Night of Champions
* Poll results: Best match at Night of Champions?
* Poll results: Grade WWE’s Night of Champions
The Night of Champions Preshow kicks off and Renee Young, Booker T, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves welcome us to the show from Houston, Texas.
My coverage of the preshow begins 11 minutes late, as I had to wait on my PS3 to update. My apologies, readers! We go backstage and Eden is with Sheamus, who has “breaking news.” Sheamus says he has been in WWE for quite a while now, and has made friends and enemies. Sheamus informs us that Seth Rollins will defend both of his titles in back-to-back matches. Sheamus says Rollins will face Cena first, and then Sting, but after that he (Rollins) won’t be in any shape to stop him (Sheamus). Sheamus asks what if Sting wins? He says Sting will get the one championship that he alluded him and what a moment it would be to Brogue Kick him in the face and become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Sheamus says no matter who wins, history will be made and “history” will become “my story.”
We go back to the expert panel and Renee asks them how Rollins can pull it off tonight. Booker says if anyone has the ability to do it, Rollins does.
We see a video hype package for WWE 2K16.
We go back to the panel and Renee and Corey hype the Intercontinental Championship and we see pictures of some of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all time. We go backstage where Kevin Owens is being interviewed. He said tonight is not about any of them; it’s about him. He says he is a prize fighter and the prize he is fighting for tonight is the Intercontinental Championship. Owens says Ryback can go find a self-help book when tonight is over because he (Owens) is leaving as the Intercontinental Champion. Booker says Owens has been pounding the pavement all over the world for 15 years, but he will get it done tonight. Saxton says this is an all new Ryback and he will fight like his life is on the line tonight. Graves says this is for Owens’ family tonight and no self-help book will help Ryback tonight. Booker and Graves pick Owens to win, while Saxton picks Ryback.
We see Nikki Bella winning the Divas Championship at last years Survivor Series, and then see a montage of the past almost-year of her being the champion. The video then transitions into the on-going feud between Nikki Bella and Charlotte. Renee asks the guys if Nikki will go down as the greatest Divas Champion of all time. Booker says no, because Trish Stratus is on the list. Saxton says Charlotte will get it done tonight.
The talk now transitions into the feud between Dolph Ziggler and Rusev. We see the videos of Ziggler giving Summer a gift and then we go back to the panel. Graves says Ziggler just needs to leave Rusev and Summer alone, but Saxton says Rusev is still not over Lana.
Talk now turns to the feud between The New Day and the returning Dudley Boyz. We then join Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and John Bradshaw Layfield at ringside.
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Neville and The Lucha Dragons vs. Stardust and The Ascension
Cosmic Wasteland make quick tags to keep Sin Cara isolated in their corner. Stardust sends Kalisto into the ropes, but Kalisto counters with a head-scissors take down. All six men get into the ring now and square off. The Ascension is sent to the outside, followed by Stardust. The Dragons launch over the top rope while Neville connects with a springboard moonsault to take down Stardust and the Ascension on the outside as we go to a break.
We see a video hype package for the two main championship matches tonight, Seth Rollins vs. Sting and Seth Rollins vs. John Cena.
Back with the match, and Kalisto and Stardust are back in the ring, while the others are on the apron. Viktor tags in and takes out Kalisto with a shoulder tackle. Viktor takes Kalisto to the corner and tags in Konnor. Konnor drives his knee into Kalisto and goes for the cover, but Kalisto kicks out at two. Konnor tags in Stardust, who keeps control over Kalisto. Stardust tags in Viktor, but Kalisto takes him out. Stardust and Neville are tagged in and Neville taked Konnor down to the floor and then works over Stardust in the ring. Neville splashes Stardust in the corner and then delivers a kick to the face. Neville goes up top and connects with a 450 splash, but The Ascension breaks up the count. The Dragons take out the Ascension on the outside and Stardust drops Neville in the middle of the ring. Stardust goes for the cover, but Neville kicks out at two. Stardust goes for the cross-body, but Neville moves and drops Stardust with a superkick. Neville goes for the Red Arrow, but Viktor cuts him off. Stardust shoves Viktor into Neville and then drops Neville with his finisher for the pin fall.
Winners: Stardust and The Ascension.
We join Tom Phillips in the Social Media Lounge, and he is joined by The New Day. They send Tom on his way and they read tweets from the fans. The end the segment chanting “Save… the tables!” to the tune of their normal chant.
We rejoin the panel and see the preview for the match between The Wyatt Family and The 2/3 Shield and a mystery partner. We go back to the panel and Graves says he thinks the mystery partner is Samoa Joe. The preshow comes to a close after more talk of the mystery partner and the match.
Night of Champions opens up with the video package highlighting the main matches and feuds heading into tonight’s show.
We go live into the arena, where Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and John Bradshaw Layfield welcome us to the show.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ryback (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Owens and Ryback start off trading shots, but Owens gets Ryback into the corner. Ryback comes right back with a stiff clothesline and then press slams Owens out to the floor. Ryback goes out after Owens, but Owens takes control and slams Ryback shoulder-first into the ring post. Owens gets Ryback back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Ryback kicks out at two. Ryback clubs Owens in the midsection, but Owens kicks him in the face to keep control. Owens punches Ryback in the chest and then works over his injured shoulder down on the mat. Owens keeps control and takes Ryback to the corner. Owens stands on Ryback’s shoulder against the ropes and then applies a shoulder lock in the center of the ring. Ryback fights to his feet and both men take each other down with a double-clothesline. Ryback takes Owens down with a shoulder tackle and then a power slam. Ryback goes for the cover, but Owens kicks out at two. Ryback goes for a power bomb, but Owens counters with a back drop. Ryback grabs Owens as he’s coming off the ropes and delivers a big spine-buster. Ryback goes for the cover, but Owens kicks out at two. Ryback goes for the Meat-Hook Clothesline, but Owens counters with a boot to the face. Ryback takes Owens down again and goes for Shell Shocked, but Owens counters and slams Ryback into the ring post. Owens rolls up Ryback and then locks in a submission after he kicks out. Ryback counters and goes for Shell Shocked, but Owens rakes the eyes and rolls up Ryback for the pin fall.
Winner and new WWE Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens.
We see that next month, Brock Lesnar’s Go to Hell Tour will happen. Lesnar will face Big Show on October 3rd, then he’ll be on the Stone Cold Podcast on October 19th, and then he will face The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell Match at the Hell in a Cell PPV on October 25th.
We see the video hype package for the feud between Dolph Ziggler and Rusev.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev (w/ Summer Rae)
Ziggler sends Rusev to the outside immediately and the ref begins to count. Rusev gets back into the ring and Ziggler takes him down with a dropkick. Ziggler applies the sleeper hold, but Rusev counters quickly. Rusev slams Ziggler into the barricade on the outside and goes out after him. Rusev tosses Ziggler back into the ring and then slams him down to the mat. Rusev slams Ziggler down again and then decks him with a right hand. Ziggler counters with a roll-up, but Rusev kicks out at two. Rusev applied a headlock down on the mat, and then catapults Ziggler into the top turnbuckle. Rusev charges at Ziggler in the corner, but Ziggler moves out of the way and Rusev goes chest-first into the turnbuckles. Ziggler takes Rusev down with a couple clotheslines and then drops him with a neck-breaker. Ziggler drops the elbow and goes for the cover, but Rusev kicks out at one. Ziggler goes for the cross-body, but Rusev catches him and slams him down to the mat. Rusev goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Ziggler comes back and goes for the Fame-asser, but Rusev counters. Ziggler comes back and drops Rusev with the Fame-asser this time, but Rusev kicks out at two. Ziggler goes up top, but Rusev cuts him off. Rusev delivers a superkick and goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Rusev goes for the superkick, but Ziggler dodges it and locks in the sleeper hold. Ziggler drops Rusev with a DDT and goes for the cover, but Rusev kicks out at two. Ziggler goes for the superkick, but RUsev counters and hits one of his own. Rusev goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Rusev goes crazy that he didn’t win, and Ziggler delivers a superkick. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Rusev kicks out at two. Summer Rae gets into the ring, but the referee sends her to the back. Summer takes her shoes off and accidentally hits Rusev with one of them, and Ziggler hits the Zigzag for the pin fall.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler.
We see Nikki Bella warming up for her match backstage, with Brie Bella and Alicia Fox standing guard. We then see Charlotte warming up with Paige and Becky Lynch standing guard. Ric Flair shows up and wishes his daughter luck.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz
As usual, Big E and Kofi Kingston will wrestle while Xavier Woods plays the trombone. D-Von and Kingston start the match. Kingston takes D-Von down with a dropkick. The battle spills to the outside for a bit, but then they get back into the ring. Bubba and Big E are tagged in now. Big E gets Bubba in a headlock, but Bubba counters and slams Big E down to the mat. Bubba tags in D-Von, and they double-team Big E. D-Von goes for the cover, but Big E kicks out at one. D-Von tags Bubba back in. Bubba charges Big E in the corner, but Big E moves out of the way. Bubba superplexes Big E from the top rope and goes for the cover, but Big E kicks out at two. Kingston comes off the top rope and Bubba brings Xavier into the ring. Kingston stomps away on Bubba in the corner and Xavier goes back to playing the trombone. Xavier plays the trombone in rhythm with the stomps on Bubba in the corner. Kingston kneeds Bubba in the face and tags in Big E. Big E splashes on Bubba on the ring apron. Big E applies a headlock on Bubba in the middle of the ring. Xavier plays the Rocky theme on the trombone as Kingston and Big E double-team Bubba. Kingston comes off the top rope, but Bubba catches him and drops him with the Bubba Bomb. Bubba tags in D-Von, who drops Kingston with a few clotheslines and a shoulder block. D-Von knocks Xavier and Big E down and takes Kingston down with a Thesz Press. D-Vin splashes Kingston and drops him with a clothesline. Bubba tags in and he and D-Von hit Kingston with the 3D. Xavier gets into the ring and break up the count, causing the disqualification.
Winners: The Dudley Boys; The New Day retains the WWE Tag Team Championship.
After the match, The New Day beats down The Dudley Boyz and Big E tells Xavier to get the tables. Bubba and D-Von fight back and send Kingston and Big E to the outside. Xavier turns around and The Dudley Boyz send him through the table with a 3D.
We see the video preview for the WWE Performance Center reality show, called Breaking Ground, which premieres on October 26th.
We see some of the greatest women’s champions of all time and then transition into a hype video for Nikki Bella and then her current feud against Charlotte.
WWE Divas Championship Match: Nikki Bella (c) (w/ Alicia Fox and Brie Bella) vs. Charlotte (w/ Becky Lynch and Paige)
Nikki and Charlotte tie up and then Nikki gets Charlotte on the apron. Nikki shoves Charlotte onto the floor, and Charlotte tweaks her knee. Charlotte gets back into the ring, but Nikki goes to work on Charlotte’s injured knee. Nikki gets Charlotte on the apron and slams her down to the floor. Back in the ring, Nikki continues to work over Charlotte’s knee. We see Team B.A.D. watching the match from backstage. Nikki slams Charlotte’ knee into the mat a couple times. Nikki tries it a third time, but Charlotte counters with a forearm to the face. Nikki takes out Charlotte’s knee again and goes for the cover, but Charlotte kicks out at two. Nikki continues to work over Nikki’s knee and snap-suplexes her into the bottom rope. Nikki does a set of push-ups in the ring as she mocks Charlotte. Nikki jumps down onto Charlotte’s knee and goes for a second jump, but Charlotte moves out of the way. Charlotte rolls up Nikki, but Nikki kicks out at two. Nikki takes control back and locks in a submission in the middle of the ring. Nikki lets go of the hold and then slams Charlotte down to the mat. Nikki goes for the cover, but Charlotte kicks out at two. Nikki wraps Charlotte’s knee around the ring post a couple times and then locks in a figure-four around the ring post. Back in the ring, Nikki goes for the cover but Charlotte kicks out at two. Nikki applies the submission again, but Charlotte goes towards the ropes. Brie and Alicia pulls the ropes back, but Nikki tells them to stop so she doesn’t get disqualified. Becky and Paige take down Alicia and Brie on the outside as Charlotte rolls up Nikki for a two count. Charlotte chops Nikki a couple times and then delivers a neck-breaker and a big boot. Charlotte goes for the cover, but Nikki kicks out at two. Charlotte goes for a back-slide, but Nikki takes out her knee again. Nikki goes for the cover, but Charlotte kicks out at two. Nikki suplexes Charlotte into the ropes again. Nikki goes for another cover, but Charlotte kicks out at two again. Nikki goes to the middle rope and jumps off, but Charlotte counters with a Spear. Charlotte locks in the Figure Eight and Nikki taps out.
Winner and new WWE Divas Championship: Charlotte.
After the match, Charlotte celebrated with Becky, Paige, and Ric Flair.
We go backstage and Kevin Owens is being interviewed. He is asked about the controversy in his win and he asks “What controversy?” He says no one will ruin his moment. He says he knew he would win, because it’s no secret just how great he is.
We go to the expert panel, who are still outside of the Toyota Center. Graves says the best moment so far was Charlotte winning, while Saxton says he is still in shock that Owens beat Ryback. Booker says he is waiting on the mystery partner. We take a look back at the preshow match, in which The Cosmic Wasteland defeated Neville and The Lucha Dragons.
We go backstage and see Ric and Charlotte hugging. Paige and Becky walk up and congratulate Charlotte and Becky asks where the party is. Ric says he knows Houston better than any human alive and they all walk off.
We see the video hype package for the feud between The Wyatt Family and the 2/3 Shield.
Six-Man Tag Team Match: The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Braun Strowman) vs. Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and Chris Jericho
Ambrose and Harper start the match and Ambrose drops Harper with a clothesline and then drops an elbow. Ambrose tags in Reigns. Reigns drops Harper and then tags in Jericho. Jericho takes Harper down and goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Harper fights his way out. Reigns and Strowman tag in. Reigns can’t drop Strowman with anything and tags in Ambrose. Ambrose and Reigns double-team Strowman, but Strowman counters with a double-shoulder tackle. Jericho gets into the ring, but Strowman throws Jericho onto Ambrose and Reigns, who were on the floor. Storwman gets Ambrose back into the ring and tags in Wyatt. Ambrose fights back and drops Wyatt with a neck-breaker. Reigns and Harper get tagged in and Reigns drops him with a Samoan Drop. Reigns tosses Harper to the corner and charges, but Harper gets a boot up. Reigns comes back and sit-out powerbombs Harper down to the mat. Reigns goes for the cover, but Harper kicks out at two. Reigns delivers a series of right hands to Harper and sends him to the floor. Strowman distracts Reigns and Harper gets back into the ring and delivers a super kick. Harper goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Harper tags in Wyatt, who slams Reigns down to the mat. Wyatt goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Wyatt tags in Strowman. Strowman slams Reigns in the corner and Wyatt grabs Reigns. Wyatt slams Reigns into the barricade on the outside. Wyatt tosses Reigns back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Reigns kicks out at two. Ambrose gets Strowman in a sleeper hold on the outside, but Strowman tosses Ambrose into the timekeeper’s area. Reigns tags in Jericho. Jericho attacks Strowman and then goes after Wyatt. Jericho drops Wyatt with the running bulldog and then locks in the Walls of Jericho. Wyatt almost taps, but Harper breaks it up. Ambrose tags in and goes for Dirty Deeds on Wyatt, but Wyatt pushes him away. Ambrose comes off the ropes, but he and Ambropse double-clothesline each other. Reigns and Strowman tag in. Reigns delivers two Superman punches to Strowman and Ambrose takes him down with a cross-body. Harper gets taken out and Reigns delivers a Spear to Strowman. Jericho tags in and connects with the Lionsault. Jericho goes for the cover, but Strowman kicks out at two. Strowman catches Jericho with an elbow, but Jericho goes for the Codebreaker. Strowman drops Jericho with his finisher and then locks in the reverse bear hug and the referee calls for the bell.
Winners: The Wyatt Family.
After the match, The Wyatt Family leaves the ring as Ambrose and Reigns confront Jericho on his blind tag into the match. Jericho shoulders his way through them and leaves the ring.
We see another video hype package for Brock Lesnar’s Go to Hell Tour. October 3rd: vs. Big Show, October 19th: Stone Cold Podcast, October 25th: Hell in a Cell vs. The Undertaker.
We see Seth Rollins, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon backstage. They give him a pep talk and he says it’s time to prove himself. He walks away and they both say he’s ready. Sheamus walks in and says, “Yeah, he’s ready, and so am I.”
We see a montage of some of the greatest United States and World Heavyweight Champions of all time, and then we see a video hype package for Seth Rollins’ ongoing feuds against John Cena and Sting.
WWE United States Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. John Cena
Cena and Rollins tie up, but Rollins gets free and they circle around the ring. Rollins flips off the top rope and takes Cena down with a neck-breaker. Rollins goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Rollins delivers a right hand and then slams Cena’s face into the turnbuckle. Rollins trash talks, but Cena comes back with a big right hand. Rollins locks Cena in a sleeper hold and Cena drops to one knee. Rollins gets Cena to the top rope and then slams him down to the mat. Rollins goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Rollins panders to the crowd and Cena rolls him up from behind, but Rollins kicks out at two. Rollins splashes Cena in the corner and slams him down to the mat. Cena tries to come back, but Rollins drops him with a neck-breaker. Rollins goes after Cena, but Cena counters and side slams him down to the mat. Cena goes for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but Rollins counters and slams Cena down to the mat. Rollins goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Rollins goes for the Pedigree, but Cena counters and hits Rollins with a side slam. Cena goes for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle again, but Rollins counters. Cena still takes Rollins down and goes for the cover, but Rollins kicks out at two. Cena goes for the AA, but Rollins counters a drapes Cena over the top rope. Rollins goes up top, but Cena cuts him off. ROllins goes for the power bomb in the corner, but Cena counters with a head scissors take down. Cena and ROllins exchange right hands while the crowd does the “Boo-Yeah” spot. Cena goes for the AA, but Rollins counters and kicks Cena in the midsection. Rollins superkicks Cena and goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Rollins sends Cena to the outside and then launches himself over the tope rope and takes Cena down on the floor. Rollins tosses Cena back into the ring and goes for the frogsplash, but Cena moves out of the way and Rollins hits the mat. Cena plants Rollins with a tornado DDT and goes for the cover, but Rollins kicks out at two. Cena goes up top, but Rollins cuts him off and counters with a suplerplex. Rollins floats over and goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Cena grabs Rollins and locks in the STF, but Rollins quickly gets to the ropes. Cena goes for the AA< but Rollins rolls through and power bombs Cena in the corner. Rollins goes for the cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Cena comes back and hits the AA on Rollins and gets the pin fall.
Winner and new WWE United States Champion: John Cena.
After the match, Rollins grabs his WWE World Heavyweight Championship and tries to leave, but Cena stops him and hits him with an AA on the floor. Cena shoves Rollins back into the ring and then leaves.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Sting
Sting hits a splash in the corner and the referee calls for the bell. Sting tries to lock in the Scorpion Deathlock, but Rollins gets to the ropes. Rollins goes to the ropes and goes for a cross-body and goes for the cover, but Sting kicks out at two. Sting sends Rollins to the outside. Sting goes out after Rollins and slams him into the barricade and the steps. Back in the ring now, Sting tosses Rollins into the corners. Rollins gets away and rolls to the outside. Rollins tries to escape into the crowd, but Sting stops him. They fight on the announce table, but Rollins shoves Sting and he crashed through the Spanish announce table. Back in the ring, Rollins slams Sting down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Sting kicks out at two. Rollins splashes Sting in the corner and then slams him down to the mat. Rollins goes for the cover again, but Sting kicks out at two. Sting tries to fight back, but Rollins power bombs him in the corner. Rollins goes for the cover, but Sting kicks out at two. Rollins goes for the Pedigree, but Sting dumps him over the top rope and slams him into the barricade. Rollins gets back into the ring, but Sting grabs him and tosses him into the corner. Sting connects with two Stinger Splashes and then tosses Rollins out to the floor. Sting goes up top and dives out onto Rollins. Sting tosses Rollins into the ring and slams Rollins down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Rollins gets his foot on the bottom rope. Sting connects with the Stinger Splash and then delivers a series of right hands. Rollins counters and power bombs Sting in the corner. Rollins goes for a clothesline, but Sting ducks and collapses in the ring. The match is on hold as the ringside physician checks on Sting. Rollins goes for the Pedigree, but Sting counters into the Scorpion Deathlock. Rollins gets to the bottom rope to force the break. Rollins kicks Sting in the back of the head and goes for the Pedigree again, but Sting goes for the Scorpion Deathlock again, but Rollins rolls through the gets the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Seth Rollins.
After the match, Sheamus attempts to cash in, but Kane interrupts and chokeslams Rollins. Sheamus gets into the ring and tells Kane to do it again, but Kane chokeslams Sheamus. Kane then delivers a Tombstone Piledriver to Rollins.
Night of Champions comes to a close with Kane standing tall over Seth Rollins.
