WWE Night of Champions 2025 Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights
WWE returned to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for its Night of Champions premium live event on Saturday, headlined by Undisputed WWE champion John Cena defending against CM Punk in the final chapter of their epic rivalry.
The event also saw the coronations of the 2025 King and Queen of the Ring, with Cody Rhodes battling Randy Orton in the finale of the men's tournament and Jade Cargill squaring off with Asuka on the women's side.
Who emerged victoriously and how did those three matches shape WWE's creative direction heading into SummerSlam? Find out with this recap of the June 28 show.
Match Card
1 of 8
Announced in advance of Saturday's show were:
* Undisputed WWE Championship Match: CM Punk vs. John Cena (c)
* King of the Ring Tournament Final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
* Queen of the Ring Tournament Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
* United States Championship Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa
* Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
* Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
King of the Ring Final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
2 of 8
The King of the Ring crown and a date with the undisputed WWE champion were on the line in the night's opening contest as Cody Rhodes squared off against former mentor-turned-friend, Randy Orton.
A grueling match saw both men frustrated by their inability to keep the other down with even their most devastating finishers.
As that frustration built, Orton reverted to the Viper of old, teasing his trademark punt but thinking better of it. Later, he teased using a steel chair but simply utilized it as a distraction, drawing the referee's attention away from him exposing the steel turnbuckle.
Rhodes, showing great ring awareness, avoided the buckle, sent Orton into it, and delivered Cross Rhodes for the win.
The Viper seethed, clearly dismayed by the loss. He promised to do whatever it took to win WWE title No. 15 but it failed him here, likely planting the seeds for an epic heel turn sometime after Rhodes regains that same title at SummerSlam.
This was merely the first chapter of a long-term storyline that will likely dominate the second-half of 2025 and provide fans that tie back to Legacy and evoke the rich history that exists between the Superstars.
A strong match that started slow and methodically but built to a finish that may not have been the most dynamic, but will go a long way in establishing Orton's reversion to the dark side.
Result
Rhodes defeated Orton
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* One thing is for certain: the Saudi fans love their WWE. The fans created an unbelievable atmosphere for Orton's entrance. Make that two-for-two, with Rhodes' as equally goosebumps-inducing.
* If Orton did not legitimately injure his back, it was an odd choice to lay out the match with Rhodes as the aggressor and The Viper fighting from underneath. A nice change of pace, but odd nonetheless.
* The consistent stubbornness over the last two years by the WWE stars to not wear the crown that they just battled to exhaustion for is hilarious.
Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
3 of 8
In the second match of the evening pitting former friends against each other saw women's tag team champion Raquel Rodriguez square off with "The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley in the first ever Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight.
Ripley and Rodriguez have strong chemistry with each other and it was on display here. They delivered a hard-fought, hard-hitting match that saw each endure considerable pain and punishment, including jarring kendo stick shots to the ribs of Ripley and a studded-belt whipping for Rodriguez.
Roxanne Perez interfered at one point, attempting to further get in the good graces of Rodriguez and the Judgment Day, but felt the wrath of Ripley. With the The Prodigy out of the way, Mami finished Rodriguez off with a table-assisted Riptide from the top rope.
As good and tough a battle as this was, hopefully Ripley can move on from here and focus on the Women's World Championship because there really is no need for any more interaction with the Judgment Day at this point.
Result
Ripley defeated Rodriguez
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Michael Cole and Wade Barrett recalled Rodriguez's victory over Ripley in a Last Woman Standing Match in NXT and noted that the latter has won every one-on-one match between them since, noting that some take to the main roster better than others. It was a great bit of analysis from the commentary team.
* Ripley whipped the ever-loving hell out of Rodriguez, with a studded belt no less. Infinitely worse than the kendo stick shots to the ribs dished out by the tag champions earlier in the match.
* Perez wore purple and black, The Judgment Day's primary color scheme, as she continues to chase inclusion and acceptance in the group.
.jpg?w=256 "WWE NXT Live Grades")
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
4 of 8
Months of backstage interactions and vignettes resulted in Sami Zayn squaring off with the devil on his shoulder, Karrion Kross, in one-on-one action.
After months of taunting Zayn and attempting him to turn to the dark side and do what was necessary to become the world champion he strives to be, it was Kross' talking that cost him one of the biggest wins of his WWE career.
Despite dominating Zayn for the better part of Saturday's showdown, Kross talked trash. At one point, he backed the former intercontinental and tag team champion into the corner and sprinted across the ring to the other, only for Zayn to meet him there with a Helluva Kick for the victory.
If the goal is to continue the story, with Zayn attempting to prove to Kross that he was wrong, only for the heel to ramp up his pursuit of the infallible hero for the dark side, this outcome worked.
Otherwise, it felt counterproductive in that it failed to take advantage of the momentum Kross has at this point.
Here is hoping that the intention is option one.
Result
Zayn defeated Kross
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Cole referred to Kross' offense as "plodding," then had to clarify a moment later that he did not mean it negatively. Insert curious emoji.
* This exchange, recapped by Fightful's Corey Brennan:
* Kross took back bumps, lots of them, seemingly rendering all of the social media discourse this past week about his willingness to do so irrelevant and silly.
United States Championship Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa
5 of 8
Solo Sikoa pulled out all stops Saturday in Riyadh and defeated Jacob Fatu to win the United States Championship, the first singles title of his career.
It started with the arrival of JC Mateo and continued with the return of Tanga Loa before culminating in the debut of the monstrous Hikuleo (unnamed by the commentary team).
The seven-foot tall member of the Bloodline obliterated Fatu, delivering a chokeslam onto the announce table that set The Samoan Werewolf up for Sikoa to defeat.
The match itself featured some solid physicality but there was not much in the way of chemistry between Fatu and Sikoa. The late-match hiinx from the heels, and the memorable debut of Hikuleo, should make for an interesting next chapter in the rivalry.
Of interest was the commentary team noting that, while Sikoa celebrated with his associates, Fatu was left alone. Does the unstoppable force recruit backup? And who? That bears watching moving forward.
Result
Sikoa defeated Fatu for the title
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Sikoa finding his charisma and personality, and letting it shine in every aspect of his performance, came at a perfect time. He looked like a guy destined to be left behind after his feud with Roman Reigns wrapped up.
* "That's Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga...their brother," Cole said, struggling to link Hikuleo to The Bloodline, in a moment fans trying to keep up with the relationships within the Samoan dynasty can relate to.
Queen of the Ring Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
6 of 8
Jade Cargill will challenge Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam after surviving the Queen of the Ring Final against Asuka Saturday afternoon.
The competitor overcame an injured knee, a game Empress of Tomorrow, and a crowd that was not nearly as behind her as they were her opponent, to deliver Jaded and score the biggest win of her career to this point.
The match was not pretty as the chemistry that had been there last year during Cargill and Asuka's battles over the women's tag team titles was nearly non-existent. More times than not, they appeared to be a step off, with Cargill appearing to struggle with the pace Asuka set.
Despite the so-so match, Cargill winning was the right call in that it sets up a match with Stratton, with the specter of Naomi and her Money in the Bank briefcase hanging overhead like a dark cloud ready to rain on her championship victory.
Result
Cargill defeated Asuka
Grade
C-
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Cargill's commitment to delivering different versions of X-Men's Storm through her ring gear will never get old. This one, the most similar to the character's look in the 1990s, may have been the best one yet.
* Is it possible that, despite a resume brimming with accolades, Asuka is somehow underrated at this point in her career? A perennially great professional wrestler, with the all-important aura and a way of winning over any crowd she competes against, she is as complete a performer as there is.
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: CM Punk vs. John Cena
7 of 8
Two iconic Superstars of the last 20 years, rivals with countless classic encounters between them, squared off one last time Saturday with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.
What started as a battle between two all time greats who know each other incredibly well, in a match that had the fans in Riyadh hanging on every move, descended into chaos with the arrival of Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman.
Penta and Sami Zayn arrived to counter them, Cena showed flashes of the upstanding, virtuous he once was, and Rollins clocked Punk with the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Cena capitalized, scoring a quick pinfall victory on Punk and costing Rollins a chance to cash in his guaranteed title opportunity for the win.
It was a clever finish that allowed Punk to save face, spoiled The Visionary's latest plan to stand atop WWE, and ensured Cena is heading to SummerSlam for a date with Cody Rhodes in a rematch of WrestleMania 41.
Result
Cena defeated Punk
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Punk broke out the octopus, a submission popularized in WWE by his wife, AJ Lee. A very cool moment early on in this one.
* They may not be as fast as they once were, but the chemistry between Punk and Cena remains undeniable. They know each other, they understand what works and doesn't, and the result is crowd-pleasing sequences, reversals, and counters.
* Cena absolutely obliterated referee Charles Robinson as he rushed to the ring for Rollins' cash-in, in a moment that is likely to be an internet meme for years to come.
Overall Grade
8 of 8
Whereas WWE's trips to Riyadh have, recently, been largely inconsequential one-offs, this show felt like a primer for the events to come the rest of the summer.
The King and Queen of the Ring Finals directly impact SummerSlam, with Rhodes and Cargill now destined to challenge for championship gold in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Rollins' involvement in the main event not only keeps the gimmick of Money in the Bank alive, but suggests a huge multi-man match of sorts could be on the horizon, with Punk, Penta, and Zayn all locked in on avenging recent attacks at the hands of The Visionary and his henchmen.
Fatu has unfinished business with new US champion Sikoa while one would be remiss not to mention the look on Orton's face as he made his way up the ramp amid Rhodes' victory speech and the implications his loss may have on the long-term main event scene on SmackDown.
Was it a flawless show? No, but the fans were red hot, elevating even the stuff that did not hit as expected.
A show with meaning, in front of a crowd that cared, with some strong storytelling work from a handful of greats, this was one of the better outings from WWE in Saudi Arabia in recent times.
Grade: B
.jpg?w=480 "WWE NXT Live Grades")
.jpg?w=600 "Grading Raw After WrestleMania 🔠")
