Unforgiven (2008)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Unforgiven (2008)


theme="Rock Out" by Motörhead [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/|title=WWE Unforgiven official website|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown
ECW
date=September 7, 2008
attendance=9,500cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/unforgiven.html#2008|title=Unforgiven 2008 at Pro Wrestling History.com|accessdate=2008-09-26|publisher=Pro Wrestling HIstory.com]
venue=Quicken Loans Arena
city=Cleveland, Ohio
lastevent=SummerSlam (2008)
nextevent=No Mercy (2008)
event=Unforgiven
lastevent2=Unforgiven (2007)
nextevent2=TBD

Unforgiven (2008) was the eleventh annual Unforgiven professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on September 7, 2008, at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The event featured wrestlers from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands.cite journal|year=2007|month=Special|title=Greatest Moments in Pay-Per-View History| journal=WWE Magazine|pages=64–65|accessdate=2007-12-04]

The main event on the Raw brand was the first ever Championship Scramble match, a 20-minute time limit bout, during which participants can become the temporary champion via pinfall or submission. The final superstar who gains a victory when the time limit expires will leave the match as the champion, a concept that was also used for the ECW and SmackDown championship matches. Chris Jericho defeated Rey Mysterio, Kane, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, and Batista. CM Punk, who was the World Heavyweight champion, was suppose to defend the championship, however, an incident backstage left him unable him to participate in the match.

Background

Six professional wrestling matches were featured on the event's card. These matches were planned with predetermined outcomes by WWE's creative staff and feature wrestlers playing a character for the entertainment of the audience. All wrestlers were from either the Raw, SmackDown, or ECW brands - the three storyline divisions in which WWE assigns its employees.

The primary rivalry on the Raw brand is a Championship Scramble for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the August 18 episode of "Raw", General Manager Mike Adamle announced the bout, which will involve CM Punk, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Kane, David Bautista, Jr., and Rey Mysterio.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/08182008/|title=Hometown Heartbreak|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey |date=2008-08-19|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-11] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/08252008/|title=Championship Scramble scrambled|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|date=2008-08-25|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-11] This match has a 20-minute time limit, during which participants can become the temporary champion via pinfall or submission. The final superstar who gains a victory when the time limit expires will leave the match as the champion. Only the person who wins the match will be officially recognized as the champion. John Cena was one of the initial participants in the match. However, on the August 25 edition of "Raw", Adamle announced that Cena had suffered a herniated disc in his neck in his match with Batista at SummerSlam, taking him out of the Scramble. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/08252008/articles/cenainjuredaug08|title=Cena suffers herniated disk|last=Campbell|first=Brandon|date=2008-08-25|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-11] Rey Mysterio was subsequently named as Cena's replacement.

The other rivalry on the Raw brand is between Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) and Chris Jericho (Christopher Irvine). At SummerSlam, Jericho accidentally punched Michaels' wife Rebecca in the face when Michaels publicly announced that he was (kayfabe) retiring from WWE. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/matches/7745686/results/|title=Jericho hits new low... and HBK's wife|last=Vermillion|first=James|date=2008-08-17|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-11] On the August 25 edition of "Raw", Michaels revealed that he had denounced his decision to retire and challenged Jericho to an Unsanctioned match at Unforgiven. The following week, Michaels and Jericho held a scripted official contract signing for the unsanctioned match. During the contract signing, a confrontation with Jericho occurred. During the week of the event, it was revealed Michaels suffered a small tear on his left triceps.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/09012008/articles/shawnmichaelsinjurestricep|title=Triceps injury won't stop HBK from going to Unforgiven|date=2008-09-02|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-15] [cite news|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2008/09/|title=Unforgiven thoughts|last=Eck|first=Kevin|date=2008-09-08|work=Baltimore Sun|accessdate=2008-09-15] Michaels, however, was medically cleared to compete in the match.

The predominant rivalry on the SmackDown brand was another Championship Scramble for the WWE Championship held by Triple H (Paul Levesque). The match was announced on the August 22 broadcast of "SmackDown" by General Manager Vickie Guerrero, who also announced a series of qualifying matches.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/08222008/|title=All is Unforgiven|last=Burdick|first=Michael|date=2008-08-22|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-11] The qualifiers were The Brian Kendrick (Brian Kendrick), Shelton Benjamin, Montel Vontavious Porter (Alvin Burke, Jr.), and Jeff Hardy.

The primary rivalry on the ECW brand was a third Championship Scramble for the ECW Championship. The August 26 edition of "ECW" opened with General Manager Theodore Long announcing that the ECW brand would have its own Championship Scramble match at Unforgiven.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/08262008/|title=Trek to Unforgiven|last=Passero|first=Mitch|date=2008-08-26|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-11] During the episode, Matt Hardy, The Miz (Mike Mizanin), Chavo Guerrero (Salvador Guerrero III), and Finlay (Dave Finlay) qualified to be the four challengers for Mark Henry's ECW Championship.

Event

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view (PPV), Evan Bourne (Matthew Korklan) wrestled John Morrison (John Hennigan) in a dark match. Bourne defeated Morrison in a standard wrestling match.

Preliminary matches

The first match of the event was the ECW Championship Scramble match which consisted of The Miz, Matt Hardy, Chavo Guerrero, Mark Henry and Finlay. The match started off with The Miz and Hardy gaining control in the match. Guerrero was the third entrant in the match. Guerrero performed a body splash from the top turnbuckle on Hardy to become the current ECW champion. Hardy, however, grabbed the Miz's head in a forward position and forcefully pulled it down over his shoulders to become ECW champion in the current time. Henry also made his way in the match and scored the pinfall win on Guerrero after a front slam. Finlay was the last to enter the match. Both Finlay and Hardy double teamed on Henry sending him over the top rope. Finlay, however, performed the Celtic Cross on Hardy to become interim champion. The match saw Hardy perform another Twist of Fate on the Miz. Hardy broke several pinfalls to stay as champion. When the time expired, Hardy was crowned the new ECW Champion.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/09/08/6698911.html|title=Scramble matches make for wild Unforgiven|last=Bishop|first=Matt|date=2008-09-08|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-09-12]

The next match was for the World Tag Team Championship, which Cody Rhodes (Cody Runnels) and Ted DiBiase defended the titles against Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard and JTG nw|(Jayson Paulnw|)). The match was controlled by Cryme Tyme as they performed double-team maneuvers where Shad sent JTG over the top rope onto Rhodes and DiBiase. Rhodes and DiBiase quickly took the upper hand when Rhodes performed a DDT on Shad. Shad, however, performed a clothesline on Rhodes, to make the tag to JTG. Rhodes and DiBiase retained the titles after Rhodes got JTG in a roll-up for the victory.

The third match was an Unsanctioned Match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. The match began with Michaels taking Jericho down, which is followed with Michaels taking his boot off and hitting Jericho with it. The fight sees Michaels and Jericho outside the ring in the front row and Jericho starting to bleed from his nose. On ringside, Michaels tried to hit Jericho with a use of a chair. Jericho, however, ducked the chair shot and hit Michaels with a DDT. The match returned to the ring, in which Jericho placed Michaels in the Walls of Jericho, as Michaels placed his hand on the ropes and kept going forward, he brought a fire extinguisher, from under the ring, and sprayed it on Jericho, thus releasing the hold. The match saw interference by Lance Cade, however, Michaels was able to perform Sweet Chin Music on Cade. Michaels piled both Jericho and Cade on the announce table and delivered a flying elbow drop, crashing through the table. The match was won by Michaels after the referee stopped the match due to the severity of the beating Michaels was giving Jericho.

Main event matches

The match that followed was for the WWE Championship in the Championship Scramble match, in which Triple H defended his championship against, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), The Brian Kendrick, Shelton Benjamin, and Jeff Hardy. The match began with Jeff Hardy and Shelton Benjamin, in which both tried pinning attempts against one another. Kendrick was the third entrant in the match. However, Hardy performed a powerbomb on Kendrick to become interim WWE champion. The second interim champion was Kendrick, after he performed The Kendrick on Hardy. MVP joined the match, as he threw both Kendrick and Hardy out of the ring. Triple H also made his way into the match, as he tucked Kendrick's head between his knees and lifted them up to slam his head to the mat, a move Triple H calls the Pedigree, and become current champion. Following this, Hardy performed the Twist of Fate on MVP to become interim champion. Hardy follows this by going on top of the top ropes, however, Triple H crotched Hardy on the top turnbuckle. Triple H became champion once more after performing the Pedigree on Kendrick. After hitting the Pedigree on Kendrick, Hardy perform a Swanton Bomb on Kendrick to become current champion. A spot in the match saw Benjamin, Kendrick and MVP set up for the suplex-power bomb combo. The match concluded with Triple H retaining his championship, after he performed a Pedigree on MVP, with one second remaining.

The preceding match was between Michelle McCool defending her WWE Divas Championship against Maryse Ouellet. The match began in the outside of the ring, where Maryse dumped McCool over the guardrail to the floor. Back in the ring, Maryse focused on McCool's left knee, after hitting a chopblock. The match was controlled by Maryse, as she continued her focus on McCool's knee. McCool retained the championship, after performing the Wings of Love to pinfall victory.

An in-ring segment took place, when The Big Show (Paul Wight) came to the ring and asked the fans if they thought he should be in a Championship Scramble. Vickie Guerrero then came to the ring and demanded that he leave. Undertaker then made an appearance on the TitanTron and told Vickie to get into the Casket at ringside or he would come down there and pull her to Hell himself. Once the Undertaker entered the ring Big Show held Vickie so she couldn't escape, however, Big Show turned on Undertaker and aligned with Vickie, he then proceeded to beat the Undertaker senseless.

The sixth and final match was the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble Match, between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), Batista, Rey Mysterio, Kane, and CM Punk. CM Punk was unable to compete due to an assault by Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase and Manu backstage. General Manager Mike Adamle announced that Punk would have a replacement in the match. The match began with Batista and JBL as the two participants. Both controlled the match against one another. Kane was the third entrant and scored the pinfall to become champion, after Kane lifted JBL by the throat and slammed him down to the mat. Rey Mysterio was the fourth entrant in the match, as he was able to perform a drop kick on Kane and hitting a head scissors on JBL. During the match, Punk's replacement was revealed to be Chris Jericho. Batista became interim champion, after performing a spinebuster on Kane. The match witnessed with thirty seconds left in the clock, which allowed Batista to perform a Batista Bomb on Mysterio. As Batista had his back turned, Jericho came back in the ring and covered Kane, thus allowing Jericho to become World Heavyweight champion.

Aftermath

During an episode of "Raw", Shawn Michaels challenged Chris Jericho to a Ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship at No Mercy. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/matches/8091418/preview/|title=World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match|date=2008-09-15|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-19] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/|title=Snakes and ladders|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|date=2008-09-15|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-19] Before the announcement, General Manager Mike Adamle announced that a number one contender's match between Batista and JBL would be contested at No Mercy. [cite news|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/matches/7823274/preview/|title=World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender Match|date=2008-09-15|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-19] At No Mercy, Jericho defeated Michaels to retain the World Heavyweight championship.cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/10/06/6993036.html|title=Dual main events rescue No Mercy|last=Sokol|first=Chris|coauthors=Bryan Sokol|date=2008-10-06|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-10-07]

On the September 12 edition of "SmackDown", a standard wrestling match involving four wrestlers was scheduled, involving MVP, Jeff Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, and The Brian Kendrick, in which the winner would face Triple H for the WWE Championship at No Mercy.cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1221327760.shtml|title=Smackdown Results - 9/12/08 - Milwaukee, WI ('New #1 Contender')|last=Tedesco|first=Mike|date=2008-09-12|publisher=WrestleView.com|accessdate=2008-09-19] Hardy won the match, after he performed a Swanton Bomb on Kendrick, thus making him the number one contender for Triple H's championship. At the event, Triple H defeated Hardy to retain the WWE title.

During the September 17, 2008 episode of "ECW", it was announced that Matt Hardy will defend the ECW Championship against Mark Henry.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/results/|title=Luck runs out|last=Medalis|first=Kara A.|date=2008-09-16|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-17] Hardy went on to retain the ECW title.

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 also rated the entire a 7 out of 10 stars. The unsanctioned match between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho received a 8.5 out of 10 stars. The WWE Championship Scramble received an 8 out of 10 stars while the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble match was less, as it received a 6 out of 10 stars.cite web | publisher = WrestleView.com | first = Adam | last = Martin | date = 2008-09-03 | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | title = Report: Ticket sales slow for Sunday's Unforgiven PPV in Cleveland, OH | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1220480010.shtml]

Matches

**Jericho was a replacement for the defending champion, CM Punk, who was attacked by Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes and Manu earlier during the PPV, and hence, was unable to compete in the Scramble.

ee also

*WWE Unforgiven
*List of WWE pay-per-view events

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/ The official website of WWE Unforgiven]
* [http://www.theqarena.com/ The official website of the Quicken Loans Arena]