2. Kofi Kingston Wins the Intercontinental Championship (WWE Night of Champions 2008)
Heading into the night, Chris Jericho strode to the ring accompanied by his manager, Lance Cade. He declared that, since his scheduled opponent, Jeff Hardy, was suspended, he had no one left to face and demanded that the referee count to ten so he could leave with his Intercontinental Title belt.
Instead, one of WWE’s newest draftees, 26-year-old Kofi Kingston, emerged as the surprise challenger. While the match was short, it was highly electric. Near the end of the bout, Jericho managed to lock Kingston in his devastating Walls of Jericho submission.
But suddenly, Shawn Michaels ran through the crowd, attacking Lance Cade at ringside. Michaels then jumped onto the apron, where he confronted Jericho. Michaels then jumped onto the apron and confronted Jericho. Because of Michaels’ interference, Jericho broke the submission hold, ultimately costing him the match and his title belt.
The moment Jericho turned around from dealing with “The Heartbreak Kid,” a recovered Kingston unleashed his signature move, Trouble in Paradise. He scored the three-count, securing a massive upset victory to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
1. Jeff Hardy Wins the World Heavyweight Championship (WWE Night of Champions 2009)
Just one month prior to this matchup, CM Punk shocked the world by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on a battered Jeff Hardy, who had just won a grueling ladder match, to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
In the weeks leading up to this showdown, Punk leaned into his “Straight Edge” persona, lecturing Hardy about his real-life history with substance abuse and his “enabler” fanbase. These promos added a more realistic feel to the rivalry, making the anticipation for the eventual match that much bigger.
The matchup was a masterclass in storytelling, pitting Punk’s methodical approach against Hardy’s high-flying style. The ending saw Punk attempt to deliver his signature GTS, but Hardy countered the lift, throwing Punk off his shoulders.
Moments later, Hardy connected with a Twist of Fate, scaled the turnbuckle, and delivered a Swanton Bomb to secure the victory, bringing the roaring crowd to their feet. CM Punk is arguably at his best as a heel, and this match demonstrated not only his exceptional in-ring skills but also his brilliant character work, which ultimately drove the fans to rally behind Hardy for a major feel-good moment.
After diving into the history books to relive these five incredible moments, attention now turns to this year’s PLE. Fans are wondering what WWE has up its sleeve when WWE Night of Champions takes place this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Will WWE actually deliver a shocking upset, or is creative going to play it safe with predictable results that fans can call before the opening bell has even rung?
