WWE Night of Champions 2015: Power Ranking Every Match at PPV
On Sunday, WWE delivered a solid night of pro wrestling with Night of Champions 2015. In addition to a couple of interesting returns, there was great action between the ropes across all matches on the card.
In fact, there wasn't one dud among the eight matches. That's a rare thing—and a true testament to the quality and depth of the roster at the moment.
While WWE Creative may not have advanced storylines quite as much as people would have liked, and there were a few booking decisions that will have some fans scratching their heads, there was plenty to enjoy about the event.
Here's a full power ranking of the bouts that took place at Night of Champions 2015.
8. The Cosmic Wasteland vs. Neville & the Lucha Dragons
1 of 8
It says a lot about the match quality at Night of Champions 2015 that this engaging six-man tag match was the weakest bout on the card.
The match was entertaining enough, but it was clear from the start what the result would be. The Cosmic Wasteland is a new enough faction that a win was never really in any doubt, but the action was nevertheless enjoyable.
The Lucha Dragons had a lengthy feud with The Ascension in NXT, so it makes a lot of sense for the duo to be introduced to this ongoing rivalry between Neville and Stardust. Moreover, the two teams have developed some strong chemistry based around their vastly differing styles.
This was a decent match but non-essential compared to the rest of the show. Neville and Stardust perhaps deserve a better spot on the card, but it's wise to get two more tag teams on the pay-per-view to continue the ongoing development of that division.
7. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev
2 of 8
Despite the overarching feud being hit-or-miss, Rusev and Dolph Ziggler are reliable enough performers to put together a great match.
The Bulgarian Brute's offence is a good match for Ziggler's speed and agility, and the pair certainly found an extra gear to separate Sunday's match from the rest of their encounters. However, external factors undermined their athleticism and ring work.
Jerry Lawler's insipid, vaguely sexist commentary is bad enough, but the closing stretch of the bout featured some distracting input from Summer Rae and her shoes—not to mention the played-out technique of Rusev celebrating his win, despite the match clearly not being concluded.
It's a classic case of two talented wrestlers being weighed down by unappealing storyline presentation. Here's hoping both men can move on to fresh territory as soon as possible.
6. The Wyatt Family vs. Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & Chris Jericho
3 of 8
This six-man tag team match was not a bad bout by any means, but it's fair to say that the introduction of Chris Jericho as the mystery partner was something of a letdown.
Jericho is a bona fide legend who always delivers a good performance. However, he's made so many returns over the past five years that it's no longer a surprise when his music hits—and the mystery of the sixth man in this match had been made a huge focus in recent weeks.
It now seems that WWE brought in Jericho because newcomer Braun Strowman was in need of a scalp and neither Roman Reigns nor Dean Ambrose was the right man to fall victim. In one hand, that's smart booking, but on the other hand it's a little transparent.
Regardless, it got the job done—Strowman looked great, and as a result the Wyatt Family as a whole looks stronger than it has in a long time. By that measure, this was an effective match; it just wasn't the classic encounter than it could have been.
5. Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella
4 of 8
On Sunday, Charlotte finally beat Nikki Bella to win the Divas Championship. It's difficult to say whether this feels like a "revolution" just yet, but the pieces are falling into place.
While the match didn't live up to some of the bouts we've seen from the women of NXT, it did the job. Much of the contest centred on Charlotte's weakened knee, which Nikki targeted for much of its duration.
That's a fine story to tell, even if it isn't quite as nuanced as some of the in-ring plot development that Charlotte was a part of back in NXT. The presentation of women on the main roster isn't where it needs to be just yet, but it's preferable to see slow and steady progression rather than nothing at all.
Women's wrestling in WWE is slowly working its way out of the doldrums. Neither the build nor the match was perfect in this case, but at least it's clear that things are moving in the right direction. Now, it's a matter of watching the division flourish—and there's no reason to doubt that it will.
4. Kevin Owens vs. Ryback
5 of 8
After a middling few months following his feud with John Cena, Kevin Owens is right back on track after winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Ryback.
However, it's not just the win that made this match a great success. In terms of his ring work, Owens presented the purest distillation of his character since he graduated from NXT to the main roster. He's an unscrupulous bully who has no qualms about taking a shortcut to get his desired result.
Owens was rough with Ryback from the onset, preying on The Big Guy with some real malice. Even with that in mind, it still took an eye rake and a roll-up to seal the win—something that Owens celebrated as if he'd won the Royal Rumble from the No. 1 spot.
Overall, it was a great showing for Owens, who looks set to take full advantage of his newfound direction. Meanwhile, Ryback goes back to the drawing board, although he is more well-loved by fans at the end of this reign than he was when he won the title.
3. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
6 of 8
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins is a great matchup that is in danger of growing tiresome. These two have met many times over the past couple of years, and at this point we're seeing diminishing returns.
Their encounter at Night of Champions wasn't any worse than their match at SummerSlam—in fact, it was similar. However, it couldn't live up to the previous meeting simply for the fact that there was even less novelty by the time this show came around.
To their credit, both men were aiming to add some fresh content to the bout. Expectations were high for this one, given the exemplary year that each man has been enjoying. Of course, neither wants to leave his momentum behind.
If there's any real complaint about this one, it's that returning the title to Cena so soon makes the whole switch seem less impactful. We're back at the status quo, and the title vs. title match at SummerSlam seems rather meaningless in the grander scheme of things.
2. Sting vs. Seth Rollins
7 of 8
Even despite the serious injury that Sting suffered during this match, the main event of Night of Champions 2015 was one of the best bouts of the evening.
The Stinger might have over-reached with some of the more punishing spots, but they certainly made for an engaging contest. Combined with the monstrous athleticism of Seth Rollins, there was never a dull moment in this one.
Critics will say that Sting has been presented poorly in his WWE run, but that misses the point. This match wasn't set up to give Sting a championship—it was an opportunity for a man known for his ring work to have a great match with one of the most gifted wrestlers of today.
Sting gave this match his all, and it seems that it cost him. There were times during the bout that his cardio seemed to be failing him, but there was no reprieve in the intensity that he displayed throughout. His hunger to deliver was more in line with an up-and-comer than a legend.
Hopefully, we'll see Sting return to the ring for at least one match, but this wouldn't be a terrible bout to go out on. The Vigilante's first attempt at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was a great encounter, which is only fitting considering the career Sting has enjoyed.
1. The Dudley Boyz vs. the New Day
8 of 8
It's been said before, but it bears repeating—The New Day is consistently the best part of WWE programming.
Whether the team is in the ring or on the microphone, few can match the entertainment factor of these three men. The "E" in WWE is often characterized by forced musical guests or other crossover stars, but The New Day manages to be entertaining and still keep the focus on wrestling.
Pairing the trio with The Dudley Boyz was always going to produce great television, and both teams have been firing upon all cylinders since the feud began. The match at Night of Champions was just the first instalment, but it was more than enough to whet the appetite.
The threat of tables has long been the trademark of D-Von and Bubba Ray, but the more conventional action we've seen from them recently has been just as potent. Big E and Bubba Ray have forged a particularly strong bond in the ring.
What really distinguished this bout from the rest of the card is that it left audiences hungry for more. On a show filled with rematches and long-running feuds, there's something to be said for a contest that holds your interest even after the final bell.
What was your favourite match from Night of Champions 2015? What was your least favourite? Let us know in the comments section below.
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