Highlights:

Mark Henry squashes another opponent.
Sin Cara speaks! His feud with Daniel Bryan escalates with a second cheap shot attack.
A rivalry cultivates between Sheamus and Christian.
Kingston and Bourne defend the Tag Titles.
Randy Orton faces IC Champion Cody Rhodes in a very solid main event match.
Mark Henry gets ‘the last word’ against Orton going into Night of Champions.

Tonight’s episode opens with a video that recaps Mark Henry’s recent monstrous reign of raging madness. The focus is a build-up to his imminent showdown with Randy Orton. It won’t be tonight though—he’ll have to wait as the Apex Predator will face Cody Rhodes in a Champion vs. Champion match. The Mark Henry theme continues as Henry’s music hits to start the show and he comes down to the ring dressed for action. He scowls at the crowd in convincing fashion and begins to speak. He’s ‘going to tell us about the hall of pain’. “Many have walked through these ropes, but they’ve been carried out of it. Just because I’ve been with the company 15 years doesn’t mean my best years are behind me. Just ask Big Show and ask Kane about their special wings in the Hall of Pain. Randy Orton will be inducted at Night of Champions. In the Hall are broken bones, broken careers, and broken hope”. And so on. It is simply amazing what a good heel turn can do for a career. Mark Henry was in WWE purgatory this time last year and now he’s a convincing monster heel and solid #1 contender to the World Heavyweight title. Great work rebuilding him.

Zach Ryder’s music hits and comes down the ramp to a good reaction. Ryder does all his shtick and taglines as he comes into the ring. Henry tells him he has a death wish for interrupting him. As acting asst GM, Ryder informs Henry he’ll be in action tonight as will Orton, but not against each other. And there’s a strict ‘no contact’ rule in force between Orton and Henry. Whatever. Henry forces Ryder back into the ring and then thanks him for the heads up. Ryder is terrified for the other shoe to fall, especially as Henry puts his arm around him. Big Bad Mark asks Zach who he thinks will win at NoC. Ryder fumbles around and makes a couple jokes. Henry ultimately does what we all expected—since he can’t put his hands on Randy Orton, he’ll put his hands on Zach Ryder. Ryder beats Henry to the punch and begins throwing right hands, but it’s futile as Henry clubs Ryder with a back forearm and then lands the World’s Strongest Slam on the Long Island Iced Z. Ezekial Jackson’s music hits and we have an intriguing match-up between two powerful combatants. I have a feeling Henry will squash him but this is a matchup that could have been built into a nice rivalry if WWE so chose.

Ezekial Jackson vs. Mark Henry: The two go face to face as the bell rings and then lock up in a test of strength. Henry gets EZ to his knees and then Zeke gets back to his feet (pretty bad acting) but Henry launches Jackson into a nice back body drop. They continue the shows of strength with Henry getting the upper hand. Jackson goes for an early torture rack but it doesn’t go anywhere. Henry goes to the outside and ambushes Jackson by feigning injury. He drives EZ spine-first into the post and then lands a big clothesline inside the ring, followed by a big splash in center-ring. A second big splash follows. Jackson then hits the World’s Strongest Slam and the squash victory is complete. Mark Henry pins Ezekial Jackson. I guess EZ Jackson’s latest push is by the wayside as he’s lost a lot lately, and this is a match that could have had an opposite outcome just 6 months ago.

Sin Cara vs. Tyson Kidd: Sin Cara is introduced next and receives a good ovation despite his obvious dick move against Daniel Bryan recently. I guess the little jimmy’s and marks haven’t gotten the memo yet. Or, maybe it’s just a fact that any masked aerialist is automatically beloved by most. This community does not include yours truly though. Cara is matched up against Tyson Kidd once again, likely because there are only a handful of compatible workers that can make Cara look good, and Kidd is one of those. They trade a variety of acrobatics, springboards, and hurricaranas early on in the match, and soon enough Kidd retreats to the outside but is leveled by Cara with a flying press off the top rope to the outside floor. Kidd is in charge in the middle stage of the matches with a hip toss into the corner turnbuckles, followed by a snap mare, kick to the back of the head, and some submission holds. Cara turns the tables with an enzugurri and then springboard body press off the top rope (from the apron) for a near fall. Cara hits a reverse springboard splash off the middle rope but Kidd rolls with it and nearly pins the masked star. Kidd hits the ropes but Cara catches him in fireman’s carry position and hits a nice Samoan Drop. Sin then hits his pair of lionsault reverse springboard splashes and gets the three-count.

The man with an identity crisis celebrates in the ring but is interrupted by Josh Mathews, who attempts to get him to speak by asking what the hell is the deal with his new aggressive side. Josh is speaking to him like he’s deaf and dumb, but surprisingly and delightfully, Cara actually responds in near-perfect English. He says ‘he’s an intense competitor and in Mexico…(slips into Spanish)’ and then goes on to say, “ever since I came to the WWE I have held back out of respect to the other people. Now that I’m here, nobody’s gonna stop me. This style and this aggression—this is me. The real Sin Cara”. The crowd reaction is mixed (I liked it) and then Daniel Bryan’s music hits and he comes to the ring with mike in hand. “Man, Sin Cara, you speaking English, I didn’t see that coming. But you kicking me in the head last week, I didn’t see that coming either. So it doesn’t make a difference, in Spanish or English, when you attacked me last week you spoke a universal language. You don’t respect me, so now we have a problem that we need to rectify. And I have a very simple solution—you vs. me, a rematch next week, and you can be as aggressive as you want”. Cara interrupts him with a low blow and then he puts the Labelle Lock on Daniel Bryan. Bryan taps the mat in pain and embarrassment (btw, what’s the deal with so many guys “tapping out” to submission holds in non-match settings lately?! It’s weak). They should have booked this match for Night of Champions PPV, but we’ll see it next Friday instead.

In Divas action, Kelly Kelly faces Natalya (with Beth Phoenix in corner). Booker T, in all his brilliance, says “Kelly Kelly is looking hot tonight…and I don’t mean in a ‘hot hot’ way but hot as in angry”. Shut it Booker. As Natalya goes for the sharpshooter, Kelly rolls her up and gets the three-count after about 4 minutes of action. I’m surprised at how successful Kelly’s title reign has been. Figured she would just get it for a month and then share it with the next Divas in line, but she’s actually won some matches against the best challengers (Natty and Beth).

Christian comes out for a promo and provides more of his melo-dramatics that he’s so good at these days. I mean that as a compliment, as he has the malcontent, whiny heel thing down perfectly. He states his case for why he deserves one more title shot chance, but is interrupted by Sheamus. Sidebar: this would be a great rivalry if they can build it right. They trade insults and Sheamus finally enters the ring and tells Christian ‘you, me, and the WWE universe knows you’re out of chance and out of excuses’. He then threatens Christian into leaving the ring, which Christian acquiesces into doing so. He passes Sheamus’ opponent on the rampway and exchanges glares—Wade Barrett. Barrett’s back to wearing that overcoat as he did in NXT, and I think it’s a good touch. Now, if we can just get his career back on track.

Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett: The two lock up and exchange intimidation tactics. Sheamus takes the early edge with some shoulder blocks and side headlock takedowns. Barrett comes back with a combination of punches to the body. Sheamus levels Barrett with an elbow smash off the ropes and Barrett goes to the outside for a standing 8 count. He’s back in the ring at 7 and then digs a boot into Sheamus’ solar plexus and then stomps away. Sheamus has an answer for everything Barrett can muster together so far. Sheamus drives a series of knees into the back of Barrett’s head. The two exchange big right hands in the center of the ring, just before Barrett slings Sheamus into the corner chest-first hard (a la Bret Hart). Wade digs a knee into Sheamus back as we go to commercial break. We return and Barrett’s still in control with a slow but methodical offense. Barrett lands some Muy Thai knee lifts to Sheamus’s head and then clobbers him with a big running boot. Wade beats up Sheamus some more on the outside and then rolls the Irishman into the ring for a near fall. A chin lock by Barrett seems to trigger new life for Sheamus as he instantly fights back and hits a double ax-handle to Barrett followed by a hard clothesline and power slam. Sheamus gets a nod from the crowd and then beats up on Barrett with clubbing forearms to his chest and a thunderous knee lift. Sheamus goes to the top and hits a flying shoulder block off the top. Just as it appears that Barrett is toast, we see Christian do a run-in to attack Sheamus and save the English Rose. Can-glish Connection beat on Sheamus but he’s able to fight them both off. He hits a brogue kick on Barrett and nearly hits the Celtic Cross on Christian, but the cagey Canadian escapes relatively unscathed. WINNER IS SHEAMUS BY DQ.

Air Boom vs. Jinder Mahal and Great Khali: We get some tag team action with the champions (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) facing the India team of Jinder Mahal and Great Khali. Mahal gets a two-count early in the match by pulling Bourne off the top rope and hitting a tight clothesline. Khali tags in and plods along by hitting one punch in about 30 seconds of time and then a chop as Mahal tags back in (is this guy really considered a wrestler?). Bourne gets a hot tag to Kofi who comes in his usual way by hitting a flying knife chop off the top rope. Kofi then hits the Boom Drop on Mahal and signals for Trouble in Paradise. Mahal avoids it but Kingston still hits a real nice reverse springboard press off the middle rop. Nobody gets air prettier than Kingston. In the chaos Mahal screams at Khali and slaps him. Khali pushes Mahal who runs right into Trouble in Paradise. Kingston pins Mahal for the victory. If anyone cares, Khali leaves Jinder in the ring alone as Mahal verbally abuses the giant.

Main Event – World Champion Randy Orton vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. This is a good matchup for a number of reasons and Cody nearly steals one early with a rollup small package while Orton had his head ducked for a back body drop (ok, I realize there’s no way the invincible Orton would succumb that easily). Rhodes leap frogs a phantom as Orton pulls up and hits a standing drop kick and then a short-armed clothesline for a two count. Randy stomps away on his ex-faction partner. Cole gives us the required “vintage Orton” comment as Orton stomps on Rhodes. He’s such a tool. Bad commentators aside, Orton hits a Thesz Press and pounds away at Orton. Rhodes face-butts Orton with his hard shell mask to regain an upperhand. He then does some stomping of his own and lands a big kick on the back of Orton’s head. Lots of kicking and stomping per capita from bother combatants so far. Orton head butts the mask and shakes it off as he hits a nice European uppercut. More stomping and kicking by Rhodes as he works the right hamstring of Orton. Rhodes then hits a short knee to the gut of Orton off the ropes, but Randy counters and tries for the rope-assisted DDT. Rhodes avoids that move though and turns it into his spinning head kick off the middle rope. I know it has a name, something like “rage and destruction”, but I forget what it is. We return after a break and Rhodes is still working over Orton. Cole informs us Rhodes has been dominating throughout the entire break. Cody likes in a nice looking triangle arm bar and then uses it to create an opening where he can land a series of knees to Orton’s head and chest. Rhodes is beating the shit out of Orton at this point, but Randy now begins to land some shots in a desperate comeback attempt. Rhodes is working the shoulder, elbow and hamstring of the World Champ relentlessly. Orton bounces off the ropes but Rhodes is sharper again as he drives a knee into Orton’s midsection and sends him sprawling. The announcers comment that Rhodes is damaging Orton’s shoulder and Mark Henry ought to be taking note. Rhodes lands a big power bomb on Orton for a near fall and goes for a bulldog but Orton fends it off and sends Rhodes away with a slam. He then hits his snap powerslam and a knee drop of his own. Rhodes momentarily fights back but Orton is able to hit the middle rope DDT on his second attempt. Real good match to this point. Orton signals for the RKO but Cody does a head feint and bails outside the ring. Orton chases him around and then back into the ring, where Cody pounces and nearly hits Crossroads. Orton avoids it though. Randy also avoids that reverse spin kick off the middle rope by ducking it. This opens up a chance for the RKO, which he hits flush. Rhodes rolls to his back and Orton covers him for the clean pinfall victory. RANDY ORTON PINS CODY RHODES.

Instantly, Mark Henry’s music hits and he’s in the ring glaring at the World Champ. For some reason, Henry’s following Teddy Long’s no-contact edict…that is, until Orton goes after Mean Mark with some punches and an RKO attempt. Henry brushes him off like a fly and smashes him into the canvas with a World’s Strongest Slam. He then goes for a folding chair to injure the champ with his familiar post-match sadistic ritual. But instead, he puts the chair over Orton’s chest and throat and leans on it, saying ‘I could break your ankle right now…’. But instead, he wants Orton healthy for their title match. We fade to black with the champion beaten down and in serious jeopardy against this new menacing version of Mark Henry.

Source: wrestlingtruth.com