Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Edge had promised on SmackDown that he would bring the World Heavyweight Championship back “where it belongs.” And coming into Backlash, Undertaker’s career record at the event wasn’t quite as impressive as his WrestleMania streak – 16-0 vs. 2-1-1. But just like WrestleMania XXIV, Backlash saw The Phenom notch a win at the expense of Edge, as The Deadman toppled the Rated-R Superstar for the second straight month to walk out of Baltimore still the World Heavyweight Champion.
Over the last four weeks, Edge’s fiancée, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, has thrown just about everything – and everyone – in The Phenom’s path in an attempt to soften him up for Backlash. Undaunted, Undertaker navigated that rocky road, surviving his own brother, ECW Champion Kane, as well as Festus and two battles with Batista to arrive in Baltimore for his second go-round with the Ultimate Opportunist.
During the introductions, Undertaker mouthed “I’m going to hurt you” in Edge’s direction – and that’s exactly what The Phenom did. He came out a house of fire early, bouncing Edge from pillar to post until an opportune moment involving a missing turnbuckle pad helped the Rated-R Superstar weaken the champion’s back and take control.
But in the end, even four weeks of torture and appearances by Hawkins & Ryder couldn’t hold The Deadman down. As he went for a chokeslam, Undertaker saw Zack Ryder heading toward the ring. He cut him off by tossing Edge into him, but when The Phenom went for a Last Ride, the challenger snuck out the back door and rolled The Deadman into a sunset flip.
In reality, The Phenom had Edge right where he wanted him. Moving quickly, Undertaker maneuvered the challenger into his vicious new submission hold; the Ultimate Opportunist fought, but was forced to tap out.
That didn’t mean The Deadman was done. After the bell rang, he continued to hold the choke on Edge, not letting go until SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero was wheeled out to ringside to support her fiancé. Only then did The Deadman release the hold, and it would be Vickie’s fiancé who was wheeled out – leaving the arena on a stretcher with blood leaking from his gaping mouth.
Undertaker certainly made a statement, and made good on his pre-match promise. But now that he has two straight victories over Edge and may have put him out of commission, what lies ahead for the World Heavyweight Champion?
Of course, with the Rated-R Superstar being the fiancé of SmackDown’s General Manager, he will most likely never be out of the title hunt. But with several Superstars positioning themselves in the hunt at Backlash – not to mention the fact that CM Punk’s Money in the Bank briefcase is still in play – could The Deadman be in for even more of an all-out assault on the road to Judgment Day?
