Mark Henry def. Randy Orton (New World Heavyweight Champion)
BUFFALO, N.Y. – After 15 years in WWE, Mark Henry finally dominated his way into greatness, capturing his first World Heavyweight Championship in a clash of pure brutality with Randy Orton at Night of Champions. (PHOTOS)
Though Mark Henry was destined to make history when the smoke cleared, his grueling championship showdown with the incomparable Randy Orton proved nothing short of all-out mutual destruction from the word go. The Viper’s quick, calculated intensity and unending heart allowed him to dish out incredible damage to his incensed No. 1 contender. Henry’s powerful fury and unrelenting strength answered back with an unspeakable amount of punishment on the nine-time World Champion. However, when all was said and done, it was just a question of fate. Following a crippling kick to Orton’s leg, Henry avoided the RKO, hitting his wounded prey with the World’s Strongest Slam to earn a victory a decade and a half in the making.
Just moments after the biggest triumph of his career, the new World Heavyweight Champion refused to share his triumph with anyone, welcomed the WWE
Universe to his “Hall of Pain” and informed all the “doubters” and “haters” that he will be the most dominant champion ever. For months now, an enraged Henry has been busy, filling his infamous “Hall of Pain” with a list of victims that included Kane, Big Show, Sheamus and any other unfortunate soul who has gotten in his way. However, once he became the No. 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Title in a 20-Man Battle Royal on SmackDown (WATCH), The World's Strongest Man turned even more vicious, relentless and focused in his brutal path of destruction. And the focal point was WWE’s Apex Predator. The furious Superstar took down The Viper moments after Orton’s Steel Cage World Title victory over Christian on a live SuperSmackDown Aug. 30 (WATCH), repeated his onslaught 10 days later on SmackDown and then again in the midst of massive mayhem that followed “The Cutting Edge.” (WATCH) Despite the incredible list of credits to Randy Orton’s name, the irate grappler destined to rip the World Title from his grasp possesses both the rage and experience to become one of the most dominant World Heavyweight Champions in WWE history. Does the The Viper have what it takes to knock this uncontrollable force of nature off the top of mountain? Find out this Friday on SmackDown at 8/7 CT on Syfy.
Divas Champion Kelly Kelly def. Beth Phoenix
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Kelly Kelly defeated Beth Phoenix at Night of Champions to retain the Divas Championship, proving once again she’s not just a pretty face, but a fierce opponent. It was her second consecutive pay-per-view victory and successful title defense against The Glamazon, which was no small task. (PHOTOS)
“Competing against Beth in her hometown was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my entire life. As soon as I walked through that curtain, I knew the WWE Universe would be on Beth’s side. So I just had to block everybody out. I was in this to win it,” Kelly Kelly
told WWE.com after the match.With her big victory on a night where every championship was on the line, Kelly Kelly was out to show that she’s not the “cute, perky blond bimbo” whose days were numbered, as Beth has described. (WATCH: BETH'S POST-MATCH REACTION)
“I tuned everybody out and showed a side of me no one has ever seen before. I wanted to show people I am not giving up. I proved I am not just a pretty face,” the Divas Champion said.
During the hard-fought match, Beth took her opponent down with an extraordinary suplex off the top rope and nearly pinned her, but Kelly Kelly kicked out just before the three-count. Beth’s hometown crowd was behind her as she almost Glam Slammed her way to a win, but Kelly Kelly reversed the finisher and rolled up The Glamazon for the victory.
“After this match tonight, I hope I’ve proved some people wrong. We’re trying to step up in the Divas division, show that we’re not just pretty faces. I felt like I proved that tonight,” Kelly Kelly said. “I am proving it for all the models out there, who do believe in a dream. This is my dream to be Divas Champion, and I am proving it.”
Earlier this summer, The Glamazon and Natalya made it clear they were determined to change the very face of the Divas division, wiping out its “Cinderellas” and capturing the title for themselves. Despite her impressive stature and unparalleled strength in the ring, Beth couldn’t claim the butterfly-emblazoned title in front of her hometown crowd at Night of Champions, thanks to Kelly Kelly.
With two impressive victories over Beth, has Kelly Kelly finally proven to not only her fellow Divas, but the WWE Universe, that she is worthy of continuing her title reign? Or will Beth and Natalya continue their quest not only for the Divas Championship, but to change the face of the division?
“The sky is the limit for me,” Kelly Kelly said with confidence. “I am holding on to my Divas Championship. Whoever wants to step up next, I’ll prove them wrong, too. I plan to keep this as long as I can.”
