Unforgiven (2008)

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Unforgiven
Quicken Loans Arena
Attendance8,707[1]
Buy rate211,000
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
SummerSlam 		Next →
No Mercy
Unforgiven chronology
← Previous
2007 		Next →
Final

The 2008 Unforgiven was the 11th annual and final

Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2009, Unforgiven was replaced by Breaking Point
.

Seven

ECW Champion Mark Henry defending, losing the match and title to Matt Hardy. The SmackDown brand's Championship Scramble saw WWE Champion Triple H defeat the other competitors to retain his championship. Another featured match on the undercard was an unsanctioned match, or hardcore match, in which Shawn Michaels
defeated Chris Jericho.

The event marked the first time the Championship Scramble format was used by WWE. The event had an attendance of 8,707. The event received 211,000 pay-per-view buys, more than the previous year's event. When the event was released on DVD, it reached a peak position of second on Billboard's DVD sales chart. It was also the first and only Unforgiven PPV broadcast in high definition.

Production

Background

Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
.

Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It featured wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands.[1]

Storylines

The event featured seven

storyline divisions
in which WWE assigned its employees. The event also marked the first time that the Championship Scramble format was used by the WWE.

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk.

Wrestlers from Raw were featured in the

Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Kane. During the event, however, Randy Orton attacked Punk and he was replaced in the match by Chris Jericho. The build up to the match began on the August 18 episode of Raw, when Raw General Manager Mike Adamle, who portrays an on screen authority figure, announced the match and its rules, stating that JBL, Batista, John Cena, Kane, and World Heavyweight Champion Punk would participate.[3][4] The following week on Raw, Adamle announced that Cena had been injured after his match against Batista at SummerSlam, and would be unable to compete in the Championship Scramble. Adamle then announced Mysterio as Cena's replacement.[5][6] On the September 1 episode of Raw, a preview of the Championship Scramble match was featured, in which the five men fighting in the Championship Scramble competed in a traditional battle royal, which Kane won.[7][8]

The other predominant match from Raw was an unsanctioned match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. At SummerSlam, Michaels came to the ring to announce his retirement. However, Jericho interrupted the announcement and, in an attempt to punch Michaels, accidentally struck Michaels' wife Rebecca.[9] On the August 18 episode of Raw, Jericho stated that he had no remorse for punching Michaels wife, claiming that Michaels "had it coming".[3][4] The next week on Raw, Michaels announced he would not retire and asked Jericho for an unsanctioned match, which Jericho accepted.[5][6] The following week on Raw a contract was signed for the match. The signing ended with both men attacking each other.[7][8]

The predominant match from SmackDown was a Championship Scramble for the

Finlay, which Benjamin won. The final qualifying match was Jeff Hardy versus The Great Khali, which Hardy won.[10][11]

ECW Champion
.

The predominant match from ECW was a third Championship Scramble, in which

Evan Bourne to qualify. The third qualifying match saw Chavo Guerrero defeat Tommy Dreamer to qualify, and the fourth match was Finlay versus Mike Knox, which Finlay won.[12][13] On the September 1 episode of Raw, there was a preview of the Championship Scramble, in which the five participants took part in a traditional battle royal. The winner was ECW Champion Mark Henry.[8][14]

Event

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English
commentators
 Michael Cole (Raw)
Jerry Lawler (Raw)
Jim Ross (SmackDown)
Tazz
(SmackDown)
Todd Grisham (ECW)
Matt Striker (ECW)
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Backstage
interviewers
 Eve Torres
Todd Grisham
Ring announcers Lilian Garcia (Raw)
Justin Roberts (SmackDown)
Tony Chimel (ECW)
Referees Charles Robinson
John Cone
Mike Chioda
Scott Armstrong
Mike Posey
Marty Elias

Before the event aired

dark match was featured in which Evan Bourne defeated John Morrison with a shooting star press.[15]

Preliminary matches

The pay-per-view event began with

shillelagh, followed by a Celtic Cross on Hardy to become temporary champion. The match continued until Matt Hardy performed a Twist of Fate on The Miz. He covered The Miz and became the interim champion. Hardy continued to break up pinfall attempts until the end of the 20-minute time limit, at which time Hardy officially won the ECW Championship.[15][16]

World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase.

In the next match, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase defended the World Tag Team Championship against Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard and JTG). The match began with Cryme Tyme in control, and Shad threw JTG over the top rope onto Rhodes and DiBiase. Rhodes and DiBiase, however, isolated JTG in their corner and performed a number of offensive maneuvers on him. Rhodes attempted a moonsault onto JTG, but missed, allowing JTG to tag in Shad at the same time Rhodes tagged in DiBiase. Shad performed a back body drop on DiBiase, but while the referee was distracted, Rhodes performed a DDT on Shad. DiBiase attempted to cover Shad, but was forced to break the cover as Shad placed his foot on the bottom rope. JTG attempted an inside cradle pin on Rhodes, but Shad accidentally pushed DiBiase on Rhodes, reversing the pinfall attempt so that Rhodes scored the pin over JTG, retaining his and DiBiase's titles in the process.[15][16]

In the third match, Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho fought in an unsanctioned match. The match also saw Lance Cade interfere on Jericho's behalf, but Michaels ultimately gained the advantage over both men, leading to him placing both men on an announcer's table and performing a Diving Elbow Drop through the table. After returning Jericho to the ring, Michaels continued to attack Jericho. He then took off his belt and repeatedly whipped Chris Jericho with it. The referee ended the match when he determined that Jericho could no longer defend himself against Michaels, making Michaels the victor by referee stoppage.[15][17]

Triple H, who defended the WWE Championship in a Championship Scramble

Next, Triple H defended the WWE Championship in a Championship Scramble against

The Brian Kendrick, Shelton Benjamin, and Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP). The match began with Jeff Hardy and Shelton Benjamin, with both men wrestling inconclusively until the first five-minute interval had passed, and Brian Kendrick entered the match. Soon after his entrance, Hardy performed a reverse powerbomb on Benjamin, covering him and scoring a pinfall to become the interim WWE Champion. Later, Kendrick performed The Kendrick on Hardy and covered him for a pinfall, becoming the temporary WWE Champion. Shortly after, the second five-minute interval expired and MVP entered the match. All four men in the match continued to fight, with no pinfalls being scored until the third five-minute interval expired, at which point Triple H entered the match. Soon after his entrance, he performed a spinebuster, followed by a Pedigree on Kendrick, pinning him to become the interim champion. Hardy returned to the ring and performed a Twist of Fate on MVP, pinning him to become the temporary champion. After disrupting Hardy's attempt to perform a maneuver off the top turnbuckle, Triple H performed a Pedigree on Kendrick to become interim champion again. Shortly after, however, Hardy performed a Swanton Bomb on Kendrick and again became temporary champion after a cover. At the end, Triple H performed a Pedigree on MVP and Hardy performing a Swanton Bomb on Benjamin; however, Triple H covered MVP faster and scored the pinfall with one second remaining on the clock. The time limit expired and Triple H retained the WWE Championship.[15][18]

A backstage segment occurred where CM Punk was interviewed regarding his title defense in the Championship Scramble later in the evening. Randy Orton interrupted the interview, and as he spoke with Punk,

running punt on Punk.[16]

Maryse
.

The fifth contest was a standard match in which

Maryse. Maryse began the match attacking McCool's knee, but McCool soon countered by grabbing Maryse's foot and twisting it, a submission hold called a heel hook. Maryse, however, reached the ropes and caused McCool to break the hold. Later in the match, McCool performed the Wings of Love and covered Maryse to retain her championship.[15][16]

After the match, an in ring segment took place in which

TitanTron, telling Guerrero to either get in the casket herself or he would put her in it. Guerrero refused to enter the casket voluntarily, so The Undertaker began to come to ringside. The Big Show held back Guerrero as The Undertaker came to the ring. Once he was in the ring, The Undertaker began to choke Guerrero, but the Big Show turned heel, becoming a villainous character, by striking The Undertaker and freeing Guerrero. He proceeded to attack The Undertaker, and restrained him to allow Guerrero to slap him and spit in his face.[15][16]

The main event was a Championship Scramble for the World Heavyweight Championship. CM Punk was originally scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Title against John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL),

strike Kane with his forearm, a move JBL calls a "Clothesline from Hell", but was caught by Kane. Kane then chokeslammed JBL and covered him for a pinfall, becoming the interim champion. Soon after, the second five-minute interval expired and Rey Mysterio entered the match. The match continued for several minutes, until the final five-minute interval expired and Jericho (nearly immobile after his match with Shawn Michaels) entered the match as a replacement for CM Punk, shocking everyone. Soon after Jericho's entrance, Batista performed a spinebuster on Kane, covering him for a pinfall and becoming temporary champion. Batista was left as the only man standing until Jericho returned to the ring and covered the already downed Kane, scoring a pinfall and becoming interim champion. The time limit expired soon after, and Jericho won the World Heavyweight Championship.[15][19]

Reception

Despite the event's promotional build-up, only a reported 6,000 tickets were initially sold for an arena that holds 20,000 people. To fill the arena, local radio stations gave away tickets to the show.

Canadian Online Explorer's professional wrestling section rated the entire event a 7 out of 10 stars.[16] The rating was higher than the Unforgiven event in 2007, which was rated a 5.5 out of 10 stars.[21] The Championship Scramble main event match from the Raw brand was rated a 6.5 out of 10 stars, while the SmackDown brand's main event, a Championship Scramble for the WWE Championship, was rated an 8 out of 10 stars.[16]

The event was released on

Sony Music Entertainment. The DVD reached second on Billboard's DVD Sales Chart for recreational sports during the week of November 1, 2008, although it fell off the chart thereafter.[23]

Aftermath

On the September 8 episode of Raw, it was announced that CM Punk would challenge Chris Jericho in an attempt to win back the World Heavyweight Championship, with the two fighting in a

Steel Cage match the following week.[24][25] On the following week's Raw, Jericho escaped the cage before Punk, and thus retained his championship. Later that night, General Manager Mike Adamle announced that Batista would face JBL in a number one contender's match at No Mercy. Following this announcement, Shawn Michaels announced that he would be facing Jericho in a ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship at No Mercy.[26][27] Two weeks later on the September 29 episode of Raw, Jericho and Lance Cade faced a reunited D-Generation X (Michaels and Triple H) in a tag team match, which D-Generation X won via disqualification.[28][29] At No Mercy, Batista defeated JBL to become number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, and Jericho defeated Michaels to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[30]

On the September 12 episode of SmackDown, a

fatal four-way match was held between Jeff Hardy, The Brian Kendrick, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP, with the stipulation that the winner would go on to face Triple H at No Mercy for the WWE Championship. Hardy won the match and earned a title match at No Mercy.[31][32] At No Mercy, Triple H defeated Hardy to retain his championship.[30]

On the September 16 episode of ECW, it was announced that Matt Hardy would defend the ECW Championship against Mark Henry at No Mercy.[33][34] At No Mercy, Hardy defeated Henry to retain his championship.[30]

Almost two and a half years later at the 2011 Royal Rumble, CM Punk prevented Randy Orton from winning the WWE Championship from The Miz. Eventually Punk revealed that he did this to get revenge on Orton for costing him the championship at Unforgiven in 2008.[35]

The 2008 Unforgiven would be the final Unforgiven event, as the event was discontinued and replaced by Breaking Point in 2009.[36]

Results

No.Results
dark match

ECW Championship Scramble Interim Champions

Number Wrestler Entered Pinned Method
1 Chavo Guerrero 3 Matt Hardy Frog Splash
2 Matt Hardy 1 Chavo Guerrero Side Effect
3 Mark Henry 4 Chavo Guerrero World's Strongest Slam
4 Finlay 5 Matt Hardy Celtic Cross
Winner Matt Hardy 1 The Miz Twist of Fate

WWE Championship Scramble Interim Champions

Number Wrestler Entered Pinned Method
1 Jeff Hardy 1 The Brian Kendrick Powerbomb
2 The Brian Kendrick 3 Jeff Hardy The Kendrick
3 Triple H 5 The Brian Kendrick Pedigree
4 Jeff Hardy 1 MVP Twist of Fate
5 Triple H 5 The Brian Kendrick Pedigree
6 Jeff Hardy 1 The Brian Kendrick Swanton Bomb
Winner Triple H 5 MVP Pedigree

World Heavyweight Championship Scramble Interim Champions

Number Wrestler Entered Pinned Method
1 Kane 3 JBL Chokeslam
2 Batista 1 Kane Spinebuster
Winner Chris Jericho 5 Kane Covered Kane after Batista's Spinebuster

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Unforgiven 2008". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved September 26, 2008.
  2. ASIN B00RWUNSRS
    .
  3. ^ a b Golden, Hunter (August 18, 2008). "Raw Results – 8/18/08 – Chicago, IL (SummerSlam fallout, and more)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Caldwell, James (August 18, 2008). "Caldwell's WWE Raw Report 8/18: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live USA Network broadcast". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Golden, Hunter (August 25, 2008). "Raw Results – 8/25/08 – Wilkes-Barre, PA (John Cena, HBK/Jericho)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Keller, Wade (August 25, 2008). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 8/25: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Golden, Hunter (September 1, 2008). "Raw Results – 9/1/08 – St. Louis, MO (Hour #2: Raw's Battle Royal)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c Keller, Wade (September 1, 2008). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 9/1: Final hype for Unforgiven, Jericho-Michaels contract signing". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  9. World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original
    on August 22, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  10. ^ Tedesco, Mike (August 22, 2008). "Smackdown Results – 8/22/08 – Moline, IL ('Championship Scramble')". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  11. ^ Parks, Greg (August 22, 2008). "8/22 WWE SmackDown: Parks's Coverage of the CW Show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  12. ^ Martin, Adam (August 26, 2008). "ECW on Sci Fi Results – 8/26/08 – Wilkes-Barre, PA (Scramble – more)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  13. ^ Caldwell, James (August 26, 2008). "Caldwell's ECW TV Report 8/26: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of WWE's Sci-Fi show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  14. ^ Martin, Adam (September 1, 2008). "Raw Results – 9/1/08 – St. Louis, MO (Hour #1: ECW's Battle Royal)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Martin, Adam (September 7, 2008). "WWE Unforgiven PPV Results – 9/7/08". WrestleView. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  16. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  17. ^ Keller, Wade (September 7, 2008). "9/7 WWE Unforgiven PPV: Ongoing "virtual time" results of live event". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  18. World Wrestling Entertainment
    . Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  19. World Wrestling Entertainment
    . Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  20. ^ Martin, Adam (September 3, 2008). "Report: Ticket sales slow for Sunday's Unforgiven PPV in Cleveland, OH". WrestleView. Retrieved September 4, 2008.
  21. Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  22. For Your Entertainment
    . Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  23. ^ "Unforgiven 2008 DVD Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  24. ^ Golden, Hunter (September 8, 2008). "Raw Results – 9/8/08 – Fort Wayne, IN ('Unforgiven' fallout, & more)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  25. ^ Keller, Wade (September 8, 2008). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 9/8: Unforgiven fallout including Jericho vs. Batista, Phoenix defends against Mickie". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  26. ^ Golden, Hunter (September 15, 2008). "Raw Results – 9/15/08 – Memphis, TN (Jericho vs. Punk & 'No Mercy')". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  27. ^ Keller, Wade (September 15, 2008). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 9/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show from Memphis, Tenn". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  28. ^ Golden, Hunter (September 29, 2008). "Raw Results – 9/29/08 – Minneapolis, MN". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  29. ^ Caldwell, James (September 29, 2008). "Caldwell's WWE Raw Report 9/29: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live USA Network broadcast". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  30. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  31. ^ Tedesco, Mike (September 12, 2008). "Smackdown Results – 9/12/08 – Milwaukee, WI ('New #1 Contender')". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  32. ^ Keller, Wade (September 12, 2008). "Keller's WWE SmackDown Report 9/12: Fatal Four-way determines challenger for Triple H at No Mercy PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  33. ^ Stephens, David (September 16, 2008). "ECW on Sci Fi Results – 9/16/08 – Nashville, TN (Henry & Finlay, more)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  34. ^ Parks, Greg (September 16, 2008). "Parks' ECW on Sci-Fi ReprtT 9/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Henry vs. Finlay". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  35. ^ Plummer, Dale (February 7, 2011). "RAW: Punk, Nexus battle Elimination Chamber entrants". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  36. ^ "Poll on a Pole!". WWE Magazine: 29. August 2009.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unforgiven_(2008)&oldid=1216693710"