WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | June 28th, 2025 | Premium Live Event | The Live Event Recap:

Cody Rhodes won the King of the Ring crown after defeating his mentor and friend, Randy Orton, in the final round of the King of the Ring Tournament during the opening match of Night of Champions. (Photo by WWE)

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Night of Champions | Match Results:

The Opening Match: Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in the Final Round of the King of the Ring Tournament | via Pin-Fall | (19:48)

2nd Match: Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez in a Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight Match | via Pin-Fall | (14:04)

3rd Match: Sami Zayn defeated Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) in a Singles Match | via Pin-Fall | (13:32)

4th Match: Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu (c) in a Singles Title Match for the WWE United States Championship | via Pin-Fall | (12:08) - TITLE CHANGE!!!!

5th Match: Jade Cargill defeated Asuka in the Final Round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament | via Pin-Fall | (08:34)

The Main Event Match: John Cena (c) defeated CM Punk in a Singles Title Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship | via Pin-Fall | (26:17) - TITLE RETAINED!!!!

My Thoughts on the WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Night of Champions:

My Thoughts: This event overachieved. Heading into this event, I was excited because I knew we were getting AJ Styles and Iyo Sky on the card because of certain situations that occurred; those matches were canceled, but this show wasn't too bad. The first two matches were a pleasant watch Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton had a very solid match, where we saw the seeds of Randy Orton turning heel start to grow, Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez had there best match against each other on the Main Roster, and both women looked solid, but I'm hoping Rhea Ripley doesn't reenter in a Judgment Day feud. That chapter has to stay closed. Sami Zayn takes down the devil on his shoulder in Karrion Kross, and I thought Karrion Kross looked decent in this match, and it was a passable match for me, and I do hope this feud can continue and conclude at Saturday Night Main Event. Solo Sikoa became a Singles Champion on the main roster for the first time as he's the new WWE United States Champion. He took down his cousin with the help of the returning Tonga Loa and the debut of Hikuelo. Jacob Fatu was able to take down the majority of Solo Sikoa's henchmen, but still didn't walk out as champion. The worst match of the night was Asuka vs. Jade Cargill. Now Jade Cargill is the 2025 Queen of the Ring, but her in-ring ability is still isn't good. Asuka tried her best to save the match, but this match was sloppy, and they didn't mesh well. It's also refreshing to see Asuka wrestle; she looked great and tried everything to carry this match. The Main Event Match was good until the overbooking of WWE conquered as Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Penta, Sami Zayn, and Seth Rollins came out to disrupt this match and the ending of the match left a bad tatse in my mouth if this is the last time ever between them why not a proper clean finish we all wanted that not this overbooking nonsense. But again, this event overachieved. The road to SummerSlam is now, and I'm praying we get a good build for all the matches and book good matches.

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Night of Champions | Match Ratings:

The Opening Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in the Final Round of the King of the Ring Tournament | Match Rating: ****.25 | A very solid opener. This was such a fun match, and as expected, I knew this match was going to deliver. I love how Cody Rhodes in a sense was playing the heel role in this match the fans were siding with Randy Orton throughout this match even went they were trading blows the roars for Randy Orton and when Cody Rhodes striked back you hear loud boo's. Love how Randy Orton at the end was fighting and was doing anything to win with the Punt Kick, getting the hair to end the match was stragteiilly tricked the referee to rip off the turnbuckle pad, which didn't go to his favor as Cody Rhodes used that against him and he hit the corner hurt the side of his abdomen as Cody Rhodes hits a final Cross Rhodes to win and become the 2025 King of the Ring Winner and now will face John Cena at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship in a WrestleMania Rematch which will Main Event the SummerSlam show in MetLife Stadium.

2nd Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez in a Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight Match | Match Rating: **** | This was a lot of fun. Whoever produced this match, you did a good job because this was probably their best match against each other on the Main Roster, way better than the previous matches they had had before in the past. I love the spots that were in this match, and Raquel Rodriguez looked very comfortable in this match and didn't look out of it. Roxanne Perez, I didn't expect that in this match she would try to help Raquel Rodriguez, and that backfired as Rhea Ripley caught her and suplexed her on the outside. A sick riptide off the top of the table, which had Rhea Ripleys win the Street Fight Match, and now what'll be next for Rhea Ripleys is a match against Roxanne Perez at Evolution?

3rd Match: Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) in a Singles Match | Match Rating: **.50 | I enjoyed this. Karrion Kross didn't have a bad match, like a lot of people are saying on the internet. It was passable and did the job for the feud between him and Sami Zayn. Now, I did wish karrion Kross got the win because that would've done a lot for him, but I see why Sami Zayn got the win, overcoming the devil on his shoulder and finally putting down Karrion Kross and shutting him up once and for all. But this, by any means, was a horrible match. I liked it. Karrion Kross can do back bumps, and Sami Zayn can now shift to a new feud because his feud with Karrion Kross seems to be over. Unless Karrion Kross gets Sami Zayn on RAW Monday, we'll see.

4th Match: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa in a Singles Title Match for the WWE United States Championship | Match Rating: *** | This was something. I'm not happy because Solo Sikoa is now the United States Champion. But this wasn't a half-bad match; it wasn't good, but it wasn't bad, it was in the middle. Jacob Fatu had to fend off JC Mateo, and then we saw the return of Tonga Loa, who is back from injury. Jacob Fatu was about to win, but then we saw the debut of former New Japan Pro Wrestler and brother with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa in Hikuleo, who chokeslamed Jacob Fatu on the announcer's table, which allowed Solo Sikoa to capitalize and win his first main roster singles title in the WWE United States Championship.

5th Match: Jade Cargill vs. Asuka in the Final Round of the Queen of the Ring Tournament | Match Rating: **.25 | A shockingly short match, but Asuka looked super sharp. She looked like herself with that year away, healing injuries. It seems like she went back into her old form because he carried the hell out of this match. I had her winning because I want Iyo Sky vs. Asuka for the Women's World Title, but sadly, but have to wait. I'm not opposed to Jade Carhill winning I do like her it's just her in-ring ability isn't there yet she should of went after a Mid-Card Title first and work from there rushing her into to a Women's Title Match at the 2nd Biggest Show in WWE in my opinion isn't smart because she can be exposed of not being that good of a in-ring wrestler but the ending of the match was nice good sequence into her finisher for the win. Now, in Jade Cargill's accomplishments in WWE, she can, besides being a 2x WWE Women's Tag Team Champion can add being the 2025 Queen of the Ring Winner. Regardless, congratulations to her.

The Main Event Match: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk in a Singles Title Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship | Match Rating: **** | The match in the beginning was great, I enjoyed the back-and-forth and a little bit of the callbacks. They were doing everything as planned, then WWE had to book the run-ins and the overbooking, but I was happy to see Penta getting a huge main event rub, which was good to know where WWE placed him. But the ending of this match left a sour taste in my mouth because the match was doing so well. John Cena tried to low-blow, which was countered, then Seth Rollins hit CM Punk with the Money in the Bank Briefcase and Curb Stomp for John Cena to retain his WWE Championship. I want another match between them because that was the best John Cena has looked in a match. Even when they battled at the Elimination Chamber Match, they looked great against each other. I want a rematch with a clean finish, tired of the same old John Cena Heel Match formula with a referee bump, a low blow, and pin for the win. This could have been better, but because 3/4 of the match was good, I give a solid rating because I was entertained before all of that overbooked nonsense. Now, CM Punk, I'm assuming, reentering the Seth Rollins feud, and John Cena will reenter his feud with Cody Rhodes, leading to WWE SummerSlam.

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Night of Champions | Match of the Night: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in the Final Round of the King of the Ring Tournament | Match Rating: ****.25

WWE Premium Live Event | WWE Night of Champions | Event Grade: 7/10 (B-) | This event overachieved for me. I thought coming into this event, it would be an abysmal show with 1-2 matches being well, but five out of the six matches on the show I actually enjoyed. I thought the Saudi Arabia crowd was great; they were enjoying the show throughout the night. I'm satisfied with this event because the in-ring wasn't that bad. The majority of the people I had winning won, but please give CM Punk and John Cena a proper match because the overbook stuff has been burnt out and boring for me. Nevertheless solid event.