WWE Night of Champions Coverage: Lesnar Still Champ, Three Belts Change Hands

Even before the main event. Night of Champions satisfied with three new champions being crowned, making it obvious that change is in the air.

After another amazing chapter in the John Cena/Brock Lesnar feud, with Seth Rollins sticking his dirty little fingers into the story, Night of Champions will go down as anything but a waste of time. With plenty of drama still left to unfold, expect things to carry over into this week’s RAW and the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay per view.

Matches:

WWE Tag Team Champions Jimmy and Jey Uso vs. Goldust and Stardust: This was a lengthy match that continued to pick up pace throughout. After Jey Uso kicked out of Stardust’s Dark Matter, both teams took to the skies, going in and out of the ring. The high-flying antics however costs the Usos as Jimmy Uso missed the Splash, landing on Stardust’s knees instead, allowing the younger Rhodes-brother to use the School Boy for the win.

WWE United States Championship vs. Sheamus: This was a war. Both big men dominated with power moves, from Sheamus’ Irish Curse Backbreaker to a slew of Uppercuts from Cesaro. Although not speedy performers, these two pushed a solid pace and made the strike-heavy and counter-filled encounter an enjoyable one. There were open moments of ingenuity as Sheamus hit a Criss-Cross Powerbomb from the top and Cesaro hit a nasty Big Boot on the ropes and a nifty Rack Buster that nearly got him the win. After a heft amount of near-falls, Sheamus found that extra gear and won with a Brogue Kick.

Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler w/R-Truth vs. The Miz w/Damien Sandow: With Florida Georgia Line ringside for commentary and the managers, this was a joke, even if the match was good. After Truth and Sandow exited the match, Ziggler and Miz traded finishers and signatures maneuvers, but Sandow’s return allowed Miz, who also grabbed some tights, to steal the win- and the Intercontinental title.

Open Challenge: Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose: Although it was a no-contest, it was an interesting time. Seconds after Rollins made referee Charles Robinson count out the injured and hospital-bound Roman Reigns, Ambrose made his return and beat on Rollins all over the area, even in the face of Triple H and the rest of The Authority. However, once the action got back in the ring, Ambrose was handcuffed and taken out of the arena.

Mark Henry vs. Alexander Rusev w/Lana: A strike-heavy encounter that saw Rusev work on Henry’s back. That didn’t stop Henry from delivering The World’s Strongest Slam, but Rusev was smart enough to roll out of the ring. A Super Kick later, Rusev took advantage of the ailing Henry to slap on The Accolade for the submission victory.

Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton: This was filler, but it was solid. After minutes of back and forth, strikes and counters, Orton took Jericho’s best offense and responded with a beautiful RKO variation for the win.

Divas Champion Paige vs. AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella: The dynamics of this one were interesting as there was usually one competitor out of the ring. With interchangeable parts, the pace was decent, but was at its best when Paige and Lee traded moves. After a Tower of Doom took out all all three competitors, Bella nearly won with the Rack Attack, but Lee broke up the count. With Paige weakened and Bella outside, Lee got the win with the modified Octopus Stretch.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman vs. John Cena: Cena hit an Attitude Adjustment to start the match, but couldn’t even get a one-count. Right after, Lesnar latched on his signature submission and although Cena got to the ropes, Lesnar used the entire five-count to regain control. After a Lesnar German Suplex, Lesnar latched on the arm submission again and worked another five-count to slow things down. After another German Suplex, Lesnar appeared in complete control and then whipped off three consecutive Snap Suplexes. The next few minutes saw Lesnar toy with the battered Cena, using submissions and strikes to keep Cena down. Lesnar then added a Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex for a pinning combination, but Cena kicked out to keep the beating going. Although Cena would, at times, battle back for short bursts, he never “hurt” Lesnar. When Cena went for the AA again, Lesnar schooled him with a nifty counter into another German Suplex. After some more strikes from Lesnar, Cena shocked Lesnar with another Attitude Adjustment, but just barely got a one count. After Lesnar went for the F5, Cena countered into the STF, but Lesnar was able to put Cena in the Kimura again. Using all of his energy, Cena escaped the move into The Attitude Adjustment again, but instead of going for the pin, Cena latched on the STF again and pulled Lesnar into the middle of the ring twice. After another Attitude Adjustment, it appeared Cena was about to win, but Seth Rollins interfered and hit Cena with the Money in the Bank briefcase to give Cena the DQ victory. After he took out Cena again with the Money in the Bank Briefcase, Rollins hit the Curb Stomp on Lesnar, but Rollins couldn’t cash in, thanks to Cena. With Cena’s back turned, Lesnar nailed Cena with the F5.