Night of Champions 2012

The actual longest reigning WWE champion Bruno Sammartino (WWE champion from 1963-1971)

Nice intro video highlighting the Punk/Cena confrontation focusing on respect. Punk should be happy: he actually might be the main event for once in his WWE championship reign! Michael Cole begins with an empty seat and gives us the run down of the 15 minutes of Jerry Lawler nearly dying. JBL makes his way out to replace him as colour commentator looking fit and as smug as ever. A good choice by WWE and should be entertaining.

Intercontinental Championship: The Miz vs Sin Cara vs Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes (Fatal 4 Way)

Really? Really? Really? Miz takes the opportunity to have a whinge about his fatal 4 way match and give notice of his official complaint. Mysterio doesn’t think the Miz is awesome so he interrupts with his own entrance sporting a pink Lawler tribute shirt. JBL is staring on heel commentary already defending the unfair situation facing the Miz. No ablo espano, thank you Spanish commentary team.

The match starts off more like a tag match with the Americans taking on the Mexicans. Sin Cara makes some sloppy looking moves during an attempted double team by Miz/Rhodes. Cara and Mysterio face off with some slow looking luche libre style moves. The Americans take turns at beating up on the Mexicans before taking on each other. Mysterio and Cara get near falls with roll ups while JBL talks up Miz’s main event credentials. Rhodes pounces after Mysterio is taken out on the top rope by Cara. Then the Miz powerbombs Rhodes as he superplexes Rhodes off the top rope. Miz takes control until Mysterio slides out of the ring. Rhodes is beaten up on the ring furniture by Mysterio as Cara gets a 2 count after a corkscrew  elbow on the Miz. Rhodes breaks up a Mysterio pin and then beats up on Mysterio and Cara. Rhodes and Miz set up for a double 619 but only the Miz is hit. Mysterio is pulled off a certain 3 count by Rhodes who then is kicked off by Cara on the still unmoving Miz. Cara tries to put a mask on Rhodes and allows Miz to regain control. Sin Cara puts the mask on the Miz while Rhodes attacks Sin Cara. A blinded Miz then lands the skull crushing on Rhodes (unseen?) to pick up the win.

Winner: The Miz

A good match to help rebuild the Miz. JBL did a good job of building the Miz during the match and he eventually got the win. The issue with Rhodes/Miz trying to take the mask off the Mexicans is so tired it need not be repeated. However, the ending to the match was ok and should lead to a good Rhodes/Miz feud. It also builds up to the mask match at Wrestlemania.

The Prime Time players whinging about a lack of tag action and try to prove their point by doing a whistle dance. Kaitlyn has been attacked from behind! The Divas title match is off or is it?

Tag Team Championship: Kofi Kingston/R-Truth vs Daniel Bryan/Kane

Daniel Bryan practices anger management as the crowd welcomes him out with his Yes! chant. Kane is out next with his freaky mask as he and Bryan resolve some issues in the ring. Next out is the tag champions to Kofi Kingston’s music. JBL claims R-Truth is the one that needs treatment not Bryan. Kane and Kofi start off and take control but Kane eventually over powers Truth. Cole recounts some of the form tag champs including the Basham Brothers (minus mentions of the whip). Friendlier tags between Bryan and Kane as Bryan kicks the life out of Truth. Double team allows Kane to lock a chin lock on Truth. Bryan misses an attempted double team by Kane and the two start fighting. Crowd start chanting hug it out but slaps seem the order of the day. Bryan is now willing to hug it out: he seems very keen and Kane seems willing. They hug it out just as Truth gets back into the ring. Hot tag to Kingston as he unloads on Bryan. Boom drop as he sets Bryan up for trouble in paradise but Kane drags him out of the ring. The two start fighting again and Bryan puts on the no lock in the ring after a missed dive by Kofi. Kane tags himself back in and Kane nearly gets hit by a hurricanrana but Bryan blocks it. Bryan pushes Kane onto the prone Kingston and they get the 3.

Winner: KBry (new tag champions)

The two argue about who are the actual champions in the middle of the ring as Kane’s pyro goes off. Bryan celebrates in the ring after an entertaining match. Great to see them hug it out during the middle of the match and it was a nice nod to their RAW match previously.

Kaitlyn can’t wrestle tonight... oh dear! Eve is angling for a match I think. Booker T points out that she has been doing a great job and has a singles win over Kaitlyn. Eve puts herself out and takes one for the company by competing. Teddy looks concerned.

US Championship: Antonio Cesaro vs Zack Ryder

Cesaro is out first also complaining about his match (it seems to be a theme tonight). Oksana introduces the multilingual champion and he says unfair 5 times! Ryder is out next minus headband. It seems Tensai can’t even win a battle royal as they show Ryder’s win in the pre-show. Cesaro takes Ryder down early but Ryder hits back with a drop kick. JBL likes everything about Cesaro including Oksana. Cesaro is putting on a wrestling clinic with his throws, suplexes and submissions. Mid air uppercut only gets a 2 count as he continues to beat up on Ryder. Oksana is lounging on the ring apron luxuriously. Ryder mounts some quick offense and scores a 2 count with a missile drop kick and then again with a neck breaker. Let’s go Ryder chant. Hurricanrana on Cesaro from the top rope but Oksana blocks the Brosky boot. The distraction allows Cesaro to hit the neutraliser on Ryder to retain the title.

Winner: Antonio Cesaro

Nice match for Ryder to show why he deserves to be on PPV while also promoting Cesaro. Oksana is working well as a manager and is much better without Santino.

Ricardo is getting a grilling for taking off his neck brace. Otunga reminds him of the so called law suit. Does WWE really believe we couldn’t see through this rouse to start off with? Why not just let ADR and Sheamus fight without the stupid premise.

Randy Orton vs Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler is out first with Miss Excuse Me. I hear voices in my head too Randy but I don’t sing about it or use them as an excuse to hurt people. Orton is looking smug/unconcerned as he comes out which is odd. I wonder if he really wants to be here tonight? JBL talks up Orton’s heritage. Collar and elbow tie up around the ring. Randy starts stomping on Ziggler and follows with some upper cuts. Drop kick by Ziggler for a 2 count. Neck breaker on Orton as JBL calls Cole sexist for saying Vicky is “vocal”. Orton reverses a suplex into a springboard suplex for a 2 count. Vintage Orton neck breaker, shots and a running power slam. Dolph slips out of the DDT and turns it into a 2 count roll up. Orton counters with a powerbomb for a 2 count. Dolph knocks Orton off the top rope attempting a superplex. Missile drop kick for a 2 count on Orton. Vicky is going nuts on the outside claiming it was a 3. The two exchange bombs before Ziggler hands Orton up on the top rope and gets a 2 count. Ziggler elbows to the prone Orton and gets another 2 count. Ziggler uses his headstand rear neck and choke and bridges it to add extra pressure. Cole has become a face commentator over night defending the Ortons of this world. Orton uses a back suplex to create separation. Clothesline by Ziggler for another 2. JBL is commenting on Dolph’s relaxed cover while head butts and a drop kick by Orton on Ziggler. Ziggler hits a DDT from nowhere for another near fall. Orton crotches Ziggler on the top rope before finally hitting his superplex but he only gets a 2 count. The 2 exchange bombs and Dolph shows his toughness by matching Orton shot for shot. Ziggler hits the zigzag but only a 2 count. Vicky is livid! Orton launches Ziggler into the barricades at short range after another attempted second rope DDT. Orton sets Dolph up for the DDT from the barricade. Ziggler gets a foot on the bottom rope after being rolled back into the ring. The viper is coiled but Ziggler turns it into a roll up. Ziggler locks in the sleeper but Orton launches him in the air and hits the RKO mid air for the win.

Winner:  Randy Orton

A great match by both men! Orton gets a solid win over Ziggler and establishes himself as a heavyweight champion threat. Another loss for Ziggler at a PPV so his roll into a championship is further weakened. It sets him up well for changing manager from Vicky but once again he looks good jobbing to a main eventer.

Dredd 3D preview.

Divas Championship: Layla vs Eve

Eve wins after dominating Layla with choke holds and a clinical finish.

Bryan still walking around claiming he is the tag team champions. Dr Shelby is here as Kane and Bryan confront each other. AJ Lee makes a crazy intervention in short shorts and an odd tie/jacket combination. Bryan congratulates Kane. Kane claims he is going to Disneyland. AJ Lee is even more crazy after Kane’s celebration.

World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus vs Alberto del Rio

ADR is out first. Sheamus is out next. Nice black (ADR) and white (Sheamus) contrast in the trunks. Ricardo makes the main event announcement for ADR. JBL makes the Cole-esque admiration of a personal ring announcer. Booker T is out after Sheamus’ main event announcement. The investigation into the Brogue kick is over and the result is: it’s legal! What was the point in banning it in the first place? Otunga gets a newly instated Brogue kick for his troubles. Sheamus launches ADR into the turnbuckle. Both men fight on the outside of the ring. ADR injures Sheamus’ arm/ribs on the Spanish announce table. ADR softens up the shoulder and attacks the neck of Sheamus. Shoulder first into the ring post then further punishing it on the outside. ADR lands an axe handle from the top rope before continuing with the shoulder submissions. A standing 10 count after an axe handle by Sheamus. Sheamus on offense with some knees and his chest strikes. ADR hits the backstabber for a 2 count on Sheamus. Cross arm breaker set up countered into white noise. Sheamus misses the Brogue kick and hits an inziguri for only a 2 count. ADR is frustrated and goes on kicking Sheamus. Brogue kick reversed into the arm breaker that is nearly turned into the Irish clover leaf. Sheamus’ arm is caught in the rope and ADR takes advantage to land more kicks. A one handed white noise is reversed into the cross arm breaker but Sheamus refuses to tap. He lifts ADR up for a powerbomb. Another standing 10 count as Sheamus gets up first. Once again the Brogue kick is reversed into the cross arm breaker. Sheamus imitates he is going to tap but his foot reaches the bottom rope. ADR is even more frustrated than before. Misses the inziguri and walks into a Brogue kick for Sheamus to retain.

Winner: Sheamus

ADR looked good for the win here on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, this loss reinforces why ADR has not been a main event talent: bad booking. Sheamus isn’t made to look better by this win as he is just an Irish Cena. ADR looks like he can’t win the big one and thus why he will never be a strong champion.

WWE Championship: CM Punk vs John Cena

Paul Heyman appears after the same intro video shown at the start of the show. 302 days with Punk as champion and Heyman is here to show his respect. Punk is out first: no shirt, just the belt. Punk shakes hands because he is a Paul Heyman guy and doesn’t seem to care about the fans anymore. The crowd booing is better from a WWE creative position but Cena still gets more of a negative reaction despite being the good guy. Cena is fighting cancer in his pink gear tonight. Main event introductions for Punk and Cena. Punk is a little obsessed just holding up the title as he soaks up the negative crowd reaction.

Two men exchange take downs to start the match. Punk dominates early with head locks and drop toe holds. Punk with a bridged submission looking hold (STF meets neck ringer). Suicide dive into Cena as Punk gets in Cena’s father’s face. Cena strikes with a baseball slide, throws Punk over the barricade and suplexes him back into the arena. Punk lands a head kick after being rolled back into the ring. Cena powers out of the chin lock but is beaten down with elbows. Punk teeing off on Cena with chin shots for a 2 count. Axe handle from the top rope and Punk goes for the GTS. Cena reverses into a shoulder block but receives a swinging neck breaker for his trouble. Clothesline by Cena for a 2 count. 5 knuckle shuffle gets a boot in the face and JBL suggests it is the Paul Heyman factor. Cena catches Punk and rolls through and tries to lift him up for the AA. Punk escapes but Cena hits a suicide dive on the outside. Back suplex but once again the 5 knuckle shuffle is reversed into the anaconda vice. Cena turns it back into the STF locked in the middle of the ring. Punk reverses into the cross face crippler (RIP Benoit). Cena powers out and dumps Punk with a back suplex. Cena chant from the crowd. Punk chant from the crowd. The two men exchange bombs but Punk wins out with a heel kick to the haw. High running knee in the corner, Punk goes to the top rope and hits the Macho Man elbow. Punk calls for the GTS but Cena counters mid move into the STF. Punk eventually reaches the bottom rope and breaks the hold. Punk finally hits the GTS but only gets a 2 count. Punk looking at Heyman for advice but Cena is stirring. Punk’s educated feet go to work on Cena and he hits a clothesline for a 2. Slap to the face and a GTS is blocked before Cena eventually hits the AA for a... 2 count. Cena goes out after Punk on the outside before heading to the top rope. Cena misses the leg drop and gets a round house kick... 2 count again! More slaps, knee to the temple and another 2. Punk goes to the top rope and misses a moonsault leading to a standing 10 count. AA reversed into another GTS for another 2 count. Punk lands a rock bottom and still can’t get the 3 count. Another AA fails to get the 3 count. CM Punk chant starts up. Cena lifts Punk onto the top rope. This is awesome chant. Cena hits a back suplex from the top rope and bridges into the 3 count.

Winner: John Cena (new champion)

Referee declares the match a draw. Punk is still the champion!

Winner: No one

Punk attacks Cena with the belt and knocks him out. Punk stands over the unconscious Cena.

Another PPV and another Punk win. This is getting too bad for words. I get they want us to hate the guy but not like this. For the first time in years I actually wanted Cena to win the match. Instead we get the most uncharismatic and non-eventful WWE championship reign continuing. WWE creative better have a good pay off for this storyline or I might just stop watching full stop.

Championship Mindset

Thurston: Looking for someone else to blame

Two teams went out of their respective finals competitions last night, the North Queensland Cowboys (NRL) and the Fremantle Dockers (AFL), and their exits demonstrate why one will be competitive next year and why the other will remain a perennial failure.

To start off, these games were both coin toss affairs. The home teams, who won, would go in favourites on location alone but both challengers had form to make a seasoned tipster wary. This is the nature of finals football: you play well in the regular season to earn a home ground advantage and you hope that it pays off in the finals.

The Cowboys had a strong finish to the season and were almost favourites against the Manly Sea eagles. Thurston (JT) and Bowen were the magic pairing that could destroy the Manly defence and make it through to next week. Similarly, Fremantle was the hot team of the AFL with Pavlich kicking goals and the genius of master coach Ross Lyon. Both teams lost but only one showed that they might eventually win the big one.

That team wasn’t the Cowboys. In a nutshell: rather than acknowledge their own failings they would rather dwell on the wrongs done to them. This quote says it all:

''It's sour grapes from our point of view, but I just think the remaining teams in the competition would be a little bit nervous. I'd imagine the coaches would be going, 'It's a bit of a lottery'. Yeah, we could have tackled him into touch, yeah we lacked a bit of composure at times, but both those decisions rattled us.'”

Rather than admit that they could have stopped the try or could have been better at times they would rather criticise the referees for a couple of bad decisions. Were these bad decisions? No doubt and the refereeing in the NRL has been an issue all year. But everyone knew this was the case and the best teams simply take the referee out of the equation. Having been a long time Sydney Swans supporter, I come prepared for pro-Melbourne team umpiring and enjoy watching the Swans make their own luck and not allow the umpires to decide the game for my team. Moreover, their “sour grapes” indicates that they would rather dwell on the past rather than plan how to improve next year. A quick bit of advice for JT and the Cowboys: finish in the top four so you can have a home final. It’s a simple equation: play well all year (not just at the end because you decide to turn up for finals) and reap the rewards later on. This is a much better approach to winning a premiership.

Another key point is that Manly was the better side regardless. Their defence ensured that JT could not even score the points needed to win. This was partly due to JT’s poor decision making in the last 20 minutes when the game could have been won. Rather than be patient and pin Manly in their own half, JT put up a pointless chip kick, lost the ball on a poor tackle 5 option and lacked the composure it takes to win. Compare that to the way win which Cherry-Evans and his team just kept tackling and made meters in their own sets and one can see why one team had won premierships in the past 5 years and the other remains perennial underachievers. The Cowboys may have thought it was their year but someone should tell JT that premierships aren’t given to teams on a silver platter because they think they deserve it.

All this is in stark contrast to the attitude of the Fremantle Dockers’ coach Ross Lyon. Unlike JT or Neil Henry, he chose to make no excuses for his team’s performance. He didn’t blame the travel or schedule. In response to questions about these he said:

"It's irrelevant, it's all garbage to be frank... We're not into excuses ... we wouldn't be talking about scheduling if we had of been a bit more organised and a bit more polished."

Rather than do a JT and blame everyone else, he instead put the blame where it belonged: the team itself. This isn’t negative either because he chooses to focus the energy and improvement on the one thing he knows he can control. He can’t control the schedule or decisions by the AFL but he can control what his own team does. He knows that only by being better will they win their first premiership.

This is the message we should be sending our aspiring sport stars and children in general. Rather than a world of whinging JTs bemoaning the failings of others, that on a balanced look at the game did not cause his team’s failure, we should instead be showing them images of Ross Lyon focusing on a future with better performances. In the end, the only thing we can control is our own actions and performance. In a world of slow motion replays and a multitude of TV experts it is easy to find fault elsewhere but ultimately, if we take our chances and are well prepared we will achieve success.