411’s WWE Night of Champions 2013 Report: 09.15.13

Welcome to 411’s WWE Night of Champions 2013 Report. For even more coverage, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter at @ScottSlimmer.

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Kick-Off Show Match
Tag Team Turmoil Number One Contenders Match
The Prime Time Players vs. The Usos vs. Tons of Funk vs. The Real Americans vs. 3MB

It’s Tons of Funk vs. 3MB to start the match, with Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre representing 3MB. Slater and Brodus Clay start the match, but Clay quickly muscles Slater to the corner and makes the tag to Sweet T. Slater escapes and makes the tag to McIntyre as Sweet T slides out of the ring to catch a breather. McIntyre hits the ropes and hits an over the tope rope somersault senton to Sweet T on the outside. Seriously, when was the last time you saw that from McIntyre? The action heads back into the ring, but Sweet T quickly squishes McIntyre for the three count. SWEET T DEFEATS DREW MCINTYRE. The Real Americans are the third team to enter the match, and Antonio Cesaro starts off against Sweet T. Sweet T makes the tag to Clay, and Brodus hits a second rope splash for a two count. Swagger gets a blind tag, sneaks into the ring, and catches Clay in the Patriot Lock. Clay tries to make it to the ropes but eventually has no choice but to tap. JACK SWAGGER DEFEATS BRODUS CLAY. The Usos are the fourth team to enter the match. Cesaro and Swagger head to the outside, but the Usos fly over the top rope and take out both of their opponents. Cesaro and one of the Usos head back into the ring, and Cesaro quickly makes the tag to Swagger. Swagger and Cesaro deliver a double spinebuster for a two count. Cesaro quickly tags back into the match and stops on the legal Uso. Cesaro lock in a modified camel clutch and distracts the referee so that Swagger can land a cheap shot. We come back from a break to find the Usos in control. The legal Uso heads up top and flies at Swagger, but Swagger catches him with the Patriot Lock in mid-air and makes him tap. JACK SWAGGER DEFEATS ONE OF THE USOS. The Prime Time Players are the final team to enter the match. Swagger quickly catches O’Neil in the Patriot Lock, but Darren Young breaks the hold with a big boot. O’Neil makes the tag to Young, but Swagger quickly catches Young in the Patriot Lock. Young rolls through to break the hold and follows up with the Gut Check for the three count.

Match Result: Darren Young defeats Jack Swagger with the Gut Check.
Match Length: 11:14

WWE CEO Triple H makes his way down to the ring to open the show. He welcomes the live crowd to Night of Champions, and somebody in the truck forgot to switch off the Spanish Announce Team’s audio after their introduction, so we’re hearing them talking right over the boss. Awesome. That problem eventually gets resolved, and Triple H says that he knows what the people want is what’s best for business. Triple H promises that there will be no interference from anyone during the WWE Championship Match. No Shield, no Big Show, no one, just Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan one-on-one. So with that said… Are you ready? He said, ARE YOU READY FOR NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS? The show seems about to start, but suddenly Paul Heyman and Curtis Axel make their way down the ramp. Heyman has been trying to get in touch with Triple H, and he has a desperate need to speak with Triple H. He didn’t want it to be in public, in Triple H’s ring, face-to-face, but he has a real serious problem with what Triple H thinks is best for business. Triple H says that Heyman looks terrible. When was the last time he slept? When was the last time he showered?!?! He’s a wreck! Heyman respects and admires Triple H’s vision and leadership, but tonight he’s made one serious error in judgment by putting a middle-aged father of two in a match against CM Punk. CM Punk doesn’t just want to wrestle Heyman, he wants to hurt Heyman. He wants to give Heyman such a beating the Heyman will never be seen in WWE again. He’s begging Triple H to cancel the match against CM Punk. Triple H asks if Heyman’s fear has anything to do with the fact that the Handicap Elimination Match has been made a NO DISQUALIFICATION Handicap Elimination Match. Triple H also asks why Heyman is so scared, because he would have to reason to be scared if he truly believed Curtis Axel. Curtis Axel says that he knows the real reason that Triple H won’t cancel the match is that Triple H is still angry that Curtis Axel beat him back in May. Triple H says that Axel shouldn’t have poked the bear. This show is called Night of Champions, the night when EVERY Championship is on the line. So Triple H is going to book Curtis Axel in a match for the Intercontinental Championship Match against the first Superstar Triple H finds in the back. And that match… is next.

Intercontinental Championship Match
Curtis Axel (Champion) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Kofi Kingston

Kofi slides behind Axel and gets a rear waist lock, but Axel switches into a side head lock. Kofi counters into an overhead wrist lock, but Axel reverses into an overhead wrist lock of his own. Axel hits the ropes and drops Kingston with a running shoulder block. Axel goes for a kick to the gut, but Kingston catches his boot. Axel muscles Kingston into the corner and beats him down to the mat. Kingston swings Axel into the corner and goes to work with a volley of kicks, so Axel heads to the outside to catch a breather. Axel climbs up onto the ring apron and Kingston tries to suplex him over the top rope, but Axel lands on his feet behind Kingston. Kingston goes back to work with leg kicks, but Axel hits the ropes and lands a running drop kick. Axel whips Kingston out of the ring and follows him to the outside. Axel’s legs are clearly hurting from all of those leg kicks. Axel whips Kingston toward the ring steps, but Kingston uses the momentum to go all the way up top and connect with a flying splash to Axel on the outside. Kingston drags Axel back into the ring and gets a two count. Axel regains control and ties up Kingston in the tree of woe. Axel delivers a running shoulder block to Kingston’s gut for a two count of his own. Axel locks in a side head lock and drags Kingston down to the mat. Kingston rights back to his feet and breaks the hold, but Axel catches him with a belly-to-back throw for another two count. Axel wrenches Kingston’s neck, but Axel levels him with a clothesline for yet another two count. Axel steps on Kingston’s face, drags him back to his feet, and connects with a snap mare takedown. Axel goes back to the side head lock, but Kingston gets back to his vertical base. Kingston hits an DDT / arm breaker combination, and both men struggle to get back to their feet. Kingston levels Axel with a drop kick, but Axel regains control with a kick to the gut. Kingston heads up top and lands a top rope flying splash for a two count. Kingston hits the Boom Drop and sets up for the Trouble in Paradise. Axel ducks Trouble in Paradise and muscles Kingston to the corner. Kingston catches Axel with a kick to the head and heads up top, but Axel catches him with a standing drop kick to the gut in mid-air for a two count. Axel goes for another belly-to-back throw, but Kingston floats over and gets a quick rollup for a two count. Kingston goes for the SOS, but Axel tries to counter into the Hangman’s Neckbreaker, but Kingston counters into the SOS for a LOOONG two count. Kingston goes to work with kick to the body and arms, but Axel drops him onto the top rope. Axel follows up with the hangman’s neckbreaker for the three count.

Match Result: Curtis Axel defeats Kofi Kingston with the Hangman’s Neckbreaker.
Match Length: 13:56

Fatal 4-Way Divas Championship Match
AJ Lee (Champion) vs. Natalya vs. Brie Bella vs. Naomi

The match begins, and AJ immediately flees the ring. Natalya, Brie, and Naomi chase her out of the ring and take turns tossing her into the barrier. Natalya rolls AJ back into the ring, but Brie knocks her right back out of the ring with a knee to the temple. Brie levels Natalya and Naomi with a double clothesline. Natalya rolls to the ring apron, but Brie knocks her down to the arena floor. Brie whips Naomi to the corner and charges after her. Naomi puts on the brakes and goes for a back elbow shot, but in the process she and Naomi collide head-to-head. Natalya slides back into the ring and gets a quick rollup on Brie for a two count. Naomi heads up top and goes for a top rope flying splash on Brie, but Brie slides out of the way, causing Naomi to crash to the mat. AJ climbs up onto the ring apron, but Natalya knocks her down to the arena floor. Natalya follows up with a suplex to Brie and clothesline to Naomi. Natalya slams Brie onto Naomi and locks in a DOUBLE SHARPSHOOTER ON NAOMI AND BRIE!!! That was awesome. AJ rushes the ring to break the hold and follows up by locking in the Black Widow on Natalya. Natalya tries to fight out of the hold, but eventually she has no choice but to tap.

Match Result: AJ Lee defeats Natalya with the Black Widow.
Match Length: 5:40

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

Del Rio hits the ropes and immediately drops Van Dam with a running shoulder block. Van Dam regains control with a monkey flip out of the corner, but Del Rio retaliates with a drop kick to the side of the head. Van Dam whips Del Rio to the outside and connects with a moonsault to the outside. Van Dam drop Del Rio onto the barrier and hits his patented spinning leg drop off the ring apron. Van Dam heads back into the ring as Del Rio climbs up onto the ring apron. Del Rio bounces Van Dam off the top rope and to the outside. Del Rio follows up with a suicide dive to Van Dam on the outside. Del Rio whips Van Dam into the barrier before rolling him back into the ring. Van Dam connects with a sunset flip for a two count, but Del Rio takes control with a stiff kick to the back. Del Rio chokes Van Dam against the bottom rope and hits a stiff kick to the back of the head for a two count. Del Rio locks in a rear chin lock, but Van Dam fights back to his feet. Van Dam comes close to breaking the hold, but Del Rio delivers a back suplex for another two count. Del Rio kicks Van Dam off the ring apron and goes for another suicide dive, but this time Van Dam slides out of the way. Van Dam rolls Del Rio back into the ring and lands a thrust kick for a two count. Van Dam connects with a springboard thrust kick for another two count. Van Dam heads all the way up top and lands a top rope flying thrust kick. Van Dam goes for Rolling Thunder, but Del Rio counters into a rollup for a two count. Del Rio traps Van Dam in the corner and goes to work with short forearm shots to the lower back. Del Rio takes Van Dam up top and goes for the inverted superplex, but Van Dam pushes Del Rio back down to the mat. Van Dam looks for the Five Star Frog Splash, but Del Rio gets back to his feet, so Van Dam opts for a top rope somersault senton for a two count. Van Dam hits the ropes and charges at Del Rio, but Del Rio catches him with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker. Del Rio stops on Van Dam’s back and gets a two count. Both men get back to their feet, and Van Dam find the leg scissors rollup for a two count. Van Dam hits the split-leg moonsault for another two count. Del Rio regains control with a Code Breaker to Van Dam’s arm. Del Rio lands a STIFF kick to the head for a two count of his own. Del Rio heads up top and flies at Van Dam, but Van Dam connects with a spinning back heel kick to the chin in mid-air. Van Dam goes for the Five Star Frog Splash, but Del Rio gets the knees up. Del Rio locks in the Cross Armbreaker, but Van Dam miraculously it to the ropes. The referee calls for the break, but Del Rio refuses to break the hold. The referee reaches a count of five and has no choice but to disqualify Del Rio.

Match Result: Rob Van Dam defeats Alberto Del Rio via disqualification.
Match Length: 13:07

After the match, Del Rio continues to attach Van Dam. Ricardo grabs a chair and rushes into the ring to make the save for Van Dam. Van Dam sets up Del Rio in the corner, Ricardo holds the chair, and VAN DAM HITS THE VAN TERMINATOR.

Impromptu Match
The Miz vs. Fandango w/ Summer Rae

Miz muscles Fandango to the corner, but Fandango shoves him back to the middle of the ring and… um… dances in his general direction. Miz catches Fandango with a hip toss and follows up with his patented corner clothesline. Miz heads up top, but Summer Rae distracts him long enough for Fandango to pull Miz off the top. Fandango connect with a running knee to the gut that turns Miz inside out. Fandango whips Miz chest-first to the corner and gest a two count off the rebound. Fandango goes for a back suplex, but Miz floats over and land on his feet. Miz whips Fandango to the outside and follows up with a drop kick between the first and second ropes. Miz heads out onto the ring apron and goes for a double ax handle, but Fandango catches him with a standing drop kick in mid-air. Fandango rolls Miz back into the ring, but Miz regains control with an inverted atomic drop and a Big Boot. Miz sets up for the Figure Four Leg Lock, but Fandango kicks him away. “We want tables! We want tables! We want tables!” Miz looks for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Fandango counters into a suplex. Fandango whips Miz shoulder-first into the ring post and gets a crucifix pin for a two count. Miz locks in the Figure Four Leg Lock and gets the submission.

Match Result: The Miz defeats Fandango with the Figure Four Leg Lock.
Match Length: 7:49

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

Punk and Axel start the match. Remember, Axel has already wrestled in an Intercontinental Championship Match earlier tonight. Punk and Axel both head into the ring armed with kendo sticks. Punk beats Axel down to the mat and connects with a suicide dive to Heyman on the outside. Punk drags Heyman into the ring and prepares to dismember him, but Axel saves the day with a low blow to Punk. Axel grabs one of the two kendo sticks in the ring and delivers two brutal shots to Punk’s back for a two count. “Walrus! Walrus! Walrus!” Axel retrieves a steel chair from under the ring and heads back into the ring, but Punk kicks the chair out of Axel’s hands. Punk grabs the chair and heads for Axel, but Axel catches him with a gorgeous standing drop kick. “We want tables! We want tables! We want tables!” Punk connects with a volley of chops to the chest, but Axel lands a clothesline to the back of the head for a two count. Axel must have been listening to the crowd, because grabs a table from under the ring and sets it up in the corner. Axel goes for a suplex through the table, but Punk counters and tries to suplex Axel through the table, but Axel counters and suplexes Punk to the middle of the ring (but not through the table). Axel heads up top and goes for a double ax handle, but Punk rolls out of the way. Axel charges at Punk, but Punk sidesteps him, causing Axel to slam shoulder-first into the chair that was set up in the corner. Punk goes for a suicide dive to the outside, but Axel grabs the chair and connects with Punk in mid-air. Axel rolls Punk back into the ring and hits a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Axel grabs a kendo stick and ruthlessly beats on Punk for yet another two count. Punk goes for the Go To Sleep, but Axel floats over and pushes Punk away. Punk grabs the kendo stick and connects with a shot to the gut. Punk hits the Go To Sleep, locks in the Anaconda Vice, and makes Axel tap. Time for Heyman! Heyman tries to run, but Punk chases him around ringside and into the ring. Heyman tries to hug it out with Punk, but Punk shoves him away and goes to work with the kendo stick. Punk calls for the Go To Sleep… AND PULLS A PAIR OF HANDCUFFS OUT OF HIS BOOT! Punk handcuffs Heyman’s arms behind his back and goes to work with kendo stick shots to both ankles. Hobble him! Punk delivers even more kendo stick shots to the gut and… um… lower gut, if you know what I mean. “Just remember, I did this to you!” – CM Punk. “I broke your heart? I’m gonna break your face, too!” – CM Punk. Punk prepares to remove Heyman’s face with the kendo stick, but suddenly RYBACK APPEARS AND DRIVES PUNK THROUGH THE TABLE! Ryback pulls Heyman on top of Punk for the three count.

Match Result: Paul Heyman defeats CM Punk after Ryback drives Punk through a table.
Match Length: 15:22

Punk has a nasty gash on his back, presumably from going through the table.

United States Championship Match
Dean Ambrose (Champion) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler starts the match with a rear waist lock, but Ambrose makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Ambrose takes Ziggler down to the mat with a hammer lock, but Ziggler fights back to his feet and breaks the hold. Ambrose does Ziggler’s patented hair flick, so Ziggler drop kicks him in the face. Ziggler hits the rapid fire elbow drops and clotheslines Ambrose over the top rope to the outside. Ziggler rolls Ambrose back into the ring, but Ambrose traps him against the ropes and peppers him with shots to the gut. Ambrose whips Ziggler to the ropes and hits a spinebuster for a two count. Ambrose locks in a modified camel clutch and grinds Ziggler’s face into the mat. Ziggler breaks the hold and gets a sunset flip for a two count. Ambrose goes for a suplex, but Ziggler floats over and lands on his feet. Ziggler heads up top, but Ambrose follows him up and hits a gorgeous butterfly superplex for a two count. Ambrose heads up top, but Ziggler springs up after him and connects with a top rope X-factor for a two count of his own. Ziggler levels Ambrose with a clothesline for yet another two count. Ziggler locks in a standing sleeper hold, but Ambrose counters into a side suplex for a two count. Ambrose goes for a drop kick, but Ziggler catches the legs and counters into a jackknife pin for a two count. Ziggler hits the Fameasser, but Ambrose grabs the ropes to prevent the three count. Ambrose goes for the Headlock Driver, but Ziggler counters into a rollup for a two count. Ambrose springs back to his feet, and this time he connects with the Headlock Driver for the three count.

Match Result: Dean Ambrose defeats Dolph Ziggler with the Headlock Driver.
Match Length: 9:37

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
The Shield vs. The Prime Time Players

Roman Reigns and Darren Young start the match, but Seth Rollins quickly gets the blind tag. Young whips Reigns out of the ring and levels Rollins with a spinning elbow shot. Young whips Rollins to the corner and makes the tag to Titus O’Neil. Reigns rushes into the ring and tries to make the save, but O’Neil and Young connect with a double clothesline to knock him back out of the ring. Young gets the tag, but the distraction from Reigns allows Rollins to regain control and make the tag to Reigns. Reigns whips Young out of the ring, drapes him across the ring apron, and connects with a stiff knee shot to the chest. Reigns rolls Young back into the middle of the ring and makes the tag to Rollins. Rollins charges at Young, but Young catches him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Young tries to make the tag to O’Neil, but Rollins makes the tag to Reigns first. Reigns pulls Young back to the Shield’s corner and makes the quick tag back to Rollins. Young escapes and FINALLY makes the tag to O’Neil. O’Neil goes for a fall away slam, but Rollins lands on his feet and connect with a kick to the head. Young tries to prevent Reigns from entering the ring, but the referee tries to get Young back out of the ring. Young’s inadvertent distraction of the referee allows Reigns to spear O’Neil. Rollins covers O’Neil and gets the three count.

Match Result: Seth Rollins defeats Titus O’Neil after a spear from Roman Reigns.
Match Length: 6:59

WWE Championship Match
Randy Orton (Champion) vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan muscles Orton to the corner to start, but the referee calls for a clean break. Bryan and Orton return to the middle of the ring, and Orton connects with a head butt. Orton hits a side headlock takedown and maintains the hold on the mat, but Bryan eventually breaks the hold and gets back to his feet. Bryan lands a knee to the gut, wrenches on Orton’s left arm, and goes to work with kicks to the body and arm. Bryan traps Orton in the corner and goes to work with mounted punches, but Orton slides out the bottom and hits a second rope version of his patented backbreaker. Orton grinds his forearm into Bryan’s face on the mat and then stomps on Bryan’s hand. Orton stomps on Bryan’s ankle, but Bryan fights back to his feet. Orton and Bryan slug it out in the middle of the ring, but Orton drops Bryan gut-first onto the top rope for a two count. Orton gets back to his feet, catches Orton with a double leg takedown, and goes to work with the ground and pound. Orton eventually escapes and goes back to the Garvin stomp for another two count. Orton whips Bryan to the corner, but Bryan runs the ropes and flips over Orton. Bryan hits the ropes and levels Orton with a clothesline. Orton gets to his feet in the corner, but Bryan connects with a running drop kick in the corner. Byran hits another running drop kick in the corner, takes Orton up top, and hits a top rope hurricanrana. Orton rolls out of the ring, but Bryan connects with a suicide dive to the outside. Bryan rolls Orton back into the ring, heads up top, and connects with a tope rope missile drop kick. Orton again rolls out of the ring, so Bryan delivers another suicide dive to the outside. Bryan rolls Orton into the ring once again, and Orton immediately rolls to the outside. Bryan goes for a third suicide dive, but Orton had it scouted and levels him with a forearm shot to the face in mid-air. Orton sets Bryan on the ring apron and delivers an apron-assisted DDT onto the arena floor. Orton and Bryan both roll back into the ring, but Bryan is in rough shape. Orton sets up for the RKO, but Bryan counters into a drop kick that causes Orton to inadvertently knock the referee out of the ring. Bryan goes for the Yes Lock as a second referee makes his way to the ring. Orton counters the Yes Lock attempt into a power slam for a two count. Orton goes for the rope-assisted DDT, but Bryan counters into the Yes Lock. Orton barely makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Bryan goes for another corner drop kick, but Orton slides out of the way, causing Bryan to bounce out of the corner. Orton is really selling the damage to his left arm from the Yes Lock. Orton takes Bryan up top and goes for a top rope superplex, but Bryan slides out the bottom and crotches Orton on the top turnbuckle. Bryan ties up Orton in the tree of woe and connects with a running drop kick. Bryan takes Orton up top and goes for a top rope belly-to-back suplex, but Orton knocks him back down to the mat. Bryan heads back up top once again, and hits a gorgeous spider suplex. Bryan heads all the way up and hits the Benoit flying head butt for a LOOONG two count. The first referee comes back to life, so the second referee leaves the ring. Bryan gets back to his feet and goes to work with kicks to the chest. Bryan goes for a big kick to the head, but Orton counters into a suplex. Orton goes for the RKO, but Bryan counters into a backslide pin, but Orton rolls through. Bryan gets back to his feet, connects with a vicious running knee to the face, and get the three count. However, that three count looked a little fast. Was the first referee still a little groggy from being knocked out earlier in the match?

Match Result: Daniel Bryan defeats Randy Orton with a running knee to the face.
Match Length: 17:38