|Date: May 17, 2009
|Venue: Allstate Arena |City: Rosemont, Illinois
|Attendance: 14,822 |Buys: 228,000
|Brands: Raw, Smackdown & ECW

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

It might be Judgment Day tonight but buys for this show are the lowest in Judgment Day history. It does feel like the WWE is starting off fresh. We’re coming off a brand split, there are new feuds, the likes of Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Undertaker are nowhere to be seen and the champions are all new, none of them have defended their title on PPV before. Randy Orton will be defending his WWE Championship against an old foe in Batista. Batista beat The Big Show in a number one contendership match with a bit of help from John Cena. Randy Orton and Legacy took out Shane McMahon a couple of weeks ago which means Batista goes into this one alone.

A four way elimination match would determine a number one contender to Edge’s World Heavyweight Championship and in that match Jeff Hardy defeated Chris Jericho, Kane and Rey Mysterio to earn his title shot. Chris Jericho wasn’t happy with the result and nearly won an opportunity to get into the title match at Judgment Day but Rey Mysterio made sure that didn’t happen. Jericho would go on to challenge Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship and that match was made for Judgment Day. CM Punk has tried to cash in his money in the bank briefcase a couple of times but the man that has stopped him from doing so has been the returning Umaga. He’s given no explanation as to why but we know CM Punk will meet Umaga tonight.

At Backlash The Big Show would come out during John Cena’s match with Edge and chokeslam Cena through a searchlight. It seriously injured Cena who hasn’t wrestled since but Cena has accepted a match with Big Show at Judgment Day provided that he is medically cleared. Can Cena overcome to injuries to beat Big Show? Also tonight the ECW Championship is set to be defended as Jack Swagger gets his rematch against Christian and two of the most athletic superstars in the company John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin go one on one.

In a dark match prior to the event Mickie James defeated Beth Phoenix.

A video package kicks us off, a fairly basin one, nothing special. A lot of focus on John Cena and Big Show as well as the two title matches. Jim Ross then welcomes us to Chicago!

CM Punk vs. Umaga

This is a first match between these two men to kick us off. CM Punk is 1-1 at Judgment Day PPV’s, Umaga is making his Judgment Day debut tonight. Umaga has been out of action for a while so this is a first PPV back for him. CM Punk is still the Money In The Bank holder but he did lose to Kane at Backlash last month. Punk is home in Chicago tonight. Punk hits some kicks in the early going but Umaga uses his strength. Umaga hits Punk with a swinging slam and then a reverse elbow before kicking CM Punk in the back. Umaga then hits a couple of hard Irish whips before applying a nerve hold. Umaga breaks the nerve hold and throws Punk into the ringpost before re-applying the nerve hold. Umaga breaks the hold and then boots CM Punk to the outside. Punk tries to sunset flip back in but Umaga doesn’t let that happen. This match has a slow pace to it. Probably not the best match to kick off the show. Punk attempts a powerslam but Umaga lands on top of him for the first near fall of the night.

Umaga goes back to the nerve hold which Punk gets out of but Punk runs right into an uppercut. Umaga goes up to the middle rope but CM Punk avoids the flying headbutt and both men are down. Both men get to their feet and Punk low-bridges Umaga, sending him to the outside before diving out at him. Back in the ring and Punk hits some kicks, a running knee and a dropkick but he can’t get Umaga down. Punk hits a running knee and tries for his bulldog but CM Punk pushes him into the corner and then squashes him. Punk gets out of the way of the running arse splash and takes Umaga down with a bulldog for a near fall. Punk hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall and then tries for a go to sleep but Umaga blocks it and hits a Samoan drop for a near fall. Umaga then motions for the Samoan spike but Punk blocks it, hits Umaga with three kicks to the face and then tries for the go to sleep but Umaga is too heavy.

Umaga hits a big kick, the running arse splash and then the Samoan spike and that’s enough for the three! Umaga beats CM Punk in Chicago tonight. Punk just can not catch a win at the moment! Quite a slow paced match that got the better the longer it went on.

Rating: 5/10

Raw General Manager Vickie Guerrero is backstage and Chavo Guerrero shows up. Chavo lets Vickie know that John Cena is medically cleared to wrestle tonight. Big Show is then shows sat on a sofa and he tells Vickie that she will lose John Cena to injury tonight. Vickie tells Big Show that this company is bigger than any one individual. Big Show leaves and Edge shows up before the camera cuts away.

The ECW commentators Josh Mathews and Matt Striker take us to some footage from Backlash, showing how Christian beat Jack Swagger for the ECW Championship.

Christian (c) vs. Jack Swagger – ECW Championship match

This is a rematch from Backlash last month where Christian beat Jack Swagger for the ECW Championship. Swagger makes his Judgment Day debut tonight whilst Christian is 2-2 at the event. Christian has won the Intercontinental and Light-Heavyweight Championships at Judgment Day before, in fact he beat Taka Michinoku in his first ever WWE match at this event in 1998. Christian slaps Swagger about a bit in the early going and then lures Jack out to the outside before getting back into the ring where Christian attempts the killswitch but Swagger gets out of it. Swagger uses some amateur wrestling holds to keep Christian grounded and then hits the champion with a front first Irish whip. Christian manages to low-bridge Swagger to the outside before dropkicking him and then diving to the outside on his challenger.

Swagger is first back into the ring and makes sure Christian doesn’t get back in before heading back outside and throwing Christian into the ringpost. Back in the ring and Swagger gets the first near fall of the night before applying a body scissors. Christian fights back with lefts and rights but Swagger drops him with a knee to the middle section for another two count. Swagger attempts a Vader bomb but Christian gets his knees up and then hits a springboard elbow. Swagger reverses an Irish whip but Christian then hits him with a pendulum kick. Christian then goes to the top but Swagger moves and looks to hit the gut wrench powerbomb but Christian fights out of it and heads to the top. Swagger flies up the top himself and hits a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Christian hits a small package out of nowhere and then both men get to their feet and knock each other down with clotheslines.

Christian is up first but Swagger gets up and rolls Christian up for a two count. Christian hits a right hand and looks to hit a tornado DDT but Swagger counters it. Christian hits the move on the second attempt and gets a near fall. Swagger rolls Christian up but the referee sees that Swagger is pulling the tights and stops the count. Christian then tried for the killswitch but Swagger hits a side suplex. Swagger tries for the gut wrench powerbomb but Christian counters it and rolls Swagger up, pulling the tights and gets the three! It was blatant cheating but Christian wins the match and retains the ECW Championship!

Rating: 5.25/10

Chavo Guerrero is listening into Vickie Guerrero’s office when Edge exits and calls Chavo an embarrassment. He says Chavo should do something about a “cross-dressing idiot calling my wife a pig”. He’s talking about Santina!

John Morrison vs. Shelton Benjamin

This is a first singles match between these two men on pay per view. Morrison is 2-1 at Judgment Day PPV’s, Shelton Benjamin is 0-1. Shelton has his former (and current?) tag team partner Charlie Haas at ringside with him. Benjamin takes Morrison down early with a t-bone suplex and then applies a headlock. Plenty of counters until Benjamin leaves the ring. Morrison hits a huge standing springboard 450 to the outside where Benjamin just about gets hit by it. Back in the ring and Morrison heads to the top but gets distracted by Haas which allows Benjamin to hit a running kick which knocks Morrison to the outside. Haas throws Morrison back into the ring where Shelton pins him for a near fall. Morrison looking to be the first man to have won at last years Judgment Day event and this years. Benjamin hits a snapmare and then applies a seated abdominal stretch. Morrison gets out of it but Benjamin knocks him back down and gets a near fall.

Shelton Benjamin rubs John Morrisons face into the mat and then applies a camel clutch which Morrison fights out of. Benjamin hits a knee to the face and then applies a sleeper which Morrison counters into a sleeper of his own. Benjamin gets out of the sleeper but the two men collide heads. Benjamin and Morrison get to their feet and Morrison hits a dropkick and a clothesline before hitting a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. Benjamin hits a backbreaker for a near fall but Morrison gets back into it with a dropkick. Morrison hits a knee for a near fall and then looks for a springboard kick but Benjamin catches him and powerbombs him into the corner for a near fall. Morrison drop toe holds Shelton into a middle turnbuckle and then hits a ,monkey flip but Shelton lands on his feet. Haas then gets up on the apron so Morrison disposes of him, hits a springboard kick and then starship pain which is enough for the three! John Morrison beats Shelton Benjamin tonight!

Rating: 6/10

The Miz is out next and Raw commentators Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler aren’t sure why. The Miz starts by congratulating Marty Jannetty……John Morrison for his win previously. Miz then says that he is 3 and 0 against John Cena and since he can’t challenge Cena tonight, he’ll challenge a Cena substitute. Miz says Cena is over-rated like the Chicago Cubs who are ringside. Miz then compares Alfonso Soriano (a Cubs player) to Cena and challenges him to come into the ring. Miz continues to berate Soriano before announcing that Soriano has clearly forfeited and as John Cena’s substitute it means that Miz is 4-0 against Cena. Santino’s music then hits and out walks Santino! Santino stands up for Soriano because he’s a fellow Italian! I don’t think he is. Santino then says that WWE superstars resemble animals, Vickie Guerrero looks like a pig, Vladimir Coleslaw looks like Sam the American eagle from the muppets. Miz asks what he looks like and Santino tells Fizz that he looks like a jackass! Miz challenges Santino who says he’s bought his guns and the two men get into a scrap! Miz hits a low DDT and leaves Santino laying. Chavo Guerrero then comes out and hits Santino with a frog splash!

Josh Mathews is backstage with Chris Jericho who says there is a conspiracy against him. Jericho says that he will beat Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship tonight.

Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Chris Jericho – Intercontinental Championship match

This match has a big fight feel to it. It’s actually the first time these two men have met on pay per view. Jericho is 1-4 at Judgment Day events, Rey Mysterio is 3-0 at Judgment Day. The bell rings and Mysterio hits a drop toe hold setting Jericho up for the 619 early but Jericho escapes to the outside. Back in the ring and Jericho hits some right hands and seems to have the crowd behind him. Jericho hits a snapmare and a kick to the back. Jericho is an 8 time Intercontinental Champion which is a record. Jericho hits a reverse elbow and then throws Mysterio out of the ring. Rey lands on his feet and gets back in the ring before dropkicking Jericho and hitting him with a seated senton to the outside. Jericho reverses an Irish whip, sending Rey into the barricade and then rolling Mysterio back into the ring. Mysterio hits a legdrop on Jericho as he gets back into the ring for a near fall.

Jericho dropkicks Mysterio to the outside before rolling him back in and applying a sleeper. Rey gets out of it and hits an enzeguri which sets Jericho up for a 619 but Jericho hits a back body drop for a near fall. Mysterio counters a suplex but Jericho hits him with a backbreaker for a near fall. Jericho slingshots Mysterio into the bottom rope and then pins him for a two count. Jericho pops Mysterio on the top rope and then tries to rip the mask off Mysterio! Rey elbows him down to the mat and then hits him with season senton and then a cross body for a two count. Mysterio rolls through a sunset flip and kicks Jericho in the face for a near fall. Jericho attempts the walls of Jericho but Rey counters it before running into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Jericho hits a headbutt and then tries for a bulldog but Rey counters it and then hurricanranas Jericho onto the middle rope. Mysterio attempts the 619 but Jericho counters it and tries to lock on the walls of Jericho but Rey counters Chris onto the middle rope before again trying for the 619 but again Jericho counters and this time locks on the walls of Jericho!

Mysterio manages to counter the walls of Jericho with a roll up for a two count. Jericho hits a powerbomb for a near fall but Rey gets back into it with a drop toe hold onto the middle rope and then the 619 and a seated senton for the three! Rey Mysterio beats Chris Jericho tonight! A clean win for Mysterio to retain his Intercontinental Championship.

Rating: 6.75/10

There’s a video package for Randy Orton and Batista next.

Randy Orton (c) vs. Batista – WWE Championship match

This is a second singles match between these two men on PPV, Batista won the first at Armageddon a few months ago. Randy Orton is 1-1 at Judgment Day events, Batista is 0-1. Orton isn’t joined by Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, he comes out alone. Orton plays mind games in the early going, sliding out of the ring and making Batista wait. The two men do tie up and Batista knocks Orton down. Batista hits a clothesline and then a suplex for a one count before working the back of the WWE Champion. Batista hits a hard Irish whip but Orton manages to throw Batista out of the ring and dropkicks him off the apron. Orton hits a side suplex onto the barricade and then rolls his challenger back into the ring, pinning him for a two count. Orton hits a few knee drops for a near fall and then applies a chinlock. Batista gets out of it but Randy hits him with a backbreaker for a near fall. Orton goes back to the chinlock but Batista powers out of it with a side suplex.

Orton hits a dropkick which sends Batista out of the ring. Batista looks to get back into the ring but Orton hits him with a hangmans DDT for a two count. Orton motions for an RKO and then backs up to set up for a punt but Batista takes him down with a spear. The two men get to their feet and slug it out and the crowd seem to be behind Randy Orton. The Chicago crowd always a fun one. Batista powers Orton into the corner and hits him with shoulder charges, a clothesline and then a powerslam for a near fall. Orton leaves the ring and asks the referee to count him out but Batista goes after him. Randy runs around the ring and then hugs the ringpost but Batista throws him back into the ring and knocks the WWE Champion down with a clothesline for a two count. Batista hits a snapmare and a kick and again Orton rolls out of the ring. Orton drops Batista on the top rope and then grabs a chair but Batista knocks it out of his hand.

Batista smashes Orton into the announce desk and then back into the ring where Batista goes up to the top and hits a flying shoulder tackle for a two count. Batista sets up for a Batista bomb but Orton gets out of it and slides out of the ring, takes his titles and heads up the entrance ramp. Batista goes after him and rolls Orton (and his title) into the ring. Orton runs at Batista with the title but Batista hits him with a spinebuster! Batista looks to hit a Batista bomb but Orton counters and then tries for an RKO but Batista counters it. Orton evades a spear and Batista hits the ringpost. Orton then motions for an RKO but Batista pushes him away. Orton then slaps the referee! The ref calls for the bell and this one is over! Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase come out and attack Batista! Ric Flair then comes out and takes shots at Rhodes and Orton! Batista hits a Batista bomb on Orton! Batista and Flair fight off Legacy and embrace in the ring. A good match between Batista and Orton tonight! Great psychology.

Rating: 7/10

There’s a video package for Big Show and John Cena next.

John Cena vs. The Big Show

This is only the second PPV singles match between these two men. John Cena won the first at Wrestlemania 20. John Cena is 5-0 at Judgment Day events, Big Show is 0-5. How about that? Cena could still be carrying the injury that Big Show gave him at Backlash and he does his best to avoid Big Show in the early going. Big Show catches Cena and lays into him with some big right hands to the lower kidney and ribs. Cena fights back with right hands and tries a shoulder tackle but just bounces off Big Show. Big Show hits a powerslam and then tries for a second but Cena slips down the back and hits some right hand but soon runs into a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Big Show hits a headbutt and then looks to hit a running boot but Cena ducks it. Cena runs at Show who sidesteps him and throws him out of the ring. Outside the ring and Big Show rams Cena into the ringpost and then rolls him back into the ring.

Big Show tries to lock on a camel clutch but Cena avoids it by backing off into the corner. Big Show hits some chops and then more big right hands. Big Show hits an Irish whip in what has been a very slow paced match. Big Show locks on a bear hug and then crushes Cena in the corner before hitting him with another hard Irish whip. Cena fights back with a shoulder charge and a spinning neckbreaker and then the five knuckle shuffle. Cena hits a DDT and then locks on the STF! Big Show quickly gets out of the hold and knocks Cena down with a clothesline before crushing Cena with a Vader bomb for a two count. Big Show then goes up for a second Vader bomb but Cena rolls out of the way! Cena then tries to get the STF on again but Big Show kicks him out of the ring. Cena fights Show off and goes to the top where he hits the top rope fame-asser and then looks to lock on the STF again but Big Show fights him off. Big Show hits an inverted powerbomb and then looks to hit a big right hand but Cena ducks it and hits Big Show with the attitude adjustment for the three! John Cena beats The Big Show tonight in a slow match.

Rating: 3/10

Next up is a video package for Edge and Jeff Hardy, their main event is up next!

Edge (c) vs. Jeff Hardy – World Heavyweight Championship match

This is only the second singles PPV match between these two men. Edge won the previous match at the Royal Rumble a few months ago. Edge is 3-2 at Judgment Day, Jeff Hardy is 2-2. A new World Heavyweight Champion has never been crowned at a Judgment Day before. Hardy takes down Edge in the early going with an armbar but Edge applies a headlock which Jeff gets out of but gets knocked down. Hardy hits a couple of arm drags into an arm bar which Edge eventually gets out of but Hardy hits a head scissors and then another arm drag and we’re back to the arm bar. Hardy sends Edge to the outside and then hits him with a plancha before rolling him back into the ring. Edge smashes Hardy into the ringpost and then spears Jeff off the apron to the outside. Back in the ring and Edge works the lower back of Hardy, dropping elbows for a near fall. Edge applies a surfboard type move which Jeff gets out of and then tries for a twist of fate but Edge counters it with an Edge-o-cution for a near fall.

Hardy hits a cross body for as near fall and then a jawbreaker and an face-first sit-out suplex. Hardy heads to the top and attempts a high cross body but Edge ducks and Hardy hits the mat. Edge gets a near fall and Hardy starts to fight back with clotheslines and a legdrop for a two count. Hardy heads to the top and this time hit the cross body for a near fall. Edge avoids a dropkick but Hardy rolls him up out of nowhere for a two count. Edge looks for an impaler DDT but Hardy counters it and locks on a sharpshooter! There are some boo’s for this move interestingly. Edge gets to the ropes but Jeff hits him with a twist of fate for a near fall. Hardy looks for a mule kick but Edge averts it only for Jeff to hit a sunset flip for a near fall. Jeff heads to the top but Edge goes up with him. Jeff hits a sunset powerbomb which is enough for a near fall. Jeff hits a pendulum kick sending Edge out of the ring and then goes out with him and takes apart the Smackdown announce table.

Jeff throws Edge onto the announce desk and then walks atop the barricades only for Edge to hit him with a spear! Edge gets back in the ring happy with a count out but Jeff just beats the count. Jeff drops Edge with a twist of fate on the second rope and then hits a legdrop for a near fall. Edge just got his foot on the bottom rope there. Jeff hits whisper in the wind for a near fall and Edge then leaves the ring. Hardy follows and hits poetry in motion off the ring steps and into the crowd! Jeff throws Edge over the security barricade and looks to climb over himself but Matt Hardy comes from nowhere and hits Jeff with his cast! Edge rolls Jeff back into the ring and just gets a near fall. Edge motions for a spear but Jeff ducks it and edge hits the turnbuckle! Jeff then heads to the top but he struggles and Edge gets to his feet and hits him with an implant DDT from the top which is enough for the three! Edge wins the match and retains the World Heavyweight Championship!

Rating: 6/10

And that was Judgment Day 2009. At the moment it looks like they’re following the formula that they’re trying to get all their best and most entertaining stars on the PPV cards and it’s resulting in decent enough shows, mostly above average matches but sadly nothing too exciting. I like Umaga and CM Punk but their match tonight was pretty average. Umaga wins a match that could’ve gone either way but once again it means the man they need to build up the main event scene loses again. I don’t completely understand the booking, I think they need to build CM Punk up to look stronger. Christian beats Jack Swagger with a pull of the tights to retain the ECW Championship. The finish to this suggests that this feud isn’t over which is fine because I don’t mind Jack Swagger in the ECW title hunt. Christian is a good champion for the brand and I can’t see him losing the title any time soon. Although there is this Tommy Dreamer storyline bubbling underneath. Christian and Dreamer next month?

John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin put on a good match but there wasn’t a lot of psychology or storyline behind it to give it a higher rating. Morrison won the match cleanly which will put an end to this feud. I can see both men targeting the Intercontinental Championship in the future. Santino then got his arse handed to him by The Miz and Chavo Guerrero. This is probably the best promo I’ve ever seen from The Miz. Santino continues to be fantastic. Rey Mysterio then beats Chris Jericho cleanly to retain the Intercontinental Championship. Could this mean the end to this feud? Jericho isn’t someone who tends to let something go. This was a really good match from Jericho and Mysterio and I would like to see more from where that came from. Both men are above the title but as a result they bring more prestige to the belt.

Batista defeated WWE Champion Randy Orton by disqualification in a decent match. I don’t think anybody has lost as many main event matches in the past three years as Batista. I mean, he won this one but he didn’t take the title. This can only lead to a rematch, probably with a stipulation at Extreme Rules next month. This was a good match though, a finish we’ve seen before with Randy. John Cena beat The Big Show in a match that didn’t really follow the story they have been telling. Cena had to adapt to beat Big Show but he didn’t, he just beat him normally. It doesn’t do Big Show any favours either. Big Show should have won this. Edge then retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jeff Hardy with help from Matt Hardy. I didn’t see the point in Matt getting involved, his story with Jeff is over. But I like Edge as champion. This is another match that could be rematched at Extreme Rules next month. Overall a pretty average show with a couple of good matches and just the one poor match.

Overall Rating: 55.7/100 (ranked 150th out of 238)

Match Of The Night: Randy Orton vs. Batista
Worst Match Of The Night: John Cena vs. The Big Show
Surprise Of The Night: John Cena beats The Big Show
Worst Booking Of The Night: John Cena beats The Big Show
Superstar Of The Night: Edge
Judgment Day 2009 Will Be Remembered For: Not a lot