UNIONDALE, N.Y. – World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk may have debunked fluke-claiming critics by enduring in a highly competitive confrontation with Batista at The Great American Bash. But though the Straightedge Champion retained the gold, he was left with a bittersweet (and somewhat charred) taste in his mouth as Kane’s hell-wreaking intervention caused a double-disqualification. (Watch Punk's exclusive post-match interview)
Less than one month ago, CM Punk made a stand-out transition from ECW to Raw Superstardom by cashing in his Money in the Bank championship opportunity against an Animal-assailed Edge. Ironically, it would be Batista himself who would win No. 1 contendership and seek to curtail the tattooed champion’s greatest of personal ambitions fulfilled.
Three-time former World Heavyweight Champion Batista appeared to be the heavy favorite in a contest pitting power, size and experience against skill, resourcefulness and tenacity. But in his very first pay-per-view defense, Punk refused to be etched into history books as a mere “transitional champion” and for the entire bout, he took every ounce of fight to his sizeable challenger.
Suddenly, CM Punk and Batista’s battle for supremacy was overshadowed by a burlap sack bearing monster in the Nassau Coliseum. Deliberate and devastating, the seven-foot menace known as Kane brought an unruly ending to a hotly contested bout between two recent Raw draftees, laying both men out.
For weeks, Raw’s tormented monster has stalked the Monday night brand in search of answers to mysterious, twisted questions that none seem able to answer. Spouting his incoherent and puzzling mutterings – “Is he dead or is he alive?” – WWE’s own towering inferno continued his rancorous assault on a defenseless production crew member.
On the final Raw heading into The Bash, it was The Animal’s spear that left Kane unable to decimate Punk as planned. This may have been what drove the Big Red Monster to finish what he started with his former ally at a most inopportune moment, live on pay-per-view.
Is Kane yet satisfied with the damage caused to the World Heavyweight Champion and The Animal? Is any one safe, given the Big Red Machine’s recent unpredictability and bizarre actions?
Also, where does this leave Batista, who came within inches of clinching the gold before Kane’s unleashed wrath? The challenger was clearly unhappy as he Batista Bombed the battle-worn champion moments after the decision was rendered by the officials. Will the Straightedge Champion be able to keep the title with so many large threats?

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Tonight, before a capacity crowd at The Great American Bash, Michelle McCool defeated Natalya to become WWE’s first-ever Divas Champion. After a long road of sacrifice and hard work, McCool finally cemented her place in history, setting an incredibly high bar for any Diva bold enough to come after her and the gold.
The new championship was contested in a match every bit as praiseworthy as the title itself. It was a question of who wanted it more in this battle of fierce blows by both Divas combined with a barrage of painful submission holds by Natalya. But, despite Natalya’s vicious technical skills, the hand of irony intervened. Michelle McCool managed to reverse Natalya’s second Sharpshooter attempt to win with a submission hold of her own.
Going into to the event, a victory by Natalya seemed almost inevitable. She was trained in the Hart family Dungeon where she picked up an arsenal of dangerous maneuvers – including the Sharpshooter. Natalya earned her opportunity to fight for the title in the first Golden Dreams Match on the very night the new title was announced, giving her time to form an effective strategy and scout out her possible opponents. On top of that, McCool was forced to undertake an uphill battle for weeks to prove herself to SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero before winning the second Golden Dreams Match which qualified her to face Natalya.
However, after several heated exchanges on Friday Night SmackDown, it was clear that neither Superstar would was going to go down without a fight.
After beating the odds, Michelle has established herself as the top Diva on Friday nights. But now that she has reached the top of the mountain, she can rest assured that the Sexiest Woman on Television will be coming to knock her off her throne.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – When ECW Champion Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer stepped in the ring, an X factor decided the outcome once again. But it wasn't a frying pan this time, rather Colin Delaney who helped the World’s Strongest Man retain the ECW Title at Nassau Coliseum.
Dreamer has had his eye on the gold seemingly forever, but especially in recent weeks. He has fought for chance after chance. Despite Henry’s ability to overpower the ECW Original along with WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas in his corner, Dreamer got his opportunity at The Great American Bash and he almost made the most of it. But the World’s Strongest Man was able to add more muscle to his campaign in the form of Dreamer’s protégé, Delaney.
Nobody has been able to slow down Mark Henry’s reign since he won the ECW Title at Night of Champions. And now with Delaney by his side, against the man who helped the youngster earn a WWE contract, Henry’s position at the top of the Land of the Extreme doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – After months of hatred boiling hotter and hotter, Shawn Michaels' promise that “the worst is truly yet to come” rung true at The Great American Bash. Unfortunately for HBK, the truth came at his own expense as Chris Jericho re-injured Michaels’ right eye drawing so much blood that, despite HBK’s insistence to battle on, the officials ended the match and Y2J was declared winner. (Watch Michaels receive medical attention)
Throughout the bout, Michaels gave it his all in the match and seemed to have the momentum until a well-placed elbow ended up worsening his injured eye. After that, Jericho and protégé Lance Cade – a former pupil of The Showstopper – targeted the injury making it bleed more and more profusely, causing the match to be ended on the referee’s decision.
With Michaels' heading back to San Antonio for further examination, Jericho came back out to make a bold announcement to our fans. He stated that tonight was historical as he claimed Michaels’ was diagnosed by the trainers with a detached retina and that those watching had just witnessed the last match of HBK’s career.
Y2J has had it out for HBK the last few months, constantly questioning Michaels’ morality. What seems to add even more fuel to his fire is the fans’ constant approval for HBK’s actions. Jericho struck first on an edition of the Highlight Reel originally injuring HBK’s eye by throwing him face-first into the Jeri-Tron 6000. Now that all is said and done, it seems as though Jericho has lived up to his prophecy and ended Michaels’ illustrious career.
Could the curtain have pulled for the last time for The Showstopper?

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Shelton Benjamin defeated Matt Hardy at The Great American Bash in the legendary Nassau Coliseum to become the new United States Champion – making history and ending a “Bash” streak, becoming the first Superstar to ever challenge for the U.S. Title at the event and win it the same night.
In a clash of two of WWE’s high-flying, risk-taking Superstars, Benjamin added to his impressive championship résumé that already included reigns as an Intercontinental Champion and Tag Team Champion, capitalizing on one mistake by Hardy in a match that was back-and-forth from start to finish. Hardy seemingly became disoriented after a moonsault, and Shelton Benjamin used that split second to bring Hardy down and earn the victory.
Now, the Gold Standard can call himself United States Champion, earning another title and bringing the gold with him to Friday Night SmackDown. Throughout his career, Benjamin has proven himself to be a fighting champion when he carries gold around his waist – and now, after more than two years without a major singles title to call his own, Shelton Benjamin will undoubtedly look to cement his legacy with his newly-won United States Championship.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – After spending months in Edge’s shadow, Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder finally made a name for themselves – and they did it in big fashion by winning the WWE Tag Team Championship in their own hometown of Long Island, N.Y.
Going into the WWE Tag Team Championship Fatal Four Way, the now-former champions, John Morrison & The Miz, had done a lot of talking in their weekly WWE.com show, “The Dirt Sheet.” (Watch) The duo claimed they had no competition for their gold, and poked fun at just about anyone and everyone in WWE. But on this night, words were not enough to stop Hawkins & Ryder as the team claimed gold when Hawkins pinned Jesse.
Taking out the former champions was challenge enough for Hawkins & Ryder, but they also had to worry about six additional Superstars who were hungry for gold.
Jesse and Festus have been making great strides on SmackDown, with the corn-fed colossus Festus manhandling many an opponent. Despite a valiant effort, they could not find a way to win on this night.
And finally, the Belfast brawler Finlay & Hornswoggle had been at odds with The Miz & Morrison for weeks, often the butt of their “Dirt Sheet” jokes. Although they got in some good shots of their own tonight, they could not capitalize at the right moment.
With Hawkins & Ryder’s victory, championship gold is once again brought home to “The Family.”