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The fallout from WrestleMania XXIV permeated last night's Smackdown, as General Manager Vicki Guerrero signed two World Title rematches for the Backlash Pay-Per-View, Matt Hardy took on MVP after costing the U.S. Champion an opportunity to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, and Batista stood face-to-face with the man who retired his good friend, Ric Flair.
The show opened with Edge, Chavo Guerrero, The Edgeheads, and General Manager Vicki Guerrero addressing the Smackdown audience. Vicki announced two WrestleMania rematches for Backlash, with Kane defending the ECW Title against Chavo and Edge challenging The Undertaker for the World Championship. Vicki also signed Kane and ‘Taker to wrestle each other in the evening’s main event, a match which ended in a no-contest due to interference from Edge‘s heel stable. However, the brothers rallied and concluded the night by delivering simultaneous Tombstone piledrivers on their respective Backlash challengers.
Batista confronted Shawn Michaels in the ring and expressed his displeasure with HBK retiring Ric Flair last Sunday at WrestleMania. The Animal accused Michaels of refusing to do the job at the PPV and claimed that he would not have allowed his ego to deprive the business of The Nature Boy. Batista’s logic for this program is skewed (the idea of a wrestler being upset at another competitor for winning a match is somewhat questionable), but I feel it could work if the seeds are being planted here for a Batista heel turn. Overall, this was a great segment and very effective.
Beverly Hills Chopper owner Johnny Fratto announced Michelle McCool as the winner of the Smackdown Diva Competition and then presented Michelle with a BHC motorcycle. Victoria interrupted McCool’s moment and tried to attack her, but Michelle held off her jealous rival until Nattie Neidhart (although the announcers did not refer to her by name) attacked McCool from behind and left her laying on the arena floor.
In other news, Vladimir Kozlov made his Smackdown debut by squashing former TNA wrestler Matt Bentley and The Big Show confronted The Great Khali inside the ring for the second time in one week.
Match Results: Matt Hardy over U.S. Champion MVP via pinfall in a non-title match … Festus over Zack Ryder via pinfall … Vladimir Kozlov over Matt Bentley via pinfall … WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz over Shannon Moore and Jimmy Wang Yang via pinfall … ECW Champion Kane and World Champion The Undertaker wrestled to a no-contest following interference from Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Curt Hawkins, and Zack Ryder.
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