WWE SmackDown 07 24 2009

July 24, 2009 – Richmond, Virginia
Announcers: Jim Ross & Todd Grisham

DARK MATCH: Drew McIntrye defeated Jimmy Wang Yang..

IN THE RING
Jeff Hardy: Jeff Hardy said last week C.M. Punk said he would wind up a statistic. Hardy said that Punk preaches about his straight edge lifestyle and he’s sick of it. Hardy said after Night of Champions, the preaching is over – because the WWE Universe will be living in the moment with HIM! Hardy said tonight it was time for Chris Jericho‘s WALLS to come crumbling down!

SINGLES MATCH
Jeff Hardy defeated Chris Jericho:

BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Michelle McCool + Melina Perez: Michelle remarked to the make-up lady how well the Gold goes with her skin-tone. Michelle added that she doesn’t think people understand just how amazing she is. Michelle said she was the first Diva to hold the Divas title and Womens title – it pretty much guarantees that she is the best WWE Diva in history. Michelle compared herself to Moolah, Sensational Sherri, Mae Young, Lita, and Trish Stratus. Melina showed up and the make-up lady took off. Melina said “don’t leave yet, she still needs a lot of work!” Melina congratulated Michelle on being the biggest phoney in WWE history. Melina said she’s evoking her rematch at Night of Champions and the championship is coming home where it belongs. Melina threw some make-up over Michelle and yelled “I also do hair!”

SINGLES MATCH
The Great Khali w/Ranjin Singh defeated Mike Knox: Would somebody PLEASE challenge Mike Knox to a Hair vs. Beard or Mask vs. Beard match and get it over with! A minute into the match, Kane came out to the stage and distracted Khali in Knox’s favour. Khali still won the match, and challenged Kane to come into the ring and face him. Kane got up and put one leg over the top rope, but then backed off and backed up the ramp pointing at Khali..

WORD UP: The word of the day is… GOAT (An acronym for the greatest of all time). Cryme Tyme plugged the “Allied Powers: Greatest Tag Teams of All-Time” DVD. The Hart Dynasty showed up and bragged that their family was featured on the DVD. J-eazy (Jesse) showed up and for the first time ever admitted that he was related to the Fabulous Freebirds. Cryme Tyme was impressed with J-eazy, but then he went too far and they walked away from him..

SINGLES MATCH
Dolph Ziggler w/Maria Kanellis defeated Fit Finlay by Countout: Dolph Ziggler said after Night of Champions, everybody will know him as “Dolph Ziggler.. INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION!” Ziggler made sure Maria was seated comfortably at ringside like a gentleman (but he’s a heel). The fight landed on the floor and Maria went to check on Ziggler. Finlay didn’t want to put his hands on a Diva, and temporarily lost his focus. Ziggler hopped up and gave Finlay his finisher on the ringside floor!

IN THE RING
World Heavyweight champion C.M. Punk + #1 Contender Jeff Hardy: C.M. Punk looked into the camera and challenged the WWE Universe to see things his way and learn how to just say no (to drugs). Punk said it was hard to live a straight edge lifestyle, and difficult to be him. Punk said it was even more difficult to live the life that all the fans live. Punk said nobody considers the long term consequences of alcohol on their liver. The fans cheered and Punk said that is nothing to cheer. Punk said he doesn’t know what is more disgusting; watching a smoker polute their lungs or listen to a smoker convince themselves they could quit whenever they want to. Punk said it takes a strong person to quit but an even stronger person never would have started smoking in the first place. Punk said chances are nobody there will get the monkey off their back. Punk said it starts with learning how to say no. Punk challenged the fans to learn how to control themselves before it was too late. Finally, Jeff Hardy came out limping from the beating he took during his match with Jericho. Hardy said Punk has a lot of nerve, and what he doesn’t know about people could fill a book. Hardy said Punk has forgotten what it’s like to be human. Hardy said people make mistakes and those people can change. Punk said the people SAY they can change. Punk said he wasn’t going to enable Hardy right now, and didn’t want to be in the same ring as him. Punk said he’s gonna do what Hardy should have done a long time ago and JUST SAY NO. Punk left the ring and walked away with his hands in the air.

DIVAS MATCH
Eve Torres w/Cryme Tyme defeated Natalya Neidhart (w/Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith) with a Moonsault:

BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
The Great Khali & Ranjin Singh + Chris Jericho: Chris Jericho (with his shoulder on ice) said there was a lot of people who aren’t worthy to stand next to him, but the Great Khali is one of the front-runners to stand with him at Night of Champions. Khali said it would be an honor to be one half of the Unified Tag Team champions, but he wouldn’t want his partner to be Jericho.

SINGLES MATCH
R-Truth defeated Charlie Haas: R-Truth injured his leg early in the match, and Charlie Haas targetted it. R-Truth won the match anyway and sold his leg injury afterwards while rapping and dancing for the crowd.

CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION NON-TITLE MATCH
WWE Intercontinental champion Rey Mysterio defeated World Heavyweight champion C,M. Punk: Midway through the match, Dolph Ziggler made his way to ringside (without Maria) to get a closer look at Rey Mysterio. Just went Mysterio got on a roll, Ziggler jumped up on the ring apron and distracted him. Mysterio went over and knocked Ziggler down, but Punk was able to regain the advantage. Punk tossed Mysterio out of the ring but he rolled through and jumped back in. Punk went for a Go-To-Sleep but Mysterio countered with elbows. Mysterio connected with a 619 and hit the West Coast Pop, but Ziggled jumped in and attacked Mysterio for the DQ!

POST-MATCH: Rey Mysterio mounted a comeback and went for a 619 on Dolph Ziggler, but C.M. Punk whiped out Mysterio with a spear! Ziggler then lined up and planted Mysterio with his yet-to-be-named finisher. Just name the damn thing, already! Ziggler assisted Mysterio to his feet online to take him down with his finisher again! Ziggler wanted to do it for a third time, but Jeff Hardy sprinted down and made the save! C.M. Punk followed Hardy to the ring and knocked him out cold with a Go-To-Sleep!!