BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- With just more than two weeks until WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs -- a revolutionary new pay-per-view concept promising unspeakable dangers and certain pain -- the fury of Friday nights was in full force. 

Unified Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho demands a golden opportunity (PHOTOS)
The self-proclaimed "best at what he does" strutted onto SmackDown, not only to assure victory against D-Generation X for himself and Big Show at WWE TLC (match preview), but also to insist that SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long place him in the No. 1 Contender's Match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Instead, Long informed Jericho that he would face The Undertaker later in the evening in a non-title match.

Batista def. Kane in a No. 1 Contender's Match for the World Heavyweight Championship by count-out (PHOTOS | WATCH)
This week on Monday Night Raw, Batista walked away after Kane dared him to try and make "an example out of him" (Watch). But on Friday night, in a fierce clash of the titans to determine the No. 1 Contender for The Deadman's gold at WWE TLC, the rabid Animal instead charged forward.

Although the combustible collision between the two intimidating Superstars exerted pure intensity from start to finish, it was a single act of treachery that brought about its explosive resolve. After being hurled over the barricade outside the ring, Batista used the obstructed view to hit The Big Red Machine in his injured knee with a steel chair, rendering his opponent unable to answer the 10-count and winning himself another chance at the World Champion's title. (Match preview)

World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker def. Unified Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho by disqualification (PHOTOS | WATCH)
The new No. 1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, The Animal Batista, later invited himself to the broadcast table, silently taking stock as The Phenom battled Jericho in a high-octane main event. But just when it looked like The Demon of Death Valley was about to Tombstone his way to victory, The Animal attacked. After causing Jericho to lose by disqualification, Batista added to the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion's post-match Codebreaker on the war-torn Deadman with a vicious chair assault.

Intercontinental Champion John Morrison def. Eric Escobar in an Intercontinental Championship Match (PHOTOS | WATCH)
As the official consultant to SmackDown, Vickie Guerrero pushed Teddy Long into giving her boyfriend Eric Escobar a title opportunity against The Friday Night Delight. But, as fast as Escobar got his foot in the door, The Shaman of Sexy slammed it shut again, defeating Escobar with Starship Pain.

The outraged Vickie Guerrero then terminated her relationship with Eric Escobar, screaming, slapping, and spitting her way back into the single scene; declaring in no uncertain terms that she was through with him. But, once in the back, Escobar launched his own barrage of insulting retorts onto the livid SmackDown consultant.

Matt Hardy def. CM Punk by disqualification (PHOTOS | WATCH)
On his ongoing "crusade" to convert those in need to a straightedge lifestyle, The Second City Saint completely shocked the WWE Universe by reintroducing a reformed Luke Gallows, formerly Festus. He explained that he has gotten Gallows off the abusive drugs and away from the neglect that his family had enabled him with for so long (Watch).

After Punk proclaimed WWE Alumni Jeff Hardy's soon to be released DVD "My Life My Rules," a "dangerous, addictive new drug," The Straightedge Superstar battled Jeff's brother, Matt Hardy. But just when it looked as if Hardy would rise above the former World Champion, the vicious Gallows unleashed an unrelenting assault that left him motionless in the center of the ring.

The Hart Dynasty def. Cryme Tyme (PHOTOS | WATCH)
The highly-skilled Hart Dynasty has been forged from greatness; trained in the famous Hart Dungeon; bred into a simply glorious squared circle tradition of the elite Hart and Smith families. And just four short days after an impressive outing against D-Generation X on Raw, David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd once again lived up to it all. In a tremendous performance against the explosive Cryme Tyme - capped off by Hart Smith's Saito Bomb on a distracted Shad - the pink and black warriors demonstrated the legendary tag team skills inherited from the likes of The Hart Foundation and The British Bulldogs.