'Taker stripped of title

Guerrero takes gold away from The Phenom

Last updated: 6th May 2008

WWE Smackdown Edge GM Vickie Guerrero

Guerrero makes her mark on SmackDown

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SmackDown general manager Vickie Guerrero dropped a bombshell on Friday night as she inflicted a double blow on The Undertaker.

The controversial GM stripped the 'Taker of his prestigious belt and banished him from performing his new submission chokehold on a dramatic night in Atlantic City.

Guerrero made the announcement before The Phenom's scheduled title defence against The Great Khali, a revelation which unsurprisingly didn't go down well with the former champ.

With The Undertaker in the ring awaiting the arrival of the Punjabi Warrior, Edge wheeled down his beloved fiancé before she shattered The Undertaker with the following statement.

"Chokeholds are illegal in WWE," the general manager reminded The Phenom.

"Effective immediately, as general manager, I must ban that move. If you ever, ever, use it again in a match, you will have hell to pay."

Phenom fury

With that, Vickie then dealt The Deadman an even bigger blow.

"Since you show no remorse or concern for your opponents ... and because I am under extreme pressure from the higher authorities ... I have to tell you that you have been stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship!"

The perplexed Phenom refused to relinquish the gold so Guerrero sent The Great Khali into the ring to bring it back to her.

As the Punjabi Warrior went down to pick up the belt, the Phenom unleashed a devastating kick to the head and went on to trap Khali in his vicious hold.

Guerrero stood powerless at the top of the ramp, but as The Undertaker continued to choke out his rival, Hawkins & Ryder snuck into the ring and snatched the gold away from The Deadman.

With the Heavyweight title left vacant there are many questions left unanswered. How will The Phenom react after this huge blow? And what will come at Judgement Day with no rightful holder?