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Arena Reports
7/14 WWE Smackdown in Ashville, N.C.: Michelle McCool & Cherry vs. Victoria & Maryse, Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, Khali vs. Bourne Jul 17, 2008 - 9:39:44 AM
WWE SmackdownECW live event
July 14, 2008
Ashville, N.C. at the Civic Center
Report by Jason Surrett, PWTorch.com contributor
Before the show, ECW GM Theodore Long announced that the fans in attendance would be able to determine the type of match for the main event pitting Jeff Hardy against Edge via WWE Mobile. The choices were a falls-count-anywhere match, a best two-of-three falls match and a no-disqualification match.
WWE Diva Eve Torres gave a chance to a young fan to move his family from the upper level to the front row if he could answer a WWE trivia question. The fan answered correctly(Who won the 2008 Royal Rumble. Answer: John Cena) and got the upgrade.
(1) Finlay beat Carlito in a comedy match with the Celtic Cross after Hornswoggle's Tadpole Splash.
(2) The Great Khali pinned Evan Bourne after a double-arm choke slam in a minute and a half squash match. Khali was actually cheered when he came out, probably due to the fact that Bourne got no reaction whatsoever. Most people in attendance had no clue who the former Matt Sydal was.
(3) Mr. Kennedy pinned Mike Knox after the Mic Check. After the match, Kennedy had a kid in the front row announce him as the winner.
ECW GM Theodore Long came out again and picked a kid from the crowd to answer another WWE trivia question, if he answered correctly, he would be Matt Hardy's special manager for the evening. The kid answered correctly(Where was WrestleMania 24 held. Answer: Orlando, FL.
(4) WWE Tag Team Champions, John Morrison & The Miz beat Jesse & Festus when Miz pinned Jesse with the ropes for leverage after Morrison nailed an enzugiri on Jesse who was on the second turnbuckle. During the match, Morrison and Miz kept doing the Rick Rude hip gyrations. Finally Jesse and Festus did the Jeff Jarrett strut and some hip gyrations of their own.
(5) WWE United States Champion Matt Hardy(with his special guest manager) defeated Montel Vontavious Porter and Shelton Benjamin in a triple-threat match when he countered MVP's Playmaker into a Twist Of Fate for the win. After the match Benjamin and MVP got into a shoving match which led Benjamin grabbing a chair and threating MVP. In the end however, Porter and Benjamin hugged and chest-bumped, before leaving together.
(6) Michelle McCool & Cherry beat Victoria & Maryse when McCool forced Maryse to submit to the heel hook submission. After the match Victoria gave the injured Maryse a piggy-back ride to the dressing room.
(7) ECW Champion Mark Henry (w/Tony Atlas) pinned Tommy Dreamer after the World's Strongest Slam
(8) In a no-disqualification match (as voted on by the fans in attendance via WWE Mobile), Jeff Hardy pinned Edge after the Swanton Bomb. During the match Hardy and Edge engaged in a dance contest, in which Edge made an absolute fool of himself.
Overall a good show, the arena wasn't quite 50% full. Lots of fan interaction, almost too much if you ask me.
BIGGEST POPS
1-Jeff Hardy
2-Matt Hardy
3-Finlay and Hornswoggle
MOST HEEL HEAT
1-Mark Henry
2-Edge
3-Miz and Morrison
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