By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Night of Champions
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Kingdom Arena
Streamed live June 28, 2025, on Peacock
Michael Cole, who was joined on commentary by Wade Barrett, welcomed viewers to the show. Cole narrated pre-show shots of Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Karrion Kross and Scarlett, Rhea Ripley (and a banana), Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Jade Cargill, and CM Punk… A Night of Champions video package aired…
Cole and Barrett checked in from ringside. Cole said it would be the 24th time that a King of the Ring winner could be crowned. The Arabic broadcast team also checked in from their ringside desk…
Entrances for the King of the Ring tournament final took place while ring announcer Mark Nash handled the introductions. Randy Orton came out first while the crowd sang his song loudly. Cody Rhodes made his entrance and the crowd also sang along with his entrance theme…
1. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in the King of the Ring tournament final for a shot at a world championship at SummerSlam. The winner will earn a shot at the world champion of his respective brand. Charles Robinson was the referee. The KOTR crown was resting on a podium at ringside.
Orton executed an early superplex and then sold lower back pain. Cody showed concern for a second, then shot up and threw a forearm to Orton’s lower back. Cody followed up with a Disaster Kick and covered Orton for a near fall.
Orton eventually came back and set up for a Draping DDT, but Cody slipped away and threw two more forearm shots to Orton’s lower back. Cody hit a Cody Cutter for a near fall. Orton rallied and hit the Draping DDT for a big pop. Orton sold his lower back for a moment and then struck the Viper’s Pose.
Orton went for the RKO, but Cody countered into a CrossRhodes for a near fall. Orton caught Cody with an RKO out of nowhere for a great near fall. Orton got up and had Cody lined up for a punt, but Orton hesitated. Orton psyched himself up and then went for the kick, but Cody avoided it.
Cody put Orton in a Figure Four in the middle of the ring, which featured the Riyadh Season logo. Orton eventually broke the hold. Cody and Orton threw punches in the middle of the ring. The fans cheered Orton’s punches and booed Cody’s punches (though the boos felt more playful than passionate).
Cody went for a springboard move and jumped right into an RKO for another good near fall. Orton went to ringside, grabbed a chair, and brought it back to the ring with him. The referee took away the chair. Orton used the distraction to remove a top turnbuckle pad.
Orton and Cody took turns trying to slam the other’s head into the exposed turnbuckle. Cody stuffed an RKO attempt and then shoved Orton into the exposed turnbuckle. Cody followed up with Cody Cutter and then scored the pin.
Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in 19:45 to win the King of the Ring tournament and a shot at the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
Barrett told the story that Orton showed restraint, yet “not so much for Cody.” Cody showed concern while looking down at Orton after the match. Orton exited the ring and looked up at Cody from the floor.
Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis and Raw General Manager Adam Pearce entered the ring. Aldis presented Cody with the KOTR crown, and then both general managers shook hands with Cody.
Byron Saxton interviewed Cody in the ring. Cody praised Orton and said he’d been a mentor to him. Orton didn’t look pleased as he stood on the ramp. Cody said it was an arduous path in that he had to beat Jey Uso and now Orton, and will face either CM Punk or John Cena at SummerSlam. Cody said he understands the reaction of the fans when he faces beloved characters, but he said he was born to do this. He said the champion is holding the belt for him. Cody said he would take the ball back at SummerSlam…
Powell’s POV: Cody recently stated that he feels he’s nearing the end of his babyface run, and this match seemed to back that up. Barrett told the story by emphasizing that Orton showed restraint while Cody showed none. But it was tough to feel too much sympathy for the Orton character when he’s the guy who distracted the referee with the chair so that he could remove the turnbuckle pad, which ultimately did him in. The match was enjoyable despite the finish feeling a bit flat.
WWE Tag Team Champions “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins were shown in the crowd… Cole hyped Raw’s early start time of 5CT/6ET. He also said this was the 13th time that WWE has held a premium live event in Saudi Arabia…
While ad-based subscribers of Peacock saw an ad, a video package aired on Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez. Ripley spoke about how they were friends at one time and how much things have changed… Raquel Rodriguez and Rhea Ripley made separate entrances. A graphic listed Ripley as 4-1 in matches against Rodriguez…
2. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez in a Street Fight. Both wrestlers wore gear that covered their arms and legs. They were dressed similarly enough that they looked like a tag team. Rodriguez dropped Ripley down with a clothesline and then hit her with a pair of fallaway slams.
Cole said Ripley had never worked a street fight in WWE. Rodriguez tied up Ripley’s arms in the ropes and then took shots at her while Cole emphasized that there was nothing the referee could do due it being a street fight.
Rodriguez went to ringside and returned with a kendo stick. Ripley showed concern, and then Rodriguez hit her with multiple kendo stick shots. Rodriguez picked up a hair and tried to hit Ripley, who kicked the chair at Rodriguez and then escaped the ropes.
Ripley sent Rodriguez to the floor and ran her into the ring steps. Ripley cleared the Arabic broadcast table and then slammed Rodriguez’s head on it. Ripley climbed on top of the table and pulled Rodriguez up with her. Rodriguez stuffed whatever move Ripley was going for, but Ripley knocked her off the table with a headbutt.
Ripley went for a senton off the table, but Rodriguez caught her and powerbombed her into the timekeepers’ area. Rodriguez slid a table inside the ring next to a chair, and then set up the table in a corner of the ring. Rodriguez set up the top half of the ring steps on the apron, but Ripley fought back and slammed Raquel’s face on the steps.
Ripley removed her belt and whipped Rodriguez with it as they returned to the ring. Ripley hit a Razor’s Edge and then followed up with a running kick that led to a near fall. Ripley applied the Prism Trap (the broadcast team used that name rather than the Prism Lock).
Raquel Rodriguez, who was dressed in an outfit that made the three women look like a trios team, entered the ring and hit Ripley from behind to break the hold. Ripley eventually suplexed Perez on the floor and then put a trash can over her body before kicking it.
Rodriguez hoisted up Ripley and ran her into the ring post. Back in the ring, Rodriguez hit a corkscrew move from the ropes for a near fall. Raquel tried to send Ripley toward the table, but Ripley countered with a head-scissors, but Rodriguez stopped short of the table.
Rodriguez draped the table over the top turnbuckle. Ripley battled back and slammed Rodriguez’s head on the table before pulling her up. Ripley hit a Riptide from the top of the table into the ring and then covered Rodriquez for the pin…
Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez in 14:00 in a Street Fight.
Powell’s POV: It’s a shame that Rodriguez hasn’t been protected, because the outcome of this match could have felt less predictable than it did. Even so, both wrestlers worked a physical match that was fitting for the Street Fight.
Cole and Barrett recapped Giulia beating Zelina Vega to win the Women’s U.S. Championship on Friday’s Smackdown, and then Giulia was shown standing in the crowd with her title belt…
Karrion Kross and Scarlett made their entrance. Yes, Scarlett’s arms and legs were covered, and yes, she would have fit right in with Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez. Sami Zayn made his entrance wearing a keffiyeh to big cheers from the Saudi fans…
3. Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett). Cole said Kross generated a groundswell of online support, but now he has to prove himself in the ring. Zayn took early offensive control until Kross cut him off with a Doomsday Saito suplex.
Later, Kross hit a leaping Death Valley Driver for another near fall. Kross went for the Kross Jacket, but Zayn avoided it. Kross stuffed a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt and then put Zayn down with another Doomsday Saito. Kross set up for the Kross Hammer, but Zayn ducked it and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count.
Zayn hit an exploder suplex in the corner. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but Kross cut him off and applied the Kross Jacket submission hold and pulled Zayn to the mat, where he grapevined him. Referee Daphanie LaShaunn checked Zayn’s arm, which fell to the mat twice before he held it up on her third try. Zayn reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Kross asked Zayn what was wrong with him. Kross told Zayn to learn how to stay down. Kross hit Zayn with a running clothesline in the corner. Kross backed up for another, but Zayn followed up and dropped him with a Helluva Kick and then got the three count…
Sami Zayn defeated Karrion Kross in 13:35.
Powell’s POV: A solid match with a crowd-pleasing finish. Kross got his PLE match, but only time will tell whether he’s booked to get his heat back to extend the feud or if this was a one and done.
Cole hyped WWE Survivor Series for San Diego… Footage aired of Los Garza winning the AAA Tag Team Titles. Angel and Berto were shown wearing the title belts while standing next to Santos Escobar in the crowd…
A video package recapped the drama between Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa…
4. Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa for the U.S. Championship. Referee Ryan Tran held up the title belt. When he went to hand the belt to someone at ringside, Solo took a cheap shot at Fatu. The referee rewarded the heel for cheating by calling for the bell to start the match. Ugh. A graphic listed a Night of Champions post-show.
Solo had a long run of offense and then applied a chin lock while telling Fatu that he gave him everyone. Solo said Fatu never loved him and now he would take his ass out. Fatu fired up, but Solo suplexed him. Fatu shot up while Solo was playing to the crowd, and then suplexed Solo. Fatu performed a Swanton for a near fall.
Fatu had Solo down when JC Mateo ran out and distracted the referee. Tonga Loa showed up and crotched Fatu on the ropes and then hit him with a neckbreaker. Sikoa got a near fall. Fatu sucked a Samoan Spike and then knocked one of the heels off the apron. Fatu followed up with a dive onto Mateo and Loa.
Fatu returned to the ring and hit a pop-up Samoan Drop. Mateo entered the ring and was roughed up by Fatu, who then hit a double jump moonsault on Solo. The referee was distracted again.
Hikuleo showed up at ringside and pulled Fatu out of the ring. Cole said he is the brother of Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga, and mentioned that he was dominant in Japan. Hikuleo chokeslammed Fatu onto the broadcast table, and then rolled him back inside the ring. Solo hit Fatu with a Samoan Spike and then pinned him…
Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu in 12:05 to win the U.S. Championship.
Powell’s POV: It’s cool to see Hikuleo, or whatever his WWE name will be, finally debut (what happens on WWE Main Event stays on WWE Main Event). That said, this really should have been a No DQ match, because all of the missed interference made the referee look incompetent. Solo’s army is growing. Jimmy Uso is likely to align with Fatu. Will Roman Reigns and Jey Uso eventually factor into this feud?
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton held up her title belt in the crowd… A video package set up the Queen of the Ring final, and then entrances for the match took place…
5. Asuka vs. Jade Cargill in the Queen of the Ring tournament final for a shot at a world championship at SummerSlam. The winner will earn a shot at the world champion of her respective brand. Jade wore white and gold gear. Finally, a female wrestler who didn’t look like she was straight out of an American Horror Story bondage scene. Asuka targeted Jade’s right knee. Asuka applied a knee bar, but Cargill powered out of it and suplexed Asuka.
Jade chokeslammed Asuka for a near fall. Jade grabbed Asuka from behind, but Asuka escaped and dropped her with a kick, and then Asuka fell to the mat. Asuka got the better of a strike exchange once both wrestlers got to their feet. Asuka hit a missile dropkick and got a two count. Cargill grabbed Asuka from behind in position for her finisher, but Asuka rolled her into a pin for a two count. Jade stuffed a knee strike and then hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
A short time later, Asuka went for her hip attack in the middle of the ring, but Jade caught her. Jade hit Jaded and then scored the clean pin.
Jade Cargill defeated Asuka in 8:35 to win the Queen of the Ring tournament and a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.
After the match, Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce entered the ring and presented Jade with the QOTR crown. Byron Saxton interviewed Jade, who told fans not to let doubters get them down. She said a storm is coming at SummerSlam. Cole played up the possibilities that Jade could face Tiffany Stratton or MITB contract holder Naomi…
Powell’s POV: The match was brief, and the crowd was flat. The live crowd basically took the match off. Ouch. Smackdown wrestlers won the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, so it will be interesting to see how they set up the title matches on the Raw side for SummerSlam.
Cole hyped WWE Late Night with Tony Hinchcliffe for SummerSlam weekend. Cole said it would be a non-televised event…
The broadcast team hyped the following matches for Raw: Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the World Tag Team Titles, and Rusev vs. Sheamus. They also hyped Gunther vs. Goldberg for the World Heavyweight Championship for Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12…
Cole hyped that Rhea Ripley, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Levesque will appear on the NOC post-show…
A video package set up the main event, and then entrances for the match took place. CM Punk made his entrance. The fans sang Punk’s entrance theme. Punk sat down in the ring and looked around the crowd while the fans chanted his name. John Cena’s entrance music played and he made his entrance while being serenaded with the usual “John Cena sucks” singalong…
6. John Cena vs. CM Punk for the WWE Championship. Mark Nash delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. There were some CM Punk chants after he was introduced, but the reaction for Cena was slightly louder. Dan Engler was the referee. Cole said Cena and Punk entered the match 6-6-1 in matches against one another.
The fans fired up and sang the “Olé, Olé, Olé” song while Cena and Punk locked up. Barrett referred to Cole as a reformed Cena fanboy. Punk ended up in position for an early Attitude Adjustment, but he countered into a rollup for a two count. Punk put Cena right back down with a clothesline.
Cena went on a run of his usual offense until Cena cut him off with a heel kick and a slow neckbreaker. Punk hit a high knee in the corner. Punk hit a top rope elbow and then signaled for his finisher. Punk hoisted up Cena and went for the GTS, but Cena blocked it and countered into an STF. Punk transitioned into the Anaconda Vice. Cena rolled Punk into a pin, which forced him to release the hold. Cena hit an Attitude Adjustment for a two count.
Punk rallied and put Cena in an STF until Cena reached the bottom rope to break it. Punk hit another high knee in the corner. Punk tried to follow with a bulldog, but Cena picked him up and slammed him to the mat. Cena did the “you can’t see me” hand gesture, but Punk kicked him. Ceana avoided the GTS and hit another AA for a near fall.
A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Punk dove from the middle rope at Cena, who caught him, then rolled over and hoisted up Punk before hitting him with a third AA for another near fall. Cena went to ringside and brought the WWE Championship back with him. Cena teased hitting Punk with the belt, but he opted against it. Cole said Cena finally listened to the fans. Punk hit Cena with a GTS for a good near fall.
There were dueling chants for Cena, who traded strikes in the middle of the ring with Punk. They did a leapfrog spot that resulted in Cena crashing into the referee. REF BUMP!!! Punk hit the GTS and covered Cena for a visual pinfall while the referee was down. A cameraman was positioned on the stage. Punk motioned to the back, presumably for another referee.
Seth Rollins’ music hit. Rollins walked out with Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman, who held the Money in the Bank briefcase. The broadcast team pointed out that Rollins didn’t bring a referee to the ring with him, as is normally what happens during an MITB cash-in.
Rollins removed his jacket and took the briefcase from Heyman. Rollins gave his guys their cue. Breakker and Reed entered the ring and went after Punk, who cleared them both to ringside. Punk dove onto both men and overshot them. He took an awkward fall, but it could have been much worse had they not caught him. Breakker and Reed put Heyman through one of the broadcast tables.
Rollins stood in the middle of the ring and motioned to the back. Referee Charles Robinson ran out, but Cena knocked him down at ringside. Cena entered the ring and went face-to-face with Rollins, who swung the MITB briefcase at him. Cena ducked it and hit Rollins with an AA. Cole asked what got into Cena. Breakker and Reed attacked Cena.
Penta made his entrance and then fought with Breakker on the ramp. Penta got the better of it initially, but Breakker suplexed him on the ramp.
Sami Zayn’s entrance theme played, and he ran to the ring and fought Breakker until they were on the side of the stage. Penta dove onto both men.
In the ring, Reed climbed to the top while Cena was down in the ring. Cena rolled out of the way, and then Punk pushed Reed off the top rope. Cena hit an AA on Reed. Cole explained that Cena and Punk didn’t want the match to become a Triple Threat, so they worked together to keep Rollins out of it.
Cena and Punk met in the middle of the ring. Punk offered a handshake. Cena accepted it and then hugged Punk. Cena made the mean face he made before turning on Cody at WrestleMania. Cena tried to kick Punk, who blocked it. Punk hoisted up Cena for an STF. Cena slipped away, and then Rollins hit Punk with the briefcase and a Stomp. Cena tossed Rollins out of the ring and then covered Punk for the three count.
John Cena defeated CM Punk in 26:15 to retain the WWE Championship.
Cole said Rollins screwed Punk again. Cena left the ring and headed to the stage while Rollins stayed in the ring. Cena looked into the camera and said, “You stay on and watch this,” while pointing at the ring. Cena held up his title belt, and then the screen went black for a moment to technically end the show.
Cena exited the stage. Rollins showed frustration while exiting with Heyman and Reed. The crowd chanted for Punk, who was down in the middle of the ring. Punk tried and failed to sit up a few times, but then eventually did. Punk went to ringside and hugged a fan, then slapped hands with others while his entrance theme played…
Powell’s POV: An entertaining main event. I’m happy it wasn’t as simple as Cena kicking Punk in the balls to win. The Cena pipe bomb and Punk Life just didn’t set the tone I was hoping to get for what may have been the final Cena vs. Punk match, but it also helped soften the blow of not getting a clean finish because it was never expected. Rollins’ interference gave Punk a big out for taking the loss, and also added to his ongoing feud with Punk.
Overall, a passable event. It was nothing to write home about from an in-ring standpoint, but the tournament finals and the U.S. Title change made it a newsworthy show, and the main event was fun for what it was. Jake Barnett and I will team up shortly for a same-day audio review that will be available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the show by voting for the best matcha nd grading it below.
I’m old enough to remember people complaining about WCW and TNA having overbooked finishes. The last 5 years of WWE have put them to shame.
And it’s still not as bad as literally every single AEW show.
well that’s debatable( not to mention untrue) and I highly doubt in all honestly you really believe it. I would argue that AEW has never put on a tv show including Rampage that’s been as bad as some of these saudi shows ( it floors me that the sports authority there is willing to keep paying them the money it does for the shows they are getting) That being said , I like the WWE and you could tell the live crowd wanted to get into it by being loud and boisterous, but were flat for most of the show .
He was talking about match endings.
AEW has put on dozens of shows where every single segment on the show had someone getting jumped whether it was in the parking lot, while doing an interview, before the match, during the match, or after the match, and sometimes a single segment would have 2-3 of those things.
They’ve had episodes of Dynamite where literally every match had an interference ending.
WWE has gotten really bad about it on PLE shows, but they’re choir boys compared to what AEW does every week.
“Punk hoisted up Cena for an STF.”
Really?
Could’ve been worse, could have been an STD.
First time I voted Awful Show for this one. I’ve never seen a start to finish good Saudi show, but generally they have one good match. Today just was bad! The commentators annoyed me, which rarely happens.
This was the worst Michael Cole has been since Vince left.
Agreed on this being the worst of the Saudi shows. I gave it a D, but just barely.
1. To make a statement, Punk should hace wrestled in a full body suit like the women.
2. After all these years, Cena still clearly doesn’t care if his stuff looks good or if his spot calling is visible. He’s the worst wrestler that Ive ever seen that was a long time main event er. Ill take Warrior over him.
3. At first I thought, “Oh, Punk made a point to not only talk to the two females as he headed down the isle, but actually touched their hands (a severe offense those ladies committed), but then I about threw up when I realized it was a propaganda ploy, as security was BEHIND the ladies, keep the men out of the shot.
Fucking gross.
That’s alright those men probably be beating shit out of those women for touching a man.
I didn’t think it was a PR stunt, so much as they were VIPs or guests.
The only point Punk made was that Ted Dibiase was always right. Everyone has a price.
Evidently the referee was dead outside the ring after the weak bump, but he comes in the ring Nice and fresh and counts 123 no problem. showing no signs of being hurt. Ugh …
You must be new to wrestling lol.
I was hoping against hope Cena’s cheating would backfire, Punk would win the championship to add
fuel to the Rollins
feud, and Cena could begin his redemption.
Punk was protected and gave Cena his best match this run, but, yeah, WCW.
Jade’s pin was obviously not a pin, but no mention of that…and the overbooked crap with 3 guys running in and the ref pretending to be blind was ridiculous.