|Date: June 29, 2008
|Venue: American Airlines Center |City: Dallas, Texas
|Attendance: 16,151 |Buys: 259,000
|Brands: Raw, Smackdown & ECW

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

It’s a Night of Defenders, It’s a Night of Challengers, It’s a Night of Champions. Night Of Champions takes over from where Vengeance finished and the second annual event is very much like the first in which every single title will be defended. This show comes hot on the heels of the 2008 draft where Raw drafted the likes of Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Batista, Kane and Michael Cole, Smackdown drafted Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Mr Kennedy, Carlito, Umaga and Jim Ross and ECW drafted the likes of Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, Finlay & Hornswoggle. All title matches that were already set for the show stayed in place regardless of where the competitors were drafted which made for some interesting matches.

The WWE Championship is set to be defended as Triple H, who has now been drafted to Smackdown, defends against John Cena. John Cena won the right to fight for the title when he defeated Jeff Hardy in a number one contenders match. Since then the feud between Triple H and John Cena has got more and more personal. The two have only wrestled once before and that time John Cena won the match, back at Wrestlemania 22. Both the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship are currently owned by champions on Smackdown. World Heavyweight Champion Edge will be defending his title tonight against Batista. Batista won his shot by winning an 8 man tag team match against La Familia even though his team-mates were Nunzio, Funaki and Colin Delaney. Batista would have to go one to defeat The Great Khali to solidify his title match and Batista would win that match. Batista would be drafted to Raw but his match is still in tact, can Batista or John Cena win their match tonight to take one of the world titles to Raw?

Shawn Michaels was expected to take on Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Championship but Jericho took out Michaels on Raw a few weeks ago, injuring Michaels eye and putting him out of action. Chris Jericho will be defending the Intercontinental Championship tonight but his opponent is unknown. The other question mark tonight regards the World Tag Team Championship match. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase introduced his son, Ted DiBiase, a man that instantly targeting the tag team champions Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly. Maybe Virgil or I.R.S. will show up to team with DiBiase Jr. I have my own suspicions on who will be the mystery man but I won’t spoil it. The WWE Women’s Championship will also be defended as Mickie James puts up the title against the girl that has pinned her on the last two episodes of Raw, Katie Lea Burchill who makes her PPV in-ring debut tonight.

The Big Show defeated four other men in a kendo stick match at One Night Stand: Extreme Rules last month to earn himself a shot at the ECW Champion Kane tonight. What Big Show and Kane didn’t count on was Mark Henry who was added to the match when he defeated Kane in a non-title match last week on ECW. With Kane drafted to Raw and Big Show still in Smackdown it means that Mark Henry is the only ECW roster member in this match so he will be looking to bring the title back to the brand it belongs on. Speaking of ECW members, Matt Hardy who was drafted to ECW last week will be defending the United States Championship against a fellow ECW member in Chavo Guerrero. Chavo was just given a shot at the title by his aunt Vickie Guerrero. Also tonight, John Morrison and The Miz will be defending the WWE Tag Team Championships against the men that requested a title shot, Finlay and Hornswoggle!

In a dark match prior to the event Jeff Hardy defeated MVP.

The show kicks off with a video package, starting with some of the wrestlers saying how important it is to be a champion and then focusing on the Edge/Batista match and John Cena/Triple H match. There’s a catchy theme tune, fireworks and Jim Ross welcomes us to Texas for Night Of Champions 2008.

John Morrison & The Miz (c) vs. Finlay & Hornswoggle – WWE Tag Team Championship match

This is a first tag team match between these two teams. Morrison has a 1-0 record at Night Of Champions events, he won last year to win the ECW Championship. The other three men make their Night Of Champions debut tonight. This is a second PPV defence for Morrison and Miz who beat Kane and CM Punk at Judgment Day. Finlay starts the match against John Morrison. I love Miz and Morrisons slow motion entrance. Finlay knocks down Morrison early and follows it up with an uppercut and clothesline for a one count. Finlay hits a modified suplex and then applies a nerve hold. Morrison manages to smash Finlay into the top turnbuckle and Finlay heads to the outside. Morrison dives outside but Finlay catches him in the ring apron and lays into him with right hands. The Miz then grabs Hornswoggle which distracts Finlay long enough for Morrison to take him down with a clothesline.

Miz and Morrison throw Hornswoggle into the ring but Finlay is back in and takes both men down with clotheslines. Finlay then uses Hornswoggle as a battering ram before both challengers hit Earthquake splashes. The Miz distracts Finlay allowing Morrison to hit Finlay with a dropkick. Morrison tags Miz into the match and the champions hit a double gutbuster for a one count. The Miz applies a chinlock before tagging Morrison in and the two men hit more double team moves for a one count. Quick tags now between the champions and plenty of double teaming. The Miz only has one PPV win to his name at this point. Finlay hits an inverted atomic drop on Miz and then tags in Hornswoggle! Hornswoggle hits a head scissors, a stunner and a bulldog on Miz for a two count. Morrison takes a cheap shot at Hornswoggle, knocking him down. The Miz slaps Hornswoggle about and then tags in John Morrison. Morrison throws Hornswoggle hard into the ring corner and tags The Miz back in.

Finlay and hornswoggle officially joined ECW in the supplemental draft last week. Hornswoggle tries to fight back but Miz and Morrison knock him down with a double clothesline. The Miz misses with a clothesline in the corner and tags in Morrison who stops Hornswoggle from tagging his father, Finlay. Morrison slaps Hornswoggle about but Hornswoggle gets between Morrisons legs and tags in Finlay! Finlay takes down both challengers and hits Morrison with a powerslam. Finlay hits a second rope missile dropkick for the first near fall of the night. Finlay hits a rolling Samoan drop on Morrison and then takes down The Miz. Finlay tags hornswoggle, hits the Celtic cross on Morrison and hornswoggle goes up to hit the tadpole splash but Miz takes out Finlay and Morrison throws Hornswoggle down to the canvas which is enough for the three! Miz and Morrison retain their WWE Tag Team Championships tonight! Solid way to kick off the show.

Rating: 6.5/10

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler hype up Triple H vs. John Cena and we’re shown some footage from Wrestlemania 22 where Cena beat Triple H in their only previous match. There’s a poll up for who will bring a championship back to Raw, John Cena, Batista, both or neither.

Matt Hardy (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero – United States Championship match

This is surprisingly a first time PPV singles match between these two men. Chavo is 1-0 at Night Of champions events, he retained the Cruiserweight Championship at last years event, whilst Matt Hardy is 0-1, losing in a World Tag Team Championship match last year. Chavo Guerrero is joined by his bodyguard Bam Neely. Matt got drafted to ECW last week and I think Chavo Guerrero is also an ECW guy, both men battling over a Smackdown title. I think the talent exchange between Smackdown and ECW is still active so it doesn’t matter too much. Matt knocks Chavo down with a shoulder charge, Matt being the bigger of the two men. Chavo hits a side headlock takeover and keeps the headlock applied but Hardy counters it, hits an Irish whip and a clothesline in the corner. Hardy hits a powerslam and a fistdrop but Chavo fights back with right hands. Matt looks for a bulldog but Chavo counters it and hits a chopblock before working away on the left knee.

Chavo uses the ropes to apply pressure to Matt Hardy’s left knee before swinging it into the ringpost. Chavo then distracts the referee and Bam Neely smashes Hardy’s knee into the post. Chavo applies a leglock which Hardy kicks his way out of and the two men then slug it out and Hardy hits a short bulldog. Hardy having no luck with pinfalls. Chavo locks on a leg grapevine and various holds targeting the left knee of the United States Champion. Hardy kicks Chavo out of the ring but chavo drops Hardy on the top rope and then heads to the top only to miss Hardy but roll through it. Hardy knocks Chavo down with a clothesline and Matt hits a coupe more clotheslines and an elbow drop for a one count. Chavo hits an uppercut and Matt blocks the second and hits side affect for a near fall. Hardy goes up to the middle rope and hits a standing elbow drop for a one count. Chavo is very quick to kick out in this match. Chavo runs into an elbow and Matt goes back up to the middle rope but Chavo pulls him down to the canvas.

Chavo locks on a half crab but Hardy gets to the ropes. Hardy gets to his feet and hits a DDT for a near fall. Matt then motions for twist of fate but Chavo counters and then locks the half Boston crab back on. Once again Hardy gets to the ropes and he then manages an enzeguri on Chavo. Chavo gets up and hits two of the three amigos, Hardy hits a twist of fate out of nowhere and covers Chavo for the three! Matt Hardy wins the match and retains his United States Championship!

Rating: 5/10

We’re taken back to some footage from Raw last week with Mr McMahon giving away a million dollars before the Raw set giving way and taking out Mr McMahon.

Mike Adamle and Tazz are ringside for ECW. The McMahon family are set to give an official statement on Raw tomorrow night.

Kane (c) vs. The Big Show vs. Mark Henry – Triple threat match for the ECW Championship

This is a first time triple threat match between these three big men. None of these men fought at Night Of Champions last year. Mark Henry was drafted to ECW in the supplemental draft last week whilst Kane was drafted to Raw and The Big Show is a Smackdown guy. The bell rings and the three men get right into it. Henry splashes The Big Show in the corner and Kane then dropkicks Henry in the knees before knocking him out of the ring. Big Show knocks Kane down with a clothesline and then hits him with rights and lefts in the corner. Kane fights back with uppercuts of his own and then a DDT for a one count. Big Show throws Kane out of the ring and Kane seems to be hurt. Mark Henry leaves him be and instead gets into the ring. Henry and Big Show lock up to a stalemate. Both men collide and neither men go down. Big Show knocks Henry down with a shoulder charge and then slams the worlds strongest man. “Ow have mercy” says Mike Adamle.

Doctors and trainers come out to check on Kane who is still down on the outside. Mark Henry hits headbutts on The Big Show but Big Show hits headbutts of his own. There’s a bit of a miscommunication between Show and Henry and Mark goes down. Big Show looks to chokeslam Henry but Henry fights off his arm and both men then knock each other down with clotheslines. Kane gets back up to his feet holding his back. Kane heads to the top and hits a flying clothesline on Mark Henry. Kane gives both opponents clotheslines in the corners before Irish whipping Henry into Big Shows big boot. Kane and Big Show then hit Mark Henry with a double clothesline. Big Show pins Henry and Kane stops the pinfall. Kane and Big Show then slug it out and Kane hits a big boot and an enzeguri to take down the bigger man. Kane heads to the top but Big Show catches him and chokeslams the ECW Champion in the mat for a near fall. Kane then looks to chokeslam Big Show but Show fights him off and hits Kane with a side suplex for a near fall.

Big Show leaves the ring and heads to the top but Kane gets to this feet and suplexes Big Show down to the mat. Mark Henry then hits Kane with a splash and hooks the leg for the three! Mark Henry wins the match and the ECW Championship!

Rating: 4/10

Eve Torres is backstage with Batista asking him whether he’s going to bring the World Heavyweight championship back to Raw. Batista says he will be bringing the title back, just like he did when he left. John Cena turns up and tells Batista that he might not be the only champion on Raw. CM Punk then shows up and tells them that he hopes both men bring titles back to Raw because his briefcase is getting awful heavy.

Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Ted DiBiase Jr & ???  – World Tag Team Championship match

Ted DiBiase Jr has amazing theme music. Who is going to be his mystery partner? I have a very good idea. And he’s already in the ring. All of these men make their Night Of Champions debut tonight. DiBiase gets on the microphone and says that his partner is on the way and he’d like to wait ten minutes. Hardcore Holly tells DiBiase to forfeit but DiBiase says he’d like to start the match and his partner will turn up. Cody gets in the ring to start the match but DiBiase says that he wants Hardcore holly. Rhodes tags in Hardcore and then drops Holly with a DDT! DiBiase then announces his partner for the match, Cody Rhodes! Rhodes tags in DiBiase who locks the million dollar dream on Holly before turning it into a side Russian leg sweep! Ted hooks the leg and gets the three! The winners of the match and World Tag Team Champions, Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes! A nice twist albeit predictable.

Rating: N/A

Todd Grisham is up in John “Bradshaw” Layfield’s luxury suite with Layfield. JBL is not happy that he doesn’t have a match. JBL sells himself and then uses some NFL references that most of the world won’t understand.

Chris Jericho is out next to take on a surprise opponent for his Intercontinental Championship. Jericho won the title before Wrestlemania and this will be the first defence of it on a PPV. Jericho is making his Night Of Champions debut tonight. Chris gets on the mic and tells the crowd that he won’t be defending the title against Shawn Michaels because Michaels has an eye injury. Jericho is joined by Lance Cade. Jericho says that he is an honest man and he is here to save himself.

Chris Jericho vs. Kofi Kingston – Intercontinental Championship match

Kofi Kingstons music interrupts Chris Jericho and is the surprise opponent for Jericho tonight! Kofi joined Raw as the very last man in the supplemental draft. This is a pay per view debut for Kofi. Jericho slaps Kingston in the early going but Kofi just smiles. Jericho applies a headlock and then takes down Kingston with a shoulder charge and a right hand. Jericho tries to throw Kingston over the top rope but Kofi bounces off the top rope and fires back. Jericho exits the ring but Kofi hits him with a baseball slide and then a plancha to the outside. Kofi rolls Jericho back into the ring and the heads to the top and hits a cross body for a two count. Kofi starts laying some right hands in the corner but Jericho throws him out of the ring. Jericho rams Kingston into the ring apron a couple of times before rolling the challenger back into the ring. Jericho lays in some boots and then shoulder charges and a hard Irish whip.

Kofi rolls out to the apron and Jericho suplexes him back into the ring for a near fall. Jericho hits a backbreaker and then a dropkick. Jericho then locks on an abdominal stretch which Kofi gets out of with a hiptoss. Jericho drop toe holds Kingston onto the middle rope and then stands on his back, choking Kingston on the rope. Jericho then pops Kofi on the top rope and looks to hit a side suplex from the top but Kingston reverses it into a cross body for a two count. Kofi ducks a clothesline and then hits a clothesline of his own and a dropkick. Kingston hits a flying forearm and then looks to hit the boom drop but Jericho counters it and looks to lock on the walls of Jericho but Kingston rolls him up for a near fall. Kofi then hits a legdrop for a near fall and then a hurricanrana for a near fall. Jericho fires back with a clothesline and then kicks Kofi in the rubs. Chris hits a slam and then the lionsault (which he rarely hits these days). Jericho then locks on the walls of Jericho but Shawn Michaels appears from the crowd and hits sweet chin music on Lance Cade!

Jericho is distracted by Shawn Michaels and breaks the walls of Jericho. He then knocks Shawn Michaels off the apron but turns around into Kofi’s finisher, trouble in paradise! Kofi hooks the leg and gets the three! Kofi Kingston wins the match and the Intercontinental Championship tonight!

Rating: 5/10

Vickie Guerrero is backstage discussing flowers with her wedding planner Alicia Fox. Edge is also there and Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder show up. Hawkins and Ryder think it would’ve been good if Triple H helped Edge but Edge says that he doesn’t need help. Batista has never beaten him in a World title match. Edge then lists his accomplishments. Edge is confident that he will win tonight.

Mickie James (c) vs. Katie Lea Burchill – WWE Women’s Championship

Like Ted Dibiase Jr and Kofi Kingston this is a PPV debut for Katie Lea Burchill. Katie is joined by her brother Paul Burchill. Katie starts well, rolling Mickie up three times for one counts. Katie has two pinfall victories over Mickie James over the past few weeks. Mickie takes Katie Lea down and then rolls her up for a one count. Mickie hits a monkey flip and a slingblade before heading to the top but Katie Lea sees her coming and quickly rolls out of the ring. Not the smoothest match so far. Katie Lea takes Mickie down but the champion hits a snapmare and a low dropkick for a near fall. Katie rolls out of the ring and then right back in and hits Mickie with a side suplex. Katie Lea then works the left arm of Mickie James before running into an elbow. Katie hits a hammerlock throw into the middle turnbuckle and then hits a snapmare and a kick to the shoulder for a two count.

Katie Lea applies an armbar which Mickie gets out of with forearms before hitting a Lou Thesz press and right hands. Katie Lea hits an armbar takedown for a one count. Katie Lea hits right hands and then an Irish whip before running into the boot of the champion. Mickie then hits a hurricanrana, two clotheslines, a snapmare and a double axe handle for a near fall. Mickie looks to hit a DDT but Katie Lea counters it with an armbar which Mickie gets out of with an arm drag. Katie Lea shoves Mickie into the corner shoulder-first and then looks to hit a side suplexes but Mickie counters it with a DDT for the three. Mickie James wins the match and retains her Women’s Championship. She’s either doing a great job of selling or she will be hurting all over tomorrow. Sadly not a lot of chemistry between these two girls.

Rating: 3.75/10

Jim Ross gives us the poll results and it’s quite an easy split between John Cena, Batista and both men taking titles back to Raw. Batista just edges it with 32%.

There’s a video package showing what led to the match between Edge and Batista.

Edge (c) vs. Batista – World Heavyweight Championship match

Edge defeated Batista at Night Of Champions last year and goes 3-0 against Batista on PPV. Batista gets a big pop. Edge comes out alone. Edge, Batista and The Undertaker have been the main event scene on Smackdown over the past 18 months. Others like Rey Mysterio and The Great Khali have got involved but it has mainly been those three. Batista throws Edge out of the ring in the early going before chasing Edge arounds the ring and smashing him into the ring apron and then the barricade. Back in the ring and Batista knocks Edge down for a two count and then works the back of the World Heavyweight Champion. Batista hits a hard sternum-first Irish whip and then a snapmare and a boot to the face. Batista hits a jackhammer for a two count and a bit of a “Goldberg” chant breaks out. Batista then clotheslines Edge out of the ring before rolling him back into the ring. Edge catches Batista as he tries to get back into the ring and then throws The Animal into the ringpost.

Edge hits a baseball slide sending Batista sprawling over the ECW announce desk. Batista gets back into the ring but Edge chokes him on the middle rope. Edge hits a drop toe hold, an elbow drop and a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Edge applies a sleeper which Batista gets out of but Batista then tries for a spear but edge gets out of the way and Batista hits the middle turnbuckle. Edge hits some right hands and then a neckbreaker for a near fall before going back to the sleeper. Batista gets out of it but Edge is always one step ahead of him and hits a sunset flip for a near fall. Edge then heads to the top but Batista hammers him down to the apron only for Edge to drop Batista on the top rope. Back in the ring and Batista hits a clothesline and then drive Edge into the corner. Batista hits Irish whips and clothesline and then a sidewalk slam for a near fall. Batista hits a big spear in the middle of the ring and gets a very very near fall. Definitely looked like a three to me.

Batista sets up for a Batista bomb but Edge gets out of it. Batista hits a powerslam and motions for the Batista bomb but Edge counters it with an impaler DDT for a near fall. Edge motions for a spear but Batista gets his boot up. Batista then goes up top but Edge sees him coming and hits him with a dropkick. Hawkins, Ryder and Vickie Guerrero show up as Edge looks to hit a spear but Batista leapfrogs him and takes the World Heavyweight Champion down with a spinebuster. The referee counts two and Vickie Guerrero pulls the referees legs to break the count! Edge looks to hit a spear and again Batista avoids it. Edge falls out of the ring and then pulls the referee out and smashes him with a right hand! Surely a disqualification? Vickie Guerrero wants another referee which is just stupid. Why wouldn’t Edge take the DQ? Oh. Out comes Chavo Guerrero in a referee t-shirt. Batista then drags Vickie Guerrero in the ring before throwing her out on top of La Familia.

Edge smashes Batista with the World Heavyweight title belt and pins him. Chavo rolls into the ring and counts the three! Edge wins the match and retains the World Heavyweight Championship! I actually expected Batista to win! Good match between these two.

Rating: 7/10

Todd Grisham is backstage with Triple H who says that he’s going to do what he should have done two years ago.

There’s a video package hyping up the WWE Championship match.

Triple H (c) vs. John Cena – WWE Championship match

They’ve been hyping it up all night, this is the second PPV match between these two men and John Cena won the first at Wrestlemania 22. Cena wrestled at Night Of Champions last year, successfully defending the WWE Championship. John Cena, Triple H and Edge are now the only superstars to have fought on every PPV so far in 2008. This match has a big fight feel, it could be the last match between these two men for a long time as Triple H heads over to Smackdown. This is Triple H’s third PPV defence, more than any other current champion. Triple H takes down John Cena early with a shoulder charge. Triple H looking very tanned. Cena beat Jeff Hardy to become number one contender. Triple H applies a headlock which Cena gets out of but Triple H knocks him down. Triple H counters a hiptoss with a hiptoss of his own and then gives Cena a crotch chop. A “you can’t wrestle” chant breaks out, I’m not sure who that’s aimed at, presumably John Cena. Cena applies a headlock and then knocks Triple H down with a shoulder charge and then a clothesline.

Cena gives Triple H an aggressive salute, that’ll be in response to the crotch chop. Cena hits an Irish whip and then a fishermans suplex for a near fall. Triple H hits some right hands but Cena takes him down with a shoulder block. Cena attempts a second but Triple H ducks and Cena falls to the outside. This is the tenth PPV, as I write this, that everybody who has wrestled on it is still alive today. Back in the ring and Triple H hits a backbreaker and a suplex. Helmsley hits two elbow drops and then a hard Irish whip. The two men exchange right hands and Cena then runs into the big boots of the champion. Triple H then goes up to the middle rope but Cena gets his feet up. Cena builds momentum with more shoulder charges and then looks for the five knuckle shuffle but Triple H fights him off. Triple H hits a high knee and then a facebuster before setting up for the pedigree but Cena counters it before bouncing off the ropes with a snapmare/bulldog.

John Cena heads to the top and hits a top rope fame-asser before looking to hook on the STFU but Triple H fights him off. Cena hits a side slam and then looks to hit the five knuckle shuffle but Triple H gets to his feet and hits a high knee. Spinebuster from Triple H and then sets up for the pedigree but Triple H counters it, throwing Triple H out of the ring. Triple H sells his knee on the outside so Cena leaves the ring and hits a chopblock. Cena then smashes Triple H into the ring steps before swinging his knee into the ringpost. Cena then looks to lock on the STFU but Triple H very quickly gets to the ropes. Triple H then hits a pedigree out of nowhere! Triple H is too injured to get the pinfall and both men slowly get to their feet where Cena hits an FU out of nowhere! Cena hooks the leg but Triple H kicks out at 2! The two men get up and slug it out and Cena hits a sideslam out of nowhere. Cena hits the five knuckle shuffle and then sets up for the FU but Triple H grabs on to the ropes.

Triple H sets up for the pedigree but Cena counters it with the STFU! Triple H manages to counter the STFU into a crossface but Cena counters that, getting Triple H up on his shoulder into an FU position! Triple H slides down the back and then hits Cena with a pedigree! Triple H hooks the leg and gets the three! Triple H beats John Cena tonight! That means both world title stay on Smackdown! Triple H holds his quad but he leaves as champion tonight!

Rating: 7.5/10

Well that was Night Of Champions 2008 and I have to say, it was an enjoyable show. John Morrison and The Miz retained their WWE Tag Team Championships to kick off the show in a fun match. This was the sort of match where you were thinking in the back of your mind that Finlay and Hornswoggle could actually win. But they didn’t which was the better decision. I like Miz and Morrison and am enjoying their run as champions. Plus their Dirt Shirt shows are great. I’d like to see more of them on pay per view though going forward. Matt Hardy then beat Chavo Guerrero in an average match but a solid defence for Hardy. I’m not sure what the future of this title is now that he’s been drafted to ECW but if the talent swap between ECW and Smackdown is still active then I suppose it doesn’t really matter which brand he’s on.

Kane lost the ECW Championship to Mark Henry in a result that I thought might happen. It makes sense for Henry to be ECW Champion as he was the only ECW competitor in the match. This match went as you would expect it for the most part but I did wonder whether Kane’s injury was legit. He carried on and took the fall and so Mark Henry became the fourth ECW Champion in a little over 5 months. Next up it was Cody Rhodes that became Ted DiBiase’s partner. This was perfectly executed, albeit a little predictable, but I liked it. I look forward to the team of DiBiase and Rhodes going forward but I fear this could be the end of Hardcore Holly unless they can give him a decent tag team partner (Val Venis?) and they challenge for the belts next month. Chris Jericho’s mystery opponent turned out to be Raw newcomer Kofi Kingston who went on to win the Intercontinental Championship! Kofi is a hell of a talent and could suit this belt well but he’s going to need some big wins to establish himself. Shawn Michaels helped Kofi win and Jericho got some revenge after this match which shows that this feud is far from over.

Mickie James defeated Katie Lea Burchill to retain the Women’s Championship. There wasn’t a lot of chemistry with these two girls and I’m not sure it’s because they didn’t click or whether Burchill just isn’t quite there yet. I can’t see this feud continuing but I do find it odd that we haven’t seen much of Melina or Beth Phoenix over the past few weeks. Edge then defeated Batista for a fourth time on PPV to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. I was expecting Batista to win this match so it was a bit of a surprise that Edge won. Edge had a lot of help from La Familia which included Chavo Guerrero donning the referee’s shirt and counting the three for Edge. Triple H would then beat john Cena in a really solid match. That means both world titles are on Smackdown throwing up a lot of questions for the future. I didn’t expect both champions to retain. For the past 18 months the Raw main event scene has mostly consisted of Triple H, Randy Orton and John Cena whilst the Smackdown main event scene has been Batista, Edge and The Undertaker. Batista and Triple H have swapped brands now which mixes up the main event scenes.

Overall Rating: 55.35/100 (ranked 144th out of 226)

Match Of The Night: Triple H vs. John Cena
Worst Match Of The Night: Mickie James vs. Katie Lea Burchill
Surprise Of The Night: Both world champions retain their titles
Worst Booking Of The Night: N/A
Superstar Of The Night: Triple H
Night Of Champions 2008 Will Be Remembered For: Cody Rhodes turning his back on Hardcore Holly