Feature: WWE Night of Champions DVD Review



I do like the concept of Night of Champions. It does something that wrestling promotions fall short of from time to time. Putting over their championships. The second annual pay-per-view, formerly called Vengeance, took place on June 29, 2008 and will be released on DVD tomorrow.

The DVD contains the pay-per-view in its entirety with a couple of extras, including Jim âJR❠Ross giving his June 30 farewell address on Raw. Seriously, he is a class act. Plus, thereâs a post-match interview with WWE champ Triple H. Missing is the CM Punk world title victory on the following night. That would have been a nice touch since it was teased on the pay-per-view.

Three announcing teams called the action for Raw, Smackdown and ECW matches. Solid performance by Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole. Smackdownâs Mick Foley seemed a bit awkward at first in adjusting to the legendary announcer, but came into his own as the night wore on. To me, he had the line of the night when he told JR, âI thought I was old school, but I think you were from the school that burned down before they built the old school.â

And ECWâs Mike Adamle? I know. It is easy to pile on this guy, but when he says things such as, âMeanwhile, Kane is still in front of our broadcast thing,❠he doesnât do himself any favors. Thing? Even if you donât know about the business, you should still know what a table is.

Adamle is still trying to find his style and it shows. He is vanilla one minute and screaming, âHave mercy❠the next. Tazz does his best, but this experiment should start paying off by now.

Night of Champions was a solid effort with something for everyone. Young stars, old school matches, intensifying feuds, solid ring work, and one Diva âdevouring❠another (more on that later). Yes, the DVD has few frills. However, it makes it affordable and certainly worth the price for those who don’t pop for the pay-per-view, but still want the high quality video and sound.

I wonât do a âblow-by-blow❠match analysis, since that was already done following the pay-per-view. Just some hackneyed reflections of each bout.

WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz defeated Fit Finlay and Hornswoggle

Fit Finlay as a face doesnât work for me at all, especially when he buddies up to a guy he would normally kick the crap out of. He was âno frills.❠Now, he doesnât so much like to fight as much as he liked to jig, according to the entrance music I heard. On the other hand, Miz and Morrison gel well and are a great, cocky heel team.

Matt Hardy defeated Chavo Guerrero to retain the WWE United States championship

Some would call it a slow match. I saw it as more âold school❠where Chavo continually worked on Hardyâs left knee. And why was Bam Neely out there? If heâs the âmuscle,❠he was certainly a non-factor.

Mark Henry defeated Kane and The Big Show to capture the ECW championship

Adamle and Tazz referred to this match as a âscene out of Jurassic Park.❠I donât see that as a compliment. Sorry, I donât get Mark Henry and I donât think I ever will. According to Adamle, Henry winning the ECW strap returns him to glory. What?

Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes defeated Bob Holly and Cody Rhodes (no, not the fake one) for the World Tag Team championship

Predictable turn? Maybe, but I also saw it as a nice âold school❠betrayal with the student turning on the teacher. And to say that Ted DiBiase has potential would be an understatement. This is the first of many championships for him. For the record, I believe that this is the first time that a âpartner texting that he would be late❠excuse was used.

Todd Grisham interviews a solemn John Bradshaw Layfield

JBL pushed all the right heel buttons. Talking about economic times and how people are buying things they canât afford. Then, he rips on Texas by going after the Cowboys and putting over the New York Giants. Solid promo.

Kofi Kingston defeated Chris Jericho to win the Intercontinental Championship

Watch the smiling, Kofi. Seems to me that another WWE superstar grinned from ear to ear about ten years ago, playing the happy, nice guy. In return, fans chanted, âRocky sucks.â

Mickie James defeated Katie Lea Burchill to retain the WWE Womenâs championship

Michael Cole said that Mickie James was âdevoured❠by Katie Lea. Look, I know that âDevour❠was the theme song to the show, but seriouslyâ¦

Edge defeated Batista to retain the World Heavyweight championship

I donât question Batistaâs charisma and intensity. But that pretend machine gun entrance? Looks a bit silly. He should make spitty gun noises when he does it.

Triple H defeated John Cena for the WWE championship

Okay, speaking of âspitty,❠spitting water for an entrance is even sillier. And Cena responding to Triple Hâs crotch chop with a salute? Iâm going to remember that next time someone flips me off on the road.

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