CHICAGO – Like a snake lingering in high grass, Randy Orton waited, biding his time, until, finally, the moment arrived. He plunged his ever-dangerous fangs deep into the hearts of his opponents and, once again, coiled himself around the WWE Championship.
In the Six Pack Elimination Challenge at Night of
Orton’s path to the title was hardly without obstacle. According to the rules of the Six Pack Elimination Challenge, a sextet of Superstars swarm the ring, with eliminations decided via pinfall or submission. The winner remains the last competitor standing.
During the contest, Chris Jericho was quickly eliminated by Orton with Edge following him out a while later thanks to an Attitude Adjustment from Cena. With the elimination of two Superstars, only Sheamus, Cena, Barrett and Orton remained.
Since the contest stipulations include no disqualifications, The Nexus, not surprisingly, took full advantage. With their leader struggling to oust fellow competitors, the armbanded cavalry – Justin Gabriel, David Otunga, Heath Slater and Michael Tarver – disrupted the proceedings, distracting the oft-targeted Cena. The distraction allowed Barrett to hit the Wasteland on Cena and pin him just before the English overlord himself fell victim to an RKO from Orton and was eliminated.
And then there were two. WWE’s Apex Predator and The Celtic Warrior have a sordid history with one another. Last month at SummerSlam, Sheamus retained his title over Orton, but only after losing via disqualification. In the Six Pack Elimination Challenge, however, there would be no stipulation in which to seek sanctuary. Instead, The Viper would leverage the momentum and intimidation he has amassed the past several weeks. With in his eyes narrowed and cunning, Orton struck, devastating Sheamus with a victory clinching RKO.
And with that, The Viper coiled around the WWE Championship for the sixth time in his career, solidifying his legacy in the same arena where he had secured his very first WWE Title, and ensuring that a host of Superstars will be just itching to skin him.
MATCH:World Heavyweight Champion Kane def. The Undertaker (No Holds Barred Match)
CHICAGO – In an epic No Holds Barred Match to determine the most dominant force of the underworld, a stunning tombstone reversal by World Heavyweight
Amidst a chaotic free-for-all, designed to cast aside order in favor of all-out turmoil, The Big Red Monster and The Demon of Death Valley waged a merciless battle that rocked
The newest chapter in the monstrous saga between Kane and The Undertaker began on Memorial Day weekend, when Kane attacked The Deadman. At SummerSlam, the ominous Phenom reemerged. But, as he looked poised to take his vengeance, The Big Red Monster struck again, executing a devastating tombstone on the returning Deadman.
In the weeks to come on SmackDown, the two dark Superstars danced toward their supernatural showdown. Kane claimed that his attack was all part of a 13-year plan to bring about The Deadman’s demise, after he recognized that his legendary older brother was being weakened by the sin of pride. He claimed that he now had The Undertaker’s “power” and stood supreme as “The Devil’s Favorite Demon.”
The Phenom claimed that Kane’s sin was envy, and that when and if they met, he would once again be triumphant. Despite his strong words, however, many speculated that the seven-time World Champion had returned to SmackDown operating at less than 100 percent.
On the Sept. 3 edition of SmackDown, Kane proclaimed that he would face The Undertaker at Night of Champions. The following week, The Undertaker threw down the gauntlet, proposing that the match be No Holds Barred. After accepting the frightening stipulation the very next week, the horrific champion pledged to end The Deadman’s very existence once and for all. Moments later, when The Undertaker emerged, Kane harnessed his “power” to launch a vicious sneak-attack that culminated in an earth-shattering chokeslam-tombstone combination. This final assault served as a chilling prelude to their monumental championship encounter.
Has Kane’s victory over The Phenom truly made him the author of his brother’s demise? Find out this Friday night on SmackDown at 8/7 CT on MyNetworkTV.
MATCH:Daniel Bryan def. The Miz (New United States Champion)
CHICAGO — At Night of
This journey to championship glory was a harrowing one for the talented grappler. As one of the first Rookies eliminated from the debut season of WWE NXT, Daniel Bryan looked like another hungry competitor who didn’t quite have what it takes to make it in the big leagues. But the young contender refused to accept this fate and after fighting his way onto the Raw brand, the tenacious Daniel Bryan challenged his former WWE NXT Pro The Miz to tonight’s match and defeated him in the center of the ring.
The showdown between these two rivals had been a long time coming. After constantly butting heads on WWE NXT, their animosity intensified at SummerSlam when Daniel Bryan was handpicked by John Cena as the seventh member of Team WWE in their match against The Nexus — a spot The Miz believed was rightfully his. Taking out his frustrations on his former Rookie, Mr. Money in the Bank attacked the submission specialist that night and continued to do so in the weeks that followed.
But Daniel Bryan isn’t the type of guy to back down from a fight. More often than not, the aggressive Superstar turned the tables on The “Awesome One,” punishing him with the brutal LeBell Lock submission hold. It was this very maneuver that Daniel Bryan utilized tonight to defeat the cocky Cleveland native. Even with The Miz’s season two NXT Rookie Alex Riley attempting to interfere on his Pro’s behalf, the Raw Superstar refused to be denied and cinched in his devastating hold even tighter until The Miz cried out in submission.
Now that he has become the first NXT Rookie to win a title, will Daniel Bryan be able to hang onto this position he fought so hard to attain? Tune in to Raw on Monday night to find out.
MATCH:Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler def. Kofi Kingston
CHICAGO – Dolph Ziggler doesn’t have to worry about being counted out or disqualified when he has his girlfriend to help him ensure victory. Official SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero proved at Night of
Ziggler’s victory also marks the second time that Guerrero has helped her man defeat Kingston with the Intercontinental Title on the line. In their title match last month on SmackDown, it was Kingston being distracted by Vickie that allowed Ziggler to gain the upper hand and capture the championship.
Since his loss to Ziggler on SmackDown, Kingston has not had a fair opportunity to try and regain the title. Their rematch at SummerSlam was disrupted by The Nexus and two following rematches ended in Dolph Ziggler being counted out and disqualified, respectively, to retain the title.
As a result of Ziggler’s underhanded tactics, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long decided that at Night of Champions, Ziggler and Kingston would have another rematch. However, if Ziggler was counted out or disqualified, he would lose the championship.
Kingston built up a great deal of momentum in recent weeks, earning victories over Jack Swagger and against Ziggler in tag team action. However, inside the sold-out Allstate Arena, Kingston forgot to factor in the presence of Guerrero at ringside, and that would ultimately lead to his defeat.
One thing also rang true following the result of the match: Dolph needs Vickie as much as Vickie needs Dolph. But the nefarious duo’s relationship may also be inexplicably interwoven with the Intercontinental Championship; as long as Vickie helps him keep it, either directly or indirectly, their love may withstand every challenge.
Vickie also ensured that everyone in Chicago, and the millions of viewers watching on pay-per-view, knew that Dolph Ziggler was her man. The territorial cougar ejected her NXT Rookie Diva Kaitlyn – who recently won a tag match on WWE NXT with Ziggler – after she checked on the champion during the match.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Bret Hart and “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig have all held the coveted Intercontinental Championship on the path to the WWE Hall of Fame. Thus, it’s no wonder that Vickie wants to ensure that her boyfriend holds onto the title and cement her legacy as part of his success.
MATCH:Drew McIntyre & "Dashing" Cody Rhodes won Tag Team Turmoil (New WWE Tag Team Champions)
CHICAGO – The aggressive (and self-aggrandizing) tandem of Drew McIntyre & “Dashing” Cody Rhodes has proven formidable since teaming up recently on SmackDown, bringing that ruthless competitive edge to Chicago for Night of
Just 48 hours after trouncing The Hart Dynasty in a non-title bout on SmackDown, the undefeated team of Rhodes & McIntyre had their arms raised in victory after Rhodes hit Evan Bourne with a Cross Rhodes, scoring the final pinfall.
In Tag Team Turmoil, two teams start out in the ring. Once a member of one of the teams is eliminated, another team enters the fray. The last team remaining is the winner.
As revealed at Night of Champions, Tag Team Turmoil pitted Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith against their longtime rivals, the Usos, the still-unlikely pairing of Vladimir Kozlov & Santino Marella, the thunder-and-lightning tandem of Mark Henry & “Air” Bourne and the calculating team of McIntyre & Rhodes.
Kidd & Smith first locked up with Jimmy & Jey Uso, a team that entered
The Usos – twins from the legendary Anoa’i Samoan bloodline – next faced Raw’s resident odd couple Santino & Kozlov, making short work of the international anomaly. The Usos relished being one pinfall or submission away from the WWE Tag Team Championship, but their self-satisfaction came to an end when they fell to Henry & Bourne, the in-ring equivalent of an army tank and a fighter jet with a unique combination of brute force and aerial expertise.
The final match-up saw the complementary Raw Superstars face McIntyre & Rhodes, the only team representing SmackDown in this high-stakes encounter. Even though they’ve only competed alongside one another twice before, Rhodes & The “Chosen One” have yet to suffer defeat as a team, and with WWE Tag Team Championship gold around their waists after dominating Henry & Bourne, they’ve never appeared more unstoppable.
Since the WWE Tag Team Titles can be defended on both Raw and SmackDown, neither Monday night nor Friday night is safe from their menace … or Rhodes’ grooming tips, for that matter.
MATCH:Big Show def. CM Punk
CHICAGO – Just like he did two nights earlier on SmackDown, Big Show downed CM Punk with a debilitating knockout punch.
Outweighed by The World’s Largest Athlete, Punk did his best to hold his own against the near 500-pounder.
However, before the match even began, The Second City Saint dissed his own hometown by calling Chicago’s residents the “scum of the earth.” With the disrespectful rant, perhaps The Straight Edge Society leader was doomed from the start.
Did the highly-visible loss on the
MATCH:Michelle McCool wins Unification Lumberjill Match (New Unified Divas Champion)
CHICAGO – Michelle McCool made Divas history at Night of
With every Diva participating at ringside as a lumberjill for this historic match, Michelle was forced to fight Melina on her own at first. Layla initially refused to assist her best friend after Michelle tricked her two nights earlier on SmackDown. But Friday night’s rift was all a ruse. Layla stepped in to help Michelle when she needed it most, allowing Michelle to pin Melina for the victory. Now, Lay-Cool – the Divas’ division true queens of mean – reign supreme with the Unified Divas Championship.
Before Night of Champions, Michelle held the Women’s Title twice and was the first-ever Divas Champion, holding that title once. She’s the first-ever Diva to claim both. The Women’s Championship is
More than a month earlier, Melina made a triumphant return at SummerSlam to claim the Divas Title. But Lay-Cool tormented Melina from the start, challenging her to a Unification Match at Night of Champions. Melina accepted, but under her terms – that all of the Divas act as lumberjills at ringside – making the fight as fair as possible. But the lumberjills weren’t enough for the Latina Lovely to trump the “mean girls.”
Melina’s opponent was determined just two days before Night of Champions by the “flawless” plan of pulling a name out of a hat. The first draw by Kaval – Michelle – earned the right to fight at Night of Champions. Michelle promised to win for herself and her devoted friend. But Layla and the WWE NXT season two winner soon discovered all of the names in that hat read “Michelle.” A shocked Layla vowed that her bestie would stand alone at Night of Champions – a promise that was all a clever ruse.
Thanks to the ever-loyal Layla’s help, Michelle has unified the Divas and Women’s Championship to become to the Unified Divas Champion. Lay-Cool has opened a new chapter in WWE Divas history with a moment that will never be forgotten. Now that’s “real talk.”
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