Night of Champions predictions

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12 hours ago

WWE Night of Champions is all set to take place today (Sat., June 28, 2025) from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It begins at 11:00 am ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 1 pm ET on Peacock in the U.S., WWE Network everywhere else, or your local cable pay-per-view provider.
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
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Let's get to it.
WWE NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS PREDICTIONS
WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk
Geno Mrosko: This has been remarkably effective in helping sow the seeds for a Punk turn and a Cena turn at the same time but I'm buying more into the idea of a double turn with Cena and Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. Punk has just helped things along rather nicely. Pick: John Cena
Sean Rueter: The record-setting World title reign was never gonna end here. And over the last few weeks, they've convinced me it shouldn't. We may never get a storyline reason for why Cena turned, but we're getting to watch him show off some of the chops he's been honing in Hollywood the past few years as his character processes the reaction to that decision as part of what we all presume will be a turn back before December. And that's more interesting than a Punk title reign would be, imo. Pick: John Cena
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Kyle Decker: I wouldn't mind seeing what a CM Punk title reign looks like, and I'd like to eventually, but John has to lose the belt back to Cody. And Punk has business to deal with regarding Seth & Roman still. Pick: John Cena
Claire Elizabeth: Wrestling is a business that'll bruise your morals. Even just writing about it I've been backed into enough feel-bad corners that I'm not inclined to give Punk any guff for the situation he's in or the things he's been called on to do in the service of his job. At the end of the day, I'm confident that his heart is in the right place and wrestling is an all heart business, baby. He's been my guy since the moment I came back in 2010 and he'll be my guy until the day we're both out, and how could I possibly pick against him? Pick: CM Punk
Cain A. Knight: Cena's apology to China was just slightly less humiliating than Punk's apology to Saudi Arabia, so that probably gives John the edge here. Pick: John Cena
Marcus Benjamin: My only wish is that these two got a longer time to build a story. Props to them for getting the most out of the time allotted. This is an easy pick because Cena's time as champ was never ending at WWE's early summer bash in Saudi Arabia. I do wonder where Punk goes from here. Part of me wouldn't mind a heel turn. Pick: John Cena
King of the Ring Final: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
Geno Mrosko: This feels so much like a set up for the Rhodes vs. John Cena rematch at SummerSlam that I just can't see any avenue for Orton to win. I do think it will serve as a great backdrop for Orton eventually turning on Rhodes for a title match down the line, except he'll be a babyface and Cody the heel. Pick: Cody Rhodes
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Sean Rueter: Not sure if Cody's next World title reign will be more interesting than Cena's latest (last?) has been the past couple weeks, but they'll still probably have him be the one to end it at SummerSlam. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Kyle Decker: Orton be putting people over in the KOTR finals. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Claire Elizabeth: Sorry snake boy, you're coming up empty two years running, but hey at least this time you get the pride that it's your good buddy and onetime protege Cody beating you instead of that big Austrian bastard. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Cain A. Knight: Randy Orton already had his final match against John Cena, so it must be Cody's turn to get a rematch at SummerSlam. Pick: Cody Rhodes
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Marcus Benjamin: This is an easy call, despite the fact that I'd love a Randy title reign right now. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Queen of the Ring Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
Geno Mrosko: It seems clear they're going to go ahead with the big push for Cargill, even if the fans in the arena are very much behind her opponent here. Pick: Jade Cargill
Sean Rueter: Given the reactions she's been getting (rightly so, because she's awesome) there's no reason not to delay Cargill's coronation a bit longer. It won't be hard to set Jade up in a non-title feud, and an Empress/Stratton program should be a blast. Pick: Asuka
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Kyle Decker: I think Asuka is here because that's an opponent for Cargill who has a very good chance to give Jade a good match before Jade goes on to challenge for a title. Pick: Jade Cargill
Claire Elizabeth: Asuka's back with a stripped-down color palette, a new impact finisher, and a focused attitude, and Jade's got enough enemies that altogether I think this one is the Empress of Tomorrow's match to lose. Pick: Asuka
Cain A. Knight: It makes a lot of sense for Naomi to cash in the Money in the Bank contract on Cargill, so Jade will win this tournament as one of the steps on the way to that moment. Pick: Jade Cargill
Marcus Benjamin: They teased Asuka vs. IYO SKY and me thinks that's the avenue. Pick: Asuka.
United States Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
Geno Mrosko: I really believe it's time to get away from the Bloodline stuff and just let these things live on their own. I fear that isn't what is going to happen and instead they debut someone new here. That's probably how they get the title off Jacob. Pick: Solo Sikoa
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Sean Rueter: They're obviously committed to The Bloodline Saga for the long haul, and attempting to reheat it by strapping the DTC (deposed Tribal Chief) while pissing off the Werewolf is probably the way to do that. YADADAMEAN!? Pick: Solo Sikoa
Kyle Decker: Normally it'd be an easy pick for Fatu. But this is a long time coming and since this will continue, may as well do a change here to justify that. Pick: Solo Sikoa
Claire Elizabeth: It's really tempting to think this is where Jacob is humbled, a down-beat to tighten up the nascent alliance between the Samoan Werewolf and 'Big' Jim Uso on the way to greater victories, but lest we forget, Solo Sikoa was out here saying he had no brain. Solo can bring as many cousins as he can find, he ain't winning after that. Pick: Jacob Fatu
Cain A. Knight: Maybe Talla Tonga finally debuts to screw over Jacob? Sure. Pick: Solo Sikoa
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Marcus Benjamin: They've got to give The Bloodline some more (any?) heat right now. And the last time I saw WWE television, Jacob Fatu stood tall. That usually means one thing. Pick: Solo Sikoa
Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Geno Mrosko: It says a lot about Ripley and her standing in WWE that Rodriguez is actively a champion in the company and no one is going to pick her to win this match. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Sean Rueter: Back when Raquel's last name was still Gonzalez, she beat Ripley in a really good Last Woman Standing match in NXT. Expect the same quality, different outcome. Pick: Rhea Ripley
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Kyle Decker: Rhea is very well protected in WWE and I don't see a reason they should give Raquel one of those wins given where she is on the card currently. Unless they think Rodriguez is ready for an appearance in the world title scene, and nothing in her booking says that at all, Rhea will take this one. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Claire Elizabeth: Rhea's gonna turn her into a fine paste faster than you can say 'Rhea Ripley really righteously reams Raquel Rodriguez' right retina.' Pick: Rhea Ripley
Cain A. Knight: Raquel isn't pushed anywhere near the level of Rhea. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Marcus Benjamin: Poor Raquel. She just lost her partner at the worst time. Luckily she's got Roxanne Perez by her side. Which means she'll continue focusing on defending that tag title around her waist while Mami moves on. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
Geno Mrosko: I'm a big fan of Kross and everything he's been doing, even if we haven't gotten nearly enough of it, but I don't think he needs to win here. Pick: Sami Zayn
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Sean Rueter: If I believe all the rumors about Kross are planted by WWE as part of a meta-push, does it mean I've worked myself into a shoot? Pick: Karrion Kross
Kyle Decker: Sami gets a win in front of a Saudi crowd that adores him. Pick: Sami Zayn
Claire Elizabeth: Karrion Kross is hot air and Sami Zayn is the real deal. The only way Kross is gonna win this one is if Scarlett slaps him in the face to get him DQ'd out the gates. Pick: Sami Zayn
Cain A. Knight: Sami Zayn can't beat the top stars in WWE, but he can absolutely beat Karrion Kross. Pick: Sami Zayn
Marcus Benjamin: You know what? I don't think Sami has to win this. I think it's more interesting if he doesn't. Karrion's talked a lot of trash about Sami lacking an ability to win the big one. What better way to twist that knife a bit than letting him take an L? Pick: Karrion Kross.
That's how we see the card playing out.
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