Going into the PPV: My thoughts
I've never been particularly enamored with the Night of Champions concept, as the majority of championships are defended at every PPV. However, this particular one contains one of the few things in WWE that actually captivated me in 2009, CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy, the feud that, I think, cemented CM Punk as a top talent in the WWE. However in order to get to that we have to trudge through an entire PPV, so here we go.
We get a video package that I would imagine is the standard package for NoC "Everybody wants to be a champion, who's going to get it?" I should mention that this PPV had one of my all time favorite theme songs "Heavy Hitters" by David Robidoux
Chris Jericho and the Big Show vs Legacy
-When Jericho comes out, we get a video package of Edge's injury, Edge is going to prove Jericho wrong and come back.-Jericho says it was wrong of Edge to get injured and leave hi, high and dry.
-And it turns out his partner is The Big Show. I remember really hoping it was going to be Brian Kendrick because Kendrick was doing an angle looking for a tag partner
-Unique heel vs. heel situation, where both teams will cheat if the refs back is turned.
-Instead of selling falling backward to prevent a sunset flip, Cody grabs the ropes, goes out of the ring, and clubs Jericho in the face
- Cody goads Big Show into the ring, and while the ref is abmonishing Big Show, Cody breaks up a Walls of Jericho with a DDT
-And a Colossal Clutch for the win.
6.5/10 good team work by Legacy
We got a Punk promo, asking the audience if they still are behind Jeff Hardy, when Hardy gets a babyface pop, Punk goes into the crowd. He demands the camera get a shot of all the Jeff Hardy fans. He says he blames the parents, corrects himself, and says parents. He says that parent is concerned with the relationship with their kids failing and let the kids do whatever. The fact that they let the kids look up to Jeff Hardy is a failure of parenting. He essentially claims that Jeff Hardy is a gateway drug that leads to gateway drugs. The crowd pops for marijuana, and that, Punk says, means that he's telling the truth. Punk says we should say yes to a Straight Edge America, and Punk himself. Brilliant promo.
Tommy Dreamer vs Christian for the ECW Tag Team Championship
-Some blocked Christian's dumb turnbuckle kick, yay.-Triangle Crossbody that was really dumb because Tommy was already half way in the ring.
-Tommy plancha
- Tommy breaks a sleeperhold by throwing himself out of the ring
- Lots of reversals, and a Killswitch for the win
7/10, definetly look this match up, seriously.
Jerisho promo, Jericho and Big Show aren't friends, and Jericho says their partnership was the best business decision, and they will be dominant. Big Show re-states it. Jericho thanks Edge for making all this possible.
6 pack challenge for the US Title: Jack Swagger vs Carlito, cs The Miz vs Primo vs MVP
-Geez, babyface NVP is over- Definetly the spotfest so far, including a Playmaker and Skull Crushing Finale involving three people and a Trouble in Paradise to back of the head of Carlito for the win
7.5/10
Randy Orton gets interview time, saying the Ted and Cody got screwed, and that he's relyng on the egos of HHH and Cena, and claims that one day, people will respect him like they do his opponents.
Michelle McCool vs Melina for the Women's Title
-Melina takes a baseball slide during her entrance
-DDT ON THE GUARD RAIL
-Great match, sloppy pin counter finish for the win.
-Out of all the things in that match, the production truck decides to replay the baseball slide and the finish, not the DDT.
7.5/10
We get a video package hyping Triple H vs Cena vs Orton
Orton tried to Double FQ HHH and Cena during some tournament, and Ted Dibiase the guest host, made it a Triple Threat, which was the main event of Wrestlemania 2 years prior.
Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Randy Orton
-The start with this stupid "try to corner-Other than that, we get some genric Triple Threat stuff.
-Triple H has Orton while Orton is also locked in an STF, Orton taps, but thr ref is confused as who to declare the winner. Then Legacy runs down and breaks it up. Cena has Cody in an AA but Orton RKO's and pins him.
4/10 would've been a solid match if not for the super dumb finish,
The Miz flirts with Maryse, but Maryse calls him a loser. The Miz says he can get any girl he wants, hilarious coming from a dude rocking a mohawk. Miz says she lost her chance and leaves
Maryse vs Mickie James for the Diva's Titl
-Literally nothing of interest to report here, not as good as the Diva's championship match.5/10
Dolph Ziggler w/ Maria vs Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental
Really good stuff, classic "speedster vs technical" matchup, very evenly matched 7.5/10C.M Punk vs Jeff Hardy for the WHC
-Great video package-Props to Jim Ross for saying Punk's point of view in this feud makes sense
-Better pacing than I expected
- Punk celebrating thinking he had won on a count out only to see that Hardy had roled in the ring was fantastic.
-Hardy kicking out of the GTS was genius
-Punk attempting to walk out, being rolled back in, and eating a twist of fate was also genius.
8.5/10, made better by a super pro-Hardy crowd.
Final thoughts
There were lots and lots of unexpected gems in this show, with only two not really exceeding expectations. Another PPV I would recommend for one's personal library.