[fireworks exploding]
[upbeat music playing]
[music fades]
-[Cena] It's a night of opportunity. -[dramatic music playing]
A night of promise.
A night of change.
A night of resurgence.
Tonight, you'll learn respect is earned, not given.
Tonight, you'll see what a wrestler looks like.
Tonight, after ten long years, we finally come home.
On a night my legacy is just beginning.
[Sting] I only have one thing left to do.
Tonight is about me.
I'm Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Two future Hall of Famers are vying after both of my championships?
Sting, I have the opportunity to crush your legacy.
And that is exactly what I'm going to do.
And John Cena wants a rematch?
I already broke the face of the man who runs the place.
Hasn't he had enough?
This has been my year.
[Michael] The first man to hold the United States and the WWE World title.
[Seth] And Night of Champions is my night.
I am going to own them.
[Michael] Seth Rollins has not one, but two matches against two legends.
[music fades]
["Night of Gold" playing]
[narrator] Every championship will be defended…
♪ Yeah, I got what it takes Risk it all, make my own fate ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm gonna be a champion ♪
[narrator] …on this Night of Champions.
♪ I'm gonna be a champion ♪
[narrator] And now, WWE presents Night of Champions.
[fireworks exploding]
[crowd cheering]
♪ I'm gonna be a champion ♪
♪ Yeah, I got what it takes Risk it all, make my own fate ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm gonna be a champion ♪
[Michael] It is the night we honor all of WWE's great champions.
Tonight, every title in WWE is defended.
You are looking live at the sold-out Toyota Center in Houston, Texas,
14,369 WWE fans are here
for Night of Champions.
♪ Homie, I ain't even trying I just be the best ♪
[bell rings]
This opening contest is scheduled for one fall
and it is for the Intercontinental Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Ryback] Feed me more.
["Meat On the Table" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[groans] -[Ryback] Feed me more.
Feed me more.
More.
Wake up, it's feeding time.
[Lilian] Introducing first from Las Vegas,
weighing in at 291 pounds,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
Ryback.
[Michael] Ryback won his first-ever championship here in Texas
just down the road in Corpus Christi back at Elimination Chamber in May,
the Intercontinental title.
Hey, everybody! Michael Cole, the legendary JBL,
Jerry "the King" Lawler, the Hall of Famer, here at ringside.
Two champions ready for Night of Champions.
I'm ready. I hope Ryback's ready.
He's coming out here shooting like Bodacious.
[Jerry] Oh, he looks ready.
He's got a lot on his plate tonight, though.
He better be hungry.
-[explosions] -[crowd cheering]
It's feeding time.
["Fight" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Lilian] Introducing the challenger,
from Marieville, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 266 pounds,
Kevin Owens.
[Michael] In Kevin Owens' words, "This is what a real wrestler looks like."
Kevin Owens versus Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship.
Joining us here at ringside tonight,
our Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodriguez.
-Hola, gentlemen. -[speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[speaks Spanish]
[Michael] [in English] You know, guys, on the Night of Champions kickoff show
earlier tonight, Kevin Owens said this,
"I don't care about all the legends
who have held the Intercontinental Championship."
"I could care less about its prestige."
"I could care less about what any of those people accomplished."
"I wanna become champion to wear gold and to make money."
After tonight, Ryback is gonna be buying himself some more self-help books
-to understand why he lost to me." -[Jerry] Man.
[Michael] Those, the words of Kevin Owens in response to a nice little package
that was put together, King, on the kickoff show
honoring the great Intercontinental Champions in the past
like Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Randy "Macho Man" Savage,
-Bret Hart, and more. -[bell rings]
[Jerry] Yeah, Kevin Owens doesn't care. It's all about himself.
[Michael] #ICtitle to talk about this on social media.
John, you're a former Intercontinental Champion.
Talk about what Kevin Owens had to say about that title.
[JBL] I think our current champions have to do whatever they got to do
to psych themselves up to win the championship.
I have absolutely no problem with what Kevin Owens said.
-[Michael] Oh. -[JBL] I have no problem
with Seth Rollins calling himself the greatest.
When I was the champion, I thought I was the greatest too.
You had better think you're that way if you're gonna be champ and stay champ.
[Michael] And here's Kevin Owens and-- Oh, and a big shoulder tackle by Ryback.
Owens has been in Ryback's grill
-for a number of weeks now. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] In fact, he cost Ryback a Lumberjack match
against the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins,
a couple of weeks ago on SmackDown.
[Jerry] Yeah, don't think for one minute that Ryback has forgotten that.
That's all he's been talking about.
-[Michael] Kevin Owens-- -[Jerry] Whoa.
-[Michael] Oh, look at this. -[JBL] Oh, man.
[Michael] The power of Ryback dumping Owens over the top rope.
-Feed me more. -[crowd] Feed me more.
-Feed me more. -[crowd chanting] Feed me more.
[JBL] Kevin Owens may need one of those self-help books.
[Michael] Hey, I think the big guy's hungry.
-[crowd] Feed me more. -[JBL laughs]
[Michael] We keep talking about this self-help book.
It's because of the book The Secret that Ryback has alluded to
on a number of occasions that he read.
It helped him get through a really… Oh!
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] …low period of his life
when he was trying to get back to WWE from injury.
Kevin Owens came out last week and mocked that book.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[JBL] I don't believe
in all that self-help psychobabble.
I think it's a bunch of garbage.
But whatever it does that makes you successful, makes you work.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Oh, wow.
[JBL] And obviously something has worked with Ryback.
[Michael] You do realize that book has sold over 19 million copies worldwide.
[Jerry] What?
[Michael] And Kevin Owens now.
[JBL] Yes, that means there's still eight billion people
on the planet smart enough not to buy it.
[Michael] And Kevin Owens seemingly now has targeted
the left arm and shoulder of Ryback,
and we all know if you take away the arm,
you're gonna take away the power from the big guy.
[Jerry] No kidding. This is not good for Ryback right now.
[JBL] And that's a great point, Michael.
You also take away the Shell Shocked advantage of Ryback.
[Michael] Cover. Hook of the leg, and a kickout.
Not to mention the Meathook Clothesline.
[Jerry] Let's take one more look at how Ryback's shoulder got injured
with that steel ring post.
[Michael] Kevin Owens sent out a tweet earlier today which said,
"Tonight, I will become the champion. There is no other acceptable outcome."
[JBL] And you see what Kevin Owens did, he put that right arm in a hammerlock
and threw that left shoulder into the pole
where the right arm couldn't break the impact.
A brilliant strategy by Kevin Owens.
[Michael] You have to admit this is a great strategy by Owens.
-[JBL] That Shell Shocked has been one… -Who's got something to say now?
[JBL] …deciding factor in a lot of Ryback's matches
and Kevin Owens has effectively taken it out of the equation.
[Jerry] Kevin Owens just so arrogant though, so into himself.
-[Michael] Wow. Wow. -[JBL] Wow. [chuckles]
Ryback just got athlete's foot of the mouth
-from Kevin Owens' boot. -[Jerry] Kevin Owen's-- Oh!
[Michael] Kevin Owens' in-your-face, that trash…
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. Oh. -[Michael] …and smash-mouth style.
[Jerry] And Ryback gonna have to find a way to combat this form of attack
that Kevin Owens is using right now
or that left arm of Ryback's is gonna be totally useless.
-Ask him. -What do you say?
[JBL] I think that's what Kevin Owens is banking on, King.
-[Jerry] I'm sure it is. -[Michael] Oh, no.
[JBL] You got styles make match-ups.
These are two conflicting styles.
This should be and already is a good one.
[Michael] And Kevin Owens is a great athlete.
Looks can be deceiving.
[Jerry] Yeah, I think Kevin Owens has taken…
-[Michael] Oh, and again. -[Jerry] …exception
to some of the comments that people made…
[Michael] Cover by Owens. And kickout.
[Jerry] …about his physique.
Come on.
[Michael] You know, we mentioned Elimination Chamber
where Ryback would win an Elimination Chamber match-up
to win the vacated Intercontinental Championship.
It was also at that event back at the end of May
that Kevin Owens made his debut in WWE
and beat John Cena.
What a night for both of these men.
Side Russian leg sweep, hooks the inside leg this time
and again Ryback manages just to get the shoulder up.
[JBL] A Russian leg sweep but also had that left arm pinned behind Ryback's back.
What's up?
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Very brash, arrogant style of Kevin Owens.
[JBL] Russian leg sweep.
Brad Armstrong won a lot of matches with that Russian leg sweep.
-One, two, three. -[groans]
-[Jerry] Boy, that-- -[Michael] Well documented
-how it's taken Kevin Owens-- -And that's why I'm the next champ.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Kevin Owens' 15 years to work his way to WWE.
But has he ever made an impact, John, since getting here?
He won the NXT Championship,
came up here, first night of WWE beat John Cena.
[JBL] Yeah, and as you said, Michael,
I agree with you, one of the greatest impacts,
possibly the greatest I've ever seen in WWE
especially for your first match against John Cena
-and winning that match. -[crowd chanting] Feed me more!
[Jerry] Yeah, he shocked the world, all right.
And I don't… I don't think it would be that big a shock
if he were to be victorious here tonight, do you?
[JBL] Absolutely not.
No, I certainly don't think that Kevin Owens is necessarily the underdog.
[Michael] In fact, three of the--
[JBL] I do think Ryback has been a great champion.
-[Michael] And Ryback… -[Jerry] Oh.
-[Michael] …defended-- -[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] Here's Owens again for the championship and a kickout.
Two.
[JBL] You mentioned, Michael, looks are deceiving,
and Kevin Owens is a great athlete, which he is.
Looks are not deceiving in Ryback's case. He's a great athlete
-and he looks like one. -Shut up!
[Jerry] He's a powerhouse, all right.
[Michael] He's had a rough road, a number of injuries here in WWE.
[crowd chanting] Feed me more!
[Jerry] Gonna go back and look at one more time
how that shoulder got hurt
and this is the reason that Kevin Owens has targeted that shoulder.
Watch this.
More damage done.
[Michael] And Ryback also had that really--
[JBL] A headbutt straight to that shoulder.
[Michael] Ryback had that serious staph infection in his knee,
which cost him some time this summer as well.
Both men down center of the ring and this right here, King,
a critical moment for the champion, Ryback.
[Jerry] You're right about that.
It's… it looks like it's gonna slow Kevin Owens down a little bit,
but is it gonna be enough time to buy some time
for that shoulder to feel better?
[crowd] Feed me more.
[Michael] A shoulder tackle again by Ryback.
[Jerry] That's wise.
Uh-oh.
[Michael] Now able to use the power there.
Cover on Owens. Is it enough? And Owens kicks out.
[Jerry] Well, you can see that it's taken its toll.
The damage has been done to Ryback.
[crowd member 1] Let's go, Ryback!
[JBL] Well, you know how it is, King.
In the heat of a battle, you don't think about that injury.
-But yet you don't have… -[Jerry] Whoa, whoa.
[JBL] …the mobility and strength that you need in a lot of things
that you wanna do because you're not thinking about it.
[Jerry] There's some power shown there by Kevin Owens.
Think you can powerbomb me? Never.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
-Never say never. -[Michael] Cover by Ryback on Owens,
and a kickout at two, almost had him.
Ryback though, you could feel the momentum shifting a bit in this match.
[Jerry] Yeah, you can. You can see it on the face of the big guy.
[crowd] Feed me more!
[JBL] Good thing for Ryback is that Meathook is his right arm.
[Michael] Great point.
Whoa, and he ran right into a kick.
Is it enough to win the Intercontinental Championship?
And a kickout at two.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I think Kevin Owens thought that he had Ryback then.
[Michael] And Owens, again, he talked about it on the kickoff show,
the importance to him of being champion.
More money in his pocket, being at the top of the heap,
being able to talk about it and brag about it.
[crowd chanting] One more fight!
Watch out.
[Michael] Ryback catches Owens with an elbow to the face,
-Owens misses wildly. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Ryback with a clothesline, down goes Owens.
[JBL] Just almost knocked Kevin Owens out of his boots.
Finish it.
[Michael] And the big guy says, "That's it."
[Jerry] He says, "Finish it,"
but he's trying to go after Owens with one arm.
[Michael] Yeah, looking for the Shell Shocked,
trying to get Owens up, he's got Owens on his shoulder but…
-[Jerry] No. -[Michael] …I believe the shoulder
may have given out. And Owens drove that shoulder into the post.
-[JBL] You don't see that from Ryback. -[Michael] From behind,
rolls him up, kickout at two.
[JBL] That shoulder gave out on him just as you mentioned.
[Michael] And again targeting the shoulder for the Intercontinental Championship,
and Ryback, he's fighting, he's staying in it.
[Jerry] Yeah, but how much more can that shoulder withstand?
[Michael] He might have to tap here. Kevin Owens…
[Jerry] Look at the… look at the torque on that shoulder.
[Michael] …trying to get Ryback to tap out.
[Jerry] He could pull his arm out of socket.
[Michael] Is the champion gonna tap out? Bad shoulder already.
[JBL] I don't care how big those muscles are,
that shoulder could pop out of joint, Ryback's in trouble.
[Michael] Well, Ryback trying to fight through the pain,
trying to fight through it and get back to a vertical base,
lifting Kevin Owens off his feet, that's a near 300-pound man.
-[Jerry] Oh, my gosh. -[Michael] Ryback planting him.
Incredible display of strength.
Finish it.
[Jerry] Here's what you were talking about earlier, John.
Forget about how bad your shoulder's hurting you,
you got work to do.
[Michael] Going for the Shell Shocked on Kevin Owens.
[Jerry] Oh, look out, rake of the eyes.
[Michael] Owens raked the eyes from behind,
-rolls up Ryback, shoulders down. -[bell rings]
-[Jerry] Come on. -[Michael] He got it.
Kevin Owens got it.
Kevin Owens, the Intercontinental Champion.
[Lilian] Here's your winner,
and the new Intercontinental Champion,
Kevin Owens.
[Michael] Kevin Owens wins his first title in WWE,
the Intercontinental Championship.
["Fight" playing]
[Michael] A rake to the eyes that the referee never saw.
[JBL] Yeah, the incredible ring awareness of Kevin Owens,
knew exactly where the referee was, and what he could get away with.
[Michael] Well, what about Ryback?
You can't take anything away from the now ex-champion.
What a fight Ryback put up, bad shoulder and all.
[Jerry] Well, you're right about that.
But the bad shoulder was courtesy of that man, Kevin Owens.
Here's where the damage was done, oh, right there and this is where--
Well, that was the beginning of the end for Ryback.
[Michael] Went for the Shell Shocked,
it looked like he didn't have enough in that shoulder
as Owens drove it into the steel post.
-This is incredible here. -[Jerry] Oh, man, oh, man.
How on earth with that bad shoulder did Ryback do this to Kevin Owens?
-[JBL] That is-- -[Michael] I want you to watch this, King.
The official is behind Ryback here, now watch Kevin Owens.
Owens will rake the eyes…
before Ryback can turn,
[JBL] Incredible ring awareness by Kevin Owens.
-[Michael] Right there. -[JBL] Look at this.
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[JBL] Incredible ring awareness.
[Michael] And that allows Kevin Owens to quickly roll up Ryback
-and win his first title here in WWE. -[bell ringing]
[JBL] His pinky looked second knuckle deep in his eye socket.
And it just won Kevin Owens that Intercontinental Championship,
a perfect game plan. Well done, congrats, Kevin Owens.
-Mwah! -["Fight" playing]
Congratulations moments ago,
ladies and gentlemen, new Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens.
Well, the next story we move on to
has all the trimmings of a headline story from TMZ,
it's got romance and betrayal, and jealousy, and rage,
and much of it being stirred by Summer Rae,
who now claims Dolph Ziggler is sneaking around
behind Lana's back with her, Summer Rae.
Let's take you back this past Monday night on Raw.
It was Rusev, Summer Rae's new boyfriend, one-on-one with Cesaro
when Dolph Ziggler would make his way to ringside
and, King, this was curious
because Dolph gave Summer Rae this wrapped-up gift.
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Michael] And that would distract Rusev,
allowing Cesaro to take advantage and pick up the win…
-[bell rings] …-and then Dolph Ziggler would finally get
a little bit of revenge here with a superkick.
Now, watch what Summer Rae does.
[Jerry] Yeah. She made sure that
-she secreted away that gift. -[speaks indistinctly]
-Ru, please-- -[Rusev yells]
[Michael] But the curiosity was obviously killing Summer Rae…
-[Jerry laughs] -[Michael] …despite the fact
that Rusev was livid about what had happened.
And then Thursday night on SmackDown,
Dolph Ziggler would explain
-what this gift… -[loud thud]
-[Michael] …to Summer Rae is all about. -[Rusev yells] Summer, get right in here!
Right.
So about the earrings you gave me Monday on Raw, they were…
they were pretty unexpected.
Yeah, listen, it's enough of the soap opera,
enough of everything, all right?
Bygones be bygones, okay? That's it.
Dolph, that was a pretty expensive peace offering.
Sometimes, a rose is just a rose.
Then again, sometimes it means more.
[crowd cheering]
-Excuse me, Rusev. -No.
You're not excused.
I don't need your American propaganda now.
Well, I just had a question about the--
I don't care what you have. I'm here for one reason
and that's to destroy that puny American Dolph Ziggler
while that pathetic goldfish Lana is watching at home with her broken hand.
So, just don't come. Don't come near me.
Oh, hey, Summer, are those the earrings that Dolph Ziggler gave you?
What?
-["I Am Perfection" playing] -♪ I'm here to show the world ♪
♪ I'm here to show the world ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ Bring it on ♪
[Jerry] Those were nice earrings.
[JBL] Dolph is obviously not a very good person.
[Jerry] What?
[bell ringing]
[Eden] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, residing in Hollywood, Florida,
weighing in at 218 pounds, Dolph Ziggler.
I know I didn't say it!
[crowd chatter]
♪ I will defy the things you dream ♪
♪ Go check the scores again ♪
[Michael] Dolph, the former World Heavyweight Champion
here at this Night of Champions.
[Rusev] Rusev udrya.
Rusev matchka.
["Roar of the Lion" playing]
[Eden] His opponent, accompanied by Summer Rae,
from Bulgaria, weighing in at 138 kilos,
"The Bulgarian Brute," Rusev.
[Michael] Well, guys, Rusev claims that he's actually the victim,
that there's no justice in America, that Dolph cost a match, he stole Lana,
Dolph would seduce Summer, he called Dolph a weak,
-little man-boy. -[Jerry] Good grief.
[Michael] And that America raises sissies.
[Jerry] And he accused Rich of spouting propaganda?
What is all that?
[JBL] Get rid of America raising sissies,
but other than that, I think Rusev is correct.
He's a true gentleman and he is the victim there.
[Michael] And Rusev did touch on it.
[Jerry] How is he… how is he the victim?
[JBL] Because Dolph is obviously a player.
-[Jerry chuckles] -[JBL] He comes out here,
he's got Lana at home, he's dressing up for Summer Rae,
-this is obviously all about Dolph. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Hey, hey, he's not dressing up for Summer Rae.
-He did not say that. -[Jerry] No.
[JBL] I think Copernicus was wrong.
The universe revolves around Dolph Ziggler according to Dolph Ziggler.
[Michael] I like how you take words out of context
that are actually written on the screen in front of you via that tweet.
-But nonetheless, Ziggler from behind. -[Jerry] Hey, hey, hey.
[Michael] Looking to roll up Rusev, shoulders down, and a kickout.
[JBL] It's all about implied meaning, Michael.
[Michael] Dropkick by Ziggler, Rusev gonna take a break.
Rusev had mentioned Lana.
Lana is at home recovering from wrist surgery.
She's sending out a number of tweets all week long.
In fact, she is dubbing her road to recovery
as "The end of Summer."
[Jerry] Ooh.
[Michael] She also said that Rusev put himself before her dreams.
She'll never let that happen again.
[Jerry] Sometimes I wish these young ladies would invest in a diary
instead of telling it all on TV and on Twitter, don't you think?
[Michael] Twitter's become the diary of 2015, I guess.
Two.
-[Michael] Lana tweeted… -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] …a lot over the week, World Cup of Rugby.
[JBL] Yeah, it's like my diary, it's therapeutic.
I just don't tweet about Dolph and Summer.
[Michael] "Dear diary, I once lost to Rey Mysterio
in 20 seconds in this town back at WrestleMania 25."
[JBL] Listen, that is not in my diary.
You know, we'll go back to Rusev here being the victim.
[Michael] Yeah, Rusev in complete control of Ziggler,
who's actually the victim right now.
[JBL] Well, some people get confused on Twitter,
think they're sending direct messages.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[JBL] Oh. Bad things happen.
[Michael] Oh.
[Jerry] Nice dropkick, didn't even take Rusev off his feet, though.
[Michael] Uh-oh, sleeper hold by Ziggler,
-sleeper hold by Ziggler on Rusev. -[Jerry] Yes.
This may take-- Well, did not take Rusev down.
[Michael] Oh, Rusev with that spin kick, caught Dolph.
[JBL] It was pure strength counter by Rusev.
[Michael] And Rusev into the cover, looks to put Dolph away,
hook to the leg, and a kickout at two.
I think what's gotten lost in this entire story is the fact
that it was actually Rusev who broke up with Lana.
[Jerry] Exactly.
[Michael] He told Lana to hit the bricks, and now all of a sudden,
I think it's pretty safe to say he's not quite over her.
Obsessed, maybe another good word.
[Jerry] And he treated-- Let's face it.
He treated Lana like a second-class citizen from the get-go.
And then, when she left him, or when they broke up, he's all jealous.
[JBL] Oh, like… you know, like you two guys are dear Abby,
and you've got all this figured out.
[Michael] Oh, man. And Dolph, blasted off the apron.
[crowd chattering]
[Jerry] I just know that a jealous woman would do more investigating than the FBI,
and I found that out from experience.
[man] Stay back, Rusev, you got to stay back.
[Jerry] And I wouldn't trust Summer Rae, as far as I can throw Rusev.
[JBL] She seems like a very nice young lady.
[referee] Get back inside, Dolph. Bring it in here.
[Michael] Summer? Oh, yeah, she's got great intentions, I'm sure.
Oh, Dolph driven, spine first, into the barricade by Rusev.
[referee counting]
[Jerry] Why wouldn't she answer the question about the earrings?
Are those the earrings?
Oh, man. That Dolph gave her?
[JBL] I think that's a personal matter that doesn't need to be answered.
[Michael] What do you think Rusev thinks about that if they are?
-[Jerry] Oh, boy. -[JBL] Rusev is not a jealous person.
-I don't think he would mind at all. -[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
[Michael] So you think that, indeed,
it was a just a peace offering from Dolph, right?
[JBL] Yes. Dolph knew he was wrong,
and Dolph was trying to make amends for that.
-[Michael groans] -[crowd chattering]
[Jerry] You don't think he's trying to manipulate Summer in any way?
[JBL] I wouldn't put that past Dolph.
He's wearing new tights for her tonight.
And right now, those new tights are not bringing Dolph Ziggler any luck.
[Michael] No, it's been all Rusev.
And he's been waiting a long time for this moment.
Remember, these two men met at SummerSlam
and it ended in a double count. Oh, man.
[referee] One, two, three, four, hey, hey, let it go.
[Michael] Now just punishing Ziggler.
And remember, the throat. You saw Ziggler go for it there,
and Ziggler missed a lot of time this summer,
and here's Rusev jamming a crutch into the throat of Ziggler,
causing severe damage.
[Jerry] Watch out.
[Michael] Ziggler whipped into the corner,
here's Rusev and Ziggler lands on his feet.
Uh-oh. Trying to steal one here, roll him up quickly,
Rusev at two, powered out.
And then followed up with a big tackle.
[JBL] Rusev just too big to hold down for Dolph.
[Michael] Cover again. Is it enough?
-And a near fall. -Two.
[Jerry] Let's go back here and look at the impact of the slam.
-How about it, what do you say, Dolph? -[Jerry] Oh, man.
[JBL] Rusev, having absolutely no mercy on Dolph Ziggler.
[Jerry] Mercy? He told the world
he wasn't gonna have any mercy on Dolph Ziggler.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Uh-oh.
-[Jerry] Not good. Oh. -[Michael] No, not at all.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] I think Rusev is enjoying this.
[JBL] I think what you're forgetting in all this
'cause Rusev is certainly the victim in all this, is…
[speaks Bulgarian]
[JBL] …that this Bulgarian really is the super athlete.
[Michael] Oh, there's no doubt.
[crowd chanting] We want Lana.
[Michael] The "We want Lana" chants ringing through the Toyota Center.
[Jerry] Hey, look, look, look, look.
Please, please no Lana.
[crowd chanting] We want Lana.
We want Lana.
[Michael] And Dolph, trying to feed off the emotion…
-[Jerry] Whoa, hey, look at the slam. -[Michael] …here of the WWE fans.
-Nice slam by Dolph. -[Jerry] Man.
[Michael] Create some separation.
[crowd chatter]
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] And Dolph sidestepping Rusev,
he goes into the turnbuckle.
[Jerry] This is what Dolph needed, this is maybe the opening,
but can Dolph capitalize?
[Michael] Yeah, but he's been punished
throughout the whole early part of this match-up.
[referee] One.
[Jerry] Summer Rae over there, pleading with Rusev, "Please get up."
Three!
Come on, Rusev. Come on.
[referee] Four!
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Dolph back to his feet, Rusev misses wildly,
-here comes Ziggler… -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] …clothesline, knocks Rusev down and now Dolph Ziggler…
starting to feel it a little bit.
[JBL] First real flurry of offense by Dolph so far.
[Michael] Neckbreaker by Dolph, and Dolph getting fired up.
-[Jerry] Here we go. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Ziggler, planting the elbow, is it enough?
And a kickout by Rusev, only got a one count there.
[JBL] This has got to be a little demoralizing to Dolph.
He hits Rusev with his best flurry of offense,
doesn't even get a two count when he covers him.
[Michael] Which favors Rusev able to escape,
but at that point, Rusev caught Ziggler though.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Michael] And wow.
-[Jerry] Oh, man. -[JBL] That could be it.
-[Michael] Ziggler may be out. -[Jerry] You're right about that.
One, two…
[Michael] And a near fall, two-and-a-half.
[referee] Two, two count. Two, two.
[Jerry] Somehow, Dolph hangs in there.
[Michael] Yeah, the guts and resilience of this young man, Dolph Ziggler.
Watch this impact.
Listen to it.
Oh, right there.
Bouncing off the mat.
[JBL] I agree with you. Dolph's a lot like a cockroach,
you just can't make him go away.
[Jerry] Wait a minute.
[JBL] No matter what you do, he just keeps coming back.
[Michael] Rusev looking to press Ziggler.
Ziggler from behind, rolls him up. Is it enough?
No. Kickout at two by Rusev. Dolph ducks underneath.
Again, he's gonna roll Rusev up, trying to steal one again.
And this time, it's a two-count.
Dolph went for the Famouser, got caught.
[JBL] Got caught again.
-[Michael] But Dolph fighting out of it. -[JBL] Realizing he's in trouble.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Michael] Oh, no.
-And Dolph… -[Jerry] Hey.
[Michael] And he didn't hit the turnbuckle.
He landed on his knee. That helped him.
-[Jerry] There you go. -[Michael] Famouser.
Ziggler, can he do it here?
Cover, kickout at two.
[Jerry] Well, John, you said the best flurry.
And now, Dolph just hit Rusev with his best shot,
and it didn't get the job done. What's next?
[JBL] I think the only option that Dolph has is keep going back.
[Michael] I don't know if you guys notice,
but Summer Rae continues to constantly touch those earrings.
[referee] Two.
[Jerry] I just don't know what to make of her.
[JBL] I think it's good that Rusev has found happiness.
[Michael] Now she admitted she betrayed Rusev in a moment of weakness,
as she put it, with Dolph.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Oh, no.
-Dolph landed on his feet though. -[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] And that could have cost him.
He might have been better off hitting the canvas.
[JBL] He certainly would have been. That could be it for Dolph.
[Michael] Shoots the half. Here's the cover. Is it enough?
Oh, no. And he-- Did he get-- Yeah, he got the shoulder up.
Rusev can't believe it.
Come on. Come on.
[Jerry] So Summer Rae betrayed Rusev in a moment of weakness?
[Michael] Listen to this. Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.
[Jerry] Rusev may not have enough strength.
[Michael] Missed with a kick. Ziggler with a sleeper again.
-[JBL] Got him again. -[Michael] And now the sleeper hold.
Ziggler's got it locked in pretty good.
[JBL] Ziggler had him before, but couldn't hold on to it.
-Can he this time? -Come on.
[Michael] And Ziggler, this time, he's got his full weight of his body
on the back of Rusev.
[Jerry] And he's got those legs wrapped around Rusev's waist,
where Rusev can't just throw Ziggler off there.
[JBL] And Rusev still--
[Michael] Now he's gonna back Ziggler into the corner.
Ziggler's still hanging on momentarily.
[JBL] Rusev countering with strength.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Ziggler plants him. DDT. -[JBL] Wow.
-[Michael] Stood him right up. -[Jerry] Beautiful.
-[Michael] Cover. -[JBL] The Bulgarian--
-[Michael] Kickout. -[JBL] The Bulgarian--
-[Jerry] Yes. -[JBL] Good grief. [chuckles]
[Jerry] Summer Rae's having palpitations over there.
[JBL] Ziggler had that sleeper hold locked in deep,
much like a Shamrock on Kimbo, just Rusev was able to power out of it.
[crowd] Let's go, Rusev.
Let's go, Rusev.
[Michael] Who's gonna make it to their feet first?
Critical moment in the match right now.
Rusev is feeling the effects of that DDT.
-He got stood right up. -[Jerry] No kidding.
That had to jam that neck.
[Michael] And now Ziggler back using the ropes to try to get to his feet.
[JBL] If you plant a Bulgarian like that, do a bunch more sprout up? [laughs]
[Michael] You better hope not, for Dolph's sake.
[Jerry] Now he's wobbly.
-[Michael] Ziggler went for the superkick. -[Jerry] Man.
[Michael] Rusev able to counter, Dolph from behind.
-[JBL] Rusev-- -[Michael] Oh, man.
-[JBL] Wow. -[Michael] Right on the button.
Cover. Hooks the leg. Shoulders are down. Dolph at two.
Rusev thought he beat him.
-[JBL] He still thinks he beat him. -[Jerry] Yeah. He thinks he's won.
[Michael] No, he hasn't. It's two-and-a-half.
The official never called for the bell.
[Jerry] Rusev's still celebrating.
Let's see. Oh, that kick.
[Michael] The official now explaining to Rusev that he did not win this match.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Rusev wasting valuable time here.
-[Jerry] Yes, he is. -[Michael] Ziggler is out.
Ziggler hasn't moved.
[JBL] Get that Accolade on him, Rusev. Put the Accolade on him.
[Jerry] Rusev checking with the timekeeper.
Everybody's telling you, you haven't won yet.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd chanting] Rusev! Rusev!
[Michael] I think he's gonna make Dolph suffer now.
[Jerry] Yeah, I think he's gonna do just what John suggested.
-Oh. -[Michael] Dolph has not moved.
Went for the Accolade though. Dolph superkick.
-[JBL] Just grazed him though. -[Michael] Ziggler, is it enough?
-Did he get enough off him? -[JBL] Did he get enough?
-[Michael] No, he didn't. -[referee] Two, two-count.
[JBL] Rusev is extremely lucky.
[Michael] Yeah, Dolph, a desperation kick.
He's just flailing from out of nowhere, and he just grazed Rusev.
[JBL] Rusev never saw it coming. That connects, Rusev wakes up next week.
-[crowd chatter] -[counts]
[Jerry] Yeah, but so much has been taken out of Dolph Ziggler.
Both of these guys are just about spent.
Four!
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[crowd chatter]
[shouts indistinctly]
-[Jerry] Look out. [screams] -[Michael] Oh, no. Oh, no.
[Jerry] Oh.
-[Michael] Rusev with a clothesline. -[Jerry] Oh, Summer's hurt.
-You all right? -Get off me.
You, Summer, you, get out of here.
-[Jerry chuckles] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The official not too concerned about her health.
He's sending her back to the locker room.
[JBL] Why would the referee do that?
-[speaks indistinctly] -Go! You, go!
[Michael] Maybe because she got on the apron
and tried to interfere in the match.
[Jerry] And wound up inside the ring.
-[speaks indistinctly] -[speaks indistinctly]
[JBL] The referee didn't even check on her.
-No. -[Jerry] What?
-Oh. -[Michael] Oh, no.
Oh, no. Zig Zag. Zig Zag.
Cover. Hook of the leg.
-It's over. -[Jerry] What?
-[bell ringing] -[crowd cheering]
-["Here to Show The World" playing] -♪ I'm here to show the world ♪
[Eden] Here is your winner, Dolph Ziggler.
[Michael] Well, Shoeless Summer was banned.
[JBL] So was Shoeless Joe in 1919, I see why now.
[Jerry] Look at this.
[Michael] Oh, my goodness.
Rusev was so taken aback that Summer threw her shoe at him,
that Dolph was able to hit the Zig Zag from behind.
[JBL] A high heel into a Zig Zag.
[Jerry] I think Summer was actually throwing her shoe at Dolph.
[Michael] Well, whatever. That gives a new meaning to the word…
-the word heel here in WWE. -[Jerry laughs]
Let's see what-- There goes the first shoe.
-And then this one. Look-- Yeah. -[Michael] Oh, no.
[Jerry] Oh, maybe she was throwing it at the referee.
[Michael] I don't know who she was throwing it at.
But it worked for Dolph. Lana's got to be loving this at home.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Lana has got to be loving
what just happened to Summer Rae and Rusev.
[Jerry] The look on her face!
[JBL] Oh, she was obviously throwing it at the referee
for overstepping his bounds.
-[JBL] Rusev left without-- -[Jerry] Oh.
[JBL] Rusev left without Summer Rae. Dolph left without Summer Rae.
[Jerry] And Summer Rae is left with… without.
-[JBL] She's shoeless. -[Jerry chuckles]
[JBL] Poor Summer.
[Jerry] What now?
No.
-[referee] Get out of here, go. -You have my shoe.
[Michael] And there is Nikki Bella. She's the Divas Champion.
Today marks day number 301 of her record reign as Divas Champion.
The rest of Team Bella. Brie and Alicia Fox there as well.
Nikki will defend her title later on tonight.
But it will be a tough test against the upstart Charlotte,
part of Team PCB,
along with Becky Lynch in the middle, Paige on the right-hand side.
Of course, Charlotte comes from championship lineage.
[Jerry] Whoo.
[Michael] The Naitch, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair here
to cheer Charlotte on tonight.
Well, coming up next, the Night of Champions,
it's all about the tag team champions
as we honor some of the all-time greats, guys.
[dramatic music playing]
Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson.
Of course you saw The Blackjacks, The Hart Foundation as well.
One of your favorites, John, The Legion of Doom.
And, of course, they were on Stone Cold's podcast,
Edge and Christian.
[music fades]
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
And it is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
[Big E] Oh, Houston.
[Jerry] Oh, my ears.
[Big E] Don't you dare be sour.
Clap for your world-famous two-time champs,
and feel the power.
It's a new day, yes, it is.
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Lilian] Introducing first,
they are the WWE Tag Team Champions,
The New Day.
Music, please, please.
[crowd chanting] New Day sucks! New Day sucks! New Day sucks!
We didn't say anything.
We didn't say anything yet.
Houston, Houston, we have a problem.
-I see what you did there. -A Dudley problem.
[crowd cheering]
Seriously.
Your furniture is in danger.
Your tables are being systemically destroyed
by those dirty, disgusting,
table-poaching Dudley Boyz.
-Hmm. -Ugh! Dudleys! Ew.
But fear not.
-Hope is not lost. -It's not, it's not.
-Oh no! -The New Day is on a campaign
to save tables around the world.
Around the entire world.
That's right. And in case you haven't heard,
we even started a hashtag, #SaveTheTables petition.
Now thousands of you have already answered the call.
But what you don't know is that there's some pretty significant names
on that list too.
There are names such as The Authority.
[Xavier] Yes, The Authority.
[crowd booing]
Bill Nye the Science Guy.
[Kofi] Bill Nye, he signed it.
-Bill Nye signed it. -He signed it, he signed it.
Jake from State Farm.
-Oh. -That's right.
[Michael] Uh-oh.
-You make the table. -Yeah. Yeah.
♪ Like a good table ♪
♪ New Day is there ♪
[vocalizing]
That boy can sing.
[JBL] Well, they are good.
That boy can sing.
And we even have a signature,
a pledge, from our very own president
of these United States.
[Kofi] Oh my God.
-Barack… -Come on.
…Obama.
Yes!
-Yes! -[crowd booing]
-Yes! What… why? -I didn't even know that.
Don't boo the president.
-[Jerry chuckles] -That's your president.
So won't you open your hearts
and add your name to this list of already illustrious, amazing people.
You see, you can start right now.
We can all start right now by putting your hands together
and clapping along with us, because together…
-Together. -Together.
[all] Together!
…we can save the tables.
[all] Save the tables.
Save the tables.
-Save the tables. -[Jerry] Oh.
[all] Save the tables. Save--
[explosions]
-["We're Comin' Down" playing] -[Jerry] Whoo-hoo.
-[Michael] Save the-- -[Lilian] Introducing the challenger
from Dudleyville, Bubba Ray and D-Von,
the Dudley Boyz!
[Jerry] You were saying?
[Michael] Save the tables from these gentlemen.
[Jerry] Forget it.
[Michael] The nine-time WWE Tag Team Champions.
And D-Von and Bubba Ray have been very busy on Twitter all week long,
including Bubba Ray saying, "This is what's up!"
"The Dudley Boyz are in Houston and ready for Night of Champions."
[Jerry] And you saw those great champions from The Blackjacks. whom I love,
to the great Road Warriors,
these gentlemen held more of those titles in the WWE than any of them.
The Dudley Boyz, your nine-time WWE Tag Team Champions.
[Michael] Yeah. D-Von and he's tweeted as well,
talking about becoming a ten-time tag team champion here tonight.
Nice hair, Xavier Woods.
[JBL] Looks like Leonidas going into Battle of Thermopylae, defending Sparta.
[Michael] John, he's Rufio from Hook.
[JBL] Rufio from Hook?
-[Jerry] I'll tell you what, it was close. -[JBL] I think--
[Jerry] Not only would I like to see tables tonight.
I'd like to see that trombone twisted into scrap metal.
[JBL] Well, that is a fine musical instrument.
That is like J.J. Johnson slaying that trombone.
♪ Just a little disabled… ♪
[Jerry] The definition of a gentlemen is a person
who knows how to play a trombone but doesn't.
[Michael] Well, that's not Xavier Woods, then?
[Jerry] You're right. He doesn't know how to play a trombone, but does.
[Michael] So Big E and Kofi defending the tag team titles
against the Dudley Boyz here tonight.
New Day defeated Prime Time Players this past Monday night on Raw
in the Prime Time Players rematch that they had coming their way.
Thursday night on SmackDown, D-Von lost to Kofi Kingston--
-[trombone playing] -[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] My goodness.
[Jerry] It's like Louis Armstrong, just got to slide to it.
Not a trumpet.
[Michael] We'll talk about this online Twitter petition
The New Day has put together for a moment.
Thousands of people have actually signed this thing,
talking about how the Dudleys are a camouflaged menace.
[JBL] Well, that's true.
[Michael] That they need to be eradicated
and that should have been done a decade ago.
[JBL] I can tell you this. I was in the Attitude Era
-with the Dudleys. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[JBL] One of the great eras of the tag team wrestlers.
And these guys pretty much owned it.
-Nine… -[trombone playing off-key]
[JBL] …titles all won during that Attitude Era.
[Jerry] I thought that was you, John.
-[JBL] Excuse me. -[Jerry] Yeah.
[JBL] Catering, you know.
[Xavier] New Day! New Day! New Day!
[Michael] New Day called the Dudleys table poachers.
[Xavier speaks indistinctly]
[Jerry] Table poachers.
[Michael] Interesting Facebook video with the Dudley Boyz a bit earlier on today,
where they talked about coming back to dominate WWE, like they did before,
and Bubba talks about how this coming February
-will mark the 20th-- Oh, my goodness. -[JBL] Wow!
-[Jerry] Wow, man. -[JBL] That man just got slapped
-on the head. -[Michael] Yeah.
And D-Von not happy with that.
-[JBL] You think? -[Jerry] That was insulting.
[Michael] And D-Von-- Oh, with a clothesline.
Again, February marks the 20th year the Dudley Boyz will be together.
[crowd chatter]
-…two, three! -Stop it, stop it, stop it.
Dear God, you're slapping so hard.
[Michael] John, you battled Bubba Ray and D-Von.
Why is it so difficult to knock off this team?
[JBL] Yeah, they're all like me and Ron. They're just completely on the same page.
They're a lot like Edge and Christian.
You know, these guys broke-- Look at the athleticism of Kofi Kingston.
And by the way, you know, no one has ever kicked out of that 3D
that these Dudleys do
since they had been with WWE.
-[Michael] So you just talked-- -[JBL] You've got
Hey. Hey, hey!
Timeout!
[Michael] You just talked about the athleticism of a man
who got off the apron and walked to huddle with his guys.
-[JBL] Yeah, I was telling the-- -[overlapping chatter]
[JBL] Yes, Michael, I was talking about how the Dudleys,
they got that move, the 3D which could be one
of the greatest moves of all time
and all of a sudden I see this fantastic move out of the blue by Kofi Kingston.
I've gotta acknowledge it.
And yes, it was getting off the apron and getting out of the way.
It's just the way he did it, Michael.
[Michael] Three hundred-pounder of Big E comes in
and two big men are gonna Battle here, Big E and Bubba Ray.
This is our time, old man!
-Go home, old man. -Go home!
Go home, old man!
You ain't bad, you ain't nothing, old man!
Go home!
[Michael] Now Bubba Ray-- I tell you, he's not gonna take that.
Let's go!
[Michael] Bubba Ray. Man.
That team is so fun to watch, the Dudleys.
But The New Day looking to establish themselves as the new--
[JBL] Look at this rhythmic headlock.
[Michael] Oh, boy.
-And here comes the trombone. -[trombone playing]
[crowd chanting]
[JBL] These guys are better than Destiny's Child.
[Michael] Right here in Houston?
Tag made to D-Von.
Oh, there's the double team by the Dudleys.
-[Jerry laughs] -[Michael] Oh!
[JBL] Little Texas shoutout by the Dudleys.
[Michael] Cover by D-Von,
kickout by Big E.
[Xavier] Hey, he's wearing the same color camouflage.
I can't even see the camouflage.
-Their legs are gone. -[Jerry] What state is Dudleyville in?
-[Michael] Well, tonight, Houston, Texas. -[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] Oh, big high elbow by Big E.
Uh-oh. Three-pounder gonna go up to the top rope.
[Jerry] This is gonna be scary.
-Ow! -[Michael] Oh!
-[Jerry] That's louder than that trombone. -[Xavier] No, no, no. No.
Do not do this.
-[JBL] Not as pleasing. -Do not do this.
[Michael] Oh, this is not gonna be pretty.
[JBL] That is a lot of humanity coming down.
[Michael] Superplex!
Bubba looking to win the tag team titles.
Kickout.
Come on, Bubba.
[JBL] Big E wisely getting out of dodge.
-[Michael] And Kofi-- Oh, man! -[JBL] Wow!
-What a backdrop! -[Michael] How high in the air was he?
[Jerry laughs] You should get a bag of peanuts when you fly that high.
[JBL] At least some frequent flyer miles. Oh, no.
[Jerry] Yeah.
Thank goodness.
Maybe he won't be able to play that trombone for a while.
[Michael] Come on, Rufio.
-[Jerry] Watch it. -[Michael] Oh, and from behind,
-Kofi Kingston! -Hey, ref! Come on!
Come on, man!
[Michael] And off that distraction I guess you can call it from Xavier Woods,
The New Day is taking over and Bubba Ray does not wanna be in that corner.
[Jerry] He doesn't want to be, but unfortunately he is.
-One, two, three. -[trombone playing]
-[JBL] Oh, no. -Tag.
-[trombone playing] -One, two, three.
Tag.
One, two, three.
[crowd cheering]
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, man!
Ah! New Day, all day!
New Day, New Day, New Day, oh!
[Michael] John, what would you and Ron have done with that trombone?
-[JBL laughs] -[trombone playing]
[Jerry] I think the phrase "Where the sun don't shine" comes to mind.
[JBL] Xavier would be playing it, but it wouldn't be like he wants to.
Tear those Dudleys to pieces.
[Michael] Oh, knee right to the side of the face.
And Bubba's in a world of trouble.
Two-- Back it up.
Come on, Kofi, back it up.
[Michael] Well, you say what you want about the antics of New Day and then--
-[JBL] Look at this-- -[Jerry] Oh, no!
[Michael] Oh, man, the smash.
[Xavier] Jesus.
[referee] Hey, Bubba, are you okay?
-[Michael] Wow. -[Xavier] Jesus Jones,
that was good!
[JBL] The human body isn't supposed to bend that way, but he did.
[Michael] Big E cover to retain the titles.
D-Von.
[JBL] You know, Bubba knew he's in trouble
and knew as he got out of there as soon as he got covered.
[Jerry] Yeah, that not only crushed Bubba's chest
and smashed his face as well.
-Watch-- -[JBL] Look at this.
[Jerry] Watch this impact and watch Bubba's face as well.
-Oh. -[Michael] Oh, wow, that
[Xavier] Jesus.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Bubba with the lefts and rights and Big E with an elbow
-knocks him off his feet! -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Is this enough to retain the tag team championship?
Kickout at two.
[playing "Gonna Fly Now" on trombone]
-[JBL] Oh, no. -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Oh, it's the theme from Rocky?
[Michael] Kofi doing his best Rocky impersonation
with the rights and lefts and now dancing.
[JBL] Shuffling his command-- He's the master of disaster.
Come on! New Day!
-[JBL] Whoa. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Oh, man. We're in Houston.
That was like a George Foreman right from Bubba.
[Jerry] Ow.
[crowd chatter]
-[Michael] And Kofi-- -[JBL] Bubba doesn't go down quietly,
-does he? -[Michael] Not at all.
-[JBL laughs] -[Michael] Still fighting.
[JBL] That's the Bubba I remember from the Attitude Era.
New Day, oh!
-Come on, Bubba. -Come on!
[JBL] You know, Bubba's realizing one thing about this numbers game.
It's much like fighting the Von Erich Boys down here in Houston,
who went in the Hall of Fame here in Houston by the way.
That numbers games always gets to you.
-[D-Von] Come on, Bubba. -[crowd chatter]
[Jerry] Next time Bubba gets a free hand he needs to try to tag D-Von.
[Michael] Yeah, exactly.
[Jerry] Punch his opponent.
[crowd chanting] Rufio! Rufio! Rufio!
[Michael] Hey, listen to the "Rufio" chants.
[JBL] I was sure he was Leonidas from Sparta.
[Michael] Oh, Bubba caught Kofi.
-[Jerry] Yes! -[JBL] There goes Kofi.
[Jerry] Oh. Ow.
[Michael] That Full Nelson Bomb. And is it enough for Bubba?
[JBL] Bubba, you get to your partner,
you guys can walk out of here as the ten-time tag team champions.
-[Michael] He's right behind you, Bubba! -[JBL] Break your own record, Bubba!
[Jerry] Right behind you.
-There he is! -[JBL] There he is!
[Michael] Here comes D-Von.
[Jerry] Do some damage.
[JBL laughs] The Attitude Era has come to life.
[Big E] Come on, Kofi!
[Jerry] Reversal, oh.
[Michael] Shoulder tackle by D-Von. Big knee to the midsection of Big E.
And D-Von Dudley trying to plant Kofi and he does, face first!
[Jerry] See you, Xavier.
[Michael] And D-Von,
the right hands to Kofi.
-[Jerry] Whoa! -[Michael] Headbutt, D-Von.
[cheers and applause]
[JBL] I think D-Von senses that tenth title is coming his way.
-Come on. -[crowd chatter]
[Michael] What I told you, no one has ever gotten out of that 3D.
[Jerry] Oh!
[JBL] That suplex Neckbreaker.
[Michael] That's what they're calling for it now.
-Dudley Boyz… -[JBL] This is it!
-[Michael] …tag team titles! -[JBL] No one's ever gotten out of that!
-[Michael] 3D! -[JBL] Ballgame.
Ten-time tag team champions!
[Michael] Not if Xavier Woods has something to say about it.
-[bell rings] -[JBL] Wait a minute.
[Michael] The official's gonna call for the disqualification.
[JBL] Come on!
[Michael] New Day will retain their titles.
And now Big E from behind.
[JBL] That's not all we're gonna do.
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen, your winners by disqualification,
The Dudley Boyz!
[Michael] And the Dudleys won the match.
[Jerry] Yeah, but that's a hollow victory.
[Lilian] However, still the WWE Tag Team Champions,
The New Day!
-[Michael] See? -["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Michael] And again as champions, you got the advantage.
Challenger must either make you submit or pin you to win the titles.
So The New Day keeps the gold here tonight.
[JBL] Well, the Dudleys did have it won.
It doesn't matter.
They're not walking out of here with the titles.
[Jerry] Yeah, that terrible trombonist…
-[JBL] These guys are like-- -[Jerry] …was the difference.
[JBL] These guys are like Bell Biv DeVoe.
[trombone playing]
[JBL] They do it all.
They fight.
They're a musical troupe.
-What does New Day not do? -Yeah! New Day!
[Jerry] You ain't heard nothing until you hear--
[Michael] Well, we know they cheat. That's one thing they do.
[Jerry] You've heard… you've heard nothing 'til you hear Xavier Woods
play the trombone then you've heard nothing.
They won't stop either. Come on.
One, two, three.
Woods!
Get the tables.
-[Michael] What? -[Jerry] What?
[JBL] No way.
[Michael] Wait a minute.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] No way.
I thought they had this big Twitter petition going on about saving the tables.
[Jerry] Now they're gonna try to rip off the Dudleys.
-This is not right. -[Michael] This is the Dudley's trademark.
[Jerry] First they had pay-per-view that the Dudleys have been on
since they've been back to WWE
and they're going through a table themselves.
[Michael] Now talk about a bunch of hypocrites.
[crowd chatter]
[crowd chanting] Save the tables!
[Jerry] Yeah.
What happened to "save the tables"?
[Michael] Dudleys, welcome back.
[trombone playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, no, no, no, no, no! Oh, look at Bubba and D-Von fighting back!
Xavier Woods has no clue!
[JBL] Goodbye, Satchmo.
-[Michael] 3D! -[JBL] Oh!
[Jerry] Yes!
-["We're Coming Down" playing] -[JBL] The night the music died.
[Jerry laughs]
[Michael] The New Day should have stuck to their "save the tables" rant.
[Jerry] He's trembling on the table.
♪ Putting it down We lay 'em out on the table ♪
[JBL] One-hit wonder.
♪ The brothers in the house Got to turn it on out ♪
[JBL] Like Tone Loc.
[Michael] Save the tables for this…
-[Jerry] Not. -[Michael] …for Xavier.
Look at his face. Ah!
[Jerry] Oh, man!
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Dudley Boyz with the last laugh, but The New Day retain the tag team titles
here tonight at Night of Champions.
[crowd cheering]
[inaudible]
[JBL] The Dudley Boyz had it.
They're not walking out with the titles.
Xavier Woods isn't walking out.
♪ The doors wide open Do you dare to come in? ♪
♪ Battle with the boys ♪
You know, ladies and gentlemen, over the years, we have been graced
by some of the greatest female athletes in the entire world,
those who have blazed the way for today's Divas Revolution.
Let's pay homage now to some of the all-time greats
here in WWE including The Fabulous Moolah,
probably, John, the greatest of all time.
[JBL] Won that title from Judy Grable in Baltimore, held it for 28 years.
[Jerry] What about Wendi Richter and Lita?
[Michael] And of course Trish Stratus as well.
And now we're talking about the current Divas Champion,
the woman who's held the title for 301 days, Nikki Bella,
who began her journey last November.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Nikki Bella is the new Divas Champion in a shocker.
So tell me, how did you spend your year?
[Michael] Nikki retained the Divas Championship.
[JBL] Nikki Bella retains…
[Michael] Retain… Retains… Retaining her…
Nikki retains the Divas Championship.
Just spent my year being the Diva.
[Michael] Nikki Bella has held the Divas Championship for 154… 200 days,
223 days and counting.
I spent my year holding this.
I will become the longest-reigning Divas Champion in WWE history.
[Michael] Nikki Bella has tied the record, 295 days.
You all begged for a Divas Revolution.
And I gave you one.
Not Paige, not Becky Lynch, not Sasha Banks,
and certainly not Charlotte.
[Charlotte] Charlotte.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The daughter of the two-time WWE Hall of Famer,
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
[JBL] One of the most athletically-gifted women you will ever see.
[Michael] Charlotte, the number one contender for Nikki's Divas Championship.
[Charlotte] Nikki, Nikki, Nikki, you're about to be the woman who almost
became the longest-reigning Divas Champion.
Whoo!
[Michael] A win tonight for Nikki
means she'll be the longest-reigning Divas Champion in history.
[Jerry] Hey, wait, wait, wait, wait. Twin Magic!
[Michael] Not like this.
-[bell rings] -[Michael] But it didn't matter!
Charlotte has won the Divas Championship!
[JBL] Father, daughter, world champions.
["Welcome to the Queendom" playing]
♪ Style and grace I'm never gonna be done ♪
Charlotte, Ric, I'm so sorry,
you can't win the championship by pinning someone who wasn't even in the match,
Brie Bella,
therefore still, your WWE Divas Champion,
Nikki Bella.
["You Can Look But You Can't Touch" playing]
♪ You can look But you can't touch ♪
Now, Nikki, Charlotte was victorious,
therefore she will have her rematch for the Divas Championship
at Night of Champions,
Should you lose for any reason,
be it pinfall, submission, count-out,
or disqualification,
Charlotte will be the new WWE Divas Champion.
[Michael] For Charlotte, it's a second chance to achieve her dream
[Charlotte] I want you to take a look at what a real Divas Champion looks like.
-Whoo! -[Nikki] This has been my story,
my life, my revolution.
[music fades]
[bell rings]
[Eden] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Divas Championship!
-["All Hail The Queen" playing] -If Nikki Bella loses via pinfall,
submission, count-out, or disqualification,
she will lose the Divas Championship!
[Eden] Introducing first, the challenger,
accompanied by Paige and Becky Lynch,
from The Queen City, Team PCB member,
Charlotte!
[Michael] All right. Charlotte gets set to take out Nikki Bella
for the Divas Championship.
["All Hail The Queen" continues playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] What an opportunity tonight for Charlotte.
She looks to become just the second woman
to hold the NXT Women's title
and WWE Divas title,
the only other one is in the ring with her.
That would be Paige.
[crowd cheering]
["You Can Look But You Can't Touch" playing]
♪ You can look But you can't touch ♪
♪ You keep dreamin' on the stars above ♪
[Eden] Her opponent accompanied by Brie Bella and Alicia Fox,
from Scottsdale, Arizona, she is the Divas Champion,
Team Bella member, Nikki Bella!
[Michael] Her record-setting reign as Divas Champion hit 301 days tonight.
In fact, Nikki Bella has been tweeting a lot about her championship reign
over the past week, "301 days of hard work, sweat,
and dedication to be your champion."
"I am fearless."
In fact, Nikki Bella hinting to the next milestone which, King,
she says is 497.
And if your math adds up,
that would bring us to WrestleMania next year in Dallas.
[Jerry] I'll tell you one thing, you can't argue with the fact
that Nikki looks in great shape right now.
Actually, out there doing pushups right before the match.
[Michael] John, the fact that Charlotte defeated, well, Brie,
I guess this past Monday night on Raw, does that help or hinder her tonight
psychologically, going into this match?
[JBL] I think it all helps you psychological-wise, but I mean, look,
having your father there, the equivalent of Babe Ruth of our sport,
I think helps you more than anything.
This is like Muhammad Ali
and his daughter, Laila, winning championships.
-This is basically unprecedented… -[bell ringing]
…in what we're seeing right now.
[Jerry] If you ask me, that can work both ways.
I mean, to me, it can put a lot of pressure on you,
not wanting to… you know, not wanting to fail in front of your father.
[Charlotte] Let's go.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Charlotte!
[Jerry] And I don't think right now that she needs that extra pressure.
Charlotte's got enough on her as it is.
Let's go!
Yes!
[JBL] I think Nikki understands exactly what you're saying…
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[JBL] …right now, King.
Playing a few mind games with Charlotte.
[Jerry] I do that. One push up and I check for abs.
[Michael] Nikki had this big Bella-bration planned for Thursday night on SmackDown.
Problem is, no one showed up.
[Jerry] Oh.
[JBL] That's because I was in Bermuda.
[Jerry] That was embarrassing.
[Michael] Charlotte lands on the apron and Nikki misses wildly,
and Charlotte caught her.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Oh, hang on. Charlotte tweaked her knee.
-[JBL] She may have-- -[Michael] I don't know if that--
[JBL] I think she may have hyperextended her knee when she--
well, she landed awkward back there off the apron.
Shake it off and get it back in there, Charlotte.
This is your chance for destiny.
-[Michael] Remember, Charlotte -[JBL] At least she didn't do it
celebrating a touchdown
-like a Notre Dame football player. -[Jerry] Whoa-- Ooh.
[Michael] And remember guys, you see Charlotte now, limping on the leg.
[Jerry] Well, you know as well as I do, you don't shake off a hyperextended knee.
[JBL] I think, needing knee surgeries myself, King, you're right.
It's unfortunate.
That's something that's gonna affect her in this match.
You don't know at this point. You don't know if you're hurt or--
[JBL] You don't know if you're hurt
or injured at this point if you're Charlotte…
and that's a big difference.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Michael] Nice suplex.
-[JBL] Wow, what a great-- -[Michael] Oh, no.
Yeah, the bad knee caught on the bottom rope.
[Jerry] Boy, that hurt.
[Brie] Come on, Nikki.
You got it.
[JBL] Great ring awareness by Nikki,
to be able to use that bottom to her advantage.
[Michael] Oh, man. Great strategy when she saw Charlotte tweak her knee.
Remember, there's no champion's advantage here for Nikki.
-[Jerry] Watch this. Watch-- Oh. -[screaming]
[Michael] Nikki can lose via pinfall,
submission, disqualification, or count-out.
Hey, come on, Nikki, get it back in this ring.
[Michael] That brought on by the actions of Twin Magic on Raw, Monday!
-As Nikki continues… -[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] …to go to the injured knee of Charlotte.
-You wanted the champ? -[referee] Let's go. Get in here.
[Michael] And this could be a disastrous night for that young lady.
[Jerry] No kidding. After all the anticipation.
[JBL] I gotta hand it to Nikki. That's pretty damn good.
This is what happens when you get in there with the champ.
-Every plan works on the drawing board. -[Jerry] Oh, wait a minute, John.
I mean, let's face it, if she hyperextended her knee,
it wasn't any of Nikki's doing,
it was just a bad break there, just bad luck.
[JBL] It was. But the bullseye in all of this…
-[Michael] Oh! -[JBL] …is, King,
this is having the wherewithal if you're Nikki to just take advantage
-of every-- Look at this. -[Michael] Cover, left-hand corner.
-Oh, and a kickout. -[JBL] Every opportunity you have.
[Jerry] Well, the keyword, you said it right, is taking advantage.
[Michael] Well, no matter what she does,
if she can get it done and extend her reign as champion, and a lot of--
[JBL] Hey, how ironic would it be if Charlotte has to tap out?
-[Jerry] Look at this. -[Michael] Exactly.
There's Team B.A.D., Beautiful And Dangerous,
Tamina, Naomi, and Sasha Banks,
all three of those women have figured mightily
into this Divas Revolution that's underway.
[JBL] Remember this, this Figure Eight that Charlotte has
as her big finishing move that she likes so much
starts with that Figure Four that her father used…
-[Michael] Oh! -[JBL] …so many times
to win so many championships.
With that left leg damaged, that takes it out of the equation.
-[Jerry] Good grief. -[JBL] Or certainly hurts it.
[Michael] Well, Charlotte may never get in position to even try it,
the way that Nikki is dominating right now.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Michael] And a lot of critics of Nikki's reign as Divas Champion,
but it's hard to argue, guys,
-it's 301 days. -[Jerry] Hey, hey, hey. Look at this.
[Michael] Oh, nice forearm by Charlotte.
Nikki right back to the bad knee.
Nikki again, cover, hooks the leg, and a kickout.
There's only been five other women in WWE history
that have held the top prize for more than 300 days.
-Oh! -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Of course, Fabulous Moolah with a record that will never be beaten.
[JBL] A different title, that's why it's considered a different record.
[Michael] Hook to the leg and kickout.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Charlotte!
Let's go, Charlotte!
[Michael] WWE fans in Houston trying to encourage Charlotte,
trying to will her on.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Charlotte!
Let's go, Charlotte!
[JBL] I've always said that Charlotte reminds me
of someone of that area as well, of Mildred Burke
who was a great champion in the '30s and '40s,
a great athlete, much like Charlotte.
[Alisha] Come on, Nikki!
[Michael] Charlotte's still showing some fight though.
Oh, suplex again right into the bottom rope.
Same move, and now the mocking pushups by Nikki.
[Jerry] Man, this could not be going more her way.
This has gotta be a dream come true for Nikki.
[Michael] Oh, she's dissecting Charlotte here.
Three, four.
[JBL] So how do you know if it wasn't the knee, it wouldn't be something else?
[Michael] And Charlotte's showing some heart but--
[JBL] Nikki's fought a great game plan so far.
She waited on an opportunity, she stalled outside,
something happened, and she jumped right on it.
Get her off these ropes, Nikki.
[Jerry] I'm not saying that it's not smart strategy.
You're right about that, but it's just a shame.
It's just a shame that…
as much preparation and anticipation as Charlotte put into this match
for things to go this wrong for her.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Lots of breaks even along this-- Oh, wait a minute, Charlotte, Charlotte!
Charlotte looking to steal one here!
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Michael] And a kickout at two.
Are you kidding me?
[JBL] And what you're about to say, Michael, is you're right, breaks happen.
Look, Tony Romo got knocked out today.
It's how you adjust to what happens in the middle of a fight,
in the middle of the season.
Look at this.
-[Jerry] Man. -[JBL] This could be it.
-[Jerry] Yeah, no kidding. -[Michael] And a half grab on.
[Michael] Look at that. She's got it torqued in now.
[Jerry] No kidding.
[JBL] That leg wasn't hurt before, it is hurting now.
[Michael] And at some point, you gotta wonder
how much more of this Charlotte can take. She has been…
[Jerry] How is she withstanding this pain?
-[Michael] …brutally picked apart… -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] …by Nikki.
[Michael] And Charlotte's still fighting back.
[Jerry] Still got fight left in her.
[Michael] Talked a lot about what this night has meant for her,
-for her family. -[JBL] And watch what Nikki's doing.
She gets kicked back, instead of trying to get into a fight,
she simply goes back to the leg.
She has found something that works, talking about Nikki Bella, stay with it.
[Jerry] Oh.
Just look at her face. Look at Charlotte's face.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Michael] Excruciating pain.
[Jerry] And look at Nikki's face…
big smile.
[JBL] This could be the beginning of the end right here.
-[Jerry] Oh! -[Michael] Oh, man!
[Michael] And Nikki looking to retain her championship.
And Charlotte's still fighting.
[Paige] Charlotte, get up!
[crowd chatter]
[Becky] Charlotte!
[Jerry] And Charlotte can barely get to her feet.
I don't know what… how she's gonna be able to mount much of an offense.
[Michael] I don't think she's gonna be able to.
I mean, it's all Nikki.
Nikki Bella looking to retain and Charlotte continues to stay in this.
[Jerry] She's able to kickout most of these pinning situations
but can't get up to get anything going.
[Michael] Look at Charlotte, still trying to fight.
Oh, no, this is not gonna-- This is awful.
But remember, Nikki's gotta be real careful…
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] …because she can lose
if she's disqualified or counted out.
Let's keep that in mind.
[Jerry] Yeah, she better keep it in mind.
[Michael] And again!
-[Jerry] Look at Charlotte's face. -My knee.
Man, I wonder if Nikki's forgotten the stipulations on this match.
[Michael] Charlotte just said, "My knee."
-[JBL] Look at this. -[Michael] "My knee."
-Yeah? -[groaning]
[Michael] Well, Nikki's got a five-count here and she's--
-the referee has been counting. -[JBL] Put that Figure Four
on her around the pole, using Charlotte's own move against her.
[Brie] Come on, ref!
Now she knows how it feels.
[Jerry] Nikki is pushing this to the limit.
[JBL] That's something we've seen on that post that Nature Boy has done…
-[Michael] And again. -[JBL] …Bret Hart has done.
But I don't think Charlotte has ever had experienced against her.
[Jerry] I think the referee's giving Nikki a lot of leeway here.
[Michael] Cover on Charlotte yet again and a kickout.
Charlotte stays in this and you gotta wonder at what point
some frustration would start to build with Nikki.
[Jerry] I don't know.
I think Nikki right now is just enjoying this,
dishing out this punishment.
[Michael] How much more can Charlotte take?
I mean, at some point, she's gotta think about tapping out, right?
I mean, before she's even more seriously injured.
-[Jerry] Look at-- -[JBL] This could be it right here.
[Jerry] Look at the way her body is contorted.
[Michael] Charlotte trying to drag herself
to the bottom rope and force some sort of break.
-[Jerry] Not supposed to bend that way. -[Michael] And look at Nikki.
Nikki yelling at Brie and Alicia.
-Oh! And now Paige and… -[Jerry] Wait a minute. Hey, what is this?
[Michael] …and Becky-- And Charlotte from behind and a kickout!
Team Bella was trying to yank the ropes back so Charlotte couldn't make it to it,
but Nikki got on them because they said,
"Listen, you're caught, you're disqualified, I lose my title."
[JBL] Could be Charlotte's last chance too.
Charlotte saw the opportunity, she certainly took it.
[Michael] Charlotte trying to somehow release the pressure here from Nikki.
[JBL] And riding on the back of Charlotte like that
certainly adds weight to the leg.
A great counter by Charlotte, but the damage is certainly done.
[Michael] Yeah, does Charlotte have anything left, anything at all?
[Jerry] I don't see how she can.
[crowd chatter]
[Paige] Come on, Charlotte!
[Brie] Come on, Nikki!
-[Michael] Charlotte back to her feet… -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] …the knee caught Nikki in the midsection,
and now a chop.
And Charlotte now with another one, on one leg,
Charlotte delivering chops to the champion.
[JBL] But there's no leverage, whatsoever.
-[Michael] Gets underneath. -[Jerry] Look at this move though!
[Michael] Caught her with a Neckbreaker.
Nikki in trouble.
Charlotte trying to shake it off and fight through it.
Good leg, boot to the face.
[Jerry] That hurt her leg again though.
[Michael] Yes, she landed awkwardly on it.
Here's the cover for the title and a kickout!
[JBL] That was a plant leg, just like a punter.
[Michael] Now, we're gonna see what Charlotte's made of.
She's gonna try to fight through the pain, dig down deep.
[JBL] Nikki needs to stay away from her.
Get away from her, Nikki. Make her come to you.
[Michael] And Nikki again went for the back of the bad leg.
-Charlotte able to counter. -[JBL] Nikki right now
is doing Charlotte some favors.
-[Michael] Looking for a backslide! -[Jerry] Oh.
-[JBL] There you go. -[Michael] Yeah, right to the bad leg.
[JBL] Stay with the game plan.
Come on, Nikki!
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Cover again and a kickout by Charlotte.
Come on!
[Michael] Now, Nikki's getting frustrated.
[JBL] That's it.
[Michael] Yeah, now, she's wondering
-what she has to do to put Charlotte away! -[Jerry] Whoa!
[Michael] And maybe that's it.
For the third time, a suplex into the ropes.
[Jerry] Legs on those ropes.
I don't see how Charlotte can withstand any more of this.
Charlotte?
Bring it up.
[Michael] And a dominating performance by Nikki Bella.
[Jerry] The referee asked Charlotte if she wanna continue and she says yes.
Maybe a mistake.
[Michael] Charlotte's got that Flair heart.
She's not gonna give up that easily.
I don't think anybody would blame her if she did, King?
[Jerry] Not a bit.
[JBL] Maybe this is where the referee has to step in for her own safety
and health and…
[Michael] Again Nikki, is this enough?
-And Charlotte again-- -[JBL] Make the decision for her,
that's one of the responsibilities of these referees,
is to protect these entertainers, these performers out there.
[Jerry] I agree with you, John.
[crowd cheering]
[Paige] Come on, Charlotte, it's your time,
it's your time! Come on!
[Jerry] What's Nikki gonna do here?
[JBL] Let her come to you, Nikki.
-[Jerry] Uh-oh. -[Michael] Oh, a spear!
-Charlotte caught Nikki with a spear! -[JBL] Complete desperation,
but Charlotte hit it.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Oh, can Charlotte do this? Is she gonna be able to do this?
Figure Four first. She's gotta bridge though…
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] …into the Figure Eight.
Here's the bridge, into the Figure Eight.
Can she put enough pressure with that bad leg?
What's Nikki gonna do?
What can Nikki do when there's no help for her?
-[JBL] Charlotte's got to be-- Oh, wait. -[Michael] Taps out!
-Charlotte wins the title! -[bell rings]
-[Jerry] What? -[Michael] Charlotte wins the title!
-Charlotte's the champion! -["All Hail The Queen" playing]
[Eden] Here is your winner by submission
and the new Divas Champion,
Charlotte!
[Michael] Charlotte ends Nikki's record-setting streak
to win her first Divas title.
[crowd cheering]
-[JBL] Look at this. -[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] And there's her daddy, Ric Flair.
What an emotional moment.
[JBL] Counting this title,
17 championships in this family, world titles.
This is like Babe Ruth's daughter becoming homerun champion after daddy.
You're a world champion.
[Jerry] What an emotional moment.
[JBL] Charlotte had one chance and she did it.
[Michael] Guys, what a gutsy victory for that young lady tonight.
[JBL] Nikki made one mistake.
Look at this.
[Michael] Out of desperation, a spear by Charlotte
and we had wondered throughout the match,
with the bad knee, if Charlotte was gonna be able
to lock in the Figure Four
and then bridge into the Figure Eight
and forced Nikki to tap out, well we had our answer.
[bell rings]
[Michael] After 301 days,
we have a new Divas Champion and her name is Charlotte.
-[Jerry] And tears of joy… -[JBL laughs]
[Jerry] …flowing from both the--
[JBL] All the titles that man has won
and he's bawling like a little baby because his daughter's won one.
-[Jerry] That is awesome. -[JBL] That is-- You are right, King.
What a hell of a sight.
[Michael] The hard work and the dedication over the years
for Charlotte to get to this moment.
She talked a lot about how it wasn't easy for her
being brought up as the daughter of Ric Flair.
The doors didn't open easy for her,
that she had to work hard to get to where she is today.
And tonight, she makes her dad proud.
[Jerry] Wow.
I don't know, but that is making me tear up a little bit guys, that is something.
-[Michael chuckles] -[Jerry] Wow.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] This a moment in history.
You'll remember where you were for this one.
Congratulations, Charlotte.
[laughter]
[JBL] Doing this one-legged strut by Charlotte.
-Tears of joy. -[music fades]
Please welcome my guest at this time,
the new Intercontinental Champion, Kevin Owens.
[crowd cheering]
Kevin, tonight you defeated Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship.
How do you respond to those who say there was controversy
surrounding your victory?
And what controversy would that be?
Is it over which pathetic self-help book Ryback is gonna dive into now?
See, I'm not gonna let anybody ruin this moment for me.
See, ever since I got to WWE, my life's been filled with huge moments,
from winning the NXT title, to beating John Cena, to now this.
And, you know, I finally feel right.
I finally feel complete because these past few months,
I've been a prize fighter without a prize but now I have a prize.
And it's a prize that I always knew I would win,
not because some stupid book told me I would…
but because it's no secret just how great I am.
-[clicks tongue] -[crowd cheering]
♪ They say it's easy comin' up ♪
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Night of Champions kickoff panel.
I'm your host, Renee Young. Joining tonight,
Corey Graves, Byron Saxton,
and WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T.
-[crowd cheering] -What a night we have had.
I have goosebumps from just seeing Charlotte become the new Divas Champion.
All the big players have come out to play.
How can you not have goosebumps after watching that?
Stephanie McMahon promised a Divas Revolution
and the queen bee was just dethroned.
To be the woman, you gotta beat the woman.
And congratulations, Charlotte.
You're the woman.
For me, I'm still kind of in shock that we have a new Intercontinental Champion.
Look, Kevin Owens is conniving, he's condescending,
he rubs a lot of people the wrong way.
But controversy aside, he targeted Ryback and he executed that plan tonight.
Congrats to the new champ.
Guys, we've seen a whole lot tonight.
But let me tell you something, the night is just getting started.
I'm waiting on that mystery partner.
Ambrose, Reigns,
-who is it gonna be? -I have no idea.
-I don't know. -Yeah, it's gonna be a gunslinger.
-Got your boots with you? -High noon at the O.K. Corral.
He better be ready, baby.
Well, we've gotta wait and see who that mystery partner is.
And also still looking forward to see Seth Rollins
have two championship matches tonight.
But it was right here on the kickoff panel that we had all of the action.
We got it all underway as we had "The Celestial One" Stardust.
He paired up with The Ascension to take on Neville and the Lucha Dragons.
[Michael] It was our kickoff match earlier on tonight.
It was Neville and the Lucha Dragons against Stardust and, well,
his new henchmen, Konnor and Viktor, from The Ascension.
And, King, this was as advertised, high-flying.
Neville here going for the Red Arrow.
[Jerry] Yeah, but it was thwarted as you see here.
Oh, Stardust, as you said, JBL,
sacrificing one of his own to get this.
[Michael] Yeah. The Queen's Crossbow
from Stardust to Neville as this rivalry continues.
[bell rings]
[Michael] Stardust and his so-called henchmen.
Welcome to the cosmic wasteland,
picking up the victory as part of the kickoff show.
Well, guys, plenty more to come here tonight at Night of Champions.
In fact, Renee and company alluded to it moments ago.
Who will the partner be for Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose?
Who's gonna be silly enough to team up with these guys against The Wyatt Family?
Oh, there's gotta be somebody out there that wants to get his hands on the Wyatts.
-No, there doesn't. Nobody's that dumb. -Wait a minute, guys.
Apparently, we're getting some information.
We've gotta head back to the locker room area right now and…
-[crowd cheering] -[chuckles] You did it. You did it!
-Thank, God, yes. -Congratulations.
-Jesus, I'm so proud of you. -Hey. Hey, I can't believe you did it.
-Congratulations. -Thank you.
You killed it. You were awesome.
Oh, so where are we taking the party?
Any ideas, Ric?
Oh, I don't know, man. You know me. [chuckles]
I'm ready now. I was nervous--
I was nervous the past couple of weeks, but now I'm ready, baby.
Now, PCB's going limousine ridin', jet flyin'-- You finish it.
-Stealin' and wheelin', dealin' tonight. -Yes.
And I know Houston better than any human being alive.
Whoo!
-Whoo! -So tonight, let's do it, kids.
-Whoo, whoo! -Whoo.
-Whoo.
-I'm exhausted.
-Proud of my daughter. -Thanks, Dad
-I love you. -I love you.
And I'm so proud of you.
I love you so much. I'm so proud of you.
-Thanks. -Champ!
-[Charlotte] Yes. -Champ!
That's my girl.
How much that means to Ric Flair, King?
There's gonna be some partying tonight.
There's gonna be some fun in Houston tonight.
H-town, get ready.
Hey, we were talking about this.
And speaking of getting ready, H-town.
Who is gonna team with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose against The Wyatt Family?
[Jerry] Well, your guess is as good as mine right now,
but I'd still say there are a lot of superstars out there
that like to get their hands on Bray Wyatt and his entire family.
[Michael] This situation between Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt
really heated up back at the Money in the Bank
pay-per-view event.
[dramatic music playing]
[Michael] Roman Reigns closing in on becoming Mr. Money in the Bank.
Is it Roman Reigns' moment?
[Bray laughs]
Roman Reigns,
anyone but you.
[Michael] Oh my God. It's Bray Wyatt.
[Bray] You're mine now.
Our fun is just getting started.
And as long as you and I walk this earth,
I will be your crown of suffering.
I will haunt you and ultimately, I will destroy you.
[Michael] Wait a minute. Dean Ambrose.
And suddenly, things are even.
[Reigns] We are brothers.
We've been through war together all over the world.
[Bray] I want Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose to suffer.
[Ambrose] Wyatt Boys.
[Reigns] You picked the wrong family to mess with.
[Bray] We have become the modern-day Hatfields and McCoys.
And now, it is time.
[Reigns] You wanna see a family war?
[Bray] At Night of Champions,
it will be your doomsday.
[Reigns] We're gonna make it a war.
Believe…
[eerie music playing]
[Bray] Can you hear the footsteps?
This is my game.
I make the move.
And right now…
the apocalypse walks among you…
in the form of a black sheep.
[laughing]
[Bray] Braun Strowman, show the world
the face of their destruction.
[tense music playing]
[Bray] Take this as a warning
to you and anyone else
who is foolish enough to join your cause.
Run.
It's okay to be afraid.
I'm your destruction.
This isn't the beginning,
it's the end.
The apocalypse.
At Night of Champions.
They all
fall down.
-[crowd cheering] -["Live In Fear" playing]
[JBL] Now, the fireflies light up in Houston.
The movement of Bray Wyatt continues to grow.
♪ Tasting freedom ♪
♪ While he dares ♪
[Michael] Bray Wyatt has referred to himself
as The New Face of Fear.
He refers to Luke Harper as The New Face of Desolation.
And he refers to Braun Strowman
as The New Face of Destruction.
[JBL] You have got to see this in person.
♪ For years to come ♪
♪ He's broken out in love ♪
[Michael] Say what you want about Bray Wyatt, John.
He's affected a whole lot of people.
♪ Like a cat ♪
[JBL] And the effect he has on them
is something that is unbelievable until you see it.
♪ Roaming freely Through the streets ♪
♪ You can find him ♪
♪ In amongst the pigeons ♪
♪ In the square ♪
[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
["Retaliation" playing]
[bell ringing]
[Lilian] The following is a six-man tag team contest
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Cincinnati, Ohio,
weighing in at 225 pounds,
Dean Ambrose!
[Michael] And it takes someone as crazy as this dude
to take on The Wyatt Family.
[JBL] He's got one crazy friend with him.
-["The Truth Reigns" playing] -[JBL] Here comes the hot head.
[Lilian] Introducing his tag team partners,
first from Pensacola, Florida,
weighing in at 265 pounds,
Roman Reigns.
[Jerry] If I'm not mistaken, I think Thursday night on SmackDown,
Roman Reigns actually said it was Dean Ambrose
who suggested to call whoever this is
that we're gonna find out is their partner tonight.
[JBL] Just like watching Bum and Earl walk in on the Luv Ya Blue days.
What an ovation here at Houston for Roman Reigns.
[Michael] Yeah, but as Booker T said moments ago, guys,
Roman and Dean better have recruited a gunslinger.
-They're gonna need one tonight. -[JBL] Yeah, they are.
They are walking into a war.
I don't know who in the world would be dumb enough to team up
against The Wyatts?
We're about to find out.
[Jerry] I don't know. But Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose
look pretty confident, if you ask me.
[JBL] You're right about that, King.
[Michael] So do those three…
-whatever they may be. -[Jerry] I don't know.
Harper's shirt looks a little extra sweaty tonight.
[Michael] So Bray and Harper and Braun Strowman…
-["Break the Walls Down" playing] -[Michael] …await for who the-- Oh, my!
Is it?
[Jerry] Are you kidding me?
[Michael] Is it really?
[JBL laughs]
-[fireworks popping] -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] There's a gunslinger for you.
♪ For those about to rock I'm what ya want ♪
[Michael] Holy cow.
♪ Judas and I'm your priest ♪
♪ Baby, what I got is not from the least ♪
♪ Bring it from the stage In the rage of the beast ♪
[Michael] The Toyota Center just exploded.
♪ Step in the arena And break the walls down ♪
[Jerry] It's him.
He's back.
[Michael] Y2J.
♪ Now you know ♪
♪ Jericho ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
[Michael] Chris Jericho!
[Lilian] Their tag team partner,
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
weighing in at 227 pounds,
Chris Jericho!
[Michael] A six-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion,
a nine-time Intercontinental Champion.
And, guys, if you're Bray Wyatt, you can't be happy about this.
Remember the battles that Bray and Jericho had last year.
[Jerry] Yeah. And look at the look on the face of Bray Wyatt.
[Michael] Chris Jericho took Bray Wyatt to the limit
in a rivalry that culminated inside a steel cage.
[Jerry] Oh, Bray Wyatt was not expecting this man.
[JBL] I don't know who in the world was expecting this man.
Chris Jericho certainly has a long history,
like you mentioned with Bray Wyatt.
What a coup Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose pulled with Y2J.
♪ Jericho all around ♪
[Michael] We saw Chris Jericho as the host of Tough Enough as of late,
but who thought he'd be back here at Night of Champions?
♪ Judas and I'm your priest ♪
♪ Baby, what I got is not from the least ♪
[JBL] Chris Jericho has toppled giants and he's beaten them all.
And I'm not sure that Chris Jericho is gonna enjoy being back
after about five or ten minutes with The Wyatt Family.
[Michael] Well, Jericho knows what he's getting himself into.
[JBL] Does he?
[Michael] He was there last year.
However, Braun Strowman did not fit into the equation then,
the near 400-pound black sheep of the family.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Y2J! Y2J! Y2J
[Michael] What an incredible moment.
[Jerry laughs]
Yeah. Bray Wyatt may not be glad to see Jericho,
but this huge crowd sure is.
[Michael] Ambrose motioning moments ago, a little phone call signal.
All it took was a phone call.
And it looks like the Ambrose Asylum is gonna open up to start this match.
Or maybe it's gonna be Jericho.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] And it's Ambrose and Harper to start things off
in this six-man tag team match.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Bray Wyatt has called this the apocalypse.
And it's Harper missing with the clothesline.
And here's Ambrose, "The Lunatic Fringe".
[Jerry] He did not miss.
[JBL] Well, it's appropriate then, if you got an apocalypse, to have Y2J.
[Michael] Oh, and there's the clothesline from Ambrose,
follows it up with the elbow.
[JBL] Muta top elbow.
[Michael] And here's Roman.
[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Roman Reigns…
all fired up as he takes Harper down.
It's interesting that Roman Reigns has said
he didn't think this was ever gonna be over with The Wyatt Family,
as Jericho makes the tag.
And here comes Y2J.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Come on. Here we go.
Ow!
[Michael] Appropriate that Chris Jericho is back at Night of Champions.
You know, wwe.com, in a poll a bit ago, voted Chris Jericho
the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time.
[JBL] Well-deserved.
[Jerry] Look at Chris Jericho go here.
-[Michael] Jericho top rope… -[Jerry] Oh!
[Michael] …crossbody.
Classic Jericho there and a kickout by Harper.
[JBL] I would go even further to say
Chris Jericho is just one of the greatest of all time,
not just intercontinental title holder.
[Jerry] Watch out.
[Michael] Yeah. Remember the night he became
Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion, John?
[JBL] I certainly do.
[Michael] Here's the cover. Hooks the inside leg and Harper kicks out.
[JBL] I remember seeing him as a junior heavyweight
when he worked for Genichiro Tenryu in Japan back in the early '90s.
You knew then this man was gonna be an incredible star.
[Michael] And here's Roman Reigns.
You know, Chris Jericho can still stake claim
to beating The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
on the same night.
And here comes Strowman.
[JBL] Well, that's something Seth Rollins is faced with tonight.
[Michael] And near seven feet tall, near 400 pounds,
and the black sheep of the family getting the instructions
from Bray Wyatt.
Strowman apparently the…
-[JBL] Look at the size of this Strowman. -[Jerry] Yeah.
[JBL] Roman Reigns is a huge guy.
[Jerry] How'd you like to be the skeleton in your family's closet
and weigh over 400 pounds?
[Michael] And here's Roman with the right hand.
Remember, nobody has been able to stop Strowman yet.
-And there's the power of Braun Strowman. -[JBL] This could be over quick.
-[Michael] Reigns tag, here comes Ambrose. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] And Ambrose and Reigns gonna try to double team
and try their fare on Strowman.
[Jerry] Still won't go down.
[Michael] Still on his feet.
Reigns and Ambrose run right into a double shoulder tackle.
How do you stop this man?
[JBL] What happens when the brick wall comes at you?
[Michael] And here's Jericho.
-[Jerry] Oh, no. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] He's caught.
-[Michael] Oh, no. -[JBL] Wow.
-[Michael] Welcome back, Chris. -[Jerry] Watch it. Watch it. Watch it.
[Michael] Oh, that is the destruction
of Braun Strowman.
[JBL] Here he comes. Strowman is not done.
[crowd booing]
[Michael] The man that Bray Wyatt said is the son of his Sister Abigail.
The greatest gift.
[Jerry] Dean Ambrose is thrown in the ring like a rag doll there.
[JBL] He didn't throw him under the ropes.
He threw him through the ropes.
That's how strong this Strowman is.
[Michael] Oh. Ambrose is the legal man.
[Jerry] Big right hand just lifted Dean Ambrose right off the ground.
Look at your hero!
Oh, watch out here. Oh.
[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] Force of the boot.
And Bray is saying it's my turn.
[JBL] Bray wants in on the fun.
Let's go, Braun.
One, two--
[groaning]
[Michael] Bray Wyatt said that Dean Ambrose is cursed
because Ambrose is loyal to Roman Reigns.
Oh, and Ambrose trying to fight back.
[Jerry] That'll make you curse.
[Michael] And Bray looking to plant Dean.
-Dean lands on his feet. -[JBL] Dean knew what was coming.
[Michael] Ducks underneath, there's the neck breaker.
-[crowd cheering] -[counts]
[Michael] Ambrose trying to make it to Roman.
Two,
Three.
[Michael] Tag, here comes Reigns and here comes Luke Harper.
Reigns with the big clothesline and Harper knocked down.
Looking for the Samoan Drop. Harper lands on his feet.
-[JBL] Wow. -[Michael] Right hand though.
[Jerry] Big right hand.
-There it is. -[Michael] Now, that's a Samoan drop.
[JBL] At first you don't succeed, just keep trying until you get it done.
[Jerry] Unless you're a skydiver.
-Whoa. -[Michael] Wow. The power of Reigns.
Harper right back to his feet though.
Here comes Roman and a boot to the face.
[Jerry] Man, look at the strength of Roman Reigns.
[Michael] Harper doesn't wanna be up there,
nowhere to go.
That sit-out powerbomb and a kickout at two.
[Bray] God damn!
Damn!
[Jerry] Oh.
That is a look of determination on the face of Roman Reigns.
[crowd] Four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten!
-[Jerry] Not yet, here it comes-- Oh. -[crowd] Ten!
-[Jerry] Man. -[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] And Harper driven right out of the ring.
[referee] Hey, get out of the ring!
Hey, hey, get back… get out of the ring--
Hey, you gotta get out here.
-[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Michael] Strowman.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] He paid for it.
And Harper, what a kick,
did you see Reigns head snapped back?
Cover, for the win, kickout at two, tag to Wyatt.
[JBL] Braun Strowman did his job,
that's all Strowman was trying to do,
is distract Roman enough
that Luke Harper can throw that kick right on Roman Reigns' jaw.
[Michael] And this is what Bray Wyatt wants,
to attack Roman Reigns.
[Jerry] Oh, no.
[JBL] Man, that is done with malice.
[Michael] Cover, is it enough to put Reigns out,
kickout at two.
[JBL] Lazy cover by Bray. I don't even think he meant to be in it.
[Jerry] No. I think you're right.
[Michael] Tag, here comes Strowman to take on the man
who Bray Wyatt says is sick and infected
with the desire to be the one.
That would be Roman Reigns.
[crowd chatter]
[Jerry] I don't think Bray Wyatt can call somebody else sick and infected.
[Michael] How would you describe this man, Strowman?
[Jerry] I don't know.
[JBL] However Strowman wants to be described is how I'll describe him.
[Michael] Bray describes him as the apocalypse,
as destruction.
Oh, power.
The Wyatt Family is so dangerous.
Watch this.
Bones, rattling impact.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Roman.
Let's go, Roman.
[JBL] And that's something you need Rick Grimes to fight.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Roman.
Let's go, Roman.
-[Michael] And here comes Harper. -[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] Bray Wyatt held Roman Reigns up like a target,
and Harper took him down.
And now Bray-- Wow.
[JBL] They have isolated Roman Reigns perfectly.
[Michael] This was the plan all along, take out Reigns.
[Jerry] And looks like it's working to perfection right now.
-[Michael] It all started… -[Jerry] Look at this. He's out.
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
[Jerry] As Luke Harper stands guard.
[crowd chatter]
[man] Come on, Roman.
[Michael] And Bray Wyatt into the covers,
is it enough to put Roman Reigns away?
And a kickout again.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd member 2] Hit him, Harper.
-[Jerry] I'm telling you. -[Michael] Oh.
[Jerry] Sometimes when you look at these Wyatts,
they have a tendency to almost underestimate
or take for granted that Luke Harper--
Luke Harper is just devastating.
-[Michael] And here's Dean Ambrose. -[Jerry] Watch out.
[Michael] Ambrose got Strowman. Strowman, Strowman.
Ambrose has got Strowman in some sort of sleeper hold.
And Strowman dumps him right into the timekeepers area.
[Jerry] He had him in some kind of sleeper hold.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] And now Roman Reigns able to avoid disaster there.
And Reigns with an elbow.
And Reigns able to tag Jericho and here comes Chris.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Jericho caught Strowman, smart move.
[JBL] You're right.
[Michael] Running Bulldog.
-Come on, baby! -[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Now Jericho is fresh,
he hasn't taken a lot of abuse yet.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Trying to turn him over. -[JBL] The Walls of Jericho.
[Jerry] Can he get him turned?
-Yes. -[Michael] He's got him turned over.
[Jerry] Would that be it?
-[Michael] Is this enough? -[JBL] Not only turned over,
Jericho has got it sunk in deep.
-[Jerry] Bray Wyatt screaming. -[JBL] You cannot breathe
when you're in that, trust me, from personal experience.
-[Jerry] He's screaming in pain. -[Michael] What's Bray Wyatt gonna do?
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] He may tap out.
And look at Jericho dragged him back to the center of the ring.
[JBL] There is that Luke Harper.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Talking about Luke Harper, the combination of size and strength,
Luke Harper could be the most dangerous of the Wyatts.
[Michael] Ambrose dangerous in his… in his own right.
[Jerry] Whoa, no.
Hey.
[Michael] Is this enough? Bray at two, almost caught him.
Going for Dirty Deeds, Bray Wyatt with a right.
[Jerry] Oh, here comes Ambrose.
[Michael] Double Clothesline, both men down.
[JBL] Both thinking the same thing.
[Braun] Come on, Bray.
Bray!
[crowd chatter]
[Jerry] Roman Reigns' outstretched arm, he wants that tag.
[JBL] Braun Strowman the only one on the other side.
[Michael] Tag, Strowman.
[Jerry] Makes this tag, we're about to have us a collision.
[Michael] And here comes Roman Reigns,
trying to take out Strowman.
Something hasn't been able to do yet.
Reigns with momentum on his side.
-[JBL] Superman Punch. -[Michael] Strowman stunned.
[JBL] Stunned but on his feet.
[Michael] A second launch, Strowman still on his feet.
Ambrose knocks Strowman down, Strowman's down.
[JBL] The flying lunatic.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Michael] So is Harper.
The Wyatt family being eradicated.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] No way!
-[Jerry] Spear. -[Michael] Spear.
Incredible.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] For the first time we see Braun Strowman hurting.
[crowd chanting] Y2J! Y2J! Y2J!
[Michael] And Jericho tagged--
Jericho just tagged his way into the match-up,
Lionsault.
-Jericho, cover, -[crowd] One, two!
[Michael] Strowman kicked out with authority.
[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] And now Roman Reigns attacked from behind by Bray.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] And Strowman caught Jericho in the face with an elbow.
[JBL] Chris is about to go for that Codebreaker.
He's going for it there.
[Jerry] Oh, but he's caught.
He's caught.
[JBL] That is just pure ungodly strength by Braun Strowman.
-[Jerry] Look at this. Manhandling Chris! -[Michael] Look at this.
[Jerry] Got him up in a backbreaker-- Oh, no.
[Michael] Planting Jericho, face first.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Now, we've seen Strowman do this…
to a number of individuals.
-And Jericho has got… -[Jerry] Come on, fight him, Chris.
-[Michael] …no place to go. -[Jerry] Fight him.
[JBL] I don't think there's anything Chris Jericho can do.
Except hope Braun lets him go eventually.
[Michael] Dominating, devastating.
[crowd chanting] Y2J! Y2J
-[Michael] Jericho still in it. -[Jerry] He's fighting.
[Michael] Jericho still there, he's still trying to fight through this.
-But Jericho finally faded away. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] And The Wyatt Family wins.
["Live In Fear" playing]
[Lilian] Ladies and gentlemen,
the winners of this match,
the Wyatt Family.
[Michael] Not quite
what Chris Jericho was expecting on his return here to WWE.
But in all defense to Chris,
how do you stop Braun Strowman?
How do you stop Bray Wyatt?
How do you start-- Stop Luke Harper?
[JBL] Plans change when you meet Braun Strowman.
♪ Tasting freedom ♪
♪ While he dares… ♪
[JBL] And when you introduce yourself to The Wyatt Family,
they introduce themselves back to you.
[Jerry] I can guarantee you that…
Chris Jericho will look back on this later
and realize he made a mistake when he tagged himself in.
I mean, Roman Reigns had things kind of going his way there.
[Jerry] And look, see there you go, right there, Chris.
[JBL] I think you're right, he made a mistake.
But I think Chris was just excited he wants to get in.
[Jerry] Oh, no. Without a doubt.
Without a doubt.
One, two
[JBL] But for Chris has defeated all the greats, all the giants.
-[Jerry] This is where-- -[JBL] He just hasn't ran in a guy
like Braun Strowman yet.
No one has.
There you see Chris Jericho with his feet dangling in the air
and that was it.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Hey, Chris probably had some pressure on him too, guys,
he's brought in by Roman and Dean here tonight
to help win this match up, that's what he's trying to do.
[Jerry] Oh, without a doubt.
[JBL] There's no doubt about that.
And it's no fault of the valor of Jericho, Ambrose, and Reigns.
They just met up with perhaps the most devastating family we've ever seen.
[Michael] John, I don't how you stop them.
[JBL] I don't think you can.
Look at these three stars in the ring right here.
Look how big and how tough they are, they couldn't stop them.
Who can?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chatter]
[crowd member 3] Y2J! Y2J!
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] This was not their night.
[crowd chanting] Y2J! Y2J! Y2J
[crowd booing]
[crowd chatter]
[sighs]
[Stephanie] Seth, we just wanna wish you luck tonight.
Yes. The most challenging night of your career, but you got this, man.
Just do what you do.
If there's anybody who can defeat two clear-cut first ballot Hall of Famers,
it's you because you are the man.
Damn, right I am.
I am the man, time for talk is through,
it's time to go out there and prove that I am the best.
Why I am the man.
-Yeah. -He's ready.
Yeah. He's ready.
And so am I.
[Michael] Well, we do know this, coming up next,
Seth Rollins is gonna have to defend his United States Championship
and his WWE World title, back to back
and if he gets through those, then, well, Sheamus…
Houston we have a problem.
I'm still hoping that this could be the worst night
of Seth Rollins and The Authority's life.
And of course, this is Night of Champions,
as we celebrate all the great champions have held these titles over the years
including the United States Championship,
no fewer than a dozen WWE Hall of Famers
that have held the United States title over the years
including the great Harley Race
who held the first ever United States Championship.
-I mean, Eddie Guerrero, John. -[JBL] Wow.
[Michael] You had some great battles with him.
[JBL] Mi amigo.
-[Michael] Of course, there's Booker T. -[JBL] And hometown boy, Booker T.
[Michael] And also we celebrate the great WWE World Heavyweight Champions.
Perhaps the greatest of all, the man who held the championship
a record over 4,000 days in his career Bruno Sammartino,
of course Ric Flair we saw earlier tonight from here in Texas.
"HBK" Shawn Michaels, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and more.
For Seth Rollins, his road
to determine in his legacy began at WrestleMania.
[Seth] This has been the year of Seth Rollins.
[Michael] Rollins with the heist of the century.
Seth Rollins is the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
[Seth] I am a Legend.
[Michael] What is-- Jon Stewart.
[Jerry] Jon Stewart, what have you done?
[Michael] Pedigree to the chair.
Not like this.
Rollins has made history thanks to Jon Stewart.
Seth Rollins the first man to hold the United States title
and the WWE World title.
[JBL] The future of the WWE is now.
I'm not the future of the WWE anymore,
-you are the man. -[Seth laughs]
[JBL] Seth Rollins deserves to be immortalized in bronze.
[Seth] With the unveiling of this statue,
I become immortal.
[crow caws]
[crowd cheering]
[Sting] Seth, believes that he's somehow
deserves the right to be mentioned
in the same breath as wrestling legends.
Seth is a legend in his own mind.
Since WrestleMania, one injustice after another
whether it's The Authority watching his back,
somehow Seth manages to hang on.
At Night of Champions, Sting wants Seth Rollins.
Sting is gonna get Seth Rollins.
Where is my statue?
[crow caws]
With me.
[singer vocalizing]
[crowd cheering]
No! No!
[crushing]
[crowd chanting] We want Sting!
We want Sting!
You and I both.
I'm going to own Sting.
I'm going to own my legacy,
my generation.
Lot of hardware there, Seth Rollins.
You got a match at Night of Champions against Sting
yet it was The Authority that said at Night of Champions
every title is on the line.
I'm gonna cash in my rematch clause.
And at Night of Champions,
you're gonna face Sting for the WWE Championship,
but you also putting the US Championship on the line against me.
Stephanie McMahon?
Yes.
[crowd cheering]
♪ I'm gonna be a champion ♪
[Michael] At Night of Champions,
Seth Rollins has not one
but two matches against two legends.
John Cena for the United States title
and Sting for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
♪ I'm gonna be a champion ♪
[bell ringing]
[Eden] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the United States Championship.
[crowd cheering]
["The Time Is Now" playing]
I showed up.
I showed up and I'm ready.
Yeah, dance a bit.
♪ You can't see me My time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise, boy I'm shining now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
Now it's time to get serious.
Time to take it back tonight.
♪ Plus I can't turn the swell off ♪
♪ The franchise doing big business I live this ♪
♪ Is automatic I win this So you hear those horns who finish ♪
♪ A soldier And I stay under you fighting ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm stormin' on you chumps Like thunder and lightning ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breaking me kid I'm harder than nails ♪
♪ Plus I keep it on lock Like I'm part of the jail ♪
♪ I'm slaughtering stale competition ♪
♪ I got the whole block wishing They could run with my division ♪
♪ But they gone fishing with no bait ♪
♪ Can't your boy hold weight? I got my soul straight ♪
[Michael] John Cena looking to become a five-time
United States Champion here tonight.
[JBL] Ric Flair has held it all the most, six-times.
John Cena has held it the most since it's been in the WWE,
Cena could become a five-time champion tonight.
♪ You can't see me, my time is now ♪
♪ It's the franchise, boy I'm shining now ♪
[JBL] Hey, I'm not blowing smoke,
but John Cena has done more for the United States Championship
than anybody has done defending it week, after week, after week.
-[crowd cheering] -[crowd booing]
[JBL] John Cena's open challenge.
[Michael] But it's not open tonight.
He doesn't have the championship.
[Jerry] But he wants it.
[crowd cheering]
Are you ready for this?
["The Second Coming" playing]
[Michael] First man to ever hold the United States
and WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the same time.
Well, let's be honest guys,
the reason Seth Rollins is United States Champion today
is because Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show,
got involved in their match-up at SummerSlam.
The next night on Monday Night Raw,
John Cena would come to the ring, and he would AA…
-[Jerry] Yeah. -[Michael] …Jon Stewart.
Now listen to this,
The Daily Show was nominated for an Emmy Award
for Best Writing on a Variety Series.
They used the John Cena AA of Jon Stewart
over and over and over again
in that nominating package and guess what?
-The Daily Show won. -[Jerry] Yeah.
[JBL] So we got that old coot an Emmy is what happened.
[Michael] I guess you could look it at that way.
[JBL] I want my share of it.
[Jerry] Well, all Cena wants is the United States title back.
[Eden] Introducing first the challenger,
from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 251 pounds,
John Cena.
[crowd cheering and booing]
His opponent from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing in at 217 pounds.
He is the United States
and WWE World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth Rollins.
[crowd cheering and booing]
[Michael] So, John, let's talk strategy if you're Seth Rollins.
He first has Cena for the United States title,
then he has Sting for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Back-to-back matches.
How does Rollins approach this first match against Cena?
[JBL] You approach it as if it's in a silo.
You approach it as a match by itself
because is if… it is in fact a match against John Cena and that's all.
Worry about Sting after this match.
That's the only possible way
Seth can retain that United States Championship.
[Jerry] Yeah, I agree. I think John is 100% right.
It's just, uh… you look at this just like any athlete in any sport,
you look-- you can't look ahead in any game.
You can't look ahead in any match.
You got to concentrate on the business at hand.
[Michael] And it's #USTitle
Cena versus Seth Rollins here tonight.
Rollins broke John Cena's nose.
Cena has not forgotten.
Cena made Rollins tap out one night on Monday Night Raw.
Cena a 15-time World Champion,
one of the greatest of all time
against a man who hopes to become an all-time great.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Cena!
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Houston is rocking.
[Jerry] Yes, it is.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Oh, Sam Houston Coliseum will like this one.
[Michael] Oh, an interesting fact too,
only one time has the United States title changed hands here in Houston,
that is when WWE Hall of Famer, Barry Windham won the title back in 1988.
[Jerry] Look at this, look at this.
[Michael] Cover, hook to the leg and a kickout.
[Jerry] John Cena, a little bit uncharacteristic start for him,
started unloading with a few jabs, lefts and rights,
right into the face of Seth Rollins.
[Michael] I think Cena believes he's got something to prove here tonight
after getting screwed out of the championship by Jon Stewart
-back at SummerSlam. -[Jerry] Watch out.
[Michael] Rollins, is that enough to put Cena away?
Could be. Hook to the leg and-- Listen--
[JBL] And don't forget, Cena has a little bit something to prove
and a little bit of payback
for that broken nose that Seth Rollins gave him.
[Michael] And for Seth Rollins,
and you saw the going for the pinfall there.
Rollins would love to end this match quick,
does not wanna go long and extended against Cena
with Sting waiting in the wings.
[JBL] A victory over John Cena, Michael, I agree with you.
But Seth Rollins just wants to eke out a victory however he can,
by hook, by crook, it doesn't matter.
Find a way to get out of here United States champion.
That's what Seth Rollins is focusing on.
Would he love to do it quick, yeah.
Seth Rollins knows that isn't probable.
[Michael] So much talk made about this statue
that the authority had made in Rollins honor,
that was destroyed by Sting a couple of weeks ago,
a bronze statue in Rollins' image.
Well, he may deserve a statue if he beats Cena and Sting here
-back to back tonight. -Do you understand that?
[Michael] Oh, so much for this.
-[JBL] What a haymaker. -[Jerry] Nice swing there.
[Michael] And Rollins, sleeper hold.
Seth Rollins trying to get it locked in on John.
Doesn't quite has him here. Well, maybe he does.
John back down on one knee.
[Jerry] You're talking about strategy,
I think that Seth Rollins, he may not want to admit it,
but I think he has to think in the back of his mind.
He's got to fight a defensive fight here tonight.
The last thing on earth he can afford is some sort of injury in this match
and then have to go on and face Sting
for the World Championship not 100%.
[Michael] Yes. So many factors at hand here and…
he may not be out there taking all the chances that he would ordinarily.
[JBL] Look out, John Cena.
Certainly the greatest of our generation
or this current generation for the last ten years,
do you really think you could go out there and play a defensive match
against someone like Cena?
[Michael] Not if you wanna win, I don't think.
[JBL] And I know that maybe the plan, King.
I just don't think that the plan like that could come to fruition
because once you're out there you're realizing,
I'm with a guy that belongs to the Mount Rushmore
of sports entertainment.
[Jerry] I'm saying, he won't admit it,
but I think it's gonna be in the back of his mind.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Now, Rollins hammering away on Cena.
-Now, Cena is in deep, deep trouble there. -[JBL] Yeah, this…
[Michael] John Cena does not wanna be there,
and look at Seth Rollins.
[Jerry] This is bad.
[Michael] Cena has got nowhere to go. He's hung up.
And Rollins-- Oh, man.
Rollins for the win.
[Jerry] That is an absolute vicious,
devastating move right there.
-I don't know how you survive this. -[JBL] Check this though.
Watch the height on this.
-Oh. -[Michael] Oh, man.
And here's another look. Look at this.
Cena landed hard and now getting stomped on in the corner.
[JBL] Looks a little differently like Finn Bálor.
[Michael] Yeah. The NXT champion, John is referring to.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] This place is electric tonight, isn't it?
[JBL laughs] It's a big fight feel.
This is awesome.
[Michael] Houston, home to a couple of WrestleManias.
[JBL] And certainly a lot of championships,
and a lot of great sport teams.
[Michael] And Cena from behind.
Rollins is sucking it all in.
And John Cena almost stole the title.
[Jerry] You better stay focused.
[Michael] Rollins really thinks he's all that, doesn't he?
[Jerry] Well, right now he is,
the only man ever in history to hold both these titles.
[Michael] He's been a survivor that is for sure
since winning the WWE World title at WrestleMania.
[Seth] Here we go.
[JBL] You know, a talent that great does not come without a big ego.
Does Seth Rollins have a big ego? Yes. He can back it up.
[Michael] Yeah. And you know what? John Cena's got a big ego, too, John.
But they go about their business very different manners.
[Jerry] Yeah, but Seth Rollins will say his is bigger and better.
-[Seth] You can't see me. -[crowd] You can't see me.
[Michael] And now, mocking Cena.
-And John Cena… -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] …not gonna take that lying down.
Shoulder tackles from Cena.
Uh-oh. Neckbreaker.
You notice Rollins seems to be ahead of Cena by a step at every turn tonight.
Oh, not there.
Cena plants Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] Cena feeds off the energy.
[JBL] Yes, he does.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] You can't see me.
[Michael] Oh.
Rollins.
To retain the United States Championship
and a kickout by Cena.
[crowd chattering]
[Michael] And if you're Sting, you got to be sitting
in the back locker room right now,
getting ready for your match,
hoping this match goes on, and on, and on.
[Jerry] Yeah.
[JBL] And if you're Sheamus,
you're hoping this match goes on, and on, and on.
[Michael] And then the Sting match goes on, and on, and on.
[JBL] Seth is up against it tonight.
[Jerry] Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
[Michael] He's off to a pretty good start though,
looking for the Pedigree.
Cena ducked underneath,
and John Cena gonna plant Rollins.
Now, he's got him where he wants him again.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] His signature Five Knuckle Shuffle,
trying to thwart it again, did Rollins.
-John Cena -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Rollins, shoulders down to win the championship.
Did he get him? No, two-and-a-half.
[Jerry] Man, oh, man.
[Michael] Great move by Cena.
[JBL] It's one of the moves you seeing Cena
involved into his repertoire in the last six months to a year.
[Michael] Yeah, he wasn't doing that
when he was battling you a decade ago, was he?
[JBL] Absolutely not.
This is a complete different John Cena.
[Michael] Oh, you could've got me up on that.
[JBL laughs]
That's a bit heavy.
John Cena changing with the times, that's what you have to do.
That's why he's been on top for so long
and been a champion over more than a decade so many different times.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Now, John Cena.
Too close to the ropes though for the AA
as Rollins is able to hang on and then use the ropes to his advantage.
I think Rollins has this just tremendous ring presence, doesn't he, John?
[JBL] Of course, as young as Seth Rollins is…
-[Michael] Oh. -[JBL] …and when you're talking about
a great champion, Seth Rollins relatively is still young.
Yes, incredible ring presence.
[Jerry] And quite the opportunist.
[JBL] And Cena showing why he's the veteran.
Much like Edge in that sense.
[Michael] Yeah. A lot of similarities.
[JBL] I think Cena taking advantage when he can.
[Michael] Uh-oh, Seth Rollins.
Cena trying to hang on. Cena does not wanna be up there.
-And Cena with a great move. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Great move by John.
What a counter.
[Jerry] You've got to know that Seth Rollins wasn't expecting that.
[Michael] Rollins was gonna plant Cena in the corner
and Cena turned it into this almost floating Hurricanrana.
-Watch this. Where did this come from? -[Jerry] Yeah, this is impressive.
[JBL] It's that innovative offense of John Cena
adapting with the times.
John Cena had that one scouted well.
[Jerry] It's all it takes is one little surprise like that.
And John Cena could be
the new United States Champion.
[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Oh, Cena caught Rollins. -[JBL] Bad move.
[Michael] Seth does not wanna be there.
Going for the AA.
[JBL] Going for the title.
[Jerry] Got him, no.
[Michael] Rollins landed on his feet.
Kick right to the gut,
and now right to the jaw.
Cena may be out.
To retain the championship, Seth Rollins, is it enough?
He hooked the leg but Cena able to kickout.
[Jerry] What a battle.
[JBL] Cena protected his nose.
He may have got a couple of bicuspids knocked out.
[Jerry] Watch this.
Somehow Seth Rollins with that agility,
turns that move completely around to his advantage.
[Michael] And after the kickout,
Cena was able to roll outside of the apron to buy himself a little bit of time.
[Jerry] I don't blame him.
[JBL] Big Match John, we've said it so many times.
He knew he was hurt.
He knew he needed to get to the apron where he couldn't be pinned.
-[crowd] Let's go, Cena! -[crowd] Rollins
[Michael] Fourteen thousand three hundred sixty-nine
sold out in Houston, Toyota Center on their feet
for the United States Championship encounter
between the champion Rollins, that man,
and John Cena who's outside the ring.
Here comes Rollins…
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] …launching himself over the top
and he caught Cena on the shoulder.
[JBL] He landed on his feet.
[Jerry] Hey, I'll take back everything I said about this guy
fighting a defensive battle.
He's throwing caution to the wind right now.
[Michael] And you got to give Rollins credit.
Seth Rollins is looking to win this match tonight.
[JBL] I think he may have had that in mind when he started, King.
He realized he had to find a way to win.
[Michael] There's nobody home.
-He went for the splash. -[JBL] Wow.
[Jerry] That may cost him.
[Michael] Rollins went for the splash from the top rope
and Cena rolled out of the way.
The greatest United States Champion is Eddie Guerrero and Rollins just pulled out
-a Frog Splash, but missed it. -[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie!
[Michael] And the Eddie chants to your point.
[JBL] Viva La Raza.
[Michael] Eddie, of course, a hero here in Texas
as Seth Rollins went for the splash.
Luckily, Cena was able to roll out of the way if you're a Cena fan.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Critical moment right here for both of these men.
[Jerry] No kidding.
Getting the upper hand from this point is gonna be paramount,
but who's gonna be able to do it?
-Oh. Whoa, there it is. -[Michael] And Cena Tornado DDT,
-plants Rollins, quickly to the cover… -[Jerry] There it is.
[Michael] …to try to win the United States title,
and Rollins at two.
[JBL] You've got to remember the weight of John Cena,
that Tornado DDT has also affected
of how much weight and pressure downward.
Seth Rollins may have just took getting planted into that mat.
[Michael] You see Cena wasting no time going for the cover either.
[Jerry] We've got a huge crowd on hand for Night of Champions here.
[Michael] Toyota Center jammed to the rafters here in Houston.
[Jerry] And they are loving it.
[Michael] Yeah, they're electric all night long.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Cena!
Let's go, Cena!
[Jerry] I don't know if this is wise.
I always worry when I see John Cena going up to the top rope.
[Michael] And Seth Rollins gonna meet him up there.
[Jerry] Now, see?
[Michael] Uh-oh. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not from up there.
-This could spell doom for John Cena. -[Jerry] Oh my God.
[Michael] Superplex.
And Rollins again.
-What a move by Rollins to put Cena away. -[JBL] There's no way!
[Michael] And a kickout.
Incredible sequence there by the United States Champion.
[Jerry] Man.
[JBL] You mentioned United States Champion,
earlier Barry Windham with that float-over suplex
but he didn't do that off the top rope.
-[Michael] Man, Seth Rollins. -[JBL] Not with the float-over.
[Michael] Rollins is--
He wants to win this match.
-There's no doubt, as he looks to cement… -[JBL] Look at this.
-[Michael] …his legacy tonight. -[JBL] Held on.
Float-over suplex into another vertical suplex
and a quick cover.
[crowd] One, two.
[Michael] Rollins has been so impressive.
[JBL] That wins a championship
against almost any competitor except John Cena.
[Jerry] That was as impressive a combination as I've ever seen…
but somehow Cena survives it.
[JBL] We've seen Cena time and again find a way to win big matches.
-[Michael] Oh, Cena picked the ankle. -[Jerry] Whoa.
-[Michael] Cena going for the STF. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[JBL] He may have just done it again.
[Michael] He may have done it, as John said.
Rollins, middle of the ring,
nowhere to go, submission hold.
[JBL] Cena was lying in wait.
[Michael] Rollins trying to drag himself to the bottom rope.
Can he make it? Force the break, and he does.
[Jerry] Whoa. Wait, John's not gonna let him go here.
You're not getting off that easy.
[Michael] Rollins like a cat, lands on his feet.
-Going for the AA. -[JBL] Caught in a bad position.
[Jerry] No, no, no, no, no.
[Michael] Rollins.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] And that's what he was trying to do earlier on.
[Jerry] This time he did it.
[Michael] Cover by Rollins.
Is it enough? No.
Man, near fall after near fall.
Incredible United States Championship match.
[JBL] And Seth Rollins is doing everything right.
He hits him with a big move and immediately he gets a tight cover.
-[Jerry] Look at this, man. -[JBL] Look at the strength.
[Michael] Seth Rollins powering Cena up.
And he tried to do this before
when Cena countered with that Hurricanrana,
but now Rollins was able to hit.
[Jerry] Oh.
[JBL] Look at that. Quick cover, hook a leg, did everything right.
And the two people enjoying this are Sting and Sheamus.
Seth Rollins isn't done here,
-but he has a long way to go tonight. -[Jerry] Pedigree.
He's thinking Pedigree, but that's not gonna happen.
Once again, almost lands on his feet.
[JBL] That man's out to tear you.
[Michael] Cena-- Oh, Rollins.
Now, Seth Rollins, usually we see Cena doing these, guys.
Rollins able to wrestle Cena.
-[JBL] Getting up. -[Michael] He's now back up to two feet.
[JBL] Straight lunge
carrying John Cena.
[Jerry] What?
[Michael] Oh, looking for the AA and Cena countered.
Whoa, face-first.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Swinging for the fences, and he hit it.
[Michael] The leg drop, back of the neck.
Cena for… going for the AA…
-and he hits Rollins. Cover. -[JBL] He hit it. He hit it.
[crowd] One, two, three.
-Cena wins the title. -[bell ringing]
-[Jerry] Whoo-hoo. -[Michael] Cena wins
the United States Championship.
[Jerry] Oh, my gosh.
[Eden] Here is your winner,
and the new United States Champion,
John Cena.
[Michael] John Cena is a five-time United States Champion.
[JBL] More championships since our chairman has been in WWE.
Only but anybody else,
Ric Flair has held it six.
John Cena's chasing Ric Flair everywhere.
["The Time Is Now" playing]
[JBL] Big Match John has done it again.
[Michael] As Cena celebrates…
[JBL] That's the best big match performer I've ever seen in any sport.
[Michael] As John Cena celebrates,
things cannot bode well now for Seth Rollins.
[JBL] And one of the best guys.
[Jerry] We are halfway there,
halfway to having Seth Rollins
experience the worst night of his life.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Incredible performance by both Cena and Rollins in this match,
but Cena gets his revenge for SummerSlam.
[JBL] Hey, I'm telling you, Rob Horry, Tom Brady, Montana,
there's no big match performer better than John Cena.
[Jerry] Wait, wait, wait. What's he doing?
[Michael] Well, Seth Rollins has his WWE world title
and it looks like he's wandering away with it,
but guess what, Seth? There's no rest for the weary
because you've got a championship match still to come.
[Jerry] He's trying to walk out of here, I think.
Whoa. Roadblock.
-You… -You still got one more match, Seth.
-…got one more match… -Go back in there.
…right now against Sting.
-You ain't going nowhere. -[Seth] I'm the champion of the world.
You're about to lose the championship of the world.
-You signed up for it. You're the man. -I'm hurt.
You're the man. You ain't hurt.
-Your pride is hurt. -[Seth] Don't you mock me.
-Your pride is hurt. -Don't you mock me.
Don't you mock me, huh?
Now get out of my way.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] Uh-oh.
Cena's not gonna let Seth leave.
-[Jerry] Wait, not on the floor. -[JBL] No. No.
[Michael] That had to feel good
after everything Rollins has put Cena through.
And Cena is going to make sure--
-[JBL] No, no, no. -[Michael] Hey, Cena's--
[JBL] He's feeding him to the dogs. You can't do this.
-[Michael] Cena is gonna make sure… -[JBL] No. No.
[Michael] …that Rollins defends the WWE World title.
♪ Your time is up My time is now ♪
[JBL] Seth Rollins is a sitting duck.
[Michael] Cena's gonna make sure Rollins defends the championship.
Rollins is the one that was trying to leave, John.
[JBL] What the hell are you talking about defend it?
Seth Rollins is unconscious.
[Michael] He was trying to leave with the title.
[JBL] What if Sheamus comes down? What if Sting comes down now?
[Jerry] What if? That would be great. Let's do it.
-[JBL] No, it wouldn't. -[Jerry] Do it.
[JBL] You don't start a match with a champion unconscious.
[Jerry] He's almost awake.
[JBL] Barely.
♪ Plus I keep it on lock Like I'm part of the jail ♪
[JBL] This is unfair.
[Jerry] Please ring the bell.
-[JBL] No. -[Jerry] Please.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Let's do this tomorrow.
[Jerry] No time like the present.
-He's almost fine. Come on. -[JBL] Don't you ring the bell, John Cone.
-[Michael] Well, the official-- -["Out from the Shadows" playing]
-[JBL] Oh, come on. -[Jerry cackles]
[JBL] This isn't fair.
[Jerry] Who said life is fair?
["Out from the Shadows" continue playing]
[crowd cheering]
Whoo.
[Michael] From the legend Cena
to the legend Sting,
there is no rest for Rollins.
John "The Vigilante" Sting, one of the all-time greats.
[JBL] Made his name in Starrcade against the great "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
Had incredible battles with the monster Vader.
He's winning championships with the nWo,
and tonight he could win the one championship
that he hasn't won that he wants to,
and that's the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
But it's not fair, dammit.
Look at this.
[Jerry] Are you trying to tell me that every match that Seth Rollins won,
he won fairly?
-[Michael] And Sting wasting little time. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Match is underway.
Sting versus Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight title.
Rollins just lost the United States Championship.
Will he lose the world title here?
-And look at Sting. -[JBL] It certainly looks like it.
[Michael] And remember, Sting got the set to tap out on Raw
this past Monday night to this move,
-the Scorpion Deathlock. -[Jerry] It's gonna be short and sweet.
-No. -[Michael] And it's gonna force a break.
But remember, guys, Sting got Rollins to tap to that move Monday night on Raw.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] #WWEWHC.
to talk about this great match-up, our main event tonight.
Rollins and Sting. Crossbody, Rollins.
-Sting rolls through for the championship. -[Jerry] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Michael] Kickout at two.
Man, what an opportunity for Sting.
Going for the Scorpion Death Drop there,
-and Rollins was able to counter it. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] And Rollins launched over the top rope.
[crowd member 4] No, get up. Get up.
Get up!
[Michael] But remember the one thing Rollins has going for him in this match
-is the champion's advantage… -Two.
[Michael] …which means Sting has to pin
or tap out Rollins.
[JBL] There you go, Seth.
There you go, Seth. Get out of here.
-[Michael] Now there's Rollins-- -Get out of here, Seth.
[Michael] What's the matter?
Rollins is trying to escape over our table,
and Sting not gonna allow it to happen,
driving Rollins right into the steel steps.
[crowd cheering]
[referee] Four.
[Michael] Oh, and again on the other side.
[referee] Five.
[crowd chattering]
Come on, Rollins.
[Michael] Man, Seth Rollins' nightmare,
he's living through it right now.
[Jerry] Sting's got to be careful though.
He don't wanna get himself disqualified.
Two.
[Jerry] He needs to get Rollins… Oh! …back in that ring
and get his shoulders on the mat.
[Michael] Well, Rollins trying to do everything he can
-to escape Sting but… -Four.
[Michael] What an uphill battle for Rollins, huh?
-Couldn't happen to a nicer man. -[Jerry] That's what I was about to say.
[JBL] Glad you guys are so unbiased.
[Michael] You know, Rollins in back in control.
Considers himself an all-time great.
Well, here's his opportunity to prove it.
-Rebound from the United States champion. -[Jerry] Whoa.
[JBL] You know what?
Look, never in history has someone
had to defend the United States Championship
and then right after the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
He's the only guy that's ever held both of them at the same time.
[Jerry] Look out, guys. Look at-- Whoa, wait.
[Michael] Oh, wait a minute. Rollins had that monitor in hand,
and Sting drives him into the barricade.
[referee] Two!
[crowd member 5] Come on, Sting.
[Michael] John, Seth wants to be an all-time great,
he wants to cement his legacy, what a better way to do it.
[JBL] John Cena AAed him right in the middle of the aisle
and left him for dead for Sting to come out,
this painted-up freak to come out here and pick the bones.
-[Jerry] Whoa. -[Michael] And picking the bones he is,
if that's the way you wanna describe it.
[referee] Six. Bring him in. Bring him in.
[Michael] I mean, in Sting's defense, he's doing what anybody would do.
Hey.
[Michael] Every advantage he can to win the WWE World title.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Oh, you'd do the same thing, John.
So would you, King.
-[Jerry] Yeah, I don't know. -[JBL] Of course, I'd do the same thing,
but if I was Seth, I'd also tell you how unfair it was.
And I'm telling you it's unfair right now sitting here watching.
Let's talk this out.
-[JBL] Oh. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] Oh.
Please. We don't need to be here.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] And look at Sting now backing Rollins into the corner.
And Rollins across the ring.
With velocity.
And the champion, he is real trouble.
Other side now.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] And Sting just taking his time,
and Rollins rolls out wisely.
[JBL] Stay there, Seth.
You got to feel sorry for Seth Rollins.
-[Jerry] What? -[JBL] This great, young champion.
-[Michael] Uh-oh. Look at Sting. -[Jerry] Oh, no.
-Hold on. -[Michael] Sting now on the…
on our announce table.
Rollins trying to… trying to get out of harm's way
and climb over the barricade, guys.
[crowd chatter]
-[Michael] Guys, this is not good. -[JBL] Oh, no.
-[Michael] This is not good. -Oh, no.
[Jerry] I got to tell you…
[Michael] Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Oh my God.
Sting driven through the announce table.
And I think his head may have bounced off that monitor.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Seth Rollins, out of pure desperation,
driving Sting through the announce table.
-[Jerry] Man. -[Michael] And he hit hard.
Sting hit hard.
[Jerry] He may be history.
[Michael] And Rollins…
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Where's he going?
[Jerry] I don't know.
I know somebody that's not going anywhere, and that Sting, man.
I think you're right, Michael.
Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.
[crowd jeering]
[JBL] Come on, Seth. Don't-- Seth, don't do that.
You're a better champion than that, Seth.
Don't just walk away. Come on.
[Jerry] He's about to show his true colors.
-He's about to-- -[JBL] Don't do it, Seth.
[Jerry] He's turned-- tucked his tail and run.
[JBL] That's it, Seth. That's the man I know.
That's the great champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Michael] Well, look at Sting. Sting has no idea where he is.
He tried to make it back to his feet.
He just crumbled down right on our announce table here.
Sting hit-- went through the Spanish announce table real hard.
And now Seth Rollins--
Seth Rollins, again, driving Sting
-right onto the table. -[JBL] Wow.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Breaks the count. Back on the attack again is Rollins.
Man, Seth Rollins surviving
-by putting Sting through the table. -[JBL] There it is.
[Michael] And now looks to retain the championship.
Cover, middle of the ring.
-Sting kicks out at two. -[Jerry] No, no.
[JBL] I have no idea where that came from.
[Jerry] Wait, wait, wait. Look at that. Oh, man.
[JBL] This was bad.
[Jerry] Uh-oh.
You wanna come into my house?
[crowd chatter]
You wanna take what's mine?
Your days are done for, Sting.
-[Jerry] And Seth… -[Michael] Oh, no.
[Jerry] …feels he's got this well in hand,
-so he's talking smack. -[Michael] Yes, he does.
Hook of the leg on Sting who gets the shoulder up.
But Sting hasn't been the same
since he was driven through the announce table.
[JBL] No, but how great is Seth Rollins?
Right when you have an act of desperation,
he does exactly the right thing
-and puts Sting through a table. -[Jerry] Oh, he's great.
[Michael] Yeah, and then he tried to walk away.
[JBL] But he came back, Michael.
[Michael] Yeah, when he realized Sting was--
[JBL] All he wanted to do was get a little breather
and he wanted to see all the WWE Universe acknowledge him.
[Jerry] Let's hear it. Whoa.
Big forearm right to the chin of Sting.
[Michael] Oh, man, that's it.
-That's got to be it on Sting. -One, two.
[Michael] And Sting still manages to kickout.
Live from The Icon.
One of the all-time greats, Sting.
[JBL] Six-time WCW champion,
former NWA champion.
Sting has done it all
except for that WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
This is his first opportunity and it might be his last.
[Michael] Well, it looked like he was gonna get there
until he was driven through the announce table.
It's been all Rollins since then.
You understand me?
This is my house.
[Jerry] Whoa.
[Michael] Sting firing back with rights.
Back to his feet now. Sting again.
Rollins looking to put Sting away.
Oh, no.
Rollins for the win, to retain the championship,
and a two-count.
[Jerry] I don't know where Sting is getting this resiliency from.
I mean, man,
going through that table like he did should have ended his night.
[Michael] And not for nothing I did, King, but Rollins too.
I mean, Rollins…
[Jerry] Yeah.
[JBL] Sting had those great battles in Starrcade,
those great battles at WCW,
maybe he just never faced anybody as good as Seth Rollins.
[Michael] And Rollins looking for the Pedigree here.
Looking for the Pedigree to put Sting away.
[Jerry] No, no, no. Sting's not gonna let him do it.
[JBL] Sting knows what that feels like.
[Michael] Rollins now comes up-- Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
-Rollins driven off the barricade. -[JBL] Wow.
[Jerry] What?
[Michael] And that could be the turning point of this match.
You all right, buddy?
[Jerry] Sting caught Rollins standing on that top rope
and just launched him. Watch this.
[Michael] Watch how Rollins lands here too.
[Jerry] Yo, man.
[Michael] Seth landed awkwardly
-as he hit the barricade. -[Jerry] Yeah.
The center angle here.
[Jerry] Oh, man.
[Michael] Crumbling in a heap.
Two.
[Jerry] But he's back up. Look at this.
-[JBL] He didn't even take-- -[Jerry] He is Seth "Freakin" Rollins--
Rollins. He's amazing here.
[JBL] Right. Didn't even take the full nine count to get back in.
[Michael] Well, I think he realizes after losing to Cena,
-he needs to beat Sting. -[Jerry] Oh.
[Michael] He's got to beat him, in Seth's mind.
[Jerry] Wow.
[Michael] And Sting firing up now.
Clotheslines.
Stinger Splash.
Stinger Splash again. Rollins is in trouble.
[Jerry] Yup, Sting's got a new life. Whoa.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] I don't know how he's done it
but Sting has weathered a terrible storm.
-[JBL] Wait a minute. -[Jerry] What?
-[JBL] What is Sting doing here? -[Jerry] Oh my God. He--
[Michael] Are you kidding me?
-[Jerry] Oh, no, no, no, no. -[Michael] Sting gonna fly.
Down goes Rollins.
[Jerry] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Holy shit! Holy shit!
[Michael] Sting throwing everything at Rollins for a WWE world title.
[Jerry] Watch this. Look at this. Oh, man.
[crowd cheering]
[Jerry] He squashed Rollins.
[JBL] That look like Sting circa 1990.
[Jerry] Look at Sting's arm and back
from where he went through that table.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Michael] Now, Rollins meeting Sting as he comes back to the ring.
Sting got him. Sting got him.
[Jerry] Cover, cover, cover.
[Michael] Sting for the championship.
Is it enough to put Rollins away?
And he got a foot on the bottom rope.
[referee] It's on the rope.
It's two. It's two.
[Michael] Sting can't believe it.
He thought he had the championship won right there.
[Jerry] He is saying, thinking, "What have I got to do?"
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Sting measuring his man.
-Rollins, he knows what's coming. -[Jerry] Oh.
[crowd] One, two,
three, four, five--
[Michael] Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Sting driven across the ring.
And here's Sting--
Oh, and look at the kick right to the kidney.
You see welts and bruises
from being driven through the table all over the back of the arms of Sting.
[JBL] Sting is spent.
Absolutely spent. He might be hurt.
[Jerry] He ducked under that clothesline, but then he just collapsed.
[crowd member 6] Let's go, Rollins.
[Michael] And the official gonna call for the ringside doctor.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Now, referee John Cone gonna keep Rollins away, as…
the trainer checks on, uh…
[JBL] Well, it could be all the battles and all the wars that Sting has fought
has finally caught up to him.
He may be human after all.
Come on, Sting.
-Come on, Sting. -[Michael] He didn't quite recover
ever since he went through the announce table
-earlier on in this match. -[Jerry] No.
Let's see. This may have been where he really got hurt.
Watch his kidneys.
[Michael] Right there.
[Jerry] Between his shoulder blades.
[crowd chanting] Sting, Sting, Sting!
[Michael] WWE fans here in Houston trying to will Sting on but…
[JBL] Oh, I'm sure he's not gonna… he's not gonna say he quits.
[crowd chatters]
[Jerry] This is where the doctor has got to be very careful.
This guy, huh?
[Michael] Trainer leaves the ring. The official…
[JBL] I'm not sure how smart this is.
[Michael] …is gonna restart this match.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Even the great--
Hey, even the great warriors have their last fight.
[Michael] And Seth Rollins
looking to put an end to it with a Pedigree right here to Sting.
-No, Sting able to counter. -[Jerry] No.
[Michael] Able to counter. Going for the Scorpion Deathlock.
[overlapping chatter]
[Michael] Scorpion Deathlock. Is Rollins gonna tap out?
Championship on the line.
Will Sting do it for the first time in his career?
Is Sting gonna be able to do it?
Rollins.
[JBL] Rollins knows he's got to stay on his arms.
[Michael] Into the bottom rope to force the break.
[Jerry] Man.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Rollins surviving again.
Oh, what a kick.
And that drops Sting to his knee.
And now Rollins going for the Pedigree.
Sting again steps through.
-Another counter. -[Jerry] He's got him again.
-Oh, wait. -[Michael] No, Rollins rolls him up,
-shoulders down. -One, two, three.
-[Michael] Rollins retains the title. -[bell ringing]
["The Second Coming" playing]
[Eden] Here's your winner,
and still the WWE World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth Rollins.
[Michael] Seth Rollins has defeated Sting
to win the-- to retain the WWE World Heavyweight title.
[JBL] Rollins has done the impossible.
[Michael] What a valiant effort by "The Icon" Sting.
[JBL] Everyone should be on their feet.
A standing ovation for this young man and a great champion, Seth Rollins.
[Michael] Seth Rollins retaining the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
-And this is where Sting got hurt. -[Jerry] Once again, watch him hurt.
And right between shoulder blades.
He was wobbly after that.
And then Sting still with the strength to lock in that Scorpion Deathlock
but look at Seth "Freakin" Rollins…
[bell ringing]
[Jerry] …turn things around.
[JBL] He countered the great finishing maneuver.
[Michael] Rollins with a match-up versus Cena tonight
for the United States title,
and now he retains the WWE World Heavyweight title.
[JBL] Sting has won championship after championship
for over 30 decades with that move,
and Seth Rollins just caught and countered it
-and beat him with it. -[Michael] Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
It's Sheamus.
Mr. Money in the Bank, at Night of Champions.
Brogue Kick. Brogue Kick.
We're gonna have a cash in.
Sheamus is gonna cash in.
Sheamus wants to cash in.
What the hell?
["Veil of Fire" playing]
[Michael] Oh my God!
[Jerry] What?
[Michael] The Big Red Machine.
The Demon Kane.
The Demon's here.
Kane is here.
[Jerry] Look at Sheamus.
He can't believe this.
[JBL] Last we saw of Demon Kane
he had a serious problem with Seth Rollins.
[Michael] Yeah, he had his ankle shattered by Lesnar
and then Rollins would mock Kane.
He'd stomp Kane.
And now this Kane,
The Demon Kane is here.
[Jerry screams]
[Michael] Chokeslam to Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Payback.
One more. One more.
Give him one more.
Remember what he did to your leg.
Give him one.
One more.
Give him one more, Kane. Come on.
-[Jerry] Oh. -[Michael] Uh-oh.
[Jerry] Oh my God.
[Michael] Chokeslam to Mr. Money in the Bank.
Sheamus still has the contract. He never cashed in officially.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] You know what they say about paybacks, John.
[JBL] Seth Rollins is about to find out.
-[Michael] Seth Rollins… -[Jerry] Oh my God.
[Michael] …is gonna rue the day…
that he poked this man.
-Tombstone. -[Jerry] Oh.
["Veil of Fire" playing]
[Michael] One of the most vicious,
hellacious,
frightening superstars in history.
[JBL] Who would have ever predicted what was gonna happen here tonight?
Sheamus was set to cash in,
Seth Rollins with the danger of losing his championship,
and that monster, Kane, shows up…
with retribution on his mind…
and he brought hell with him.
[Michael] It has been an incredible Night of Champions,
capped off by the return of The Demon Kane.
Good night, everybody.
Thank you for joining us at Night of Champions.
[music fades] joining us at Night of Champions.