WWE Night Of Champions 2026 GRADED - Results, Review

WWE returned to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, June 27 as Night of Champions emanated from Riyadh. In addition to the King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring finals, the main question was would Sami Zayn, at the 10th time of asking, finally become a world champion in WWE.

WWE Night of Champions 2026 GRADED:

Oba Femi def. Jey Uso - King of the Ring Final

After the opening ‘let’s look at all the WWE wrestlers’ and several minutes for the entrances, it was time for the opening contest as Jey Uso went one-on-one with Oba Femi in the final of the King of the Ring tournament. 

Oba Femi spent the opening moments no-selling for Jey Uso before he levelled the Bloodline member with a shoulder tackle. Uso managed to fight back with multiple Suicide Dives but he jumped straight into a forearm on another attempt and Femi proceeded to work over Uso back in the squared circle. Femi set up for a Chokeslam but Uso escaped, and he then escaped a Fall From Grace and connected with an Uso Splash. Femi kicked out at one and proceed to hit a Chokeslam. 

Femi was unable to capitalise as Uso hit more Superkicks and multiple Spears before he hit a second Uso Splash. A third Uso Splash followed for Oba Femi to kick out at two. Uso applied the Sleeper, which failed, as did further Superkicks as Femi connected with a Running European Uppercut and followed up with a Fall from Grace for the 1-2-3. 

Grade: C+ - The right result as Oba Femi became King of the Ring by defeating Jey Uso, but the match itself was incredibly by-the-numbers, filled with Jey Uso superkicks, among a limited number of other moves.  

IYO SKY def. Liv Morgan - Queen of the Ring Final

Ahead of the next contest, Danhausen explained how much he has enjoyed being in Saudi Arabia so far but Liv Morgan interrupted him and threatened Danhausen. Taking umbrage with such conduct, Danhausen cursed her.

Both talents felt each other out in the early going, with IYO SKY hitting the first big move of the match with a fan-assisted Crossbody from the barricade to the floor, before she took some time to high five children. That high-fiving led to disaster as Liv Morgan sent SKY crashing into the ring post. 

This led to Liv Morgan dominance for the next several minutes as Michael Cole on commentary continued to sound like he was speaking through an official Xbox 360 headset that came with the console. IYO eventually managed to fight back, connecting with a Missile Dropkick, before telling everyone she’s crazy with her familiar taunt. A near fall followed after the Bullet Train Knees in the corner. 

Morgan managed to fight back with a Backstabber, prompting boos from the Saudi crowd, but she ran straight into a right hand on a Suicide Dive, which led to an Asai Moonsault from SKY. A Double Underhook Backbreaker followed in the ring for another near fall from IYO. SKY then looked to go for a Moonsault but Morgan pushed SKY onto the ring steps, with IYO suffering a storyline leg injury. 

This put Liv Morgan back on top with the added combination of limb work as the Women’s World Champion applied a Half Crab. SKY tried to fight back but she just crumbled to the mat and Morgan hit a Codebreaker. The champion thought that was it but SKY kicked out at two. 

Morgan then whiffed on Oblivion and SKY tried to capitalise with a Leg Drop but she missed and hurt the leg some more. It didn’t bother SKY that much, though, as she connected with a Spanish Fly from the top rope followed by the Moonsault for the win. 

After the match, IYO SKY announced she would challenge Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship at SummerSlam. 

Grade: B- - The Queen of the Ring final was better than the opening contest but it was still a match that barely got out of second gear. Again, though, WWE went with the right winner. 

Seth Rollins def. Bron Breakker - Steel Cage Match

Seth Rollins was the first wrestler to make his entrance and he filled the ring with steel chairs, kendo sticks, and a table. Bron Breakker just laughed at Rollins after making his own entrance and introduced some more kendo sticks and steel chairs to the mix. 

The two men had a sit down before they charged at each other, with Bron Breakker quickly gaining the upper hand with German Suplexes before he bounced Rollins off the cage on multiple occasions. Breakker then followed up with some kendo stick shots before bouncing Rollins’ skull off the cage once again. Seth managed to fight back after Breakker went for a Frankensteiner but jumped straight into a Powerbomb. 

Rollins managed to fight back and spent some of his own time bouncing Breakker’s face off the cage. Breakker went for a Spear but Rollins blocked and it and proceeded to just throw chairs at Breakker’s head before he poorly buried his former stablemate under a pile of chairs. The pile was so little of an obstacle that Breakker just stood up and the action went to the top rope, with Breakker connecting with a Frankensteiner, sending Rollins flying onto the chairs for a near fall. 

Breakker followed up with a Springboard Clothesline while Rollins was seated on a chair. Breakker then placed Rollins’ head between a chair and told Seth he was now going to die. Breakker tried to hit Rollins with a chair but he swung after Rollins had already removed his head. Seth followed up with a chair-assisted Superkick and he went for a Stomp but ran straight into a Spear, but it was only enough for two from The Vision member. 

Breakker next placed Rollins across the table and he reached the top of the cage, at which point Rollins suddenly recovered and both men brawled while sitting at the top. What followed was a Superplex from Rollins while Breakker was dangling over the top of the cage. The impact left Rollins with a cut to the back and Breakker bleeding from next to his eye. 

Breakker managed to fight back and hit a Torpedo Spear, but it was only enough for two. Breakker then tried to escape through the door and he was almost out when Rollins just about pulled Bron back into the ring and applied a Sleeper. Breakker used the cage door to break the hold and he tried to follow up with a Spear but he missed and crashed and burned through a table. Rollins then followed up with a Pedigree and a Stomp but Breakker kicked out. 

Rollins went for another Stomp but he stopped after Breakker begged off. Bron tried to get to his feet and fight back but Rollins hit a Stomp from the middle rope for the win. Rollins wins his feud against Bron Breakker. 

Grade: A- - A match that was great fun as both men worked hard in the Steel Cage match to produce probably the best WWE pay-per-view bout since CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42. The only negative was Bron Breakker just can’t get any winning momentum. For a man who was originally scheduled to win the Royal Rumble and then challenge for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania, it felt like him winning this feud would have done for him than Seth Rollins.

Trick Williams (c) def. Ricky Saints - WWE United States Championship

Ricky Saints attacked Trick Williams before the bell but his attack failed Williams fired back with a Jumping Lariat while still wearing his coat. Saints looked to regroup and went to the outside, grabbed Lil Yachty’s kendo stick, smacked it off the steel steps, then collapsed to the floor à la Eddie Guerrero. The referee, who didn’t see what was going on, assumed Yachty had interfered, like he has done in Trick Williams’ other United States Title defences, and decided to eject him, sending him to the back.

The lying, cheating and stealing allowed Ricky Saints to control the action, including with an Old School to the United States Champion, before a Back Drop and his signature pose as the former Ricky Starks enjoyed himself. Williams eventually managed to fight back and he connected with a Book End for a near fall. 

Ricky Saints managed to get back into the match when Williams missed on a Big Boot and he connected with a Sister Abigail for a two count. Later, Williams missed on a Trick Shot and ate a Tornado DDT and Flying Elbow but Trick kicked out again. Saints became frustrated despite having not yet connected with his finishing move. 

Saints countered a Book End and Williams countered another Tornado DDT, following up with the Trick Shot for the victory. After the match, Saints looked set to attack Williams but Lil Yachty made the save and added insult to injury with a People’s Elbow. 

Grade: C+ - A decent enough match in which Ricky Saints worked hard, while Trick Williams was able to continue his United States Championship reign. Honestly, this match would have received a higher grade if not for the post-match shenanigans that made Saints look like a complete chump.

Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Jade Cargill - WWE Women's United States Championship

The first WWE Women’s United States Title match to take place on pay-per-view, Jade Cargill dominated the early going and mocked Tiffany Stratton by wasting time doing push ups inside the squared circle, with the challenger following up with a Black Hole Slam for a near fall. Cargill hit a Sandstorm soon after but Stratton kicked out and then avoided Jaded. The two women then botched a Crucifix Pin, but at least they managed to transition into a cover. 

Stratton was about to go for a Best Moonsault Ever but Cargill’s minions arrived as B-Fab distracted the referee and Michin pushed Stratton off the top turnbuckle. Chelsea Green then emerged from under the ring but became distracted by the Women’s United States Title which ended up in the ring. Cargill dragged Chelsea Green into the ring but the referee stopped the challenger from attacking her. 

Jade then looked to grab the title belt but it was pulled away by Charlotte Flair, who proceeded to deck Cargill with the championship. Stratton took advantage with the Best Moonsault Ever for the win. 

Grade: C- - Complete filler. This match couldn’t escape the feeling that it should have just taken place on SmackDown, particularly with how short it was and the fact it was mainly there to set up a future match between Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill. 

Sami Zayn def. Cody Rhodes & Gunther - Triple Threat for the Undisputed WWE Championship

Main event time and it was Sami Zayn’s 10th time challenging for a world title in WWE. This time, he would win the big one. 

The action got underway with Gunther in control, working over Cody Rhodes, while often brushing away Sami Zayn and sending him to the outside. Cody managed to fight back with a Cody Cutter to Gunther and a Side Effect of all moves to Sami Zayn. Cody then hit a double Cody Cutter to both of his challengers and followed up with a Suicide Dive to Gunther. 

Cody went for Cross Rhodes but Gunther escaped and hit a Powerbomb, with the pin being broken up by Sami Zayn. Rhodes channelled his best inner Dusty but Zayn countered the Bionic Elbow into a Blue Thunder Bomb, but only for a near fall. Soon after, Cody hit Cross Rhodes to Gunther, and Sami Zayn pulled the referee out of the ring. This left Zayn and Rhodes to brawl and Zayn hit a Brainbuster but Gunther broke up the pin with a Splash and followed up with a Powerbomb to Zayn and then a Powerbomb to Cody onto Sami. Gunther then went for another Powerbomb but Zayn flipped through into a Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a near fall in a fun sequence. 

Gunther got his leg caught up in the ropes and Zayn connected with a Helluva Kick. Sami had the match won but Cody pulled the official out of the ring. The two talents then brawled on the announce table and Zayn was sent crashing through the table with a Back Body Drop from the Undisputed WWE Champion, knocking out Michael Cole’s commentary, which had been suspect all night. 

In an ‘I Am The Table’ moment, Gunther Powerbombed Cody onto the Arabic announce table but it didn’t break. It did break for the second Powerbomb, though, and Gunther applied a Sleeper to Rhodes back in the squared circle. Cody managed to get back to his feet and break free, but Gunther just reapplied the submission. The champion faded and his hand was about to drop for the loss but Zayn stopped it, channelling the main event of WrestleMania XX. 

Gunther bathed in the boos and chopped Sami Zayn over and over again, telling Zayn to stay out of his business. Sami fired back with an Exploder Suplex in the corner and he connected with a second Helluva Kick. The fans in Saudi Arabia thought that was it but Gunther kicked out at 2.9, breaking hearts in the process. 

When Gunther got back to his feet, he hit a Lariat and went for a Powerbomb to Zayn but Cody hit a huge Cody Cutter. Rhodes was about to hit another Cross Rhodes to Gunther but Zayn made the save. After a whole bunch of counters, Cody hit a Cross Rhodes to Zayn and Gunther at the same time. 

Cody looked set to win with another Cross Rhodes but Sami Zayn rolled through into a pin for the 1-2-3 out of nowhere. Sami Zayn ended Night of Champions as Undisputed WWE Champion! 

Grade: A - A great main event with one of the best feel-good moments that WWE have produced in years as Sami Zayn, at the 10th time of asking, became a world champion for the first time in the company. The match that led up to the winning pinfall was fantastic between three of WWE’s best wrestlers and built on the story they had been telling over the past several weeks. 

Show Grade: B - WWE Night of Champions was heading towards a complete middling grade after the first five matches, but it’s amazing how much a main event can turn a pay-per-view around. Sami Zayn’s feel-good Undisputed WWE Title win will be used in highlight packages for years to come and it came after a really good match. Beyond the main event, the best match on the show was the Steel Cage Match that was very good, even if it had the wrong winner in Seth Rollins. Everything else on the show match-wise won’t linger long in the memory and the two mid-card title matches very much felt like filler. The King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring finals at least had the right winners, though.