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14 hours ago
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WWE Night of Champions 2025 predictions roundtable: Is Cena vs. Rhodes next inevitable?
For the second consecutive year, the King and Queen of the ring will be determined at a premium live event (PLE) in Saudi Arabia as WWE holds its Night of Champions 2025 show on Saturday. Despite the two marquee tournaments being at complete odds with our name here at Uncrowned, our Horsemen — Anthony Sulla-Heffinger, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Kel Dansby — are gathering once again to answer some of the burning questions surrounding the event and offer our predictions, including for the latest turn in the John Cena retirement tour — a championship showdown with CM Punk. 1. Has your opinion of the John Cena heel run changed at all during the CM Punk feud? Jackman: As a rule of thumb, the Cena heel run has worked better when he's had a sparring partner in those television segments. The big problem with those first promos was that they were addressed to the audience, rather than anyone in the WWE, giving them that meandering, self-indulgent feel that bores the pants off of me. As soon as you have an actual human being on the receiving end of those pot-shots, particularly someone as skilled as Punk who can easily shoot back, they land much better. Advertisement Has it changed my opinion? It's made me feel less sour on this whole storyline in the short term, but I still don't think we've seen anything (at least since Elimination Chamber) that really justifies going down this road in the first place. The Cena retirement tour was always going to be huge, but can you name one single thing they've achieved with this heel turn that wouldn't have been possible otherwise? I certainly can't. Riggs: Not really. While the Punk feud has undoubtedly been the best part of this run, it doesn't change how abysmal it's been overall. Even the Punk feud was thrown together entirely out of nowhere and will likely have a short lifespan, which is a shame, considering how great they work together. Sulla-Heffinger: Yes, due in large part to his excellent promo work last week on "WWE SmackDown." We saw shades of what heel Cena could be during his run with Randy Orton, and it feels like we're hitting the crescendo during this admittedly abbreviated feud with Punk. The callbacks have been incredible, and while seemingly all of Cena's matches during this retirement tour could have been simply and successfully billed as 'last time ever,' the change in character allows for these final chapters in historic WWE rivalries to be written with a fresh perspective. Advertisement After the initial shock of the turn wore off, we had a bit of a lull and there have been a few bumps along the road, but for me, things have done as close to a 180 as possible. Hopefully, WWE finds a way to extend this rivalry until SummerSlam, but with the King of the Ring winner lurking, that's easier said than done. Dansby: Not really. If anything, the feud has just reminded us how great Punk still is, rather than validating Cena's heel turn. Cena still hasn't done enough to justify why he made the switch, and it doesn't align with his long-term goals. That said, Punk has pulled fans into their story so well that the heel vs. babyface dynamic barely matters. It feels more like the latest chapter in a 15-year rivalry than a traditional good guy vs. bad guy setup. 2. Who needs to win the Queen of the Ring final more: Asuka or Jade Cargill? Riggs: Man, this is kind of an awkwardly tougher question than you'd think it would be. Somehow WWE has either dropped the ball with Cargill or she's regressed compared to her AEW run. I'm unsure of where to point the blame because that's how well AEW booked her, but compared to others with a similar timeline of experience, like WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton, Cargill just isn't even in that realm on any front. And I say this as someone who's been well behind her. Advertisement Asuka, however, is in a spot where she's a bulletproof legend, but is still one of the very best right now, snowballing the momentum off her return run. A strong Asuka is undeniably the best Asuka, and despite her accomplishing countless accolades in WWE, you can still argue she hasn't been treated as well as she should have been — that's how great she is. In terms of better overall results for everyone, champions like Iyo Sky included, it's Asuka. There's no shame in Cargill losing to a GOAT. Sulla-Heffinger: Pulling back the curtain a tiny bit, the trickiness that the word 'need' implies is precisely why I phrased it that way when writing these questions, so I am glad it was a bit of a curveball for Riggs. Cargill has all of the tools to be a major player at the main-event level, and no one would fault WWE for strapping the rocket to her back with a Queen of the Ring win and a title shot. Shoot, it even makes sense with Naomi currently holding Money in the Bank. Yet Cargill is still a little green in areas you want to see buttoned up at the top of the card; as impressive as she can be at times, there are moments in the ring that feel too clunky, and we haven't seen enough live promo work in WWE to make a fair assessment. A loss to Asuka is more of a speed bump than a derailment on the Cargill hype train. Asuka, on the other hand, is one of the best and most charismatic talents in WWE. She'd benefit immensely from a Queen of the Ring win and being immediately thrust back into the Women's World Championship picture. Her résumé alone could always justify a title shot, but professional wrestling always works better when there's a clear, believable path. A win on Saturday creates that for us. Asuka and Jade Cargill face off ahead of Saturday's Queen of the Ring final. (WWE via Getty Images) Dansby: Asuka vs. Iyo Sky is a SummerSlam main event on paper, no doubt. But it's time to pull the trigger on Jade. Her beating someone as decorated as Asuka and rolling into her first world title match in New York City is a can't-miss moment. That's how you make a star. Advertisement Expect Jade to win — and don't be surprised if Cardi B is part of her entrance at SummerSlam. Jackman: I mentioned in our latest power rankings (in which I take on the unenviable task of ranking the 10 most compelling men and women in pro wrestling) that the exciting thing about Jade Cargill is how WWE has presented her as fearsome while still maintaining a lot of mystique around her. We really don't know that much about Cargill given what a big deal she clearly is — and that gives her an edge over a lot of her peers. Of course, Cargill is already straddling two plotlines, given her ongoing drama with Naomi and Bianca Belair. My suspicion is that they're building toward some kind of big crescendo where she wins Queen of the Ring and then both of those storylines come together with a big bang. Perhaps Naomi tries to cash in during Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton at SummerSlam, but Bianca returns to thwart her and set up a grudge match later down the line? 3. Which King of the Ring finalist makes for a more compelling SummerSlam main event? Sulla-Heffinger: I think we all know we are going to see Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at least one more time before the retirement tour ends, but it shouldn't be at SummerSlam. Considering how Cena has threatened to 'ruin wrestling,' wouldn't it be excellent storytelling if Rhodes loses his clear path to a rematch in the King of the Ring tournament and is forced to just say 'screw it' and jump to the front of the line as we get closer to the end of 2025? Sounds a lot like what Cena did when he inserted himself into the Elimination Chamber match, doesn't it? Advertisement Wouldn't it be ironic if Rhodes — when the match finally does happen — gives in and uses the championship belt to beat Cena, showing he can be corrupted? Considering the parallels between Cena and Rhodes as top babyfaces, it would be brilliant if Cena leaves WWE and is able to say 'see what I did to your beloved champion? That's how I ruin wrestling.' All of that happens down the line if Orton defeats Rhodes on Saturday and sets up one more classic clash with Cena at SummerSlam, which we've already seen this year, but considering the momentum these renewed, iconic rivalries have had, it's the more immediately compelling of the two in my opinion. Dansby: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena feels like the natural payoff. Cena got his win with help from Travis Scott, and now it's time for him to right that wrong. Having Rhodes win back the WWE title in the main event of SummerSlam Night 2 sets the stage for Cena's redemption arc — and lets him go out as the beloved babyface one last time. Are John Cena and Cody Rhodes on a collision course? (WWE via Getty Images) Jackman: Isn't this one a foregone conclusion given we've just seen Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a match that was billed as 'One Last Time'? My suspicion is that the main reason 'The Viper' is in this match in the first place is to sow the seeds for a title shot against Cody Rhodes further down the line. Advertisement The only thing that makes me hesitate slightly is that nagging feeling that Cody's whole path to the championship is looking a little too obvious right now. On the other hand, both of the last two Universal Championship title changes were flagged up massively in advance and there's no reason why this one would be different. I'm calling it now: Cody wins here and then at SummerSlam. Riggs: With how ridiculous the Backlash ending was, there's still legs to the Randy Orton legacy blood feud with John Cena. And out of pure nostalgia — and getting more time for a legendary program — I might prefer that. For the times, though, it's clearly Rhodes with the freshness of everything between him and Cena. As much as I'd like to see something different or even a big surprise like having Ron Killings dethrone Cena, it couldn't be clearer that it will be Rhodes. 4. Should Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross be on this card? Dansby: Kross just needs to be on TV more consistently, period. A few more weeks of buildup would've made more sense heading into SummerSlam, but WWE's going with Night of Champions to kick this off. Advertisement Kross has a strong cult following, so his push has to feel earned — not forced. Zayn's the perfect guy to bring the best out of him. This should be the first of a few matches between them, not a one-and-done. Sulla-Heffinger: No. And that isn't to say it doesn't deserve spotlight. It's because I believe the best version of this match happens in a "WWE Raw" main event where it can be given 20 to 25 minutes. I'm afraid we'll see this finish in less than 10 and a large portion of the internet wrestling community will walk away wildly unsatisfied. Is the Karrion Kross push finally upon us? (WWE via Getty Images) Jackman: I hate to do the whole demographics thing (bear with me), but we all know that Sami Zayn is incredibly popular in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, he's a fan favorite in any situation, but the way WWE has leaned into his Arabic heritage and his religious identity (when they filmed his pilgrimage in the leadup to Night of Champions 2023) has basically made him an ambassador for WWE in the wider Arabic-speaking world. Advertisement So what does that mean for the match? Well, one option would be to pursue the monster pop of giving Zayn a nice big win for the home crowd. That's great for the immediate sugar rush, but doesn't really help with the long-term storytelling on which Karrion Kross thrives. Alternatively, WWE could go the other way and get some turbo heat by giving Kross a dirty victory that builds to something bigger further down the line. Personally, I'd go with the latter. Saudi crowds are super smart these days and I think they'd enjoy some good old-fashioned villainy. Riggs: I'm surprised they added that match to this show rather than putting it on next week's "WWE Raw." But it's a good surprise. Put two over dudes together who have been teasing this collision for weeks, and give it a proper spotlight. It feels somewhat rare — and honestly, more appropriate than the next match we're talking about. 5. Is Raquel Rodriguez the centerpiece of Judgment Day now that Liv Morgan's injured? Jackman: Honestly, I have no idea right now. We know from reports around the Liv Morgan injury that WWE is hastily rewriting a lot of its plans on the women's side (particularly the buildup to Evolution), so we shouldn't discount the possibility that they don't really know what's going on and are playing for time right now. Advertisement I'm more optimistic about the Judgment Day storyline more broadly. Generally I'm a big fan of slow burn angles in wrestling and I really hope that's what we're seeing here. They've been teasing the combustion of the group for a while now and some of the tensions (both with Finn and Dom, but also Liv and Finn) are much smarter and more subtle than your average wrestling angle. Riggs: As much as Rodriguez deserves it and I'd love that, I highly doubt it. Dominick Mysterio and Finn Balor are definitely still that glue (that's loosening), and even Roxanne Perez has already become more featured. The Ripley match and feud revisit feels just like a placeholder scramble to kill time and readjust the fallout from Morgan's injury. Will Raquel Rodriguez sink or swim with Liv Morgan injured? (WWE via Getty Images) Sulla-Heffinger: I think Rodriguez is the centerpiece in the sense that she'll be the most conflicted when Morgan returns. If Rodriguez goes on a prolonged, successful run — either as a singles competitor or with Roxanne Perez as a tag-team champion — the picture is suddenly very murky when Morgan comes back. We know where Finn Balor stands and we know where Dominik Mysterio stands, but Rodriguez is in a spot where she can become a top heel on 'WWE Raw,' add a much-needed dangerous presence to the Judgment Day and even turn the Mysterio-Morgan pairing face down the line. That can all start with a win over Rhea Ripley in the street fight Saturday. Advertisement Dansby: Honestly, it's time to blow up Judgment Day. WWE has teased the breakup enough — now's the moment to pull the trigger. Between injuries to key members and Carlito's release, the timing's right. Let Finn finally break away and tap into the Demon again. That could be the storyline that breathes new life into him. BONUS: WWE had a huge presence at Fanatics Fest last weekend with the Superstar Entrance. If you HAD to recreate a current star's intro, who would it be and why? Dansby: Gotta go with the GOAT — HBK! The Heartbreak Kid had it all. The entrance music? Iconic. The gear? Flashy as hell. The pyro? On point every time. Nobody made an entrance like Shawn Michaels. Jackman: I've actually done this! They have the Superstar Entrance permanently installed at the massively under-appreciated (largely because of its location…) WWE Experience in Riyadh. I visited the Experience before last year's Crown Jewel event and got to recreate Rhea Ripley's entrance in a makeshift costume of Seth Rollins offshoots and some sort of Venetian mask. Advertisement Riggs: Well, I didn't see this one coming. The easy choice has to be your favorite wrestler ever, right? So, Jeff Hardy comes right to mind, but not with the Hardy Boyz theme. We're talking '08 world champion Jeff Hardy, baby. No More Words. That's the way to go. But if we don't count Hardy as a "current star," which he obviously isn't in WWE specifically, I think I have to go with Seth Rollins or Aleister Black. As a metal junkie, give me something heavy, fast and furious, or dark and in your face. Sulla-Heffinger: The answer's gotta be Triple H. If by some chance you could master the water spray, it's an instant 10/10. If you can't, the whole entrance falls flat. High risk, high reward. Predictions Undisputed WWE Championship Match: John Cena (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. CM Punk King of the Ring final: Randy Orton (Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Cody Rhodes (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs) Queen of the Ring final: Asuka (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Jade Cargill (Dansby, Jackman) U.S. Championship match : Jacob Fatu (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Solo Sikoa Street Fight: Raquel Rodriguez (Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Rhea Ripley (Dansby, Riggs) Sami Zayn (Riggs) vs. Karrion Kross (Dansby, Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) 2025 standings
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2 days ago
- Entertainment
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Live from Las Vegas with Israel Adesanya, Alexander Volkanovski, Dan Hooker and more!
"The Ariel Helwani Show" is LIVE from the The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on Uncrowned and YouTube at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT/7:30 p.m. UK time as Ariel Helwani and the Boys In The Back take over "The Fight Capital of the World" for International Fight Week! Thursday's loaded lineup of guests can be seen below. Advertisement 2:30 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang kick off the show live from our Vegas studio! 3 p.m. ET: UFC superstar Israel Adesanya stops by as our first in-studio guest. 3:40 p.m. ET: UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is up next. 4:20 p.m. ET: The good vibes continue with UFC lightweight star Dan Hooker. 5 p.m. ET: Coach John Wood reflects on a busy month and previews UFC 317. 5:30 p.m. ET: Raul Rosas Jr. looks ahead to what's next for him. "The Ariel Helwani Show" returns LIVE from Las Vegas for a special Friday show tomorrow on Uncrowned and The Ariel Helwani Show's YouTube page! To listen to every episode, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.
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3 days ago
- Sport
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'I belong': Christian Mbilli hoping WBC interim title fight launches him onto Canelo vs. Crawford mega-card
Not even his second-longest career absence could leave Christian Mbilli off the radar of the sport's most influential figure. This weekend's showdown with two-time title challenger Maciej Sulecki will mark Mbilli's first piece of ring action since last August. Still, he found himself on the very short list of fighters who Turki Alalshikh would like to add to the Sept. 13 Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford card on Netflix. Advertisement The declaration came one day after Alalshikh called for an end to the type of dull matchups that plagues his two most recent shows. 'I'm very honored to be on the list of fighters Turki Alalshikh would like to see on his Riyadh Season event,' Mbilli told Uncrowned. 'I'm very happy, but I have to focus on my fight right now. 'I hope after this, I will have my big fight against a big-name fighter.' For now, Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) will take on his second straight former title challenger, as he hopes to land his own first shot at the super middleweight crown. His clash with Poland's Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs) will air this Friday on ESPN+ from Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada. Advertisement The interim WBC super middleweight title will be at stake for Mbilli's second straight fight at this venue and third consecutive main event. The 30-year-old Cameroonian Frenchman — now based in Montreal — has become a ticket-seller in his adopted home region, in large part to his all-action style. He was dealt a test in the ring in a hard-fought 10-round points win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko (15-6, 10 KOs) at this very venue last August 17. Derevyanchenko has only lost in title fights or to fighters who either previously held or went on to win a major title. Mbilli is the lone exception to that list at the moment. He hopes to change that beginning with a victory this weekend over a similarly experienced opponent. Advertisement Winning an interim belt is a step in the right direction, not the finish line. 'The goal is to be world champion, not just interim champion,' vowed Mbilli, who is co-promoted by Eye of the Tiger Management and Top Rank. 'I hope after this fight, I will have the opportunity to fight for and become world champion. Right now, that would mean the chance to win the undisputed super middleweight championship.' That career path is a far cry from where Mbilli sat this time last year. Promoter Camille Estephan has struggled to find relevant matchups for the top-rated super middleweight. It hasn't been for a lack of trying; Mbilli has been positioned in opportunities for several title eliminators, including two rounds of ordered talks with fellow unbeaten top contender Diego Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs). Advertisement Of all the stated targets pursued by Mbilli, the only one to say "yes" is the one who will be in the opposite corner this weekend. 'I have to thank my opponent, as strange as it sounds,' Mbilli said, doing his best to laugh through the frustration. 'It's our job to fight, but you have a lot of fighters who look for reasons not to. 'The last one was Pacheco, he ducked me two times. I hope after Sulecki, we will have more big fights.' The fact that his name was mentioned by Alalshikh is a net positive for Mbilli, especially considering the event on which he wishes to showcase the 30-year-old Olympian. Christian Mbilli's all-action style could lead him toward some big opportunities in the near future. (Mathieu Belanger via Getty Images) A win on Friday will leave Mbilli as the WBC mandatory challenger. Mexico's Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is the division's undisputed champion, a crown he will attempt to defend against Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). The two will face off in a Netflix headliner presented by Riyadh Season from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Advertisement The greater likelihood is that Mbilli doesn't get the winner straightaway. At some point, however, it will become harder to avoid him. Mbilli is the No. 1 ranked contender with the WBC and holds the same ranking with every credible independent ratings panel. He officially transitioned from rising prospect to perennial top-10 super middleweight following a March 2023 decision win over Carlos Gongora. That feat was followed by three consecutive knockout wins as he grew as a reliable box-office attraction. The enthusiasm remained intact even as he went all 10 rounds with Derevyanchenko. The lone hiccup along the way came in the one fight of late that didn't see the light of day. Advertisement Mbilli was due to face unbeaten Kevin Lele Sadjo on May 8 in an IBF title eliminator. The bout was due to take place in Paris, after a purse bid hearing was won by Y12 Boxing, Sadjo's promoter. Eye of the Tiger Management pulled the plug on the fight, claiming that the other side violated the terms of the purse bid and also failed to provide proof of funds. Those accusations were vehemently denied by Y12, though it mattered little; Mbilli was not only out a fight, but suddenly on the sideline. 'Camille is doing a very good job looking out for me,' insisted Mbilli. 'He tried his hardest to bring a big fight to the table for me. We had problems with the promoter, with the TV and other things. 'Right now, the goal for Camille is to find the biggest names for me and to position me to become world champion. I'm very proud to have him on my team.' Advertisement With any luck — and with a victory Friday — Mbilli can add the sport's most powerful figure to that list. 'After this fight, we will have to see if [Alalshikh] still wants to do things together,' he said. 'It still makes me very happy. It motivates me to show that I belong among the elite of the super middleweight division. 'I want to show that [against Sulecki]. After that, I want to become the world super middleweight champion.'
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3 days ago
- Entertainment
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WWE, AEW power rankings: Big changes at the top ahead of Night of Champions
As we head into another WWE PLE weekend for Saturday's Night of Champions, it seems a good time to take stock of our Uncrowned power rankings — not least as we've had a massive title change on the men's side. And that's before we get to the next stage of the John Cena retirement tour, which pits the 17-time champion against another old rival, CM Punk. Meanwhile in AEW land, the shape of this year's All In is gradually becoming clearer. What happens in Texas will have massive consequences for Hangman Adam Page and Mercedes Moné in particular — but will it be enough to propel them to the top of our league table? Advertisement Here's where things stand right now. MEN'S POWER RANKINGS 10. Chad Gable (Prev: NR) Who had Chad Gable delivering one of the matches of the year on their June bingo card? Sure, we all know that the former Olympian can work magic in the ring — see his amazing feud with Gunther from 2023 — but even that didn't fully prepare us for his five-star match against El Hijo del Vikingo to close out an excellent Worlds Collide. You might not like the El Grande Americano gimmick, but you can't deny that the man behind the mask is earning his paycheck right now — and then some. 9. Jey Uso (Prev: 5) He might not have the title, but he still has those crowds eating out of the palm of his hand. And surely I'm not the only one who gets a bit misty-eyed watching those kids joining in on the Yeet entrances? Looking at things in the sober light of day, though, you have to question what's next in the cards for the former 'Right Hand Man' — particularly after his elimination from King of the Ring. Advertisement On that note, surely a proper reunion with his brother would be more interesting than another Gunther rematch? 8. Kenny Omega (Prev: NR) Finding yourself wheezing blood at the feet of your long-term manager — who is now siding with your enemy — might not sound like a position of strength. From a kayfabe perspective, though, it certainly helps up the ante for your upcoming marquee match with perhaps your greatest ever foil at All In. For the initiated, there's a reason why Omega vs. Okada matches end up with movie-style Roman numerals after them. And this one, Omega vs. Okada V, should be no exception. Advertisement 7. Gunther (Prev: 10) Less than two months on from his humbling defeat at WrestleMania, 'The Ring General' is officially reunited with his WWE World Championship, leaving some asking the question of why he had to lose it in the first place. (Two words, 10 letters: Merch sales.) Now the legendary heavyweight has been chosen as the man to retire Goldberg on the next Saturday Night's Main Event. Normally, you'd put money on 'The Ring General' to leave Atlanta with his pride intact — but when a certain briefcase is in play, nothing can be taken for granted. 6. Seth Rollins (Prev: 3) In two months, Rollins has taken it all — well, almost. Advertisement A superstar faction, the loyalty of Paul Heyman, and now the Money in the Bank briefcase — all three are now in his arsenal. All of which begs the question: At what point does he execute his master plan and make a play for one of the two major titles? That's the question which will determine the fate of 'The Visionary' by the end of the year. Right now, he still feels like the man of the moment, but those long-winded promos won't maintain the momentum forever. 5. Hangman Adam Page (Prev: 4) It's a beautiful sight isn't it — watching a babyface in the final stages of their ascendancy? Those are the slightly pretentious words I wrote about Will Ospreay ahead of his assumed victory at AEW Double or Nothing. But it's credit to Hangman (and AEW) that they fit just as well as Mr. Page heads into his career-defining title match at All In after a surprise win over Ospreay. Advertisement When it comes to dethroning Jon Moxley, Tony Khan clearly chose his loyal soldier for a reason — next month we'll see whether that was the right decision. 4. Sami Zayn (Prev: NR) He may have been eliminated in the semifinals of King of the Ring, but all signs point toward Sami Zayn being the man who will get his kingdom in the long run. 'There's only one of us that has never won the world championship,' said the man himself on last week's 'WWE SmackDown' — delivering the sort of line that might as well be a spoiler. With the Royal Rumble heading to Saudi Arabia for the first time in January, the Arabic-speaking babyface has to be a firm favorite to get the main-event treatment. 3. John Cena (Prev: 1) It's no secret that fans and pundits alike were losing patience with the Cena heel turn. But then along came that pipe bomb tribute on the latest 'WWE SmackDown' — the first segment in a long time to come close to igniting the spark we all felt with Cena back at Elimination Chamber. Advertisement Getting 'The Champ' in front of CM Punk was always going to be one of the highlights of this retirement tour — but will it be enough to renew faith in the whole project? 2. CM Punk (Prev: 8) Getting to main event WrestleMania could easily have been the highlight of old Punker's career. But surely this Saturday's fixture at Night of Champions has to go down as his biggest singles match yet since returning to WWE? He and John Cena already proved back at Elimination Chamber that they can still do justice to their old rivalry, so let's hope this reunion is no exception. 1. Cody Rhodes (Prev: 2) Is it just me or is the path for Cody Rhodes becoming almost too obvious? A victory in Saudi Arabia to become King of the Ring followed by an emotional path to SummerSlam, when he can finally avenge the great injustice of WrestleMania 41 and take back his Universal Championship. Advertisement It might not have the same emotional hook as the whole 'finishing the story' angle, but it certainly makes 'The American Nightmare' look like the most powerful man in wrestling right now. Either that or he'll be in for one hell of a slump in next month's power rankings. Just a couple of top Uncrowned power-rankers hanging out. (WWE via Getty Images) WOMEN'S POWER RANKINGS 10. Blake Monroe (Prev: NR) It might not have quite matched the Jade Cargill signing, but WWE's successful poaching of AEW's Mariah May (now renamed Blake Monroe) still felt like a big deal in the women's wrestling landscape. Given the spate of marquee names leaving NXT's women's division for the main roster, there's ample space for Monroe to make a big impression. Don't be surprised if we see her in action at the upcoming Evolution PLE either. Advertisement 9. Liv Morgan (Prev: NR) Her absence from the last two PLEs meant that Liv Morgan dropped off the most recent power rankings. Then, just last week, we all received a major reminder — albeit a bittersweet one — as to just what a big star she is. It came after Morgan's legitimate shoulder injury on 'WWE Raw,' with reports (from Fightful) that WWE was now having to rewrite a large chunk of the Evolution show, given that she was meant to be one of its primary stars. It was another reminder of just how highly WWE rates Liv Morgan. Let's just hope she recovers as swiftly as possible. 8. Toni Storm (Prev: 3) Sometimes being champion can make you look like the hottest star in wrestling; at other times, it can feel a bit of a waiting game. That's been the case for the usually excellent Toni Storm, who has been reduced to treading water while AEW determines her next competitor via the Owen Hart Cup. With that question settled, she now heads to Texas facing what has to be the biggest singles match of her career so far: A champion vs. champion match with Mercedes Moné. 7. Asuka (Prev: NR) Given her star power, you have to feel that Asuka was short-changed slightly by WWE's lackadaisical approach to her long-awaited return. Putting her in the Queen of the Ring tournament was probably the right move, but could we not have had a more exciting reveal moment? Still, the creatives appear to have made good on that misfire by sending her straight to the final — and giving her that staredown with Iyo Sky. Advertisement 6. Jade Cargill (Prev: NR) Jade Cargill's slow burn introduction to the highest ranks of WWE's women's roster continues to pay dividends as she heads into Night of Champions looking as fearsome and intriguing as ever. Given she has yet to hold a singles title in WWE, you have to feel that the former AEW powerhouse would be the most interesting choice for a shot at gold at this year's SummerSlam, but my goodness is it a tight decision between her and Asuka. 5. Tiffany Stratton (Prev: 2) It's a big drop for Tiffy in this month's list, so let's clarify things. If I were picking stock for the long-run, the WWE Women's Champion would still be top of my list. But her lack of big matches on PLE cards is doing her title run a disservice. Advertisement Instead of those big-ticket matches, what are we getting instead? Another rematch against Nia Jax, the very woman that Miss Stratton has bested two times running. And to add insult to injury, it's happening on 'WWE SmackDown' rather than Night of Champions. 4. Rhea Ripley (Prev: 5) Jey Uso might have the longest pop from the live audiences, but it's Rhea Ripley who has the loudest. Just listen to that decibel-busting cheer from this Monday's 'WWE Raw' as 'The Eradicator' raced out to throw hands at her long-time tormentor Raquel Rodriguez. Now the duo are set to throw all sorts of other things in a Saudi Street Fight at Night of Champions. Advertisement I've been calling for a decent Ripley singles feud for a while now, so let's hope this one lives up to expectations. 3. Mercedes Moné (Prev: 4) Is this the year that Mercedes Mone delivers on her astronomical salary to become the biggest name in AEW? After her dominant victory in the Owen Hart Cup, the former WWE star gets her chance to pick up the biggest prize in the AEW landscape, when she faces Toni Storm at All In. Putting the belt on her would send a big signal as to just how valuable she is considered by Tony Khan. Failing that, she can always embark on a big run in the Mexican lucha promotion CMLL, where she just became World Women's Champion (her fourth concurrent championship, if you're counting). Naomi has been one of the top stars of wrestling's 2025. (WWE via Getty Images) 2. Naomi (Prev: 10) It's our highest rating this year for Naomi, whose big heel turn has made her one of the most must-watch superstars in all of women's wrestling. Her triumph at Money in the Bank is the clearest sign yet that WWE is betting big on their returning star. Add in the extra intrigue that comes from her ongoing feud with Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair and you have to wonder if we're about to see some fireworks this SummerSlam. Advertisement This new iteration of Naomi has already warned the WWE universe to 'proceed with caution'; now it's the time for her to make good on those threats. 1. Iyo Sky (Prev: 1) Clinging to the top slot like a wrestler reaching for the Money in the Bank briefcase is Iyo Sky. After her massive win at WrestleMania, the former Joshi quickly cemented her status as a truly compelling world champion — which makes it all the more inexplicable that she's been used so sparingly on 'WWE Raw' recently. In fact, she hasn't had an actual match since mid-May. With Evolution just around the corner, you have to imagine that there's a major plan in place for 'The Genius of the Sky.' If she's going to keep clinging on that top spot, we'll need to see her in action.
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'Every part of it was miserable': Why is Ilia Topuria done cutting to 145? One retired UFC fighter understands
Ilia Topuria left his UFC featherweight title — and the division as a whole — behind when he'd finally had enough of the brutal weight cut to make 145 pounds. When UFC star Ilia Topuria first explained that he was vacating his featherweight title, not so much because of pure ambition, but because he simply didn't want to keep making the 145-pound limit, many fans couldn't understand it. To leave behind a UFC title — and the pay-per-view money that comes with it? To hope that he'd be able to win another belt at lightweight, where he challenges former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317 on Saturday? It seemed like such a gamble. And all so he could weigh 10 extra pounds. Advertisement But one person who immediately understood is retired UFC fighter Kenny Florian. He knew better than most what Topuria had been going through, because he went through it himself. 'I relate to what he's saying, definitely,' Florian told Uncrowned. 'And let me tell you, when I did it, it was miserable. Every part of it was miserable.' For most of his UFC career, Florian fought at lightweight. It felt like the natural weight class for his body, since he typically walked around somewhere in the 180-pound range. That left him with 25 pounds to lose ahead of weigh-in day, which, for the already extreme world of professional fighting, was considered manageable. Then, late in his career, Florian decided to make a change. After having his hopes for a lightweight title dashed, Florian moved down a weight class, hoping for a fresh start in the featherweight division. Advertisement 'I was purely thinking: Pay-per-view numbers,' Florian said, referring to the cut of pay-per-view revenues that UFC champions typically receive. 'If I can get pay-per-view numbers, I can suffer through it. I definitely didn't think I was going to stay [at featherweight] for years. But I thought maybe I could win the belt, be lucky enough to defend it once or twice, and call it a career.' But making 145 pounds required a cut almost identical to the one Topuria has been making. Dropping 35 pounds — about 20% of his body weight — entirely on fight week was not a realistic or wise option. Instead, Florian had to completely rework his diet and training plan weeks out from the fight. Advertisement 'It was a beast of a weight cut,' Florian said. 'Everything was around making weight and eating a specific way, when a training camp really should revolve around the preparation for your opponent. To me, everything else was secondary to just making sure I'm able to make that weight, and that's not a great headspace to be. I was never really in that headspace before. It was always about proper preparation, strategy, technique, all that stuff. Then everything was just around eating no more than 1,500 calories a day, training three times a day, six days a week. So it was awful. There's weight cuts, and then there's lifestyle changes. This was a significant lifestyle change. It's not like I wasn't eating clean before and training year-round. I was. But this was a caloric restriction that was not healthy.' Florian's featherweight debut came against Diego Nunes at UFC 131. Those of us in attendance saw Florian get physically carried out of the host hotel, wrapped in sweats with a towel tucked into the hood, and placed into a van headed to the pre-fight weigh-in. He hit the mark on the scale, then won the fight via unanimous decision the next night. But it all came at a cost. 'It was a whole different type of stress,' Florian said. 'I was dragging ass going from [training] session to [training] session, as opposed to having full energy in those sessions. And that leads to mental stress, physical stress, spiritual stress. Just week after week after week where you can easily start to kind of doubt yourself. Like, how am I going to be on fight night? And that's the other thing, it was always the stress of not knowing how your body is going to perform after all that.' There were also long-term physical costs. Though Florian only fought twice at featherweight — once against Nunes, then an unsuccessful title shot against then-champion Jose Aldo — he believes the lifestyle changes required to make the drop in weight had lasting effects. Advertisement 'I'm on thyroid medication right now because of those cuts to 145 [pounds],' Florian said. 'It's not a major deal, but I probably wouldn't be on thyroid medication if I didn't have to do those cuts. And who knows what else it can do to you. Dehydrating and depleting your body and your brain is one thing, but doing it and then getting hit in the head after is quite another.' Kenny Florian's cuts to 145 pounds were far from ideal. (Josh Hedges via Getty Images) After announcing his decision to go up in weight, Topuria referenced many of these same concerns. He's also opened up in interviews about the diminished quality of life that comes with keeping his body so close to its lowest possible threshold. 'I think not a lot of people understand how hard is the weight cut,' Topuria told Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani on Monday. 'When you get tired of the weight cut, there's no name in the world that motivates you to fight. There's no money in the world. You just want to take care of your health. It's the reason why I switched the weight class.' Advertisement Topuria said that, prior to vacating the title, he met with UFC executives and explained his decision to them. It wasn't that he felt he needed a title in a second UFC division, he said. It was only about health and longevity, as well as his mental well-being. 'It makes me at some point hate the sport,' Topuria said. 'When you cut the weight, you're like, 'This is the last time I'm fighting. This is the last time I'm cutting the weight.' And in reality, I love the sport. I love my job. I love what I'm doing. So I had to make some changes.' How those changes will impact his performance remain to be seen. Topuria was unstoppable at featherweight, dethroning two longtime former champions in one calendar year, with both wins coming by knockout, becoming Uncrowned's 2024 Fighter of the Year in the process. He's never lost as a professional in that division. But at lightweight he faces larger opponents like Oliveira, and it's not yet clear how his size and power and range as a striker will be impacted by the move. What is already clear, however, is that the move has made him happier and healthier headed into fight week. Advertisement 'Dramatically different,' Topuria said of his experience so far. 'Right now I feel good, I feel happy. I'm able to keep eating, keep drinking. I didn't have to kill myself to get to this point.' As for Florian, he said he understands entirely what Topuria went through and why he felt he needed to make the change. And while he said he wouldn't be surprised if the former featherweight champ struggles early on in Saturday's main event to adjust to the size and reach of Oliveira, he still expects Topuria to find success in his new weight class. 'It's going to be interesting, just because Ilia is going against a pretty large lightweight — and former featherweight — in Charles Oliveira,' Florian said. 'But I've said this many times, that I think that [Topuria] is probably the most skilled mixed martial arts on the planet right now. "He definitely wouldn't be one of the largest lightweight champs we've ever seen. But I think he could be well-poised to hold onto that lightweight belt for a long time.'
