WWE Night of Champions Live Coverage - June 28th, 2025

**Kemo** · 06-27-2025, 08:04 PM

John Cena to battle CM Punk one last time

Date:
Saturday June 28th, 2025 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

Location:
Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Available on:
Peacock, Netflix (outside of the U.S.)

Card

Undisputed WWE Championship Match
John Cena vs. CM Punk

King of the Ring Final
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Queen of the Ring Final
Jade Cargill vs. Asuka

United States Championship Match
Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa

Street Fight
Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

– The "Countdown to WWE Night of Champions" is now officially underway. Michael Cole welcomes us inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, as the official pre-show leading into today's premium live event gets started.

– Serving as the pre-show panel for the "Countdown" special is Cole, Wade Barrett and Jackie Redmond. The three run down the advertised lineup and then introduce the special Saudi Arabia broadcast correspondent. We then check in with Byron Saxton and others in different parts of the building.

– We see a number of video packages and hear the pre-show panel trio share their thoughts on various matches scheduled for today's show. Rhea Ripley is interviewed in a special piece where she talks about her long history of friendship with Raquel Rodriguez turning sour and leading to their Street Fight tonight.

– Also speaking live is Karrion Kross, with Scarlett by his side as always. Kross talks about being disrespected and undervalued, pointing to his big crowd reactions as proof. He vows victory over Sami Zayn at the show today, and ends by going on a rant, stopping himself and saying, "I better end there before I go viral again."

– After a quick break, we return to the panel, where Michael Cole and Wade Barrett have left to get ready to call the premium live event starting in a few minutes. Handling the rest of the pre-show duties on the panel are Jackie Redmond and Byron Saxton.

– A video package airs showing the historic King of the Ring victory and Austin 3:16 post-match speech by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to promote Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton in this year's King of the Ring finals. A Wade Barrett-narrated video package then airs to promote the Queen of the Ring finals between Jade Cargill and Asuka.

– Redmond and Saxton give their final analysis and predictions for the matches scheduled for today's show. As they continue wrapping up the final moments of the "Countdown" pre-show, we see and hear Michael Cole and Wade Barrett making their entrances to settle in at the commentary desk.

– Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet audiences at home as Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. Cody Rhodes follows.

WWE King Of The Ring 2025 Finals: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes

The bell rings and the two lock up. Rhodes clocks Orton and connects with a bulldog on him, then goes for a pin but Orton kicks out. Orton responds with a superplex to Rhodes off the ropes, but Rhodes levels him with a Disaster Kick and goes for another pin. Orton kicks out, then sends Rhodes bouncing off the top of his thigh. Rhodes uses the ring post to wear down Orton's spine and wrenches back on him, but Orton runs over Rhodes with a pair of clotheslines and a scoop powerslam.

Rhodes lands a right hand on Orton's spine and delivers a springboard neckbreaker to him, then follows it up with Cody Cutter out of the corner. Orton connects with a hanging DDT to Rhodes and sets up for an RKO, but Rhodes counters into a Cross-Rhodes and goes for a pin. Orton kicks out.

Orton connects with an RKO on Rhodes and goes for a pin, but Rhodes kicks out. Rhodes cinches in a Figure Four Leg Lock on Orton, but Orton reverses into a Figure Eight Leg Lock. Rhodes briefly turns it around back into a Figure Four Leg Lock, but Orton grabs the bottom rope to break the hold.

Orton and Rhodes fire off right hands on one another, but Rhodes sets up for a Disaster Kick on Orton. Orton counters into a RKO and goes for a pin, but Rhodes kicks out once again. Orton grabs a chair from the timekeeper's area and brings it into the ring, but the referee grabs it from him. As the referee disposes of it, Orton exposes the top turnbuckle. He looks to send Rhodes crashing into it face first, but Rhodes blocks Orton and sends him crashing into it armpit first. He follows it up with Cross-Rhodes for the win.

Winner and WWE King of the Ring: Cody Rhodes

– After the match, a furious Orton heads up the entrance ramp as "Raw" General Manager Adam Pearce and "SmackDown" General Manager Nick Aldis present Rhodes with the King Of The RIng crowd. Byron Saxton then catches up with Rhodes for a few words about his win.

– Raquel Rodriguez then makes her way to the ring. Rhea Ripley follows.

Saudi Arabian Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez

The bell rings and the two lock up. Rodriguez delivers a knee to Ripley's midsection and looks to land a Fallaway Slam on her, but Ripley sends Rodriguez's head bouncing off her knee and looks to land a clothesline on her. Rodriguez stays standing on her feet and levels Ripley with a clothesline, then connects with two more Fallaway Slams and fires off shoulders on her midsection in the corner.

Rodriguez lands a splash on Ripley in the corner, then ties her up on the ropes and lands an overhand chop on her. She grabs a chair and a kendo stick from under the ring, then hits her with both the kendo stick and the chair. Ripley untangles herself and dropkicks Rodriguez out of the ring, then sets up the Night Of Champions logo from the announce desk in the barricades near the timekeeper's area and clears the Arabic announce desk. She drags Rodriguez on top of it, then knocks her off of it and sets up for a hurricanrana. Rodriguez catches Ripley and powerbombs her through the Night Of Champions logo that Ripley had set up in the timekeeper's area.

Rodriguez sets up a table in the corner of the ring, then sends Ripley's face bouncing off the announce desk and the ring apron. She removes one of the ring steps and sets it up on its side on top of the ring apron, but Ripley sends Rodriguez crashing into it face first and removes the belt from her waist. She lashes Rodriguez with the belt and continues to do so as the pair return to the ring.

Ripley cinches in a Texas Cloverleaf on Rodriguez, but Roxanne Perez breaks the hold by clocking Ripley from behind. She wears Ripley down with a front face lock on the outside, but Ripley counters into a suplex on the floor and grabs a garbage can from under the ring. She places it on Perez's head and connects with a running knee on her, but Rodriguez scoops up Ripley and sends her crashing into the ring post face first. She then sends her crashing into the ring steps on the apron face first and delivers a corkscrew elbow to Ripley out of the corner, then goes for a pin but Ripley kicks out.

Rodriguez looks to send Ripley crashing through the table in the corner, but Ripley counters into a hurricanrana. Rodriguez stops her own momentum and runs over Ripley, then moves the table to set it up between the top turnbuckle. Ripley sends Rodriguez crashing into the side of the table face first, then sends her face repeatedly bouncing off the top of the table and drags her on top of it. She then lands Rip Tide on Rodriguez off the top of the table for the win.

Winner: Rhea Ripley

– Karrion Kross and Scarlett then make their way to the ring. Sami Zayn follows.

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett)

We see a WWE Evolution 2025 promotional trailer for the returning all-women's premium live event scheduled for July 13 in Atlanta, GA. Once it wraps up, we see the events that led to our next match of the evening, as it's time for Karrion Kross vs. Sami Zayn.

"Fall and pray!" plays as Kross and Scarlett make their entrance. He settles in the ring and his music dies down. Sami Zayn's theme hits and the adopted hometown favorite in Saudi Arabia comes out wearing Saudi-garb like the last time he wrestled for WWE in "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

Zayn gets a huge reaction coming out, and looks pumped up and ready to go. Kross has an evil smirk on his face the entire time he watches Zayn make his way to and eventually settle inside the ring. Zayn's music fades down and the bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running. They lock up, and Kross backs him to the corner.

Zayn turns him around and backs up. They lock up again, and Kross backs him to the corner. Zayn shoves Kross back, and Kross looks impressed. Kross has been waiting for Zayn to get more aggressive for weeks. Kross knees Zayn in the midsection and punches him down before laying in some stomps.

Zayn ducks a clothesline and chops the chest. Zayn lays in some forearms before backing up. Zayn whips Kross into the ropes, but Kross holds on to avoid him. Zayn charges and clotheslines him over the top rope. Zayn then feigns a dive when Kross backs away. Scarlett whispers some instructions to Kross.

Kross pulls Zayn out of the ring and stuns him with a forearm to the head. Kross sends him into the barricade, but Zayn counters by leaping onto the barricade and hitting a moonsault block. Zayn gets Kross in the ring. Kross stuns Zayn with a Doomsday Saito. Kross hooks the head with his boots and twists the neck.

Kross backs Zayn into the ropes and forearms him a few times. Kross sends him into the ropes for a back elbow. Scarlett likes what she sees from ringside. Kross takes some time to gloat before covering for a one-count. Kross chokes Zayn on the middle rope. The referee backs Kross away. Scarlett taunts Zayn.

Kross puts Zayn on the top rope and climbs, but Zayn elbows him off. Kross quickly elbows him and gets him in the tree of woe. Kross attacks Zayn in the tree of woe before saying, “I hate you, Sami, you liar!” Zayn drops down, and Kross covers for a one-count. Kross punches away at Zayn and looks around.

Kross sits on Zayn and punches him before laughing. Zayn fights back to get out of it. Kross quickly knees him in the midsection and sends him into the ropes. Zayn springboards over him and clotheslines him down. Zayn punches and chops Kross in the corner.

We see Kross look for the Kross-Jacket, but can't finish things off. Zayn survives. Kross gets Zayn in the corner of the ring and yells at him some more about "the truth." Zayn snaps to and comes to life out of nowhere, running Kross into the opposing corner and blasting him with a Helluva Kick for the win.

Winner: Sami Zayn

– Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo then make their way to the ring. Jacob Fatu follows.

WWE United States Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa

– A commercial airs to promote WWE Survivor Series from Petco Park in San Diego, CA. on November 29. After that, we see the pre-match video package that shows the events leading up to our next match of the evening, which features the WWE United States Championship on the line.

The pre-match package wraps up, and we return inside the Kingdom Arena, where we hear the familiar sounds of Solo Sikoa's entrance tune. Out comes the former "Tribal Chief" of The New Bloodline to the ring. His opponent, former ally turned enemy, reigning WWE United States Champion Jacob Fatu makes his way out.

"The Samoan Werewolf" settles inside the squared circle and his music dies down. The referee holds the U.S. title up in the air in the middle of the ring as Fatu and Sikoa stare each other down. The bell sounds and our first of two championship contests scheduled for tonight's show gets officially off-and-running.

Sikoa clocks Fatu. Fatu beats down Sikoa in the corner and fires off stomps on him, then yells at him and connects with a running senton. He looks to land a suicida dive on Sikoa on the outside, but Sikoa catches him with a right hand. He lands a Spinning Solo on him on the ring apron, then delivers a second one to him on the floor and fires off a right hand and stomps on him back inside the ring.

Sikoa lands a Hip Attack on Fatu in the corner, then wears him down with a submission and connects with a German suplex. Fatu quickly recovers and delivers a German suplex to Sikoa,then follows it up with a Hip Attack and an Impaler. He ascends to the top rope and lands a Swanton Bomb on Fatu, then goes for a pin but Sikoa kicks out.

JC Mateo runs down to the ring to distract the referee as Fatu ascends to the top rope. A hooded figure pushes Fatu off the top rope, revealing himself to be Tonga Loa. Sikoa then goes for a pin, but Fatu kicks out. Fatu flies over the top rope to level Mateo and Loa on the outside, then lands a Hip Attack on Mateo in the corner and follows it up with his signature moonsault off the top rope. He goes for a pin, but Hikuleo breaks the fall by pulling Fatu out of the ring. He sends Fatu crashing on top of the announce desk with a chokeslam, and Sikoa connects with a Samoan Spike on Fatu back inside the ring for the win.

Winner and NEW WWE United States Champion: Solo Sikoa

– Asuka then makes her way to the ring. Jade Cargill follows.

WWE Queen Of The Ring 2025 Finals: Jade Cargill vs. Asuka

It's time to find out who is going to be the 2025 WWE Queen of the Ring, as the finals of the annual tournament is up next, with Jade Cargill going one-on-one against "The Empress of Tomorrow" Asuka. The pre-match video package airs to set the stage for this high stakes showdown.

Asuka goes to pick the leg. Cargill won’t go down. Cargill tries to elbow her, but Asuka ducks it and backs up, taunting her. Asuka grabs the arm, but Cargill pushes her off. Asuka goes for an octopus stretch, but Cargill fights out and slams her down for a one-count. Asuka goes to the apron and blocks a kick before hitting a weak-looking dragon screw on the ropes.

Asuka attacks the knee and hits a running kick for a one-count. Asuka lays in some kicks to the chest. Cargill blocks a kick and goes for a chokeslam, but Asuka counters into a roll-up before transitioning to a knee bar. Cargill manages to roll through and deadlifts her into a German Suplex. Cargill sends Asuka into the ropes and hits a spinning spinebuster.

Cargill avalanches her in the corner and connects with a fallaway slam. Cargill kips up, and her knee is magically fine. Cargill superkicks Asuka and goozles her for a chokeslam for a two-count. Asuka kicks out. Asuka fights out of Jaded and kicks her in the face. Cargill fights back, and they start exchanging right hands.

Asuka wipes her out with a strike combo before going to the top rope for a missile dropkick for a two-count. Asuka grabs the arm and sets up for an Asuka Lock. Cargill fights out and goes for Jaded, but Asuka counters into a roll-up for a two-count. Cargill quickly blocks a kick and hits a sit-out powerbomb for a two-count.

Asuka quickly takes her down and applies a cross armbreaker. Cargill manages to fight out and hits a pump kick. Asuka gets out of Jaded and applies an Asuka Lock. Cargill rolls through and pins Asuka for a two-count. Asuka kicks her in the head twice before sizing her up. Asuka hits the ropes for an Empress Impact, but Cargill counters into Jaded for the win.

Cargill fell over as she tried to sit on Asuka for the pin. Asuka’s shoulder may have come up, but they’re ignoring it. Jade Cargill has become the third Queen of the Ring in WWE history. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis and Raw General Manager Adam Pearce are in the ring to present her with the Queen of the Ring crown.

Byron Saxton says Jade Cargill is heading to SummerSlam in a match for the WWE Women’s Championship. Cargill says the world was on her shoulders when she entered the tournament. For the people out there who doubt themselves, praise yourself because you’re fighting through the boos. "A storm is coming for SummerSlam," Cargill says to end the interview.

Winner and WWE Queen of the Ring: Jade Cargill

– After the match, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis present Cargill with the Queen Of The Ring crown. Cargill then shares a few words with Byron Saxton about her win.

– A commercial airs for WWE Saturday Night's Main Event next month in Atlanta, GA., with Bill Goldberg vs. GUNTHER for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event. After that, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are shown on camera to run down the lineup for next week's WWE Raw.

– CM Punk then makes his way to the ring. John Cena follows.

Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk

Punk settles inside the ring and drops down in his trademark cross-legged seated position in the middle of the ring. His music dies down and he awaits the arrival of his opposition. The equally iconic sounds of John Cena's "My Time Is Now" entrance tune hits. Fans sing "John Cena sucks!" loudly to the tune of Cena's song. Mark Nash re-introductions Cena properly.

The bell sounds and we're officially off-and-running with the reignition of what Michael Cole calls one of the best rivalries in the history of WWE. They lock up and Cena with a side head lock. Punk with a top wrist lock. Cena gets to the ropes to force a break. They lock up and Punk with a side head lock. Cena escapes. They go for a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock and Punk with a side head lock take down. Cena with a head scissors. Punk escapes.

Cena and Punk lock up again, and this time it is Punk with a side head lock. Cena with a break. Cena with a wrist lock and a side head lock. Cena with a shoulder tackle. Cena with punches and a head butt. Cena punches Punk in the ropes. Cena with a suplex for a two-count.

Cena fights back and slaps a reverse chin-lock on Punk. Back up, Cena blasts Punk with a shoulder-tackle that sends him crashing into the mat with authority. Punk gets Cena on his shoulders but Cena escapes and goes to the floor. Punk reclines on the turnbuckles while he waits for Cena to re-enter the ring.

Punk blocks a kick and Punk with punches and kicks. Cena gets Punk on his shoulders and Punk with a rollup for a near fall. Punk with a punch. Punk with a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Punk with an arm bar. Punk wrings the arm and he applies an octopus. Cena escapes and he takes Punk to the mat for another two-count.

Punk lifts him for a Go To Sleep, but Cena slides off and quickly gets out of the ring. Punk lies across the top rope and signals that he isn’t sweating Cena. Cena gets in the ring. Punk blocks a kick and kicks away at Cena. Cena manages to power him up for an Attitude Adjustment, but Punk slides off and rolls him up for a two-count.

Punk then connects with a clothesline. Punk hits a side leg sweep for a two-count. Punk twists the arm and wrenches it. Punk applies an octopus stretch, but Cena fights out and slams him for a one-count. Cena has slowed the pace down. Punk slowly gets up, so Cena gives him a big boot.

Cena starts up the 5 Moves of Doom: a pair of shoulder tackles, a back suplex powerbomb, and the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Cena goes for the fifth move, the Attitude Adjustment, but Punk slides off and hits a jumping calf kick. Punk hits a swinging neckbreaker, followed by a high knee in the corner.

Punk follows up with a short-arm clothesline before heading to the top rope. Punk points to the heavens and hits a Macho Man Flying Elbow. Punk signals that it’s bedtime. Cena counters the GTS and picks the leg for the STF! Punk manages to fight out and applies an Anaconda Vice. Cena manages to turn him over for a one-count.

Cena immediately hits the AA! 1… 2… Punk kicks out. Cena gets to his feet and lifts Punk, but Punk slides off and hits a DDT. Punk applies the STF to Cena, but Cena manages to get his right hand on the bottom rope to break the hold. Punk holds it on for another few seconds and releases before being disqualified. Cena leans in the corner.

Punk hits a running knee in the corner. Cena blocks a running bulldog and hits a back suplex powerbomb. Cena signals for the 5 Knuckle Shuffle again, but Punk kicks him in the head. Punk lifts Cena, but Cena slides off. Punk goes for a swinging neck-breaker, but Cena counters with an AA for an incredibly close two-count.

We hear the crowd chanting, “This is awesome.” Cena puts Punk on the top rope. Cena stands on the second rope for an avalanche AA, but Punk knocks him off. Punk goes for a diving cross-body block, but Cena rolls through, powers him up, and hits the AA for another close nearfall.

Cena cannot believe it. Cena gets out of the ring and looks at the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cena grabs it and gets in the ring. Cena looks at Punk and he tosses the belt to the floor. Cena goes for an Attitude Adjustment but Punk escapes and hits a GTS for a near fall. Punk and Cena exchange punches and Cena with a kick.

Cena with a flying shoulder tackle and he misses the second one when Punk ducks and the referee goes down. Punk with a GTS but since the referee is down, there is no reason to kick out. Punk waves to the back for a referee and then Seth Rollins' music plays and he makes his way to the ring with his crew.

Seth hands his glasses to Paul and he takes off his jacket. Seth makes a fist with his hand and Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed go after Punk. Punk fights off Bron and Reed and sends them to the floor. Punk with a pescado onto Bron and Reed but Reed punches Punk.

Reed and Bron with a double choke slam through the announce table. Seth stands in the ring and he waves for a referee but John Cena punches Charles Robinson as he approaches the ring. Cena and Seth have words. Seth misses Cena with the briefcase and Cena with an Attitude Adjustment on Rollins.

Reed and Bron attack Cena and punch him. Penta's music plays and he makes his way to the ring and Bron goes after him while Reed continues his attack on Cena. Penta with a super kick to Bron but Bron with a back drop on the ramp. Sami Zayn's music plays and the fans explode.

Zayn comes down and punches Bron and they fight toward the back. Penta with a cross body off the ramp onto Bron while Sami holds him. Punk pushes Reed off the turnbuckles when he goes for a Tsunami on Cena. Cena with an Attitude Adjustment to Reed.

Cena and Punk remain in the ring while everyone else is napping at ringside or by the stage. Punk offers his hand to Cena and they hug. Cena with the Elimination Chamber stare and he goes for the kick to the midsection. Punk goes for GTS and Seth hits Punk with the briefcase and hits the Stomp. Cena makes the cover and the referee springs to life to make the count. Cena retains. That's how WWE Night Of Champions wraps up. Thanks for joining us!

Winner and STILL Undisputed WWE Champion: John Cena