WWE Night of Champions PPV Results
September 15, 2013
Detroit, Mich.
Report by James Caldwell (@JCTorch), PWTorch assistant editor

Third Hour PPV Results

In-ring: The Shield came through the crowd to set up the U.S. Title match next. Cole name-dropped Sting as a former U.S. champion before Dolph Ziggler was introduced to challenge Dean Ambrose for the title.

6 -- U.S. champion DEAN AMBROSE vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER -- United States Title match

Ambrose taunted Ziggler early on, so Ziggler responded with his crowd-pleasing ten elbow drops. During the elbow drops, JBL brought up Jerry Lawler's heart attack, which Lawler said on the PWTorch Livecast a few months ago that he believes was partially caused by Ziggler's elbow drops during a match that occurred an hour or so before the heart attack.

Ambrose and Ziggler battled up-top, where Ambrose executed a top-rope suplex for a nearfall. Ambrose then cockily climbed to the top turnbuckle, giving Ziggler enough time to spring to his feet and deliver a super X-Factor from the top rope for a nearfall. Ziggler followed up with ten punches in the corner before clotheslining Ambrose for a two count.

At 9:00, Ambrose rolled to the floor, so Ziggler dragged him back into the ring. But, Ambrose caught Ziggler on the way into the ring to deliver a facebuster aided by a handful of hair. Ambrose rolled over a KO'ed Ziggler and pinned him to retain the U.S. Title.

WINNER: Ambrose at 9:43 to retain the U.S. Title. The match never really moved out of first gear. Plus, the match seemed to be hurt by Ziggler being emasculated on TV and The Shield suddenly being affiliated with The Corporation on TV, removing their rebellious factor. (**)

Poll Reveal: Sting won a vote of the greatest U.S. champion of all-time with 53 percent. Interesting.

In-ring: After Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns entered the ring to join Ambrose, Prime Time Players came out to challenge for the Tag Titles.

7 -- THE SHIELD (DEAN AMBROSE & SETH ROLLINS) vs. PRIME TIME PLAYERS (DARREN YOUNG & TITUS O'NEIL) -- WWE Tag Title match

The Players took control in the opening minutes, including Titus doing his bit landing corner stomps in-between whistle blows. Shield regrouped on the outside before taking control of D-Young back in the ring. Shield cut off D-Young, but Young eventually reached his corner to tag in Titus. Enter Titus, who ran over Rollins with a power move for a close two count.

Titus tried to follow with an overhead slam, but Rollins landed on his feet and kicked Titus in the head. Chaos broke out in and out of the ring, then Titus hit Clash of the Titus on Rollins, but Reigns made the save. Reigns then blasted Titus with a spear out of nowhere for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Shield at 7:24 to retain the Tag Titles. The timing isn't right for Shield to lose their titles, but WWE hasn't given the audience much to cheer for tonight. (**)

Earlier Tonight: Ryback helped Paul Heyman defeat C.M. Punk. On-camera, the announcers hyped DX (Shawn Michaels & Triple H) winning a poll on the Best Tag Team in history. Okay. Obviously, the deal was to plant seeds for Michaels's TV return as part of the Triple H Power Trip storyline.

Video Package: Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton, complete with Hunter trying to hold down Bryan because he's not the right "corporate image for WWE."

In-ring: Back in the arena, Daniel Bryan's music played to a loud reaction. The crowd jumped to their feet for a round of "Yes!" chants as Bryan marched down to the ring. Once in the ring, Bryan warmed up and acknowledged a "Daniel Bryan" chant before Randy Orton's music played. With 30 minutes until the top of the hour, the WWE champion took his time walking to the ring as Bryan waited and paced.

Once Champ and Challenger were in the ring, Justin Roberts handled formal ring introductions. Loud "Yes!" chants followed Bryan's introduction.

8 -- WWE champion RANDY ORTON vs. DANIEL BRYAN WWE Title match -- Shield and Big Show banned from ringside

A little feeling-out process before Orton and Bryan traded offense. Bryan then delivered consecutive kick strikes to the back, followed by consecutive "Yes!" punches in the corner. Orton absorbed and came back with sustained offense, including a Garvin Stomp. Orton wanted a hard corner whip, but Bryan flipped over Orton to escape. Bryan delivered trademark "Yes!" offense before snapping off a top-rope huracanrana.

Orton rolled to the outside to escape, but Bryan took it to him with a flying splash. Bryan rolled Orton out of the ring, then hit a top-rope missile dropkick, so Orton rolled to the outside again. Bryan again flew at him with a big splash, then rolled Orton into the ring. Orton again rolled to the outside, Bryan again tried a flying splash, but this time Orton caught him with a forearm to the face. Orton then draped Bryan over the bottom rope with Bryan hanging over the ring padding and delivered a snap DDT onto the floor.

Following the DDT, Bryan barely made it back into the ring before a ten-count. Orton then mocked Bryan's "Yes!" chants before entering RKO mode, but Bryan shoved him into the ropes. Bryan followed with a dropkick that sent Orton flying into referee Scott Armstrong, who was bumped to the outside. A few moments later, referee John Cone hit the ring to continue the match for Armstrong.

Suddenly, Bryan slapped on the Yes! Lock center-ring. Orton's eyes bugged out as he tried to find an escape, then he eventually dragged himself to the bottom rope for a rope-break to escape the hold. Bryan followed up with Yes! kicks to the body before airballing a corner dropkick attempt. Orton then took Bryan to the top turnbuckle for an Orton Family Superplex, but Bryan slipped underneath Orton and hung him upside down in the corner. Bryan followed with Yes! kicks as Orton hung upside down before delivering a flying dropkick. Bryan then wanted a top-rope suplex, he connected, Bryan hung onto the corner turnbuckle, he flipped to the top turnbuckle, and nailed a diving headbutt across the ring for a close two count.

At 16:00, ref Scott Armstrong slipped back into the ring to resume his role as referee for the match. Interesting exchange with ref John Cone. After a reset, Bryan went for Yes! Kicks, but Orton absorbed and suplexed Bryan on his shoulder. Bryan sold a shoulder injury as Orton stalked him for the RKO, but Bryan ducked and kicked Orton in the face. Bryan followed with his running knee smash to the face and Armstrong counted an awkward three for the win. Bryan is WWE champion.

Post-match: Bryan accepted the WWE Title belt and stood over Orton. Bryan then celebrated in the corner as Cole noted that Bryan has defeated the hand-picked WWE champion, Orton. A replay of the finish showed Armstrong counting one normally, two very quickly, and three normally, which will probably lead to a follow-up on Raw related to Armstrong "not having all of his faculties" after being bumped and checked on by the ringside medic.

On the way out, Bryan celebrated with the title as the audience seemed to have one eye on celebrating with Bryan and one eye on whether Triple H will come out. It was a very tempered celebration one month removed from the rug being pulled out from under Bryan and his fans at Summerslam. Bryan hit the stage and celebrated with the title belt as the PPV ended at 10:54 p.m. EST.

WINNER: Daniel Bryan at 17:33 to capture the WWE Title. Acceptable PPV main event, but not strong enough to push this PPV out of Thumbs Down territory. Bryan's title victory came across anti-climatic considering it was early in his journey to regain the title after having it taken away at Summerslam and there was a sense of waiting for Triple H to come out and nullify the outcome. (***)

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