Event: WWE Judgment Day Pay-Per-View
Airdate: Sunday, May 18th, 2008 (Live On PPV)
Location: The Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
Results by Richard Gray of WrestlingNewsWorld.com
Dark Match Result:
Prior to tonight’s Judgment Day pay-per-view, Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes defeated Santino Marella & Carlito to retain the WWE World Tag Team Titles in a dark match. Thanks to our good friend Derek Severt for calling in the match result.
Opening Segment:
We are live from the Quest Center in Omaha, Nebraska! The pyros explode and the official theme song of Judgment Day plays throughout the arena. Jim Ross gives us the official welcome and lets us know that four championships will be decided. JR hands it over to Jerry Lawler and JBL’s music plays on the loudspeakers.
JBL vs. John Cena
John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield is out first. His limousine pulls out to ringside and he gets out with his trademark cowboy hat and towel around his neck. Lots of heat on JBL as usual. We cut to Lawler and Ross who discuss the forthcoming bout. John Cena’s music hits as he receives a huge pop from the live crowd. Cena is wearing his Nintendo inspired ‘You Can’t See Me’ t-shirt. He gives his salute and makes his way to ringside. Raw referee Marty Elias is the official for the match. He calls for the bell as Cena and Bradshaw lockup. Loud Cena chants throughout as Cena pushes JBL in a counter. Elias calls for a break. A stare down endures. Cena applies a headlock on JBL. Bradshaw counters by pushing Cena into the ropes, the referee calls for the break. JBL applies a side headlock of his own. He gets Cena on one knee. JBL goes off the ropes, Cena bends over but gets an elbow. Cena counters with a drop toe hold and goes for a submission maneuver. Rope break as JBL goes to the outside and pulls Cena down from the apron. JBL throws Cena through the turnbuckles into the steel ring post.
Bradshaw gets out of the ring and works over Cena who is still in the ring. JBL gets back in to work on the left arm of Cena. JBL uses right hands to his advantage. JBL takes Cena down to the mat with authority. JBL locks a submission maneuver on the left arm of John Cena on the mat. The crowd cheers Cena back to his feet. He tries to break the hold. JBL kicks him in the midsection. Bradshaw brings him back to the mat and puts Cena’s left arm in a mat submission hold. Marty Elias checks for submission. Cena reverses the hold on JBL and gets an early two count. Cena uses brute force to get the break. Cena tries to regroup but is kicked in the head by Bradshaw. JBL gets him to his feet and gives him some right hands. He follows with boots. Bradshaw gets the first near fall. Another right hand from JBL in the corner onto Cena. John Cena starts to counter with stiff right hands. Cena goes upstairs and down on Bradshaw. Cena uses his right arm and left shoulder to finally take Bradshaw down to the mat. Cena is selling his left arm but he goes to the top rope. He misses on a huge leg drop on JBL on the mat.
Cena is dazed as JBL regroups to his feet. JBL kicks Cena in the midsection. He works over the former WWE Champion. JBL works on Cena who is basically sitting on the apron. JBL tries to get a suplex on Cena, Cena blocks. Cena goes for a suplex off the apron onto JBL, JBL counters. Eventually JBL breaks it and takes Cena down on the mat. JBL is in the ring waiting on Cena or setting him up. JBL knocks Cena to the outside. Marty Elias starts the count out and Bradshaw works over Cena on the outside. Bradshaw roles him back in the ring. Bradshaw gets a two count, he follows with two stiff kicks. Another near fall for JBL. JBL applies a bear hug on Cena in the middle of the ring. Both men are on their feet. Elias checks Cena for submission. Again, Cena is selling his left arm. JBL brings Cena to the mat with the bear hug still applied. Elias checks again for submission. Big shot from JBL onto Cena with his elbow, then another right on the spine of Cena. JBL goes from a bear hug to a body scissors submission hold on Cena in the ring. Referee Marty Elias checks for submission again. Cena tries to counter but JBL violently slaps Cena in his ‘injured’ left shoulder.
The crowd tries to cheer Cena back to life. He is able to get to his feet with the body scissors by JBL applied. JBL locks in a full nelson, bringing Cena back down to the mat. Referee Elias checks Cena. Cena is able to use strength and power to break the full nelson, he went for the FU but he couldn’t lock it. JBL sends him to the mat and connects another stiff boot to Cena’s face. JBL locks the body scissor submission back on Cena on the mat. Marty Elias checks Cena once again. Cena is able to break the hold on the mat again as he uses his strength to pick JBL up. He connects what looks to be a half of a powerbomb (I guess that’s what you can call it?). The referee starts the double countout. JBL to his feet first, Cena follows. There is an exchange of right hands. Cena goes for a splash on JBL in the corner, but nobody is home. JBL delivers a knockout kick to Cena. He follows with four elbows to Cean on the mat. JBL taunts Cena who is laying down on the mat. JBL sets Cena up in the center and gives him a clothesline from hell. Cena is down on the mat, JBL above him, taunting. JBL stomps away on the former WWE Champion. JBL goes to whip Cena into the ropes but Cena hits the FU out of nowhere and gets the three count.
Winner – John Cena
John Morrison & The Miz vs. CM Punk & Kane
The upcoming match is for the WWE Tag Team Championships with The Miz and John Morrison defending against ECW Champion Kane and MITB winner CM Punk. Morrison is out first followed by The Miz. CM Punk comes out as the first of the two challengers. ECW Champion Kane is the last participant to ringside. Tony Chimmel does the formal introductions inside the ring since this match is for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Scott Armstrong is the referee, he calls for the bell. CM Punk and The Miz starts things out. Punk hits a suplex on The Miz, lots of fast paced action to start things out. Punk tags in Kane. They double team The Miz. Kane lifts The Miz on his back and sends him to the mat. He whips Miz into the turnbuckles. Miz counters, backs Kane into the corner and tags in John Morrison. Morrison goes to work on Kane but is whipped off the ropes and into a powerslam. Kane gets a quick cover and a tag to Punk. Kane hits a backbreaker on Morrison as Punk jumps in to take on one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions. Punk locks a submission hold on Morrison in the ropes. After the hold is broke, Punk gets a quick two count on Morrison with his feet up.
Morrison is able to counter and get the tag to The Miz. Miz applies a submission hold on Punk in the middle of the ring on the mat. The crowd cheers Punk back to his feet. Miz backs him down but Punk connects a big kick. Punk tags in Kane. Kane hits a huge back body drop on The Miz. Kane goes off the top rope onto Miz. Scoop slam attempt by Kane but Morrison is able to tag himself in. Morrison hits a neck breaker on Kane and gets on top of him. He connects with several right hands. Morrison makes another tag. Quick tag back to Morrison back to The Miz. They are using team work to make this look as believable as they can with Kane. Miz uses several right hands to wear down the Big Red Machine. Kane finally lands a stomp on Miz, both end up getting tags. Punk hits a nice drop kick then a spinning heel kick. Punk gets a powerslam on Morrison and a two count. Punk mounts some more offense with his kicks followed by a two count. Punk goes over the top ropes onto The Miz. He nails a cross-body on Morrison for another two count. Punk picks Morrison up for GTS, Miz gets in the ring. Punk sends him to the outside. Morrison tries to capitalize but Punk goes for GTS again. The Miz trips him. Kane choke slams The Miz on the outside. Punk looks on from the outside, he turns around to eat Morrison’s finisher as he is able to get the three count.
Winners – John Morrison & The Miz to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships
Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
They show a video package detailing this bizarre program. Lilian announces the match is set for one fall but does not indicate that this is for the Intercontinental Championship which is something that was never really clarified by WWE. Jericho is out first. The bell rings and Michaels and Jericho stare each other down. Jack Doan is your referee. Jericho goes right after the leg of Shawn Michaels but HBK does not allow him to get the opening control. Back to a lockup. Michaels comes out of the lockup with a side headlock on Jericho. He takes Jericho down to the mat with the submission maneuver. Loud chants for Michaels. Jericho gets back to his feet with the side headlock still applied. Jericho counters out but Michaels flips him over for a cover. Jericho gets a cover, another cover from HBK. A few more similar exchanges. Very good back and forth fast paced action. Michaels applies the Figure Four leglock early. Jack Doan checks for submission. JR keeps saying that you can never predict what Shawn Michaels is going to do. JR seems like he is trying to put HBK over as a heel or at least that’s how I am interrupting it.
Michaels slaps Jericho. Jericho flies off the handle as they finally lock back up. Michaels reapplies a side headlock. Jericho counters out with right hands to the face of Michaels. Jericho whips Michaels into the ropes. Michaels counters with a hold on Jericho’s arm. Arm bar takeover by Michaels onto Jericho followed by an arm breaker. Michaels continues to work on the shoulder of Chris Jericho. Jericho whips Michaels so hard into the ropes it hangs him upside down in the corner. Jericho follows with right hands. Jericho sets Michaels up on the top turnbuckle. HBK hits an elbow on Jericho, sending him down to the mat. Jericho counters, sending HBK to a sit down position on the top turnbuckle. Jericho looks for a suplex but HBK battles out, sending Jericho to the mat. HBK off the top with an elbow drop, Jericho gets his knees up to block it. HBK sells the block as Jericho gets up slowly. Jericho works over Michaels. Jericho continues his assault by working on the ribs on Shawn Michaels. Suplex from Jericho onto Michaels. Jericho kicks Michaels in the midsection and locks in an arm bar submission on Michaels in the middle of the ring.
Jericho wrenches back on the abdominal stretch which is now applied on Michaels. Michaels tries to counter but Jericho counters and gets a two count on HBK. Jericho hits HBK with a right hand in the corner. Jericho whips HBK hard into the turnbuckles. Finally HBK is able to mount some offense by using Jericho’s own momentum against him. HBK hits some chops but Jericho counters and applies the Walls of Jericho. Referee Jack Doan checks for submission but HBK is able to get to the ropes. Jericho breaks the hold and assaults HBK who roles onto the apron. Jericho tries some acrobatics but eats Sweet Chin Music on the apron off to the outside. Doan starts to countout Jericho. Michaels goes outside and gets him. He roles him back in. Michaels pulls Jericho to the center of the ring and goes for the cover. Two count! Jericho remains down in the middle of the ring. HBK goes off the top rope with an elbow onto Jericho. HBK is selling his ribs as he is slow to follow up. HBK finally tunes up the band, calling for Sweet Chin Music. Jericho gets up and falls back down. The crowd boos.
HBK tunes up the band some more, Jericho gets up and falls back to his knees before Shawn can hit the superkick. Michaels does it again but goes for the superkick this time. Jericho hits a Code Breaker with a counter, both men are down in the middle of the ring. Doan starts the double countout. Not surprisingly (given that Jericho kicked out of Sweet Chin Music) Michaels kicks out of the cover. Jericho goes back to work on HBK. Out of nowhere HBK locks a cross-face on Jericho in the middle of the ring. Doan checks for submission. The crowd is hot and Jericho looks like he might tap but he gets to the ropes. Great sequence and the crowd reaction showed it. Michaels gets up, still selling his ribs. He takes down Jericho, goes for the cross-face again. Jericho counters and drops HBK on the ropes. Jericho works on Michaels, setting him up in the center of the ring. Lion Sault, HBK blocks with his knees. Jericho counters with a Walls of Jericho attempt. HBK is able to get a roll up out of nowhere for the three count.
Winner – Shawn Michaels
Beth Phoenix vs. Melina vs. Mickie James
The forthcoming match is a triple threat match and is for the WWE Women’s Championship. The Glamazon Beth Phoenix is out first. We go to a video from Raw last week with Melina confronting Beth about leaving her on Raw. Lilian gives the formal introductions in the ring because the match is for the WWE Women’s Championship. Chad Patton is your referee. The bell rings but Beth Phoenix tells Melina to get out of her ring. Melina assaults Beth. Mickie nearly gets the win off the distraction via pinfall. Mickie James ends up getting thrown to the outside. Beth hits a stiff clothesline on the outside. Phoenix gets in the ring to go after Melina. She is feisty and goes after The Glamazon. Mickie gets back in the ring and gets a roll-up cradle on Beth who was trying to mount offense on Melina. Mickie gets on the back of Beth Phoenix, taking her down the mat in what appears to be a modified sleeper hold. Melina pulls Mickie off of Beth.
Beth gets knocked silly and Melina goes to work on Mickie. It doesn’t take long for Mickie to counter. She goes to the top but Melina knocks her off. Good crowd reaction. Melina sets Mickie up on the top but Beth puts her on her own shoulder. She hits the electric chair. Mickie goes off the top and hits a cross-body into a pin onto Beth for a two count. Mickie nails a huge dropkick on The Glamazon. Melina goes to work on Mickie in the corner. Back to her feet, Beth comes over and gets BOTH Mickie and Melina on her back. Beth hits a double back breaker on both of them. Amazing strength. Beth ends back up in the background and Mickie is able to hit her finisher on Melina for the three count.
Winner – Mickie James to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
Edge vs. The Undertaker
The following match is for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Edge comes out first, The Undertaker’s spectacular entrance is next. Michael Cole notes that The Undertaker has only beat Edge twice – once at WrestleMania and once at Backlash both times in which he used the Gogoplata (which is still not being named). Justin Roberts gets the formal introductions since this match is for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Charles Robinson is your referee as he calls for the bell. Undertaker is all business as he squares off against Edge. Undertaker pushes Edge down to the mat, Edge goes to the outside to quickly regroup. Edge connects some right hands on Undertaker. They do not have much affect as he puts Edge in the corner and hits right hands of his own. Undertaker chokes Edge and uses the ropes for leverage. Charles Robinson calls for a break at five. Undertaker gets Edge to the outside. He slams Edge’s shoulder into the steel ring post. Undertaker puts Edge back into the ring. Undertaker works Edge over in the corner.
Undertaker ‘rope walks’ with Edge but Edge counters perfectly knocking Undertaker off the ropes. Edge stomps away at Undertaker, causing him to retreat to the outside. Edge uses right hands from the apron onto Undertaker on the outside. Undertaker throws him off the apron onto the crowd control barrier. Undertaker works Edge over on the outside connecting a big head butt. Undertaker clears his count and goes back to work on Edge. Edge throws Undertaker into the steel ring steps. Edge gets back in the ring. Edge goes off the ropes and hits a baseball slide on Undertaker who is on the outside. Undertaker falls down on the outside. Edge roles Taker back in. Edge heatbutts The Undertaker in the corner. Undertaker counters with headbutts of his own. Undertaker whips Edge into the turnbuckles, Edge counters. Edge goes right for the cover for a two count. Edge stomps Undertaker in the midsection. Edge uses several right hands but Undertaker counters with his own right hands. Edge finally gains the advantage with a kick to the ankle of Undertaker. Edge is on the outside, working on Undertaker in the ring. Edge pulls Undertaker into the turnbuckles, wrapping his legs around the steel ring post. Edge gets back in the ring, lands several right hands.
Undertaker counters but Edge is able to build a counter of his own. Undertaker goes for the banned choke as Edge goes for the cover. Edge climbs to the top, attempts to ‘rope walk’ with Undertaker. Taker counters, sending Edge to the mat. Undertaker looks to build momentum with right hands. Edge gives rights of his own. Undertaker goes off the ropes onto Edge. He follows with a splash times two in two separate corners. Undertaker tosses Edge into the corner and gets a two count. Undertaker ‘rope walks’ with Edge, he connects. Undertaker goes for the Tombstone but here come Ryder and Hawkins. They distract Taker, he drops Edge. The Edgeheads distract Charles Robinson as Edge exposes the turnbuckle by removing the cover. Undertaker counters and goes for the Last Ride but Edge counters with a DDT. Edge gets a near fall at 2 1/2. Edge goes for the spear but Undertaker side steps it. Undertaker goes for the Last Ride, he gets a modified version in the corner on Edge. Undertaker gets a two count.
Undertaker picks up Edge, looks to go for the Tombstone. Edge counters Undertaker into the corner of the ring where the turnbuckle is exposed. Edge nails several rights on Undertaker, Taker hits Edge with Snake Eyes in the exposed turnbuckle. Charles Robinson starts the double countout. Undertaker goes off the ropes right into a Spear from Edge. He gets a two count. The crowd is heavily behind The Undertaker but Edge is in control. Undertaker starts to fight back, it’s a slug fest with both men on their feet exchanging right hands. They have the crowd as Undertaker grabs Edge by the throat. Edge counters but Undertaker ends up hitting the chokeslam after another attempt. 2 1/2 count. Undertaker kicks Edge to the outside. Undertaker clotheslines Edge over the crowd control barrier. Charles Robinson goes outside to check on them, then back in the start the double countout.
Now it’s a race back to the ring, they fight all the way back, basically crawling. Robinson is at 9 but Undertaker is in. Edge is counted out at 10.
Winner via countout & new World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker
As Undertaker is being announced, Vickie Guerrero interrupts. From a wheel chair on the ramp with Hawkins and Ryder on the ramp she tries to quiet the crowd.
Vickie finally says that it is common knowledge – she is interrupted by a tremendous amount of heat. This is great, she is the most hated person that I have seen in WWE in a LONG time. You should hear the heat she is getting! She says that it is common knowledge that a title cannot be won via DQ or countout therefore the World Heavyweight Title remains vacant. She tells The Undertaker he is not the new Champion. Taker looks on with the belt in his hands. Undertaker pulls Edge back in the ring from over the top rope. He hits the Tombstone as Vickie begs him not to do it. Vickie stands up and calls Taker an SOB (which is blurted out).
MVP walks out and gets on the mic. He complains about being left off the card for Judgment Day tonight. MVP said the last time he checked he was the highest paid entertainer in Smackdown history and the longest reigning U.S. Champion in WWE history. He said this goes past disrespect. MVP calls it bad business. He said he will not be denied a match on Judgment Day and said if there happens to be any “top talent” backstage, he will give them an opportunity. MVP begs for some one to come out who thinks they are on his level. Nothing happens until WWE U.S. Champion Matt Hardy’s music hits. MVP said the wrestling gods answered his prayers and tells Matt to come down and bring “his” title with him. Matt said he already proved he was better, so instead of doing that again there is someone else here tonight that is going to prove he is better than you as well. Jeff Hardy’s music hits and he slaps hands with his brother.
MVP vs. Jeff Hardy
Michael Cole announces this as an inter-promotional match between Raw and Smackdown. The bell rings and here we go. MVP goes after Jeff right away and lands a big forearm to the back. MVP with a quick cover, but Jeff kicks out. Jeff with a big flying clothesline on MVP. Jeff kicks MVP in the chest and MVP bails to the outside to regroup. Mick Foley mentions Jeff going through some hard times recently, including his house burning down. MVP returns to the ring, gets a quick takedown on Jeff, covers, but only gets a two count. MVP keeps the action on the ground until Jeff elbows MVP in the gut. Jeff takes MVP’s back and works on his left arm. MVP with a cheap shot with an elbow to Jeff’s head. Jeff pulls down the ropes when MVP charges and MVP crashes to the outside. Jeff attempts a big flying dropkick through the ropes to MVP, but MVP blocks it, grabs Jeff by the legs and launches him onto the ground back first. MVP throws Jeff back in the ring, cover, but only a two count. MVP drops his knee over the left arm of Jeff, covers, but gets another two count.
MVP goes back to work on Jeff’s left arm. Jeff attempts a comeback, but MVP pulls him down by his hair. MVP goes back to work again on Jeff’s left arm. MVP knees Jeff’s arm and then drops Jeff’s body over the arm with force. MVP applies pressure to Jeff’s arm on the ground. MVP sends Jeff into the corner. Jeff catches himself and tries to float over, but Jeff lets go and falls to the ring in pain favoring his left arm. MVP drops Jeff down over his left arm, another cover, but only a two count. MVP with forearms to Jeff’s face, cover and Jeff puts his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. MVP with a kick to Jeff’s shoulder, puts Jeff on his shoulders and drops him back with force. MVP with a big boot to Jeff off the ropes that sends Jeff through the ropes to the outside. MVP follows Jeff out and sends him into the ring barricade. MVP throws Jeff back in, quick cover, but Jeff kicks out. MVP with some big rights to Jeff’s shoulder and goes back to work on the arm. MVP goes for the Playmaker, but Jeff counters out of it and takes MVP down with a clothesline.
Jeff with a few rights on MVP. Clothesline by Jeff, irish whip and charge into the cornero n MVP. Jeff with a big dropkick to the jaw of MVP in the corner. Jeff goes up top, jumps, goes for the Swanton Bomb, but MVP moves out of the way. MVP goes for a charge in the corner, but Jeff counters into a drop toe hold. Jeff with a Whisper in the Wind on MVP, connects, covers and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After the match, the referee raises the hand of Jeff Hardy and MVP quickly rolls out. We then see highlights of the match leading into the finish. Back live, we see another shot of William Regal watching from up top in his suite.
They air footage of Sylvester Stallone talking about the new “Rambo” film which is now on DVD.
A video package runs highlighting the events between Triple H and Randy Orton leading into tonight’s match for the WWE Title inside a Steel Cage.
They showed Sylvester Stallone talking about “Rambo.” They said he is a big WWE fan.
They lowered the steel cage.
They aired a highlight package of the Orton-Hunter saga.
WWE Title Match/Steel Cage Match: Randy Orton vs. Triple H.
Orton once again came out to his new ring entrance music. Before the match started, Triple H climbed to the top of the cage, and sat there with the WWE title belt. Mike Chiota is the referee. As the bell rings, Orton tried to escape through the cage door before it was closed. Pinfall, submission or escaping the cage are the only ways to win. This match is being fought under no-DQ rules. Before the match, JR actually talked about Bruno Sammartino winning the WWE title 45 years ago at Madison Square Garden from Buddy Rogers. As Orton worked over Hunter, they showed Regal once again watching the action. Orton touched the floor with his hand, but Hunter was able to pull him back in. In his second attempt, Orton pulled in a steel chair. Hunter went to use the chair, but Orton countered with a low blow. Orton DDT-ed Hunter onto the chair, but Trips kicked out. Orton was unable to RKO Triple H onto the chair. Orton attempted to climb out of the cage, but Trips rammed his head into steel structure. Hunter climbed over the cage, but Orton was able to pull him back in. Orton got one leg over the cage, but Hunter pulled him back in. Orton once again climbed the cage, but again Hunter pulled him back in despite getting both legs on the outside of the cage. Spinbuster by Triple H. Orton countered the pedigree, and Hunter landed on his back on the chair. Hunter gets back to his feet and it leads to….
Triple H wins via the pedigree at 21:10 to retain the WWE title. Replays to end show.
