July 26, 2009. Philly. The Wachovia Center was packed, and honestly, the vibe was just... off. Not bad off, but "expect the unexpected" off. This was the peak of the PG Era transition, where WWE was trying to figure out how to be family-friendly without losing that grit people loved in the early 2000s. Night of Champions 2009 stands out because it wasn't just a B-level pay-per-view; it was a massive turning point that fundamentally shifted three separate major storylines.
Jeff Hardy won. CM Punk lost his mind. Big Show became a tag team specialist out of nowhere.
If you weren't watching back then, it’s hard to describe the tension. Jeff Hardy was basically the most popular human being on the planet, but everyone knew his contract was winding down. Meanwhile, CM Punk was deep into his "Straight Edge Savior" transformation, which, looking back, was some of the best character work of his entire career. This show was the catalyst for all of it.
The Jeff Hardy and CM Punk masterpiece
The main event wasn't just a wrestling match. It was a clash of ideologies. You had Jeff, the "Enigmatic Enigma," who lived life on the edge and clearly had his demons, versus Punk, the preachy, sober elitist. It’s rare that WWE gets a hero-villain dynamic so perfectly right.
Jeff won the World Heavyweight Championship that night. The pop was deafening. Seriously, go back and watch the footage on the Network; the building nearly shook when Swanton Bomb landed. But the win felt heavy. It felt temporary. Fans knew Jeff was struggling with personal issues and legal scares at the time, which added this layer of "enjoy it while it lasts" to the whole celebration.
Punk’s reaction after the loss was the real story. He didn't just walk away. He stewed. This was the night the "Straight Edge" gimmick went from being a quirky trait to a full-blown cult leader persona. He felt robbed. He felt the fans were losers for cheering a "screw-up" like Hardy.
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A massive curveball in the tag team division
Earlier in the night, everyone was buzzing about Chris Jericho’s "mystery partner." Edge had been injured—a torn Achilles that sidelined him for months—and the Unified Tag Team Championships were in limbo. Rumors were flying. Would it be a returning star? A call-up from developmental?
It was Big Show.
People forget how much of a shock this was. Big Show and Jericho? "Jeri-Show?" It sounded like a disaster on paper. You had the fast-talking, technical wizard in Jericho paired with a seven-foot giant who, at that point, was mostly used for comedy or random squash matches.
But it worked.
They beat Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase (Legacy) in a match that was surprisingly technical. Big Show actually looked motivated. He wasn't just a lumbering obstacle; he was the "hired muscle" for Jericho’s ego. This pairing eventually became one of the most dominant tag teams of the era, proving that sometimes the weirdest combinations are the ones that stick.
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The triple threat that defined the WWE Championship
Randy Orton was in the middle of his "Viper" peak. He was cold, calculated, and—let’s be real—a bit of a jerk. He defended the WWE Title against John Cena and Triple H in a Triple Threat match that basically summarized the entire 2009 main event scene.
If you like "Big Match John" and "The Game," this was your dream. If you were tired of the same three guys on top, this match was a bit of a slog.
The finish was pure chaos. Orton was trapped in both the STF and the Sharpshooter (well, Triple H’s version of a crossface/sharpshooter hybrid) at the same time. He tapped. But who won? The ref couldn't decide. In the confusion, Legacy—Orton’s lackeys—ran down and caused enough of a distraction for Orton to sneak out with the win. It was a classic "heel champion escapes by the skin of his teeth" moment that kept the Orton vs. Cena feud running for what felt like an eternity.
Mickie James and the end of an era
The Divas Championship match between Maryse and Mickie James is often overlooked, but it matters because of what it represented. Maryse was the ultimate "Diva" archetype—glamorous, arrogant, and more focused on her look than her workrate. Mickie was the "wrestler."
Mickie won the title here, marking her fifth overall women's championship win (counting the original Women's Title). It was a brief shining moment for the technical side of the women's division before things got... messy with the "Piggy James" storyline later that year. Looking back at Night of Champions 2009, this was Mickie at her absolute peak as a babyface.
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Why we still talk about this show 17 years later
Most B-PPVs are forgotten within a week. This one stuck. Why? Because it felt like the stakes were actually high.
- The ECW Title mattered. Christian beat Tommy Dreamer in a match that reminded everyone that the "Silver Brand" could still put on clinics.
- Kofi Kingston’s rise. He defended the United States Championship in a six-pack challenge. This was the "SOS" era Kofi, and he was untouchable in the ring.
- The birth of the real CM Punk. Without the loss to Jeff Hardy this night, we never get the "Straight Edge Society" or the eventual "Pipebomb."
The production value was also interestingly transitional. You could see the HD sets becoming more polished, but the crowds still felt raw. Philly fans are notoriously hard to please, and they were all-in on Jeff.
The biggest takeaway from Night of Champions 2009 is the realization that wrestling is better when the stories feel personal. The Hardy/Punk stuff wasn't about a belt. It was about who they were as people. That’s why it outshined the WWE Championship match featuring the three biggest stars in the company.
Actionable insights for fans and collectors
If you are looking to revisit this era or collect memorabilia, here is the reality of the market right now:
- Watch the "Jeff Hardy: My Life, My Rules" DVD. It covers this period extensively and gives context to his mindset during this title run. It’s a raw look at a guy who knew he was leaving.
- Look for the program. The physical event programs from Night of Champions 2009 are becoming increasingly rare because it was right before WWE shifted heavily toward digital and thinner print runs.
- Study the psychology of the Punk/Hardy match. If you’re an aspiring wrestler or just a nerd for the "art" of the business, watch how Punk uses the crowd's love for Jeff against them. It’s a masterclass in heel work.
- Check the secondary market for the "Jeri-Show" merch. Their combined shirts are weirdly hard to find and have become a bit of a cult item for fans of that specific tag team.
The event wasn't perfect. The undercard had some filler, and the Legacy interference in the WWE Title match was predictable. But the highs were so high that they defined the rest of the year. It was the night Jeff Hardy finally got his moment at the top of the mountain, even if the descent started only a few weeks later.
If you want to understand the DNA of modern WWE—the mix of high-production spectacle and character-driven drama—you have to look at shows like this. It was the blueprint for how to bridge the gap between the old school and the new corporate era.
Keep an eye on the WWE Vault YouTube channel; they frequently upload the full matches from this event. Seeing the Jeff Hardy entrance in high definition is still one of the most aesthetic moments in pro wrestling history.