Dark match
Funaki b Bradley Jay before ECW started

Smackdown opened with Batista doing an interview. Fans were with him except when he made Undertaker references, and then he was booed. Same stuff as before, talking about how he's not intimidated but still being a face. Undertaker's music played but he only appeared on the screen cutting a promo. Undertaker's reaction was far bigger than Batista's.

Money in the bank qualifier: Matt Hardy b Joey Mercury with a twist of fate off the ropes in 10:48. Booker was doing commentary and Hardy made the same climbing the ladder motion that Punk did during ECW.

Jimmy Yang & Shannon Moore & Scotty 2 Hotty b Chavo Guerrero & Gregory Helms & Daivari when Yang pinned Daivari with a moonsault bodyblock. Helms and Yang were a solid level or two above everyone else here. Good match.

Vince McMahon was out and had red hot heat. They showed the clip of Lashley doing the flying tackle through the cage on Umaga from ECW. He plugged they would announce the special referee on Raw on Monday. Lashley came out and got in Vince's face. Vince told Lashley he'd pay him double whatever Trump was paying him to back out of the match. Lashley of course declined. Vince slapped him in the face and as Lashley got a crazed look, Vince ran away.

Backstage, Mr. Kennedy wanted a shot at Lashley. Vince ordered a match where Kennedy couldn't be DQ'd or counted out, but Lashley could, and the title was at stake.

Ashley b Jillian with an elbow off the middle rope in 2:26. No matter how hard they push her, Ashley just isn't that popular. Jillian did her Brooke Hogan impersonation before the match. You've seen worse.

Fit Finlay won the Money in the bank qualifier over MVP and Chris Benoit in 9:04. Benoit was excellent here, doing all his signature stuff and carrying the match. It wasn't Benoit vs. Finlay level, but MVP didn't hurt the match either. Finish saw Hornswoggle (before the match Finlay explained that was his name) distract the ref. Finlay hit both men with the shillelagh and pinned Benoit.

Next week's Smackdown has Batista vs. Kane and Undertaker vs. Finlay

Lashley b Kennedy with the Oklahoma Stampede. Kennedy used a low blow, tights, chair to the head all to no avail as Lashley kept kicking out. Lashley really didn't look so hot, but they'll probably be able to cover for him in post-editing. Lashley isn't quite as popular as he should be given his push, but he was the at the level below the top guys. For the night, Undertaker and Van Dam were the top level with Batista and Benoit underneath them.

Dark match

Batista b Booker to retain the World title with a spinebuster in 2:00.