WWE Night of Champions 2012 Review

Before I get started on this I want to send my best wishes to WWE Hall-of-Famer Jerry Lawler. As much as I can’t stand his commentary nowadays, nobody wanted to see what happened on Monday and I hope he makes a full recovery. Get well soon King! Incase anyone’s interested, my picks for tonight’s winners are: Tyson Kidd for the pre-show and for the PPV, I’ve gone for Antonio Cesaro, The Miz, Jimmy Boom, Dolph Ziggler, Layla, Sheamus and John Cena via DQ, with Punk retaining.

Now, let’s get straight into the Night of Champions pre-show, exclusively on YouTube! The pre-show kicks off with (Scott Stanford and Matt Striker welcoming us at ringside. They say Cole will give us an update on Lawler’s condition at the top of the hour. The battle royal will be a 16-man effort. Interesting! We get our first recap of the night, running down the Brogue Kick storyline with Sheamus, Berty and Bow-Tied Davie.

Josh Matthews is backstage, where he asks Booker T about his investigation into the Brogue Kick. Booker says he took pride in being a 6-time World Champion and he takes the same pride in making sure his staff are safe. All we need to know for now is that the Brogue Kick is still banned. We head ringside for the Battle Royal.

Pre-show match: Battle Royal for a United States Championship match on the PPV

If I was to sit and write the full rundown of the Battle Royal, you’d be here all night, so I’ll let you know who was in it and who the final five were. The competitors were Brodus Clay, Primo, Epico, Justin Gabriel, Tyson Kidd, Michael McGillicutty, Jinder Mahal, JTG, Titus O’Neil, Darren Young, Ted DiBiase, Drew McIntyre, Tensai, Heath Slater, Zack Ryder and Santino Marella.

It all came down to Tensai, Titus O’Neil, Darren Young, Santino and Zack Ryder. My pick was Tyson Kidd, so I’m 0 for 1 already! Haha.. Anyway, Santino was eliminated leaving Ryder in there with the heels. O’Neil charged at Ryder on the ropes, Zack ducked and Titus went flying over the top rope. Darren and Zack then fought with each other and as they were trying to eliminate each other, Tensai flipped them both over the top rope, but Ryder held on. Tensai didn’t realise it and charged at Ryder in the corner. Zack got his knees up and stunned him. He went for the Rough Ryder but couldn’t connect. Tensai went to powerbomb him out, but Ryder held on to the ropes and eliminated TAFKAAT (The Artist formerly known as A-Train).

Winner: Zack Ryder

Thoughts: It made sense to have a babyface win, because they weren’t gonna do a heel vs heel match on the PPV. I’m fine with Ryder winning. Despite WWE doing their best to bury him on TV, the live crowds are still into him and he gets a better reaction than others high on the card. Ryder eliminating Tensai makes him look strong heading into the title match, so it’s fine. I doubt he’ll win the title, but it’s nice to see Zack getting some PPV time. Woo Woo Woo, You Know It!

The announcers play up the importance of Ryder’s win and tell us that the Intercontinental Title match will kick-off the PPV, before running down the rest of the card. Backstage, Josh Matthews tries to get an interview with CM Punk as Paul Heyman walks by. Heyman brushes Matthews’ questions off before going into Punk’s locker room. We get a recap of last week’s confrontation between CM Punk and John Cena before the pre-show goes off the air.

Night of Champions PPV:

As the PPV goes live, we get the usual excellent video package from WWE and Michael Cole welcomes us to ringside. He gives us an update on Jerry Lawler’s condition, saying he’ll be heading home at some point in the next week. That’s fantastic news and like I said earlier, I hope Jerry gets well soon. We go to the ring where Justin Roberts announces Jerry’s replacement for tonight – it’s only a “wrestling-ah…….. GOD!!” – John Bradshaw Layfield! I swear I nearly wet myself with excitement hearing JBL’s theme music. Just awesome! He got a great pop from the crowd too, so it seems everyone feels the same way as I do!

Match 1: Fatal-4-Way for the Intercontinental Championship (Miz vs Rey vs Cody vs Sin Cara)

We get an AWEEEEESSSOOOMMMEEE start to the PPV as Miz comes out first with a mic, running down the crowd and Booker T before Rey, Cody and Sin Cara come out to get this show underway. (Remember, my pick to win here is The Miz).

As the bell rings, Cody Rhodes goes after Sin Cara and the Miz goes after Rey Mysterio. The masked men manage to work together and hit a few high flying moves before Miz and Rhodes isolate Sin Cara. Cody Rhodes gets thrown out of the ring, leaving Sin Cara and The Miz in the ring together. Cara arm-drags Miz out of the ring, leaving him alone with Rey Mysterio. After a few tentative steps, they get it on and exchange kicks. Rey connects with a hurricanrana, but only gets a 2-count. All four men are back in the ring, with the heels in control before they end up fighting each other. Cody misses the Disaster Kick and gets sent to the outside, leaving Rey, Miz, and Sin Cara in the ring. The luchadors double-team the Miz before throwing the champ outside. They’re now back in the ring together. Rey goes to the top rope, but Sin Cara connects with a kick. Cody comes back in the ring and hits a Beautiful Disaster kick. He goes over to Rey in the corner and tries to superplex him, but Miz comes over and we get a powerplex. The Miz and Rey go at it, before Miz hits Rey with a DDT. Cara comes in and missile dropkicks Miz as Rey hits Cody with a hurricanrana on the outside, followed by a seated senton. Cara hits a corkscrew splash on the inside for another 2-count at the same time as Rey hits a springboard moonsault for 2. Miz and Cody are in the 619 position. Cody ducks as Rey hits the 619 on Miz. Mysterio goes for a cover, but Cody pulls him away from the pin. Rhodes goes for Sin Caras mask. Mysterio hits a couple of moves before he gets thrown outside for his trouble. Cara kicks Cody in the head, before pulling out a mask for Cody. Miz hits Cara with a neck/backbreaker and gets a close 2-count. Sin Cara puts a mask on Miz as Cody grapples with him. With the mask on, Miz grabs Cody from behind and connects with a Skull Crushing Finale for the win.

Winner (and STILL Intercontinental Champion): The Miz

Thoughts: This match was brutal to start with. Their timing was off and there was a bunch of mistimed spots early doors. It got better as the match went on and was pretty formulaic. We got the powerplex spot, as well as the double 619 attempt in a four-way that involves Mysterio. I’m happy that Miz retained because he needs the belt more than Cody, Rey or Sin Cara. The crowd was pretty solidly behind Cody Rhodes actually, which is surprising. Of the two “heels”, you’d think Miz would be able to carry off being a babyface more than Cody, but we’ll see where it goes.

We go backstage where the Prime-Time Players are complaining to Eve about being stripped of their tag-team title shot when someone runs in and says there’s an emergency. Eve goes to the hallway, where Kaitlyn is being treated for an injured ankle. Apparently someone took her out from behind, giggity, and Eve tells her that she’s in no condition to compete tonight. She’ll go to Booker and make things right.

We go ringside where Michael Cole and JBL show us a recap of the Anger Management issues that Kane and Daniel Bryan have had. From now on, I’ll be calling their tag-team Kryan. You’re welcome.

Match 2: Tag-Team Championship Match: Jimmy Boom (c) vs Kryan

Daniel Bryan comes out first, followed by Kane before Jimmy Boom make their way to the ring with an imaginary friend. Jesus Christ, if Bryan and Kane need therapy, Truth needs sectioned, but that’s a story for another time. My pick for this match is Jimmy Boom to retain.

Kane and Kofi start the match, with Kofi landing a couple of kicks before connecting with a dropkick. He tags in Truth and they double-team the Big Red Machine. Kane gets control and drags Truth over to D-Bry and tags him in. Bryan kicks Truth in the corner, before Truth makes his way over to Kofi and tags his partner. Kofi flies over the top rope and hits a flying crossbody, before kicking Bryan in the head and tagging Truth back in. Kane tags himself back in and takes control of Truth before tagging Bryan back in. D-Bry connects with his signature kicks in the corner on Truth before hitting his running dropkick. Kane hits Truth with a big boot to the face and clotheslines him, before sending him to the outside. Kryan begin to argue with each other after a double-team move goes wrong. They hug it out in the ring and the crowd goes nuts! Meanwhile, Truth tags Kofi, who hits a series of chops, setting up for the Boom Drop. It’s the first time I’ve heard the crowd audibly booing Kingston. They’re right behind the dysfunctional Kryan. Kane saves Daniel from getting kicked, before Kofi leaps over the top rope twice and takes both men out. Truth gets attacked on the outside as Kofi gets hit with a dropkick in the corner. Kofi Kingston tries for a hurricanrana off the top rope, but Bryan holds on to Kane’s foot, saving him. Kane gets pissed and shoves Bryan away. With Kingston down, Kane gets ready to go for a flying clothesline, but Bryan pushes him off the top rope! Kane falls on top of Kingston and gets the pin!

Winners (and NEW Tag Team Champions): Kryan

(After the match, Kane and Bryan stand in the ring, screaming at each other that “I am the tag-team champion”. This stuff with these two is genuinely the funniest stuff there’s been in WWE over the last 10 years. Just brilliant performances from these guys. Love it!)

Thoughts: I’m actually surprised at the fact that Jimmy Boom lost, not because I like them as a team, I’m not bothered by them, but there’s less for them to do as singles stars than there is for Bryan and Kane to do on their own. Good chemistry with the teams, entertaining match and the crowd are REALLY into Kryan right now. Probably the right decision to give them the belts. Like I said in the recap, this is the first time I’ve heard the crowd booing Kingston. It was weird.

It’s time to go backstage where Teddy Long is standing with Booker, who says business just picked up in the tag-team division. I bet that Teddy wishes he’d made that tag-match. He loves tag matches. Holla! Anyway, Eve wanders in and tells Booker what’s happened with Kaitlyn. She says there’s no other Diva on the roster qualified for a title shot. (Since when did that matter?!). Booker says that there is. You, Eve. Because she beat Kaitlyn two weeks ago on Smackdown, as well as finishing “runner-up” in the Divas Battle Royal, Booker is rewarding Eve for her hard work as his assistant by giving HER the title match instead. “Call it a bonus” he says. She skips off and now we have our Divas match set again.

(Side note, Eve looked STUNNING again. Why is it heel women are generally hotter?)

We head back to ringside and get a recap of the pre-show Battle Royal where Zack Ryder earned his upcoming US Title shot against Cesaro.

Match 3: United States Championship Match – Antonio Cesaro (c) vs Zack Ryder

Cesaro comes out first with the sultry Aksana (minus her porno music), followed by Ryder. There’s no way in hell that Cesaro is dropping the belt here, he’s my pick!

Antonio slams Zack to the ground, but Ryder escapes. Cesaro locks in a headlock, before connecting with a shoulder-block. Zack Ryder gets up and hits some offense of his own, with a flapjack and a dropkick. Cesaro gains control by dropping Ryder on the top rope. He locks in another side head-lock before following up with a slam. He stomps on Zack before getting a 2-count. He throws Zack up in the air and nails him with a sick looking European uppercut. Cesaro puts Zack in a submission move, but Zack escapes and gets a couple of moves in. He connects with a facebuster and a clothesline. Ryder rolls up the champ for two. He connects with a missile dropkick and reverses a suplex into a neckbreaker. Antonio goes up top and tries to escape, but Ryder cuts him off at the pass. Zack hits a hurricanrana from the top rope and goes to follow up with a Broski boot, but Aksana pulls Cesaro out of the ring. Zack chases him back into the ring, where Cesaro uppercuts him before connecting with the Neutralizer for the win.

Winner (and STILL US Champion): Antonio Cesaro

Thoughts: For what it was (a throwaway match), it was pretty decent. They had good chemistry with each other and it’d be good to see them in a long feud over the belt. WWE have to get Cesaro over with the crowd because apart from smarks, the casual fan won’t know who he is. Ryder is so over with the fans, regardless of what WWE does, so it gets heat on Cesaro by beating a babyface that’s as over as the Woo Woo Woo Kid.

We get a hype video for Saturday Morning Slam (whatever the hell that is) before making our regular stop backstage, where we see Juan Blandshaw Layfield, Bow-Tied Davie and Ricky Ricardo. Ricky doesn’t have his neckbrace on and Davie goes mental. He asks Juan Blandshaw Layfield what the Spanish is for stupid. They call Ricky “stupido” as we go back to ringside for our next contest.

Match 4: Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler

No title on the line here, but these guys don’t need it. Two of the most naturally talented wrestlers in the world are fixed to get it on here. Vickie comes out and tells everyone to stand up and show their respect for Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler makes his way to the ring with Vicki in tow and gets a great reception from the crowd, considering he’s “supposed to be a bad guy”. Randy Orton comes down the ramp to a pretty good reaction too. I picked Ziggler to win this one.

They lock up and go all over the ring. Ziggler locks in a headlock, following up with a shoulder-block. They lock up again, but Randy gets the advantage and connects with a shoulder-block of his own. Orton hits his patented series of stomps and follows them up with a few European uppercuts, before Ziggler connects with a dropkick and gets a 2-count. Ziggler stomps away at the Viper in the corner and locks in a neckbreaker. Ziggler elbows Orton in the back of the head, but Orton gets back into it with a springboard suplex and gets a 2-count of his own. Randy follows up with a backbreaker and a couple of clotheslines. He sets up for the DDT between the ropes, but Ziggler reverses into a roll up and gets another 2-count. Orton drags Ziggler to the top rope and goes for the superplex, but Ziggler fights him off and connects with a missile dropkick for another nearfall.

They trade blows, before Ziggler drops Randy’s throat on the top rope and covers him for another 2-count. Ziggler goes for his patented pausing elbows and hits what seems like a dozen of them. He locks in another side head-lock and does his handstand, with the bridge for a submission. Orton fights out with a back suplex before Ziggler connects with a flying clothesline for another nearfall. Dolphy Boy has been dominating the match. A tremendous performance and it’s only a matter of time before he’s in the main-event permanently.

Ziggler goes back to the necklock. Orton headbutts Ziggler and follows up with a picture perfect dropkick, but Ziggler connects with a leaping DDT for his 100^th 2-count. OK, so it’s not his 100^th2-count, but you get my point. Ziggler up top, but Randy catches him and superplexes him off the top rope. They trade punches before Ziggler connects with the Fameasser for YET ANOTHER nearfall. Ziggler blocks the Viper DDT and they fight outside of the ring. Orton hits Ziggler with the Viper DDT from the barricade! Ziggler is a god-damn bumping machine! There’s no way in hell I’d be taking that, I’m telling ya now. Orton rolls Ziggler into the ring, but Ziggler gets his foot on the rope to break the count. Orton stalks Ziggler, looking for the RKO and fails. Ziggler tries to lock in a sleeperhold, but Orton wriggles out, lifts him in the air and RKO’s him for the win.

Winner: Randy Orton

Thoughts: Definitely a contender for Match of the Night. I could watch these two wrestle for hours. Seriously. Iron-Man Match with Ziggler and Orton. Yes please! Ziggler dominated this match. He was outstanding. I nearly lost count of the number of nearfalls he had. If WWE don’t see him as a main-eventer after the way Ziggler’s performed against Orton, Jericho and Sheamus, then they’re batshit crazy.

Match 5: Divas Championship Match – Layla (c) vs Eve Torres

The two hottest Divas in WWE make their way out for this match: Layla and Eve. My pick to win (before the match was changed) is Layla.

The champ goes for a roll-up straight away and gets a 2-count. Eve connects with a headlock, but the champ rolls through into a leglock. It’s fairly even early doors. They trade armbars, but Eve does a cartwheel to escape. Layla locks in a headlock and follows up with a shoulder-block. She dropkicks Eve, but the challenger tosses Layla outside, slamming her head on the mat and her gut into the side of the ring. Eve rolls her back into the ring and punches her on the ground. Eve’s so much in control that it’s not even funny. She’s throwing Layla around like a ragdoll. Eve locks in a chinlock and kicks Layla to the ground for another 2-count. Eve puts Layla in a leglock and a figure four around the neck. Eve goes for a neckbreaker, but Layla counters into a DDT. Layla hits a clothesline and a slam, but she misses her springboard crossbody! Eve hits her neckbreaker and gets the win! We’ve got a new Divas champ!

Winner (and NEW Divas Champion): Eve

Thoughts: If you believe the internet (and why wouldn’t ya?), then Kaitlyn was never supposed to win the Battle Royal on Raw a couple of weeks ago, it was a botch, so if that’s true, what happened with Kaitlyn earlier makes sense. I don’t care who Divas champion is at this point, but if anyone’s to have it, it should be a Diva who gets TV time. That leaves either AJ or Eve, so Eve gets it. I’m fine with it.

We get a hype video for the upcoming Rock/Cena DVD. By the way, it’s the same thing that was on FREE TV the week before Wrestlemania, so I won’t be buying it. In the ring, Lilian Garcia hypes WWE’s partnership with the breast cancer prevention charity (which is why the middle rope is pink tonight) and she announces that there are some survivors in the crowd, before we see a video package about the charity. It’s a good cause people, get donating to any cancer charity.

We go backstage again to see Daniel Bryan and Kane still screaming: “I am the tag team champion.” AJ’s freaking out backstage. She says she can’t believe that they’re tag-team champions. After some prompting from Dr Shelby, D-Bry congratulates Kane. The doc tries to get Kane to do the same but he stomps off, shouting “I’m going to Disneyland!” leaving D-Bryan to rage. Kane comes back and tips a bucket of ice over AJ, D-Bry and the doc. Wet T-shirt contest with AJ? Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Next, we get a hype video for the World Title match that we’re about to see.

Match 6: World Heavyweight Championship Match: Sheamus (c) vs Alberto del Rio

Alberto del Rio drives out to the stage in a Ferrari Spyder worth $200,000. Newsflash folks, he doesn’t own these cars. They’re rentals. You’re welcome. Sheamus comes out to a great reaction from the punters. We go to the ring and we get the formal ring intros, but before the ref signals for the bell…. CAN YOU DIG IT? SUCKKKAAAA!!!! The Smackdown GM makes his way out. Booker T has spoken to Sebastian Shark, Columbo and Magnum P.I., and he announces that, from tonight, the Brogue Kick… is… re-…. Instated!!! Sheamus nearly wets himself laughing and del Rio looks like he’s gonna cry. Get the Kleenex out Berty! No, not for that! Some of you lot, your minds are in the gutter! Moving swiftly on, my pick to win this is Sheamus.

The ref rings the bell and Sheamus charges at del Rio, who ducks, so Bow-Tied Davie gets a kick to the face instead! Del Rio tries to escape, but Sheamus pulls him back into the ring and punches him in the corner. Del Rio headbutts the champ and tries to kick him out of the ring, but misses. Sheamus hits a shoulder-block and goes up top, but del Rio follows him and shoves him into the Spanish announce table before kicking him in the midsection. Back in the ring, Alberto locks in a modified crossface. Sheamus tries to get up, but gets a kick in the gut for his troubles. Alberto boots Sheamus in the back of the head. With the champ out of it, del Rio kicks Sheamus’ arm off the ringpost and gets a 2-count. He sets up an armbar and goes up top, locking in an armbar against the ropes, using the 5 count. Sheamus hits a big axehandle as Del Rio comes flying off the top turnbuckle. The champ gets back into things with a high knee and follows up with a powerslam for a 2-count. Sheamus goes for the Irish Curse, but del Rio escapes and gets thrown into the ropes. Sheamus hits his chest punches on Alberto and they both come back inside the ring. Del Rio counters White Noise and hits a backstabber for 2. Sheamus eventually hits White Noise and sets up for the Brogue, but del Rio ducks and connects with his corner enziguiri for a nearfall!

Sheamus gets up and goes for the Brogue, but misses again. He tries for the Cloverleaf instead, but del Rio uses his leg strength to power out. Sheamus’ arm gets caught in the rope and del Rio uses the 5-count again to work over the shoulder. Del Rio’s in charge and connects with an armbreaker, before following up with the Cross Armbreaker. Sheamus fights out and pulls a Cena manoeuvre , lifting del Rio up and powerbombing him. He goes for the Brogue Kick and misses again!! Del Rio counters and locks in the Armbreaker again. Just as it looks like he’s about to tap, Sheamus gets to the rope and the ref breaks the hold. As both men get back to their feet, Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick “from out of nowhere” (hey Michael Cole, how ya doin?) for the win.

Winner (and STILL World Heavyweight Champion): Sheamus

Thoughts: My honest thoughts? OK. I am SICK and TIRED of watching del Rio get World Title matches. He isn’t that good, he isn’t connecting with the audience and to be honest, I’d rather watch a 24-hour Fatal-4-Way Iron Man Hell in a Cell Match between The Great Khali, Big Show, Mark Henry and Tensai than watch del Rio get another title match. I wrote an article a few weeks ago and del Rio’s had 12 World/WWE Title matches, winning two. He’s never won the belt in a straight-up 1-on-1 match that wasn’t a gimmick match. He’s crap. Stop pushing him nobody cares. Thanks.

After the match, there’s no sign of Dolph Ziggler, which is a good thing. We get the usual “Don’t try this at home video” and we see members of the US Armed Forces at ringside. It’s time for our final hype video of the night as we get ready for our main-event!

Match 7 – WWE Title Match: CM Punk (c) vs John Cena

Paul Heyman is in the ring. He puts over CM Punk’s title reign and says that he’s there to support Punk. Punk’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring in a hoodie and tights with the Yankee stripes on them. Paul Heyman is in the ring applauding Punk and they shake hands. He’s clearly a CM Punk guy! Cena makes his entrance and gets his usual mixed reaction. He’s wearing new merch with “Rise Above Cancer” slogan on it. Fair play to the WWE for this effort tonight by the way. I reckon there’ll be a DQ finish here, where Cena wins, but Punk retains the title.

We get formal ring intros again and Punk poses in the ring with the title to stall the match. They lock up and Cena takes Punk over with a headlock. The crowd’s into it early as we get the “Let’s Go Cena” “Cena Sucks”. Cena connects with a suplex and wrenches on Punk’s gut. Punk escapes with an elbow and knees Cena in the gut before taking him over with a headlock of his own. Cena hits a back body drop, but Punk comes back with a dropkick to the skull. Punk takes Cena down with some elbows to the back of the head. He poses on the top rope and connects with a DDT for 2-count. Punk locks in a headlock, followed by a drop toe-hold and bridges into another headlock. Cena rolls out of the ring to escape, holding his knee. He doesn’t get much breathing space as Punk flies through the ropes with a suicide dive!

With Cena down, Punk has a stand-off with John’s father on the outside. Before anything happens, Punk gets thrown into the barricade and Cena suplexes him. Back in the ring, Cena goes for the AA, but Punk gets out of it and kicks Cena in the head. Punk locks in the Camel Clutch and mocks Cena, punching him at the same time. He goes to the top and hits an ax-handle. CM Punk tries the GTS but Cena escapes. Cena goes for his sit-out powerbomb, but Punk rolls through and gets a 2-count. He counters the 5 Knuckle Shuffle with a kick to the head. Punk connects with a neckbreaker for another 2-count.

He goes for a springboard clothesline, but Cena rolls through. He goes for an AA, but Punk makes it to the ropes and falls outside. Cena hits Punk with a Suicide Dive of his own, rolls the champ back into the ring, but misses the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice, but Cena powers out and locks in the STF. Punk counters and rolls through into a CrossFace, but Cena powers out AGAIN and connects with a sidewalk slam. Punk and Cena begin to trade punches, before Punk connects with a spinning kick. He follows that up with a high knee into the running bulldog. Instead of covering him, Punk goes up top and hits a flying elbow-drop for a 2-count. Cena counters the GTS with the STF, but Punk makes it to the rope and hits Cena with the GTS for another nearfall.

Punk kicks Cena in the back and in the head, before following up with a clothesline for 2. He starts bitch-slapping Cena, who goes for the AA and misses, but he hits the 5 Knuckle Shuffle instead. Cena lifts Punk on his shoulders, but can only get a 2-count. He climbs to the top rope and misses his flying legdrop. Punk kicks him in the back of the head for a 2-count. He knees him in the skull for another 2-count. Cena’s kicking out of everything that Punk throws at him and the champ is getting majorly pissed. Punk goes for an all-or-nothing moonsault and misses. Cena lifts him on his shoulders and goes for the AA, but Punk counters into the GTS for another 2-count!

Punk mocks The Rock’s pose and hits Cena with the Rock Bottom, but Cena gets his shoulder up just before the 3! From out of nowhere, Cena connects with an AA for a close 2-count. Cena lifts Punk to the top rope. Punk elbows Cena a few times to shake him off, but Cena springs back up like Superman (as usual) and German Suplexes Punk off the top rope. He holds on to the waistlock, with both men’s shoulders on the canvas as the ref counts to three!

Winner (and NEW WWE Champion): John Cena

As most of the Boston crowd goes nuts, John Cena is announced as the winner. However, the ref tells Cena that because both their shoulders were down for three, the match ends a draw, therefore, still your WWE Champion, CM Punk.

Winner: Match declared a draw

As Cena argues with the referee, he turns around and Punk nails him between the eyes with the title belt. You can hear some of the crowd chanting “Bullsh*t!” at the result of the match as Punk stands tall to end the show, celebrating with Heyman. Michael Cole says: “CM Punk – 301 Days and Counting”

Thoughts: As much as I hate how John Cena is booked (like Superman), he’s got great chemistry with Punk. They bring out the best in each other, but it’s still too early for this match to have been done again. We only saw it last year. In terms of the finish, I knew there’d be a screwy finish, but I thought it’d be a DQ instead of a draw. We saw that not too long ago when Punk and Bryan were feuding. The most intriguing thing about this match? Paul Heyman DIDN’T get involved, which shocked me.

Match of the Night: It’s a close call between the WWE Title match and the Orton/Ziggler contents, but I’d have to go with Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler. These two have the potential to rescue Smackdown from the debacle that is Alberto del Rio. Orton is a veteran, which is frightening when you think he’s in his early 30’s. He’s been main-eventing since he was 24 and Ziggler can learn so much from Randy to get to that next level. Of the two men, Ziggler was terrific tonight and showed once again why the crowd are getting behind him, despite the presence of that shrieking banshee, Vickie Guerrero.

Overall Thoughts on Night of Champions: Was it an excellent PPV? No, but it was very good. There was plenty of bright spots in there. The WWE Title match was everything I expected it to be, Orton and Ziggler delivered, the tag-match was fun, Zack Ryder got some much needed PPV time and Kryan are just the best thing about WWE right now. The Divas and Intercontinental matches were OK for what they were and I just hope to God that this is the last time that we EVER see Alberto del Rio anywhere near a main-event title match. He’s awful. It’s time to admit the experiment failed and move someone else into that role.

Well folks, this year’s Night of Champions is done and dusted. Doing a quick recap, the PPV winners were: The Miz, Kryan, Antonio Cesaro, Randy Orton, Eve, Sheamus and the main-event finished in a draw. As I’m typing this, it’s 4:30am in the morning and I’ve got a very sleepy nephew sitting beside me. That should be interesting to explain to my brother in a couple of hours time! Haha..

As always, it’s been a blast. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your own comments about the PPV below, or send me a tweet @george_sltd.