SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero shut down Alberto Del Rio

HOUSTON – As three of WWE’s top Superstars battled it out for the right to face World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio at SummerSlam, CM Punk dazzled Fandango with the power of Straight Edge, a stunning turn of events helped decide the Divas Title Match and Damien Sandow showed Cody Rhodes the true value of ”Money.”

Several weeks ago, newly crowned Raw General Manager Brad Maddox gave WWE Champion John Cena the opportunity to choose his No. 1 contender at SummerSlam, paving the way for The Champ to create a highly anticipated clash between himself and Daniel Bryan.

Photos: Guerrero laid down the law 

After SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero offered the World Heavyweight Champion the same chance, Alberto Del Rio tried to name Ricardo Rodriguez as his No. 1 contender. But, The Queen Diva swiftly rejected the titleholder’s feeble attempt at a summer siesta – instead creating an explosive blue brand Triple Threat Match to determine his SummerSlam opponent: RVD vs. Randy Orton vs. Christian for later in the night!

Cody Rhodes def. Jack Swagger

After  tossing Damien Sandow’s Money in the Bank contract into the Gulf of Mexico one week ago, a beaming Cody Rhodes prepared to clash with Jack Swagger. When Zeb Colter started to pontificate his propaganda before the bell, Rhodes made his own statement by knocking the microphone out of his hand. Swagger charged in, only to end up in worse shape than the mic.

Photos of Rhodes running over Swagger

In spite of aggressive retribution from The Real American once the match began, the crafty Rhodes ultimately countered an attempted gutwrench powerbomb into a quick pin-fall.

Talking to Josh Mathews moments later, Rhodes stated that he didn’t blame Sandow for betraying him at Money in the Bank. Instead, Rhodes said he threw away the contract because he was sick of being talked down to. However, that interview was cut short by the Intellectual Savior of the Masses, who brutally attacked his former friend.

Big E Langston def. Sin Cara

With Dolph Ziggler watching closely from the back, the powerful Big E Langston decimated the high-flying Sin Cara, sending the masked Superstar crashing to the canvas with the Big Ending for an authoritative victory.

Big E destruction photos | Watch Ziggler vs. Big E on Raw

CM Punk def. Fandango

Though Fandango proved himself a truly vicious virtuoso in a tough match against CM Punk, it was The Second City Saint who would offer a Straight Edge stomping, following up a superplex with the Anaconda Vice for the submission victory.

Photos: Punk introduced Fandango to the Straight Edge stomp | SummerSlam: "The Best vs. The Beast"

Divas Champion AJ Lee def. Kaitlyn in a Divas Championship Match

Four days after  Kaitlyn overcame AJ Lee with an earth-shattering Spear on Raw for a huge non-title win, the “Hybrid Diva” looked to reclaim the Divas Championship on SmackDown in her hometown of Houston.

Photos of the hot Divas action

However, when the action spilled outside the ring, the observing Layla suddenly jumped out of Kaitlyn’s corner and blocked the powerful Diva’s attack. That momentary pause allowed a recovering AJ to slam her stunned opponent into the ring barrier before making her tap out inside the ring with the Black Widow.

Christian def. Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton in a No. 1 Contender Triple Threat Match

At the height of the whirlwind  free-for-all Triple Threat showdown between three former World Champions – established to decide who would take on World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio at SummerSlam – Randy Orton looked ready to close the door on Christian with the RKO.

But when RVD reengaged him at the last second, The Viper ended up hitting the ECW Original with his patented finisher instead. The sudden change in course allowed Captain Charisma enough time to regain his senses and block Orton’s follow-up RKO attempt and counter to score the monumental win!

As a result, Christian will look to capture his third World Heavyweight Title at the Biggest Party of the Summer – from the very Superstar he beat for the same title in 2011. But, before Christian could even celebrate that fact, Del Rio launched a surprise post-match assault on his new No. 1 contender.