WWE Champion Randy Orton def. Big Show

BOSTON — WWE Champion Randy Orton retained his title against Big Show at Survivor Series in a manner that has become standard for the manipulative Authority. But The Viper wasn’t the only champion standing in the ring at the end of the night.

Making a massive statement without speaking a word, World Heavyweight Champion John Cena interrupted Orton’s victory celebration and faced off with his greatest rival in the center of the ring. No blows were exchanged, but WWE’s two top dogs held their titles high, hinting at a champion vs. champion showdown that’s been a long time coming.

It was an unpredictable ending to a match that was defined by unexpected moments. Earlier in the evening, WWE COO Triple H had announced that there would be no physical interference in any of the night’s bouts. That was troubling news for a WWE Champion who has relied heavily on the influences of The Authority to keep him in the title picture. A week after he had uttered the words, “I probably can’t beat Big Show by myself,” Orton was all alone against an honest to God giant.

If The Viper lacked confidence, he made no attempt to hide it as he rolled out of the ring as soon as the bell rang. Hoping to avoid Big Show’s lethal fists, Orton stayed on the move early in the contest, but it’s hard to avoid the grasp of a man with a wingspan like an airbus.

Ultimately snatching the champion up with his catcher mitt hands, Big Show began to tee off on Orton with punches that could rearrange internal organs. All of The Viper’s third-generation instincts seemed to disappear as the idea of losing his WWE Title — and his status as the “face of WWE” — became a disturbing reality.

Orton did show glimmers of his dangerous self at times. After yanking Big Show off the top rope and driving him face first into the canvas, The Viper came within a millisecond of pinning his massive challenger. And Orton’s resilience was on full display when he powered out of pinfall attempt after being chokeslammed by the titan.

Still, the night belonged to Big Show. At the same event where he won his first WWE Title in 1999, The World’s Largest Athlete seemed on his way to doing it again when the action spilled to the outside. Although the referee went down after an accidental collision, Show fended off Orton’s attempted chair attack and then flung him into the third row of the TD Garden. If that wasn’t enough punishment for The Viper, Big Show went ahead and knocked him out on the arena floor. In that moment, the big man’s victory was all but a formality.

And then Triple H’s music hit. As The World’s Largest Athlete tossed Orton back in the ring and readied to pin him, WWE’s COO, Stephanie McMahon and Kane gathered at the top of the entranceway. Finding a loophole in their own edict, The Authority did not physically interfere in the bout, but they distracted the challenger long enough for Orton to shake off the cobwebs and connect with an RKO. To finally put the giant away, The Viper punted him in the head and pinned Big Show.

Despite rumors of tension between the WWE Champion and The Authority, the group seemed to be on the same page as the “face of WWE” celebrated with his title. That was until John Cena broke up the party. Riding high after his successful World Heavyweight Title defense against Alberto Del Rio, the Cenation leader brought his hometown crowd to their feet as he deliberately his sights set on the WWE Champion.

What happens next with Orton and Cena is anybody’s guess, but things between WWE’s two biggest champions are about to get very interesting.

BOSTON — WWE Champion Randy Orton retained his title against Big Show at Survivor Series in a manner that has become standard for the manipulative Authority. But The Viper wasn’t the only champion standing in the ring at the end of the night.

Making a massive statement without speaking a word, World Heavyweight Champion John Cena interrupted Orton’s victory celebration and faced off with his greatest rival in the center of the ring. No blows were exchanged, but WWE’s two top dogs held their titles high, teasing a potential showdown that has been a long time coming.

Check out photos of the intense staredown

It was an unpredictable ending to a match that was defined by unexpected moments. Earlier in the evening, WWE COO Triple H had announced that there would be no physical interference in any of the night’s bouts. That was troubling news for a WWE Champion who has relied heavily on the influence of The Authority to keep him in the title picture. A week after he had uttered the words, “I probably can’t beat Big Show by myself,” Orton was all alone against a true giant.

If The Viper lacked confidence, he made no attempt to hide it as he rolled out of the ring as soon as the bell rang. Hoping to avoid Big Show’s lethal fists, Orton stayed on the move early in the contest, but it’s hard to avoid the grasp of a man with a wingspan like an airbus.

Ultimately snatching the champion up with his catcher’s mitt hands, Big Show began to tee off on Orton with punches that could rearrange internal organs. All of The Viper’s third-generation instincts seemed to disappear as the idea of losing his WWE Title — and his status as the “face of WWE” — became a disturbing reality.

Orton did show glimmers of his dangerous self at times. After yanking Big Show off the top rope and driving him face first into the canvas, The Viper came within a millisecond of pinning his massive challenger. And Orton’s resilience was on full display when he powered out of a pinfall attempt after being chokeslammed by the titan.

Still, the night belonged to Big Show. At the same event where he won his first WWE Title in 1999 (and his second in 2002), The World’s Largest Athlete seemed on his way to doing it again when the action spilled to the outside. Although the referee went down after an accidental collision, Show fended off Orton’s attempted chair attack and flung him into the third row of Boston’s TD Garden. If that wasn’t enough punishment for The Viper, Big Show went ahead and knocked him out on the arena floor. In that moment, the big man’s victory was all but a formality.

And then Triple H’s music hit. As The World’s Largest Athlete tossed Orton back in the ring and readied to pin him, WWE’s COO, Stephanie McMahon and Kane gathered at the top of the entranceway. Finding a loophole in their own edict, The Authority did not physically interfere in the bout, but they distracted the challenger just long enough for Orton to shake off the cobwebs and connect with an RKO. To finally put Big Show away, The Viper punted him in the head and pinned the giant.

Despite rumors of tension between the WWE Champion and The Authority, the group seemed to be on the same page as the “face of WWE” celebrated with his title. That was until John Cena broke up the party. Riding high after his successful World Heavyweight Title defense against Alberto Del Rio, the Cenation leader brought his hometown crowd to its feet as he deliberately set his sights on the WWE Champion.

What happens next with Orton and Cena is anybody’s guess, but things between WWE’s two World Champions are about to get very interesting.