Westpac Stadium was packed with over 9,000 fans on Friday night, all eager to see the stars of SmackDown and ECW on the Road To WrestleMania 23 Tour. It might have been cold and miserable outside, but inside it was sizzling with action!

World Heavyweight Champion Batista successfully defended his title against Mr Kennedy. Kennedy, having not had his microphone delivered the way he likes it, proceeded to taunt the Cantabrians by calling the Crusaders losers, announcing that the All Blacks sucked and that New Zealand is nothing more than Australia's b*tch. By the time the Animal hit the ring, the crowd was ready for him to take Kennedy apart.

After a certain amount of shadow-boxing - and an unmentionable chant that got Kennedy's ire up - Kennedy kicked off the match with rights to the champ. This didn't faze the Animal, who retaliated with rights and kicks, followed by a body slam. Capitalising with a kick to the chin, Batista sent Kennedy out of the ring and slammed into the steel barrier.

Kennedy fought back by powering the Animal into the steel ring steps, then rolling him into the ring and continuing to pound away with rights, followed by a dropkick. As the Animal reeled, Kennedy managed to kick his legs out from under him and cover him for a 2-count... followed by flipping the crowd the bird.

Batista regained control with a body slam, and attempted a Batista Bomb, but Kennedy managed to reverse it into an arm bar, then dropped the champ and covered him for another 2-count. With Batista down, Kennedy managed to remove the covering from the turnbuckle, avoiding the gaze of the referee. Back on his feet, Batista sent Kennedy out of the ring, who snared a chair and nailed Batista with it, tossing him back into the ring and another 2-count, but the champ managed to hook the ropes. Frustrated, Kennedy wailed away on Batista with rights and kicks, followed by 3 big boots to the face, a high knee to the chin and another 2-count.

Kennedy then cinched in an arm lock, which Batista tried to counter with a reverse slam but Kennedy hung on, wrenching the Animal's arm even more. With the champ fading, the referee raised and dropped Batista's arm twice.. but the third time saw him fight out. Kennedy was ready for it and nailed Batista with a kick to the face, then went to the top rope but was thwarted by Batista who pummeled him with rights and dropped him with a clothesline. Exchanging punches, Batista then managed a second clothesline followed by a back body drop, a sidewalk slam and a suplex in quick succession, followed by a 2-count cover on Kennedy.

Kennedy then countered with a swinging neckbreaker, and managed to wriggle out of Batista's clutches as he set him up for the Batista Bomb. Kennedy once again tried to introduce a chair, but his plan backfired when Batista kicked it into his face, at which point the referee relieved the Animal of the weapon... but the champ was distracted enough to be dropped by Kennedy who then went to the top rope and nailed him with a Green Bay slam. Batista kicked out of a 2-count and pounded Kennedy into the canvas with a powerslam and covered him for the win.

Earlier in the night, Chris Benoit defended his US Championship against Chavo Guerrero. Chavo delayed kicking off the match as long as he could, garnering a new chant from the Canterbury crowd which delighted Benoit so much he grabbed a microphone and taunted Guerrero with it. Benoit won with the Crossface after two suicide headbutts and 3 German suplexes.

The Undertaker defeated Montel Vontavious Porter in a very well-paced match in which the crowd was treated to a steadily improving MVP.

The Undertaker also made his presence known at the end of the evening; as Batista celebrated his victory in the ring, the familiar GONG sounded, and the Deadman appeared on the stage. Eyes locked on the Champ, 'Taker made the sign of the belt around his waist before turning and walking out.

Full Results From Christchurch:

• Kane d. King Booker by DQ
• Snitsky d. CM Punk
• Chris Benoit d. Chavo Guerrero to retain US Championship
• Elijah Burke & Marquis Cor Von d. Sabu & Tommy Dreamer
• The Undertaker d. MVP
• Michelle McCool d. Kelly Kelly (Matt Striker guest referee)
• Lashley d. Rob Van Dam and Hardcore Holly to retain ECW Championship
• Batista d. Mr Kennedy to retain World Heavyweight Championship