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Welcome to my ongoing Night Of Champions blog.
No matter how you feel about WWE running in Saudi Arabia the one thing no one can deny is that these crowds are lit. They were yesterday for Smackdown and as Randy Orton is walking to the ring they are showing it again today. They are singing at the top of their lungs. Randy appreciated it last night and he does again today.
We are opening with Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in the finals of the men's King Of The Ring tournament, the winner gets the Undisputed Champion at SummerSlam.
Cody is out next and the crowd is insane for him as well. He made a fan for life of the kid he gave his belt to. That was a hell of a reaction.
They aren't doing much early as they are just letting the crowd have a ball, and they sure as hell are. They love both guys.
The first big spot was an Orton SuperPlex. Randy is now selling that he landed badly on his lower back. That allowed Cody to go on the attack. He has been working over Randy for a few minutes and is working on the back. Friendship is put aside here.
Randy made a comeback with the powerslam but it took him too long to make the cover due to the back.
Wade Narrett just made a great point about how sometimes an injury can loosen up as time goes on and endorphins are released, and that is what Randy is hoping for. Great piece of work.
Cody hit a Cutter from the top but only got a two. They are selling that he may be getting frustrated.
Randy hit a DDT and the crowd is chanting RKO. He went for it but Cody hit Crossroads for a two count. This is really good.
Cody walked into an RKO and just kicked out in time.
Randy got up and was going to punt Cody but he had second thoughts since Cody is his boy and when he finally did it, Cody got out of the way. He locked a Figure Four on in the middle of the ring. The fans are chanting for Randy and he turned the move, forcing Cody to grab the ropes for the break.
The story is great. Randy is fighting through the back and now the leg as well.
They are now throwing hands in the middle. Cole said that it's warm and humid in the arena. That's not fun.
Cody came off the second rope and Randy caught him with the RKO, two count only!
Randy went to the floor and grabbed a chair. When he came in the ring Charles Robinson took it from him. Orton used that as a ruse to expose the top turnbuckle. Cody saw it and they fought over who would use it. Cody managed to throw Randy into it ribs first and then hit his finisher to win the match.
Cody is going for the Title at SummerSlam, as he should be.
He checked on Randy after the match. Randy went to the floor as Nick Aldis, with Adam Pearce, gave Cody the crown. Byron Saxton then interviewed him.
Cody started by thanking Randy Orton. He got the crowd to pop for him while he was on the floor. Randy wasn't happy, but he accepted it and went to the back.
He is ready for either John Cena or CM Punk. At Summerslam he said he gets the ball back.
Raquel Rodriguez vs. Rhea Ripley in a Street Fight.
Raquel is out first with both tag belts. The announcers said that the GMs have a decision to make with them since Liv Morgan will be out for months.
Rhea is next to the expected monster pop.
Early on the story is that Rhea is uncharted waters fighting someone bigger and stronger than her. She is working Rhea over early on. Rhea is tied up in the ropes and Raquel is beating her with a kendo stick. She went to use a chair but Rhea got her leg up and kicked the chair into Raquel's face. Rhea made a comeback and went after the Arabic announce table. Rhea went for a rana off the table but Raquel caught her and powerbombed her through another ringside table. Rhea is selling it, as she should.
Raquel set up a table in the ring while Rhea sold on the floor. The fans are cheering for Rhea. Raquel is abusing her on the floor. She set up the steps but Rhea reversed and Raquel at them. Rhea took off her belt and whipped the snot out of Raquel. She hit a Razor's Edge and kick to the head for a two count. They are really laying it in.
Raquel locked in the Prison Trap and had her when Roxanne Perez came in and attacked. Rhea went after her, allowing Raquel time to come back. Rhea put a trashcan on Perez and kicked it. Ouch.
Raquel came back and threw Rhea shoulder first into the post. She got a two after a splash.
Rhea reversed and threw Raquel into a table on the top rope. They went up on the table. Uh oh. Rhea hit a Riptide off the table (which thank God the ref held onto) to get the win.
That was a hell of a match!
Please click to Page 2 for more thoughts on today's show!
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