The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
With WWE Night of Champions in the books, we talk about the first steps on the road to SummerSlam, which is just four weeks away.
AEW’s All In is even sooner — and we’ll talk about an eventful Dynamite that raised the stakes on a couple of big matches for that show.
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WWE Night of Champions was the final time John Cena wrestled CM Punk and you know what? I’m okay with that.
By now, we should know the formula of a Cena main event. Let’s be realistic: at 48, he is battered and bruised. He can’t do a long match. He doesn’t like taking bumps. So, you’re only going to get one kind of match where he trades some basic offense with his opponent until people run down to the ring for interference to pad the runtime.
To be fair, everything was perfectly alright for the most part between these two and probably the best match they could have done in 2025. But this was hardly the kind of match one would hope for considering their history.
As per usual, a ref bump took place near the end. Seth Rollins came out and instructed his new squad of Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker to do his bidding, taking out Cena. After Penta came out and took out Breakker and Sami Zayn took out Reed, Cena and Punk were left in the ring. Cena attempted to repeat what he did at Elimination Chamber, going for a hug and a low blow. It didn’t work this time as Punk caught him and laid Cena out with the GTS.
However, wouldn’t you know it, that was when Rollins came in and ruined everything by hitting Punk with the curb stomp. Before he could cash in, Cena threw Rollins out of the ring and covered Punk to win the match. This was one of Cena’s better matches this year but standards are so much higher now, especially for main events, and most of his matches aren’t reaching that bar.
One of WWE’s plusses lately is that you can clearly see where the company is going. Punk and Rollins are very likely to do battle at SummerSlam while Cena will face Rhodes in a WrestleMania rematch for the WWE title. Cody needs to win if we’re going to have any good main events on WWE television this year and we need to kickstart Cena’s turn back as a babyface as we head into the final months of his career.
The heel run isn’t working, it’s not leading to good promos and matches, and it just feels like a compelling idea that ended up being a dud due to lack of creativity and performance.
Rhodes, as expected, won the King of the Ring final, defeating Randy Orton in the opening contest of Saturday’s show in Saudi Arabia.
This was the best match on a overall middling show. It was a standard, very good WWE main event style bout where both men kicked out each other’s big moves as the crowd in Riyadh cheered for everything. Orton orchestrated his own downfall, being pushed into a turnbuckle he had exposed.
Jade Cargill is the Queen of the Ring, pinning Asuka in what I thought was a short and rather uninteresting match.
It was just kinda there and didn’t get me into the idea of seeing Cargill challenge for the title. She’s been here for a while at this point and while she absolutely has the look and presence of a star, the work still isn’t there. She will take on Tiffany Stratton, which, well, I don’t know how that will go.
Solo Sikoa is the new United States champion, defeating Jacob Fatu thanks to the debuting TALA TONGA, fka Hikuleo, who chokeslammed Fatu through the announce desk.
This was okay, but Fatu at this point comes off as a far bigger star than Solo and it’s clear he’s outshined most of what remains of the Bloodline, so a title change here felt weird. There is bound to be a rematch here where Fatu regains the title but before that I think we may have a six-man tag for SummerSlam with Fatu likely teaming with Jimmy Uso and another family member to take on his three mean family members — maybe the one that just got a part in the upcoming Street Fighter movie.
The street fight between Raquel Rodriguez and Rhea Ripley was pretty good — your standard WWE weapons match where both worked hard.
Ripley won, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she and IYO SKY battle it out soon for the WWE Women’s World Championship as perhaps that’s the SummerSlam match. Rodriguez, meanwhile, needs a tag team partner and with Roxanne Perez’s interference on her behalf, it is likely these two will team together and become friends.
Sami Zayn defeated Karrion Kross in A Match That Took Place.
Nothing of note, though Zayn was obviously very over with the crowd. They keep pushing Zayn wanting to be a World Champion so much that I think that will be a title program for the fall, or maybe even a tease for the Royal Rumble.
WWE has officially given a new name to Hikuleo.
During the Night of Champions Post-Show, it was revealed that going forward Hikuleo would be known as Tala Tonga. As Solo Sikoa talked about his United States title win over Jacob Fatu, a graphic credited Sikoa’s win to help from Tala, JC Mateo, and a returning Tonga Loa.
WWE trademarked a similar name, Talla Tonga, back in June of last year.
At Saturday’s show in Riyadh, Fatu was wrestling Sikoa when JC Mateo ran in first to interfere. Fatu took Mateo out quickly but was then met by the returning Tonga Loa, who then attacked Fatu. Despite this, Fatu regained the upper hand, took out both men, and hit a moonsault on Sikoa. However, he was then dragged out by Tala, who chokeslammed Fatu through a table. He then threw Fatu back into the ring as Sikoa hit the Samoan spike to win the United States title.
Despite making his debut on Saturday, Hikuleo had been signed to WWE since last June, when he finished up with NJPW. He sat out for most of 2024 and 2025 until a couple of weeks ago, when he wrestled on Main Event. He also worked a dark match prior to last week’s SmackDown.
Triple H is proud of CM Punk for apologizing.
During the Night of Champions post show, Triple H sat down with Byron Saxton and Jackie Redmond talking about the show in general. When discussing the main event between John Cena and CM Punk, he brought up how both men had matured in the last fifteen years, especially Punk.
“I was privileged to watch him grow as a human being, to step out here and apologize to the people of Saudi, to just cherish where he is at in life and his career and the things that he gets to do and the opportunities that he has,” he said. “And I was incredibly proud of him.”
Punk took the time during Friday’s Night of Champions kickoff event to apologize to Saudi Arabia after previously tweeting disparaging comments to The Miz about wrestling in the country.
“This guy wants me to apologize for a mean tweet I wrote six years ago. Hey, listen, legitimately had nothing to do with Saudi Arabia,” he said. “I woke up and I was crabby and I wrote a mean tweet to The Miz. And I apologized to The Miz. And sir, what’s your name? Mohammed? Mohammed, I sincerely apologize to you and all of Saudi Arabia.”
WWE’s CCO took time on the post show to thank Turki Al-Sheikh, who is the Chair of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He also told the crowd to get excited for the upcoming Royal Rumble event in Riyadh in 2026.
The WWE Night of Champions 2025 Press Conference is officially confirmed to be live-streamed globally via WWE’s official YouTube channel.
For fans in the United States, the Post‑Show (also referred to as the Post‑Press Conference Wrap‑Up) is available exclusively on Peacock, included with both Premium and Premium Plus subscriptions ($7.99/month or $79.99 annually).
The YouTube live stream of the press conference is completely free and can be viewed by anyone, but the exclusive behind‑the‑scenes analysis and talent interviews that follow can only be seen post‑event via Peacock.
In the UK, WWE shifted its streaming rights in January 2025. Premium Live Event coverage, including press conferences, is available via Netflix UK. The press‑conference live stream itself remains free on WWE’s official YouTube, while Netflix carries deeper coverage, including the exclusive Post‑Show, intact.
Australian fans follow a similar setup to the UK: the YouTube live stream of the press conference is free, while Post‑Show coverage is bundled into Netflix Australia (part of WWE’s recent global deal effective January 2025). Netflix plans start from about AU $7.99/month.
In most EU countries and wider Europe, WWE content, including press conferences, is now hosted on Netflix under WWE’s international streaming licence. The press conference remains free on YouTube; extended content or the post‑live analysis is locked to Netflix subscribers.
Japanese fans are catered for via Abema, a local streaming service which absorbed WWE Network content in September 2023. Again, the live press‑conference feed is free on YouTube, but for full access, including the Post‑Show, you’ll need an Abema subscription.
| Region/Territory | How to Watch Post-Show Content | Platform Type |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Peacock (Premium or Premium Plus required) | Paid streaming subscription |
| United Kingdom | Netflix UK | Paid streaming subscription |
| Australia | Netflix Australia | Paid streaming subscription |
| Europe | Netflix (varies by country) | Paid streaming subscription |
| Japan | Abema | Paid streaming subscription |
| Canada | Traditional PPV via Vu!, Shaw, SaskTel | Pay-per-view (TV providers) |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport or Showmax | Paid streaming subscription |
| Caribbean | Rush Prime | Paid streaming subscription |
| Other Territories | WWE Network (where Netflix deal not in effect) | Paid WWE subscription |
| Worldwide (Free) | WWE’s Official YouTube Channel (Press Conference Only) | Free live stream |
Wondering when the post‑show press conference for WWE Night of Champions 2025 kicks off, especially if you’re planning to catch the wrap‑up and reactions live? We’ve got you covered with the global start times, tailored for fans across every time zone.
The post‑event press conference is expected to begin around 6 p.m. ET, which is roughly five hours after the 1 p.m. ET main card start.
On the U.S. West Coast, that translates to approximately 3 p.m. PT. Since the main event starts at 10 a.m. PT, the post‑show Press Conference would follow at roughly 3 p.m. PT.
For U.K. and European fans, expect the press conference to begin at approximately 10 p.m. BST. The main card starts at 6 p.m. BST, with the official media call‑back around four hours later.
In Central Europe, the wrap should run at 11 p.m. CEST. The main show starts at 7 p.m. CEST, so expect the network microphones to go hot roughly four hours later.
Indian fans should mark their calendars for 2:30 a.m. IST (June 29). With the main card airing at 10:30 p.m. IST, the press conference lines up a few hours later.
In Japan, the post‑show time is 6 a.m. JST on June 29, after the main event begins at 3 a.m. JST.
Down under on the East Coast of Australia, expect the press conference to air around 8 a.m. AEDT on June 29, following the 5 a.m. AEDT start for the main broadcast.
| Zone | Main Show | Press Conference |
|---|---|---|
| EST | 1 p.m. | ~6 p.m. ET |
| PST | 10 a.m. | ~3 p.m. PT |
| BST | 6 p.m. | ~10 p.m. BST |
| CEST | 7 p.m. | ~11 p.m. CEST |
| IST | 10:30 p.m. | ~2:30 a.m. IST |
| JST | 3 a.m. | ~6 a.m. JST |
| AEDT | 5 a.m. | ~8 a.m. AEDT |
As anticipation builds for WWE Night of Champions 2025 tonight, fans are buzzing with Sean Ross Sapp’s reported match order from Fightful Select. Here’s the predicted lineup heading into the Kingdom Arena on June 28, 2025.
Likely opening the show will be the culmination of the 24th King of the Ring. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton earned their spots with impressive semifinal wins on Raw and SmackDown
Potentially next up is the Street Fight between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez.
Sami Zayn takes on the menacing Karrion Kross in their first singles encounter, probably in the middle of the card.
The U.S. Title comes into play as Jacob Fatu defends against fellow Bloodline member Solo Sikoa, likely in this spot on the card.
The penultimate match will probably see Asuka and Jade Cargill battle for Queen of the Ring honors.
Headlining the event is very likely going to be the clash between John Cena and CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
| Match No. | Match Type | Participants | Stakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King of the Ring Final | Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton | King of the Ring crown |
| 2 | Street Fight | Rhea Ripley vs Raquel Rodriguez | Grudge match |
| 3 | Singles Match | Sami Zayn vs Karrion Kross | Personal rivalry |
| 4 | United States Championship | Jacob Fatu (c) vs Solo Sikoa | United States Title |
| 5 | Queen of the Ring Final | Asuka vs Jade Cargill | Queen of the Ring crown |
| 6 | Undisputed WWE Championship | John Cena (c) vs CM Punk | WWE Championship Main Event |
WWE Night of Champions 2025 is set to take place on Saturday, 28 June, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event card will be headlined by John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk, while the finals of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments will determine the next contenders for WWE’s top titles.
Several anticipated matches have been confirmed through WWE’s official channels, with one notable Intercontinental Championship contest cancelled due to injury.
The headline bout will see John Cena defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk in a highly anticipated rematch, reversing their previous face-heel roles from years past.
The King of the Ring tournament culminates with Randy Orton facing Cody Rhodes in the men’s final, with the winner set to earn a future world title shot. On the women’s side, Asuka and Jade Cargill will battle in the Queen of the Ring final.
Jacob Fatu will defend the United States Championship against Solo Sikoa.Sami Zayn and Karrion Kross will settle their personal feud in a singles contest, promising physical intensity and narrative closure.
Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez will also meet in a Street Fight, with no disqualifications and weapons permitted.
The card was originally scheduled to feature an Intercontinental Championship match between Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles, this bout has been cancelled due to Mysterio suffering a rib injury, confirmed on WWE programming.
| Match | Competitor A | Competitor B | Championship / Stipulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undisputed WWE Championship | John Cena (c) | CM Punk | Standard singles match |
| King of the Ring Tournament Final | Randy Orton | Cody Rhodes | Winner becomes “King of the Ring” |
| Queen of the Ring Tournament Final | Asuka | Jade Cargill | Winner becomes “Queen of the Ring” |
| United States Championship | Jacob Fatu (c) | Solo Sikoa | Standard singles match |
| Singles Contest | Sami Zayn | Karrion Kross | Standard singles match |
| Street Fight | Rhea Ripley | Raquel Rodriguez | No disqualifications; weapons allowed |
WWE Night of Champions 2025 goes live on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, from Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, delivering a truly global viewing experience for WWE’s Premium Live Event. Fans in North America can catch the main card from midday, while viewers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania tune in during the evening or overnight hours. Whether you’re on Peacock in the U.S. or Netflix elsewhere, here’s your definitive guide to when to start the live stream.
West Coast fans can start their day with WWE action as the Night of Champions main card kicks off at 10:00 AM PT.
In the Central Time Zone, the show begins at 12:00 PM CT.
East Coast audiences will be able to tune in at 1:00 PM ET.
U.K. fans should set reminders for 6:00 PM BST on Saturday evening to catch the event live on Netflix internationally.
Across mainland Europe, the event begins at 7:00 PM CET.
Local spectators and regional broadcasters in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries should tune in at 9:00 PM AST.
In India, the main card airs at 11:30 PM IST.
Viewers in China can join the main card at 2:00 AM CST on Sunday morning.
Japanese fans should set their alarms for 3:00 AM JST on Sunday.
Finally, for viewers in Sydney, Melbourne, and beyond, the card starts at 5:00 AM AEDT on Sunday.
| Region / Time Zone | Local Start Time |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | 10:00 AM PT |
| Central Time (CT) | 12:00 PM CT |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 1:00 PM ET |
| British Summer Time (BST) | 6:00 PM BST |
| Central European Time (CET) | 7:00 PM CET |
| Arabian Standard Time (AST) | 9:00 PM AST |
| India Standard Time (IST) | 11:30 PM IST |
| China Standard Time (CST)† | 2:00 AM CST |
| Japan Standard Time (JST)† | 3:00 AM JST |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)† | 5:00 AM AEDT |
A new match has been added to Saturday’s WWE Night of Champions PLE set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Following a brawl on Monday’s WWE Raw, Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez will go one-on-one in a street fight at Night of Champions.
The street fight is one of two new matches added to Saturday’s lineup during Monday’s Raw, joining a Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross matchup.
The previously scheduled Dominik Mysterio vs. AJ Styles Intercontinental title match was pulled from the show with Raw GM Adam Pearce announcing during Raw that Mysterio had suffered an injury and would not be able to defend the title this week. Pearce assured Styles that he is still next in line for a title shot when Mysterio is able to defend.
The updated card for Saturday:
UPDATE: Saudi Arabia has reportedly joined UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar in shutting down airspace over the country. Officially, Night of Champions has not yet been cancelled.
Recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East have cast a shadow over WWE’s upcoming Night of Champions event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this weekend. Following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites authorised by President Trump, Iran has warned of “everlasting consequences,” raising safety concerns for Americans travelling in the region.
Gulf states, traditionally allied with Washington but wary of escalation, have denounced the strikes and urged de-escalation to avoid wider conflict. Amid these tensions, WWE has reportedly pressed ahead with full production in Riyadh, yet fans and international observers are speculating whether the event might be postponed, relocated or cancelled.
Tensions spiked when U.S. forces targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, leading Iran’s foreign minister to vow “irreparable” retaliation against American interests in the region. Saudi Arabia, hosting WWE under a 10-year, $100 million-per-year partnership, shares a complex history with Iran, marked by rivalry for regional leadership and intermittent diplomatic suspensions from 2016 to 2023.
While Saudi authorities publicly maintain stability, internal caution has increased, with UK travel advisories warning British nationals against non-essential travel to areas near the Yemeni border and beyond.
The escalation follows broader Israeli-Iran hostilities that began earlier this month, further complicating the security environment in the Gulf. Gulf monarchies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have alternately resisted and accommodated U.S. military operations on their soil, even as Iran’s missile capabilities pose direct threats.
Despite mounting unease, WWE has not officially altered its schedule as of writing. Production crews and talent remain on a charter flight bound for Riyadh, with both Friday’s SmackDown and Saturday’s Night of Champions slated to proceed as planned.
WWE’s lucrative partnership with Saudi Arabia, valued at roughly $1 billion since 2018, underscores why postponement could carry significant economic repercussions. Saudi’s Vision 2030 aims to diversify its economy through high-profile entertainment, making WWE events central to that strategy and politically sensitive to cancel.
WWE’s long-standing cordiality with the Trump administration may heighten the awkwardness of this situation. The company and its executives have historically enjoyed high-profile interactions with President Trump, who is of course himself a WWE Hall of Famer. His administration’s decision to strike Iran now places WWE in the delicate position of navigating its alignment with Washington while hosting an event in a country eager to present itself as a stable, globally engaged partner.
Overall, it looks like NOC will NOT be cancelled, but the situation could change very quickly in the coming days ahead of the card on Saturday. So could WWE Night of Champions be cancelled? Yes. Has it been yet? No.
WWE Night of Champions 2025 will be available to everyone, wherever you are. In the United States, the main card airs live and exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service. Everywhere else, the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, Japan and beyond, you can catch every match live on Netflix, following WWE’s global streaming deal that launched on 1 January 2025. Here’s how to watch, by territory.
In the U.S., WWE Night of Champions 2025 is streaming only on Peacock. The event kicks off on Saturday 28 June and is not available via cable pay-per-view or WWE Network (which is now defunct) in America. Peacock offers tiered subscriptions, so you’ll need a Premium or Premium Plus plan to watch live sports; once you’ve signed up, simply search for “WWE” on the app or website on the day for instant access.
UK fans can stream Night of Champions live on Netflix, as part of WWE’s international content migration from the old WWE Network to Netflix on 1 January 2025. There’s no extra charge beyond your standard Netflix subscription, and the event will appear under “Sports” or “Live Events” on desktop or in the Netflix app.
Down under, Australia follows the same Netflix arrangement. The event begins at 3 am AEST on Sunday 29 June; you’ll need to be an active Netflix subscriber and simply navigate to “WWE” in the search bar to find the live stream. Playback options include HD streaming or standard definition, depending on your plan, and you can cast to compatible smart TVs or devices.
Throughout continental Europe, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Nordics, Netflix is your go-to. The start time varies by time zone, for example 7 pm CET in Central Europe and 8 pm EET in Eastern Europe. Netflix’s event listing will automatically adjust to your local time; simply open Netflix on 28 June and select the live event banner for Night of Champions.
Japanese viewers can also watch on Netflix at 12 am JST on Sunday 29 June. Netflix Japan carries all live WWE premium events under its standard subscription, with no pay-per-view fees. Look for the “Live Sports” thumbnail in the app or on the website once the event goes live.
| Territory / Region | Streaming Service | Subscription Details |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Peacock | Requires Premium or Premium Plus subscription |
| United Kingdom | Netflix | Included in standard Netflix subscription |
| Australia | Netflix | Included in standard Netflix subscription |
| Continental Europe | Netflix | Included in standard Netflix subscription |
| Japan | Netflix | Included in standard Netflix subscription |
| Other international | Netflix | Included in standard Netflix subscription |
The WWE Night of Champions 2025 Preshow kicks off on Saturday 28 June, acting as the warm-up to the main card from Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena. Viewers worldwide can stream the Preshow live, and at no extra cost, via WWE’s official YouTube channel.
U.S. fans can join the Preshow one hour before the main card on Saturday, 28 June.
Simply visit WWE’s official YouTube channel and click the livestream link; no Peacock subscription is required for this free preshow.
British viewers should set reminders for on 28 June to catch the Preshow live. Head to WWE’s YouTube channel from any device, desktop, tablet or smartphone, and subscribe to receive an alert when the stream begins.
In eastern Australia, the Preshow goes live on Sunday 29 June, leading into the 5:00 a.m. main card. Just head on to WWE’s YouTube channel and you’ll be ready for every match preview as it happens.
Fans across mainland Europe can tune into the Preshow on 28 June. No cable subscription needed. just open your browser or YouTube app, navigate to WWE’s channel and enjoy the stream live.
Japanese audiences should be ready for a 2:00 a.m. Japan Standard Time start on 29 June for the Preshow, ahead of the 3:00 a.m. main card. Visit WWE’s YouTube channel and click through to the live feed; you’ll see match breakdowns, analysis and interviews.
| Territory | How to Watch |
|---|---|
| United States | Stream free on WWE’s official YouTube channel, no subscription required. |
| United Kingdom | Watch live via WWE’s YouTube channel; subscribe and enable notifications. |
| Australia | Access the preshow on WWE’s official YouTube channel: free worldwide stream. |
| Europe | Tune in on WWE’s YouTube channel; click Subscribe and the notification bell. |
| Japan | View live on WWE’s official YouTube channel; subscribe for alerts. |
| Other territories | Worldwide free stream on WWE’s YouTube channel, no VPN or pay-per-view code needed. |
Ahead of WWE Night of Champions 2025 from Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, June 28, fans worldwide can tune into the Kickoff Show one hour before the main card, with analysis, interviews and exclusive preshow content. Below are the global preshow start times you need to note if you want to watch ahead of the main card.
The WWE Night of Champions Kickoff Show goes live at 12:00 p.m. ET, one hour ahead of the 1 p.m. main card.
On the U.S. West Coast, the preshow begins at 9:00 a.m. PT, leading into the 10 a.m. main broadcast.
For viewers in the Central Time Zone, tune in at 11:00 a.m. CT.
U.K. fans should set reminders for 5:00 p.m. BST. The preshow airs live on Netflix internationally one hour prior to the 6 p.m. main card.
The main show start time at 7 p.m. CET means a 6:00 p.m. CET preshow start.
In India, the main card airs at 10:30 p.m. IST, so the preshow kicks off at 9:30 p.m. IST.
Japanese viewers should be ready at 2:00 a.m. JST on June 29 for the Kickoff Show, ahead of the 3:00 a.m. main card start.
For fans in eastern Australia, the preshow begins at 4:00 a.m. AEDT on June 29, leading into the 5:00 a.m. main broadcast.
| Region (Time Zone) | Abbreviation | UTC Offset | Preshow Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | HST | UTC−10 | 6:00 a.m. (June 28) |
| Anchorage | AKDT | UTC−8 | 7:00 a.m. (June 28) |
| Los Angeles | PDT | UTC−7 | 9:00 a.m. (June 28) |
| Denver | MDT | UTC−6 | 10:00 a.m. (June 28) |
| Chicago | CDT | UTC−5 | 11:00 a.m. (June 28) |
| New York | EDT | UTC−4 | 12:00 p.m. (June 28) |
| Rio de Janeiro | BRT | UTC−3 | 1:00 p.m. (June 28) |
| London | BST | UTC+1 | 5:00 p.m. (June 28) |
| Berlin | CEST | UTC+2 | 6:00 p.m. (June 28) |
| New Delhi | IST | UTC+5:30 | 9:30 p.m. (June 28) |
| Tokyo | JST | UTC+9 | 2:00 a.m. (June 29) |
| Sydney | AEDT | UTC+10 | 4:00 a.m. (June 29) |
| Auckland | NZST | UTC+12 | 6:00 a.m. (June 29) |
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— Bryan Alvarez and I will be back tonight talking about WWE Night of Champions, what we can learn from AEW in Mexico City, weekend shows, Jon Jones and the rest of the weekend news.
— Those in WWE have said that they are monitoring the situation, which is about all you can say, regarding the situation in the Middle East after the bombing in Iran by the U.S. yesterday. I know that a Vince McMahon-led WWE would be going unless being prohibited from going. But with this regime, we have to let it play out. It’s certainly something to be concerned about, but it is early to make a final decision on.
As of right now, the U.K. government has advised against travel in southern Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border and anything but essential travel in the same area. Riyadh is listed as a place to check on travel advice before traveling.
— We’re looking for your thoughts on Friday night’s Fantasticamania show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
— The two weekend bouts I’ve been hearing about are the Sareee IWGP Women’s title win over Syuri at the Stardom show yesterday at the Yoyogi Gym in Tokyo, and the Bandido & Hologram win over Mistico & Mascara Dorada from Friday’s Fantasticamania which ended with Bandido pinning Mistico clean by reversing La Mistica into a cradle. There were post-match challenges for a singles match for next week but that is not a certainty if it will happen until the lineup gets announced. I did see the latter match and it was incredible.
— More than 53,000 fans attended the events at Arena Mexico from 6/13 to 6/20.
— A memorial funeral for Sabu took place yesterday in Lansing, MI, where he grew up. Many family members were there. A lot of area wrestlers were there including Scott D’Amore, Mickey Doyle and Monty Brown. Sabu’s classmates when he was trained by The Sheik, Rob Van Dam, Judge Dredd, Sampson and Tommy Starr were there. Sampson and Dredd shared many stories of their early days in training. Jimmy Jacobs talked about wrestling Sabu when he was 19. Referee Brian Gorie spoke. Joey Janela spoke about Sabu’s final match. JR Coates, the brother of Sabu’s longtime girlfriend the late Melissa Coates, gave an emotional speech about his sister, his own relationship with Sabu and their friendship. Van Dam gave a tearful eulogy and calling Sabu his best friend. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
— Looking for reports from last nights’ TNA tapings in Pittsburgh, results, finishes and highlights, to [email protected]. We’re also looking for reports on today’s RevPro show at York Hall in London.
— For Google searches this weekend, Jon Jones’ retirement had 200,000 searches. Dana White today basically confirmed what had been said about Jones agreeing on the money deal to face Tom Aspinall and that it would take place in November in Madison Square Garden. He said Jones backed out and he said you’d have to ask Jones why. Jones had another arrest in February that was just reported yesterday when White said he had called to say he was retiring which Jones corroborated. Aspinall is now officially the UFC world heavyweight champion and has no viable money contenders. White also indicated they are not interested in Francis Ngannou returning.
— The only other stuff to crack the top 20 for searches are last night’s UFC show at 155,000 and Claudio Castagnoli (he’s fine and should be back soon after missing the shows this week) with 20,000. That’s probably also due to John Cena mentioning him in the promo on Friday and him not being on the AEW shows which are independent of each other.
— White also said that for 9/13, the UFC Noche show in San Antonio will end before Canelo Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford starts. He said you will be able to watch the UFC main event and then watch the Alvarez fight on Netflix.
— Fantasticamania U.K. joint shows with CMLL and RevPro take place on 10/18 at The Hangar in Wolverhampton. There will be both an afternoon and an evening show.
— Best wishes to Flash Morgan Webster who announced that he has undergone surgery for appendicitis.
— WWE LFG returns for its new season in its new time slot of 10 p.m. Eastern on A&E tonight. All the coaches (other than Michelle McCool replacing Mickie James) and some of the talent in season one is being brought back.
— At TNA’s Saturday TV taping in Pittsburgh, they announced the signings of Jada Stone and Mila Moore.
— 46-year-old Andrei Arlovski returned to action at last night’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in Fort Worth, TX, winning via stoppage at the end of the fourth round against Josh Copeland. Another former UFC star, Jessica Eye, won a five-round decision over Mariya Agapova. Eye trended on Google as well.
— Juggalo Championship Wrestling and GCW are doing a joint show from The Majestic Theater in Detroit on 7/17 called Showcase Showdown: The Violence is Right. It will air on Triller+.
