Cyber Sunday 2008 Recap and Results

US Title: Champion Shelton Benjamin vs. ??? (Festus, R-Truth, or MVP) - This match was streamed live on wwe.com 15-minutes before the start of the PPV. The fans voted for R-Truth to be in this match. After hitting a missile drop kick, it appeared that R-Truth had the match in hand. However, when R-Truth ran across the ring, Shelton was able to grab him and hit the Pay Dirt to get the win. Winner: Shelton Benjamin

??? Match: Kane vs. Rey Mysterio - The fans voted for this to be a No Holds Barred Match. After hitting Kane with several chair shots, Kane fell draped across the ropes. Rey went for the 619 but was caught by Kane. Kane attempted a choke slam but Rey countered it into a hurricarana which draped Kane over the ropes again. This time Rey connected with the 619 and then hit the springboard splash to get the win. Winner: Rey Mysterio

- The announcers start to hype the Diva Halloween contest and show some of the Divas in their outfits backstage. This continued throughout the night between the matches until all of the contestants were shown.

- In the back, Chris Jericho runs into Ted DiBiase, Manu, and Rhodes. He tries to talk them into taking out Batista tonight. They decline the offer.

ECW Title: Champion Matt Hardy vs. ??? - The fans voted for Evan Bourne to be in this match over Mark Henry and Finlay. After Evan Bourne missed the Shooting Star Press, Matt went for the Twist of Fate. Evan countered that into a backslide for a two-count. Matt went for the Twist of Fate a second time and this time connected to get the win. Winner: Matt Hardy

Pick the Tag Team Match - The fans picked to see Cryme Tyme vs. The Miz & John Morrison. When the ref tried to get JTG into his corner, the Miz and Morrison took advantage and double-teamed Shad who had Morrison up for a slam. The Miz clipped the leg of Shad and then Morrison hit the Moonlight Drive to get the win. Winners: John Morrison & The Miz

- In the back, Chris Jericho asks the Great Khali to be in his corner tonight. The Great Khali declines.

- It is announced that John Cena will be making his return to the ring at the Survivor Series.

Intercontinental Championship: Champion Santino Marella vs. ??? - Honky Tonk Man barely won the vote over Roddy Piper and Goldust. Barely a minute into the match, Beth Phoenix caused this match to end via a DQ when she tripped the Honky Tonk Man. After the match, Goldust and Piper made their way to the ring and the three legends beat on Santino. Winner: Honky Tonk Man by DQ

??? Match: Undertaker vs. Big Show - Last Man Standing Match won the vote but in a humorous moment, Vickie pulled an Adamle and accidentally announced the wrong stipulation before correcting herself. Things looked very bleak for the Deadman as Big Show almost won the match on several occasions most notably when he choke slammed the Undertaker through the ECW announce table. However, Undertaker unleashed the illegal choke hold that he was banned from using a few months ago. Since you can’t get disqualified in this match, Undertaker didn’t have to worry about using it. Undertaker knocked Big Show out with the move and when the Big Show couldn’t get back to his feet by the 10-count, the Undertaker won the match. It appears that the move finally has a name as Jim Ross referred to it as the Death Valley Vice. Winner: The Undertaker

- Jericho whines to Mike Adamle about the odds being stacked against him tonight but Adamle refuses to change the match stipulations.

- Tazz introduced the Divas to the ring and announced that Mickie James won the fan vote of Halloween contest with her Laura Croft from Tomb Raider costume.

WWE Championship: Champion Triple H vs. ??? - The fans voted for this to be a one-on-one match between Triple H and Jeff Hardy. For the third consecutive PPV, Jeff Hardy came as close as possible to winning the title but once again found himself unable to get the three-count. After making several near falls, Jeff went to the top rope. While Jeff was on the top rope, Triple H pulled him off the top rope in a double underhook and then drove him into the ground with the Pedigree to get the win. Winner: Triple H

World Heavyweight Championship: Champion Chris Jericho vs. Batista - Steve Austin won the fan vote to be referee for this match over Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton. Early in the match, Jericho headed towards the back to get himself purposely counted out. Austin grabbed the mic and announced that the title would change hands if Jericho was counted out or was disqualified. During the match, Batista accidentally knocked Austin out. Jericho hit the Codebreaker and Shawn Michaels ran to the ring as the back-up referee. Michaels refused to make the three-count. Batista hit the Spear on Jericho but JBL came out and hit the Clothesline From Hell on Michaels so he couldn’t make the 1-2-3 count. Orton comes out, takes out Austin and Jericho then hits Batista with the title belt. Batista kicks out at 2. Austin recovers, stuns Orton and then argues with Jericho. While Jericho was able to avoid the Stunner, he was hit by the Spinebuster and Batista Bomb. Austin made the three-count and Batista won the title. Winner: Batista

What does this event mean for the future?
In four weeks, the WWE will be presenting the Survivor Series. The excess outside interference in the main event is sure to be settled in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match next month. Even with the World Championship changing hands, the biggest story to come out of this show that will have a big impact on the WWE is the announcement that John Cena will be making his return in four weeks.

Overall Thoughts
I felt a strange sense of déjà-vu and thought I was watching Cyber Sunday 2007. From Mickie James winning the Halloween Contest to Triple H winning the match right before the final match to Steve Austin refereeing another Batista main event that saw him walk out of the event as the World Heavyweight Champion, I felt like I was in the matrix. To continue this trip through the matrix, I’m just going to rewrite what I wrote in my recap last year: “If you decided to watch Game 4 of the World Series you saved yourself $40.” Amazingly enough, this event also took place against Game 4 of the World Series.

Match Results (bolded items represent the victorious fan vote)

• Pre-show match on WWE.com for the US Championship: Champion Shelton Benjamin beat R-Truth
  
• No Holds Bared Match: Rey Mysterio beat Kane
  
• ECW Title: Champion Matt Hardy beat Evan Bourne
  
• Pick the Tag Team Match: The Miz & John Morrison beat Cryme Tyme
  
• Intercontinental Championship: The Honky Tonk Man beat Champion Santino Marella by DQ
  
• Last Man Standing Match: Undertaker beat Big Show
  
• WWE Championship: Champion Triple H beat Jeff Hardy
  
• World Heavyweight Championship Match with Steve Austin as the Special Guest Referee: Batista beat Chris Jericho to win the title

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