WWE Night of Champions 2009 Review!

 

Hello and welcome to another riveting edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet that has been more baffling than seeing Okada leave NJPW! It’s time for Night of Champions 2009! Every championship is on the line, that could be a good thing and a bad thing depending on who is challenging for the championship. The two major championship matches are Randy Orton defending his WWE World Championship against Randy Orton & Triple H in a triple threat rematch from Wrestlemania 24. We also have Jeff Hardy challenging for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship held by CM Punk. Other notables matches include Dolph Ziggler challenging for Rey Mysterio’s Intercontinental Championship. A lot of interesting match-ups here so we shall see how this turns out for all those involved, have a feeling this could be very similar to the previous PPV.

 

(WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match) Legacy vs Chris Jericho & Edge ©

So Edge is injured? What happened? Looked it up and it was a torn tendon which sucks for him so Jericho will have a mystery partner for this match. Who will it be? Well you will see that it is quite the partner, it is none other than The Big Show! So this is how Jeri-Show is formed which is cool, the uncool thing is that all these four men are heels so who are the fans and I meant to cheer for on this night?

 

Show to start with Rhodes, Rhodes dodges a chest slap. Doesn’t work the second time around, Show tosses Rhodes across the ring. Show gets hung-up by Rhodes, tag to Dibiase. Dibiase eats a shoulder block, gut punches before a tag to Jericho. Jericho kicks and elbows Dibiase, Dibiase meets the boot of Show. Show comes back in and nails a clothesline. Tag to Jericho, assisted splash for two. Dibiase rakes the eyes and tags in Rhodes, schoolboy by Jericho for two. Dibiase low-bridges Jericho who tried running the ropes, Rhodes distracts the referee. Rhodes sends Jericho into the ring apron, tag to Dibiase.

 

Rhodes & Dibiase land a clothesline and sweep combination for two, tag to Rhodes. Jericho is in trouble, Y2J chants are filling the arena. Rhodes slaps on a reverse chin-lock, Jericho tries a sunset flip but Rhodes holds onto the ropes and smashes Jericho across the face. Rhodes backs Jericho to the corner, Dibiase tees off with right hands and boots. Rhodes chokes Jericho behind the referee’s back, Jericho begins fighting back but Dibiase spears Jericho back to the challengers’ corner. Rhodes misses a corner splash, Jericho lands forearms. Whip to the buckle, Rhodes boots Jericho. Rhodes lands a diving moonsault for a close two, Jericho lands an enzuigiri.

 

Jericho cannot make the tag, inside cradle gets a two and Dibiase lands a clothesline. Jericho runs into a powerslam for two, Jericho lands right hands but Dibiase lands a nice cradle and kicks Jericho square in the eye. Dibiase misses a splash, Jericho wants the Walls but Dibiase throws off Jericho. Dream Street but Jericho shakes off Dibiase, roll into the Walls of Jericho. Rhodes is trying to interfere, Show is with the referee. Rhodes spikes Jericho with a DDT for a close two, Show tagged himself into the match as Jericho ran the ropes. Dibiase eats a massive spear with Rhodes making the save, Show tosses Rhodes to the apron. Rhodes skins the cat, dropkicks take Show to his knees. Jericho lands a Code-Breaker on Dibiase and Show lands The Colossal Clutch for the win.

 

Nothing special here, one of the more tame opening matches in recent PPV history. Also a little weird for the fans to be cheering for two heels like Jericho & Show. The tag team scene is a joke at this time and the idea that two top heels will be champions for the next few months when Jericho was doing the best work of his life prior to this is disappointing to say the least but yeah, two heel teams kicking off a PPV is not my ideal way to start the show. Sucks to see Edge is injured again too, hard times for The Rated R Superstar.

 

Winner: Jeri-Show over Legacy via Colossal Clutch!

 

(ECW World Heavyweight Championship Match) Tommy Dreamer © vs Christian

The birthplace of Extreme and one of their own is here tonight as Tommy Dreamer defends his ECW Championship against Captain Charisma, Dreamer had miraculously survived a scramble match and many situations where Dreamer was outgunned and outclassed. However, Christian was never pinned to lose his championship, Christian is juts a class above Tommy Dreamer. Can Dreamer survive Christian on this night?

 

Babyface vs Babyface, is Russo booking on this night? They lock-up, clean break from Christian but Dreamer slaps the challenger. Side headlock by Dreamer, shoulder block for two. Dreamer works the arm, Christian kips-up and sends Dreamer down. Side headlock by Christian, spinning heel kick for one. Whip to the buckle reversed by Dreamer, Dreamer blocks Christian’s corner kick and Dreamer nails his massive rope-hung neck-breaker. Christian elbows and smashes Dreamer in the face, diving reverse elbow. Dreamer is on the apron, Christian runs into a shoulder and Dreamer wants the suplex to the floor. Right hand by Christian and Dreamer eats the ring apron, baseball slide by Captain Charisma.

 

Springboard plancha misses for the challenger, Dreamer is on the apron and looking for his rolling senton. Dreamer nails it, two for the champion in the ring. Running powerslam for two, Dreamer climbs to the middle rope but Christian yanks down Dreamer. Snap-mare into a kick to the spine, Christian lands forearms and wants the Kill-Switch but Dreamer reverses, Dreamer wants a belly to back but Christian counters for the sleeper. Dreamer reverses it again by dropping his weight on Christian, Christian tries it again. Dreamer runs to the floor with Christian on his back, both men are down on the floor. In the ring, Dreamer is taking control.

 

Dreamer wants that ECW dropkick, crowd gives it to Dreamer. Christian eats it to the face, Dreamer DDT is countered but Dreamer lands the sky high for two. Pump-handle is countered into a falling reverse DDT by Christian for two, Christian lands a missile dropkick and climbs high again for a missile dropkick but Dreamer counters for a Texas Cloverleaf. Christian bridges out, Dreamer lands a catapult. Christian kicks backs and lands a diving sunset flip but they trade pins with neither man taking control. Christian lands his corner kick, missile dropkick and Dreamer is down. Christian calls for the finish, Dreamer is planted and this match is over.

 

Another fine match, the streak of super fun ECW Championship matches on PPV comes to an end but they have some decent chemistry here. I do love me some Christian, been great since returning to WWE and nobody is a better face for the brand that Christian. Crowd wasn’t too sure which way to go though with both men being babyfaces, hopefully that is not the case as we continue going through the card.

 

Winner: Christian over Dreamer via Kill-Switch!

 

(WWE United States Championship Match) Kofi Kingston © vs The Miz vs MVP vs Jack Swagger vs Primo vs Carlito

Well this is going to be a train-wreck, it is not an over the top battle royal but all six men in the ring at one time. Everyone attempts pins, Swagger & Miz start working together. Primo headbutts his way back into the match, Swagger eats an elbow and a diving hurricanrana. Swagger is late on a safe, looks bad. Swagger plants Primo with his Powerbomb, Carlito is dumped to the floor after a springboard attempt. MVP and Swagger are on the floor, Miz & Kofi are squaring off in the corner. MVP meets the barricade, Kofi spills to the floor with Miz. Carlito lands a springboard onto MVP, Kofi kicks and dropkicks Swagger. Boom Drop connects for two, Miz made the save. Miz lands a clothesline, corner clothesline on Swagger.

 

Obligatory tower of doom spot to pop the fans, Carlito tries to steal the win but it is not possible. MVP comes in with right hands before being shoved into the turnbuckle. Primo and Carlito square off briefly before crashing and burning, Swagger misses a corner clothesline. Kofi lands punches before being dropped by Swagger, Miz is sent to the floor by MVP. MVP crossbodies Swagger to the floor. Carlito and Kofi are in the ring, they are trading pins with Primo also in some nice spots. Carlito wants to team up with Primo, Swagger stops that.

 

Carlito and Primo are going to work together briefly, Swagger clotheslines the former tag team champions. Clothesline to Kofi too, MVP is waiting. Knee face-buster, Ballin-Elbow connects. Play-maker connects but Skull-Crushing Finale connects at the same time. Carlito lands a Back-Stabber on Primo, Kofi lands Trouble in Paradise on Carlito for the win.

 

Fun, lots of action going on throughout the match. Chaotic and sloppy in places but what do you expect? Six young guys flying around the ring trying to make shit work, Kofi is the most over so there is nobody more deserving of the championship at this time. Kofi is destined for bigger things when the time comes, good multi-man match again.

 

Winner: Kofi Kingston via Trouble in Paradise!

 

(WWE Women’s Championship Match) Michelle McCool © vs Melina

 

Michelle dropkicks Melina during her entrance, they had a match the previous month to very little fan reaction so hoping for a little more on this night. Melina is horribly mis-cast as a babyface though so we shall see, Melina lands kicks to the head of Michelle after a matrix-dodge, Michelle is trying to run away from Melina. Michelle begs for mercy, dropkick by Melina. Tilt-a-whirl into a kick, massive kick to the head. Melina misses a knee so Michelle knees Melina’s head into the barricade for a two. Melina and Michelle end up on the barricade, Michelle DDTs Melina into oblivion. That was actually quite a cool spot. Melina is dazed but avoids a baseball slide, Melina uses a head-scissors to smack Michelle into the ring apron. Diving face-buster from the challenger, Michelle lands a head kick in the ring. Melina drop toeholds Michelle, double knees to the spine. Spear to the corner, shoulder thrusts. Michelle is left in position for knees to the chest, spinning heel kick for two. Michelle lands a belly to belly suplex for two, Michelle is caught in the head-scissors again. Melina does a lou thesz press from the middle rope and Michelle reverses and folds her up for the win.

 

Flat finish for a sadly flat match, would have liked to have seen the entrance spot build off, not sure why a heel would allow the babyface recover and get back into the ring. They could have played up the injury angle or at least have Michelle beat the piss out of her but nope, nothing to sink your teeth into for this match.

 

Winner: Michelle McCool over Melina via Roll-Up!

 

(WWE Championship Match) Randy Orton © vs John Cena vs Triple H

Cena had beaten Miz so it was time to be in the championship picture while Triple H had to put over Orton again so here we are with these two challenging for Orton’s championship.

 

The bell rings, Orton is on the floor. The challengers corner the champion, Orton has been defeated by simple mathematics, Triple H and Cena take turns clotheslining Orton. Orton is thrown to Triple H, right hands by Triple H in the corner. Orton sends Triple H to the buckle, boot by The Game. Orton eats a bulldog by Cena, Orton is pin-balled and leaves the ring. Orton knocks Cena off the apron into Triple H, Triple H is now down. In the ring, Cena hits shoulder blocks and his belly to back suplex. Five Knuckle Shuffle connects, AA is stopped as Triple H hurls Cena into the ring-post. Orton lands a clothesline on Triple H for two, Orton starts pounding on Triple H. Reverse chin-lock from Orton, Triple H escapes and starts firing off bombs. Powerslam by Orton, RKO is blocked. Triple H runs into an elbow, Triple H counters with a DDT. Cena climbs to the top rope, diving Kobashi-style leg drop on both men. Cena starts landing right hands, Orton drops Cena with his back-breaker. Orton stops the pedigree and sends Triple H tumbling to the floor. Orton wants a double DDT but Orton is back-dropped to the floor, the two babyfaces will now do battle inside of that ring.

 

Cena and Triple H are trading bombs, Triple H is winning the war. Cena ducks though, massive shoulder blocks. Triple H’s knee cuts off the belly to back suplex, Cena reverses an Irish whip and eats a face-buster but Cena answers with a Throwback. AA countered, Pedigree countered. STF countered, AA countered into a spine-buster. Pedigree connects middle of the ring, Orton pulls out Triple H. Orton starts pulling apart an announce table, Triple H low blows Orton. Pedigree is stopped by Cena, Cena tosses Orton to the crowd. Triple H is tripped and locked in the STF.

 

Orton is on his feet, right hands knock down Cena. Orton & Cena are trading bombs in the middle of the ring. Orton wins the war, Cena is kicked in the face. RKO is countered by Cena. Tower of doom between the main eventers? No Cena catapults Triple H into Orton on the top rope, Cena wants the STF but Triple H is caught in the submission. Orton wanted to Punt both, schoolboy by Cena for two. Orton clotheslines Cena down, all three men are down. Orton stomps all over the challenges, knee-drops from Orton. Triple H dodges the second, Cena chop-blocks the knee. Belly to back suplex by Cena, Triple H low-bridges Cena who falls to the floor. Triple H looks for a sharpshooter on Orton, Orton is in the middle of the ring.

 

STF and Sharpshooter applied at the same time, Orton taps but the referee has no way of telling who is the winner of the match. Here come Rhodes and Dibiase to attack both challengers, Orton is worn out. Rhodes talks to Orton, Cena catches Rhodes but Orton RKOs Cena when Rhodes was on his shoulders.

 

Quite good triple threat match here, some nice little spots sprinkled throughout the match. Starts off fun with babyfaces destroying Orton, then everyone has a nice face-off with some really good counters and false-finishes in there, the punt tease as well as the schoolboy stand out. Legacy coming out to have an impact is definitely wearing thin considering how many main events they have interfered in but fans love Orton at the moment, invested in everything he does, this one Orton’s peak as a character for sure. Orton escapes again and with Legacy by his side, is there anyone that can stop The Viper?

 

Winner: Randy Orton via RKO!

 

(WWE Divas Championship Match) Maryse © vs Mickie James

Nice to see this championship on PPV because well I cannot tell you that last time it appeared on PPV, it was definitely at least 4/5 months considering only the women’s championship made a return at the prior PPV. Maryse throws her jacket at Mickie to start, Maryse is in love with herself. They do lock-up though, strong lock-up from both women. Maryse hits an elbow and shoves Mickie, Maryse hides in the ropes. Maryse poses and hides in the ropes again, Mickie pulls the hair and rolls up Maryse for two. Maryse goes low with a kick and some forearms, Mickie slides through the legs and lands a snap-mare followed by a dropkick.

 

Mickie is whipped to the buckle, Mickie looks for her head-scissors but Maryse shoves her to the apron. Mickie attempts a springboard but Maryse kicks her right in the face. Mickie spills to the floor and is slow to recover, Maryse is on the attack now. Mickie is tossed into the mat, Maryse lands a knee to the nose for two. Camel clutch by Maryse, Maryse is sent to the floor. Maryse wanted to use a perfume but Mickie kicked Maryse down, the referee takes away the spray from Mickie. Mickie lands a Thesz Press, we are back in the ring now. Mickie wants to climb high, Maryse is in La La Land. Mickie misses hugely on the dive, Maryse covers for two. Right hands by Maryse, another camel clutch. Mickie fights out and sends Maryse’s face to the mat, running forearm. It is getting very sloppy out there, clotheslines by Mickie. Neck-breaker, two for the challenger.

 

Mickie looks to finish it now, Maryse is in the corner. Shoulder thrusts by Mickie, Maryse eats an elbow. Head-scissors takedown from the corner by Mickie, Maryse sends Mickie to the ropes. Schoolgirl for two, Maryse is not happy with the referee. Mickie wants a DDT but Maryse drags her off the top rope, Maryse’s DDT is countered. MickieDT and we have a new champion!

 

I feel so bad for these women because the crowd just simply do not care, they work an alright match. It’s a bit sloppy but it doesn’t deserve crickets, I wished they built up more of the story, I mean this is Mickie becoming the second woman to have won the women’s championship and divas’ championship but its like yeah whatever from the commentators and people are chanting we want puppies and the only reaction is for Maryse posing. All very weird and sad really.

 

Winner: Mickie James over Maryse via Mickie DDT!

 

(WWE Intercontinental Championship Match) Rey Mysterio © vs Dolph Ziggler W/ Maria

Pretty big leap here for Mr. Ziggler who was doing nothing as the year kicked off and was recently feuding with The Great Khali. Ziggler is in here with Mysterio which will be great for him, Ziggler has also been paired up with Maria which is a good thing for him too.

 

Ziggler dropkicks Mysterio, Mysterio has been caught by the youngster. Mysterio rolls-up Ziggler showing him that it’s just that easy, Ziggler looks determined. Lock-up, side headlock from Ziggler. Shoulder block by Ziggler for two, side headlock back on after nailing the shoulder block. Mysterio escapes and kicks Ziggler hard, Irish whip to the opposite buckle. Mysterio gets a buckle bomb after trying a hurricanrana, hard Irish whip to the corner. Standing handstand headlock from Ziggler, Mysterio is sent to the corner but counters with a head-scissors which sends Ziggler into the ring-post. Springboard seated senton into the springboard crossbody for two, Mysterio kicks Ziggler but walks into the powerslam for two.

 

Ziggler is sent to the floor, Mysterio is looking for a big move. Running seated senton off the apron, Mysterio is in the ring on Ziggler’s shoulders. Mysterio gets caught with a kick, Ziggler wants a tiger-bomb but Mysterio counters for a hurricanrana. Ziggler dodges the 619 and hurls Mysterio to the floor, Ziggler rips at the eyes but gets two. Ziggler continues punishing the neck of Mysterio, camel clutch from the challenger. Mysterio escapes but Ziggler cuts him off, Mysterio lands forearms before Ziggler switches to a full-nelson. Mysterio breaks free but sliding through the legs does not work as Ziggler has the full-nelson again, Mysterio counters for a pin-fall attempt but it doesn’t pay off. Ziggler tries a sunset flip but Mysterio rolls through and lands a massive kick.

 

Ziggler catches Mysterio with a jaw-breaker for two. Ziggler pummels Mysterio against the ropes, Ziggler eats a drop toe-hold into the buckle. Mysterio fights back into the match, a diving crossbody is caught by a dropkick for two. Mysterio has Ziggler on the top rope, Ziggler is fighting and fighting. Top rope gut-buster shades of Malenko for two,  Ziggler looks for a powerslam but Mysterio slips out. Enzuigiri into the 619, splash and this match is over.

 

Abrupt finish out of nowhere, definitely a step down from the Jericho vs Mysterio feud. Good showing for Dolph, big match and there were some good moments before him but as someone who was digging the previous feud, I felt this was a major step-down. I think they showed Maria like twice at ringside and we never saw her reaction again. Not one reaction of her seeing Ziggler almost winning or Mysterio winning the match, we see it after the match. Ziggler will get another chance and will grow as a performer and I would love to see that because the heels are not so hot on this roster apart from Punk and Orton and even then fans love Orton.

 

Winner: Rey Mysterio over Dolph Ziggler via 619!

 

(WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match) Jeff Hardy vs CM Punk ©

Punk stole Hardy’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship and Punk has continued to dodge Hardy, Punk “accidently” kicked the referee at The Bash, escaping with the championship which leads us to this match. I like how they mix their contrasting ideals into this match, Punk’s Straight-Edge philosophy against Hardy’s care-free and checkered past. Shockingly, this match once again headlines over Cena, has to make you wonder how much Hardy is shifting in terms of numbers.

 

Interestingly, Hardy is entering second in this match which makes me think we might have Hardy walking away with the championship. Could be wrong as I don’t see Hardy getting away with it but you never know, we kick things off and it’s a slow start with both men feeling one another out. Punk kicks Hardy’s leg over and over, Punk is in full dickhead mode here so this should be great. Punk out-wrestles Hardy with a smile on his face asking Hardy “What could you possibly do to me”?

 

Side headlock by Punk, shoulder block while flexing. Hardy cannot get going, both men tease finishing moves before Hardy lands clotheslines. To the corner, shoulder thrusts by Hardy. Hard Irish whip by Hardy, Punk tries a sunset flip for two. Punk gets into a reverse chin-lock, Hardy escapes but Punk dodges a crossbody which leaves Hardy on the floor. Punk misses a suicide dive, neck-breaker in the ring. Hardy wanted a Swanton but Punk rolls out, Hardy tries a dive to the floor but plants himself in the barricade. Hardy beats the ten-count with Punk looking irate at this, Punk switches tactics now with brutal shots to the kidneys.

 

Todd Grisham calling main events is wild to me, Punk sends Hardy to the corner hard. Bow & Arrow stretch from Punk, Hardy escapes but Punk stays in control. Forearms to the kidneys, Punk wants a superplex. Hardy reverses for his sit-out front suplex, the two are battling it out in the middle of the ring. Neck-breaker by Hardy, flying clotheslines. Inverted atomic drop and leg-drop to the groin followed by a low dropkick for two. Punk thwarts Whisper in the Wind, Punk smiles and measures Hardy. Running knee, leg drop is countered and Hardy lands a Whisper in The Wind for two. Sit-out suplex, Swanton Bomb misses for the challenger. Punk does not want the cover, underhook back-breaker by Punk into a Dragon Sleeper.

 

Punk calls for a GTS, Hardy is dazed. Kicks from Punk, Muay Thai strikes but Hardy ducks and nails a Twist of Fate. Swanton Bomb countered as Punk uses his knees, 1…2…. Punk cannot believe it as Hardy kicks out. Punk is on the apron, Punk wants to finish this match. Springboard does not work, Hardy wants the twist of fate but Punk counters for a GTS but Hardy kicks out of Punk’s big move. Punk is in utter disbelief, Punk accepts it and decides it is time to go to the extreme. Punk is grabbing his championship and walking away, Punk must believe that nobody can kick out of the GTS so the referee has somehow screwed him. Hardy does not share this belief, Hardy clubs Punk in the corner. Twist of Fate for the third time, Hardy climbs high. Swanton Bomb and this match is over!

 

Months of chasing from Jeff Hardy finally come to an end. After being screwed by Matt Hardy, after being screwed by Punk. Hardy finally gets his world championship, this is a shock to me as I thought Hardy never won it back after Punk became champion. So this is very cool to see, Hardy definitely deserved it because apart from Cena, I don’t think you could argue anyone is garnering that type of reaction. Punk was very good in this match, the facials and body language were great. Really felt like Punk was a slimy individual trying to destroy every child’s dream in that arena of having their hero Jeff Hardy winning the World Heavyweight Championship. The Twist of Fate counter into the GTS looked great, I imagine they might have some sort of gimmick match at Summerslam which could be a lot of fun. Solid main event that becomes better due to giving the fans what they want.

 

Winner: Jeff Hardy over CM Punk via Swanton Bomb!

 

That was WWE’s Night of Champions 2009, a mostly fun PPV from the WWE. The standard has definitely dropped from the first three PPVs post-Mania with the card being littered now with more mid-card feuds with less hype and interest but the matches for the most part deliver solid action. The two absolutely worst matches on the card are the women’s matches. Sadly, we are just in that period where nobody cares and it is used as a toilet break, they work hard but there’s nothing. Thought McCool’s finish was flat and made Melina look dumb which is hard to do considering the absolute lack psychology in their previous encounter but here Melina gets rolled up because she’s super flexible. No hint of cheating from Michelle, no heelish pull of the tights. Nothing. Mickie and Maryse is sloppy, looks really rough and it’s sad because I would consider Mickie the cornerstone of the whole women’s scene and the reaction was not good on this night.

 

The opening match with heels vs heels is so strange, Show & Jericho are bigger stars so the fans cheer for them but Jericho for the last year has been the most despised guy on the roster, why are we doing this? Why did they break up Carlito & Primo? We don’t even have a babyface tag team on the roster do we? Cryme Tyme? I am really struggling to name another team, that’s shockingly bad but anyways, they do heels vs heels and the fans are confused and it’s awkward. Things improve with Christian vs Dreamer but two babyfaces make it a difficult one for the fans again, unsure who to give their love to but they choose Christian and it’s the right choice who has been killing it with Swagger before Dreamer was inserted into the mix. Curious to see how much longer Christian can be kept away from a show like Smackdown or Raw.

 

The six-man is chaotic, it’s a little sloppy but when everyone is hitting moves, it’s great fun. WWE Championship triple threat is fun too, you have some really good spots and big reactions for the stars in the ring. The Legacy interference is getting a bit long in the tooth now, hoping for something else to shake things up on Raw. Mysterio vs Ziggler is fun, a good outing for the young up and comer but I needed a bit more after watching Jericho vs Mysterio. Finally, the main event is a pay off that fans have been waiting for since Extreme Rules, credit to Hardy getting to the finish line. Summerslam could mark a return to form for the PPVs of 2009, the start of the year was excellent in terms of quality but things became less fun as the year progressed, a big Four PPV is the perfect way to pick up momentum again but will it happen? Check in next time to see! Thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!