Dolph Ziggler saves career - and wins Intercontinental crown
Monday 10 October 2016 12:49, UK
John Cena's hopes of equaling Ric Flair's tally of 16 WWE world titles were dashed by a chair-wielding AJ Styles at No Mercy on Sunday night.
The Cenation Leader looked poised to claim Styles' WWE World Championship when he hit Dean Ambrose with an Attitude Adjustment from the top rope during the show-opening Triple Threat.
However, Styles climbed into the ring and walloped Cena with the metal seat before pinning the 15-time world champion to retain the belt he won from Ambrose at Backlash last month.
Styles had earlier tapped out, but with Cena and Ambrose administering submission moves at the same time, the referee could not determine a winner and continued the match.
Cena floored Styles and Ambrose with an impressive double German suplex and also hit each of his opponents with Attitude Adjustments at the Smackdown-exclusive pay-per-view.
But Styles, whose match highlights included executing a double DDT and planting Ambrose with a Styles Clash and a stunning 450 Splash off the ropes, remains the blue-brand's kingpin.
Dolph Ziggler, meanwhile, remains employed after beating The Miz with a Superkick to save his career and become a five-time Intercontinental Champion.
The Show-Off had vowed to quit WWE if he was unable to claim The Awesome One's belt and that looked a stark possibility when Miz's wife Maryse and Spirit Squad stars Kenny and Mikey interfered.
However, Ziggler kicked out of one Skull-Crushing Finale after being sprayed with a substance by Maryse and then another after he had been distracted by his former cheerleading pals.
The official then saw fit to eject Maryse, Kenny and Mikey and as The Miz watched the commotion unfold, Ziggler booted him in the face and pinned him, much to the delight of the audience.
Randy Orton, however, lost to Bray Wyatt by pinfall following a distraction from the returning Luke Harper during the night's main event.
The Viper had teed Wyatt up for an RKO but after the lights flickered off and on, he was greeted with the eerie presence of Wyatt's disciple Harper, who has been out injured since March.
Wyatt then pounced to crack Orton with Sister Abigail and leave his opponent without a win on a WWE pay-per-view since he downed Sheamus at Battleground in July 2015.
Elsewhere, an unspecified injury left Women's Champion Becky Lynch unable to defend her belt, with challenger Alexa Bliss now receiving her title shot at Smackdown in Glasgow on November 8.
Bliss was seething at Lynch's no-show and had something else to moan about later in the evening when she was pinned by Naomi.
Plus, Heath Slater and Rhyno knocked off The Usos to retain their Smackdown Tag Team Titles; Baron Corbin conquered Jack Swagger after raking his eyes; and Nikki Bella bested Carmella.
WWE No Mercy is repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 10am on Monday, October 10 and 10pm on Thursday, October 13.
WWE No Mercy booking details
ONLINE: Visit this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
PHONE: UK viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE No Mercy, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
REMOTE
Sky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE No Mercy.
Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and the WWE No Mercy. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
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