JEFF HARDY (C) VS. CM PUNK

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  This feud is based on the contrast between CM Punk's Straight Edge lifestyle and Jeff Hardy's well-documented drug use. The fans still love Jeff Hardy and not CM Punk, but CM Punk understands, it's easier to be weak like Jeff Hardy than strong like Punk. Don't you just love a heel with a point? Jeff Hardy won the championship from CM Punk last month at Night of Champions, leading to this rematch. CM Punk wants to end Jeff Hardy's career in this match. The challenger enters first and Johnathan Coachman and Jim Ross handle commentary. Although JR doesn't say a word until Punk's in the ring, reminding us CM Punk could become WWE World Heavyweight Champion tonight. Jeff Hardy takes his time getting to the ring, slapping the hands of fans and climbing a ladder at the top of the ramp to soak in the crowd and make Punk wait for him. Not only is Jeff Hardy one of the pioneers of the TLC match, he's been in 5 out of the 8 contested up to this point including tonight. Where as it's CM Punk's TLC debut,

JEFF HARDY © VS. CM PUNK

(TLC MATCH FOR THE WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)

WWE Summerslam (23^rd August 2009)

  The in-ring introductions show that Jeff's beloved and the fans don't like Punk much. Helped by Justin Roberts' brilliant announcing technique. A “Hardy” chant begins at the bell, with Punk mocking the fans by chanting along. They circle and lock up. Neither man can get an advantage as they move around the ring. CM Punk gets Hardy in the corner and breaks it with strikes, slumping Hardy down in the corner. Punk knees Hardy in the midsection and hits him with right hands before stomping him into the mat and dumping him through the ropes. JR and Coach talk about Punk attacking Hardy with a chair recently as he grabs one from ringside, driving it into Hardy's ribs and smashing it across his back. CM Punk brings a ladder into the ring, trying to take back the championship quickly, but Hardy is able to knock the ladder over before he gets to the top. CM Punk sends Hardy into the ropes from a Twist of Fate attempt but can't avoid a running forearm. Another shot sends Punk into the corner and Hardy fires right hands and stomps before hitting the delayed front dropkick in the corner. JR mentions that Hardy calls it the Hardiac Arrest.

  Jeff Hardy sends Punk out of the ring and sets the ladder up below the championship. CM Punk slides in the ring with the chair and kicks the ladder from under Hardy. Hardy lands on his feet but drops to the mat. CM Punk lays the boots to Hardy but Hardy slips out the back of a Go to Sleep attempt, sending Punk into the ladder. Jeff moves the ladder out of his way as CM Punk gets to his feet in the corner, Jeff places the chair in position, using it as a stepping stone for a one-man Poetry in Motion but Punk catches him, dropping him on the set up chair! CM Punk wedges the chair in the corner before dropping the ladder on Hardy from overhead. CM Punk slams the ladder into Jeff and sends him into the corner, Jeff Hardy avoids the chair but runs into a calf kick! Hardy gets dumped back out to the floor and he tweaks his lower leg on the landing. CM Punk follows him with a tope through the ropes which we see a replay of as he tries to get feeling back in his arm.

  CM Punk decides to rearrange some furniture at ringside, throwing a chair in the ring and moving a table closer to ringside. Coach reminds us Jeff Hardy was involved in the first TLC match at Summerslam 2000. CM Punk places a chair over Hardy's head but Hardy is able to knock it off. Punk runs at Hardy but misses with the chair, hitting the ring post. Jeff Hardy picks up some momentum with right hands. Punk puts a stop to that by going to the midsection, but Hardy irish whips him to the stairs, Punk able to leap on the stairs to avoid impact but he jumps back into a chair shot by Hardy. Jeff Hardy finds the perfect spot for the chair before placing it down and sends Punk's head into the security barrier. The one-man Poetry in Motion connects on the second attempt. Jeff Hardy moves some furniture himself as he gets to his feet, and he throws a chair at Punk. Hardy sets CM Punk on the table, Jeff Hardy climbs to the top turnbuckle but crashes and burns on a splash attempt.

  We see a replay of how Punk was barely able to avoid the attack and when we go back live we see Punk bringing a taller ladder into the ring. Jeff Hardy stirs as CM Punk gets it set up, and Hardy is able to grab Punk's ankle to stop him climbing. Jeff brings Punk down and scrambles over him getting his fingertips to his Championship, but Punk climbs up to meet him and has him in the electric chair. Punk transitions to a fireman's carry for the Go to Sleep but Hardy flips around with a sunset flip powerbomb off the ladder! Jeff Hardy's the first to make it to his feet, slowly trying to climb the ladder as the belt swings above him and find where he is at the same time. Hardy reaches the belt but Punk sends the ladder over before Hardy can unhook it, Hardy lands on the top rope on his groin! Jeff Hardy rolls out to the apron, but CM Punk brings him back in with a superplex on the ladder! CM Punk writhes in as much pain from that move as Jeff Hardy did. CM Punk lays on the mat reaching for the championship, almost trying to will it to drop into his hands

  Punk beats Hardy to his feet by half a second, Hardy avoids a suplex attempt on the ladder and hits a Twist of Fate to Punk. Jeff Hardy crawls to the corner and gets to the top rope, but a Swanton bomb lands on CM Punk's knees. Hardy catches his breath in the corner but doesn't notice Pink flying at him with a high knee! Jeff Hardy blocks the bulldog out of the corner that usually follows, sending Punk over the top rope and through the table at ringside! Jeff sets up the ladder underneath the belt again, taking his time to make sure it's right and it's steady. CM Punk makes it to the apron and knocks Hardy off the ladder with a springboard ax handle. CM Punk sends Hardy out of the ring under the bottom rope and grabs a chair, placing it over Hardy's head. Jeff Hardy is able to avoid being sent into the ring post and avoids a charge from Punk sending him into the steps. Jeff Hardy lays into Punk's back with a steel chair as he moves the plunder at ringside again. He throws a second chair at Punk before setting up the ECW announce table and laying Punk out on it with a chairshot to the skull.

  Jeff Hardy grabs the tallest ladder at ringside, I'd guess it's legitimately 15 feet high. Jeff climbs right to the top rung and lands on CM Punk with a perfect Swanton bomb! Neither man moves before we see the replay and medical assistance rushes down to help. They put Jeff Hardy on a stretcher as CM Punk has somehow made his way to the ring. JR reminds us that the match isn't actually over as Hardy fights through the EMTs. Jeff literally falls into the ring. CM Punk doesn't know what to do, so he just tries to make his way up the ladder on one leg! He hops up the rungs, and Hardy's on his tail the other side of the ladder. They switch between exchanging right hands and reaching for the belt before CM Punk kicks Hardy in the ribs. Another right hand from the top of the ladder sends Hardy crashing to the mat and CM Punk unhooks the championship.

WINNER: CM PUNK (NEW WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION)

  CM Punk is at his best when he's a dickhead heel that you don't want to like but can't argue with. Jeff Hardy just has to show up since the new Millenium to get a reaction. This created a perfect storm for this match. The polar opposite lifestyles fuelled the fire and made it more personal between them. Jeff Hardy may have only held the championship for ~ a month but he got to put CM Punk over in one hell of a performance. The finish was interesting as it could be argued the medical staff almost cost Hardy the match. CM Punk was able to show a vicious side in this match, not hiding away from weapon spots and really punishing Hardy with the weapons at hand. Jeff got to jump off a tall ladder for a big match-closing moment and his getting back in the ring at the end proved his determination. – WORKRATE: 4.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 4.25/5 OVERALL 9.5/10

CM Punk celebrates standing over Jeff Hardy and the lights flicker. They go off and a dong sounds, and as they come on Undertaker has taken Jeff Hardy's place! Punk doesn't notice, looking up the entranceway and seeing no one. CM Punk finally realizes his mistake as Taker grabs him by the throat and chokeslams him down to the mat. The Undertaker leaves to end the night.