As the show opened, Alberto Del Rio was in the ring and said that he can take being booed, but not being disrespected. He resented that when John Cena hit him with the AA last week, the fans laughed at him. He then reminded people that he took out Rey Mysterio, and made Edge retire. He then claimed to be the greatest of the great, as an old familiar music hit in the arena…of Hall of Famer, Bret “The Hitman” Hart. Bret told Del Rio that he doesn’t know what it means to be a champion. As Del Rio tried to talk Bret stopped him and said that Del Rio was all style and no substance. Bret told Del Rio that a champion comes out and fights day in and day out against all challengers. Del Rio told Bret that he is a champion that looks like a bum, and just like one of the illegal Canadians that Del Rio hires to clean his house. Del Rio then said that he was the WWE champion and tonight he would make an example out of Bret. As the two put down the microphones, John Cena came out to the ring. Cena said that when he looks as Bret he sees none of the things Del Rio described, but a WWE Hall of Famer. He then said that Del Rio must have grown a set because he is finally in the ring with Cena and not running away, and that Del Rio should head home to Mexico and party as the WWE champion since he will only hold that title for 6 more days. Del Rio told Cena that they don’t need to wait for the match everyone wants to see, and pushed Roberto Rodriguez in front of him declaring Rodriguez as Cena’s opponent for the night. Cena then suggested that there should be a special match where Del Rio puts the WWE title on the line against Bret Hart. John Laurinittis showed up and said that at Triple H’s order, tonight there will be a tag team match between John Cena and Bret Hart facing Del Rio and Rodriguez.
Match 1: John Morrison & Alex Riley v. Jack Swagger & Dolph Ziggler
After Ziggler waved Swagger’s requests for a tag, he was nailed with a kick from Morrison and rolled to his corner where Swagger tagged himself in. Morrison tagged in Riley who dominated Swagger and Ziggler for about a minute until Swagger hooked on an ankle lock. But Riley rolled forward, propelling Swagger into Ziggler who just got back up on the apron. Swagger stumbled back and got hit with a spinning diamond cutter, allowing Riley to score the win. Ziggler slid in the ring to help, but stopped short and got back out. He then told Vicki that Swagger was a loser who didn’t belong in their stable.
Winner: John Morrison & Alex Riley
In the back, The Miz and R-Truth hijacked the microphone in their own interview. The Miz stated that the focus is still not on them, but on CM Punk and Triple H. R-Truth said that he doesn’t mind Triple H’s decision, but revealed that he was being sarcastic. He said that he wanted Triple H to lose to CM Punk so that he is out as COO. The two came to the ring and said that on Sunday they will prove that they are AWESOME, and they would also prove it right now.
Match 2: The Miz v. Kofi Kingston
In the closing moments of a high quality, competitive match, Kofi felt that he had the match well in hand as he headed up to the top ropes, but the Miz swiped the legs from under Kofi, sending him crashing to the mat. The Miz then snuck up on a dazed Kofi and hit him with the Skull Crushing Finale, scoring the winning pin.
Winner: The Miz
In the back, Teddy Long informed Vicki that Triple H has ruled that at night of Champions, Dolph Ziggler would defend his US title against John Morrison, Jack Swagger and Alex Riley in a four way match. Vicki yelled about how it was unfair, but diverted her attention to Kelly Kelly who had some comments for her. Vicki said that she can’t wait for Sunday when Kelly would be destroyed by Beth Phoenix, and it wouldn’t be hard since even she could beat Kelly. Teddy Long then booked a match between the two.
Mike McGullicutty and David Otunga were in the ring and asked Jerry Lawler where he gets the idea that they don’t have a personality. Lawler refuted McGullicutty comparing himself to his father, and told Otunga that no one wanted another lawyer (as Otunga is a Harvard Law grad) and brought out his tag team partner, Sheamus.
Match 3: Mike McGullicutty & David Otunga v. Jerry Lawler & Sheamus
Sheamus dominated the match, eventually hitting Otunga with a jumping front kick, after Lawler nailed Otunga with a fist to the face. With Otunga out of commission, Sheamus hit McGullicutty with the High Cross and pinned him for the win.
Winners: Jerry Lawler & Sheamus
Match 4: Alberto Del Rio & Roberto Rodriguez v. Bret Hart & John Cena
After making Rodriguez start the match, Del Rio walked out a couple of minutes into it, while Cena had his way with Rodriguez. Cena tagged in Bret who put the sharp shooter on Rodriguez, who quickly tapped. Cena grabbed the microphone and told Del Rio that he can keep running all the way to Night of Champions where Cena will alter Del Rio’s destiny and take the WWE title.
Winners: John Cena & Bret Hart
Match 5: Kelly Kelly v. Vicki Guerrero
Vicki taunted Kelly with a push, to which Kelly responded with a tackle and a slap to Vicki’s face. As Kelly was humiliating Kelly with a stink face, Jack Swagger came down to ringside, as Ziggler questioned what Swagger was doing there. Swagger punched Ziggler in the face, as a distracted Vicki was rolled up by Kelly and pinned. After the match Vicki berated both men on the outside, while Beth Phoenix came to the ring, but Kelly spotted her and attacked Beth upon entry. Kelly quickly slipped to the outside and left ringside.
Winner: Kelly Kelly
In an interview in the back Mark Henry said that he annihilated the Big Show, Kane and Sheamus because for 15 years of looking over Mark Henry, disrespect, not being the number 1 contender and the champion was only to get him to this point where he promises that Randy Orton will enter his Hall of Pain.
Match 6: Randy Orton v. Cody Rhodes
Only a minute into this match, Mark Henry came out to the entrance way, and Orton slipped out of the ring and went after Henry after grabbing a chair from ringside. Henry left, as Cody attempted to sneak up on Orton, but Orton saw him coming and layed him out with a punch. He brought Cody back into the ring where the fight continued. About a minute later, Henry showed up again, this time carrying a chair of his own. He planted it in the entrance way and sat on it to observe the match. When Orton spotted him, he left the ring and slowly headed toward Henry, who stood up, ready to meet the attack. Orton, realizing he would get counted out, turned and headed back to the ring where Cody attacked him, taking control of the match. Cody tried to lock in a chicken wing, which Orton fought out of, shooting Cody off the ropes. Cody came back delivering a kick to Orton’s chest as Orton was bent over trying to elevate Cody over his head. Cody continued to work on Orton, specifically on Orton’s shoulder. When Cody went for a bulldog, he missed as Orton side stepped Cody’s attempt sending him down to the mat. As soon as Orton went on the offensive, Henry picked up the chair and walked closer to the ring, sitting on it right next to the mats outside. Orton tried a DDT through the ropes, but Cody fought out, and tried to hit Orton with the Cross Rhodes. Orton was then able to power out and tossed Cody out to the ring apron, just to hit him with a DDT into the ring. Henry made his way up the ring steps, as Orton turned his attention to him, as did the ref. In the meantime, Cody snuck up on Orton, hitting him with his face mask. Cody then covered Orton and pinned him for the win. Henry came into the ring and added to the punishment by nailing Orton with a steel chair across the back. Henry grabbed the World championship and raised it over his head in the center of the ring.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Triple H and CM Punk came to the ring for their scheduled pre-match face off. Punk said that he respects Triple H’s decision of firing Kevin Nash, but he still doesn’t like Triple H and he is aware that Triple H doesn’t like him either. Punk would then bash the idea that WWE has about the body builder giants being main event draws. Triple H talked about how its the fans’ opinion that matters, and Punk has bitched about his first 6 years of not getting the reaction he wanted. Punk reminisced upon his first brass ring grabbing story when he debuted at a WWE PPV in 2006 on a team with DX, and the crowd cheered him on then as they do now. Triple H said that Punk got a whole lot of opportunities in his career, but he never kept to most of them because maybe he is not as good as he thinks he is. Triple H made reference to Punk’s earlier addressed confrontation with John Cena when Punk won his first championship in the company, where Cena told Punk that he almost lost hope in him. Triple H said that John Cena is an example of a guy who has worked his way from nothing to the top of the industry. Triple H said that he himself thought low of John Cena and he was wrong. He then said that Punk made this issue between them personal when Triple H wanted to keep this as business. After Triple H said that he would kick CM Punk’s ass, Punk said he would kick Triple H’s and pin him. Punk got really personal when he said its not CM Punk and Triple H talking now, its Phil Brooks and Paul Leveque, but before he could get anymore words out, the microphone went dead. Triple H handed Punk his own mic, which also went dead when Punk began to speak. Triple H demanded another microphone and asked the ring tech what was happening. He then gave Punk the microphone again, asking for Punk to lay the proverbial “pipe bomb” on him. Punk stood for a few seconds before he took the microphone, but once he did, he wailed Triple H in the head with it and left the ring.