Randy Orton def. Drew McIntyre to become the new WWE Champion (Hell in a Cell Match)
Randy Orton defeated Drew McIntyre to make history as a 14-time World Champion, and fittingly, one of the most sinister Superstars of all time accomplished the feat inside WWE's most sinister structure in an all-out war at WWE Hell in a Cell.
The Viper entered the bout with an unblemished record in Hell in a Cell Matches with the WWE Title on the line, and he left with a perfect mark as well. But it appeared far from imminent for much of the bout, as McIntyre seemed to have an answer for all of his rival's moves.
Orton ambushed The King of Claymore Country, dressing as a member of the stage crew and attacking him from behind before the match started. But McIntyre, all too familiar with Orton's ploys by now, seemed prepared and quickly collected himself before using the cage to his advantage early in his first-ever Hell in a Cell Match.
Cracking Orton across the back with a steel chair and blasting him with steel steps, McIntyre showed he was more than willing to match The Legend Killer's renowned sadism. But an early Claymore attempt backfired, and Orton unleashed an assault of his own with a chair, wedging it into McIntyre's previously fractured jaw.
Orton controlled the battlefield with his signature deliberate pace, carefully calculating every move. McIntyre found a way to rally with a series of belly-to-belly throws, including a third that sent Orton crashing into a table.
But The Viper's plotting didn't relent, and he used bolt cutters to escape the cell and began scaling it moments later, challenging McIntyre to pursue him. That appeared to be Orton's plan all along, as he retrieved a lead pipe atop the cage, though McIntyre ducked his wild swing to thwart this particular scheme.
While climbing down, both men struck each other repeatedly while clinging to the cell. Unable to hold on, McIntyre careened down through the announce table. Likely suffering from internal injuries, McIntyre gasped for air while a sick grin appeared across Orton's lips.
After returning to the ring, the champion dug deep and nearly caught lightning in a bottle once again, countering an RKO attempt into a backslide pin reminiscent of their first WWE Title clash at SummerSlam, but it only netted a two-count.
McIntyre found the will to deliver a Claymore, though Orton demonstrated his veteran ring presence, rolling out to prevent a possible pin. After dragging Orton back into the ring, McIntyre attempted a second, but Orton dodged it and planted him with a vicious RKO for the victory.
The win adds to Orton's already enduring legacy, tying him with Triple H for the third-most World Title reigns all time behind only John Cena and Ric Flair, who each have 16. Meanwhile, McIntyre was left with his dreams crushed, a pain likely worse than any of the physical devastation Orton unleashed.
