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World Champion Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton. No video packages for this title match either. Howard Finkel did the ring announcing, since Lilian Garcia was out. The fans gave referee Earl Hebner the "You Screwed Bret" treatment. At the bell, the two felt each other out, then they locked up and went into a corner, taking their time breaking clean. Orton hit a kick to the gut and applied a hammerlock. Benoit tripped out of it and went into a reverse chinlock. Orton backed Benoit into the corner, and they broke clean again. Orton looked for a test of strength, and got it. They struggled in the knuckle lock, with Benoit bridging back, then back up. Benoit kicked one arm free, then applied a top wrist lock and took Orton to the mat, switching into an armbar. Orton tripped out, but missed a kneedrop and Benoit went back to the armbar. Benoit turned it into a top wrist lock, and Orton punched out of it. Orton hit a shoulderblock, then posed, and got grabbed in another armdrag.
Orton forearmed out of the armbar, but missed a dropkick and Benoit went for the Sharpshooter. Orton rolled through, and applied his own Sharpshooter. Orton pulled Benoit into the center of the ring, and reared back on the hold. Benoit pushed up, and broke out, reversing into his own Sharpshooter. Orton reached for the ropes, and Benoit switched into a Crippler Crossface. They rolled to the floor, and Orton tossed Benoit off and into the ringpost. Orton tossed Benoit into the ringpost again, shoulder first, then yanked on the arm. They made it back into the ring, and Orton applied an armbar, driving his knee into Benoit's arm. Benoit forearmed out of the armbar, and chopped Orton. Orton delivered a knee to the midsection, then draped Benoit across the top rope. The two fought between the ropes, with Benoit on the apron. Orton came out on the apron as well, and the two traded kicks and punches until Benoit drove Orton, DDT-style into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Benoit got a two count, then Orton rolled to the floor. Benoit hit him with a baseball slide, but missed a Tope and went headfirst into the security wall.
Orton tossed Benoit back into the ring and scored a two count, then pounded Benoit in the chest. Orton twisted Benoit's neck, then applied a side camel clutch, wrenching the neck. Benoit fought up, but Orton blasted him with a uppercut. Orton lifted Benoit into an over-the-shoulder backbreaker, then dropped him into a neckbreaker for a two count, which got a pop from the crowd. Orton applied a reverse chinlock, but Benoit broke free. Benoit ducked a clothesline and as they rebounded off the ropes, they cracked skulls. The two men slowly got up and traded lefts and rights. Benoit hit a headbutt and some forearms, then delivered a backdrop. Benoit went for a German suplex, Randy blocked it and his some elbows, but Benoit switched to a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. Benoit set up Orton for a superplex, but Orton shoved Benoit off the ropes to the mat. Orton came off the top rope with a flying bodypress for a two count.
Orton measured Benoit for an RKO, but Benoit shoved him off and hit a lariat. Benoit went for a Sharpshooter, but Orton kicked it off. Benoit hit a German suplex, then applied the Sharpshooter. Benoit was bleeding from the mouth. Orton appeared to be passing out in the hold, but he kept his arm off the mat as the referee checked it. Orton finally made the ropes to break the hold. Benoit gave Orton three consecutive German suplexes, then Orton tried to break free, but Benoit grabbed him for three more. The fans gave Benoit an ovation for the suplexes. Benoit signaled for the flying headbutt and went to the top. Benoit came off the top, but Orton got his feet up and caught Benoit in the face as he came down. Orton now had some blood on his face as well.
Orton crawled over to Benoit and got a two count, but Benoit reversed the cover into a Crippler Crossface. Orton managed to roll it over, but Benoit held on, so he rolled over again and escaped. Orton went for the RKO, but Benoit blocked it, so Orton switched sides and hit the RKO from the other side of Benoit for the pin at the twenty minute mark.
Winner and new World Champion: Randy Orton.
Chris Benoit left the ring, and Randy Orton celebrated, then Benoit turned around and went back to the ring. The two men faced off, and Benoit offered his hand. Orton looked like he was going to cry. Benoit yelled at Orton "Be a man! Be a man!" and Orton shook his hand. Benoit left the ring, and Orton dropped to his knees, clutching the World Title belt and crying. Orton got back up and saluted Benoit, then got up on the ropes and held up the title belt.
That concludes Summerslam!
If you would like to enjoy our exclusive post-Summerslam audio recap with Dave Scherer, Buck Woodward, Mike Johnson, and Jess McGrath, and be entered in a drawing to win the DVD Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story, sign up for an Elite Subscription by clicking here.
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