some revenge of his own.

Hardy hits the side effect after a series of punches, then goes up top to drop the elbow from the top rope. Hardy then hits the Twist of Fate for the win, then starts trash talking with Chavo.

In the back, they're frantically looking for a translator as Vladimir Kozlov is being interviewed by Eva Torres. By the way, does anyone speak Russian?

Sixth Bout: Jesse & Festus defeat Deuce & Domino

Just like always: Bell rings = Festus snaps. Jesse and Deuce start the match, and Jesse grabs the advantage with a Lou Thesz Press. But a quick interference by Domino gives Team Sock Hop control.

After Jesse slips out of the double team, he tags in Festus who goes completely berserk. After a bicycle kick sends Deuce outside, Festus drops Domino with a hard right followed by the Fest-Quake for the win.

After the match, the team from around the tracks decide that it's better to beat the hell out of each other than their opponents. Also as SmackDown! goes to its final break, The Great Khali is making his way to the ring.

Main Event: Batista defeats The Great Khali

As the bell rings, Vickie and Edge make their out to the entranceway as Khali takes the early control. As Batista fights back, Khali uses a boot and a devastating headbutt to send the Animal outside and keep him tamed. Following a series of elbows and kicks in the corner, Batista reverses it and nails some shoulder blocks.

As Batista goes on the top rope (yes, I said top rope), Khali catches him and drops him with the Khali Bomb. But somehow, Batista kicks out, much to the shock of everyone at Fresno State. As Khali goes for the chop, Batista blocks it and comes back with a series of punches.

After ducking a clothesline, the Animal uncoils and nails a splitting Spear to pick up the victory and seal his fate at Night of Champions. The show ends with Batista throwing the "Thumbs Down" towards SmackDown!'s Power Couple.

Now that SmackDown! is over, place your votes for the Pro Wrestling Top 25. The results will be shown on Sunday.