Vengeance 2011: The Ring Collapses and Del Rio Survives Cena

Air Boom open Vengeance with another strong tag-title defense, using Bourne and Kingston's speed against the more methodical combination of Ziggler and Swagger. The challengers repeatedly isolate Bourne and make the champions fight from underneath, while Vickie Guerrero adds pressure at ringside without deciding the result. Kingston's hot tag gives the match its fastest stretch, and the closing minutes develop through several saves instead of rushing directly to a finish. Ziggler appears close to stealing the match after the challengers regain control, but Air Boom finally create separation. Bourne lands Air Bourne on Ziggler and scores the clean pin. The champions retain decisively, and the match gives the pay-per-view a polished opener before Ziggler immediately has to defend his singles title.

Dolph Ziggler's second match of the night is built around fatigue and Zack Ryder's attempt to capitalize before the champion can fully recover. Ryder attacks quickly and receives a strong reaction, while Ziggler spends much of the six-minute match trying to slow the pace and escape cleanly. Air Boom remain in Ryder's corner early and become involved when Ziggler goes outside, throwing him back into the ring. The referee ejects Bourne and Kingston, leaving Ryder without that support for the finish. Ziggler eventually catches Ryder with a Superkick and scores the pin to retain the United States Championship. The match is energetic and tells a sensible story after the opener, but its short runtime keeps the title defense from becoming a major attraction.

Beth Phoenix's first pay-per-view defense after winning the Divas Championship gives Eve a direct opportunity without Kelly Kelly or Natalya at ringside. The absence of seconds keeps the match focused on the wrestlers and allows Eve to create a few credible openings through speed and counters. Phoenix gradually takes control with power and forces the challenger to fight from underneath rather than relying on outside help. Eve survives long enough to create a competitive finishing stretch, but Phoenix eventually catches her cleanly. The champion lands the Glam Slam and scores the pin. The defense is straightforward and useful for establishing Phoenix's reign, though the seven-minute runtime and limited rivalry depth prevent the match from feeling especially important.

Sheamus and Christian continue their rivalry with another dependable singles match that benefits from both men already understanding the counters established at Hell in a Cell. Christian repeatedly tries to create a narrow opening for the Spear, while Sheamus controls the heavier exchanges and keeps forcing him into increasingly desperate risks. The match avoids unnecessary interference and gives the pair more than ten minutes to build toward familiar finishing sequences. Christian finally charges for the Spear, but Sheamus reads it and stops the attempt. He follows with the Brogue Kick and scores the clean pin. The result reinforces Sheamus as the stronger wrestler in the series, while Christian's repeated failure creates a natural reason for the feud to continue on television.

The Awesome Truth match carries the authority story from Hell in a Cell into a more conventional tag format, but the closing interference still matters more than the wrestling result. Triple H and Punk work together effectively despite their recent feud, while Miz and Truth attack through quick tags and opportunistic shortcuts rather than trying to overpower either opponent. The match has solid structure and a lively crowd, especially once Punk begins the late comeback. Kevin Nash then appears and attacks Triple H while the referee is distracted. Miz and Truth capitalize by hitting Punk with their combination offense, and Miz scores the pin. The victory gives Awesome Truth momentum, but Nash's intervention again turns a competitive match into another chapter of the larger power struggle.

Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes produce a strong non-title grudge match that gives Rhodes a credible platform against a former world champion without putting the Intercontinental Championship at stake. Rhodes attacks with confidence after recent television wins and repeatedly tries to turn Orton's aggression against him. Orton controls the more physical exchanges, but Rhodes creates several believable near-falls and even lands Cross Rhodes late. Rhodes then attempts to use Orton's own RKO, which gives the final sequence a fitting rivalry flourish. Orton counters, creates separation with a dropkick and eventually lands the RKO for the clean pin. The result restores Orton after his losses to Henry while allowing Rhodes to look competitive against a top-tier opponent.

Mark Henry and Big Show turn a power-based championship match into Vengeance's defining spectacle when their superplex collapses the ring. Before that moment, the match establishes Big Show as a credible threat to the Hall of Pain champion by forcing Henry into longer defensive stretches than Orton managed in the previous title defenses. Both men trade heavyweight offense and gradually escalate toward the top-rope confrontation. Henry eventually superplexes Big Show, and the ring implodes beneath them as ropes fall and a corner post twists outward. The referee rules the match a no contest because neither wrestler can continue. There is no decisive championship result, but the visual is unforgettable and immediately becomes one of the most replayed WWE moments of the era.

Alberto Del Rio and John Cena close Vengeance with a Last Man Standing match forced to work around the collapsed ring left by Henry and Big Show. That damaged setting gives the main event an unusual identity, with broken ropes and exposed structure changing how both wrestlers move through the match. Cena and Del Rio brawl around ringside and the stage, including Cena sending Del Rio through a table near the giant V set. The finish brings Awesome Truth back into the championship story when Miz and R-Truth attack Cena. Cena still beats the count, but Del Rio strikes him with the WWE Championship belt and leaves him unable to rise before ten. The champion retains, although the interference prevents the victory from feeling completely definitive.