* WARNING: the following contains *SPOILER* information from last night’s SmackDown tapings:
As we saw on ECW last night, Teddy Long announced that Matt Hardy asked for his ECW release and is now on the SmackDown roster. At last night’s SmackkDown tapings, Matt Hardy opened the show with an in-ring promo. He came to the ring with no music and carried the “very same” chair he used to lay out Jeff at the Royal Rumble. He sat down in the middle of the ring and explained why he did it, saying that he’s sick of taking care of Jeff. At the end, he said there was no such thing anymore as The Hardy Boys and Jeff is no longer his brother.
Later on in the evening, Shane Helms cut a backstage promo saying Matt Hardy hasn’t changed and has always been the jerk we’re now seeing on television. Hardy called Helms to the ring and beat the crap out of him.
Also at the SmackDown tapings, Vickie Guererro announced Jeff Hardy will get his chance to challenge for the WWE title at No Way Out, when he competes in the SmackDown elimination chamber match.