Main Event: John Cena vs CM Punk for Undisputed WWE Championship
The biggest story coming out of Night of Champions 2025 was the highly anticipated main event between John Cena and CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship. WWE returned to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saturday afternoon for its Night of Champions premium live event, headlined by Undisputed WWE champion John Cena defending against CM Punk in the final chapter of their epic rivalry.
This match represented a significant role reversal from their classic encounters between 2011-2013, with Cena now occupying the heel role while Punk played the babyface. The storyline centered around Cena wanting to retire at the end of 2025 while still holding the championship, adding emotional stakes to their legendary rivalry.
King and Queen of the Ring Tournament Finals
WWE Night of Champions 2025 kicked off with the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament. The high-profile event witnessed Cody Rhodes clashing with Randy Orton for the crown. In a surprising turn of events, Cody Rhodes beat Randy Orton in the 2025 King of the Ring final by using heel tactics to earn a shot at the WWE Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam.
The Queen of the Ring final featured Jade Cargill versus Asuka, with the winner earning a shot at either the WWE Women’s Championship or WWE Women’s World Championship at SummerSlam. This tournament final was particularly significant for Cargill, who has been seeking her first major championship opportunity during her nearly two years with WWE.
Championship Matches and Notable Contests
There are six matches on the card, with two titles up for grabs, two tournament finals, and much more booked for the premium live event. The WWE United States Championship was defended by Jacob Fatu against Solo Sikoa, stemming from their bitter rivalry that began when Fatu turned on Sikoa at Money in the Bank on June 7.
At WWE Night of Champions 2025, Karrion Kross finally got his chance in the spotlight, but thanks to Sami Zayn, it didn’t go quite as planned. A late addition to the Night of Champions card, Kross vs. Zayn ended exactly how most WWE fans expected: with Zayn standing tall. This match replaced the originally scheduled WWE Intercontinental Championship bout between Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles due to Mysterio not being medically cleared to compete.
Street Fight and Special Stipulations
The card also featured a Street Fight between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez, a stipulation chosen by WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce to settle their ongoing feud. Both women had cost each other spots in the Queen of the Ring semi-finals in recent weeks, necessitating this brutal encounter to determine a definitive winner.
Event Significance and Location
June 28 will mark the 11th time in WWE history that a Night of Champions event has taken place, the first time since 2023 that the show has been a part of the company’s calendar, and the second time that the show is taking place in Saudi Arabia. The event took place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, continuing WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia for major premium live events.
SummerSlam Implications
The results of Night of Champions 2025 have set up several major storylines for SummerSlam in August. The King of the Ring winner earned the right to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship, while the Queen of the Ring champion secured a women’s title opportunity. These tournament victories create compelling narratives heading into WWE’s biggest summer event.