Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins
Rollins goes to hit Reigns but Reigns knocks him down, then Reigns throws him outside and sends him into the barricade as we go to a break. We get back to see Rollins avoid a basement dropkick by Reigns, then he follows with a suicide dive and rolls Reigns back in. Reigns comes back with some clotheslines and a side slam, then he connects with a Superman punch and calls for a spear. Rollins leapfrogs him and superkicks him for two, then he heads up top but Reigns cuts him off and goes for a superplex. Rollins hits him a few times and sets up a powerbomb, but Reigns reverses into a Samoan drop attempt. Rollins drops down and hits a buckle bomb in the opposite corner for two, then Rollins taunts him and Reigns headbutts him. Rollins kicks him a few times and goes for a Curb Stomp, but Reigns sidesteps him and hits a spear for the win.
Winner – Roman Reigns
BP: This was a good match, but a bit short. You have to wonder why they let Reigns win clean if they are just running the same match again Sunday.
Michael Cole welcomes Mark Henry to the ring, and he says he was in the Olympics but he came up short. He says the United States is about second chances and this is his, so he is going to win at Night of Champions and he won’t let them down. Henry says he won’t let them down, and Cole says Henry’s been different lately, and has a new fire, but Lana is trying to keep him down. Lana and Rusev cut him out and Lana reminds Henry he also failed in the 1992 Olympics, and America is a land of propaganda. She shows a picture of the 1992 gold medalist and says Henry’s confidence was crushed, and Russia’s dominance hurt him enough he faked an injury in 1996.
Lana says Russia is full of great athletes and leaders, and President Obama fears Vladimir Putin, so history will repeat itself again when Henry fails against Rusev. Henry says he is making a pledge to all Americans coast-to-coast, then he recites the Pledge of Allegiance, but Rusev rushes the ring before he’s finished. Rusev hits him with some shoulder blocks a few times, but Henry throws him back across the ring and goes to hit him again. Rusev catches him with a thrust kick, then he tries to apply the Accolade but Henry powers up and chokes Rusev, then connects with a sitout powerbomb. Henry throws Rusev out of the ring by the head, then he celebrates by waving the American flag as the show comes to a close.
BP: I will say this; I’m still looking forward to this match, much like I was looking forward to Rusev/Swagger at Summerslam. I do wonder why this got the main event though. It’s nice to them trying different people in the main event, but they didn’t do anything shocking enough here for a ‘go home’ show for a pay-per-view. Any other week this would have been fine as is, but tonight this could have been swapped for the Brock/Cena segment considering that match is selling the pay-per-view.
Overall, there was some good in-ring action, but the Brock/Cena segment and the final one just wasn’t enough to be considered a success. I really have to wonder what they are thinking if they want more people to watch Night of Champions, buy the Network, or watch RAW. Tonight really won’t sell that many people to tune in Sunday.
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