WWE 2009 Judgment Day PPV Review

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) presented Judgment Day, the fifth pay-per-view of the year for WWE, on May 17, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. This was the tenth annual Judgment Day, and it features superstars from Raw, SmackDown and ECW brands. There were seven matches in total on the card.

Umaga vs. CM Punk - The opening match of the night was Money In The Bank, CM Punk versus the returning Umaga. CM Punk won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at Wrestlemania for the second time, meaning that he could cash it in for a World Title Shot at any time, during the calendar year. Two weeks ago on SmackDown, CM Punk had beaten World Heavyweight Champion Edge in a non-title match and was ready to cash in his World Title Shot opportunity but before he could, Umaga returned and attacked CM Punk. Umaga made his official return after not being on television in five months. The next week on Smackdown, CM Punk was given another match with Edge, but Umaga would interfere again, costing him another chance at the title. Later that night, a match between the two was made for Judgment Day. The crowd is all for CM Punk, chanting his name, because he is from Chicago. Punk had success early with kicks against the Samoan. Punk attempted the GTS on Umaga a few times but couldn't pull it off because Umaga is too heavy. Umaga lands the Samoan Drop for a two count. Punk answers with three kicks until Umaga lands a kick of his own followed by a splash. Umaga hits the Samoan Spike for the victory.

Christian (c) vs. Jack Swagger - The second match put the ECW Champion Christian against rival Jack Swagger for the ECW Championship. This match was ECW's only one on the PPV and it's main event with it's two top superstars. Christian made his shocking return to ECW on February 2009 after being in TNA since 2005, and instantly started feuding with then-ECW Champ Jack Swagger. After a couple title shot failures, Christian finally won the title from Jack Swagger at the Backlash PPV and Swagger invoked his rematch clause at the Judgment Day PPV. The match starts out methodically. This match went back-and-forth with both competitors landing counters on each other. Both attempted their finishers but couldn't execute them. Swagger attempted a clothesline but Christian ducked and grabbed the tights of Swagger for the three count and retains the ECW Championship.

John Morrison vs. Shelton Benjamin (w/ Charlie Hass) - The third match was a singles match between John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin. These two wrestlers have been mid-carders for most of their career and are known as high-flyers and risk takers. Morrison and Benjamin did not have a lot of build-up to their match on SmackDown but Morrison did beat Benjamin in a singles match two weeks ago. Morrison had turned face (good guy) not too long ago, and Benjamin had been a heel (bad guy) for a while. Shelton Benjamin entered the ring with his tag-team partner, Charlie Haas. This match was very high-paced with Morrison landed flips from the top rope onto Shelton. Both wrestlers landed high-risk spots on each other. Haas tried to interfere, but was unsuccessful. Morrison hit the flying drop kick followed by his finisher, named the Starship Pain, which is one of my new favorite finishers, and gets the win.

The Miz Promo - After the match, the Miz comes out with a mic and bashes his former tag-team partner, John Morrison. Like the past few weeks on Raw, the Miz calls out John Cena and taunts the crowd. Miz is getting major heat from the crowd. Miz calls out Chicago Cubs centerfielder Alfonso Soriano, who is sitting in the front row. He asks him why he does the Cena hand gesture whenever he hits a homerun. Miz says its because Soriano can't see a World Series ring for as long as he plays for the Cubs. The Miz continues to make fun of the Chicago Cubs for not winning a World Series in 100 years. Miz calls Soriano into the ring and continues to berate him. Santino Marella's music hits and he calls him "The Fiz". Marella says the WWE superstars resemble animals. He calls Vickie a pig and Kozlov an eagle. Miz attacks Santino and lays him out with a DDT. Chavo gets in the ring and lands a frog splash. Very funny promo.

Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Chris Jericho - The fourth match was an Intercontinental Championship match between the Champion Rey Mysterio against the challenger Chris Jericho. Jericho and Mysterio were both drafted to SmackDown on April 13. Mysterio had won the Intercontinental Championship from JBL at WrestleMania XXV. Before the match begins, Jericho has a backstage interview calling the fans hypocrites for rooting for Mysterio. Jericho also guarantees that he will win the Intercontinental Championship. Lots of high-flying moves from Rey and many two counts for both competitors. Mysterio tries for the 619 but Chris gets out of the way. Mysterio tries for the 619 again, but it gets countered into the Walls of Jericho with Mysterio screaming in pain but does not tap. Jericho pulls him back from the ropes but Mysterio counters with an inside cradle for a two count. Jericho lands a powerslam for a two count. Mysterio finally hits the 619, on the fourth try, followed by the springboard for the victory and retains the Intercontinental Championship.This was the match of the night and the crowd was really into it.

Randy Orton (c) vs. Batista - The fifth match was the WWE Champion Randy Orton versus the #1 contender Batista. This match was Raw's main event. Randy Orton has been feuding with the McMahon family and Triple H since the beginning of this year. Orton won the WWE Title at Backlash after pinning Triple H. Batista made his return on the April 6 episode of Raw, after being out of action for six months, attacking Legacy (Orton, Rhodes, DiBiase). Batista won a singles match against The Big Show, thanks to John Cena, and became the #1 contender for Orton's Title at Judgment Day. Batista dominated most of the match on offense with Orton getting in a few dropkicks and knee drops until Orton smacks the referee to get himself disqualified. Batista wins by disqualification but Orton retrains the WWE Championship. Legacy enters the ring and beats up Batista until Ric Flair's music hits. Batista and Flair take out Legacy. WWE is making Orton look like a very weak champion.

John Cena vs. The Big Show - The sixth match was a singles match between John Cena and The Big Show. At Backlash, during the John Cena versus Edge, Last Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship, The Big Show interfered, throwing John Cena threw a spotlight, costing Cena his World Championship and making Edge the new champion. Cena suffered internal injuries as a result. Raw General Manager, Vickie Guerrero, made a match between the two, the Raw before the PPV and Cena promised he would win. Big Show dominates most of this match, working on Cena's ribs and taking him apart until Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment for the three count. This match was very bad and shouldn't of been on the PPV.

Edge (c) vs. Jeff Hardy - The last match of the night was the World Heavyweight Champion Edge against #1 contender Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Championship. This match was SmackDown's main event. Jeff Hardy was awarded the #1 contendership after he defeated Kane, Chris Jericho, and Rey Mysterio in a fatal four-way elimination match on SmackDown. The beginning is sluggish between Edge and Jeff Hardy but begins to pick up in the middle of the match. Hardy and Edge both miss numerous finishers but Hardy hits two Twist of Fates and a Whisper in the Wind for three near counts. Edge lands a nice mid-air spear on the outside. Matt Hardy comes out of the crowd and attacks his brother. Edge rolls him back in the ring but only for a two count. Hardy avoids the spear from Edge but as Hardy is on the top rope, Edge hits the Edgecution superplex for the win and retains his World Heavyweight Title.

And that ended the Judgment Day PPV. There were four championship matches on the card and the champion retained their title in every match. The best match of the night was Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho. Also Punk vs. Umaga, Morrison vs. Benjamin, Christian vs. Swagger, and Hardy vs. Edge, were great matches. The worst match of the night was definitely John Cena vs. The Big Show and Batista vs. Orton was bad for all the hype. Overall, this PPV was a 7 out of 10. It was not as good as the Backlash PPV or WrestleMania XXV but was still a good show with overall good matches.