WWE Night of Champions 2015: Biggest Takeaways from Latest PPV Event
Now that the dust has settled from Night of Champions 2015, we can begin to reflect on what the event means for the next several weeks of WWE programming.
While we're not quite in WrestleMania season just yet, as the end of the year approaches, we'll start seeing more and more hints at what direction the biggest night of the year will be heading in. As such, the next few months are crucial for anyone looking to get the inside track on the Showcase of the Immortals.
Now is the time for everyone on the roster to stake his claim for a first-class ticket on the Road to WrestleMania. A strong showing through fall and winter might be all that's required for a good spot on the most important card of the year for WWE.
Kevin Owens Is Back on Track
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After an electric debut, Kevin Owens seemed to be suffering the same fate as many an up-and-comer over the last few years—a feud with John Cena killing all sense of momentum behind a fresh face.
At Night of Champions, a smart victory over Ryback secured Owens the Intercontinental Championship. Perhaps more importantly, KO made good on the promises he made ahead of the event, something that he hadn't been able to do since his first victory over Cena.
Owens is at his best with a title around his waist. He's a smug, two-faced loudmouth—but, as a reigning championship, there's a sense of legitimacy to everything that comes out of his mouth. Without the gold, it's easier to dismiss what he's saying as standard smack talk.
Ryback's reign as champion was fine, but it's clear that his absence as a result of injury diminished its overall impact. Owens now has the opportunity to demonstrate what he can do as the incumbent, a role that he clearly relished during his tenure in NXT.
Of course, the best part of Owens as champion is the bevy of title matches that we could see in the not-so-distant future. It might not suit his character to be a fighting champion, but there are certainly plenty of matchups that fans will be eager to see.
Sting Still Has It
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Despite the injury he suffered and criticism about his WWE run as a whole, credit has to be given to Sting for his capacity as a performer as a 56-year-old.
Paired with the ever-impressive Seth Rollins, the Stinger was part of a memorable main event at Night of Champions. Hopefully, the injuries he suffered won't make it his last match, but if that's the way things shake out, there can be no regrets.
Sting gave his all, no doubt amassing a new generation of fans unfamiliar with the work he did in his prime. From his journey through the announce table to his remarkable cross body to the floor, few could have anticipated just how much Sting had left in the tank.
WWE often likes to pair veterans with other veterans for big matches, and there's certainly value to that strategy in terms of sheer spectacle. However, this bout demonstrated how younger talent can be used at their best—contributing in terms of work rate while benefiting from time with a master between the ropes.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev Has Run Its Course
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Among Dolph Ziggler, Lana, Rusev and Summer Rae, there's more than enough talent for an engaging feud. Unfortunately, the long-running rivalry the quartet has become embroiled in doesn't make the best use of anyone involved.
We've seen Summer Rae double down on her status as a generic female non-competitor and Lana go from a powerful presence to a bland valet. Meanwhile, Ziggler's moral compass is undecipherable to the audience, and Rusev has lost much of his reputation as a vicious monster.
Overall, it's something of a bust. The best that can be said about this feud is that it appears to be winding down, and it'll be a boon for those involved—not to mention fans—once that happens.
The biggest disappointment here is just how poorly the men and women involved have been presented. Ziggler and Rusev have all the tools to put on a great match, and Lana and Summer Rae do good work as non-wrestlers. Unfortunately, none of those pieces came together at any point.
Charlotte's Title Reign Will Mark the Real Divas Revolution
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It's all well and good to talk about who kicked off the Divas Revolution and when—but, in truth, an engaging women's division is still in the works.
The much-maligned team-based feud that's been smouldering for the past several weeks was a fine way of introducing three new competitors to audiences unfamiliar with NXT. However, now's the time for things to kick into high gear.
The best way forward is to give Charlotte the competition that she deserves. Singles feuds are the key, and hopefully, they can be based around storylines that are as engrossing as the excellent ones in the NXT women's division.
Paige's recent character shift is a great step towards this, as well as a canny method of shaking up the status quo of the division. However, it's the impending feuds with both Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch that many fans will be anticipating most eagerly.
The New Day Is a Team to Build the Tag Division Around
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It's easy to forget that it wasn't so long ago that The New Day was being written off as yet another example of WWE wasting the potential of young talent.
Now, it's one of the hottest groups in all of wrestling. Its backstage skits and in-ring promos are some of the most entertaining television that WWE has come up with in years—and its talent in the ring is just as considerable.
Few teams could face up to a duo with the notoriety of The Dudley Boyz. However, the match at Night of Champions saw The New Day hold its own and also set up a hot rematch for the Madison Square Garden show next month.
The New Day is the total package, and it certainly seems to be on a roll at the moment. This is an enormous opportunity to flesh out the tag division—one that WWE would be foolish to ignore. After all, tag teams inevitably break up, and an established duo is more likely to produce singles competitors who can go the distance.
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