Latest news with #KingOfTheRing
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is this the beginning of the end for WWE's John Cena heel run?
Are we looking at the end of the John Cena heel run? Given what a surprise the big turn was in the first place (I still don't think a single person saw it coming), it's interesting how many people are now confidently predicting exactly how and when it will end. And to be honest, they probably have good reason to be confident. One thing is for sure: After yesterday's WWE Night of Champions event, we are heading for a John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes rematch at this year's SummerSlam. That was effectively confirmed the second that Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to become King of the Ring, before taking to the mic to make his intentions clear: 'At SummerSlam,' Rhodes declared, 'I will get my ball back.' Expect an official match graphic to appear on the weekly shows any minute now. Advertisement Will 'The Quarterback' triumph in New Jersey? Given the current status of play, he has to be a serious favorite this time around. If nothing else, the fact that the clock is ticking down on John Cena's retirement tour — according to the man himself, he has 15 dates left — makes a Rhodes victory more likely. Assuming, that is, the whole thing about Cena retiring as champion is a ploy to get heat rather than the genuine creative plan all along… There are other things in Cody's favor. As he's the one who is sticking around to carry the company, a defeat would likely inflict serious damage on his brand — particularly after he went through the effort of winning King of the Ring to earn the title shot. Then there's the fact that Cena has been presented as very much beatable. We saw Saturday night how CM Punk had the champion pinned to rights — albeit after a ref bump — suggesting, once again, that it's the dirty tricks that keep Cena on top. Advertisement Combine all of those factors and you can see why the widespread expectation is this year's SummerSlam will culminate in a reversal of what happened at WrestleMania 41. — i.e. 'The American Nightmare' getting his revenge over the dastardly trio of Cena, Travis Scott and The Rock, who conspired to screw him over in Las Vegas. (Who knows, perhaps the final member of that alliance will actually show up this time…) So where does that leave the Cena heel turn? In normal times, you'd assume it would be the moment to call time on the project. After all, if a babyface is at their most powerful during the chase, the heel is never weaker than when they finally get their just desserts. Whatever you might think of his work ethic, there's a reason that Roman Reigns took a break after losing his title at WrestleMania XL, for example. If this dark Cena had succeeded in getting some genuine heat from the fans in the first place, there might be some merit in having him sticking around to carry on the act. That way, the crowds could get some cathartic relief by jeering the downfall of his whole 'ruin wrestling' shtick. But we've seen time and again how the heel act has struggled to land in the first place: The crowds just don't buy it. Then there's the fact that WWE has seemingly been teasing that Cena might be regretting his heel turn (in kayfabe at least) for a while now. We saw that again last night when 'The Champ' thought twice about clobbering CM Punk with the WWE Universal Championship last night — suggesting, not for the first time, that he feels conflicted about some of these underhand tactics. Advertisement If it was a one-off, you could write it off as a coincidence. But given we had similar teases at WWE Backlash and Money in the Bank, too, you have to assume it's deliberate. As for how you actually execute the big change, your guess is as good as mine. Although given that the audiences have never really believed Cena as the soulless heel, WWE will presumably face much less resistance in turning him face than they did with more established bad guys like Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar. Don't be surprised if Cena flips as quickly as he did back at Elimination Chamber. No matter how they get there, though, you sense they have to do it. With just 13 scheduled Cena appearances after SummerSlam — including three PLEs and a rumored Saturday Night's Main Event in Boston — WWE is running out of time to create those magic moments when you have a whole arena cheering their man to the rafters. In other words, the thing we all expected to see from the moment that Cena announced his retirement tour in the first place. After a tricky few months, you have to assume that remains the end-game. Forget about 'ruining wrestling' and retiring with the belt as 'the last true champion': The far bigger prize is to walk out with those crowds behind you. Surely even "The Final Boss" can see the wisdom in that?
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE Night of Champions updates, results, grades: Live analysis of WWE NOC 2025
The queen and king will be crowned. And a bunch of major feuds will be settled. Or at least another chapter will be written. The stars of World Wrestling Entertainment are in Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions. For the second year in a row, the promotion will coronate a king and queen of the ring, and they'll pack their bags for New Jersey where they'll compete for gold at SummerSlam. Advertisement Night of Champions is far from just a two-match card. In fact, there are six matches with high stakes. And we'll take you through all the action from the opening bell to it goes off the air. If you need any information about today's show, how to watch, start time, King of the Ring history, and other tidbits from today's Night of Champions, it's all answered below the results. WWE Night of Champions result, analysis Michael Cole is making his way to ringside, and today's announce team will be him and Wade Barrett. The show is about to begin with a huge King of the Ring finals featuring Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. We will provide live reports, analysis, results and grades for every match. Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes, KOTR Finals So the winner doesn't have a choice, they have to wrestle for the Undisputed Championship, so I imagine CM Punk and John Cena will be carefully watching this one. Randy Orton is on his way to the ring and the Saudi crowd is serenading him. Orton certainly doesn't want to go 0-2 in King of the Ring finals. Last year he lost to GUNTHER in the finals in a controversial finish. And here comes Cody Rhodes. It sounded like Orton got a bigger ovation, but it's hard to tell in a stadium. I'm shocked this match is a King of the Ring final. I expected this to main event a major premium live event, but when you have the depth WWE has right now, you can do things like this. Cody Rhodes is wrestling Randy Orton is a PLE opener. That's nuts. Advertisement The fans break into an RKO chant, so it looks like they're siding with the teacher, not the student. They open with some chain wrestling, but Orton hits a knee and looks to take control. But Rhodes hits a superplex on Orton and it looks like it tweaked Orton's bad back. Rhodes follows up and goes right after his buddy's back. Amazing what these guys will do for a shot at the title. Orton rebounds and hits a back breaker, and Michael Cole is shocked "event that" hurt Orton. Dude, he dropped a big adult male across his sore back. You try it, Mikey! Rhodes is still in control and the fans aren't happy about it. Rhodes hit a Cody Cutter and only got a two. Orton is hurt. But Orton isn't done. He makes a comeback and hits a bridging DDT on Rhodes from the outside. Now he is going for the most dangerous three letters in WWE, but Rhodes reverses it into a CrossRhodes but only gets a two count. Then out of nowhere RKO! But Cody kicks out at two. Orton was lining him up for a punt, but looks like he's struggling to do it. He went for it, but Cody got out of the way and slaps on a figure four leglock. Orton is hurting. But he rolls over and reverses it, forcing Cody to get to the ropes. Both dudes are down and hurting. Advertisement Now the two are slugging it out and the fans are 1000 percent behind Orton. Cody goes for another Cody Cutter, but Orton catches him with an RKO. And he kicks out again. This is ridiculous and doesn't make people like Cody any better. Orton goes and grabs a chair. I don't think he's taking a seat. But referee Charles Robinson takes it away, so Orton takes the top turnbuckle off the corner. It backfires, and Orton hits the steel. And then gets CrossRhodes for a three count. Cody Rhodes is your King of the Ring winner and will wrestle for the title at SummerSlam. Cody Rhodes defeats Randy Orton for King of the Ring crown Cody kicked out of two RKOs and avoided a punt to get the best of his mentor. Good match, didn't like Rhodes kicking out of two RKOs, including one where he was caught while going for a Cody Cutter. I didn't like the result or the way it cheapened the best move in WWE, but a solid match. Rhodes cuts a promo after the match where he thanks Randy Orton for the match. Hopefully this turns into Orton going back. And please let CM Punk win today because Cena-Rhodes 2 is not a recipe for success. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton rating It was a good match with an ending I didn't love and I'm disappointed Rhodes kicked out of two RKOs. Still a decent match, but not great and not what you'd hope out of these two. I get why, don't go all out in a match like this when it will main event a major show soon, but it was a little bit of a letdown. Grade: 78 out of 100. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez, street fight This is a match I was looking forward to before today, and only got more excited after seeing the package WWE did during the Countdown Show. I didn't know these two were friends in NXT. I'm excited to see how Rodriguez does in this match. She has been a shade overshadowed by Liv Morgan because she's one of the best in the sport right now. But Rodriguez is pretty good too and she'll get a chance to show it against another great one. I don't think this feud ends here, I hope it doesn't anyway. This will be a fun one. Advertisement It's not often Ripley is the smaller of the two competitors, but today she is. And they're throwing live rounds early, including a massive clothesline by Rodriguez. So far it's been a hard hitting match, but nothing street fight about it. I like that. They'll get to it. Ripley is tied up in the ropes and after hitting a few chops, Rodriguez grabs a Singapore cane and a steal chair and she whacks Rhea in the stomach with the Sandman's cane. Wow, she's really laying it in. Rodriguez goes for a chairshot but Ripley boots it in her face and then escapes the ropes as the action spills to the outside with Ripley in control. But Rodriguez turns the tides and hits a powerbomb through a makeshift table and it looked like Ripley hit her head. I hope she didn't, but that looked bad. Rodriguez is now setting up a table in the corner as Ripley finally starts to move. She's crawling toward the ring, but is cutoff by Rodriguez who is still in complete control as she props the steps onto the apron. But that was a mistake because Ripley rams her headfirst into the steps. Then Rhea takes off her studded belt and goes to town on Rodriguez. Jeez she really took it to her. Then she hits a Razor's Edge and a knee lift but only gets two. Advertisement Roxanne Perez hits the ring to help Rodriguez, but Ripley takes her out with a suplex on the floor. Ripley grabs a trash can and stuffs Perez in it before hitting a sliding knee to the can. But Ripley is driven headfirst into the ringpost, then into the steps that were still on the apron, but Rodriguez can still only get a two count. Raquel tried to throw Ripley through the table with a powerbomb, but Ripley hit a Frankensteiner. It wasn't solid though and Rodriguez was able to not go through the table. Ripley is now standing on a table that is draped over the turnbuckle. And Ripley hits a Riptide from the table to the ring. That's it. Rhea Ripley defeats Raquel Rodriguez They did great. Hard hitting, big moves, both women took a whooping. Good match and I wouldn't mind seeing it again. Rhea Ripley-Raquel Rodriguez match grade It was good. Worth watching. Especially if you like matches that include weapons and high impact moves. Grade :84 out of 100. Karrion Kross vs. Sami Zayn I love the storyline involving Kross mocking and tormenting wrestlers and Sami is a great guy for him to feud with because you know the matches will be great. Fun seeing Kross come out to his old entrance. What a difference between entrances. Zayn is on his way to the ring and the fans are singing and going nuts. Sami is wearing a keffiyeh. Advertisement Earlier this week I read Kross isn't going to be featured because he can't take a back bump. I've watched him for years before NXT, he can do anything. Kross is a star and that includes inside and outside the ring. But not right now because Sami is working over the guy I just said was a star. And Zayn is in control. The action spills outside and Zayn hits a moonsault off the barricade. But Kross takes over once they get back in the ring with a Tazplex. And Kross hits forearms. Kross hangs Sami from the tree of woe (Thanks Joey Styles) and continues to pound away Zayn. Kross has dominated this match and he's sizing Sami up for the kill. He locks in the choke, but Sami escapes. Sadly, it wasn't for long and he gets dumped on his head once again. Kross goes for his elbow, but Sami hits a Blue Thunder Bomb and gets a two count. Both guys look very good. Advertisement Kross was deadweight as Sami went to capitalize on his foe, but Kross hits a pair of suplexes after suckering his foe in. But Sami hits an exploder and is going for the Helluva kick. But Kross intercepts him and locks him in a choke. Yo Mike, I wrote interception first, stop stealing my words! Kross has the choke locked in but on the third attempt to raise his arm, Sami keeps it up. He's fighting to get to the rope and he finally does. But he can't have much left. Scarlett Bordeaux accompanies Karrion Kross She might not be Paul Heyman, but Scarlett Bordeaux might be one of the best nonwrestlers in WWE. You can tell how much I love Kross, but she adds so much to his character. I like her even better when the shows aren't in Saudi Arabia! Legacy WWE The opener includes two thirds of legacy, the group that caused much chaos in WWE more than a decade ago. It was Orton, Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. The group was made up of three youngsters who had famous fathers. Cowboy Bob Orton and Dusty Rhodes must be proud of their sons for making the KOTR finals. WWE announcers Today's show is being called by Michael Cole and Wade Barrett. When is WWE Night of Champions Night of Champions will be held Saturday, June 28. WWE NOC start time Night of Champions begins at 1 p.m. ET. Where is Night of Champions? Night of Champions will be held at the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. How to watch Night of Champions Like all WWE PLEs, Night of Champions will stream live on Peacock in the United States. Is there a Night of Champions Kickoff Show? Yes, WWE will hold a Kickoff Show on its Youtube channel and on Peacock. What time does Night of Champions Countdown Show start? The Countdown Show starts at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, two hours before the main card begins. You can also watch below. Night of Champions 2025 match card John Cena vs. CM Punk, WWE Championship Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes, King of the Ring Tournament Finals Asuka vs. Jade Cargill, Queen of the Ring Tournament Finals Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa, U.S. Championship Match Karrion Kross vs. Sami Zayn Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez, street fight Smackdown results JC Mateo defeated Jimmy Uso Giulia defeated Zelina Vega for the Woman's United States Championship Fenix and Andrade defeated DIY Street Profits retained their tag team titles beating Wyatt Sicks by disqualification Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax in a Last Woman Standing Match for WWE Woman's Championship WWE Night of Champions match order According to PWInsider Elite, this is the planned match order for today's show. Advertisement Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa Asuka vs. Jade Cargill John Cena vs. CM Punk WWE King of the Ring winners 2024: GUNTHER 2021: Xavier Woods 2019: Baron Corbin 2015: Bad News Barrett 2010: Sheamus 2008: William Regal 2006: Booker T 2002: Brock Lesnar 2001: Edge 2000: Kurt Angle 1999: Billy Gunn 1998: Ken Shamrock 1997: HHH 1996: Stone Cold Steve Austin 1995: Mabel 1994: Owen Hart 1993: Bret Hart 1991: Bret Hart 1988: Ted DiBiase 1989: Tito Santana 1987: Randy Savage 1986: Harley Race 1985: Magnificent Muraco WWE Queen of the Ring winners 2025: Nia Jax 2021: Zelina Vega Riyadh Saudi Arabia time Today's premium live event starts at 1 p.m. Eastern time, but in Riyadh, it's a prime time show. Saudi Arabia is seven hours ahead, so the show will start at 8 p.m. their time. Stephanie Vaquer wins US Women's Championship Night of Champions started a day earlier for WWE when the final three hour Smackdown was held in Saudi Arabia. There, Stephanie Vaquer picked up a huge win, defeating Zelina Vega for the United States Women's Championship. New Bloodline goes to war It's sad to see the end of the greatest storyline (greatest?) ever, but it appears that's where we're headed. When Solo Sikoa takes on Jacob Fatu for the United States Championship, it looks like it's the end of the New Bloodline, which was a spinoff of the OG Bloodline. Of course, it could be the start of a new one. Solo Sikoa recently added JC Mateo to the mix, and we know there's no shortage of family members who can wrestle. Could we see a new Bloodline begin? I hope so. But Solo and Fatu were a great team for more than a year. Peacock free trial If you want to watch today's premium live event, you can get a seven-day free trial from Peacock. Peacock is the home for all WWE Premium Live Events. WWE Premium Live Event schedule 2025 Night of Champions, June 28 Saturday Night's Main Event: July 12 WWE Evolution: July 13 WWE SummerSlam: Aug. 2 and 3 Clash at the Castle: Aug. 31 WWE Crown Jewel: Oct. 11 WWE Survivor Series: Nov. 29 This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: WWE Night of Champions 2025 results; King of the Ring winners
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Night Of Champions 2025 Results As Heelish Cody Rhodes Wins King Of The Ring
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton in the WWE King of the Ring Finals. Cody Rhodes beat Randy Orton at WWE Night of Champions using heel tactics to become the 2025 King of the Ring. Wade Barrett described it as a 'very different version' of Cody amid a recent interview where Rhodes suggested he was at the tail end of his babyface run. After the match, Cody Rhodes thanked Randy Orton, saying he has "nothing but respect for the guy who mentored me…a future Hall of Famer." Rhodes put over all his opponents en route to King of the Ring before acknowledging he'd be facing either CM Punk or John Cena at SummerSlam. Rhodes admitted he'd likely be booed against these beloved competitors, but 'At SummerSlam, I get the ball back!' Fans in Riyadh treated both Rhodes and Orton like babyfaces, cheering wildly for both and even chanting 'this is awesome' before the match even began. But Cody Rhodes quickly became the de facto heel by exploiting Orton's back injury early in the match, which garnered boos. Cody Rhodes returned at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event to a monstrous pop that served as a stark contrast to the boo's he received last time we saw him during WrestleMania weekend. Of course, WrestleMania crowds are a unique bunch who tend to celebrate cool heels like Karrion Kross and Jacob Fatu at the time. Even in today's piping-hot WWE, where fans are in lockstep with the booker, WrestleMania weekend is where whitemeat babyfaces go to die. But after John Cena killed Cody Rhodes' title reign, Rhodes came back from the dead to run through the King of the Ring tournament and defeat his former mentor in the KOTR finals. Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes is a match capable of headlining a Big-4 PLE. Many assumed Orton would be one of Cody's challengers at a big show. WWE even went as far as teasing an Orton feud with Cody Rhodes several times, with Orton often looking, lovingly, at Cody's WWE Undisputed Championship. Instead, there was no heel turn, and the two babyfaces only faced one another out of necessity once each star won their respective brackets on Raw and SmackDown. Rhodes and Orton had as good as a match as one would expect from two future Hall of Famers. But a feud between a babyface Cody Rhodes and a heel Randy Orton would help a possible rematch reach its full potential following a King of the Ring tournament filled with good guys. Cody Rhodes will now set his sights on the WWE Undisputed Championship, which means either a WrestleMania rematch against John Cena or a long-anticipated match against CM Punk. WWE's babyface room as crowded as its ever been. Even though Cena is technically a heel, he is being wildly cheered during his retirement tour, and will be a huge babyface in the New York market for SummerSlam no matter what story WWE tries to tell. This add fuel to the fire of a possible Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk match, with Punk playing the role of the heel. Having said that, a heel CM Punk against Cody Rhodes might be cheered just as much as a retiring heel John Cena. Regardless of Rhodes' opponent in August for the WWE Championship, it figures to be a blockbuster matchup that will headline WWE's first two-night SummerSlam.
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Night Of Champions 2025 Results As Cody Rhodes Wins King Of The Ring
Cody Rhodes will likely face John Cena at SummerSlam. (Credit: Sydney Yonker/WWE via Getty Images) At WWE Night of Champions 2025, Cody Rhodes punched his ticket to SummerSlam and a potential rematch against John Cena. In the finals of the 2025 King of the Ring tournament and a true dream match for WWE fans, Rhodes defeated his former mentor Randy Orton via Cross Rhodes in a strong show-opener. Capping off a stellar match between two of WWE's most beloved babyfaces, Rhodes was able to capitalize on Orton's own decision to expose a turnbuckle to earn himself a WWE Championship match at SummerSlam in August. Among the key highlights of the match were: Now, Rhodes is the 2025 WWE King of the Ring winner and slated for another major WWE title match at SummerSlam. WWE Night of Champions 2025 Results for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton At WWE Night of Champions 2025, Orton and Rhodes battled in their first singles match since 2013, only this time with a shot at WWE's most coveted title at stake, and the crowd was solidly behind Orton. But Orton couldn't get past his former protege. For the second straight year, 'The Viper' fell short in his quest to become WWE's King of the Ring. In 2024, he also lost the finals of the KOTR tournament in an epic match with Gunther. This year, both Rhodes and Orton were hoping to pick up a major victory and earn another shot at John Cena or whoever is holding the WWE title come SummerSlam. It was just last month at WWE Backlash 2025 that Orton lost to Cena under controversial circumstances, one month after Rhodes lost his WWE title to the newly heel Cena as well. But with WWE billing Orton vs. Cena as 'One Last Time,' it became clear that Rhodes was likely going to win in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And win, he did. At WWE Night of Champions, Rhodes blasted Orton with a devastating Cross Rhodes finisher to win the King of the Tournament and secure a WWE Championship rematch at SummerSlam that could get Rhodes back on the WWE mountain top. Cody Rhodes Vs. John Cena Rematch Likely For WWE SummerSlam 2025 Rhodes' resounding victory over Orton at WWE Night of Champions 2025 seemingly confirmed what is coming at SummerSlam: Rhodes vs. Cena II. WWE reportedly recently rejected The Rock's creative pitch to turn Rhodes heel, with WWE officials noting the positive effect Rhodes has had on viewership, ticket sales and merchandise sales. Instead of Rhodes moving to the dark side, the most obvious direction for Rhodes is winning back the WWE title that he lost in controversial fashion at WrestleMania 41. In fact, WWE is indeed planning on running back Rhodes vs. Cena at SummerSlam, though Cena must first get past CM Punk today at Night of Champions. Cena's widely criticized win over Rhodes at WrestleMania accomplished its goal of giving Cena his record-breaking 17th world title win. But Cena's overall run as a villain has been, well, pretty bad, and the endgame of Rhodes' character arc should be a second WWE title win at SummerSlam. If Cena can defeat Punk as expected at Night of Champions 2025, then WWE should move full steam ahead with Rhodes vs. Cena and the recrowning of Rhodes as its top champion.
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Night Of Champions 2025 Match Card, Start Time And Most Likely Winners
Cody Rhodes must win the WWE King of the Ring finals to get another shot at John Cena. (Credit: ... More Scott Brinegar/WWE via Getty Images) WWE via Getty Images WWE Night of Champions 2025 takes place this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is the final stop on the road to SummerSlam. The latest WWE pay-per-view, or Premium Live Event, emanates from Kingdom Arena and features a rare match for John Cena as well as the finals of both the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. The event was an instant sellout and is expected to feature roughly 27,000 fans in attendance. WWE did not hold a Night of Champions event in 2024, instead holding an event titled "King and Queen of the Ring" in Jeddah last May. In 2023, the Night of Champions show was at the time WWE's most viewed event ever to be held in Saudi Arabia. The 2025 WWE Night of Champions will determine not one but two world title challengers for SummerSlam and could potentially feature the last-ever match between Cena and CM Punk. Forbes WWE Money In The Bank 2025 Results, Review And Match Ratings By Blake Oestriecher The 2025 WWE Night of Champions event features six matches, deviating from the recent trend of major events having just four or five bouts. Below is the full match card: WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. CM Punk King of the Ring Tournament Finals: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Queen of the Ring Tournament Finals: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill WWE United States Championship Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa Raquel Rodriguez vs. Rhea Ripley in a Street Fight Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross WWE had originally scheduled an Intercontinental title match between Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles, but that match was removed due to an injury to Mysterio. Also, the winners of the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments finals will challenge their specific brand's world champion, respectively, for the title at the first-ever two-night SummerSlam in August. WWE Night of Champions 2025 Start Time And Streaming Info WWE Night of Champions 2025 will air on Peacock in the Unites States at 1 pm EST/12 pm CST. The event is available on Netflix to non-US fans. The one-hour pre-show will begin one hour before the main card on WWE's official YouTube channel. WWE Night of Champions 2025 Favorites And Most Likely Winners In their 14 singles matches, John Cena and CM Punk have each won six matches while the other two bouts ended without a clear winner. In other words, Punk vs. Cena, potentially for the last time ever, should serve as the rubber match between the two. While Punk remains one of WWE's most beloved stars and Cena is struggling to be a convincing heel, it's difficult to envision Cena losing the WWE Championship roughly two months after his record-breaking 17th title win. WWE is clearly building toward a massive rematch for Cena (more on that later) while there isn't really any indication that Punk vs. either Rhodes or Orton is the direction for the near future. Punk can rebound from a loss, especially with Cena likely to win controversially in order to set up a blockbuster SummerSlam rematch. Likely Winner: John Cena WWE Queen of the Ring Tournament Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill Although Asuka just returned from a year-long absence and could be in line for a major push, Jade Cargill is clearly standing in the way. And she isn't moving either. Prior to Cargill's injury late last year, WWE reportedly had planned on making the polarizing star a world champion on the road to WrestleMania 41. While those plans may have been slightly delayed, they likely haven't been scrapped altogether. WWE is clearly going all in on a major singles push for Cargill, and it's just a matter of time. At WWE Night of Champions 2025, Cargill can take one step closer to her first singles title with a big win over Asuka, one that would allow Cargill to reignite her feud with Ms. Money in the Bank Naomi come SummerSlam. Likely Winner: Jade Cargill WWE King of the Ring Tournament Final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton When the WWE King of the Ring brackets were first revealed, WWE fans could see where this was headed: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena II. Rhodes vs. Orton is certainly a massive dream match, and with both stars so beloved that they shouldn't turn heel, it makes sense to book them in a competitive tournament finals match without having to move either star to the dark side. Given that WWE just billed Orton vs. Cena at Backlash as their final match ever, Orton doesn't figure to get another crack at 'The Champ.' No, WWE Night of Champions is all about Rhodes winning to get a second shot at Cena at SummerSlam. Likely Winner: Cody Rhodes WWE United States Championship Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa As is the case with Jade Cargill, WWE is going all in on a monster push for Jacob Fatu, perhaps its fastest-rising babyface star. Solo Sikoa, a fine midcard heel but overall mediocre performer, isn't going to change that. Or is he? In the ideal situation, Fatu should get a significant push similar to what Gunther received as Intercontinental Champion, where his stellar reign as a midcard titleholder helped catapult him to the main event scene. Fatu just won the WWE United States Championship two months ago at WrestleMania 41, after all. Losing it to Sikoa would seemingly be too big of a step backward for a star WWE is pushing forward. Then again, maybe not. With potential new Bloodline member Hikuleo reportedly spotted in Saudi Arabia, expect the faction's latest addition to make his long awaited debut and help Sikoa defeat Fatu in controversial fashion. Likely Winner: Solo Sikoa Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross A late addition to the WWE Night of Champions card, Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross is highlighting two stars who have gotten mega over in completely different ways. Zayn has been one of the best booked babyfaces in all of WWE over the past few years while Kross, though a heel, is finally getting a shot on TV after a riveting post-WrestleMania promo that made him a cult favorite among WWE fans. While Kross would benefit greatly from a significant win over someone like Zayn, there's been little to suggest that he will actually get it. After all, Zayn is in the midst of a major character arc, one in which he's pursuing his first-ever world title win. Kross, meanwhile, barely gets on TV. This should be a surefire win for Zayn, and anything else would be a massive surprise. Likely Winner: Sami Zayn Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez Rhea Ripley remains one of WWE's most beloved stars, but her never-ending feud with members of The Judgment Day is beyond tiresome. While WWE is focusing a little more on Raquel Rodriguez with Liv Morgan injured, she's not portrayed to be anywhere near the same level as Ripley, who's always protected by WWE's booking. If this were a standard wrestling match, Ripley would be a shoo-in to win. That isn't the case, though. The Street Fight stipulation opens the door for Rodriguez's fellow Judgment Day members to help her win, which will keep Ripley looking strong even in defeat. Likely Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
