Night of Champions

* Poll results: Best match at Night of Champions
* Poll results: Grade WWE’s Night of Champions

The Night of Champions Kickoff Show begins with a live shot inside the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan as Josh Mathews welcomes us to the show. The Expert Superstar Panel tonight is Alex Riley, Booker T, and Santino Marella. Booker says he is looking forward to the WWE Championship Match between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan. Marella says he is looking forward to the Elimination Handicap Match between the team of Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman and “The Best in the World” CM Punk. Riley says the winners of the Tag Team Turmoil will go on to defeat The Shield later tonight. Marella picks The Usos to win the match tonight, while Booker says it will be The Prime Time Players. Riley agrees with Marella and says The Usos will win it.

We go backstage and we see Paul Heyman. Brad Maddox walks up and asks him if he is okay. Heyman says he is not because Maddox put him in a match against CM Punk tonight. Heyman says Punk is going to find a way to get around Curtis Axel and get to him. Heyman says Punk is going to massacre him in the middle of the ring…unless Punk gets past Axel and Heyman punches the referee right in the mouth. Heyman says it would be an immediate disqualification and if Punk attacks him after the bell he could sue him. Maddox says that scenario is not best for business. Maddox says the match is now No Disqualification.

#1 Contender’s (WWE Tag Team Championship) Tag Team Turmoil Match: 3MB vs. Tons of Funk vs. The Real Americans (w/Zeb Colter) vs. The Usos vs. The Prime Time Players
3MB and Tons of Funk are the first two teams, and Slater and Clay begin the match. Clay quickly tags in Tensai and Slater goes to the outside. McIntyre takes down Tensai and then gets him back into the ring. McIntyre goes for a cover, but Tensai kicks out at two. McIntyre pummels Tensai in the corner, but Tensai counters and pins McIntyre. 3MB is eliminated.
The Real Americans are the next team to enter the match as we head to a “commercial. We’re back and Cesaro is in control of Tensai. Tensai gets free and tags in Clay, who takes Cesaro down with a belly-to-belly toss. Clay splashes Cesaro and goes for the cover, but Swagger breaks it up. Clay slams Cesaro, but Swagger made the tag and locks in the Patriot Lock and Clay taps out. Tons of Funk is eliminated.
The Usos enter the match. The Usos are on fire and take control of the match. Swagger tags in and delivers a gut-buster, but Jimmy kicks out at two. Swagger keeps control and tags in Cesaro, who stomps away on Jimmy as we head to another “commercial.”
We’re back and Swagger quickly gets Jimmy to tap out. The Usos are eliminated.
The Prime Time Players enter the match. O’Neil goes to kick Swagger, but Swagger takes his leg out. Swagger locks in the Patriot Lock, but Young saves O’Neil. O’Neil tags Young, but Swagger gets him in the Patriot Lock. Young gets put and plants Swagger and gets the pin fall.
Winners and number one contenders: The Prime Time Players.

The Expert Panel makes their picks for the WWE Championship Match. Santino and Riley pick Randy Orton and Booker T picks Daniel Bryan as the kickoff show comes to a close.

We get the usual opening hype video for the pay-per-view, focusing on the feud between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton. We go live into the arena where Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and John Layfield welcome us to the show.

Triple H’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. He says every match tonight got his stamp of approval and he is going to show that he is not the evil, villainous guy that everyone thinks he is. He says in the WWE Championship Match, there will be no interference from anybody; no Shield, no Big Show. He asks the fans if they are ready for the show, but Paul Heyman and Curtis Axel come out to interrupt.

Heyman says he has emailed, texted, and left messages for Triple H. He says he has a desperate need to speak with Triple H. Triple H says Heyman looks terrible. Heyman yells at Triple H, but then apologizes. Heyman says Triple H has made one serious error of judgment tonight. He says Triple H put him in a match with CM Punk. Heyman begs Triple H to cancel the match. Triple H says Heyman has already tried to weasel out of the match, but there it is no reason to be scared. Triple H tells Heyman to just let Axel handle Punk. Triple H asks Heyman if he can believe Axel can handle Punk. Axel asks Triple H if he thinks this is funny. Axel brings up the time that he beat Triple H on Raw. Triple H tells Axel to not poke the bear. Triple H says what he is going to do is going to walk to the back and Axel is going to defend the Intercontinental Championship against the first person he sees.

Heyman says the match is being contested under protest by Curtis Axel.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Curtis Axel (c) (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Kofi Kingston

Axel gets Kingston in a headlock, but Kingston fights out and and sweeps Axel’s leg. Kingston goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out quickly. Axel drops Kingston with a shoulder block and comes off the ropes, but Kingston goes over the top of Axel. Axel rolls to the outside to take a breather. Axel gets back into the ring and kicks Kingston to the corner. Kingston counters and kicks Axel down to the mat in the corner. Kingston kicks Axel’s legs out from under him, and Axel rolls to the outside. Kingston suplexes Axel back into the ring and kicks him in a jaw. Kingston goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out at two. Axel comes back off the ropes and drops Kingston with a dropkick. Axel tosses Kingston to the outside. Axel goes to the outside and tries to toss Kingston into the steel steps, but Kingston jumps up to the top rope. Kingston delivers a cross-body and tosses Axel back into the ring. Kingston goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out at two. Axel comes back and hangs Kingston up in the corner. He drives his shoulder into Kingston’s midsection. Axel gets Kingston in a headlock down on the mat, and then goes for the cover, but Kingston kicks out at two. Axel takes Kingston down with a clothesline and goes for the cover, but Kingston kicks out at two again. Axel stomps away on Kingston and delivers a jaw-breaker. Axel goes for the cover, but Kingston kicks out at two. Axel gets Kingston in a headlock, but Kingston fights to his feet. Kingston drops Axel with a double-arm DDT. Kingston delivers a cross-body from the top rope and goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out at two. Kingston delivers the Boom Drop and sets up for Trouble in Paradise. Axel ducks and backs Kingston into the corner. Kingston kicks Axel in the head and jumps, but Axel takes Kingston down hard. Axel goes for the cover, but Kingston kicks out at two. Kingston rolls up Axel and goes for the cover, but Axel gets out at two. Axel drops Kingston with a shoulder block. Kingston drops Axel with S.O.S. and goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out at two. Axel drapes Kingston over the top rope and then delivers the face-buster and gets the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Curtis Axel.

We see Rob Van Dam and Ricardo Rodriguez backstage. Ricardo says he will be much better when RVD wins the World Heavyweight Championship. RVD tells Ricardo to teach him how to say his signature moves in Spanish. RVD asks how he says “World Heavyweight Champion” in Spanish, and Ricardo starts a “R-V-D” chant.

We see Layla, Aksana, and Alicia Fox backstage and AJ Lee walks up. She says they should go out there and show those wannabe Divas who they are. Aksana and Alicia walk away and Layla says she will go straighten them out and AJ says the match is next.

WWE Divas Championship Fatal Four-Way Match: AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella vs. Naomi vs. Natalya
AJ tries to escape, but the other three won’t let her run. They beat down AJ on the outside and then Brie takes control of the match in the ring. Naomi comes back and drops Brie with a dropkick. Naomi slams Brie to the mat and goes for the cover, but Brie kicks out at one. Natalya and AJ get involved again and AJ rolls Natalya up for a two count. Naomi drops Natalya with the Rear View, but Brie breaks up the pin attempt. Natalya rolls Brie up, but Brie kicks out at two. Naomi goes for a dropkick on Natalya, but Natalya moves. AJ tosses Naomi to the outside. AJ pulls Naomi off the apron and Brie sends AJ to the floor. Brie rolls Natalya up for a two count. Natalya drops Brie and Naomi with a clothesline and then slams Brie down onto Naomi. Naomi goes for a double-Sharp Shooter on Brie and Naomi and she locks it in. AJ knocks Natalya down from behind. AJ locks Natalya in the Black Widow, and Natalya taps out.
Winner and still WWE Divas Champion: AJ Lee.

We go back to the Superstar Panel with Mathews, Marella, Booker, and Riley. They talk about the World Heavyweight Championship Match, which is next. They all think Van Dam will leave with the title.

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam (w/Ricardo Rodriguez)

Del Rio takes RVD down with a shoulder block, but RVD comes right back and takes Del Rio down with his innovative offense. RVD takes Del Rio down with a monkey flip and then connects with the split-leg moonsault. RVD takes Del Rio down to the floor. RVD slams Del Rio into the barricade and rolls into the ring to break the referee’s count. RVD slams Del Rio onto the top of the barricade and delivers the spinning leg drop. RVD breaks the referee’s count again and then he and Del Rio fight on the ring apron. Del Rio sends RVD to the floor and then delivers a flying headbutt to RVD. Del Rio throws RVD into the barricade. Del Rio gets RVD back into the ring and goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Del Rio locks in a headlock and then kicks RVD in the head. Del Rio goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Del Rio delivers an enzuiguri to RVD and RVD falls to the floor. Del Rio goes after RVD, but RVD moves and Del Rio hits the barricade. Back in the ring, RVD catches Del Rio with a back elbow. RVD goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. RVD goes up top and delivers a kick to the face of Del Rio. RVD goes for Rolling Thunder, but Del Rio catches him with the Backstabber. Del Rio goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. RVD comes back and slams Del Rio down to the mat. RVD goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Del Rio and RVD exchange right hands before Del Rio delivers the back-breaker. Del Rio goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Del Rio sets up for the cross arm-breaker, but RVD rolls him up and gets a two count. RVD connects with the split-leg moonsault again, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Del Rio comes back and works over RVD’s arm and kicks him in the face. Del Rio goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Del Rio stomps away on RVD, but RVD kicks him in the face. RVD goes to the top and goes for the Five-Star, but Del Rio gets his knees up. Del Rio locks in the cross arm-breaker. RVD struggles to get to the ropes, but eventually gets there. Del Rio refuses to break the hold and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner via disqualification: Rob Van Dam.
After the match, Del Rio tries to attack RVD with a chair, but Ricardo stops him and steals the chair. RVD drops Del Rio with a DDT and then delivers a Van-Dam-inator.

We see Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman backstage. Axel is excited and Heyman is worried. Heyman says if he is left alone with Punk, he won’t be here to help Axel anymore. Heyman said Axel made an enemy in Triple H tonight. Axel asks Heyman if he believes in him. Heyman says he has since day one and he needs Axel to believe in himself tonight.

We see Triple H on his phone backstage. Randy Orton walks up and wants to know Triple H’s logic. Triple H says everything will be fine. Orton walks away and Triple H smirks.

Fandango (w/Summer Rae) vs. The Miz

The match goes back and forth before Fandango sends The Miz to the ring apron. Fandango gets The Miz back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Miz kicks out at two. Fandango stomps away on Miz and then delivers a knee to the midsection. Fandango goes for the cover, but Miz kicks out at two. Fandango applies a submission down on the mat, but Miz fights out and sends Fandango to the outside. Miz comes off the ropes, but Fandango counters and kicks him in the midsection. Back in the ring, Miz takes control of the match. Miz goes for the Figure Four, but Fandango kicks him away. Miz drops Fandango with a DDT and goes for the cover, but Fandango kicks out at two. Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Fandango fights out. Fandango goes up top for the big leg drop, but Miz rolls out of the way. Miz goes for the cover, but Fandango kicks out at two. Miz locks in the Figure Four and Fandango taps out.
Winner: The Miz.

We see a video package for the National Guard.

We see the video hype package for the feud between the duo of Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman and CM Punk.

No Disqualification Elimination Handicap Match: Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman vs. CM Punk

Punk and Axel both have kendo sticks as Heyman is nowhere near the ring right now. Punk gains the advantage and akes Axel down. Punk launches himself to the outside and nails Heyman. Punk chases Heyman into the ring and grabs him. Punk grabs a kendo stick, but Axel delivers a low-blow to Punk. Heyman leaves the ring. Axel destroys Punk with the kendo stick and goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out at two. Axel goes to the outside and grabs a chair. He nails Punk with it in the ring. Axel goes back to the outside and grabs a table. Punk gets back to his feet and they try to suplex each other through the table in the corner. Axel slams Punk down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out at two. Axel drops a right hand on Punk and goes for another cover, but Punk kicks out again. Punk comes back and drops Axel with a swinging neck-breaker. Punk drops Axel with a clothesline. Punk goes for the Macho Man Elbow Drop, but Axel rolls out of the ring. Axel nails Punk in the back of the head with a chair. Axel rolls Punk back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out at two. Axel grabs the kendo stick and nails Punk with it again. Axel goes for the cover, but Punk kicks out at two. Punk counters and goes for the GTS, but Axel counters. Punk nails Punk with the kendo stick and locks in the Anaconda Vice and Axel taps out. Curtis Axel has been eliminated.
Heyman gets into the ring and tries to run away, but Punk gets him. Punk beats down Heyman for a bit and then pulls out handcuffs. Punk handcuffs Heyman’s hands behind his back and then destroys him with a kendo stick. Ryback comes out and spears Punk through a table. Ryback puts Heyman on top of Punk and Heyman gets the pin fall.
Winners: Paul Heyman and Curtis Axel.
After the match, Ryback puts Heyman on his shoulders and carries him to the back. Referees check on Punk, but he shoves all of them away.

We see the video hype for WWE Battleground, which is on October 6th.

WWE United States Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Ambrose and Ziggler go back and forth before Ambrose taunts Ziggler. Ziggler drops Ambrose with a dropkick and goes for the cover, but Ambrose quickly kicks out. Ziggler takes Ambrose down again and goes for the cover, but Ambrose kicks out again. Ambrose goes for the outside, but Ziggler gets him and tosses him back into the ring. Ambrose slams Ziggler to the mat and goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Ambrose calls a spot for everyone to hear and the works over Ziggler some more. Ambrose and Ziggler exchange roll-ups. Ambrose sets Ziggler on the top rope and goes up after him. Ambrose suplexes Ziggler down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Ziggler comes back and gets Ambrose in a Sleeper Hold, but Ambrose fights out and slams Ziggler to the mat. Ambrose goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Ziggler connects with the Fame-asser and goes for the cover, but Ambrose grabs the bottom rope. Ambrose goes for the face-buster, but Ziggler rolls him up for a two count. Ambrose grabs him and delivers the face-buster and gets the pin fall.
Winner and still WWE United States Champion: Dean Ambrose.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Shield (Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins) vs. The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil)

Rollins and O’Neil start the match. Rollins comes off the ropes, but O’Neil catches him and slams him down to the mat. O’Neil tags in Young. Young comes off the ropes and slams Rollins to the mat. Young goes for the cover, but Rollins kicks out at two. Young takes Rollins down again and then tosses Reigns over the top rope. Young plants Rollins again and tags in O’Neil. O’Neil stomps away on Rollins in the corner and blows on his whistle for every stomp. Young decks Reigns on the outside and Rollins takes Young down inside the ring. Rollins tags in Reigns, who goes to work on Young. Reigns slams Young down to the mat and tags in Rollins. Rollins gets Young in a headlock, but Young tries to fight out. Young counters with a belly-to-belly throw. Young tags in O’Neil, who dominates both members of The Shield. Rollins comes back and goes for a dropkick, but O’Neil slams him to the mat with the Clash of the Titus. O’Neil goes for the cover, but Reigns breaks it up. Reigns spears O’Neil out of nowhere and Rollins gets the pin fall for the win.
Winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.

We take a look back at Ryback becoming the newest Paul Heyman guy earlier tonight.

We take a look at the video hype package for the main event tonight: Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan.

WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan works over Orton’s arm, but Orton counters with a headbutt. Orton gets Bryan in a headlock and takes him down to the mat. Bryan gets out of it and delivers some kicks to Orton. Bryan takes Orton to the corner and delivers a series of right hands. Orton punches Bryan in the kidney area and takes control of the match. Orton stomps away on Bryan down on the mat. Bryan fights back, but Orton drapes him over the top rope. Bryan comes back and takes Orton down. Bryan delivers a series of right hands, but Orton gets free and drops Bryan with a clothesline. Orton goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Orton stomps away on Bryan again and goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Bryan comes back and drops Orton with a flying clothesline. Bryan delivers two dropkicks to Orton in the corner and delivers a series of kicks in the corner. Bryan takes Orton down with a hurricanrana, but Orton rolls out of the ring. Bryan flies over the top rope and takes Orton out. Bryan tosses Orton back into the ring and delivers a dropkick from the top. Orton rolls out of the ring again, but Bryan dives out onto him again. Bryan gets back into the ring and goes to dive onto Orton again, but Orton catches him with a forearm shiver. Orton DDTs Bryan from the apron down to the floor. Bryan gets back into the ring at the count of nine and Orton sets up for the RKO. Bryan dropkicks Orton into the referee, who falls out of the ring. Bryan tries to get Orton in the Yes Lock as another referee enters the ring. Orton counters with the powerslam and goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Bryan locks the Yes Lock in on Orton in the middle of the ring, but Orton gets to the ropes. Bryan delivers a series of kicks to Orton and goes for a big dropkick, but Orton sends him into the ropes. Orton goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Orton sets Bryan on the top turnbuckle and goes for a super-plex, but Bryan fights out and knocks Orton down onto the turnbuckle. Bryan hangs Orton upside down and delivers a series of kicks. Bryan delivers a dropkick in the corner. Bryan goes for a top-rope back drop, but Orton fights out and knocks Bryan to the mat. Bryan comes back and kicks Orton in the head. Bryan suplexes Orton down to the mat. Bryan connects with the diving headbutt and goes for the cover, but Orton kicks out at two. Bryan kicks Orton in the chest repeatedly and goes for the big kick to the head, but Orton counters and drops Bryan with a belly-t0-belly throw. Orton goes for the RKO, but Bryan rolls through the kicks Orton in the head. Bryan knees Orton in the head and gets the pin fall.
Winner and NEW WWE Champion: Daniel Bryan.
After the match, a replay shows Scott Armstrong fast-counting Orton down as Bryan celebrates. Bryan leaves the ring and walks up the ramp as Night of Champions comes to a close.