WWE Open.

-Clips of last week aired, showing Vickie’s speech from the beginning of the show, as well as highlights from the Championship Chase.

-Smackdown Open.

-Edge and his familia came out, as ring announcer Tony Chimel announced Edge as the “next World Heavyweight Champion.” Edge called what happened to him last week a “medical miracle.” Edge said he got cleared to wrestle just in the nick of time. He said Undertaker has never beaten him without using that illegal choke-hold. All of a sudden, Theodore Long’s music interrupted, and the former GM came out. He said he was sorry he was late, and apparently, he’s been incommunicado all day. Vickie gave him a brow beating, but said there was more to come. Teddy said he spent the day at WWE Headquarters, as summoned by Vince McMahon, to talk to the Board of Directors about Vickie’s decision to strip Taker of the title. Teddy opened a letter addressed to Vickie, and read it aloud (he was instructed to, I guess). It’s from the Board of Directors: They’ve decided to take disciplinary measures against Vickie. The options: Compete in her first-ever wrestling match tonight, and keep her position; or, not wrestle, and lose her job. Vickie was not happy Teddy went behind her back to the Board, so she fired him. He said she couldn’t fire him because he quit. Before he walked off, Teddy announced Vickie’s opponent: The Undertaker.

Normally, long drawn-out segments involving general managers are of no interest to me. But I liked the slow burn of the Vickie-Teddy relationship, as well as Vickie-Edge. And because they had Vickie as GM for so long, this move actually means something, as opposed to if they did it a month into her reign, as WWE is sometimes quick on the draw.

[Commercial Break]

1- CM Punk vs. CHUCK PALUMBO

Three weeks ago, Punk and Palumbo went at it on ECW and last week, Palumbo had some not-so-nice words for Punk. Palumbo went right after Punk to start, hammering away in the corner. Punk got a brief flurry of offense after a leap-frog, but Chuck went back on offense. That is, until Palumbo got low-bridged and Punk dove through the ropes onto him on the outside. Side head-lock by Palumbo back inside after a pin attempt from Punk. Punk came back with some kicks as a supposedly dazed Palumbo staggered to find the corner for Punk’s next move (the knee to the face). Springboard clothesline by Punk for two. Chuck caught Punk’s leg on a kick attempt and hit a short clothesline. Cross-body by Punk was caught by Palumbo, and Chuck hit a Samoan drop for two. Punk countered the Full Throttle and tossed Chuck shoulder-first into the ring post. Punk then hit the GTS for the win.