Recaps
WWE ‘Night of Champions’ 2025: The Top Six Takeaways
Night of Champions from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia went off as planned on Saturday, June 28, even though there were talks about concerns of the WWE traveling to the Middle East. However, with the current Iran and Israel ceasefire, and much money and major matches on the line, it was all systems-go for the premium live event streamed on Peacock.
As in any good soap opera, the storyline potentials coming out of Night of Champions, will be ones being talked all over social media by the WWE Universe leading up to August’s SummerSlam and beyond.
First, I think it should be noted that referee Charles Robinson was the MVP of the card, getting tossed around, running sprints and always in the line of fire. Kudos to Chuck! Now below, let’s get into the top six takeaways from six matches on the card at Night of Champions.

Photo: WWE
A HEEL IS A HEEL?
The main event featured John Cena defending his WWE Undisputed Championship against longtime rival, CM Punk. Both veterans put on one of their best matches in their decades long feud. But the WWE couldn’t just leave the two to battle it out, it was time for the run-ins to begin.
HOWEVER, before that happened, Cena went outside the ring to grab his championship belt to use as a weapon on Punk, as he has done religiously to attain victory against his other opponents since his heel run began. Things almost took a turn, when the crowd in Saudi Arabia was able to talk Cena out of using it on Punk. Next, as the match continued, Cena accidentally knocked the referee out of the ring and onto the floor.

Photo: WWE
As Punk had the match won with a Go To Sleep, the referee was still out, so there was no one to make the count. Cue Mr. “Money in the Bank” Seth Rollins. Along with his faction and Paul Heyman by his side, he came down the ring ramp faced with an interesting decision. Go after his arch-enemy Punk and cost him to lose the match, or try to cash-in on Cena and win the belt.
Next, the aforementioned Charles Robinson comes down the ramp, only for him to be annihilated by Cena as he goes flying. Now inside the ring, it looked like Cena and Punk came together for one sweet moment to fend off Rollins and his sidekicks, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. We also had run-ins from Penta and Sami Zayn to help out Punk.

Photo: WWE
The crowd went nuts that after ridding the ring of Seth and his faction, Punk reached out his hand to Cena to shake it. And just as it appeared that Cena was seriously reconsidering his choice to end his retirement tour and go out a heel, they hug and Cena give us the heel face that started this run when he attacked Cody Rhodes. Punk was ready for his swerve, but Seth Rollins hit him in the head with the briefcase followed by his signature stomp, allowing Cena to retain the belt when the original ref “woke up” and got back into the ring for the count.

Photo: WWE
In the “Where does this go from here department?” – Do we see an eventual scenario before John Cena’s last match in December that he faces Seth Rollins, which at that point will have being the full babyface? It all depends on the SummerSlam main event which after the King of the Ring victory by Cody Rhodes, leaves fans with Cody vs. Cena – a rematch of April’s WrestleMania 41 main event.
KING CODY
The opener on the card was Cody Rhodes vs. his mentor, Randy Orton in the finals of the “King of the Ring” tournament and the chance to go to SummerSlam to wrestle for the title.

Photo: WWE
Shockingly, from the onset, the match featured a more aggressive Cody Rhodes, pummeling the injured back of Orton, bending his spine backwards on the ring post. Conversely, Orton hesitated on a Punt Kick because he was friend’s with Rhodes, which ultimately cost him during the match. However, towards the end of it, Randy was grabbing steel chairs and taking the turnbuckle cover off to expose the steel to injure Rhodes while the referee’s back was turned.

Photo: WWE
As the match came to its conclusion, Cody hit a Cross Rhodes for the win, but it was the aftermath and the great camera work by the WWE production team that set up the fact that a Randy Orton heel turn is now imminent. You could see it in his face as he went up the ring ramp, while Cody celebrated receiving the crown.

Photo: WWE
Coming out of this, look for a heel turn by Orton, who could possibly ruin Cody’s chance at winning back the championship from Cena at SummerSlam. UNLESS a double turn goes down between Cody and Cena! Confused??
BLOODLINE OUT OF THE BLUE
Jacob Fatu is one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWE right now. So, at first, you might think this outcome of having him lose the United States Championship to his cousin, Solo Sikoa, was a bad booking decision, but think again?

Photo: WWE
Fatu is so hot right now, we could see him gunning for the WWE World Championship currently held by Gunther at SummerSlam or beyond.
However, at Night of Champions, Jacob dropped the belt to Solo, with the help of the returning Tonga Loa and the debut of the giant Tala Tonga (formerly known as Hikuleo). This Samoan family dynasty has no end to it! And, it’s a good thing that with Tonga and Tala now by Solo’s side along with JC Mateo, we finally have a rejuvenated Bloodline 3.0 story.

Photo: WWE
The question is, does Fatu get into a storyline bringing back Jimmy and Jey Uso and perhaps a return by Roman Reigns to combat the bad guys, or would the WWE just leave Fatu alone and only have him primarily in singles competition? Stay tuned.
GIVE A GIRL A CHANCE
One of the best matches of the night belonged to Raquel Rodriguez and Rhea Ripley as they went at each other in a match billed as a “Riyadh Street Fight” were all weapons are fair game including: Kendo sticks, trash cans, steel steps, and a crazy move atop a wooden table atop the ring post!

Photo: WWE
The match should elevate Rodriguez, even though she lost to the Eradicator, Rhea Ripley. While she hasn’t won a lot of high-profile matches and is currently one-half of the WWE women’s tag team champs with the injured Liv Morgan, instead of putting her into a tag team with her Judgment Day team member, Roxanne Perez, maybe she could do OK in singles competition, if only given the chance! What do you say talent bookers?
A STORM IS COMING
As expected, Jade Cargill won the Women’s “Queen of the Ring” tournament and was crowned the victor following her match with Asuka. This sets up the potential of Jade going up against Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s championship at SummerSlam.

Photo: WWE
A reminder: Jade’s arch-enemy number one is Ms. “Money in the Bank” winner, Naomi. Either Naomi cashes in before SummerSlam on “Tiffy Time” and wins the belt forcing a Jade vs. Naomi match at the biggest event of the summer, OR Naomi gets the belt from Jade at SummerSlam. The wildcard in all of this is, what will the EST, Bianca Belair, have to say about all this when she returns to in-ring action following the injury to her hand?
SAMI and KARRION DESTINED TO BE TAG PARTNERS?
This was our least favorite match of the night, because the loss of Kross to Zayn, doesn’t really give Karrion, who has had little PLE time, to go anywhere. UNLESS, coming up, there is a moment where Sami needs saving and in a run-in by Kross, he actually helps Zayn and the two former rivals become a heel tag team? That would make the most sense, because this story feels incomplete coming out of Night of Champions.

Photo: WWE
Overall, this edition of Night of Champions had some exciting and buzzworthy matches with 3 out of 5 being notable. We give it a B+
Now below, check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s latest episode of its pro wrestling talk show series, What’s Up? Wrestling, where we break down the matches, and attempt to predict the future going into and out of SummerSlam.
So, what was your highlight and favorite moment from WWE Night of Champions 2025? Share your picks in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
BEYOND THE GATES: A Tornado Hits Fairmont Crest Part 1: Eva and Martin on Seriously Injured List
On the Thursday, June 11 episode of Beyond the Gates the highly-anticipated tornado struck the Fairmont Crest Country Club while Martin Richardson was holding a fundraiser with the most prominent citizens of Genoa City and the D.C./Maryland area attending.
Martin tells the guest that weather reports indicate a tornado warning, and as he tells them to exit the ballroom to safety, the twister strikes sending everyone into peril,. Richardson and Dupree and Abbott family members are calling out for each other as chaos ensues.
Here is who got stuck with who: Dani and Bill are stuck in an elevator and begin to get hot and bothered after trying to escape. Hayley is stuck in a closet with Kyle Abbott and they makeout, and then to pass the time she puts on some tunes and they dance.

Courtesy/CBS
THOSE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION
Things are much more serious for Kat and Eva who winds up in a closet but a mental wall comes crashing down upon them. As Kat rails at her sister, Eva says she doesn’t feel well and begins to spit up blood. Kat is a wreck and is trying to deal with her sister’s plight, but they are trapped.
Leslie is helping Anita with her injured ankle, while Vernon goes to try to restore some power, get walkie-talkies and do what he can for everyone inside Fairmont Crest. Nicole and Smitty hear a noise and realize Andre is buried under the rubble in the ballroom. As it turns Andre’s leg was injured when a piece of metal got stuck in it. Ted gets Andre stitched up and tells him to stay put.
The Genoa City contingent can’t locate Victor Newman or Kyle Abbott, as Jack and Diane try to help others. Meanwhile, suddenly yells out that someone is under the tree. Smitty and Nicole gasps as its Martin! He is not moving in and needs medical attention. Smitty fighting back tears asks Martin to squeeze his hand if he can hear him. But there is no response.
Abby Newman worried for the whereabouts of her father, walks away just as chandelier begins to fall from the ceiling, Diane screams out to Abby to watch out. We fade to black.
Beyond the Gates delivered as they had promised, a riveting episode and one of the best soap opera tornadoes harkening back to the days of All My Children. But what did you think of part one? Martin and Eva as the two characters currently most in trouble? What about Dani and Bill getting hot and heavy and Hayley kissin on Kyle? What was your favorite part of part 1? Let us know via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sidwell is Set Up By Lucas and Company, Cassius is in the Right Place at the Right Time
On the Wednesday, June 10 episode of General Hospital, after Sidwell (Carlo Rota) shoots Lucas (Van Hansis) three times, he is surrounded by PCPD commissioner Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna), Joe (Jonathan Bennett) and other uniformed cops. Laura (Genie Francis) and Sonny (Maurice Benard) show up and the mayor runs to Lucas as Joe checks his vitals.
Lucas comes to and reveals (as we all predicted) that he was wearing a bulletproof vest. That reveal sets Sidwell off that he was played as Dante says there is evidence enough to arrest him for attempted murder.
Sidwell though, tells Dante that he needs to arrest Laura and his father, the mobster Sonny Corinthos, for Professor Dalton’s murder, but admits he no longer has the proof because Lucas broke into his safe and stole the evidence.

Courtesy/ABC
LUCAS GETS BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS
Just then, “Nathan” (Ryan Paevey) shows up wondering what he missed. Sidwell says his lawyer will get the charges thrown out since Dante, Laura, Sonny and Lucas conspired against him. However, Dante mistakenly allows “Nathan” aka Cassius to be in charge of taking Sidwell to the PCPD and to book him.
Lucas is still uneasy. Laura wants him to go to GH to be checked out. Dante asks Laura and Sonny and Sonny about Dalton’s death, but they play dumb as if they know nothing about it, which is not lost on Dante that they are lying.
Later, none other than Joe takes Lucas to the hospital, and for the first time we see the two characters truly in a one-on-one moment together. Lucas talks about Marco and Joe waits around till the nurse comes to get Lucas to get checked out. Do you get a sense that Joe likes Lucas, or is that all in our minds?

Courtesy/ABC
SIDWELL GETS AWAY
Taking a side road, Cassius gets Sidwell out of his vehicle, and tells him he cannot protect him from an attempted murder charge, so the only thing Jenz can do is to get out of the country and disappear for good. Sidwell says he has many contingency plans in place, and also warns Cassius that he will expose him if he does not comply with what he needs him to do.
To make it look good, Sidwell asks for Cassius’ gun. In the final moments of the show, Cassius is seen with a gash on his head calling Dante, and informing him that Sidwell’s thugs jumped him and Jenz got away!

Courtesy/ABC
THE PLAN TO BLACKMAIL DREW BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
Elsewhere, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) is freaked out that Jack (Chris McKenna) is able to grab her arm and talk! Just then, Nina (Cynthia Watros) shows up. Willow learns her mother hasn’t been injecting Brennan with the paralytic drug. Jack says he can stop Sidwell and Cullum from coming after her and has evidence she can leverage against Drew.
Willow learns, that according to Brennan, Drew misappropriated federal funds and he has the proof, and if that should come to light, Drew would be sent to prison. Nina says Drew won’t risk being sent to prison again, so Willow can stop drugging him.
However, Jack has a plan. He says he’s the only one with the information on Drew. He thinks they should continue to let Cullum and Sidwell believe he’s still in a locked-in state to give him cover. Willow is told as much as she hates continuing to drug Drew, she will only need to do it 1 or 2 more times, to give Jack time to set everything in motion.
So, were you annoyed that Cassius freed Sidwell when he was caught shooting Lucas Jones? Where do you think Sidwell will go? Do you think Joe and Lucas might be potential boyfriends, and what do you think of Jack’s plan? Did Drew really misappropriate federal funds? Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, check out the scenes between, Nina, Willow and Jack.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Obrecht Learns Cassius is Her Son; Lucas is Shot By Sidwell
In a riveting and intense episode of General Hospital, the Tuesday June 9 episode brought with it a standout performance by Kathleen Gati as Dr. Liesl Obrecht, as she finally learns the truth that “Nathan” is really the twin she thought had died at child birth, Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey).
Couple that with the fact that Lucas (Van Hansis) lured Sidwell (Carlo Rota) into a massive showdown where ultimately three shots were fired and Dr. Jones went down.
But first, in the secret room at Wyndemere, Obrecht learns the true identify of Cassius as Josslyn (Eden McCoy) looks on. We also finally learn the backstory of how Cassius came to be and Obrecht had no idea she had another son. Cassius tells his mother that Nathan’s twin wasn’t stillborn. It was none other than Liesl’s evil sister Madeline (formerly played by Donna Mills) who covered it up.

Courtesy/ABC
However, Madeline handed Cassius over to Cesar Faison in exchange for leaving Liesl alone. Madeline never told Faison that Cassius was indeed a twin, and she never told Liesl that her baby survived. Sadly, when Liesl asked what happened to Nathan, it’s then Cassius reveals that his brother died when Faison shot him over 7 years ago and he has been impersonating him since arriving in Port Charles.
CASSIUS SPILLS THE TEA
But that’s not all, Liesl! Next, she learns how Cassius has been involved in Britt faking her death and that Britt has known this whole time that Cassius was alive and never told his mutter. At that point, Obrecht lost it and bitch-slapped Cassius across the face. However, it was Josslyn who came to Cassius’ defense, giving him credit where credit was due for saving her life and Britt’s.
Cassius admitted that he has been trying to protect Britt, and that the plan was for the two to get out from under Sidwell and Cullum, once Faison’s final project was completed. However, with Britt running off with Rocco, all bets are off. It’s then, Liesl realizes the reason she was kidnapped. They are forcing her to finish the cold fusion-based project. Cassius warns Liesl that if she doesn’t comply, Sidwell and Cullum will kill her. He makes a vow to his mutter that he wont let anything happen to her, because he’d die before he let her go down. At that moment, Liesl, in tears, accepted her current fate stating, ‘Then I will do what needs to be done. Because I have no intention of letting you die, my son!”

Courtesy/ABC
TENNIS ANYONE? HOW ABOUT SOME BULLETS INSTEAD?
Meanwhile, Sidwell has caught up with Lucas at the Marco Rios Tennis Center. He then confronts him for stealing the incriminating photos of Sonny and Laura from the safe at Wyndemere. Lucas admits he took them and laid into Sidwell for making Marco an accomplice to his criminal activities when Marco wanted out. So he volunteered to help Sonny and Laura get rid of the evidence Sidwell was holding over their heads.
Next, Jenz pulled out a gun and accused Lucas of killing Marco and framing Pascal to cover up his crime. Lucas spewed venom at Sidwell, telling him to look at himself, for he is to blame for his own son’s death. When Lucas shouted that Marco would want nothing to do with his father if he has lived, Sidwell shot Lucas three times in the chest and he went down.

Courtesy/ABC
WILLOW IS IN FOR A WSB SURPRISE
In yet another tense moment, Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) showed up at Turning Woods to inject Jack (Chris McKenna) with another dose of the paralytic to keep him in his “locked-in” state, only as she went to do the deed, Willow was shocked when Jack grabs her hand and begs her not to inject him. What will Willow do now that she is caught and Jack can fight back?
And, after faking out Willow, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) met up with Lucy (Lynn Herring) where they are concocting a plan to make Willow look like the guilty driver who ran Jordan (Tanisha Harper) off the road to try to make Willow looks bad in Chase’s (Josh Swickard) eyes, and to keep her away from BLQ’s husband.
So, what did you think of the performance of Kathleen Gati as Liesl learns the shocking truth about Cassius? What are your thoughts on the backstory of Cassius and Nathan, Madeline, Faison and Obrecht? Do you think Lucas is wearing a bullet proof vest, all in the attempt to get Sidwell arrested for the crime of shooting him, or do you think he will be rushed to surgery? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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