CHICAGO – Like a snake lingering in high grass, Randy Orton waited, biding his time, until, finally, the moment arrived. He plunged his ever-dangerous fangs deep into the hearts of his opponents and, once again, coiled himself around the WWE Championship.
In the Six Pack Elimination Challenge at Night of Champions, The Viper used those fangs to slither past five of WWE’s most impressive Superstars – Sheamus,John Cena, Edge, Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett – en route to the coveted WWE Championship. (PHOTOS |THE VIPER'S LEGACY)
Orton’s path to the title was hardly without obstacle. According to the rules of the Six Pack Elimination Challenge, a sextet of Superstars swarm the ring, with eliminations decided via pinfall or submission. The winner remains the last competitor standing.
During the contest, Chris Jericho was quickly eliminated by Orton with Edge following him out a while later thanks to an Attitude Adjustment from Cena. With the elimination of two Superstars, only Sheamus, Cena, Barrett and Orton remained.
Since the contest stipulations include no disqualifications, The Nexus, not surprisingly, took full advantage. With their leader struggling to oust fellow competitors, the armbanded cavalry – Justin Gabriel,David Otunga, Heath Slater and Michael Tarver – disrupted the proceedings, distracting the oft-targeted Cena. The distraction allowed Barrett to hit the Wasteland on Cena and pin him just before the English overlord himself fell victim to an RKO from Orton and was eliminated.
And then there were two. WWE’s Apex Predator and The Celtic Warrior have a sordid history with one another. Last month at SummerSlam, Sheamus retained his title over Orton, but only after losing via disqualification. In the Six Pack Elimination Challenge, however, there would be no stipulation in which to seek sanctuary. Instead, The Viper would leverage the momentum and intimidation he has amassed the past several weeks. With in his eyes narrowed and cunning, Orton struck, devastating Sheamus with a victory clinching RKO.
And with that, The Viper coiled around the WWE Championship for the sixth time in his career, solidifying his legacy in the same arena where he had secured his very first WWE Title, and ensuring that a host of Superstars will be just itching to skin him.
CHICAGO – Michelle McCool made Divas history at Night of Champions
, defeating Melina to unify the Divas and Women’s Championships. Becoming the first Unified Divas Champion was an achievement Michelle accomplished with the help of her loyal best friend,Layla. Match photos
With every Diva participating at ringside as a lumberjill for this historic match, Michelle was forced to fight Melina on her own at first. Layla initially refused to assist her best friend after Michelle tricked her two nights earlier on SmackDown. But Friday night’s rift was all a ruse. Layla stepped in to help Michelle when she needed it most, allowing Michelle to pin Melina for the victory. Now, Lay-Cool – the Divas’ division true queens of mean – reign supreme with the Unified Divas Championship.
Before Night of Champions, Michelle held the Women’s Title twice and was the first-ever Divas Champion, holding that title once. She’s the first-ever Diva to claim both. The Women’s Championship is WWE’s oldest, as it was established in 1956 and first held by The Fabulous Moolah for 28 years. The Women’s Title was instated seven years before the WWE Title was formed. Michelle made WWE Divas history by unifying the titles, becoming the first-ever Unified Divas Champion at Night of Champions.
More than a month earlier, Melina made a triumphant return at SummerSlam to claim the Divas Title. But Lay-Cool tormented Melina from the start, challenging her to a Unification Match at Night of Champions. Melina accepted, but under her terms – that all of the Divas act as lumberjills at ringside – making the fight as fair as possible. But the lumberjills weren’t enough for the Latina Lovely to trump the “mean girls.”
Melina’s opponent was determined just two days before Night of Champions by the “flawless” plan of pulling a name out of a hat. The first draw by Kaval – Michelle – earned the right to fight at Night of Champions. Michelle promised to win for herself and her devoted friend. But Layla and the WWE NXT season two winner soon discovered all of the names in that hat read “Michelle.” A shocked Layla vowed that her bestie would stand alone at Night of Champions – a promise that was all a clever ruse.
Thanks to the ever-loyal Layla’s help, Michelle has unified the Divas and Women’s Championship to become to the Unified Divas Champion. Lay-Cool has opened a new chapter in WWE Divas history with a moment that will never be forgotten. Now that’s “real talk.”
