SummerSlam (2009)

SummerSlam is an annual pay-per-view, produced every August by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) since 1988. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer,"[7] it is one of the promotion's original four pay-per-views, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series, dubbed the "Big Four".[8] It is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind WrestleMania.[9][10] 2009 was the twenty-second event in the SummerSlam chronology and featured wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands—it was the last to feature ECW, as well as the ECW Championship, as the brand was disbanded in February 2010, deactivating the championship with it.[2]

Tickets for SummerSlam went on sale starting February 13, 2009.[11] The first teaser trailer for the event was shown at WWE's Extreme Rules event.[12] The trailer included the event's official theme song, "You Gotta Move" by Aerosmith.[12] As part of the promotion for the event, WWE held SummerSlam Axxess, a fan convention similar to WrestleMania's fan convention, WrestleMania Axxess, at Nokia Plaza in L.A. Live from August 22 to August 23.[13] According to video game publisher THQ, further details of the latest installment of their WWE SmackDown series, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, would also be revealed at the event.[14]

Randy Orton defended the WWE Championship against John Cena at SummerSlam.

The professional wrestling matches at SummerSlam included professional wrestlers performing as characters in scripted events pre-determined by the hosting promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[15][16] Storylines between the characters were produced on WWE's weekly television shows Raw, SmackDown, and ECW with the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands—storyline divisions in which WWE assigned its employees to different programs.[17]

On the July 27 episode of Raw, the show's guest host and storyline matchmaker, Shaquille O'Neal, revealed that Randy Orton would defend the WWE Championship against the winner of a Beat the Clock challenge, which was determined by who of the five competitors could defeat their opponent in the fastest time: Mark Henry, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), Triple H, Jack Swagger, or John Cena. Henry set the pace by defeating Carlito in 6:49, while MVP, Triple H, and Swagger failed to defeat their opponents. Cena beat Henry's time by defeating The Miz, and become Orton's opponent at SummerSlam.[18]

The main rivalry from the SmackDown brand heading into SummerSlam was between Jeff Hardy and CM Punk in their continuing conflict over the World Heavyweight Championship. Animosity stemmed from Extreme Rules when Punk invoked the guaranteed title match he earned by winning the Money in the Bank ladder match against Hardy and defeated him for the World Heavyweight title.[19] The two faced off at the next two pay-per-view events, The Bash and Night of Champions, with Hardy winning the latter match to regain the title.[20][21] This also saw a number of conflicts between the two over their respective philosophies in life; Punk is legitimately straight edge, which promotes a drug-free lifestyle, while Hardy, who has had a number of indiscretions with drugs throughout his career, was at odds with the way Punk reprimanded the fans for their potential addictions.[22] Following two assaults on Hardy, SmackDown General Manager, Theodore Long, scheduled a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match between the two for SummerSlam.[23][24]

The ECW brand was represented at the show with Christian defending the ECW Championship against William Regal. On the August 11 episode of the program, Christian was a guest on the talk show segment, The Abraham Washington Show, during which Regal was revealed the number one contender.[25][26]

On the July 27 episode of Raw, the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Chris Jericho and The Big Show got into a heated confrontation with Shaquille O'Neal. After the two refused to get into a fight with him, O'Neal scheduled the champions to fight Cryme Tyme in a tag team match later that night with O'Neal acting as the match's ringside enforcer; the champions were disqualified, making their opponents angry.[18] On the July 31 episode of SmackDown, Cryme Tyme defeated The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith) to become Jericho and Big Show's opponents for SummerSlam.[27]

WWE Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio had been the target of Dolph Ziggler since July.[28] The two met at Night of Champions, only to see Mysterio retain the title.[21] Ziggler regained his contender status on the August 7 episode of SmackDown by defeating R-Truth, Mike Knox, and Finlay in a fatal four-way.[24]

Inside Staples Center during SummerSlam. The venue hosted the event again the following year.

Stemming from his previous rivalry with Randy Orton, Triple H started to target Orton's Legacy associates, Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes. Triple H failed to win a Beat the Clock challenge to face Orton in a match with Rhodes when DiBiase distracted him for sufficient time.[18] After losing a handicap match against the two the following week, Triple H stated that he was going to get a partner, hinting throughout the show that he intended to reform D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels.[29] A week later, it was revealed that Triple H had convinced Michaels, who was working as a chef at a corporate cafeteria, to quit his job and return at SummerSlam to face DiBiase and Rhodes in a tag team match.[30]

At The Bash, The Great Khali was assaulted with a steel chair by Kane in his match with Dolph Ziggler.[31] The following weeks saw both men interfere in each other's matches with Kane running away from his adversary any time Khali made his way to gain a measure of revenge.[23][32][33] On the August 7 episode of SmackDown, Kane attacked Khali from behind before kidnapping Khali's translator, Ranjin Singh. The following week, it was revealed that Kane was holding Singh hostage in a backstage room at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, interrogating and abusing him, before Khali found him, leading to Kane beating down on Khali.[34] The following week, a match between the two was scheduled for SummerSlam.

After Jack Swagger was moved to the Raw brand, he had a verbal confrontation with Montel Vontavious Porter, which led to MVP challenging the former to a fight, which was declined by Swagger on the grounds of his unwillingness to "fight criminals", referring to MVP's previous incarceration.[35][36][37] The coming weeks saw Swagger and MVP interfere in each other's business before MVP challenged Swagger on the August 17 episode of Raw.[38] After Swagger got himself disqualified, another match was scheduled for SummerSlam.[39]

Prior to SummerSlam airing live on pay per view, the company's female wrestlers, known as divas, fought in a battle royal, with Chavo Guerrero as the guest referee. Beth Phoenix won the match by simultaneously eliminating Eve Torres and Kelly Kelly with Guerrero's help.[40]

The show began airing with Rey Mysterio defending the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler. The match was contested at a fast pace, with Mysterio gaining executing a moonsault before the match descended out of the ring, where Mysterio executed a hurricanrana. As the match returned to the ring, Mysterio attempted an aerial attack, but Ziggler countered with a turnbuckle powerbomb. Mysterio attempted a 619, but Ziggler countered with a leg drop bulldog. As the match continued, Mysterio executed the 619 and attempted a springboard splash, but Ziggler avoided the move. Ziggler climbed to the top rope with Mysterio and attempted an attack, but Mysterio countered with a frankensteiner to retain the title.[41]

Next, Jack Swagger faced MVP. Swagger applied various holds and attempted a Swagger Bomb on MVP, but MVP countered the move. MVP executed a big boot on Swagger, who was cornered, and the Playmaker for the win.[41]

Cryme Tyme unsuccessfully challenged Chris Jericho and The Big Show for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship.

JeriShow (Chris Jericho and The Big Show) defended the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship against Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad Gaspard). After JTG gained advantage over Jericho, Jericho tagged in Big Show, dominating JTG. JTG tagged in Gaspard, who was speared by The Big Show. Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho on JTG, who tried to reach the ropes, but Big Show executed a KO Punch on him, allowing Jericho to pin JTG to retain the title.[41]

Next, Kane faced The Great Khali. The two fought until Kane pursued Ranjin Singh. Kane performed a dropkick to Khali's knee and executed a running DDT for the victory.[42]

Triple H and Shawn Michaels reunited at the event as D-Generation X to challenge The Legacy.

D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) faced The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase) in Michaels' first match since WrestleMania XXV. The match started with Triple H fighting DiBiase and Rhodes. When Michaels tagged in, Rhodes left the ring to avoid Sweet Chin Music. After Legacy gained the advantage, Rhodes attempted a diving elbow drop, but Michaels countered the move. Michaels attempted a diving elbow drop, but Rhodes countered and executed Cross Rhodes on Michaels. Triple H broke up the pin and executed the Pedigree on Rhodes, leading to DiBiase executing Dream Street on Triple H. As DiBiase and Triple H fought outside the ring, Michaels executed Sweet Chin Music on Rhodes to win the match.[41]

Next, Christian defended the ECW Championship against William Regal, accompanied by Ezekiel Jackson and Vladimir Kozlov. As Regal was removing his coat, Christian executed the Killswitch to retain the title. After the match, Jackson and Kozlov attacked Christian, with Jackson executing The Book of Ezekiel and Kozlov executing the Iron Curtain on Christian and Regal applied the Regal Stretch on Christian.[43]

Randy Orton defended the WWE Championship against John Cena. The match started with neither man gaining the advantage until Orton executed an elevated DDT on Cena. As Orton attempted a punt, Cena fought back. Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment, but Orton countered and was disqualified for shoving the referee. Vince McMahon restarted the match with the stipulation that if Orton was disqualified, he would lose the title. As the match progressed, Orton intentionally go himself counted out but McMahon restarted the match again. Orton pinned Cena using the ropes for leverage but a second referee ran down to the ring and convinced the original referee to restart the match. Cena applied the STF, but a person from the crowd (later revealed as Brett DiBiase) assaulted the referee. After the person was removed from the ring, Orton executed an RKO to retain the title.[41]

CM Punk defeated Jeff Hardy in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to become World Heavyweight Champion.

The final match was the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Jeff Hardy and CM Punk. Punk tried to climb a ladder, but Hardy stopped him. Hardy set up a chair in front of Punk and attempted a leg lariat, but Punk countered and dropped Hardy onto the chair. Punk executed a suicide dive on Hardy and Punk then attempted another chair shot on Hardy but Hardy countered. Punk tried to run Hardy into the steel steps but Hardy reversed Punk, which Punk jumped on the top step to avoid collision and tried to jump onto Hardy, but Hardy hit Punk with a chair while Punk was in mid-air. Hardy placed Punk on a table and dove off the top rope but Punk avoided Hardy, knocking Hardy through the table. Punk tried to climb a ladder but Hardy stopped him with a sunset flip powerbomb. Hardy tried to climb the ladder, but Punk stopped him. Punk executed a superplex onto a ladder on Hardy. Punk attempted a GTS, but Hardy countered and threw Punk through a table. Hardy tried to climb the ladder but Punk leapt off the top rope and stopped him. Hardy executed a Swanton Bomb off a ladder on Punk through a broadcast table. Back in the ring, Punk and Hardy climbed the ladder and fought until Punk knocked Hardy off the ladder and retrieved the title belt to win the match. As he was celebrating, the lights briefly went out and The Undertaker appeared, performing a chokeslam on Punk as the event ended.[41]