WWE Night of Champions 2026 Live Updates, Results and Highlights

During WWE's post-show coverage, Gunther was shown backstage in a heated argument with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.

Gunther accused Aldis of being jealous of him, before Aldis pushed him away and the two needed to be broken up.

Once again, Gunther is left feeling like he got screwed after losing a big match. It is worth noting that Aldis initiated the contract...was this a tease for Gunther's next feud?

Zayn delivered a Blue Thunder Bomb to Rhodes, but the champion kicked out at two.

Moments later, with the Last Real Good Guy on the floor, Rhodes ducked a lariat clothesline and delivered Cross Rhodes. Before the referee could count the fall, Zayn pulled him to the floor, saving his championship aspirations and infuriating the current titleholder in the process.

Zayn dropped Rhodes with a brainbuster, but a splash by Gunther broke up the pin. The Austrian-born heel powerbombed the crowd-favorite, then drove Rhodes into him, but Zayn countered one last attempt at the move into a sunset flip bomb for two.

The underdog challenger delivered the Helluva Kick to Gunther and, just as it appeared he was about to realize his dream, Rhodes pulled the referee to the floor in an example of turnabout being fair play.

On the floor, Zayn got the best of his opponent and tried for a package piledriver, made famous by his best friend, Kevin Owens. Rhodes countered out and back body dropped him through the other table.

Gunther delivered a pair of powerbombs that drove The American Nightmare through the other table, then returned to the ring, where he applied the sleeper. Rhodes fought through it and got to his feet. He drove The Ring General down, but Gunther regained control of the submission.

Zayn returned to the ring just in time to prevent Rhodes' arm from hitting the ground, which would have earned Gunther the title.

The villain delivered a debilitating chop to Zayn, but the underdog battled back and delivered the Helluva Kick, only for Gunther to kick out at 2.999999.

Later, Rhodes delivered a double-stacked Cross Rhodes, but Zayn recovered, caught his opponent with a roll-up, and pinned the three-time champion to win the gold.

WINNER: SAMI ZAYN

The new champion celebrated the victory with the fans in Saudi Arabia while Rhodes flashed a look of disgust. Fireworks exploded at the top of the stage as the Last Real Good Guy stood triumphantly, the gold raised overhead, a smile a mile-wide painting his face.

A great match, with an electric finish, and one of the truly great "feel-good" moments since Rhodes won the title back at WrestleMania 40. Even if Zayn entered as a whiny bad guy.

This was the perfect conclusion to the broadcast.

Gunther sent Zayn out of the ring to start the match, playing up the theme that he believes his longtime rival is an afterthought in the contest.

None of the three stars gained a clear advantage early, but it was The Ring General who sent Rhodes sternum-first into the top turnbuckle, then further drove the air out of him with a chop to the chest.

The American Nightmare fought back, dodging the larger competitor and delivering a snap powerslam for two. He added a Side Effect, ala the great Matt Hardy, to Zayn for another near-fall.

The champion escaped one powerbomb attempt, tried for Cross Rhodes, but Gunther countered and drove him to the mat with a powerbomb. Zayn broke up the pin as the action remained fast and furious.

As he entered Kingdom Arena for the biggest match of his career, Sami Zayn received the loudest ovation of the night, a hero's welcome from the Saudi Arabia faithful, all of whom were clearly Ride or Die fans of the Last Real Good Guy.

"Isn't that a nice thing? A little respect. You love to see it," Zayn said into the camera.

Gunther received boos as he entered, while Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes arrived for the night's main event to the audience singing along to his theme song.

Stratton mounted a momentary comeback, catching Cargill with a dropkick.

The champion scaled the ropes and tried for Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Cargill had it scouted and got her knees up. From there, she delivered the Sandstorm, driving Stratton to the mat. The resilient champion kicked out, though, ensuring the match continued.

B-Fab and Michin appeared at ringside, providing a distraction and interference that allowed Cargill to deliver a chokeslam for another near-fall.

Chelsea Green emerged from under the ring and laid out the Baddies at ringside. Cargill grabbed hold of the Hot Mess and pulled her into the ring. With the official distracted, the heel teased using the US title, but Charlotte Flair appeared, pulled it out of the ring, and Stratton downed her opponent.

The aforementioned moonsault finished Cargill, and the babyface retained.

WINNER: TIFFANY STRATTON

At one point, Green stared longingly at the US title, suggesting that her desire to become a three-time champion may not be gone. If so, could she be suckering Stratton into a friendship before a shocking betrayal?

A good match between two women who have established in-ring chemistry, this did not suffer from all of the run-ins and, in fact, may have benefited.

A determined Jade Cargill pushed the camera out of her way as she stomped toward the ring, her rivalry with Tiffany Stratton renewed in this Women's United States Championship Match.

Champion and challenger started hot and aggressively, with Stratton escaping Jaded, knocking Cargill to the floor, and attempting a tope suicida. The heel showcased her strength advantage, catching Stratton mid-flight and rocking her with a knee to the face.

Cargill posed on the ring apron, proud of herself. She mocked her opponent from there, doing pushups.

Stratton teased a comeback, but the villain downed her with a Black Hole Slam for a near-fall.

Corey Graves credited the challenger for her improvement, stating that Cargill's most complete performance came recently at WrestleMania 42 against Rhea Ripley.

Things appeared bleak for Williams at the midway point as the challenger dominated, working over his back.

The United States champion fought his way back into the match, though, stunning Saints with a big ax kick, chopping him down to the mat, and delivering a way-too-overcomplicated Book End for a two-count.

Saints dropped Williams with a modified Sister Abigail, but hesitated for a moment, and the champion delivered a back body drop.

The competitors traded blows, and Williams set up for the Trick Shot, but Saints dodged it and delivered the Revolution tornado DDT. A top-rope elbow drop followed, but the challenger could not secure the win.

Williams recovered, ducked a clothesline, bounced off the ropes, and caught Saints with the Trick Shot to earn the victory and successful title defense.

WINNER: TRICK WILLIAMS

After the match, Lil Yachty saved Williams from a sneak attack by Saints, delivering a People's Elbow to the delight of the fans. And Michael Cole. But mostly Michael Cole.

Champion and challenger had their work cut out for them after a hot, three-match start to the show, and it showed based on the crowd's reaction. Or lack thereof. Still, Williams and Saints worked hard and delivered a solid match.

Saints entered amid a solid reaction in his first chance to prove himself on a premium live event, the United States Championship within reach.

Williams arrived to a thunderous ovation, the crowd in Riyadh greeting him with thunderous "whoop that Trick" chants.

In an effort to slow down the champion's early onslaught, Saints borrowed from the late, Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero's playbook, feigning an attack by Lil Yachty to get the platinum-selling rapper ejected from ringside.

The challenger wrestled control of the match from there, showing off his agility as he walked the ropes and came down across the arm of his opponent. A sidesuplex followed, but the arrogant contender posed instead of covering Williams, a decision that may prove costly.

"I'm going to beat it out of you. I swear," Breakker told Rollins after imploring him to quit.

The former world champion fired off a pair of superkicks, then added one that sent a steel chair back into the face of his opponent. Breakker fired up, though, and delivered a spear.

Rollins kicked out at two.

The rivals fought to the top of the cage, exchanging blows as Rollins attempted to prevent Breakker from escaping. The babyface delivered a massive superplex from the top of the cage, driving his opponent through a table down below.

Busted open above the eye, Breakker found himself on the defensive as Rollins fired up. The villain caught him with a nasty clothesline, then exploded with another spear. Again, he could only keep the babyface down for a near-fall.

"Finish the fight, Breakker!" Rollins barked as he attempted to pull his opponent back into the ring. The heel slammed the door into his face, but proceeded to miss a spear through a table in the corner before Rollins capitalized with a Pedigree and Stomp.

Breakker kicked out before three. Chants of "this is awesome" filled the arena.

Defiant, the second-generation star taunted Rollins one last time before enduring a Stomp from the top rope that drove his face into the mat and secured his opponent the victory.

WINNER: SETH ROLLINS

Corey Graves and Michael Cole both noted on commentary that Rollins was now free to move beyond The Vision and onto whatever is next for him. For the sake of keeping things fresh on Monday nights, that may be the best option for all involved, as this feud does not feel like it has enough juice left in it for another match-up.

This was easily their best, though, with a hot crowd, some good bumps, and a definitive finish.

"I'm gonna beat your ass in the middle of this ring," Rollins taunted Breakker as the bell rang to signal the start of the contest.

Breakker controlled early, tossing his former mentor into the steel links, then adding a gorilla press slam into the cage. A kendo stick shot across the back followed as the second-generation star showcased his physical dominance.

Rollins recovered long enough to catch Breakker in midair and drove him to the mat with a powerbomb. The combatants teed off on each other with hard rights and The Architect seized the upper hand, downing Breakker, firing up, and delivering a handful of kendo stick shots about the body.

He sent Breakker into the cage as the fans continued to serenade him. Rollins sent steel chairs flying into the body of his opponent, then attempted to bury him under them.

The Badass ran the ropes and delivered a headscissors that sent Rollins off the top and onto those same chairs, but could only keep him down for a two count.

After a barrage of commercials as the show switched over from the free ESPN broadcast to the premium app presentation, the steel cage lowered ahead of Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. Bron Breakker.

The fans in Kingdom Arena serenaded Rollins as he made his way to the ring, seeking revenge for his Backlash loss to Breakker back in May. Hellbent on punishing a man he once considered a protege during their time together in The Vision, he slid two tables and a handful of steel chairs into the squared circle.

The Badass added a trash can, chairs of his own, and a kendo stick, ensuring the contest will be a hardcore grudge match.

SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis awarded Iyo Sky the Queen of the Ring crown and Byron Saxton joined her for a few words.

A celebratory Sky exclaimed, "I...am...the queeeeeeen!" to the delight of the fans in Riyadh.

From there, she focused on Morgan, who had rolled to the arena floor.

"Liv, I'll see you at SummerSlam," wasting little time in choosing the champion she will challenge at the annual summertime spectacular.

A strong match, featuring the right woman emerging victoriously, this may have been the best Queen of the Ring final to date.

Morgan caught Sky in mid-flight and attempted a single-leg Boston Crab, but Sky countered out and drove the air out of the heel with a double stomp.

Sky followed with a shotgun missile dropkick from the top rope, added her trademark taunt, and rocked Morgan with the Bullet Train knee attack in the corner.

Morgan countered out of a double underhook suplex attempt and delivered a Backstabber. Sky recovered and stunned her charging opponent with a palm strike, then wiped her out on the floor with an Asai moonsault.

Back inside, Sky added a double underhook backbreaker, but Morgan recovered and applied the single-leg Boston Crab, the same move she utilized on Charlotte Flair in their Queen of the Ring semifinal.

Sky fought through the pain but endured a springboard Codebreaker as Morgan continued to control the match. When the babyface's knee buckled moments later, it looked as though her pursuit of the crown was over.

Then, she scaled the ropes and brought Morgan down with the Spanish Fly. From there, the Over the Moonsault followed, and Sky earned the hard-fought victory.

WINNER: IYO SKY

Morgan repped her beau, Dominik Mysterio, wearing a skeleton top ala the reigning AAA Mega champion. Sky sported all pink, including furry leg warmers.

Morgan showed great aggression early, attacking her opponent from the opening bell. The Genius of the Sky turned the tide, though, and fired up the crowd. A sunset flip bomb to the floor was blocked, but Sky recovered and delivered a crossbody from the guardrail.

The alert women's world champion, though, sent Sky face-first into the ring post to seize control of the bout. A top rope choke, Sky's legs dangling in the air, followed despite warnings from referee Daphanie LaShaunn.

Morgan followed with the Three Amigos suplexes as she retained control.

When Michael Cole admitted surprise over Morgan's dominance, Corey Graves responded, "That's because you're an Iyo Sky fan boy."

Danhausen entered the arena to a big reaction and greeted the fans in Riyadh.

Women's world champion Liv Morgan interrupted and claimed the very nice, very evil Superstar owed The Judgment Day lots of money. He pleaded ignorance, then cursed Morgan.

That earned Danhausen a slap to the face before Morgan continued her entrance ahead of her Queen of the Ring opportunity.

Byron Saxton joined the new King of the Ring for a post-match promo.

The victor told Uso that he could not beat fate and, more importantly, he could not beat him.

Michael Cole reminded the WWE Universe on commentary that Femi's path at SummerSlam is not yet determined, as he will have the opportunity to choose whether he challenges for the Undisputed WWE Championship from SmackDown or Raw's World Heavyweight Championship.

Considering many had expected predictable interference from Brock Lesnar, thus setting up the third and deciding match in their rivalry, Femi's win was a nice surprise to kick off Saturday's ESPN broadcast.

Uso recovered and delivered the top-rope splash again, but still failed to put Femi down for the count. Going back to the move that netted him the biggest win of his career, Uso applied the sleeper, but The Ruler fought out.

Fired up, Femi tossed Uso across the ring, then drove him down to the mat with the Fall From Grace for the victory, the King of the Ring, and a guaranteed championship opportunity in Minneapolis at SummerSlam.

WINNER: OBA FEMI

Despite his recent comments about no longer caring about the fans, Uso entered to a big ovation from the Riyadh audience, even running it back to their approval.

Oba Femi got the major superstar entrance, complete with his normal light show and deafening chants of "OBA!" as he strutted to the squared circle.

Michael Cole presented the match as a legitimate sporting event, adding gravity to a match that already carried significant stakes, with the winner to challenge for one of the two world titles at SummerSlam.

Femi started hot, overwhelming Uso with his size and strength advantage. The former world heavyweight champion responded with a pair of tope suicidas. Femi regained control, though, driving Uso down with a backbreaker.

The Ruler tried for his Fall From Grace powerbomb, but Uso snuck out the back, delivered a pair of superkicks, and added the top-rope splash. Femi kicked out at one, goozled his opponent, and dropped him with a chokeslam for a two-count.

Earlier today, Liv Morgan and Iyo Sky arrived ahead of their Queen of the Ring final. So did Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, ahead of their hotly anticipated Steel Cage Match, and Trick Williams and Ricky Saints, before they battle for the US Championship.

Sami Zayn received a hero's reaction as he was shown contemplating a potentially historic night. Gunther and Cody Rhodes both received clear boos, with the response to the latter being particularly surprising following mostly positive overseas crowds.

A video package welcomed the viewing audience on ESPN and Jey Uso's entrance replaced pyrotechnics as the show wasted little time getting to the night's opening contest.

Unaware that he had not been entered into the King of the Ring tournament, Danhausen joined Michael Cole for a quick backstage interview as part of the Night of Champions pre-show.

The very nice, very evil Superstar, who has been all over the news due to his link to the new NBA champions, the New York Knicks, poked fun at Tiffant Stratton's "S.G.T. Slaughter" video and claimed that if he won King of the Ring, he would get a crown, a cape, and take a page out of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's book with a new catchphrase, "Danhausen 3:16 says I just cursed your ass!"

More hilarity from the most consistently entertaining guy on the roster right now.

Women's United States champion Tiffany Stratton will defend her title against Jade Cargill Saturday afternoon, and the titleholder showed plenty of confidence when backstage interviewer Byron Saxton caught up with her.

"Jade and I have a lot of history, and that's a good thing, because tonight, I'm going to play to her strengths and weaknesses," Stratton said.

Chalking up her last defeat at the hands of Cargill to a knee injury, Stratton added, "I know how to win when it matters," supremely confident in her ability to leave Riyadh with the gold.