Night of Champions Results – September 18, 2011

The announcing team is Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Booker T.

WWE Tag Team champions Air Boom vs. The Miz & R-Truth

Miz and Truth rapped a re-worked version of R-Truth’s theme music, which is now titled “You Suck.”

Kofi and Miz started off. Miz maneuvered him into the corner and headbutt him in the corner. Kingston then caught him with a right hand as Miz argued with the referee. Someone watched the Mayweather fight.

Bourne tagged in and then tagged Miz with several kicks to the leg. Kofi leapt off Bourne’s back to nail a flying forearm in the corner for a two count. Truth tagged in but was immediately hiptossed, Bourne and Kingston nailed a headscissors on Truth, then double dropkicked Miz. The challengers went to the floor, where the champs hit stereo dives off the top on them.

Bourne tossed Truth back into the ring and scored a near fall. Truth came back with a series of punches, working over Bourne on the mat. Truth choked Bourne in the ropes near his corner, allowing Miz to sneak in a kick for another two count. Miz tagged in and hit a running boot to the face for another near fall, then cinched in a rear chinlock.

Miz and Truth nailed a double shoulderblock on Bourne, with Truth scoring another two count. Truth locked in a front facelock but was backdropped over by Bourne. Bourne tried to make it to his partner for a tag but Miz tagged in and nailed Bourne first, peppering him with punches.

Miz began nailing punches while dancing around but Bourne turned the Skull Crushing Finale attempt into a forward roll and made the tag to Kingston. Kingston cleaned house on Miz and nailed the Boom Drop. Kofi set up for Trouble in Paradise but Truth went to nail him. Kofi dropped him first and nailed Miz with the S.O.S. for a two count.

Truth nailed Kingston from behind and Miz nailed a jawbreaker into a DDT for a two count. Kingston went to make a tag but Miz grabbed him. Bourne faked a tag and nailed a missile dropkick on Miz. Miz argued over the tag with Bourne and was caught with a reverse rollup for a two count. Bourne went for Air Bourne but Miz slipped out of the way and nailed DDT. Kingston broke it up at the last second.

Truth tagged in but the referee didn’t see it. The referee argued with Truth and put him into the corner. Miz grabbed Bourne and nailed the Skull Crushing Finale and had him pinned but Truth was arguing with the referee and the ref missed it. He finally went to make the count but Bourne kicked out. Miz began arguing with the referee and shoved him down, getting his team DQ’d.

Your winners and still WWE Tag Team champions, Air Boom, by DQ.

The referee argued with Miz and was shoved back down. Truth backed Miz off and pulled up the referee, apologizing, then nailed him as well. Miz screamed that he was sick of this and the conspiracy.

Matt Striker grabbed Truth and Miz and warned them that attacking the referee could lead to a fine or suspension. They didn’t care. Truth said he wasn’t a referee but a conspirator and they tired of it. Striker said that the COO might not agree and Miz said that he didn’t care and after tonight, HHH might not be COO anyway. I don’t know if they meant it to be a hint they would get involved later on in the HHH-Punk thing, but you could certainly have taken it that way.

WWE Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes vs. Ted DiBiase

They locked up and DiBiase locked in a side headlock. Rhodes shot him into the ropes but had a hiptoss blocked. They had some nice back and forth wrestling early. DiBiase scored a near fall after a short arm clothesline, then began working over Rhodes’ arm.

Rhodes nailed DiBiase but was caught with a dropkick as he rebounded off the ropes. DiBiase went after the mask but the referee stopped him. Rhodes slapped Ted, who grabbed him with a double leg takedown. Rhodes cut off DiBiase with a knee to the gut and a knee to the head for a two count.

Rhodes controlled DiBiase, working on his arm and shoulder. DiBiase went for a monkey flip out of the corner and the referee counted both of their shoulder down, so they bridged up at the same time. Rhodes was really good trashtalking DiBiase during the match. He missed a charge into the corner and was nailed with a hiptoss and some right hands. DiBiase went for a dropkick but Rhodes held onto the ropes and there was no water in the pool.

Rhodes locked on an abdominal stretch near the ropes (but shockingly didn’t use it for leverage). DiBiase eventually powered out of it with a hiptoss. Rhodes cut him off and covered him for a two count. Rhodes continued to work on the arm with a hammerlock them went for a modified crossface. DiBiase powered out and nailed several elbows to the gut. Rhodes dropped down and nailed an uppercut but DiBiase came back with an inverted atomic drop.

DiBiase nailed a clothesline for a two count but was kicked off during a charge in the corner. Undaunted, DiBiase nailed a sitdown spinebuster as Rhodes went after him. DiBiase went for Dream Street but was tossed off. DiBiase nailed a dropkick and covered him for another near fall. Technically, this is really good but you don’t get the impression the crowd is invested in it.

They battled on the ropes but Rhodes headbutt him off. DiBiase came back to toss Rhodes off the top, then ripped Rhodes’ mask off. The crowd popped for that. DiBiase went to nail Cody with it but Cody ducked and rolled him up, hooking the tights for the pinfall.

Your winner and still WWE Intercontinental champion, Cody Rhodes!

Rey Mysterio stars in a new commercial for Lightstrike, a Laser Tag type toy. The commercial actually noted “Rey Mysterio not included.”

Christian made his way to the ring in street clothes. He took the mic and said that he spoke to Teddy Long and Teddy Long earlier tonight. He said they are too self absorbed to do the right thing, so he will. Christian said he’s been in the business for 17 years and amassed a laundry list of legendary matches, so he deserves one more match to become the World champion. He said that whoever wins Orton vs. Henry tonight, he should get a title shot against them immediately tonight. He said he wanted to put it into terms Buffalo could understand.

He explained that they never won the Super Bowl, are never going to win the Super Bowl, but he has won it…twice as World champion. He said he’s a champion and it’s the Night of Champions. He asked everyone who agrees with him to stand up and let their voices be heard. He asked them to chant “One More Match.” A decent amount of fans did.

Out came Sheamus, also wearing street clothes. Christian told him that this didn’t confirm him but Sheamus said it did since he was also a former World champion. He made a joke that was awful about giving away his Uncle’s testicles to get it.

Christian said that at least he has the testicles to say he deserves one more match. Sheamus said that he wanted to get the first title shot if Christian won and Christian agreed. So, Sheamus led the “One More Match” chant himself, then shocked Christian with a Brogue Kick.

WWE United States champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger (both with Vickie Guerrero) vs. John Morrison vs. Alex Riley

This should be interesting since the booking of them of late has been nothing to be proud of. Good pop for Riley’s entrance. Guerrero came out with Ziggler. All four started in the ring at the same time, brawling in the corner. Morrison ran Swagger into the buckles and battled him. Swagger shoved him over the top to the floor. Riley dispatched the champ at the same time but was caught with a clothesline.

Swagger battered the back of Riley’s neck. He missed a clothesline but was caught by Riley with one for a two count. Riley went for a pescado to the outside but Ziggler stepped out of the way and Riley hit hard. Morrison returned to the ring and nailed Swagger with a leaping enziguiri. Ziggler broke it up. Morrison dropkicked him out of the ring and landed atop Swagger for another two count.

Swagger hiptossed Morrison over the top to the floor. He and Ziggler argued in the center of the ring. Guerrero told them to stop. Ziggler tried to trick Swagger into laxing his guard by arguing with Vickie but was caught and clotheslined. Riley nailed Swagger and covered him but Guerrero put his foot on the ropes. Ziggler nailed Riley and asked Guerrero if she just cost him his match, which made no sense since she just saved the belt. Morrison nailed him with a springboard kick and covered him for a two count.

Ziggler gained control and clubbed Morrison across the back. Morrison came back with a forearm and muscled Ziggler to the top turnbuckle. Morrison went for a superplex but Ziggler fought him off and tied him upside down. Riley hit the ropes and went for a suplex on the champ but Morrison pulled himself up and while tied, tossed him off with a suplex throw. Nice spot. Swagger then leapt onto the corner and superplexed Ziggler out. Good stuff.

Morrison began hitting some hot offense on Ziggler and Swagger. He nailed a float over DDT, then nailed a standing Spanish Fly on Riley for another two count. He placed Riley in the corner and went for Starship Pain, but Riley got his knees up. Ziggler went for the sleeper but before Riley could break it up.

Swagger grabbed him in an anklelock. Morrison went to the ropes and the outside to break it up. Riley kicked Swagger into Ziggler and nailed his finisher for a two count on Swagger. Swagger went back into the anklelock. Morrison dove but Swagger ducked and nailed the Doctor Bomb. Ziggler nailed Swagger and pinned the stunned Morrison.

Your winner and still WWE United States champion, Dolph Ziggler!

Josh Mathews asked Mark Henry about his chances tonight, saying he hasn’t gotten the job done. Henry shoved him away and says that he has a message for the doubters and said he would get the job done. He told Mathews to come down after the match and interview the new champion.

An elated Vickie Guerrrero was interviewed by Matt Striker. Guerrero said the U.S. champ works for her, Swagger wants to work for her and the entire locker room is buzzing because they are finally recognizing her talents. She said that after tonight, when HHH loses, she might end up the new COO and excitedly kissed a shocked Matt Striker. He made the Jimmy Snuka “I Love You” hand sign after she left. They plugged the Hell in A Cell PPV at ringside while Lawler was disgusted by the idea of Vickie being in charge.

World champion Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry

They locked up and Henry powered Orton into the corner. Orton met Henry with a series of right hands and kicks to bring Henry down to his knees, then began nailing the Garvin Stomp, followed by a kneedrop. Henry was tossed to the outside and an enraged Henry began beating the ringside table.

Back in the ring, Orton slipped out of a press slam and went for the RKO but Henry nailed him with a hard kick to the head. Henry began whipping him hard into the buckles and nailed a running Avalanche. Henry went for the World’s Strongest Slam but Orton slipped out as he was raised and jumped on Henry’s back with a sleeper.

Henry backed up into the corner, where Orton nailed him across the chest with shots. Henry drilled him with a right, sending Orton off the ropes and down to the floor. Henry followed and stalked Orton on the outside, ramming him back-first into the apron. Henry worked over Orton back in the ring, standing on his back. Orton sold that like he was shot with a Tazer.

Mark Henry nailed a splash but Orton got up at the last second. Orton tried to fire back but was dazed with a headbutt in the corner. Henry clubbed him back down. Henry dropped an elbow and covered Orton for a two count. Henry measured Orton’s arm and kicked him, taking him down. Henry began choking at Orton, yelling at him that he told Orton it was going to be like this. Henry was awesome.

Orton began to come back with offense, nailing several European uppercuts. He began beating Henry with a series of punches in the corner. The referee pulled Orton off. Orton nailed a running clothesline but Henry didn’t budge. A second doesn’t do the trick but a dropkick does. Henry rolled to the apron, where Orton tried to grab him for the hanging DDT. Henry nailed Orton and nailed the World’s Strongest Slam, but Orton kicked out.

Orton made a comeback with a hard knee and a DDT. He set up for the RKO but Henry simply rolled out of the ring again to the outside. Orton set him up for the hanging DDT and covered him but Henry grabbed the bottom rope to break the pinfall attempt. Henry mounted a comeback and took out Orton’s knee. Henry waited for Orton to get to his feet, favoring the leg badly, then kicked Orton back down.

Orton pulled himself up and went for the RKO but Henry shoved him off, nailed the World’s Strongest Slam and pinned Orton clean for the title.

Your winner and new World champion, Mark Henry!

Josh Mathews came to the ring and congratulated Henry. Henry took the mic and told Mathews that he didn’t believe Henry would win the most coveted title in wrestling. He told the crowd not to cheer him because they are all liars, doubters and haters.

He welcomed them all into his Hall of Pain. He told them they didn’t deserve to share this with him. He said he was going to be the most dominant champion of all time and would face all comers. He promised he would never, ever lose the title. AWESOME heel promo. You could hear Henry getting choked up as he gave it.

Backstage, WWE champion Alberto Del Rio was telling Johnny Ace that what was booked on Raw was a travesty. Ace threw HHH under the bus and said it was his call. Del Rio told him it wasn’t his fault but after he beats Cena tonight, the company better treat him with respect.

Del Rio walked off and CM Punk was there. Big pop from the crowd for Punk. Ace wished him good luck. Punk didn’t believe him and mocked him. Ace said when he says it he means it. Punk said, “Yeah, good luck…like Best of Luck in your future endeavors?” He walked off. Ace started to text someone.

WWE Divas champion Kelly Kelly (with Eve Torres) vs. Beth Phoenix (with Natalya)

Nice pop for Phoenix in her hometown. They locked up and Beth shoved the champ to the ropes. She broke clean so Kelly grabbed a headlock. Phoenix powered her off but missed an elbowdrop. Big “Kelly sucks” chant. Kelly went for a dive off the ropes and landed on Phoenix’s shoulders, then covered him for a two count.

Kelly did a handstand like Tarantula move. She dove off the top but was caught and dropped into a gutbuster. Phoenix began spanking her. Phoenix measured her and nailed a running kneelift, then ground her boot into Kelly’s face. Phoenix choked her against the ropes, then did the Tully Blanchard slingshot under the ropes. I want to marry this woman! She covered Beth again for a two count.

Phoenix went for a sideslam but Kelly slipped over and nailed a bulldog. Natalya pulled Beth out. Eve jumped Natalya. Beth grabbed Eve and nailed her on the floor as well. Kelly played opossum and tried to roll up Beth for a two count. She followed up with another rollup. Phoenix missed a charge in the corner.

Kelly went for the K2 but Phoenix flipped her over and clotheslined her. Phoenix set up Kelly on the top turnbuckle. Beth set up for a superplex and nailed it. They are working their asses off. Phoenix covered her after taking a long time to get the pin but Kelly kicked up. Phoenix was then shocked by a rollup and covered for the pin.

Your winner and still WWE Divas champion, Kelly Kelly!

Phoenix was despondent in the ring, shocked by her loss.

WWE champion Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena

Del Rio came out walking, upset about his car not being there. John Cena then drove out in the car. Del Rio demanded that Ricardo announce him in Spanish to get heat, stopping Justin Roberts from making the official ring announcements. Cena then took the mic and stopped Roberts from making his ring announcement for Cena. Cena told Del Rio said that he hates the fact that Del Rio thinks he’s better than all these people and that he’s in a class of himself. He said that he doesn’t have his own garbage ring announcer but he’ll give it a try and introduced himself, saying he was a “fighting Fruity Pebble.” He let Roberts do his name after giving out a ton of nicknames.

Cena took over Del Rio with a headlock takedown. He was shoved off into the ropes but shoulderblocked Del Rio down. Tons of dueling chants. Del Rio took control with several kicks but wa shoulderblocked back down. Cena nailed a bulldog but was tripped by Ricardo. The referee tossed him out of the ringside area.

Cena unloaded on Del Rio but missed a charge in the corner. Del Rio kicked him hard in the back and ribs, then sent him to the floor. Alberto followed and shoved him backward into the announcing table. Del Rio tossed him back into the ring and ascended to the top rope, coming off with a shot and locked in a rear chinlock. Cena powerd out and slammed Del Rio over, covering him for a two count.

Cena whipped Del Rio into the corner, then nailed a Perfectplex for a two count. Del Rio snapped Cena’s arm and covered him but Cena made it to the ropes. Del Rio waited for Cena to return to his feet and kicked him in the face. Del Rio kicked him hard and covered him for a two count. Alberto worked over Cena and covered him for a two count.

They locked up and Cena used a sloppy looking belly to belly suplex but was too hurt to make the cover. The referee nearly counted both men down. They returned to their feet but nailed a double clothesline, taking each other out again. The referee began counting them both down but they made it to their feet. Del Rio started drilling Cena with several kicks. Cena ended up on the apron hanging off the ropes to save himself. Cena finally snapped his throat over the ropes, recovered and charged the ring, only to be cut off with another clothesline for a two count.

Del Rio charged Cena in the ropes but Cena moved and Del Rio took a sick backfirst bump to the outside through the ropes (think Chris Hamrick and Heavy Metal). Cena suplexed him back into the ring from the apron when Del Rio recovered enough to get back up. The ref started counting both down. Cena recovered first and nailed all his trademark offense to set up the Five Knuckle Shuffle.

Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment but Cena slipped out and nailed the enziguiri for a near fall. He set up Cena for the cross armbreaker but was shoved off. Cena hit a splash in the corner, then a dropkick for another two count. Cena seemed to be favoring his hip. He went to the top but was naiked with a springboard kick and fell into the ring. Del Rio covered him for another two count.

Del Rio went for a kick but was caught and Cena went for the STF. Del Rio took control and tied Cena up in the corner. He went for a diving charge at Cena but the challenger pulled himself up and Del Rio hit the post shoulderfirst hard. Cena was on the top rope and nailed the Alabama Jam onto the back of Del Rio’s neck but the champion kicked out at the last second.

Del Rio caught a surprised Cena with a bridging German suplex for another two count. Del Rio set up Cena near the corner and went to the top. His facial expressions were awesome. Del Rio hit a back senton splash for a two count. Of course, none of the announcers knew what the move was.

Del Rio caught Cena with the rolling cross-armbreaker. Cena was trying hard to break the leverage and powered the champion up, dropping him powerbomb style. Cena locked in the STF and Del Rio finally tapped.

Your winner and new WWE champion, John Cena!

No DQ – CM Punk vs. Triple H – HHH is out as COO if he loses

Kevin Nash was all over the video package leading into this match.

Punk came out wearing a CM Punk ice cream bar t-shirt. Now THAT is funny! Sizeable Punk chant as he sat in the ring waiting for HHH.

Punk attacked HHH as he did his pose spitting outside the ring. He whipped HHH into the barrier and started setting up to use a table. HHH attacked him from behind and nailed him hard. He whipped Punk into the barrier and almost went over the top to the crowd. HHH tossed Punk over the ringside table and began kicking the hell out of him.

HHH set up Punk on the table for the Pedigree but Punk slipped out and turned it into a GTS attempt. When HHH slipped out, Punk ran back into the ring and challenged him to get in. The crowd began chanting for Punk. HHH returned to the ring and they faced off. They met in the center, slugging it out. Punk got HHH into the corner but HHH then tossed him into it and worked him over with punches. HHH went for the Pedigree but Punk shoved him backward into the corner.

Punk whipped HHH into the corner and went for the running kneelift. HHH ducked and Punk hit the buckles, then went over the top to the floor. HHH slammed him into the barricade then slammed Punk’s shin and leg into the ringpost. He slammed Punk into the barricade but Punk fired back with punches and whipped HHH into the barrier.

Punk hit his running kneelift on the outside as HHH was placed against the ringpost. He went to nail HHH into the barrier but was shoved off and took a bump into the first row. HHH followed him, coming off the barrier, dropping an elbow on Punk. HHH and Punk brawled back and forth on the floor as HHH yelled, “Why don’t you say something about my wife? Come on!”

They brawled around the floor towards the entrance stage. Punk grabbed a trash can and nailed HHH in the head with it. Mick Foley would have been proud. He whipped HHH into a barrier that collapsed. He kicked HHH in the gut and pounded him with crossfaces in the entrance stage area. HHH used a double leg takedown and catapulted Punk into a digital screen. That looked great. HHH went for a Pedigree but Punk backdropped him over the screen. Punk climbed it and came off with the Randy Savage double axehandle. Punk threw sandbags at HHH then slammed him into the board again.

They battled down the entranceway, back towards the ring. There’s a real intensity to the brawl that we haven’t seen in a long time. The closest thing I can equate it to is the Jarrett vs. Angle on a TNA PPV from Charlotte a year or so back. They returned to the ring, where Punk nailed HHH across the back with a chair. Punk kicked away at HHH but HHH made it to his knees and nailed Punk. Punk kicked him off and rebounded off the ropes, only to be caught by a spinebuster.

HHH sent Punk into the corner, where he had wedged a chair and Punk took what I can only describe as a backbump into the chair while he was flung into the corner. Punk went to the outside, where HHH followed. HHH charged him from behind with a chop block and Punk went down screaming, clutching at his leg.

Punk tried to kick off HHH as he was pulled to the corner. HHH slammed his leg into the ringpost several times and grabbed a chair, slamming it across Punk’s knee. Punk screamed and clutched at his knee before falling back to the Arena floor.

HHH went for a spinning toehold on the floor but Punk kicked him off, sending him facefirst into the ring steps. You could hear the beginning of a Punk chant. HHH grabbed a TV monitor to nail Punk but was caught with a hard kick to the head. Punk pulled himself into the ring after HHH landed on the table. Punk then did the Randy Savage flying elbow off the top through the table. They showed a ton of replays. Lawler quipped, “That was Savage.”

Punk returned to the ring first, clutching his ribs. HHH returned to the ring. They were both down. Miz and R Truth hit the ring and attacked both. Miz set up HHH and nailed the Skull Crushing Finale. Truth then drilled Punk facefirst into the mat. They pulled Punk over and put him atop of HHH, so the story is that they want to end HHH’s run.

The referee counted, even though he didn’t want to, and HHH got his shoulder up at the last second. Miz and Truth jawed with the ref, Scott Armstrong, who didn’t back down. Miz went to nail Armstrong, who blocked and punched him. Truth nailed him from behind. They both beat the hell out of the referee. They really stomped the hell out of him and forced him from the ring.

Out comes Johnny Ace. As he comes out, Punk and HHH recover and they attack Miz and Truth. They dispatch Miz and Truth. HHH kicked Punk in the guy and covered him after a Pedigree. A second ref comes out but Ace stops him and tells him to assist Armstrong, who’s out on the floor. HHH breaks the cover and starts yelling at Ace to get a ref in there. Punk grabbed him and nailed the GTS.

The referee got into the ring but before he could count three. Truth pulled Punk out and tried to hit him. Punk nailed him with a kick to the head. Punk pulled himself back up and went for the springboard clothesline. HHH kicked him as he came down and Pedigreed him. Punk kicked out at two. The place exploded and chanted for Punk.

Out comes Kevin Nash in the crowd. He enters the ringside area, then entered the ring. Nash punched Punk, then punched HHH. He began nailing HHH with knees and punches in the corner. Nash pulled him up for the Jacknife powerbomb but Punk rescued HHH and attacked Nash in the corner. HHH went sent to the floor in the melee.

Nash kicked him off and powerbombed Punk in the middle of the ring. Nash walked out of the ring. Nash went to the floor and kicked HHH, then started clearing off a table. He went to grab HHH but was nailed with a sledgehammer, knocking Nash out. HHH pulled himself into the ring as Punk recovered and returned to his feet. HHH kicked and Pedigreed Punk, pinning him.

Your winner, Triple H!

Credit: PWInsider.com