The show opened with a four-man over-the-top-rope challenge to preview this Sunday’s 24-participant battle royale (which in case you haven’t heard, has been moved to the PPV pre-show on WWE.com). Mark Henry was put over very strong here, eliminating both Kane and The Great Khali with relative ease to win the match.

The Diva Competition continued with news that fans had voted Eve Torres out of the contest. Eve went on to officiate a divas tag bout later in the program pitting Cherry and Michelle McCool against Victoria and Maryse in what was billed as a WrestleMania Wet and Wild Tag Team Waterfight. How on Earth this segment was related to ‘Mania is beyond me. Anyway, Michelle used an Implant Buster (dubbed the Winged Love by Michael Cole) on Victoria to get the win.

The Money in the Bank Ladder Match was promoted by showcasing four of the performers involved in this Sunday’s bout. CM Punk used his Go To Sleep finisher to put away John Morrison in a terrific contest, while Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho defeated U.S. Titleholder MVP via DQ when the referee strangely called for the bell as MVP was preparing to hit Jericho with his U.S. belt. Afterward, Y2J struck MVP with a ladder from underneath the ring and then dropped the steel object on top of his fellow MITB hopeful.

World Champion Edge held a funeral service to commemorate the end of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak. After delivering a eulogy where he vowed to make The Dead Man’s ‘Mania record 15-1, The Rated R Superstar began kissing his fiancee Vicki Guerrero until the couple’s liplock was interrupted by The Undertaker’s entrance music. Edge ordered Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder into the aisle to await his WM challenger’s arrival, but ‘Taker surprised the Smackdown kingpin by emerging from a coffin inside the ring. Undertaker chokeslammed Edge into the casket before setting his sites on Guerrero, who quickly left her wheelchair and scurried to the outside. ‘Taker laid out The Edgeheads as their boss used the distraction to exit the squared circle. The broadcast concluded with Edge watching in horror as The Dead Man stared him down.

This was a very strong go-home show heading into Sunday’s big event. The Smackdown ‘Mania matches were spotlighted and we were treated to some great wrestling as well. A solid lead-in to WM XXIV.

Match Results: Mark Henry won an over-the-top-rope challenge over The Great Khali, Kane, and Chuck Palumbo … CM Punk over John Morrison via pinfall … Kofi Kingston, Jesse, and Festus over The Miz, Lance Cade, and Trevor Murdoch via pinfall when Kingston pinned Miz … Batista over Snitsky via pinfall … Michelle McCool and Cherry over Victoria and Maryse in a Tag Team Waterfight via pinfall when Michelle pinned Victoria … Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho over U.S. Champion MVP via disqualification in a non-title match.
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