WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for one of its annual premium live events with today’s Night of Champions from Riyadh, streaming on Peacock for U.S. viewers and Netflix for international viewers.
Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena makes his final appearance in the country as an active wrestler, defending against longtime rival CM Punk in their first singles bout since February 2013.
The King of the Ring finals will take place as former champions and former stablemates Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton do battle with a SummerSlam title shot on the line.
In the Queen of the Ring finals, Jade Cargill takes on Asuka to determine who gets a SummerSlam title shot.
In a grudge match with the United States title on the line, reigning champion Jacob Fatu defends against former Bloodline faction member Solo Sikoa.
In a street fight, Rhea Ripley goes one-on-one with Raquel Rodriguez while Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross rounds out the card.
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Show Recap —
COUNTDOWN SHOW
There was an establishing shot of the city, wrestlers arriving, and an intro narrated by Tom Rinaldi — all things I’m sure we’ll see again when the actual show starts.
The pre-show was hosted by Michael Cole, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett. Cole said it was 109 degrees outside, turned to the fans behind him, and said, “No idea how you people live in this heat.”
They talked and they talked and they talked as the fans chanted everything they could think of in the background. Cole said, “There’s a reason that WWE has this growing relationship with this country of Saudi Arabia.” Indeed, there is. They cut to a video package of past events in the country.
They aired the final 2-3 minutes of Kurt Angle beating Rikishi to win KOTR 2000.
Jade Cargill told Byron Saxton she was focused and planned on taking the crown home to her daughter.
Rhea Ripley spoke to Redmond about her relationship with Raquel Rodriguez and their upcoming street fight. Ripley planned on putting her through the ground. There was no point being in this business if you weren’t going for the title, and she wanted to remind everyone that this was her division.
They aired the final few minutes of Nia Jax beating Lyra Valkyria to win QOTR last year, and highlights of Giulia’s U.S. title win over Zelina Vega last night.
Saxton interviewed Karrion Kross (with Scarlett). Kross said Sami Zayn was not a good guy. It was a charade. Zayn collected sympathy and used it to put himself in advantageous situations. Kross was annoyed nobody talked about his goals the way they talked about Zayn’s. He cut his own interview short because he didn’t want to get in trouble.
The panel spoke about Jacob Fatu/Solo Sikoa. One hour to go.
They aired the final few minutes of Xavier Woods beating Finn Bálor to win KOTR 2021, and more highlights from last night’s SmackDown. Redmond loved CM Punk’s thuganomics promo. She admitted there was some cringe, but that made it better.
They plugged Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, a new season of LFG, and aired the final few minutes of Zelina Vega beating “Doudrop” (Piper Niven) to win the Queen’s Crown in 2021.
Saxton replaced Cole and Barrett, and he spoke with Redmond about the KOTR and QOTR finals.
Nathalie Mamo, who always corresponds with WWE for these shows, spoke to actor/comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj. He did not get much of a reaction, and the fans continued to chant for the regular WWE personalities in the background.
They showed Gunther beating Orton to win KOTR last year, and a long feature on Steve Austin winning KOTR 1996.
The panel ran down the card one final time, and the pre-show is mercifully over.
NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2025
There was an establishing shot of the city. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Karrion Kross and Scarlett (whose outfit may be pushing the boundaries), Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Jade Cargill, and CM Punk were shown arriving. Most of them got big reactions. The intro was narrated by Tom Rinaldi.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. We were also welcomed by the Arabic announcers.
If you didn’t see SmackDown last night, the stage is gigantic.
King of the Ring final: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
Orton entered first, Rhodes second. Both men received huge reactions, with the fans singing their songs. Rhodes looked emotional as the match began, their first since 2013. The crowd was electric as it began.
They didn’t do much for the first few minutes, and they didn’t really have to. Rhodes went to the top about five minutes in, but Orton brought him down with a superplex.
Orton sold it like he hurt his back. Rhodes took advantage and hit a Disaster kick for two. Orton responded with a backbreaker, but hurt his own back in the process. Rhodes wrenched Orton’s back around the ring post and followed with a missile dropkick.
Orton fought back and hit a powerslam, but the injury prevented him from making a cover fast enough, and Rhodes kicked out. Rhodes forearmed Orton repeatedly in his lower back before hitting a Cody Cutter for two. (Rhodes got a smattering of boos for targeting his back.) Rhodes followed with a super Cody Cutter for two.
Orton came back with a draping DDT, but Rhodes countered an RKO into a Cross Rhodes for a nearfall. Rhodes stalled for too long, perhaps thinking Orton was down for good, but Orton popped up with an RKO for a nearfall.
Orton set up for the punt but began second-guessing himself. The crowd chanted, “Yes,” as Orton talked himself into it. Orton went for the punt, but Rhodes blocked it and applied a figure four until Orton got a rope break.
They exchanged right hands until Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter, but Orton caught him mid-air with an RKO for a nearfall.
Orton brought a chair into the ring, but Charles Robinson took it away. As the referee was distracted, Orton exposed the top turnbuckle. Rhodes blocked Orton’s attempt to use the exposed buckle and shoved him into it instead. Rhodes followed with a Cross Rhodes for the pinfall win.
Cody Rhodes has earned a shot at the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
— Orton left the ring as Rhodes was presented with the crown. Orton had his back turned as Saxton interviewed Rhodes. Rhodes thanked Orton, who mentored him and spoke up for him. Rhodes said this would not be Orton’s final stop in Saudi Arabia and asked the fans to give him an ovation. Orton turned around to see this.
Rhodes said he would face either CM Punk or John Cena. He knew how the audience felt when he went up against these beloved characters, but no matter who the champion was, they were only holding it for him, because he would get the ball back at SummerSlam. Fireworks went off as Rhodes held up the crown.
Match result: Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton (19:48)
This was a good, simple, and well-laid-out match, although the finish felt a bit abrupt. Rhodes wasn’t acting like a heel, but Orton was definitely the babyface until the end when his frustration got the better of him.
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The Street Profits were shown in the crowd.
There was a video package for the upcoming match. It highlighted their real friendship in the past, leading to their eventual TV feud.
Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Tag Team Champion Raquel Rodriguez
Ripley entered to a massive reaction. Their outfits were a bit too similar, with Ripley wearing an all-black bodysuit with metal eyelets and Rodriguez wearing a dark blue (almost black) bodysuit with metal eyelets.
Ripley got trapped in the ropes, so Rodriguez hit her repeatedly with a kendo stick. Ripley managed to kick a chair into her face and escape from the ropes.
Ripley cleared the announce table and set up for a vertical suplex, but Rodriguez escaped. Ripley tried a cannonball off the table instead, but Rodriguez caught her and powerbombed her through the top of the barricade. (It was built to break, but this still looked great.)
Rodriguez set up the steel steps, but Ripley rammed her into them, took off her belt, and repeatedly whipped Rodriguez with it. Ripley followed with Razor’s Edge and a running kick for two.
Ripley applied a Prism Trap, but was attacked from behind by Roxanne Perez (also wearing the same type of body suit as the other two, although hers had purple lining to match Judgment Day). Ripley fought her off outside the ring and hit a vertical suplex. Ripley put a trash can over Perez and hit a sliding kick.
Rodriguez used the distraction to drive Ripley into the steel post and into the steep steps. Rodriguez followed with a twisting elbow drop for two. Rodriguez booted Ripley and placed a table over the top rope, but Ripley shoved her into the edge of the table.
They climbed on top of the wobbling table that sat atop the top rope, and Ripley hit an avalanche Rip-tide for the pinfall win.
Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez (14:04)
This was a really good match. The crowd didn’t care at all about Ripley, or even Perez, but they loved Ripley.
The announcers pushed that Ripley wants to go for the world title again, and she mentioned it on the pre-show.
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This match did not get a video package, but they did show their segment from Raw.
Zayn entered wearing a keffiyeh (headdress), and wrestled in black, green, red and white tights.
Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett) vs. Sami Zayn
Kross tried being the aggressor with strikes, but Zayn fought back with strikes of his own and clotheslined Kross out of the ring. Zayn teased a dive as Kross backed away up the ramp. Kross was frustrated until Scarlett whispered something in his ear. Zayn fought off Kross again, hitting a moonsault off the barricade. Back in the ring, Kross responded with a Saito suplex to take over.
Zayn came back with a clothesline, ten punches in the corner, and a double axe-handle. Kross responded with a DVD for two. Kross avoided a Blue Thunder Bomb and hit another Saito suplex for two. Kross ducked a clothesline and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Kross acted like he couldn’t get up, but suddenly caught Zayn with consecutive German suplexes.
Zayn came back with an exploder in the corner, but Kross intercepted his Helluva kick and applied a Kross Jacket sleeper. The referee raised Zayn’s hand three times to check if he was still alive, and he raised his arm up on the third one. Zayn got a rope break.
Kross hit consecutive running clotheslines in the corner. Kross taunted Zayn and wanted him to admit he was right. However, as Kross set up for another clothesline, Zayn nailed a Helluva Kick for the pinfall win. Cole, for some reason, called this a miracle.
This match was fine.
Scarlett checked on Kross after the match. Zayn celebrated and smiled as he looked down at Kross.
Match result: Sami Zayn defeated Karrion Kross (13:32)
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They showed Los Garza winning the AAA tag team titles. Santos Escobar and Los Garza were shown in the crowd.
There was a video package for the upcoming match.
Fatu’s entrance looked pretty cool with this stage setup.
United States Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
Sikoa beat Fatu.
Sikoa hit Fatu with a cheap shot right before the bell rang to begin. Fatu fought back pretty quickly, but Sikoa blocked his suicide dive attempt and slammed him on the ring apron and black mats with uranages. Sikoa hit a running hip attack and applied a sleeper hold for a long time. Cole said Fatu was fading. He’s not the only one.
Fatu eventually got up and fought back until Sikoa turned him around with a somewhat nasty-looking German suplex. Fatu landed right on his face. He no-sold it and fought back, hitting a running hip attack, impaler DDT, and senton bomb for two.
JC Mateo ran out to distract the referee as the returning Tonga Loa attacked Fatu with an elevated neckbreaker. Sikoa rolled into a cover, but Fatu kicked out. Fatu wiped out Mateo and Loa with a Fosbury flop.
Fatu hit Sikoa with a Samoan drop and a moonsault, but Sikoa was pulled out of the ring by Hikuleo. He was not named, only referred to as the brother of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.
Hikuleo chokeslammed Fatu onto the announce table and rolled him back in the ring. (The referee was somehow distracted this entire time.) Sikoa hit Fatu with a Samoan spike for the pinfall win. The crowd liked Fatu, so they were surprised by the title change.
Sikoa posed on the ramp with his crew as fireworks went off.
Match result: Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu to win the United States Championship (12:07)
This was not a particularly interesting match, and Fatu losing feels like a big mistake.
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Queen of the Ring final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
Asuka kept targeting the leg, while Cargill kept fighting her off. Cargill hit a fallaway slam and a chokeslam for two. Asuka responded with kicks, a Codebreaker and a missile dropkick for two. Cargill ducked a kick and hit a sit-out powerbomb for two. Cargill fought out of an armbar and hit a big boot. Asuka avoided Jaded and went for an Asuka Lock, but Cargill rolled out.
Asuka went for a running hip attack, but Cargill caught her and hit Jaded for the pinfall win.
— Cargill was presented with the crown before being interviewed by Saxton. She told people who felt down to fight through it and show people who you are. A storm was coming for SummerSlam.
Match result: Jade Cargill defeated Asuka (8:35)
Asuka looked really good here, Cargill did not. Asuka was the crowd favourite, but they were never that into this at any point. They were particularly quiet when Cargill was on offence, and there was a smattering of boos when she won.
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Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk
John Cena’s heel run may be coming to an end soon—but not yet.
Punk entered first to a huge reaction. He sat cross-legged in the ring as he awaited Cena. (Incidentally, he sat right behind the words “Riyadh Season” on the mat.)
Like the opening match, the crowd was electric as they got going, and the wrestlers didn’t do too much in the first five minutes. Punk avoided a shoulder tackle and went for a GTS, but Cena slipped out. Punk tried a version of AJ Lee’s octopus hold (which Barrett mentioned), but Cena fought out of that, too.
Cena did his usual comeback and five knuckle shuffle, but Punk avoided an AA and hit a neckbreaker and a corner knee strike. (Barrett acknowledged that we were getting the ‘greatest hits’ from both men with this exchange.)
Punk hit a flying elbow drop and went for a GTS, but Cena countered into an STF. Punk countered that into an Anaconda Vice, but Cena fought out and hit an AA for two. Punk slipped out of another AA, hit a DDT and applied an STF, but Cena got a rope break.
They (slowly) exchanged counters until Cena hit another AA for a nearfall. Punk tried a flying crossbody, but Cena rolled through, hoisted him up and hit an AA for a close nearfall.
In the opening match, Orton’s RKO wasn’t enough, so he grabbed a chair. Here, Cena’s AA wasn’t enough, so he grabbed his title belt. However, Cena had second thoughts (like Orton did with the punt) and put the belt down. That hesitation allowed Punk to hit a GTS for a nearfall.
Punk ducked a shoulder tackle, and Cena tackled the ref by mistake. Punk hit a GTS and got a visual pin, but the ref was down.
Punk called for another ref, but he got Seth Rollins instead. Rollins entered with Paul Heyman (holding the MITB briefcase), Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
Punk fought off Bron and Bronson with the ref still dead from a shoulder tackle. Punk tried a dive, and I think they were supposed to catch him, but he overshot them. Bron and Bronson grabbed Punk and tried a double chokeslam, but Punk didn’t really get up for it, so they basically shoved him through the announce table.
With Punk down, Rollins called for a new ref. Charles Robinson sprinted down the ramp (as we’ve seen him do before), but he was obliterated by Cena, who tackled him down. Cena got in Rollins’ face and eventually laid him out with an AA.
Bron and Bronson put the boots to Cena until Penta ran out to make the save. Bron went after him, so Sami Zayn ran out to even the odds. Penta wiped out Bron and Zayn with a dive.
Back in the ring, Reed was about to give Cena a Tsunami, but Punk shoved him off the top, and Cena laid out Reed with an impressive AA.
Punk and Cena stood face-to-face in the ring and seemed on the same page. Punk offered a handshake. Cena shook his hand, but looked sternly into the camera as he did when he turned on Rhodes.
Cena tried to kick Punk low, but Punk saw it coming and went for a GTS. However, Rollins hit Punk with the briefcase and hit a curb stomp. Cena shoved Rollins out of the ring and covered Punk for the pinfall win (the referee sprang to life at precisely the right moment).
Cena smiled into the camera and posed with his belt as the show ended.
Match result: John Cena defeated CM Punk to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship (26:17)
The match was exactly as it could be between these two at this stage of their careers, which is not much. Adding in all of the interference made a mess of a main event. The closing sequence accomplished what they wanted, though. Cena teased going back babyface, Punk got screwed again, and Rollins almost became champion again (without officially cashing in).
