Making the way for 'Mania
Theres a new champion in the Land of the Extreme and his name is Kane. To earn the opportunity to challenge ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero, the Big Red Machine defeated 23 other competitors in the 24-Man Battle Royal, including giants such as Mark Henry, The Great Khali and Snitsky. Later in the evening, Kane emerged from under the ring, catching the Mexican Warrior by surprise and slamming the defending champion down with a chokeslam. Having been relieved of the ECW Championship with no chance to defend himself, will Guerrero retaliate Tuesday night?
Guerrero isnt the only competitor Kane has to look out for, however. The Money in the Bank Ladder Match came down to a struggle between Chris Jericho and CM Punk. Though Y2J grasped the briefcase first, it was the Straightedge Superstar who managed to remove it from its hook. With a golden opportunity in his briefcase waiting to be exercised at Punks will, the Straightedge Superstar has the power to avenge his previous loss of the ECW Title with the championship of his choice. What lies ahead for Punk in the Land of the Extreme?
While Shelton Benjamin demonstrated why he calls himself the Gold Standard of ECW when he defeated Carlito in a preview to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, Benjamin wasnt able to keep up his hot streak at WrestleMania XXIV. Neither he or fellow ECW Superstar John Morrison could become money and earn the Extreme title opportunity.
Find out whats in store for these ECW Superstars and others on the first post-Mania edition of ECW on Sci Fi, Tuesday at 10/9 CT.
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For Whom the Bell Tolls
WrestleMania XXIV is upon us and the landscape of SmackDown could be vastly different come Friday night.
World Heavyweight Champion Edge presented The Burial of Undertakers WrestleMania Streak on the last Friday Night SmackDown, but his morbid celebration was interrupted when The Deadman emerged from the casket and knocked the life out of Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder. Once again, the Ultimate Opportunist managed to escape The Phenoms grasp but not before tasting the casket for himself.
This Sunday, however, when the bell sounds in their title bout, it will mark the death of one Superstars long-lived streak. For Undertaker, at stake is his 15-0 unbeaten WrestleMania record; for Edge, its never having lost to Undertaker. Who will return to SmackDown next Friday as the World Heavyweight Champion?
For the last two weeks on SmackDown, things have been heating up between United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter and Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho. In the last Friday Night SmackDown, the two did battle, Champion vs. Champion, with Jericho winning after MVP was disqualified. This Sunday, both will clash again in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania with hopes of claiming the golden ticket a contract for a World Championship Match. Will MVP put his money where is mouth is and return to the land of SmackDown as Mr. Money in the Bank?
Ever since Mr. McMahon issued a Win-or-Retire edict to him months ago, Ric Flair has successfully defeated all comers. This Sunday, Naitch faces what might be his toughest challenge yet, as he goes up against The Showstopper, Shawn Michaels on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Is this the last time our fans will have the privilege of watching this legend compete? Or, will Flair add HBK to the list of those who have not been able to put an end to his Hall of Fame career?
Batista has been on a terror lately on SmackDown. His latest victim was Raws Snitsky, who The Animal pulverized just moments after the sound of the bell this past week. Sunday, Batista will face Umaga in the SmackDown vs. Raw Battle for Brand Supremacy at WrestleMania. Will The Animal bring bragging rights to Friday nights, or will the Samoan Bulldozer claim the title for Monday Night Raw?
Also, a special FreeView of this Sunday's 24-Man WrestleMania Battle Royal will be streamed live exclusively on WWE.com starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Several SmackDown Superstars will take part in this 24-man over-the-top rope war; will one return to SmackDown as the new ECW Champion?
Dont miss WrestleMania XXIV, live on pay-per-view, this Sunday at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT. Then, tune in to Friday Night SmackDown at 8/7 CT on The CW Network to experience the fallout from The Granddaddy of Them All!
