This article is about the Night of Champions event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the Night of Champions event held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, see Night of Champions (2023).
The event hosted the finals of both the 24th King of the Ring and third Queen of the Ring tournaments; the last tournaments for each were held in 2024. This was the second Night of Champions to take place in Saudi Arabia, after the last Night of Champions that was held in 2023, and the 13th event that WWE held in Saudi Arabia under a 10-year partnership in support of Saudi Vision 2030. This was also John Cena's final Night of Champions appearance and last appearance at a PPV and livestreaming event in Saudi Arabia as an in-ring performer due to his retirement from professional wrestling at the end of 2025.
Six matches were contested at the event. In the main event, John Cena defeated CM Punk to retain SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Championship. In other prominent matches, SmackDown's Jade Cargill defeated Raw's Asuka to win the Queen of the Ring tournament, thus earning a match for the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam, and in the opening bout, Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton, both from SmackDown, to win the King of the Ring tournament, thus earning a match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, also at SummerSlam. The event marked the return of Tonga Loa in his first appearance after suffering an injury at Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2024, and the WWE televised debut of Hikuleo, whose ring name was changed to Talla Tonga.
Production
Background
Night of Champions was an annual pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the American companyWWE since 2007.[1] It continued annually until 2015, but was discontinued until it was reinstated in 2023, which was the first to be broadcast via WWE's livestreaming platforms, but an event was not held in 2024. The event is characterized by having championship matches. In early 2018, WWE began a 10-year strategic multiplatform partnership with the Ministry of Sport (formerly General Sports Authority) in support of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program.[2][3] The 2023 Night of Champions was the first Night of Champions held in Saudi Arabia, which was in Jeddah, and it was the ninth event under this partnership.[4]
On May 10, 2025, WWE announced that the 11th Night of Champions would return the event to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and would take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Kingdom Arena, featuring wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDownbrand divisions. This was the 13th event that WWE held in Saudi Arabia, and the only WWE PPV and livestreaming event in the country in 2025 due to 2026 hosting three such events; excluding from early 2020 to mid-2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia had hosted two events per year since 2018. The June 27 episode of Friday Night SmackDown was also held at the same venue.[5]
In addition to airing on traditional PPV worldwide and via livestreaming on Peacock in the United States, the event was also available to livestream on Netflix in most international markets and the WWE Network in any remaining countries that had not yet transferred to Netflix due to pre-existing contracts. This marked the first Night of Champions to livestream on Netflix following the WWE Network's merger under the service in January in those areas.[6]
Storylines
The event included six matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[7][8] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[9]
During the June 6 episode of SmackDown, the tournaments for the 24th King of the Ring and third Queen of the Ring were announced to begin on the June 9 episode of Raw, subsequently held across episodes of Raw and SmackDown and culminating at Night of Champions with the winner of each tournament receiving a match for the world championship of their respective brand at SummerSlam.[10] The semifinals took place on the June 20 and June 23 episodes of SmackDown and Raw, respectively. Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, both from SmackDown, won their respective semifinal matches, setting up the King of the Ring final, while Raw's Asuka and SmackDown's Jade Cargill won their respective semifinal matches, setting up the Queen of the Ring final.[11][12]
At Elimination Chamber on March 1, John Cena won the men's Elimination Chamber match to earn an Undisputed WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 41 by last eliminating longtime rival CM Punk; Cena would then turn heel moments later, portraying a villain for the first time in over 20 years.[13] Cena would go on to win the championship on Night 2 of WrestleMania 41 on April 20.[14] On the June 9 episode of Raw, Cena was confronted by Punk, who challenged Cena to an Undisputed WWE Championship match on that night's episode. Cena accepted Punk's challenge only if the title match was at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia (a reference to Punk's legitimate past criticisms of the company's partnership with the country). Punk agreed, and the match was subsequently made official for Night of Champions.[15]
As a result of Solo Sikoa losing the Anoaʻi family's Ula Fala necklace and title of "Tribal Chief" to his cousin Roman Reigns during Raw's Netflix premiere in January,[16] tension arose between Sikoa and his other cousin and Bloodline stablemate, Jacob Fatu, which continued to build over the next few months. On the June 6 episode of SmackDown, Fatu overheard Sikoa insulting him while talking with JC Mateo,[17] leading Fatu to betray Sikoa and cost him the Money in the Bank ladder match at the eponymous event the next night.[18] On the following episode of SmackDown, Sikoa stated that he would appear on next week's episode, willing to accept Fatu back into the group.[19] On the following episode, Sikoa apologized to Fatu, who did not accept it, and stated that Sikoa changed since he won the WWE United States Championship at WrestleMania 41 in April. Fatu then challenged Sikoa to a match for the title, however, Sikoa tried to attack Fatu, who prevented it. Mateo joined Sikoa to attack Fatu, who got the upper hand after an assist from his cousin Jimmy Uso. Later that night, Fatu announced that after speaking with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, he would defend the title against Sikoa at Night of Champions.[11]
On the June 9 episode of Raw, Raquel Rodriguez interfered in Rhea Ripley's Queen of the Ring qualifying match on behalf of her tag team partner Liv Morgan, costing Ripley the match.[15] Ripley would in turn cost Rodriguez her qualifying match the following week.[20] On the June 23 episode, Rodriguez called out Ripley, and a brawl ensued between both women, with Rodriguez performing a Tejana Bomb on Ripley through a table. Later, Ripley demanded Raw General Manager Adam Pearce for a match against Rodriguez, and a Street Fight was scheduled for Night of Champions.[12]
Since early 2025, Karrion Kross had been targeting Sami Zayn with the two having several backstage confrontations as Kross taunted Zayn for failing in his world championship pursuits. After Zayn was eliminated in the semifinals of the King of the Ring tournament, Zayn was confronted by Kross once again on the June 23 episode of Raw, who claimed Zayn would never be a world champion. Zayn subsequently punched Kross, and announced that after talking with Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, a match between the two was made official. Later that night, it was confirmed that the match would take place at Night of Champions.[12]
Cancelled matches
On the May 5 episode of Raw, AJ Styles stated that he would be coming after Dominik Mysterio's WWE Intercontinental Championship, with Mysterio asking his Judgment Day stablemate Finn Bálor to deal with Styles.[21] A match between Bálor and Styles took place on the next episode, where Styles won,[22] and on the following episode, Styles's team defeated Bálor and JD McDonagh in a tag team match.[23] Their rivalry would resume a month later on the June 16 episode, where Styles defeated McDonagh. Following the match, Mysterio attacked Styles, however, Styles fought back. Mysterio was then saved by Bálor, with Styles retreating with Mysterio's championship. After Styles returned the championship to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who was subbing for Raw General Manager Adam Pearce that night, Aldis announced that Styles would face Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship at Night of Champions.[20] The following week, however, Pearce announced that as a result of an injury sustained by Mysterio, the match was postponed, and thus would not take place at Night of Champions.[12]
On the June 16 episode of Raw, WWE began teasing a rivalry between Liv Morgan and Women's World ChampionIyo Sky, with later reports confirming that a match between the two for the title was set to take place at Night of Champions.[24][25][26] However, during that same episode, Morgan suffered a legitimatedislocated shoulder in a match against Kairi Sane, thus scrapping those plans.[27]
The event began with the final of the 24th King of the Ring tournament, held between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, both from SmackDown. During the match, Rhodes performed a Cross Rhodes on Orton and Orton performed an RKO on Rhodes, both of which resulted in nearfalls. Orton attempted the Punt Kick, but Rhodes countered and applied a Figure Four Leglock on Orton, who reached the ropes to break the hold. Rhodes leapt off the middle rope, but Orton caught him with an RKO for a nearfall. As Orton retrieved a steel chair, the referee pulled it away. Orton then exposed the top turnbuckle, but Rhodes shoved him into it and performed Cross Rhodes on Orton and pinned him to win the match and become King of the Ring and earn a match for SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.[28]
In the second match, Rhea Ripley took on Raquel Rodriguez in a Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight. Rodriguez dominated the majority of the match. During the match, Rodriguez retrieved a table and placed it in the corner of the ring. Ripley sent Rodriguez into the steel steps placed on the ring apron. Ripley then removed her belt and repeatedly whipped Rodriguez with it. Ripley performed a Razor's Edge Powerbomb and a kick on Rodriguez for a nearfall. Roxanne Perez showed up and attacked Ripley, only for Ripley to get the upper hand with a suplex outside the ring. Rodriguez then sent Ripley into the ring post and the steps before performing a corkscrew Vader Bomb for a nearfall. Rodriguez attempted a Tejana Bomb on Ripley through a table, but Ripley countered. In the end, Ripley performed an Avalanche Riptide on Rodriguez from the table, which was placed on the top ropes, and pinned her to win the match.[28]
After that, Sami Zayn took on Karrion Kross. Kross applied the Kross Jacket on Zayn. Zayn tried to fight out of it, and eventually made it to the ropes to force a break. In the end, Zayn performed a Helluva Kick on Kross and pinned him to win the match.[28]
In the fourth match, Jacob Fatu defended the United States Championship against Solo Sikoa. During the match, JC Mateo arrived and a returning Tonga Loa, who had been out with an injury since Survivor Series: WarGames in November 2024, performed a neckbreaker on Fatu. Sikoa then pinned Fatu for a nearfall. Fatu then performed a suicide dive on Loa and Mateo. Fatu had Sikoa pinned with a moonsault, but a debuting Hikuleo pulled Fatu out of the ring and chokeslammed him on the announce table. Inside the ring, Sikoa performed a Samoan Spike on Fatu and pinned him to win the title for the first time.[28] It was later confirmed that Hikuleo's WWE ring name would be Talla Tonga.[29]
In the penultimate match, SmackDown's Jade Cargill faced Raw's Asuka in the final of the third Queen of the Ring tournament. In the end, Asuka attempted Empress Impact, but Cargill countered it into Jaded and pinned her to win the match and become Queen of the Ring and earn a match for SmackDown's WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam.[28]
Main event
In the main event, John Cena defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk. Throughout the match, Punk kicked out of three Attitude Adjustments. Punk also applied his own STF on Cena, who reached the ropes to break the hold. After Cena gave in to the fans and decided not to strike Punk with the title belt, Punk countered an Attitude Adjustment attempt into a GTS for a nearfall. While doing his shoulder tackles on Punk, Cena accidentally incapacitated the referee. Punk then performed the GTS on Cena, but there was no referee to make the count. Seth Rollins then arrived with Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed in an attempt to cash in his Money in the Bank contract. Punk was able to momentarily subdue Breakker and Reed, who then slammed Punk through the announce table. Cena prevented referee Charles Robinson from heading to the ring and took out Rollins with an Attitude Adjustment. As Breakker and Reed attacked Cena, Penta fought them off, but was overpowered by Breakker until Sami Zayn made the save. Penta then took out Breakker and Zayn with a crossbody from the entrance ramp. Punk tossed Reed off the top rope and Cena performed an Attitude Adjustment on Reed. As Punk countered a low blow attempt into a GTS attempt, Rollins attacked Punk with a stomp. Cena then threw Rollins out of the ring and then pinned Punk to retain the title.[28]
Reception
Writing for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer rated the King of the Ring final 4.5 stars, the Queen of the Ring final 2.25 stars, the Street Fight 4.25 stars, Zayn vs. Kross 3.25 stars, the United States Championship match 2.75 stars, and the Undisputed WWE Championship main event 3.5 stars.[30]
Aftermath
Raw
On the following episode of Raw, as Rhea Ripley was talking about her victory at Night of Champions, she was interrupted by Women's World Champion Iyo Sky. They subsequently agreed to a title match at Evolution.[31]
Also on Raw, 2025 Men's Money in the Bank contract holder Seth Rollins interrupted World Heavyweight ChampionGunther and hinted at cashing in on him, before being attacked by first CM Punk, then LA Knight. A match between Rollins and Knight was scheduled for Saturday Night's Main Event XL, much to Punk's dismay. In the main event of the show, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker defeated Sami Zayn and Penta. Reed and Breakker continued to attack Zayn and Penta after the match, before Jey Uso saved them.[31]
Karrion Kross attacked Sami Zayn with a pipe, costing Zayn a tag team match later that night.[31] The following week, Kross further targeted Zayn and attempted to once again strike Zayn with the pipe, but he was stopped by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and some WWE personnel. This cost Zayn another match.[32] Kross then defeated Zayn on the July 21 episode after striking Zayn with the pipe once again.[33] On July 25, another match between Zayn and Kross was scheduled for SummerSlam.[34]
SmackDown
On the following SmackDown, Cody Rhodes was congratulated on winning the King of the Ring tournament by runner-up Randy Orton, who wished Rhodes luck in defeating John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, before being interrupted by a returning Drew McIntyre. A match between McIntyre and Orton was subsequently scheduled for Saturday Night's Main Event XL.[35] On the July 18 episode of SmackDown, during the contract signing for Cena and Rhodes's match, it was revealed that the match would be a Street Fight.[36]
Also on SmackDown, Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso defeated United States Champion Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo. After the match, Sikoa, Tala Tonga, and Tonga Loa sent Fatu through the announce table.[35] Two weeks later, Fatu was taken by police after an alleged involvement in a car accident involving Sikoa's group (kayfabe), however, later that night, Fatu returned. Following an altercation between Fatu and Sikoa's group, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, who was filling in for SmackDown General Manager Adam Pearce that night, announced that Sikoa would defend the United States Championship against Fatu in a Steel Cage match at SummerSlam.[36]
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