We open for the 2nd straight night with a tribute graphic in memory of Lillian Ellison, aka "The Fabulous Moolah". The video is likely to air later in the show.Vidpack hyping tonight's title match between CM Punk & John Morrison, using sound bytes and footage from when Punk won the title back in September. Hmmmm.
Match 1: Kane vs. Mark Henry Don't adjust your dials, folks. These two last went at it in singles on Smackdown just a few weeks ago, and this meeting spins out of Henry winning the battle royal last week. Unfortunately, the self-described "silverback" hasn't done anything to change his luck otherwise. Pretty even matchup, with Kane blasting Henry with one uppercut after another. Big Red goes for the chokeslam, but Henry blocks with a knee to the gut. After dropping Kane to the canvas, Henry inexplicably decides to go outside and grab a chair. He ignores the warnings of ref Scott Armstrong, and as soon as he steps through the ropes, Armstrong calls for the bell. Winner: Kane via DQ. After the bell, Henry hit Kane in the ribs with the chair, then hit the World's Strongest Slam on said chair.
Match 2: Jamie Noble vs. Nunzio Up next is a match of former cruiserweight champions. Noble had some footage played of his match vs. Rey Mysterio from Smackdown, but shown in an effort to make himself look good (he lost the match, of course). Both men are starving for victory, and on any other night, this would be a main event caliber match with something at stake besides ending a losing streak. Clearly, this deserved more time. Noble mustered most of the aggression, as the high point of Nunzio's offense was a Sicilian Slice off the top that netted just a 1 count from ref Mike Posey. Noble came back with a uranage into a backbreaker, and then the deluxe (double knee) gutbuster. Winner: Jamie Noble. Noble plays to the crowd after the match, relieved that his losing streak is over. John Morrison video plays. Been there, seen that.
Match 3: Layla El (w/Mike Mizanin) vs. Kelly Kelly Squashola. Miz gets on the mic before the match and takes credit for getting Kelly her match vs. Beth Phoenix last night. Layla hasn't had a singles match in several months, back when she was on Smackdown, and shows a far more aggressive side here. A mere bodyslam gets it done here. Kelly is still looking for her first singles victory. Winner: Layla El. No sooner has the match ended than Balls Mahoney arrived on the scene to ensure that Miz and/or Layla doesn't exploit the situation. Miz wants to go, but Layla pulls him back. More hype for the title match, showing the footage from when CM Punk won the title 2 months ago.
Clips are shown of Rey Mysterio in the classic ECW (vs. Psicosis) from 1995. This is all to hype the DVD.
Match 4: Elijah Burke vs. Shannon Moore Moore was billed as "The Reject" when he was on the ECW roster last year, but went 0-forever before moving to Smackdown. He returns tonight as the 4th and final guest from Smackdown on the card. We think. Moore, however, fares no better here than he did when he was on the ECW roster. After 2 weeks of teases, Burke hits the Outer Limitz elbow drop, and that sets up the Elijah Express. Burke checks into the pay window again. Winner: Elijah Burke. As expected the Fabulous Moolah video is being run, after Joey & Tazz offer their memories of the Hall of Famer.
Mike Mizanin intercepts John Morrison en route to the ring, and insincerely wishes the challenger good luck. Their feud continues, apparently, and that will open the door for either Elijah Burke or Big Daddy V to be CM Punk's next challenger, provided Punk retains in tonight's main event. Footage is shown of last night's main event. Why? Because after the show, Raw GM William Regal, who hadn't appeared at all during the live broadcast, meets with Randy Orton. At Survivor Series, Shawn Michaels cannot use his vaunted superkick. If he does, he will be DQ'd and will not be allowed to challenge Orton for the title again. However, if Orton gets DQ'd, or appears to attempt to do so on purpose, he forfeits the title to HBK!
Match 5: CM Punk vs. John Morrison (ECW title) Given the late start to this match, this won't be a four star epic like past encounters. Morrison won a non-title match the last time these two met to earn this spot. Pretty even, as both men tried to fit as much in as possible. Halfway, Miz comes down and Joey & Tazz play up that maybe it's as much a distraction to Punk as it is Morrison, but it's plainly obvious who Miz is here to bother. Morrison avoids the Go to Sleep, but then when he tries to set up the corkscrew neckbreaker, Miz throws his hat in the ring---literally---hitting Morrison in the back. Morrison punts the hat into the crowd, and Punk schoolboys him to hang on to the title! Winner: CM Punk.
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