Christian gets fed to The Viper

RANDY ORTON is the new WWE world heavyweight champion, having beaten Christian on Smackdown to end the Canadian's title run after less than a week.

The Viper was traded to Smackdown on the Draft episode of Raw just before the Extreme Rules PPV, and captured the belt on the blue brand at his first attempt.
The decision to take the belt away from Christian, who only claimed the gold in a ladder match with Alberto Del Rio on Sunday May 1, has angered many diehard fans.
On the show, aired on Friday but filmed last Tuesday, Christian opened the show by addressing the WWE Universe and thanking them for helping him to get to be champ.
He was interrupted by Mark Henry, who said he wanted the belt. "You know it's not made of chocolate, right?" quipped the champ.
After The Great Khali also emerged to stake a claim to be No1 contender, Orton then pitched his case, before Smackdown GM Teddy Long opted to ask the fans in attendance in Orlando.
They, predictably, cheered overwhelmingly for Orton to get the nod, and Long made the match the main event for the show.
The match was very good indeed. A terrific closing sequence saw Orton transition as Christian flying bodypress into an RKO for the three count.
Tellingly, WWE did not go off air with a shot of Orton celebrating, but of Christian looking despondent at his loss.
Christian - real name Jason Reso - joined WWE in 1998, and has spent all but three of the years since in Vince McMahon's company.
He spent the rest of the time in TNA, where he was made World Champion, but it was generally thought that he didn't fit Vince's profile of a top guy in WWE.
His win at Extreme Rules was very emotional, especially in the wake of his best friend Edge's recent retirement.
The fact that his title reign ended in such short time has upset many Internet fans, who feel cheated to see him, in their eyes, treated so badly. However, it is eminently possible that WWE could be positioning Christian as a challenger chasing the belt for a decent amount of time. They may well feel they can make more money in getting Christian's 'Peeps' excited about their man regaining the title.
Several major wrestling names have reacted to the online hysteria of Christian being relieved of the belt.
Hall of Fame commentator Jim Ross stated on his Blog: "Christian and Randy Orton had a great, TV match on Smackdown but I don't buy into the 'tragedy' that some fans flooded us with here on our site due to Christian losing the World Title.
"It isn't as if the loss ended Christian's career and who's to say that Captain Charisma won't regain the title at a later date?
"Those that truly understand the nature of the genre have a different mindset than those who are knee jerking themselves silly."
Former WWE wrestler and multi-time World Champion Chris Jericho, a former tag partner and real-life friend of Christian's, said on Twitter: "Hey everyone bitching about (Christian) losing the title, have you ever thought that maybe it's just the beginning of a bigger storyline?"
It is interesting that this episode of Smackdown drew the lowest rating for the show in 2011.
Christian's detractors might opine that this proves that he does not have the necessary drawing power as champion, although sympathisers could counter with the fact that the show was in direct competition with the NBA basketball playoffs.

CHAMP ... Randy Orton