Retro Rowe: WWE Night of Champions 2010

WWE Night Of Champions 2010

September 19, 2010

by Samoa Rowe

-From Chicago, IL. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker.

-Vickie Guerrero and Kaitlyn come out to introduce Dolph Ziggler. I’m reminded that Kaitlyn is still an NXT rookie.

Intercontinental Championship:
Dolph Ziggler © (with Vickie Guerrero and Kaitlyn) vs. Kofi Kingston

Oh goodie, THIS match again. Kingston and Ziggler seem doomed to forever feud against one another in a perpetual limbo of hitting the glass ceiling. Vickie is insecure that Dolph is more attracted to Kaitlyn and sends her away when Dolph gets tossed and therefore needs tending to. Ziggler rebounds and goes to work on Kofi’s head. Ziggler nails the Fame-asser for 2 and continues the head attacks. If you like rest holds, this is the match for you. Dolph’s chinlock is what we’d normally be missing during a commercial break. Kingston goes ballistic and makes a comeback. Trouble in Paradise misses but Kingston blocks the sleeper. Ziggler uses a rope break to save himself. Kofi dives off the apron and loses his cool pummeling Ziggler on the floor. Dolph locks on the sleeper and Kingston dramatically reverses. Dolph orders Vickie not to interfere and dodges Trouble in Paradise. The Zig Zag finishes it at 12:35. This was the usual effort you get from WWE mid-carders these days. I don’t want to see Kingston and Ziggler ever face each other again, unless a World title is on the line, **½.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Dolph Ziggler

-Todd Grisham interviews Edge backstage. Edge resents the notion that he has any disadvantage in tonight’s 6-pack challenge. He plans on rising to the occasion and becoming WWE Champion.

CM Punk vs. Big Show

Oh boy, it’s time for Punk to do another embarrassing job in his hometown. It’s okay though, Punk’s Chicago luck would change pretty dramatically in 2011. Punk takes a moment on the mic to try and turn the crowd against him, but it doesn’t quite work. Punk’s offense is pretty ineffective in the early going and suffers Show’s boot to the face. Punk rebounds with a senton to the floor. Show almost gets counted out and suffers a leaping elbow to the head. Show counters a springboard move with a spear. The KO punch finishes it at 4:42. This was such an unproductive use of the talent involved and a boring match to boot, ¾*.
Winner: Big Show

-Josh Mathews interviews Chris Jericho backstage. Jericho reminisces on his history of beating multiple people to win championships. He vows to become WWE Champion because he’s the best in the world.

United States Championship:
The Miz © (with Alex Riley) vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan is still hot coming off of his surprise return at Summerslam. Bryan outmaneuvers Miz in the early going. Miz uses a break in the ropes to cheap shot Bryan’s arm. Miz smells blood and focuses his attacks on the freshly injured arm. Riley interferes for the hell of it as Miz continues to roll. Daniel counters and delivers a suicide dive! Missile drop-kick by Bryan, who is continuing to sell his arm injury. Miz kicks out of some near falls and trades shots with Bryan. Miz crotches Daniel on the ropes for a nice clothesline off the turnbuckle. Miz resumes his arm attacks. Bryan counters the Skull Crushing Finale but has a difficult time applying the LaBell lock. Miz inadvertently knocks Riley off the apron, allowing a surprise roll-up from Bryan. Daniel is tossed to ringside and he fends off Riley once again. Back to the ring, Bryan sneaks in an inside cradle. Miz snaps and becomes overly aggressive, becoming easy prey for the LaBell lock. After a struggle, Miz taps at 12:24! Bryan emotionally celebrates his title victory. This was fun and satisfying to watch, ***.
Winner and new United States Champion: Daniel Bryan

-Miz looks properly upset over no longer being U.S. Champion. It’s okay, Miz, the WWE title is coming your way.

-Josh Mathews interviews John Cena backstage. Cena dishes out some bad percentage jokes, reminding the Chicago crowd why they want to boo him.

Women’s/Divas Championship (Lumberjill match):
Melina vs. Michelle McCool

This is a unification match to retire the Women’s title. Strangely enough, Layla is the Women’s Champion, but she’s been sharing it with Michelle, and it’s McCool representing LayCool. Layla is amongst the Lumberjills and doesn’t look happy about this development. Michelle tries to cheap shot Melina during her split entrance but it’s countered. They lock up and quickly spill to ringside, where Michelle slaps a diva on her way back to the ring. Melina gets her shots in until McCool pulls her hair to knock her to the floor. Michelle delivers an extended beating until Melina makes her inevitable comeback. Michelle picks a fight with Natalya, giving Melina an opening for a pinning predicament. The lumberjills attack McCool and Melina unloads her bag of tricks. They both tumble off the turnbuckles and once again the lumberjills attack McCool. Layla attacks Melina, leaving her vulnerable to Michelle’s big boot for the win at 6:31. Thank the heavens we only have one women’s title in the WWE again. Too bad they kept the garish Divas title over the traditional, historic Women’s title. The match was your usual WWE divas outing, *¾.
Winner and new Unified Women’s and Divas Champion: Michelle McCool

-Nexus leader Wade Barrett is approached by Todd Grisham. He asks Barrett how he feels about being the least experienced competitor in the 6-pack challenge. Barrett says he’s been saying all along that the winds of change are blowing and tonight he gets to prove it.

World Heavyweight Championship (No Holds Barred):
Kane © vs. The Undertaker

The bell rings as Undertaker charges Kane on the stage. They brawl back and forth into the aisle. Kane reverses an Irish whip, sending the Dead Man into the ring steps. Kane uses the World title as a weapon. They finally enter the ring, with Kane nailing the flying clothesline. Undertaker takes a prolonged beating before tossing Kane into the ring steps. Leg drop on the apron by Taker, but Kane is first on his feet. Undertaker leaps over the barricade to attack Kane in the timekeeper’s area. Cue the crowd brawl. Back to ringside, Kane delivers a clothesline off the guard rail. Back to the ring, Kane is in the driver’s seat, and I’m threatening to fall asleep. Undertaker shows some life and trades shots with his brother. Undertaker makes a comeback with his usual arsenal. Chokeslam by Undertaker but the Tombstone is reversed! That’s enough for a Kane victory at 18:19. Huh, a rare clean loss by Undertaker. Too bad Kane doesn’t need the rub and the match sucked, *.
Winner and still World Heavyweight Champion: Kane

-Undertaker stumbles on his way up the stage. He finally gets the applause he was waiting for and rests his head against the tron.

-Randy Orton is approached by Todd Grisham in his locker room. Orton has nothing to say to his five opponents.

WWE Tag Team Championship (Tag Team Turmoil):
Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith © (with Natalya) vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso (with Tamina)

Kidd and one of the Usos start things off with a fast-paced exchange, so you know they’re not planning on wrestling for long. Kidd gets double teamed and cornered. Hart gets a tag and plows through the Usos. The Usos save themselves but Kidd nails them with an Asai moonsault. Kidd applies a sharpshooter but Tamina and the other Uso interfere. Kidd is pinned and the Hart Dynasty are out at 2:11.

Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov are the second team. Apparently the Usos are exhausted after their 2 minute classic against the Hart Dynasty and are completely caught off guard. Tamina distracts Santino from hitting the Cobra and the Usos eliminate him with a Samoan drop at 3:14.

Evan Bourne and Mark Henry are in next. Bourne kind of wipes himself out with too many risky moves too quickly. Mark Henry tags and cleans house on the Usos. Henry nails the World’s Strongest Slam and sets an Uso up for Bourne’s shooting star press. The Usos are eliminated at 5:08.

The final entrants are Drew McIntyre and Dashing Cody Rhodes! McIntyre storms the ring and aggressively pummels Bourne into the corner. Cody tags in and continues the beating on plucky baby face, Evan Bourne. Cody and Drew are able to prevent a tag to Henry and continue to make quick tags. Bourne knees the head of McIntyre and finally makes the hot tag. Henry is fresh and easily knocks Rhodes around. Bourne stands on Henry’s shoulders but McIntyre puts a stop to their plan. Cody nails Cross Rhodes on Bourne for the victory and the titles at 11:39. This was the worse kind of Tag Team Turmoil match as it exposed the entire division as being an afterthought and a joke, *.
Winners and new WWE Tag Team Champions: Drew McIntyre and Dashing Cody Rhodes

-Video package putting over Alberto Del Rio’s persona. Del Rio is Mexican and rich. Boo him!

-Josh Mathews interviews WWE Champion Sheamus backstage. Sheamus claims he isn’t concerned about the possibility of losing his title tonight. He leaves every match with two things: a smile on his face and the WWE title.

WWE Championship (6-Pack Challenge):
Sheamus © vs. John Cena vs. Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton

Orton is clearly the crowd favorite tonight. The bell rings and all the competitors can be in the ring at the same time. The ring empties down to just Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. Cena returns and unloads on Jericho. Orton pops up and finishes Jericho with the RKO at 1:28! Jericho looks dumbfounded. This would be the last time we’d see Jericho until his silent return in 2012. The match restarts with everyone ganging up on Wade Barrett. Orton and Cena clean the ring and try to have a standoff between heel attacks. They block each other’s finishers until Edge and Barrett break it up. Sheamus takes control of the match. Cena blocks a Sheamus superplex attempt but Edge knocks him off the top. Edge and Sheamus work together to superplex Cena! The unlikely duo also sends Barrett crashing into the barricade. They drag Orton into the ring for a beating. Orton makes a brief comeback before Sheamus nails him with a running ax handle. Edge turns on Sheamus and looks for the spear. We get a flurry of near finishers until Cena nails Edge with the Attitude Adjustment for the elimination 14:57. Barrett finds an opening to go after Cena. Barrett counters the AA with a DDT for 2. Cena makes a Superman comeback but Sheamus jumps him. Cena locks Sheamus into the STF for the near submission. The Nexus runs in and distracts Cena. Barrett nails Wasteland on Cena for the elimination at 18:27! The Nexus gang up on Orton and serve him to Barrett. Orton is surrounded when Cena starts swinging a chair! Orton dishes out RKOs to anyone who comes near. Barrett eats an RKO and is gone at 20:27! We’re down to just Sheamus and Orton. The Brogue Kick connects but Orton kicks out! The Celtic Cross is countered and Orton pins Sheamus with the RKO at 21:22. Orton wins! Exciting main event here, as Orton and Cena’s dual struggle to overcome the Nexus and Sheamus was interesting, ***½.
Winner and new WWE Champion: Randy Orton

Final Thoughts: This show suffered horribly from some questionable booking and several wrestlers not being booked to their strengths (ie, CM Punk). The Miz/Bryan match and the main event were good and worth seeing, but almost everything else was terrible. This is another in a long series of frustrating middle of the road WWE pay-per-views. Thumbs down.