WWE "SmackDown results: Henry successful in first World Title defense" | September 23, 2011

WWE
"SmackDown results: Henry successful in first World Title defense" September 23, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio – With his Hell in a Cell Match with Randy Orton quickly approaching, new World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry made things crystal clear – he intends to hold onto the World Title for a long time to come.

MATCHES

• Sheamus def. Heath Slater
• Wade Barret def. Justin Gabriel
• Beth Phoenix & Natalya def. A.J. & Kaitlyn
• Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton (Disqualification)
• The Great Khali def. Jinder Mahal
• Sin Cara def. Daniel Bryan
• WWE Tag Team Champions Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston def. The Usos
• World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry def. Christian in a Lumberjack Match

Christian clearly bit off more than he could chew when he found himself in the first ever SmackDown World Title Lumberjack Match against the newly-crowned World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry. Even the lumberjacks found themselves outmatched against the champion, despite having a numbers advantage. 

When the sea of Superstars surrounding the ring swarmed the champion, he easily pushed them away. To finally assert his dominance, he hoisted the hapless Trent Barreta high overhead and tossed him onto the dazed lumberjacks.

When Henry reentered the ring, Christian chose not to follow. But Sheamus was more than happy to help the match carry on by tossing Christian back to The World’s Strongest Man, who dispatched of him with the World’s Strongest Slam.

Then – still seething after losing the World Title – Randy Orton charged to the ring to stare down the reigning champion. As the two sized each other up, The Viper struck first. With Henry still reeling, Orton forced him out of the ring with a well-targeted dropkick. Showing no signs of fear, Orton stared down Henry who remained outside the ring. What will happen when the two are locked inside unforgiving steel at Hell in a Cell?

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry def. Christian in a Lumberjack Match

The voices in Randy Orton’s head must have been telling him to do really, really bad things on this night. After being disqualified for smashing Cody Rhodes in the face with his protective mask, The Viper unleashed hell on Rhodes. First The Viper punched, RKO’d, then tossed Rhodes to the arena floor. Next, Orton bashed his former Legacy ally in the skull with the timekeeper’s bell. But Orton wasn’t done yet. To put the finishing touches on Rhodes, the former World Champion brutally RKO’d him onto the announce table.
The voices in Randy Orton’s head must have been telling him to do really, really bad things on this night. After being disqualified for smashing Cody Rhodes in the face with his protective mask, The Viper unleashed hell on Rhodes. First The Viper punched, RKO’d, then tossed Rhodes to the arena floor. Next, Orton bashed his former Legacy ally in the skull with the timekeeper’s bell. But Orton wasn’t done yet. To put the finishing touches on Rhodes, the former World Champion brutally RKO’d him onto the announce table.
The voices in Randy Orton’s head must have been telling him to do really, really bad things on this night. After being disqualified for smashing Cody Rhodes in the face with his protective mask, The Viper unleashed hell on Rhodes. First The Viper punched, RKO’d, then tossed Rhodes to the arena floor. Next, Orton bashed his former Legacy ally in the skull with the timekeeper’s bell. But Orton wasn’t done yet. To put the finishing touches on Rhodes, the former World Champion brutally RKO’d him onto the announce table.
Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes def. Randy Orton by Disqualification