SummerSlam Top 10 Countdown – By Michael Owen
No. 9 (15 Points) – Randy Orton vs. Christian (August 25, 2011)
Before his run with the World Heavyweight Championship, many people still considered Christian as ‘Edge’s Partner’ and nothing more. He had a run in TNA and became a multiple time champion but he was still in Edge’s shadow. When he returned to WWE in ‘09, he floundered in the mid-card again and everyone thought a secondary title would be the height of Christian’s WWE career. That all changed at Extreme Rules when Christian finally managed to win the big one and defeated Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The setup for the SummerSlam match began on May 6th 2011 when Orton defeated Christian for the World Heavyweight Championship on SmackDown. Christian attempted to regain the title from Orton at Over The Limit and Capitol Punishment but came up short on both attempts. Christian would regain the title on the third time of asking at Money in The Bank. He became a two time World Heavyweight Champion and in doing so, he proved that he was just as good as his retired partner.
This began the final build to SummerSlam. Christian had won the title by spitting in Orton’s face, provoking Orton into kicking him in the groin for a disqualification. Per the match rules, the title would change hands on a disqualification and Christian became champion. This led to Triple H, who at the time was the on-air authority figure, to announce Randy Orton vs. Christian in a No Disqualification match at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Championship.
We don’t want to spoil the finish of this match so we will just say this. The match was back and forth and both men had their chances to shine and did just that. The crowd was red-hot by the time the finish came and it was as close to a perfect match as you could get.
I think it is a testament that in an era where people are quick to forget great wrestling moments in the present that this match has made it into the TWM top 10 SummerSlam Moments.
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