Vengeance: Night of Champions

Vengeance: Night of Champions was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) within both the Vengeance and Night of Champions chronologies.[3] It was the seventh annual Vengeance event and the inaugural Night of Champions event. It featured talent from the Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brands. The event took place on June 24, 2007, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.[4] Every match on the card was contested for a championship; two were won and seven were retained. This event was notable for being on the weekend of the Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide case. Benoit was originally booked to face CM Punk for the vacant ECW World Championship, but never showed up due to him committing suicide on the same day.[5]

Vengeance: Night of Champions
Promotional poster featuring Bobby Lashley holding the ECW World Championship (left), Edge holding the World Heavyweight Championship (center) and John Cena holding the WWE Championship (right)
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown!
ECW
DateJune 24, 2007
CityHouston, Texas
VenueToyota Center
Attendance15,000[1]
Buy rate243,000[2]
Tagline(s)"Night of Champions"
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
One Night Stand		 Next →
The Great American Bash
Vengeance chronology
← Previous
2006		 Next →
2011
Night of Champions chronology
← Previous
First		 Next →
2008

The main event featured the Raw brand. It saw John Cena defend the WWE Championship against Mick Foley, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, and King Booker. Cena won the match and retained the WWE Championship after pinning Foley following an FU.[6] The featured match from the SmackDown! brand was a "Last Chance match" for the World Heavyweight Championship between Edge and Batista, which Edge won by countout.[7] The primary match from the ECW brand was CM Punk versus Johnny Nitro for the vacant ECW World Championship, which Nitro won by pinfall after performing a corkscrew neckbreaker from the middle rope.[8]

Storylines
John Cena as WWE Champion

The main feud on the Raw brand heading into the event was between WWE Champion John Cena, Bobby Lashley, King Booker, Mick Foley, and Randy Orton. The feud began when Lashley was drafted to Raw and stripped of the ECW World Championship.[9] After being stripped of the title, Lashley began to pursue the WWE Championship.[9] On the June 18 episode of Raw, Foley, Orton, Booker, and Lashley all cut promos on why they deserve to be the number-one contender to the WWE Championship. Cena also cut a promo on who he believed deserved to be the number one contender to the championship. Following this, Interim General Manager Jonathan Coachman announced that all five men would compete for the title in a match billed as the "WWE Championship Challenge" at Vengeance.[10]

The main feud heading into Vengeance on the SmackDown! brand was between World Heavyweight Champion Edge and Batista. Their match stemmed from their Steel cage match at One Night Stand, three weeks before Vengeance, where Edge won by escaping the cage.[11] On the June 8 episode of SmackDown!, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced that Edge would defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Batista in a "Last Chance" match at Vengeance.[12] On the June 22 episode of SmackDown!, Batista and Ric Flair defeated Edge and Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP). Midway through the match, Flair and MVP brawled outside the ring, leaving Edge on his own against Batista. Batista gained the pinfall after executing a Batista Bomb on Edge.[13]

The feud between The Hardys (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) and Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch began at Backlash. At Backlash, The Hardys defeated Cade and Murdoch to retain the World Tag Team Championship.[14] At the following event, Judgment Day, Matt and Jeff defeated Cade and Murdoch once again to retain the title.[15]

Event
Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English commentators Jerry Lawler (Raw)
Jim Ross (Raw)
Michael Cole (SmackDown!)
John "Bradshaw" Layfield (SmackDown!)
Joey Styles (ECW)
Tazz (ECW)
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewer Todd Grisham
Ring announcer Justin Roberts
Referees Charles Robinson
Mike Chioda
Chad Patton
Jack Doan
Mickie Henson
Marty Elias
Jim Korderas
Scott Armstrong
Mark Yeaton

Preliminary matches

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Super Crazy defeated Carlito in a dark match.[16]

Johnny Nitro faced CM Punk for the vacant ECW World Championship

The event began with a video package of the event and its theme, "Night of Champions," followed by opening pyrotechnics. The first match was between Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch and The Hardys (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) for the World Tag Team Championship. Cade and Matt started the match, with Matt in control. The two teams tagged in and out until Cade and Murdoch attempted to walk out of the match, but the Hardys went after them, and brought them back into the ring. Jeff attempted a Swanton Bomb onto Cade, but Murdoch interfered on Cade's behalf. Matt tried to interfere on Jeff's behalf, but was stopped by the referee. Murdoch used this as an advantage, and pushed Jeff off the turnbuckle, leading to Cade performing a powerbomb. Cade gained the pinfall on Jeff to win the match and retain the titles.[17]

The second match was between Chavo Guerrero and Jimmy Wang Yang for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.[4] The match began with Yang and Guerrero locking up, followed by Yang in control through most of the match. After Yang missed a moonsault, Guerrero executed a Gory Bomb. Shortly after, Guerrero performed a Frog Splash on Yang. Afterwards, Guerrero pinned Yang to win the match and retain the Cruiserweight Championship.

The third match was between CM Punk and Johnny Nitro, who subbed in for the absent Chris Benoit (unknown of killing his family and himself at the time), for the ECW World Championship.[8] The match started off with Punk attempting a crossbody on Nitro. Nitro countered, however, and executed an enzuigiri. Nitro delivered a corkscrew neckbreaker and pinned Punk to win the match to become the new ECW World Champion.[8][18]

The fourth match was between Santino Marella and Umaga for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.[4][19] The match began with Umaga in control, squashing Marella. Two minutes into the match, Umaga was punching Marella uncontrollably. The referee disqualified Umaga when he refused to stop after giving a five count, and Marella retained the title. Umaga, following the disqualification, delivered a splash and a Samoan Spike to Santino.[19]

The fifth match was between Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) and Ric Flair for the WWE United States Championship.[4][20] The match started with Flair executing a series of backhand chops to MVP. Flair kept the advantage and applied the figure four leglock. MVP countered, by executing a low blow. MVP then performed the Playmaker and pinned Flair to retain the United States Championship.[20]

The sixth match was an open challenge by Deuce 'n Domino to any tag team for the WWE Tag Team Championship, which was accepted by Jimmy Snuka, who just happens to be Deuce's real-life father and Sgt. Slaughter.[4][21] Snuka and Slaughter controlled most of the match; however, Deuce 'n Domino got the win after Deuce pinned Snuka. After the match, Deuce 'n Domino attacked Snuka and Slaughter until Tony Garea and Rick Martel came into the ring to assist Snuka and Slaughter.[21]

Main event matches
Edge defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Batista at the event

The seventh match was between Edge and Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship.[4][7] This was a "Last Chance match", meaning if Batista lost, he could not get another shot at the World Heavyweight Championship as long as Edge was champion. Batista originally won the match by disqualification after Edge executed a low blow; however, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long restarted the match with the stipulation that Edge could lose the title by disqualification. Edge won the match after Batista was counted out, thus retaining the title,[7] and with the match stipulation, Batista would be unable to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship as long as Edge was the champion. After the match, in complete frustration, Batista attacked Edge and performed a Batista Bomb on him outside of the ring onto the ground before leaving him with the title.

The eighth match was Melina against Candice Michelle for the WWE Women's Championship.[4][22] After a back and forth match, Michelle executed a spinning heel kick on Melina to win the Women's Championship.[22][23]

The main event, billed as the "WWE Championship Challenge," saw John Cena defending the WWE Championship against King Booker, Bobby Lashley, Mick Foley and Randy Orton.[4][6] Throughout the match, all five men gained an advantage over one-another at one or more spots. One spot in the match saw Lashley dive over the top rope onto the other four competitors. Towards the end of the match, Cena executed an FU on Lashley through an announce table. Cena won the match and retained the title after pinning Foley following an FU.[6]

Aftermath

The scheduled June 25 episode of Raw was going to be a three-hour memorial to "Mr. McMahon". However, due to the actual death of Chris Benoit, the show opened with McMahon standing in an empty arena, acknowledging that his reported death was only of his character as part of a storyline.[24] This was followed by a tribute to Benoit that filled the three-hour timeslot.[25] Once the details of Benoit's actions became apparent, WWE made the decision to remove nearly all mentions of Benoit from their website,[26] from future broadcasts and all publications.[27]

Chavo Guerrero went on to defend the WWE Cruiserweight Championship in a Cruiserweight Open at The Great American Bash against Jimmy Wang Yang, Jamie Noble, Funaki, and Shannon Moore. Hornswoggle also entered the match at the bell, but immediately escaped the ring and hid under it. With all of the cruiserweights down, with the exception of Noble, Hornswoggle came out from under the ring and delivered a Tadpole Splash to Noble. He pinned him afterwards to win the match and the Cruiserweight Championship.[28][29] Candice Michelle and Melina continued to feud over the WWE Women's Championship. The two had a rematch at The Great American Bash for the title. Michelle pinned Melina after delivering a Candy Wrapper to retain the title.[30]

On the July 2 episode of Raw, Umaga defeated Santino Marella in a rematch to capture the WWE Intercontinental Championship.[31][32] Two weeks later, Jeff Hardy defeated William Regal, Shelton Benjamin, and Santino Marella in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match to become the number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship. At The Great American Bash, Umaga defeated Hardy to retain the title after the Samoan Spike.[33] That same night, Bobby Lashley won a "Beat the Clock" tournament to become the number-one contender to the WWE Championship.[31] At The Great American Bash, Lashley faced John Cena for the WWE Championship in the main event. Cena retained the title after an FU from the top rope.[34]

On the June 26 episode of ECW on Sci Fi, CM Punk defeated Elijah Burke in a two out of three falls match to become the number one contender to the ECW Championship.[35] At The Great American Bash, Punk faced John Morrison (formerly known as Johnny Nitro) for the ECW Championship. Morrison retained the title after hitting Punk with both of his knees.[36]

On the July 6 episode of SmackDown!, Kane was named the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship after he appeared as the special guest on Edge's Cutting Edge segment.[37] Edge held a celebration for himself on the July 13 episode of SmackDown!, and was attacked by Kane, who in the process legitimately injured Edge.[38] On the July 20 episode of SmackDown!, Edge was forced to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship as a result of his injury. The Great Khali went on to win a 20-man battle royal to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.[39][40] At The Great American Bash, Khali defended the title successfully against Kane and Batista in a Triple Threat match.[41]

Results
No. Results[4] Stipulations Times[4]
1D Super Crazy defeated Carlito[16] Singles match Unknown
2 Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch (c) defeated The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)[17] Tag team match for the World Tag Team Championship 08:55
3 Chavo Guerrero (c) defeated Jimmy Wang Yang[42] Singles match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship 10:16
4 Johnny Nitro defeated CM Punk[8] Singles match for the vacant ECW World Championship 08:00
5 Santino Marella (c) defeated Umaga by disqualification[19] Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship 02:34
6 Montel Vontavious Porter (c) defeated Ric Flair[20] Singles match for the WWE United States Championship 08:43
7 Deuce 'n Domino (c) (with Cherry) defeated Jimmy Snuka and Sgt. Slaughter[21] Tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship 06:34
8 Edge (c) defeated Batista by countout[7] Last Chance match for the World Heavyweight Championship 16:50
9 Candice Michelle defeated Melina (c)[22] Singles match for the WWE Women's Championship 04:07
10 John Cena (c) defeated Bobby Lashley, King Booker (with Queen Sharmell), Mick Foley and Randy Orton [6] Five-Pack Challenge for the WWE Championship 10:08
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
  • D – indicates the match was a dark match

Tournament brackets
Semifinals Finals
      
CM Punk Pin
Marcus Cor Von 06:45
CM Punk Pin
Johnny Nitro(*) 08:15
Chris Benoit Sub
Elijah Burke 06:38

(*) – Johnny Nitro was an event-day replacement added by WWE after Chris Benoit was a no-show, with the official statement a "family emergency". It was later discovered Benoit's CTE-related murders had taken place that weekend.

gollark: At least if there was some evil conspiracy running everything they might have a *strategy* and *long-term planning*.
gollark: (inb4 "but [POLITICAL SYSTEM I DISLIKE] is totally designed as the perfect evil-optimization engine")
gollark: I would mostly only feel that way about, I don't know, a political system literally designed to maximize pain/evil or something, which is very unlikely to actually arise naturally, spread, and take over the world.
gollark: Just as predicted.
gollark: COVID-19 with twice the infection rate *would* basically be that, though.

References
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  2. Clark, Ryan (August 2, 2007). "ECW Rating Is In, PPV Buyrates On The Decline, More". wrestlinginc.com. Wrestling Inc. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
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  42. Rote, Andrew (June 24, 2007). "Chavo cruises". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved November 6, 2007.

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