Vickie Guerrero continued to leave a sour taste in the mouths of the WWE superstars on a controversial night of SmackDown.
Ultimate Opportunist sets up Phenom showdown
General manager Vickie Guerrero continued to leave a sour taste in the mouths of WWE superstars and spectators on another controversial night of SmackDown.
After stripping Undertaker of the World Heavyweight Championship the previous week, Guerrero declared The Deadman would have an opportunity to regain the gold in less than two weeks at Judgment Day.
To determine his opponent, the GM set up the Championship Chase to Judgment Day.
The Phenom would face any former or current World, United States or ECW Champion - minus The Great Khali and Edge, who were unable to compete due to medical reasons.
The one-night Championship Chase was kicked off by a qualifying match between Mr. Money in the Bank CM Punk and United States Champion Matt Hardy. In what was the King of the Ring rematch, Hardy reversed Punk's roll up to advance.
Animal pounced
Two former U.S. Champions - MVP and Finlay battled it out in the next qualifier. In bizarre and controversial circumstances both men progressed to the main event after referee Mickie Henson had awarded a double pin.
For the third match in the Chase, former World Heavyweight Champion Batista went one-on-one with former ECW Champion and current WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison.
As Morrison looked set for an unlikely, yet deserved win, an ill-timed springboard manoeuvre eventually proved the Shaman of Sexy's undoing as The Animal pounced with a devastating Batista Bomb.
Big Show and Tommy Dreamer were the next superstar's eyeing a spot in the main event. The ECW Original gave it his all, but fell to The World's Largest Athlete, as Big Show defeated Dreamer to move on in the Chase.
The final qualifier was a WrestleMania XXIV rematch between ECW Champion Kane and Chavo Guerrero. The interference of Bam Weekley was not enough to prevent the Big Red Machine recording another victory over the Mexican Warrior as the fearsome superstar moved one step closer to facing his brother at Judgment Day.
Batista Bombshell
With six men through, Guerrero decided the best way for the 'Taker's challenger to be decided was an Over-the-Top-Rope Challenge.
Each athlete showed understandable fatigue, and it was The Animal and The Big Show who were left one-on-one for an opportunity to line up a shot at the most prestigious title at Judgement Day.
With victory seemingly assured, Big Show smirked as he went to eliminate The Animal, but Batista pulled him over instead, as the fans erupted with cheers.
On a night with more twists than a triple pirouette - Batista's celebrations were cut short as Guerrero was wheeled out with some "great" news: Edge had just been medically cleared, and would be a part of the Championship Chase.
And in a flash The Rated-R Superstar flew down the ramp and immediately speared Batista through the ropes, stealing The Animal's spot at Judgment Day.
Vociferous abuse from the Ontario crowd followed as Edge celebrated in the squared circle. However, as realisation of what lied ahead sunk in for the Ultimate Opportunist, his smile faded as he knows deep down he will need his fiancée's help and more if he is to overcome the wrath of The Deadman.
