Though it isn't a "Big Four" event and it is somewhat underappreciated due to following SummerSlam, Night of Champions is an important night on the WWE calendar as the company pays homage to its title-holders.
The spectacle always makes the belts feel important by stipulating that every single one of them has to be defended when Night of Champions rolls around. Though the WWE often cheapens titles by booking champions to look weak and having Superstars play hot potato with title reigns, Night of Champions works to amend that -- even if it's for one night only.
3 Reasons Sting Should Win WWE World Heavyweight Championship From Seth Rollins
Out of all the belts that are defended on that night every September, nothing is more prestigious than the richest prize in the game -- The WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Throughout the years, there have been several memorable battles with the World Championship on the line and that tradition will continue when Seth Rollins defends his gold against Sting on Sept. 20 at the Toyota Center in Texas.
5 Possible Outcomes To Seth Rollins Vs. Sting
Before "The Architect" and "The Vigilante" go head-to-head at Night of Champions, here's a look back at the five best championship bouts in the history of the event. To view this article in slideshow form, CLICK START at the top right of this page.
5) Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan, Night of Champions 2013:
"The Viper" and "The Beard" were at odds with one another heading into the 2013 edition of the event after Orton cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to cut Bryan's WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign short at SummerSlam the month before. The two aimed to settle the score when they entered the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Sept. 15, 2013.
After a back-and-forth match with plenty of near falls, Bryan reversed an RKO attempt into a backslide and then nailed Orton in the head before hitting the flying kick and the Knee Plus to pick up the victory and win back the gold.
4) CM Punk vs. John Cena, Night of Champions 2012:
Emanating from the TD Garden in Boston, Cena's hometown, there was a lot of drama to his clash with Punk on Sept. 16, 2012. Taking it to the next level, "The Best in the World" wore Yankees pinstripes just to get under the skin of the crowd.
On this night, Punk threw everything at Cena, including two Go To Sleeps and a Rock Bottom, but he kept fighting back. Cena then hit multiple Attitude Adjustments and uncharacteristically hit a German Suplex from the top rope before bridging into the pin.
The referee counted to three and it appeared there was a new champion, but the official actually counted both men down and the bout was labeled a draw. Due to kayfabe rules, Punk held onto the WWE Championship.
3) Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk, Night of Champions 2009:
This edition of the show took place on July 26, 2009, and saw Punk defend the gold against Hardy as their summer-long rivalry spilled into a clash at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Punk tried every under-handed heel tactic to escape the babyface challenger in the weeks leading up to the event, but there was nowhere to hide when the bell rang on their World Heavyweight Championship clash at Night of Champion.
Punk attempted to ground Hardy in many different ways, but his last attempt at a GTS proved fatal. Hardy countered and landed the Twist of Fate followed by the Swanton Bomb to capture the title.
2) Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena, Night of Champions 2014:
After ending The Streak of The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX, "The Beast" absolutely decimated Cena in their clash at SummerSlam to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The "Cenation" leader wanted one more attempt to avoid Suplex City by taking up a match with Lesnar on Sept. 21, 2014, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The match began just like the SummerSlam encounter, with Lesnar dominating Cena, but the face of the franchise was able to make the classic babyface comeback. Cena ended up executing four STFUs and four Attitude Adjustments, but just when he had Lesnar where he wanted him, Seth Rollins came in for the attack to end the match.
When it looked as though "The Architect" was set to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase, Cena thwarted him off. DQ ending aside, it was a fun match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
1) Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge vs. John Cena, Six Pack Challenge Elimination Match, Night of Champions 2010:
This match was a highly-entertaining concept as all six combatants clashed at the same time with elimination rules. It all came about after Barrett won NXT and was awarded a title shot at anytime, which he wanted to use against Sheamus at Night of Champions on Sept. 19, 2010, live from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The anonymous RAW general manager then changed it to a six-person bout to up the ante.
Jericho was the first man out by way of an RKO while fellow Canadian Edge followed shortly thereafter via an Attitude Adjustment from Cena. With only four men left, Barrett made an immediate impact shortly into his WWE career, knocking off Cena with the Wasteland. Then, it was Orton's time to shine as he ousted Barrett with an RKO to send him packing.
With the contest boiled down to Orton and the defending champion Sheamus, "The Apex Predator" got the best of "The Celtic Warrior," landing a monstrous RKO to eliminate his third Superstar of the over 20-minute long match and win the WWE Championship for the seventh time.
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